Hello,

I will be banded on Dec 13th, 2007. My doctor wants me to do the induction phase of Atkin's diet for 14 days prior to the surgery. I understand it is to shrink the liver but does the amount of fat intake matter? I know the induction phase has unlimited fat.

Well I think it does, I think Atkins has the potential to be horrendously unhealthy, but I seem to be the only person that thinks so, lol.

forgive me but if you eat meat, cheese and bacon and put cream in your coffee, and limit fruit, grains and even some vegetables, you're not doing yourself many favours, whether it shrinks your liver or not.

I'd try to do it in as low a saturated fat/cholesterol manner as possible.

Well I think it does, I think Atkins has the potential to be horrendously unhealthy, but I seem to be the only person that thinks so, lol.

forgive me but if you eat meat, cheese and bacon and put cream in your coffee, and limit fruit, grains and even some vegetables, you're not doing yourself many favours, whether it shrinks your liver or not.

I'd try to do it in as low a saturated fat/cholesterol manner as possible.

I am assuming it would only be temporary, just to shrink the liver until the surgery is over. I wonder if the high level of fat will make the liver more slippery?

Hi Talyn here I was banded on Sept 19th of this year. My physician required a 20gram a day/less pre op diet. If you ar uncertain I would definitly call the md office to determine if there is a limit. the worse thing in the world would be to do the pre op diet but find out you ate too much Protein and your liver didn't shrink.

Tal

Its more common to have to do a liquid diet with Optifast or similar, which I would think, short term or not, would be far healthier than the induction phase of Atkins. These are higher protein/low carb but perfectly balanced for you.

You're right, two weeks of a high fat diet wont kill you but it wont do great things for you either, I cannot for the life of me see how its good preparation for surgery.

But what I've never really understood, somebody will be able to explain - by what process does the liver actually shrink? As in, why does two or three weeks of a very low calorie diet shrink it?

You shrink your liver by depleting your glycogen stores in the organ. That's why it's more important to be low carb than low fat for the purposes of surgery.

I personally do not think Atkins is unhealthy. I think it is largely misunderstood. Atkins is basically the same diet as the bandsters rules diet-- Protein and veggies and few starches. Of course you can take any diet past it's logical purpose (by eating prime rib dipped in butter), but that is just not following the spirit of the diet any more than eating 5,000 fat free crackers is a low fat diet. Fiber, although it is a "carbohydrate", is not prohibited on Atkins and isn't even counted in your daily carbohydrate totals.

Active people can tolerate more carbs, obviously. People like me (insulin resistant with PCOS) should to stay away as much as possible....of course I've yet to do that. LOL.

Ah, that makes sense, thanks.

Jacqui your quote " Shut your gob and move your ass" cracks me up!!!! I must remember that when I am having a bad day and feeling sorry for myself. Makes me laugh!

Thanks,

Barb