Hi everyone,

This is my first post. I'm 112kg (250lbs) and booked in for Gastric Bypass Feb 5 2016.

I'm worried that I won't lose enough weight in time & the surgeon won't agree to proceed. The dietitian has told me to start Optifast low calorie shakes 3 weeks beforehand along with salad/vegetables. Based on my BMI, she said I should lose 7.8kg in that time (approx 15lb). Is this even possible?? I think I need to start right now. She said I can have 4 Optifast shakes/products per day and the appropriate veggies etc

Any advice? Should I just replace 1 or 2 meals to start with then go 'full intensity' the last 3 weeks? I've had a year to prepare and feel like I've stupidly left it too late!

Thank you.

Two bits of advice.

First, make sure that you walk 30 minutes each day. This will dramatically improve your recovery time.

Second, if you haven't already cut out all caffeine and carbonated beverages, do it now. I had a 6 diet Coke a day habit. I went cold turkey when I entered the pre-op stage. I lost 20 pounds on that change alone. Also when I gave up caffeine I went through a week of severe withdrawal syndrome. Severe headaches and body aches. You don't want to compound this withdrawal with the effects of surgery. Get it over with now.

I agree. You don't necessarily have to start your pre-op diet early. It is designed to shrink your liver before surgery and is hard enough to stick to when it's required and most critical.

I also weaned myself off of carbonation and caffeine pre-op. It is much easier to do it gradually over a month or two than to go cold turkey.

I increased my Water intake to at least 64 oz of water a day and worked up to exercising 60 minutes a day.

I focused on Protein, vegetables, and eating cleaner.

I also practiced slowing down and eating mindfully.

You could start trying some Protein shakes to see what you like by substituting them for a meal here and there but I wouldn't worry about going full force pre-op diet until you have to.

Another thing my program had us do was start taking a Multivitamin and a D3 supplement daily from the time we started considering surgery.

Best of luck with your surgery. You are going to do really well with your proactive attitude.

Thanks so much for your replies. I definitely need to increase exercise & cut down the Diet Coke. I drink at least 2 cans a day, so that's going to be difficult!

Also need to research how I'm going to go taking my medications post surgery. Hopefully there's a few posts on this forum.

Talk to your surgeon about your meds. Mine gave me guidance on what to take day of surgery, etc. You will also want to talk with the doctors who prescribed your meds about possible dose changes as you lose weight.

I just had my surgery this week. My surgeon had me do 1 week of 1200 calorie diet followed by 2 weeks of optifast. I lost about 13 lbs during those weeks. I had lost a few lbs prior to that. Started at 243, day of surgery was 222. Losing 15 is very doable on optifast, if you follow program during those weeks. Good luck to you.

I'm not booked for surgery yet but I have till 2nd Feb to lose 7kg to qualify. We can do it , I'm doing opti 3-4 a day.

My date is Feb 5 ???? so you're just doing opti- not eating anything else? When are u starting it?

One thing to comment with the optifast. You may get severely constipated!! I was on it years ago and actually had to go to the hospital. Be careful and take stool softeners!!

Starting Opti on Monday. I think 3 opti plus one meal il start with. Im not going to be super super strict will still have fruit but trying to reach my goal so we will see how it goes. It's not doctor ordered for me, it's more about getting into habit of having several small meals with protein and of course losing the weight to qualify

Thanks for the tips everyone.

I'm going to start 3 Opti's and a proper dinner for the next week. I'm going to attempt to drink 2 litres of Water a day & cut down to one diet coke.

I'm going to be so grumpy!!! I think I'll be less anxious if I do this and see that the weight loss is possible.Then I need to do it properly the few weeks leading to surgery in Feb 5.