How did you do it?

Update: I've been to one nutrionist visit and two psych visits(she says I'll pass with no problem)... I'm hoping that once I see Dr Alger in November, I'll have a set date for surgery. How did you guys drop the pre-op 10% (usually)required?

I didn't have to do a preop diet (could be I was/am a light weight). I did however go on the liquid diet before surgery for 10 days and lost 12 pounds before my doctor told me I didn't have to do the diet. I would suggest to drop your 10% required that you do the protein shakes, cut the carbs, drink water water water & exercise. When your moving your losing!

That is what I did. It is pretty much the South Beach Diet. High protein, low carbs and low fat. I have a protein shake in the morning for breakfast. That gives me 30 grams of my protein(with the milk) for the day. That is what my doctor suggested. I am down 9 pounds so far since the end of April.  Christine

Yeah, that's pretty much what I've done too.   I buy the powdered Slim-Fast (high protein version) and make my own very slushy shake every morning.   Then I take a Lean Cuisine to work for lunch.   ( I used to go out every single day for fast food or pizza or subs, so that was a huge change) We have a popcorn machine at work, so if I get hungry I snack on popcorn.  I also bought some South Beach Diet bars that are yummy (but I try not to eat them often because even though they are high protein, they're also high calorie) For dinner I focus on protein and veggies.   I've completely cut out all "desserts" (except sugar free pudding cups) and limit my carb intake to a small amount.   I gave up Diet Coke (after a 20 year addiction) and switched to the Lipton Diet White Tea with Rasberry (YUM!!) and I drink at least six bottles of that a day (I buy the little TO GO pouches and just pour it into my bottled water.   I was doing good about walking a mile or two daily, but then we had a massive heat spell and I just couldn't stand it.  I do make an effort to not sit around as much though.   I've lost 11 pounds in about seven weeks.  I need to lose another four before 7/31/07 when I have my final pre-op appt.  My doctor didn't require a 10% loss, but he did require a minimum of 10 pounds...and he prefers 20 if you can do it.  I'm aiming for 15.  My surgery is on 8/6/07.   If anyone had told me that I could be happy eating this way, I wouldn't have believed them, but I want this surgery to be smooth and successful, so I'm quite content to do this now for the reward in the end! 

Thanks for your input. I'm nervous about losing the pre-op weight, too. Very nervous. Makes me want to eat nervous. I feel like it's Catch 22 - I need to have the surgery, but I have to lose weight to have the surgery. HELP!!

Who is requiring you to lose 10% of your weight? The surgeon, or the insurance company?

I believe it is a requirement of my insurance company...also the surgeons at Albany Med require the 10% loss, before they'll even schedule the surgery.

We'll see what happens.

Well, thats understandable. They want to make sure that you can try to lose as much as you can before surgery to help the liver Shrink.  Our surgeons will postpone your surgery if you have gained weight on before your surgery and they will check it.  As far as the insurance company requiring you to lose 10%, thats common. Plus they want to see if you can handle the change before surgery as well as after surgery. If you can't folloe simple instructions before surgery, some surgeons won't release you to have the surgery because this is no quick fix. You have to be able to handle instructions after surgery and some people are really not mentally prepared for what is about to happen to them.