S.O.S. They've shut me off food all together!

Okay guys, talk me off the ledge! I had a brief weigh in with my nutritionist today. I had gained 9lbs from my appointment with her until I met with my surgeon. I was given a surgery date of June 1, with the understanding that I'll need to lose that weight. I'd only lost 3lbs. at the weigh in today, so the nutritionist strongly suggested I start the liquid diet until my pre op appointment with the surgeon next Wednesday the 28th. (I knew that's what they recommended for the week prior to surgery but now they want me to do it NOW.) It was so embarrassing. She seemed very serious and disappointed in me and I left the office feeling like a big fat failure! (Geesh, if it was easy to do I would've done it before!) I know in reality this is what I signed up for and I need to do this to make it work, but the other side of me says the pounds are coming down, couldn't they give me encouragement and tell me to keep working on it. I mean seriously don't they see the whole psychological monster they're creating by pushing me? Though I've been working towards this for the last year and have made endless arrangements with work and family to have the surgery on June 1st, they can pull the plug on it all if they want until the 6 pounds are gone. (Yet when I ask if they will reject me for surgery if I don't lose the weight, everyone looks at me and shrugs, "Hmmm, we don't know.") I guess I'm feeling sorry for myself, but I just feel it shouldn't be all or nothing. Am I completely whacked or what?

I know how you feel. I lost the weight they wanted me to lose, but I have been trying to maintain it, for 6 weeks already. It's hard to do. If I could maintain weight loss, I wouldn't be here. So far I have been lucky, and working hard at it. BUT, my surgeon has us do the weight loss not only to shrink your liver to make it easier to move during surgery, but also to see if we are committed to losing on the other side, if we are capable of adjusting to the tremendous changes we face post-op. Just my opinion. Don't give up!! You've come this far. You can do it. Anne

Dee Blue: You can do it!!! I know easy for me to say. Just think about how good you will feel down the road. How healthy you will be. You will do super. Chryssie

Don't get discouraged. A lot of people have to do the liquid diet 1-2 weeks prior to surgery. It's hard, but keep the end goal in sight and keep reminding yourself why you are doing this. Six pounds is nothing and on the liquid diet, it will come right off. Good luck and lean on us if you need to. Maggie

Dee, first I have to say I wish you luck, and I will pray for you. I don't understand why some docs insist upon a "diet" prior to surgery. My thought is that if "we" could do the diet thing, we wouldn't need the surgery! Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's insane. Sorry just my opinion! Good luck to you Dee. JA

I had to lose 10 poundsnd it was harder todo than the surgery. WHEW I'm glad I did it! Good luck and god bless, pam

Hang in there, Dee Blue. Have you tried Atkin's? I had to lose 10 pounds before my surgery and I did Atkins and it wasn't too bad. It came off and I was able to keep it off, even though I had wayyyy to many 'last suppers'. Just remember, any weight you lose before surgery will make it easier for your doctor, thus making it easier and healthier for you. Thats really what it's all about. We're here for you! -Deb

You can do it!! It's got to be very hard, and you're at a place where you're feeling very emotional anyway, getting ready for surgery & a big life change; it must be very hard to NOT lean on food as we all tend to when we're stressed. That said, try as hard as you can to do the liquid diet & you'll be in surgery before you know it. I'll be thinking of you & cheering you on!! Best of luck! Kathy F.

Pick your battles. Now is not the time to prove to your Dr that you're not willling to give up food and change your lifestyle. YOU CAN DO IT, if you have to. I know you may not have been prepared emotionally to let go of the food yet. But, this is a new time in your life and if your surgeon thinks you need to make the change NOW, then do it. You will NEVER regret it. But, you will regret it if you don't do it and it makes surgery more difficult of have the potential to be cancelled. Don't be fooled into thinking a Dr. won't cancel your surgery if they do not think you are being compliant. That's what they're looking for- compliance. Not perfection. Having said all that...perhaps you could slightly compromise by doing liquids for 2 meals and then one solid food meal a day (of course a healthy low fat meal)... I know how difficult it is, but it doesn't get any easier to give up the food just because you've had surgery. It's a major mental transition (and a major loss!) for you now or later. So, if doing it now is what you have to do, then just go for it!! Good luck to you. Lisa C

Thanks to everyone for the wisdom and support. This is what I need to do to get to the other side, then so be it! I gotta admit I'm feeling kinda weak and washed out here on day one, but I know I'll survive and be in better shape for June 1. I'm so glad I found you guys. You are really life savers!...(Hmmm.... Life Savers....yea, even they would sound good right about now...about 40 or 50 Life Savers...yea, that's it. Dunked in dark chocolate...ooohh yea, with some peanuts, too....okay, I'm over the edge...time for another glass of H20!) Thanks again! xo, Dee