Hi, just started my pre-op diet today, and I have over 2 months before surgery, which I know is a long time, but I am in the mindset to do this and I want to start my healthy eating habits RIGHT now, so I need your help. I need suggestions on which fruits are good for me to eat, I have been looking up the nutrition info and going nuts-I need fruit that is low in carbs and high in protein-does such a fruit exist? And my eyes are hurting from looking at all the info about what the RDA for protein and carbs and fats-and still can't make a lot of sense of it. Can someone please just send me this info? Thanks very much

Fruit is OK in moderation. My doctor wants us to eat fruits occasionally but not every day. His suggestion is to stick with citrus fruits, apples, pears etc. but bananas and other overly sweet fruits should be consumed just occasionally.

Berries are good, especially blueberries. The problem with fruit in general, as you have probably figured out, is that it is almost always high in carbs/sugar. Don't get fooled by the idea that sugar from fruit is any better for you than white sugar--it's all sugar.

I may be showing my ignorance, but I didn't know any fruit had much in the way of Protein. If you want protein with your fruit, put some blueberries and splenda in your blender with some ice and Protein shake powder. A shake of cinnamon helps too!

Atkins diets are no longer in fashion, but my lap band surgeon recommends the induction phase of the Atkins diet for the pre op diet if you have three weeks or longer before your surgery. It worked for my DH and me; we each most more than the 5% of our total body weight we were told to lose with the Atkins diet. However, we started it two months prior to surgery.

One thing I forgot to say: my doctor's nutritionist said we needed to avoid fruit juices totally. Too many carbs and calories.

Me again--I'm a little scattered today. The Atkins induction phase requires under 20 grams of carbs a day. That is very, very low and a bit hard to do, but it is doable. We ate a lot of oven roasted vegetables and salads with our protein. No milk or dairy other than cheese, no fruits, and of course no pasta, potatoes, tomatoes, rice . . .

My doctor also has me on the Atkins diet pre-op. My husband and I just got finished cleaning out our cupboard and holy smoke!!!!!! I never EVER realized how many carbs we ate! My nutritionist says that the reason they want me to do this now is because they don't want me having to recover from surgery AND going through carb withdrawal at the same time. Makes sense to me! Of course there is the added benefit of reducing the size of the liver before the surgery and getting a head start on my goal weight

I will be put on liquids two days before surgery to further shrink my liver.

Less than four weeks to go!

Karen