Dieting and Surgery

Hi, brand new here. So glad my bariatric center gave me the web address ?.

My big thing that keeps running through my head. I am an EXCELLENT dieter. I am a MASSIVE FAILURE at maintaining. 5 years ago i went from 360 to 127. And now im back at 320 ?. Now, i did not have surgery that time.

So this time i went to see a surgeon. Filled out everything and so on. And they hand me the diets. Well...no problem. I can diet. Well in 7 days im down a pants size. I do NOT want to do this AGAIN and regain AGAIN. I need help for long term success. If a surgeon sees that im able to do it alone that wont disqualify me for surgery would it??

My surgeon sort of quietly and "off the record" advised me not to go under the BMI required for surgery. I followed the pre-op diet but was very careful not to lose so much weight that my surgery would get denied.

It is almost impossible to lose more than 50 pounds and to keep it off for more than five years without having had weight loss surgery. Your chance of doing that is about 3%.

Most people who need weight loss surgery will never get it. Because they do not have insurance, do not have enough money, but mostly because they are sure they are good dieters and just have to diet one more time.

But without the reduced stomach, possible malabsorption, and the metabolic changes from the surgery they do diet over and over. The final decision rests with your insurance company, but they will certainly take your ability to do it on your own into consideration.

Likewise, I was close to the minimum BMI, and had to make sure I didn't lose too much.

I was a "lightweight "( 220 or so and 5'9") at my first weigh-in so only my comorbidity ( diabetes ) got me approved.

Then , my surgeon put me on his standard pre-op months long liquid diet which he likes because it brings patients into the operating room healthier and its a test of compliance and willingness.

I dieted so successfully I was smaller than several of the nurses doing pre and post op testing - who couldn't understand why I was getting WLS surgery at all.

I was TERRIFIED up to the very minute they took me in , naked under the sheet and toe-tagged that my surgery was going to get canceled cuz I looked " normal".

Thank God I slipped through the cracks - probably because I was in a giant hospital. And I didn't wake up with a sleeve either ( they were just starting to do those ) but the RNY I really wanted and needed.

Yeah I'd be careful not to diet too far. Technically for insurance purposes your first weigh in is what matters- but things can get postponed ( especially now in the time of Covid) and then whatever weight you're at Will count ( or Could count) .

I'd advise patience through the several months of pre -op requirements and testing.

Nibble on buffets ! Enjoy a brimming plate at food-centered family get togethers ! Eat your goodbye feasts ... enjoy them knowing your whole life and your eating will completely change going forward.

Hugs

" If a surgeon sees that im able to do it alone that wont disqualify me for surgery would it??"

no. I thought that at first too, but what they're looking for (I think...) is if you're able to stick to a program. Because once you have surgery, even though it's a powerful tool, you're still going to have to be committed and follow various rules to be successful.

I think many surgeons prefer that their patients lose some weight prior to surgery. My experience was that I was required to lose 20 pounds.