Question about Pre op weight loss

Sherry, I do occassionally skip meals or wait until I just can't stand it any more to eat.  I know I need to quit doing this and work on better eating habits and that is what I am trying to do now as I go through all the pre-op process. I have been to 2 of Dr Katsis' information seminars and a nutritionist hasn't been mentioned at either one of them and neither has a pre-op diet.  I think I will call the Crystal ( his nurse ) and ask her. So far she has been great with calling me back and answering my  questions. I have done really well today getting my water in and with eating.  I do snack some and it is usually on a sugar free fudgesicle. I have 2 or 3 of those a day.  I guess I need to cut those out. They are 40 calories each.  I also use www.my-calorie-counter.com for counting calories, carbs and protein.  It is a great site.  I am also thinking of joining curves and getting moving.  I have alot of physical limitations so I don't exercise very much.  I don't even walk very much but I do walk every day as far as I can, but  you could say I am sedentary due to pain. I really appreciate everyone's support and encouragement. I am going to keep working on it.  Tomorrow is my weigh in day and hopefully I will have lost something.
Emily

Sherrie, I do retain water and alot of it.  The Dr just put me on Lasix for it.  My hands and feet have been staying puffy and red.  I have been on the lasix for a few days now, but it has also been TOM time too.  So, I have wanted to eat a house.  I have terrible TOM cravings.  I try to keep them in check, but sometimes I just lose control.  I can relate to gaining alot in a short amount of time.  After I got so frustrated several months ago I quit trying to and gained 20 pounds in 5 weeks. Talk about being bummed out after that.  I am trying to get that 20 pounds off and I would like to get a little more off.  You have done a great job losing weight in 2 weeks.  I wish I could do that.  I think one other thing I need to do is watch the sauce.  I use a lot of sauces like mayonaisse, ketchup, bbq sauce, A1 and such.  I am not a butter eater thankfully, but I do like my sauces.  I guess I need to give those up as well.  I feel like I have given so much up now it isn't funny....I want it though so I have to do it.
thanks for inspiring me.
emily

I am pretty sure Dr. Katsis will send you to a nutritionist if he doesn't have one on staff.  The nutritionist will guide you in setting up a diet plan to accomodate your health issues and still lose weight.  Most doctors require at least a little bit of weight loss pre-op.  Even one of the doctors in Mexico has begun requiring a 2 week liquid diet pre-op.  Thank goodness Drs. Walton and Broussard haven't done that! 

I didn't think I would be able to lose the required weight but I did plus some more.  I think the pre-op diet is essential to post-op success.  Eating is such a head thing.  I really needed to detox from all the carbs and get my head screwed on right.

i had to lose 33lbs and thought i could never do it. but i had it lost by my next appointment. i cut out bread, pasta, rice and pop. i quit snacking on evil foods and just snacked on natural peanut butter which is pretty good. also i was put on a very strict exercise routine by my husband. i ended up losing 40lbs by my surgery date. you can do this if this is what you really want. it is not a walk in the park and is hard but you have to be determined to do what the dr says in order to have your surgery. good luck!

I was not required by Dr Warnock to lose any weight pre-op, but I wanted to get used to the new lifestyle so I did end up losing just over 20 lbs as I learned to re-configure the diet, so to speak.  I don't know how Dr. Katsis will do things.  I just taught myself how to cut out sodas and fast food... that was a big one with me.   Then I worked really hard with portion sizes.  Trust me, it wasn't easy.  I used to be able to put away a LOT of food.  I saw a nutritionist out on Fort Sill who helped me out with my food journaling and such... It was just easier to see someone locally for that part of things.  If I can be of anymore help, let me know.

Emily:  This is the hard part.  When I first started this, I would have jumped through hoops if I could have even lost 3 lbs!  I had the same feeling that if I could lose weight, I wouldn't need this surgery.  Dr. Walton said that dangling surgery in front of a person who wants it, will motivate them.  I love, love, love bread!  When I found out that Dr. Walton doesn't want us to eat bread, pasta, rice because it stretches the pouch, I wanted to walk away.  But, I wanted to be a healthier person for myself and my family.  I gave those things up immediately.  I followed their diet for a couple of months, but not religiously.  Finally in July, I was tired of trying to get the 10% weight off (had 42 lbs to lose), I wanted to get the final 19 lbs. off by my next appt in August.  I drank EAS Low Carb Shakes -- like 4 per day, and had lunch of protein and vegs.  By August appointment, I lost the last 19 lbs. and had a date set.  You can do this!  Doesn't really make a difference if your doctor has you lose 10% of your weight or go on a liquid diet for 2 weeks prior to your surgery, the more you do now, the better you will be at surgery time.  Giving up the junk now, will prepare you for later.  You go through withdrawals from the bad stuff, and you want to do that now, not after surgery.   I think if you would start a food journal, you would see a lot of things you could give up that would start bringing the scale down.  You mentioned all the sauces.  Be honest with yourself.  I so relate to the pain side of exercise too.  Do something to move.  Sit in a chair and move your arms around, lift your legs up and down, walk down your driveway a couple of times a day.  Work up to walking down your driveway and then to the end of your yard.  Small steps, Emily will win the race.  We are all pulling for you.  We care about you and want to see you succeed!  And you will!!  Praying for you, Michael.

Michael, thanks for your prayers. That means so much to me to know that some one is praying for me.  I also appreciate the encouragement.  I know I need to give up sauces for sure and get a moving. I need a lot of things and getting motivated is one of the things that I need. I am going to try really hard and maybe just maybe I will see a loss.  I have been drinking 2 shakes a day and having a meal and maybe that just isn't enough. I know I feel like I am starving to death, but know that I am not really.  Thanks again. It means a lot.
emily

I use Dr. Katsis also, and I am not required to lose any weight. You just can't gain any weight from your weigh in at the consultation. After your weigh in and nut. appt. you have to go back in 4 weeks to weigh in again and you can't have gained any weight. His pre-op requirements are pretty simple. Just 5 day full liquid diet and 1 day clear liquid.

 Thank you. It is nice to talk to someone using the same Dr. I was going to call Crystal and ask her about it. I am still going to try to lose some weight before I go in for the consult.  It would be nice to get down about 20 pounds. I think I can handle the liquid diet with no problem. That must be to shrink the liver. I have read that that is what the liquid diet is for. How much have you lost since your surgery?
Emily