I see a lot of people that have lost a lot of weight since surgery. But is that weight you had to lose before surgery or was it from when you had surgery? How much have some of you had to lose before surgery?

I was told I have to lose 10 pounds before my surgery on 2/6. Just to make my liver smaller.

My doctor didn't give me a pre-surgery weight loss goal, but he did insist on a one week liquid diet to shrink my liver. I'm on day 2 and it really sucks. I only have 6 days to go till surgery and I'm determined to stick to it!

I was told I needed to lose 12 lbs but they won't refuse surgery if you don't lose it. But I hadn't heard about having to do a liquid diet before surgery just after. What are you drinking for your liquid diet?

I didnt have to lose anything before surgery. However, I was on a liquid only diet for 14 days prior, so I did loose 16 lbs. during that.

Each Dr. has their own instructions. some Dr's require a liquid diet for one or two weeks before the surgery and some require a low calorie, low fat, low sugar diet before surgery. These are all meant to shrink the liver as it's in the area of the surgery.

I believe the pre-op diets also gives us "desparate to lose weight quick, fatties", a quick head start on the weight loss.

My Dr. NOW requires a liquid diet, but at the time of my intial consult did not and instead required the low calorie one, so I was told to follow my original instructions, which I did.

Most Dr's require a clear diet a day or two before surgery, mine was two days.

Some Dr's have different directions for patients that have a higher BMI.

Just follow your Dr's instructions!

I didn't have to lose a specific amount of weight before surgery but my doctor did put me on the Atkins Diet two weeks prior to shrink my liver. It was a great headstart for me because I lost 8 lbs.

I didn't have any preop diet at all. I lost about 3-4 lbs between consultation (my high weight) and the actual surgery, but the rest of what I have lost was after surgery.

I am having a hard time to get motivated. Its like with the holidays and life itself, things are so crazy and its so easy to slip. I am nervous and scared and I am just beat and ran down. I told my husband I wanted a night alone for just me without him and my son (nice I know) but I need to just recoup and get back on track and get some well deserved rest

I was told I needed to lose 12 lbs but they won't refuse surgery if you don't lose it. But I hadn't heard about having to do a liquid diet before surgery just after. What are you drinking for your liquid diet?

It's called a "Full Liquid Diet" but it includes:

sugar free fat free yogurt

blended Soups with less then 5 g fat and less than 500 mg sodium

sf jell-o

sf ff pudding

skim or 1% milk

any sugar free drinks but not carbonated, like Crystal Light

coffee, tea - decaf

2 whey Protein shakes made with Water or milk per day

sf popcicles

I'm tracking it on fitday.com and yesterday I only had about 800 cal. I was pretty miserable but today is getting a little better. I have to follow a "Clear Liquid" diet for 2 days after surgery and then back to the "Full Liquid" diet for 2 weeks after that.

I am printing that off so I know. I might just do it the week before to get myself ahead a little so I know I lost some. I have been going between the same 5lbs. Its like I iwll lose then gain then lose. God doesn't it suck to be fat?

Yeah, it sure does.

You might feel a little crappy the first day or so, but in my case I think it was sugar withdrawal. When I did Atkins, I felt the same way for a couple of days.

Today for lunch I had Campbell's Select Healthy Request (reduced sodium) chicken tortilla Soup. I put it in the blender before I heated it up. It was really good and very filling. Highly recommend. Also, there is a jell-o pudding snack cup called "Dulce de Leche" that is AWESOME. Good luck and let me know how you're doing and if you find any really great foods

I really believe that the liquid diet is to shrink your liver. I did have to lose 10lbs. on my own because my dr. insisted. He told me that he wanted to make sure that I could handle myself even between refills

KTBEE- dont feel bad for needing time for yourself. Time away from your husband and son. I think that is healthy and keeps you sane-especially when you have children. I have 4 children and once per week I go across the street to my best friend's house for a "girls night" even though all we do is have dinner, watch a move and/or talk.

I will have to remember putting the soup in the blender like that, what a great idea. Thanks a ton

You guys are so so awesome. When I go to my support group tonight I am telling them about this site to go to. I was really scared and nervous about all this before hand. But then talking with all of you, it really gets me motivated and excited