Pre op weight loss frustration

I am hoping to have RNY surgery some time this winter with Dr Singh through Albany Medical Center and one of the pre op regs is that you have to lose 10% of your body weight before surgery. For me that's about 30 pounds. The first few weeks, I was ok with it, but like all other diets, I am starting to get frustrated. I just twisted my ankle on Thanksgiving eve coming home from the turkey day party, so I have not been able to exercise since then. I have already lost 10 pounds and I'm so scared I'm going to start to gain if I don't exercise. I feel like I'm back in weigh****chers again! I just want to have the surgery and have the opportunity to use the tool that the surgery provides to get a grip on this weight loss thing...something I have not succeeded at before. Frustrating!!!!

WOW 10% is a lot to have to lose! My medical insurance required that we lose 5% and I thought that was hard enough considering I had already lost a lot of weight on my own and they weren't counting that! (It had to be within the last 6 months for them to count it.) Hang in there though! I joined WW to help me lose my weight and I stuck to it even though I was starving at times because I wanted this surgery so bad!! You can do it!! Hugs, Vi

Thanks for your encouragement Vi. I can understand, in a way, why it's a good idea to lose some weight prior to surgery, but I wouldn't be having the surgery in the first place if I was successful dieting! Anyway, I'm glad to know that others have succeeded in this goal. Thank you for your feedback! Amy

Hi Amy. Im frustrated right along with you! lol Although it sounds like you are doing much better than me. I have to lose 5% which is only 11 lbs, but at the rate im going it may as well be 80lbs! I have lost 8 lbs but that has been since Oct. 10th! I also had to quit smoking per my surgeons orders. I have to be 6 weeks smoke free or no surgery. Im having a hard time too. I will give you an idea that one of the nurses gave me last visit. She told me to replace one of my meals with a glass of the carnation instant breakfast (no fat one - blue box). Ive been doing that and go back tomorrow to be weighed again. Its not bad tasting..just mix it with a cup of skim milk. Its better than slim fast if you have ever had that. Hope it works for you. Good luck. Karen

Hi Karen, The Carnation instant breakfast sounds like a good idea. Good way to get Calcium too. I'll have to try that. Thank you for your input. It's so nice to know that I'm not the only one struggling! Hugs, Amy

((HUG))) I too had that requrement put on me to loose ten percent of my weight pre op. FOR me it was 25 lbs.... I got started dropped the first 12 lbs rather quick.....then got stressed when i saw the cardiologist...and had to go for an angiogram. I got off track thinking i had needed heart bypass or stents put in and wouldnt get my weight loss surgery so I lost the motivation. ALL that came back fine i went back to my surgeon with all my pre op clearances and of course he insisted if i didnt loose the rest of the weight no surgery. I begged him to book me a date (for motivation and goal) and that i would be back in his office in 2 weeks with the rest of the weight off. AND i dont know how but I got on track and did it. I wanted the surgery bad enough and did it. I would recomment AKINS very clean inducation and in ONE month you just might be able to drop 30 lbs! GOOD LUCK! and I think if you want the surgery bad enough you can do it. I didnt excersie one drop pre op to loose the weight so dont let the foot injury get you down. GOOD LUCK ((HUG)) LISA 310/198/???

Thank you for all of your kind words and support Lisa! The nutritionist has put me on a plan that is referred to as the Mediterranean Diet--low carb, low fat. I guess they want me to stick with that. Maybe they will consider allowing me to use diet aids that they offered such as Optifast. I go for a f/u visit with the medical nutritionist this week and we'll see what we can come up with. For now, it's nice to know that this is a common struggle, because it's so easy to beat myself up! Anyway, thanks for your hugs and support! Amy

Hi Amy, I guess we are practically neighbors I did not have my surgery with Dr Singh but went with Dr Lirio in Schenectady. He also required 10% weightloss but I was required to be on a medically supervised diet for 6 months and that was enough to get me down the 10%. I know that there is a support group at Albany Med, maybe you could go and try to find a diet buddy (since all pro ops will have to lose 10% also), someone you can be accountable to and get support from. Maybe you can even walk together or whatever. I know its difficult but think about how worth it the end result will be. Good Luck Michele

Hi Michele, Next week, I have to attend a second of two required educational seminars and I am looking forward to chatting with the attendees re: their challenges losing the 10%. I'm sure you're right that having support from other folks who are struggling with the same challenges is essential. I'm so glad to have found this web site and people like you who are supportive and knowledgable. Thanks for your input. Fondly, Amy

Amy, Hun I know it is so hard to lose weight, if it was easy we all would not need to have this surgery so you hang in there and do your best. Know that THIS diet is very different and that THIS diet will not last forever. You will change your way of eating after surgery and that is great to know so hang in there and believe you WILL get through this part of your journey. ~Hugs~ Debra P