Did your Doc require a pre-op diet?

Yes I'll stay positive. Yesterday I had a tough day with food all day. I've got to get DH's food locked up - he loves cookies etc and does not have a food or weight problem - it makes it hard. I'm going out today to buy a large wooden locked box for his goodies and bread! It's been on my mind to do it for a while now, today's the day.

Bob, I was wondering if you are getting any exercise in. I am walking now (just started 4 days ago) at 6:30 in the morning and it gives me more energy during the day and I'm in less pain - my nutritionist said I have to exercise now, I guess it helps with the surgery recoop? I'm asking because you're loosing a lot of weight and I wondered in exercise is helping you lose faster. Have a nice day.

Stevie, No I don't excercise nearly enough. I have something going on with one of my knees. Raked leaves today and now its killing me.....Thanks for the reminder though...I need to do more. Also during my prep I had to see a physical therapist to get a excercise plan. She gave me a bunch of excercises using 2 dumb-bells to keep muscle mass up...I am doing those...but really boring!!!!!.My family is trying to eat normal and is being really good about not tempting me...but you are right....the food in the house is tough to deal with

My doc put me on a strict 1200cal meal plan. We need to get away from saying "diet". It is not a diet it a way of life. Think about that

rrod, I don't find anything wrong with the word diet. it means: a regulated course of eating and drinking, especially for medical reason and nutrition. ...and that's what we're all embarking here. diet is just a general term used. Yes you're right it is also a way of life, but the word is not a bad word. I don't have a problem with it. I'm just wondering...what brought this on?

My surgeon said clear liquids the day before the surgery. However, he wants me to lose at least 10 lbs. before surgery. I can do this! The hard part is that I will be on liquids all thru the holidays!

A diet is generally thought of as a short term thing.

"I am going to diet to loose 10 pounds".

What we all need is a life long commitment to food. It is there to fuel our body not our emotions. For so many of us we are the way we are because of our love affair with food. We need to effectively sever that affair and use food correctly and to do that we need to train our selves to think of food differently. I am never going to diet again because I am now on a productive meal plan that works for me.

I am sorry for the way I come across sometimes. My father was a Drill Sargent for the ARMY as I was growing up and I was taught to say what is on my mind. That I do without thinking sometimes and I apologize.

I am in the 6 month documented diet that my insurance requires. I use diet loosely, because they said they didn't care if I lost any weight, just be sure not to gain any more. I am eating pretty much what I want, and emailing my weight every two weeks to the dietician. After that is done I get paperwork to take to my PCP for sign off, then I think everything goes into the insurance company. Had to have a stress test (I have a lot of cardiac risk factors) and my PCP wanted an echocardiogram. Done them and passed with flying colors. Once approved and after I get a surgery date, I have two weeks before and after surgery of liquids (before is to help shrink the liver for surgery, but with my appetite, I don't look forward to it). They suggested Atkins, EAS Advantage, broth, sugar-free popsicles, stuff like that. I warned everyone at work I will be mean and ugly because I will be HUNGRY!

I also had to do the 6 month thing and the cardiac etc. My pre-op was 3 weeks long and finally my surgery is the Wendesday. You can make it through the pre-op. Atkins is good but be careful, the price varies alot. In Connecticut I paid as much as $8.99 for 4 cans and as low as $5.49. That is the only protein shake I tried

I have also eaten alot of chicken and beef broth. I found onion soup with the onions strained out to be good. Also, my doc allowed low fat yogurt and string cheese and cottage cheese.

Be careful with your glucose. I started to go hypoglycemic the first week, so I had yogurt,skim milk or apple juice every few hours to keep the glucose up.

Good Luck

My insurance (as well as many others) requires a 6 month documented weight loss attempt, or TWO 3 month attempts. My coworker went to a dietician and did Weight Watchers online AT THE SAME TIME, and the insurance okayed her. My 6 months is up in mid December. Hoping to get banded in Jan.

Patchelton, I am in the same boat. I have been doing the 6 months with a nutritionist, and have lost nothing. Before I saw her, I lost 10 pound, but that does not count. I have greatly increased my exercise, and am now walking 3-4 miles a day for 4-5 days a week. I know I need to do more, but this is a start.

My surgeon wants me to lose 15 pounds before the surgery. Since I have not lost any weight so far, I am a bit concerned. The office wants to schedule my surgery, as my six months is almost up. I am hoping for January. I need to see those 15 pounds gone!

~~Amaara

My doc prescribes pre-op diet to all, for how long depends on BMI. My BMI was over 40 so I was prescribed a 2-week very lean diet to decrease liver fat which makes the surgery more comfortable as was explained to me. Ashamed to say but I didn't follow it instead eating sparingly the day before surgery only.

I was banded on November 15. Back to most regular soft foods and having 1st fill on Dec. 17.

My doc requires a 7 day liquid diet before my surgery date. I'm on day 2 and my surgery is Dec. 10th. It surprised me that so many of you on here don't have to go on a liquid diet. You're so lucky! For those of you who are on 2 weeks, I feel for you. I hear people cheat all the time and they still perform surgery. I'm giving it about 90% effort. Last night I had a small salad, but that's all the "real" food I had. It does suck, but I try to think of the end results.

Good luck to everyone!

Mine required the 5-10% of total wt loss, I worked with a nutritionist to set up the best plan for me. It was a STRUGGLE at first but I think what helped me is that I got an unexpected sooner surgery date so I've only been on the diet since 11/19. I was paranoid that I wouldn't be able to do it in 5 weeks but now I've lost 12lbs and I already feel so much better.

BTW-my surgery is in 13 hours!!!!

mine requires 2 wks of slimfast 5/day and up to 2 cups of specified veggies