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Rigorous Pre-Op Eating Plan/Diet



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Background: I'm having a DS 7 years post VSG. The VSG worked really well for a few years, but I slowing gained most of my weight back. I'm seeing the same surgeon for "part ll" which is the DS. She's very supportive.

I had my second meeting with my surgeon and nutritionist today. The nutritionist essentially forbade everything but animal Protein, non-starchy vegetables, 2 fruits per day max. Why this extreme diet prior to surgery? If we could lose weight on our own, read: eating the way mentioned above, we wouldn't need surgery!

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I weighed 397 pounds when I started this journey in March 2016 with the six month pre-op diet program that was required by my insurance. I immediately started following a low carb/high protein/high healthy fat diet. I started at 2000 calories per day and worked my way down to 1200 calories per day for the last 2-3 months before surgery. I lost 99 pounds during that time, weighing 298 on the day of surgery.

I will always be thankful for that six months. It allowed me to redefine my relationship with food BEFORE the surgery and the major changes to my body. It allowed me to get my head in the right place BEFORE the physical needs of my body had to take precedence. It allowed me to get serious about the severity of my issues BEFORE the changes became a life or death situation.

Yes, I needed the surgery to have a sustainable change (I am 16 months post-op, have lost 225 pounds total, and am maintaining nicely at 173 pounds at 6'0" -- 7 pounds below goal), but also yes, I could lose weight on my own.

I urge you to make the most of that time. It made the post-op process so much easier for me.

Good luck!

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I had my RNY July 2, 2013. My Preop was Prtein drinks for 2 weeks and Postop 4 weeks of Protein Drinks. To be honest I was so ready to stop my merry go round I really didn't have a hard time either pre or post. I was honestly afraid not to follow my guidelines because I didn't want him to decide not to do my surgery. postop I was terrified I would do something that would undo it. I am so glad m mind was at this setting. Good Luck

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
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    • Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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