After months of contemplation, I went to my primary doctor to begin my supervised weight loss visits. I attended a seminar with the bariatric surgeon back in November and scheduled my intake appointment in January. However, due to insurance rollover, I would have to pay over $800 that first visit since I hadn't met my deductibles yet. The office gave me the go ahead to begin my doctor visits while I wait to get my deductible met (one test - I can't remember the name of it just yet - was normally $30 or so dollars with my insurance but I was having to pay $400!)

I had all my tests ran today and my doctor literally looked at me and said, "You are so healthy minus your weight. Your cholesterol, sugar levels, blood pressure - everything is normal. It really doesn't make sense since your BMI is so high." He put me on a diet pill of sorts because he's very anti-weight loss surgery for two weeks. I'm interested to see how it works.

Like most, I have yo yo dieted my entire life, losing over 40 pounds in the last year by pure "clean" eating and exercising. Due to job changing, stress, lack of routine and motivation, I gained it all back.

I just told my entire life story for one question - any tips on a pre-op diet? Are most of you just paleo/clean eating?

The pre-op diet varies for each surgery, which are you considering? Also, each pre-op diet varies greatly from Dr. to Dr. I have the band and I was on a 2 week pre-op diet which included 2 shakes Breakfast & lunch and then a weight watchers meal for dinner. I think 2 days before my actual surgery I was on all Clear liquids. Good luck with your journey!

In order to qualify for the surgery, I had to undergo a 6 month medically supervised weight loss diet and exercise program. Since I had to give up all carbonated beverages and caffeine, I decided to go cold turkey on my diet coke habit at the beginning. I was up to a 6 coke a day habit. I immediately went through a week of withdrawal syndrome with severe headaches. But I made it to the other side. On that change alone I lost 20 pounds pre-op.

The thing I hate about the pre/post surgery diet is that it is not made up of real food at all. It's all chemically protein shakes with artificial sweeteners. Before my surgery I lost 60 lb on my own with really good eating, a raw vegetable juice smoothly for lunch, pretty much whatever I wanted for dinner, and a good amount of excercise, mostly pilates. I'm a week post op, and pretty miserable, not feeling at all well, and wondering what I did to myself.