How much weight did you lose prior to WLS?

My brother is having WLS next Tuesday and he just passed his "lose 35 pounds or no surgery" test.  It wasn't easy for him given a medical condition which limited his ability to walk or exercise as many of us here can relate to. So, job well done Big Boner!  (he lurks here but not much of a poster yet).

Seems like more and more doctors (and insurance companies) are requiring losing 10% or more of your weight before they operate. 

My surgeon made me lose 50 pounds over the 3 months prior to WLS. It wasn't easy and I actually gained 9 pounds the first month of my "diet and exercise program." When my surgeon saw this, he flew off the handle and told me he didn't operate on people who weren't interested in "getting with the program."

Best thing that ever happened to me as it scared the living daylights out of me. He put me on Optifast, I started walking and lost 52 pounds the next two months. Turned out to be good preparation for life after WLS. 

Boner    

I lost 53 pounds in the 2 months prior to WLS.  1st month - Slimfast.   2nd month - BMR Shakes from the surgeon (same as optifast).   Not a lot of fun, but made the surgery and transition a lot easier.

My doc didn't require any weight loss prior to surgery he just didn't want you to gain.  He wanted me to go on a high protien low carb/sugar diet two weeks prior to surgery, but he advised that this was to attempt to shrink the liver in order to make operating easier.  I was a moderate lightweight, however (310 pounds at my first visit), so the heavier patients may have been told otherwise.  I lost 11 pounds in those two weeks. 

I lost about 20 lbs pre-op.  He said that I needed to shrink my belly as well as my liver (My belly rides high and he needed room for the lap, otherwise open).

At my first visit to the surgeon, I was 374.  By the time I went back two weeks later, I had GAINED four pounds - now at 378, the surgeon still wanted me to lose 30 pounds from my first visit, so actually 34.

I ended up putting my surgery off about two extra weeks due to some business travel I had to do.  By the date of my surgery, 5/5/08, I was at 330, minus 48 pounds from my highest.  I was on what they called an aggressive plan - protein shake for breakfast, protein bar for snack twice a day, and small balanced lunch and dinner - virtually no carbs at all.

It sucked, but I'm glad I did it because it helped me get my head screwed on straight prior to surgery.

Best of luck to your brother with his surgery!
John

So I guess it depends on the surgeron and insurance requirements as they seem to differ quite a bit.  I had to do a 6 month medically supervised diet and exercise program but there were no success or failure criteria unti the surgeon's required 2 week liver shrinking diet ending on the scheduled surgery date.  That being said, I was at 408 at my heaviest.  By the time I saw the surgeon that did my RNY (2nd surgeon as the first wanted to do Lap-Band and the more I learned about it the less I wanted it thn my insurance declared RNY with gall bladdr removal or they would not approve the surgery; that help make my decision too),...anyway, I had lost 13 lbs on my own to 395.  With the liver shrinking thing for 2 weeks I lost to 374 by day of surgery. So to me its a psych thing and a display of commitment to yourself and the doctor(s) that is worth the effort.  The danger is some folks lose a few pounds and then start thinking,...why have the surgery?  Let me put out the reminder to those with these thought or other last minute/11th hour  cold feet,...How many times have we lost weight before and put it back on later plus more?  This surgery is a life changing thing if you play by the rules.  Losing a total of 184 pounds for me  has changed ny life.  I only wish I had done it sooner.

Keep rocking there Boner and Big Boner the lurking dude!

I've looked around the internet to find any type of study which correlates pre-WLS weight loss with the ultimate success from the surgery and maintenance over the long haul (i.e. 3 years or so). In other words, "getting with the nutritional eating and exercise program" prior to WLS means you'd have a better chance of success of keeping the weight off over the long haul. 

Haven't been able to find anything but I've always thought there's could be a link between the two. Would be interesting to find out if there is. 

Boner 

I wasn't required to loose a certain amount before surgery. I ended up loosing 16 pounds on that horrible pre-op liquid diet phase, though. He said he would be able to tell if I'd followed it or not. I guess I passed

My surgeon said that I had to lose 50 lbs for surgery. I knew if I went on WW that I would get close but maybe slide back...so that being said I decided on Optifast. The hospital I am having surgery offers Optifast as well...so it was a bonus.  I will be beyond the 50 lb mark by the time surgery rolls around..hoping closer to 70 lbs.

-Rob

I was on a required 6 month supervised diet prior to surgery.  I visited my pcp every month and told him how much i weighed.  Since his scale did not go above 350 I just guessed each month as to how much i weighed.  After 6 months I think i gained 20 pounds.  LOL

Jim D