Diet Sabotage... Anyone else?? :uhoh:

Hello friends. I'm 3 weeks from RNY with Dr. Hong. I'm supposed to lose 10-15 pounds and I can't seem to wrap my head around it. I try to eat the pre-op diet and all I do is eat the WRONG things! Do I need emergency psych services? Is this normal? Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks Julia

Hang in there - you can do it! You and I have some very similiar history. I was about the same age and weight as you, and languished in the Kaiser bariatric program for two years. You got further than me. I did all of the requirements (Freedom from Diet classes, support group attendance, sleep study, etc.) including several sessions with the Julie/Brenda team. They deemed me "not ready for surgery" because I hadn't lost any weight pre-op. That is where I remained stalled, despite desperately wanting to go forward. I read your profile, and can imagine how you felt getting a surgery date and then having it cancelled. I am all for preparation, and being committed to life changes before going into this WLS. With a surgery date in a few weeks, I think it is wise to lose some weight to make your surgery day be as successful and safe as possible. However, I know that if I had been required to lose 30-40 pounds like Kaiser wanted to see, I would still be pre-op. Closer to death, more damaged by my weight related health problems. I don't know why, but Dr. Hong didn't make me lose any weight pre-op. He didn't want me to gain any, and strongly suggested I lose what I could. I am so grateful that I was able to go forward. I am a compliant post-op, and continue to be VERY committed to my changes in diet and excercise. If anything, I was suffering from the last supper syndrome. Maybe that was what I needed to leave my old life behind. In other words, I think you are pretty normal in your struggle. Now....get your head around it. Do what you have to. It's such a short bit of time, find a way. You have worked too hard for this! Dr. Hong is a great doctor, and you are in such good hands with him. Good luck! Patty

Patty: Thank you for your kind words and support. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one in this position. I'm so glad you were able to get out of the Kaiser whirlpool and get the surgery. I'm also glad to hear that you are a compliant post op and that gives hope for my own journey. Take care and all the best. Julia

Julia If you could lose 10-15 lbs by dieting I do believe you would have done it ages ago. I do not understand why some doctors want weight loss right before bariatric surgery, unless they are hoping for a little loose abdomenial skin. (if they are doing it laprascopically-) But if it is Laprascopic they blow you up with gas anyway. Believe me you don't need psych services. I should know, I'm a psych nurse. Not being able to follow the diet sounds really normal to me. You are starting to get mega stressed; you are making an unbelievable life change, and you are knowingly letting some relative stranger re-route your plumbing, and you don't really know what is going to happen to you afterwards. Hmmmm......it is actually a testament to your determination to make life affirming choices that you are going through with this. God Bless and Keep You- Di