Are they usually talking about a two week period? During the preop liquids? Or does this number usually mean they've been dieting for a while?

Just curious what I can expect to lose in the 2 week preop diet.

36 lbs was actually exactly what I had to lose for my surgery. My doc doesn't do a pre-op liquid diet, per se. Instead, he gives you a percentage you must lose before surgery. Because my BMI was approaching 50, I had to lose 10% of my body weight, or 36 lbs. I did that in about 3 months.

Everyone is different but a general rule, the heavier the person and sticking to it the more they might lose. I did 3 weeks and lost 40lbs. just saying.

yes it depends on the person. Some have to diet for 6 months before their surgery. Some do a pre-op diet from about 1 week to 3 weeks. I did a 9 day pre-op diet and lost 9 pounds. So pre-op includes any weight lost before surgery, in any fashion.

My preop weight loss is from the time I started my efforts to lose while satisfying requirements for insurance. The time period was June 1 to October 10, 2011, Of the 51 I lost, 10 of it was during the liver shrinking diet.

My pre op was 2 weeks of two protein shakes/day + one meal of 4oz protein & non-starch veggie. I lost 17lbs- I was amazed. (Start wt 277 and I'm 5'9").