I had my first visit with the surgeon Tuesday and I was very surprised when the nurse told me that I would not be on a liquid diet for the two weeks pre-op, but on a low carb diet. I have not gotten the details yet, but I thought everyone did a liquid diet. I am using Southwest Bariatirc in Austin. Has anyone else just had a low carb diet? I was both dreading it and hoping it woud jumpstart my weight loss. Guess I could do it anyway, but I was just curious whether anyone has done the low carb before surgery.

The purpose of the pre-op diet is to decrease the size of the liver by reducing the sugar stores it's holding on to. This is done by forcing it to release the sugar stores into your body by cutting the sugar you're eating.

Most liquid diets require sugar free liquids, hence they will deplete the stores. Low-carb diets drastically reduce or eliminate sugar stores, hence they will shrink the liver. Same gross result, but one gives you a lot more freedom in getting there.

Nanajo, my surgeon required a low-carb diet and not a liquid diet. The duration was based on BMI -- mine was for 10 days. I avoided bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and sugar. It wasn't too bad at all, although I did get sick of eggs and sausage or bacon for breakfast! I lost about 7 pounds on it and my surgeon said that my liver was in fine shape.

My surgeon required a high protein low carb diet. I had to do it for one week and I lost 10 pounds. I was very relieved to not have to do liquids.