Not Your Typical Pre Op Diet Post

[TakingABreak 2,733]

I have read COUNTLESS pre op diet posts about the difficulties and the cheating. So I pose the question......

Are people who had supervised diets ahead of surgery more successful AND have a less difficult time with pre op diets?

[YeahOkay31 651]

Overall, studies suggest those who lose at least 8% of their body fat before surgery have better long term outcomes--https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/892400 I imagine these folks also did better with the pre-op diet.

I am too new to the sleeve to really comment, but I had to see a nutritionist for 6 months and lose 5% of my weight to get approved for surgery. If I gained anything, I was out. I lost 10%. I also only had a 2 day pre-op diet. And my surgeon said my liver was "beautiful" (thx I guess); he even gave me a picture...ew. The entire two weeks on liquid is cruel! Unless you have a fatty liver, it just seems like overkill. JMO.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

2 minutes ago, YeahOkay31 said:

Overall, studies suggest those who lose at least 8% of their body fat before surgery have better long term outcomes--https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/892400 I imagine these folks also did better with the pre-op diet.

I am too new to the sleeve to really comment, but I had to see a nutritionist for 6 months and lose 5% of my weight to get approved for surgery. If I gained anything, I was out. I lost 10%. I also only had a 2 day pre-op diet. And my surgeon said my liver was "beautiful" (thx I guess); he even gave me a picture...ew. The entire two weeks on liquid is cruel! Unless you have a fatty liver, it just seems like overkill. JMO.

See I was the opposite. My insurance didn't require any of that. All I had to do was 1 nutritional visit and psych evaluation. My program required a bariatric class and pulmonary clearance. Needless to say, I actually gained weight from my first visit with the surgeon in October until I started the pre op diet. I put on 10-15lbs easy! I also quit smoking in October which didn't help matters. But by the beginning of November, I was on track and gave up everything else. I had a rough time on the pre op diet, but my worst offense was eating a few slices of cucumber in the first few days. Def not, doughnuts or cheeseburgers, ect. I don't know if my liver was huge or not, but they did my surgery with no complaints.

[SleeveinIL 386]

I lost 9% body weight prior to my sleeve and I think I fall into the "typical" category. The first 4 days of the pre-op liquid diet was truly difficult for me. I think I am doing pretty well now, but I wish it was happening faster.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

26 minutes ago, SleeveinIL said:

I lost 9% body weight prior to my sleeve and I think I fall into the "typical" category. The first 4 days of the pre-op liquid diet was truly difficult for me. I think I am doing pretty well now, but I wish it was happening faster.

I think you are doing amazing! We all wish it would fall off overnight *sigh* but alas we make the best of it.

[SleeveinIL 386]

Just now, AshAsh1 said:

I think you are doing amazing! We all wish it would fall off overnight *sigh* but alas we make the best of it.

Thank you. Waiting for things was never my strong suit. LOL

[Pearldrop 164]

The only requirements I had was a 2 week Optifast and quit smoking.

The pre diet was not a rousing success, there were a few food farewells. My surgery date was 3 weeks after my first consult with the nutritionist. The surgeon had a cancellation and I was lucky enough to be there when it happened.

How that will work out in my post life... I’m hopeful. At the moment I’m having no issues on the liquid phase. I sometimes think I’m hungry, I’m not, so I distract myself for a few minutes and the moment passes.

Prior to looking into WLS I did do a lot of ‘me’ work with a therapist to understand my habits & behaviours, that’s given me some tools in addition to the WLS

Will see where I am in 6 months.

[bluehat 16]

On 6/8/2018 at 1:04 PM, YeahOkay31 said:

Overall, studies suggest those who lose at least 8% of their body fat before surgery have better long term outcomes--https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/892400 I imagine these folks also did better with the pre-op diet.

I am too new to the sleeve to really comment, but I had to see a nutritionist for 6 months and lose 5% of my weight to get approved for surgery. If I gained anything, I was out. I lost 10%. I also only had a 2 day pre-op diet. And my surgeon said my liver was "beautiful" (thx I guess); he even gave me a picture...ew. The entire two weeks on liquid is cruel! Unless you have a fatty liver, it just seems like overkill. JMO.

I just did the math and I've lost exactly 8% so far... surgery is in a week. Cool! But I'm jealous they checked your liver before surgery -- they didn't do that with me. It's just an automatic six-to-two week pre-op diet for everybody that they work with, depending on BMI. I'm really curious what my liver looks like, and if it's gone down in size at all since starting my pre-op diet three weeks ago.

All that being said, I didn't have a supervised diet though my insurance did require I lose 5% within a specific time frame (and keep it off until surgery day). I'm not having any terrible problems with the pre-op diet now though. I have cheated a few times, but I've only had a couple of those little cups of sugar-free pudding and some beef Jerky. My biggest problem is drinking all the shakes they want us to have on top of all the Water we're supposed to get. It's a lot of liquid and makes me feel nauseous.

