need some help

I just found out today that I have to loss another 50 lbs before I can get the surgery. my dr is going to put me on 4 weeks of a liquid diet. do you all think I will loss 50 lbs on that? and what kinds of foods can I have on the liquid diet? I am thinking about starting the diet a week early but I dont know what foods I can have. if any of you can help please let me know. thanks Brandy

Wow, that seems like alot. I would be thinking, gee if I could lose 50 pounds in a month, why would I need surgery? I guess I was lucky in that my surgeon didn't require a weight loss before surgery. If you want to try a liquid diet, you might try St. Vincent's full liquid stage that they use for the first four weeks after surgery. It's on this link: http://www.wlsindy.com/Phases/Page%201%20-%20the%20first%204%20weeks.pdf Linda Vicory

thanks for the web site it should help alot. Brandy

You might consider doing a liquid protein diet. You need a good protein level for healing at surgery time and a regular liquid food diet would not be very high in protein. Also the protein drinks would be a little more filling. Best wishes. Peg

I know dr .Mattar does that on some people with fatty livers ...Wants 25lbs it can be done.. Good luck

Brandy, I agree with Sandra about the Liquid Protein. You definately want to keep your protein level up. What I would recommend is Shake-a-whey (available at Cutting Edge Nutrition). They are about $3.50 for a large container. Each container has 420 calories and 65 g of protein. You will have a hard time finding a more economical protein drink. It comes is strawberry (tastes like Nestle's Strawberry drink), chocolate & vanilla. I mix the chocolate & vanilla and add cold decaf coffee to get a mocha java with the right consistency. Swanson's also has a chicken broth that has fairly good protein per serving (4 or 5 g). I know you are wanting to lose weight quick, but I would also recommend your getting some sugar-free or lite grape juice and drinking 8 oz every day. With liquid diets, you aren't getting in enough carbs to serve your body's needs. The grape juice will help with that. I personally would be of the attitude that if I can lose 50 lbs in one month without having the surgery....why have the surgery. What is your starting weight? My highest was 352 and the day of the surgery 344. If I had thought that one more diet would have kick started my losing weight, I would had tried that first. Who is placing this requirement on you...insurance, surgeon, or pcp? Sherri

my highest was 495 but when I started my 6 months of diet for the ins company I was at 445 I am at 385 right now. but they want me to be around 330 for surgery. I lost around 61 lbs on my 6 month diet. I know it sounds crazy. the dr told me when I went and seen him last month that he would like to see me loss another 20 lbs before surgery I was like great i can do that and then on friday the lady from his office said no that I should be around 330 for surgery. I dont think they know what I have to be before surgery. thanks for all your help Brandy

Brandy, I think thats insane. If you can lose that kind of wt before surgery then why would u need surgery. I was almost 400 lbs (394) and I didnt have to lose one lb before my surgery...matter of fact I probably gained 10 or 20 from all the farwell meals I was gorging on those last 2 weeks. If its not your insurance requiring this you might want to look into changing Drs. I know I had mine at St Vs and all the drs there seem to be really great. If I could have stayed on a diet long enough to get 50 lbs off...I think I could have done it the rest of the way....for me I just couldnt do it alone. Im so greatful for what this surgery has done for me...Its saved my life. I have a LIFE again. Pamela