Bought some Atkins bars to start with. I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow to get all the stuff I will need so I won't cheat! All the goodies are gone! I need to lose 20 pounds before the doctor will even give me a surgery date! Plus I need to have some other tests done. So I think I have at least a month to lose the weight and get everything else done! I don't want to starve myself but I do want to lose the weight quickly. Any help is appreciated. Thank you everyone!

I'm pretty much in the same boat, so I'd love some tips as well.

I am doing great with my pre-op diet. My surgeon doesn't require a liquid diet but she requires a loss of 5%-10% of your body weight. So I decided to keep my calories between 1,200 and 1,500, cut out caffeine, cut out all soda, cut out all candy and sweets, and strive to get in 60-80oz of Water a day, and 80 - 100g of Protein a day. It sounds difficult but if you stick to fresh whole foods it is not a problem.

Here is a sample day for me (I lost 4.5 pounds this week)

Breakfast: a Protein shake, or 2 scrambled eggs with a little salsa and a peice of low cal whole grain toast with 1 tblspn of Peanut Butter

Snack: large glass of decaf green tea, and low cal string cheese

Lunch: 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese, and small salad with green lettuce, cucumber, chopped broccoli, red bell pepper, and light dressing

Snack: small apple with or without PB for dipping

Dinner: 4oz grilled fish (ahi tuna or salmon), steamed or sauteed green veggies

Also make sure you are moving, even if you can't get to the gym, go for a long walk after dinner, or if you have time, go before Breakfast.

If you have trouble drinking water (like I do) set a timer on your phone to go off every hour or 2 that says "DRINK 8oz. OF WATER NOW!!!!" and do that every time your alarm goes off.

Good luck!

Week one-

Protein shake-breakfast

Protein shake- lunch

Lean cuisine- dinner

Week two-

3 Protein drinks a day

Lost 20lbs