I have 2 weeks until my pre-op appointment and my surgeon says that I need to have lost 10 lbs. I really struggle losing weight, hence why I am having surgery. Last year I lost about 30 lbs by taking a prescription appitite suppresant, injections and a low carb diet over 5 months. I have been eating no/low carb for 2 weeks and haven't lost any weight. I am so frustrated with this requirement. The nurse told me that he would not do the surgery if I haven't lost 10 lbs by the surgery date. I do have 2 weeks after the appointment until my surgery. But this is adding to my stress level as my mom is coming for the surgery and I have already asked for the time off of work.

I am considering going on the liquid diet now in hopes that I can lose the 10 lbs. Can I survive for 4 weeks on it?

Has anyone else struggled with the pre-surgery weight loss requirement?

It has been a challenge for me also. I think I would rather have a liquid diet than a no/low carb diet (I am on that one too). I have been eating only baked fish/broccoli and baked chicken/zucchini for the last three days and 2 boiled eggs for breakfast. With exercise I have lost 5 pounds. Hope this helps.

Are you being really honest with yourself about what you are eating? Are you tracking it? Are you getting in lots of Water? The likelihood of not losing weight on the type of diet is really low.

4 weeks of liquid is a lot and I would not personally recommend it. I have done it for 2 and it has been killer. Maybe you should share your struggles with your doctors office and ask for their help.

I know that the 10 lbs is often an insurance requirement versus the doctor just being "mean". My surgeon has rarely, but has, put people on a pre-op liquid diet. But then it's 2 weeks liquids before and then 2 weeks liquids after, which is a LONG time without chewing.

If you drink Water, and track and weigh your portions, you will probably lose some weight. I would definitely ask for the help. My doctor gave me their 1500 calorie diet and I did it and was successful. A friend was not as successful, and they moved her to 1200 calorie. Then she and I ate together and we learned (by my observing) that she was "guestimating" way off on her portion sizes. She started using the food scale and lost the weight.

Also, watch the fruit - the carbs in fruit will kill you, even if you think they're "healthy" carbs.

I wish you well, and agree - if it was easy to lose weight we wouldn't need surgery.

Kathy

Call and talk to your doctor - not the nurse - the doctor. Tell him your concerns and point out that you have a history of slow weight loss. Maybe you can compromise with a promise to follow a strict but not impossible diet, drink lot's of Water, etc.

Just to be safe amp up your water, sleep and exercze.

This is just a sugestion, and it is easier typed than done, probably. See if you can't back off worrying about it a bit. Stress can really hinder the weight loss process. I had a stomach tumor and while I did monitor all the sugested and or mandiory conditions with my doctor, I knew they HAD to operate on me, so I think, oddly enough, the lack of stress I had in meeting conditions made it a little easier. I met all my conditions, because I was really worried about what else I could be facing and needed the surgery to go as smoothly as possible, so there was still stress, just not from that angle.There was a lot of stress, actually, from many angles, butt he diet edge was removed, and I think made it easier to follow.

Sorry typing fast at work, I hope that made at least a little bit of sense

Thanks. Unfortunately I can't exercise much as I have a injured knee from college sports.

I do need to go back to logging my food, just to be sure I am not consuming more calories than I think. Nutritionist gave me a goal of 1700 calories.