Introduction

Welcome to the board and the start of your journey. I have Atena Blue Cross of CA and although I didn't have to go on a pre-op diet for insurance purposes my doc still had me do a pre surgery liquid diet. It wa explained to me that part of it was to get accustomed to a lesser calorie lifestyle but also to reduce the fatty tissues in the liver. They said that was important if my surgery was to be done laprospically not open. I was already working out and eating less when I decided to go down the WLS road back in April of 2007 and lost about 35lbs before my surgery in December 2007. Although I did have a couple of 'last suppers' during that time, I believe in my situation it did help me with my surgery, especially the first phase of liquids that we all enjoy. Since I was on liquids for about 3 weeks prior to my surgery, it wasn't a shock when I started that phase.  Good luck!

The pre-WLS diet and exercise program was no laughing matter for me since my WL surgeon told me he wasn't going to operate on me after I gained 9 pounds in the first month of the program. I gained a lot of respect for him taking that stance since I immediately got with the program and ended up losing 52 pounds prior to WLS.  I'm sure the insurance company bastages use the requirement to minimize their WLS approvals but the pre-WLS diet and exercise program allowed me to transition much more easily to my new life post-WLS. I had already developed most of the nutritional and exercise habits which I needed after the surgery.

The other critical aspect of a pre-WLS weight loss is to shink the liver and get rid of some of the belly fat so WLS would be easier for the surgeon. A final benefit for us former super heavyweights is that the surgeon was able to perform the surgery laproscopically rather than split my guts open. Much easier surgery and recovery. 

I haven't seen any such research but I would bet a shiny nickle there is a positive correlation between success with the pre-WLS diet and exercise program and success post-WLS. In other words, the more you get with the program prior to WLS, the better overall success you will have in losing weight and getting healthy post-WLS. Boner

From the Johns Hopkins Weight Loss Management Center:

Do you have programs programs for people who have had, or plan to have, bariatric surgery?

The Weight Management Center offers 3- and 6-month pre-bariatric weight loss programs (as required by many insurance plans and surgeons). There are two main benefits to completing our pre-bariatric program:

• weight loss achieved during the pre-op program helps to reduce the risk of complications during surgery
• preparation and support for dietary and behavioral changes will increase the success of post-surgical weight loss and will help with long-term weight control
  

This sounds crazy, but my surgeon's nurse told me not to lose too much weight in the required 6 month diet before surgery, because the ins. company might decide I didn't need the surgery after all. Well I didn't lose too much weight, but it was an eye opener to see how out of control my eating was.  I agree with the other guys. Use this time to examine your eating habits. Start eating smaller meals 4 or 5 times a day. Start getting some exercise, even if it is only walking short distances-- one hundred or two hundred yards. The more you can walk before surgery, then the more you can walk after surgery and the faster the weight will come off. Good Luck, Dan