Dieting before surgery

I am having such a difficult time with dieting. My nutritionist asked for me to lose 14 pounds by January 11th. It is really difficult around the holidays...not just because of the food, but I have had no time to get to the gym. When I DO go to the gym, I get so discouraged. I am the fattest person there and I get so sore and end up having so much pain when I do try to exercise. I have heard, too, that it is normal to be put on a full liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery. Is that correct? I am sure I will be motivated to do it at that point, knowing that surgery is imminent, but it is so difficult to diest right now. I suppose if I were a successful "dieter" I wouldn't be having surgery. Any feedback on this would be much appreciated. Thanks!!! -Karen

Hi Karen, Yes, I was on a liquid diet ten days prior to surgery...started the day after Thanksgiving last year. As someone who had a lot of weight to lose, the easiest and best exercise I found was walking...outdoor, indoor using Walk Away the Pounds DVDs, on a treadmill. Any is better than none and as you get into it, five minutes (yes, I started at five and was puffing and collapsing into the chair then!) turns into ten and soon you're walking for 30 minutes. You can see real progress unlike the gym where you hurt and feel awkward. I also found that changing one thing at a time as far as dieting really worked so you could try to incorporate post-op behaviors like making a large part of what you eat lean protein, drinking 64 oz. of water, eating slowly, not drinking and eating at the same time. These behaviors will really benefit you after sugery. Just my two cents, --your nut asked you to lose 14 pounds over the holidays by Jan. 11? If we could perform these amazing feats, then we probably wouldn't be looking at surgery as a tool to help us. Don't beat yourself up if you don't lose 14 lbs. Congratulate yourself for any positive changes. Karen -166 lbs. since 12/05/05. Goal: -34 lbs. to goal June 2007.

I agree, don't beat yourself up about it. I was put on a preop diet 12/1 for my 12/15 surgery this year. I lost 22.5 lbs. I did it with SF pudding, SF popscicles, SF Jello and chicken broth. From the looks of the picture I am alot larger than you, so you probably won't lose at much.. but it might help! I will admit though.. the first 7 days were hell! Good Luck Amanda

OMG! I can TOTALLY relate. MY nut asked me to lose weight pre WLS and I CANT DO IT. I also have to do a 2 week fast pre op and feel like knowing that the surgery is the end in sight for me, I know I will have no other choice but to do it. Does that make sense to you? It does to me. This is a hard process and I feel like if I could lose weight on my own I wouldnt be having the surgery. My GOD it is so FRUSTRATING! Keep your chin up and I guess we just have to wait and see what happens, my next appt is this Friday and I gained 4 lbs over the holidays.

Karen, I had Dr. Schauer at the Cleveland Clinic do my surgery on 12/29/2006. I was on the liquid diet for 14 days prior to surgery and lost 16 pounds. When you are only drinking 4 protein drinks a day --- you have to lose weight. I didn't exercise during this time -- although I probably should have!!! Just do what they tell you to do and you will be successful.