I was intermittent fasting when I decided to look into bariatric surgery. Kaiser does not like intermittent fasting. I’m trying to transition back to eating multiple times a day while staying at 1200 calories. I’m failing. I have said no to doughnuts, soda, candy, snacks. I’m taking my vitamins and drinking my water. I initially lost three pounds but now I am stuck. Eating so often is so hard!

What form of intermittent fasting were you doing? 16/8? 18/6? OMAD? I did intermittent fasting (16/8) before surgery and I lost about 70 pounds in 5 months. It really helped me to get out of the habit of snacking. The psychologist who did my psych eval for surgery didn't like it, but nobody else (the surgeon, bariatric nutritionist, PCP, endocrinologist) had a problem with it. Can't do it post-op, though (at least initially) because I'd never be able to get all my protein.

Anyway, my suggestion is to think of it as doing mini-fasts. If you were doing 16/8 and skipping breakfast, maybe you can change to 12/12 (have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but fast for 12 hours between dinner and the next day's breakfast). Have a small breakfast and fast between breakfast and lunch.

IF is a very powerful tool, but please wait until at least 6 months out to start or restart. You've just got to focus on your protein and your volume is so small initially, that it would be impossible to get your nutritional requirements in. Keep it in your pocket as a tool to boost your weight loss if you start stalling or slowing down right before goal. IF helped me get the last 15 pounds off, and now is a tool I use in maintenance. I know it is so hard to go back to regular meals, but you need to do it for now. It's great that you already know what to do - just save it for the future.

10 hours ago, K Be Good! said:

I was intermittent fasting when I decided to look into bariatric surgery. Kaiser does not like intermittent fasting. I’m trying to transition back to eating multiple times a day while staying at 1200 calories. I’m failing. I have said no to doughnuts, soda, candy, Snacks. I’m taking my Vitamins and drinking my Water. I initially lost three pounds but now I am stuck. Eating so often is so hard!

If you are going for WLS, and need to lose weight to meet the requirements just don't tell them you're doing IF ??‍♀️

Tell them whatever they want to hear to get over that technical hurdle. If you're doing IF out of habit but no longer need to lose weight to meet WLS requirements then try loosening up and focus on WLS post op lifestyle for now. You'll have plenty to learn and do if you crave structure.

Either way IMHO, Kaiser doesn't need to know (about IF) just so they can figure out a disqualifier.

Good Luck ♥️

I was on 16/8. I did think about just keeping going but really wanted to follow the directions. I think it might have been a stall. I started losing again today. Fingers crossed it keeps going. Saying no to my head is very hard.