I'm in a bit of a funk... I had my consult a couple of weeks ago, and was instructed by the surgeon to lose 20-25 lbs before surgery. Since then, I've come up with every excuse under the sun not to go the gym. Maybe it will change when I actually have a surgery date....

How have you all been successful at losing weight pre-op

Thanks,

Melissa

I do understand, I was there and my mind was working against me. I started practicing the Lap Band rules. Chew slowly, take small bites, and I had to cut out fast food. That made me meal plan. Then I began eating less and less. Began drinking one shake a day as a meal replacement. I would try not to eat until I was actually hungry with stomach growling and pain and all. It helped me to cut back on my eating and I found out that food is not the most important think on earth.

I wasn't successful. I gained weight between my consult and my surgery. But I was on steroids and that does it to me every time.

Hi Melissa, I did low carbs and drank huge amounts of water:

Breakfast - I would have 2 cooked eggs or a South Beach Diet Cereal Bar

lunch - I would take one of the South Beach Diet wraps (in the lunchmeat section by the Oscar Meyer Lunchables)

snack - I would have a small handful of peanuts

dinner - meat (pork chop, steak) with a green vegetable

snack - I made a different flavor of sugar free Jello each night and would have approx 1 cup.

One of my pre-op requirements was to have an endscopy and when I was weighed at that procedure I was 255, I just had band surgery this Monday and weighed 234.

Other good things to snack on: almonds 2 carbs, no sugar added fudgesicles only had 4 net carbs, carb control yougurt, sliced lunchmeat.

I did not go to the gym during this time, I never have the energy when I get home from work. If you do low carbs, it's important to remember to take your daily Vitamin. My doctor recommend this diet, and I followed it because it is supposed to help shrink your liver which helps with the surgery.

All the best,

I've been thinking about this lots and really believe that since I've decided to have the surgery NOW is the time to start changing bad habits. I'd also really like to take advantage of the fact that I can usually diet very successfully for six weeks or so, so if I could do that, which usually brings me to the 7 or 8kg that is my maximum weight loss ever (can never get past that amount, never) then going into surgery and having a month of liquid and mushy diet afterwards should blast me through that.

OK so I'm being very idealistic but its better than having no intentions at all I guess.

I've been just counting Weight Watchers points, so that I can allow foods that will not be good choices afterwards. Its only human to want to say goodbye to things you think you'll never eat again. Logically you know you will probably eat them again one day but in a different manner.

But that whole last supper thing, eating huge amounts, out of control, its not very good for you going into surgery. It really upsets your body to have big weight swings. Try to think of it in terms of your health. I dont know that giving you an amount of weight to lose is all that helpful but focussing on levelling out your eating, treating your body well and starting to practice good habits is a way of caring for yourself. You've made a big step towards putting yourself first, and doing somethng good for yourself, dont start on your new life by treating yourself badly.

Thank you all for your support and ideas. Well...no more excuses, becuase now I have a date!!! January 5th!! I'm excited to get my butt in gear.

It will be quite the month of January, as my husband and I are building a house that's scheduled to close on Jan. 17th. Hope I'm feeling up to it.

Surgery day is a Thursday...is it unrealistic to plan to come back to work on Monday?

Thanks again...I love this place!