I am just now starting the journey and trying to get used to dietary changes. The guidelines I was given them were very very broad in general, and I kind of like a more specific idea of what I need to change and what my calorie account should be in my macro should be, and that really wasn’t given to me so I’m struggling. Is there anyone who has any tips and tricks for dietary visions while I go through the approval process?

Do you have a dietician? If so ask them for more specifics. We all need the amount of information & depth of detail that makes us feel comfortable & confident about we have to do. We have different needs (food preferences like vegetarian or vegan, food sensitivities or allergies, general health, current weight, age, mobility, etc.) which is why I suggest you get the specifics from your dietician for what will best complement your needs. Your surgeon may have requirements too.

As some general advice, start tracking your food (lots of tracking apps available like My Fitness Pal). Increase your fluids to 2L/64ozs. Reduce or drop any carbonated drinks. Reduce snacking. Reduce the highly or ultra processed foods in your current diet. Increase your protein & vegetable intake - look at around 4oz protein & a good cup of vegetables for a meal. Modify some of your cooking styles like use an air fryer or bake not pan fry. Swap simple carbs for complex whole or multi grains. Reduce the number of sugary/sweet foods you eat. You don’t have to do all these things at once, unless you have a tight time frame but certainly start introducing a couple of these things each week or two until you get more definite information from your dietician.

PS If you don’t have a dietician yet, ask for a referral to one from your team.

You should definitely have access to a dietician through the surgeon's office. The problem with any of us giving you that info is that our surgeons all have different requirements. Some allow more carbs and fats, some restrict the heck out of them. Some allow higher calories, some don't. Some universal rules, though, are these:

water intake: at least 64oz per day

food: PROTEIN first, then veggies, then carbs. Protein, protein, protein!!!

sugar: majorly reduce sugar intake (I went to sugar free and use monk fruit sweetener when I need something to taste sweet)

salt: reduce the amount of salt (especially if you have high bp) and what I did was switch from normal table salt to Himalayan salt (it's healthier and has a saltier taste so you need less)

I don't really want to tell you specifically how many calories, carbs, protein, and fats you can have, because as I said, that varies between surgeons. I can tell you what MY office said and what I do, but that's about it. Here's what my surgeon's office wants:

Protein: 60-80g per day

Carbs: 50g or less per day

Fat: 50g or less per day

Calories: first 6 mo - 1000 per day - after 6 mo - 1200 - 1300 per day

What I personally do:

Calories: non work out days - 1000 per day - workout days - 1200 - 1300 per day

Protein: non workout days - 60 - 70g per day - workout days - 80 - 90g per day

Carbs: non workout days - 20-25g per day - workout days - 35 - 50g per day

Fat: non workout days - 20-25g per day - workout days - 35-50g per day

Water: non workout days - 64oz per day - workout days - 64oz of water and 20oz of gatorade zero or Propel per day