[Sleeved36 356]

My pre-op diet was just a healthy eating plan. It was meant to mimic long term eating post-op. Protien first, then veggies and fruit, carbs last if you have room. Nutritionist visits to educate on healthy eating and post-op phases.

No weight loss mandates for me, just couldn't gain. Some loss is preferred.

No liquid diet pre-op except for 1 day of Clear Liquids the day before.

My program is very critical of programs that require 2 weeks liquid diet bc it does not teach healthy eating, just starvation dieting. And I totally agree. If I could starve myself thin, I would have done it already.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

4 minutes ago, Sleeved36 said:

My pre-op diet was just a healthy eating plan. It was meant to mimic long term eating post-op. Protien first, then veggies and fruit, carbs last if you have room. Nutritionist visits to educate on healthy eating and post-op phases.

No weight loss mandates for me, just couldn't gain. Some loss is preferred.

No liquid diet pre-op except for 1 day of Clear Liquids the day before.

My program is very critical of programs that require 2 weeks liquid diet bc it does not teach healthy eating, just starvation dieting. And I totally agree. If I could starve myself thin, I would have done it already.

That being said, did you have a shell shock afterwards with the diet progression stages? Because regardless of your program's opinion on liquid pre op diets, you still end up on liquids for nearly 2 weeks after surgery.

I have a friend who had RNY, and she had a program similar to yours. She had a really hard time emotionally. I think the biggest difference between us, was our pre op diets. I "grieved" food prior to surgery, which I felt was beneficial since I wasn't being flooded with hormones and trying to recuperate from major surgery.

[Sleeved36 356]

I was definately grumpy about not being able to eat post-op, but that was head hunger and grieving for food.

My program allowed scrambled eggs and yogurt/cottage cheese on the liquid diet. After I tried scrambled eggs I felt immediately full and it was tough to digest them. This helped me to see that I really needed just liquids for a while and that it was head hunger bc my body wasn't ready for anything else.

It was probably better for my family that I wasn't a grumpy, hangry b***h for 2 weeks before surgery. Just for a little bit after. 😉

I did a low-carb diet once a few years ago (Way pre-op). One day when I got home from work my husband had made mac and cheese and poured a glass of wine. He told me to eat it bc he would rather me be round than bitchy.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

12 minutes ago, Sleeved36 said:

I did a low-carb diet once a few years ago (Way pre-op). One day when I got home from work my husband had made mac and cheese and poured a glass of wine. He told me to eat it bc he would rather me be round than bitchy.

My poor best friend's husband does the same thing every time she goes on a diet. He more or less sabotages her, not saying your husband did that, but her's does.

[Sleeved36 356]

My husband has been supportive through this process. He just loves me for me, doesn't care about a few extra pounds, just doesn't want to be married to a hangry b***h.

He doesn't understand bc he is naturally lean and buff. He eats a ton of bad food, works out a little, and still looks like a fitness model.

I hate him a little for it. My body has changed a lot over the years. He wears the same size pants as when we married. A little more ear hair tho 😉

[TakingABreak 2,733]

2 minutes ago, Sleeved36 said:

My husband has been supportive through this process. He just loves me for me, doesn't care about a few extra pounds, just doesn't want to be married to a hangry b***h.

He doesn't understand bc he is naturally lean and buff. He eats a ton of bad food, works out a little, and still looks like a fitness model.

I hate him a little for it. My body has changed a lot over the years. He wears the same size pants as when we married. A little more ear hair tho 😉

Sounds like my husband. I still buy him his fruit Snacks and ho-ho's. He still finishes a whole pizza to himself. And I nibble on a carrot in jealousy. But I know we are different people and I'm ok with it now.

[MIZ60 1,291]

I did not have any preop weight loss requirements at all and saw the RD once, cardiologist for stress echo and the psych for a total of 3 visits. When I started the preop diet (two months ago today!!) I was determined to follow it to the letter and I did. My program allowed one small meal (3 oz. Protein and 1 cup veg) a day until the last 2 days which were liquid only. I was already a good Water drinker so no issues there.

Surgeon said my liver looked "fantastic" with no fatty liver at all even though my enzymes were slightly elevated before surgery. I had a pretty easy recovery with 2 weeks full liquids followed by 4 weeks pureed and just started regular foods last week. I have been completely compliant with their instructions and maybe that is why I have felt great since 4 days after surgery, had very little nausea and no vomiting , a little Constipation at first and no difficulty tolerating any foods I have tried. I feel very lucky. I am not losing as fast as some but I am 60 years old and very happy with my progress thus far. I feel following all the rules has been helpful to me even though some are a PITA.