What happens if you don't lose enough weight before surgery?

My nutritionists wanted me to drop about 25 pounds prior to surgery. I have been struggling with this but have been losing weight. I was wondering what happens if you don't lose enough weight prior to the surgery date? I am just curious if they will postpone it until I get the weight down or what?

Any ideas on how to get down to the right pre-op weight?

Did the nutritionist give you and eating plan to follow? Mine did- lean meats, turkey, chicken, fish, pork loin (no beef or pork). I lost 47 pounds in 6 months.

The surgeon could choose not to do your surgery. You have to prove you can eat properly.

The advised me to continue with Weigh****chers. Which has been successful most weeks, but when I work 70-75 hours a week, I tend to fall behind on exercise which affects my progress. I am hoping they will understand and still schedule my surgery ( late January ) and give me another month to continue losing weight.

I have the eating down but exercise is tough for me when I work a lot.

First, exercise has very to do with losing weight.  People lose 100's of pounds without exercising at all.  Weight loss is 98% what you are eating.

Second, no one can answer this because everyone's program varies.  Some programs require little to no weight loss, some require loss but are lax about enforcing it, and some are very strict.  Also, some insurances are the same way.  You will have to ask your program to know for certain.

Third, don't feel badly.  I actually think it's cruel to "require" loss before surgery.  Frankly, if that were so easy, then most of us wouldn't need surgery.

Finally, and this is the tough-love part -- you've got to be honest with yourself.  Lots of people work tons of hours (ME!) and lose weight.  If you aren't losing then you DO NOT "have the eating down" -- and the sooner you can acknowledge that the more likely you are to be successful long term.  People often think surgery will fix everything -- but it doesn't fix the head, thinking and relationship with food -- so starting to work on that now is a key to success.   I know because I have been there.  

Good luck!

What Kat said. I also work a lot. I lost my weight while doing some exercise--because movement feels good and helps me sleep--but it was my eating that mattered. 

Your nutritionist is right. 25 lbs would be the minimum you would need to lose.  They start you on optifast for that very reason. To lose weight prior to surgery and to shrink your liver so it's easily retractable to move the liver out of the way. A fatty liver tells the surgeon that you were non compliant as the optifast is directed at the liver and liver alone. 

Weight in the 200 is 0ne week 

weight in the 250 is 2 weeks 

weight in the 300 is 3 weeks 

so if you are in  the 300 range your nutritional it's is asking for you to lose 25lbs in 3 weeks. It's very easily done in a 3 week range. 

If you go and have lost no weight I'm sure they will look at that as non compliance and postpone till the weight is lost. 

I had a gettleman in my surgical class who actually gained weight and he was put back on the optifast for a second course. 

How devastating   would it be to go for surgery only to know they want you to do your optifast again. 

Im sure this can easily be done and sure you have the will to easily do this. 

You got this ok 

easy easy for you 

good luck and enjoy your journey.  

Simon

Optifast is required in Canada. It is not required in the US.

I have heard that. They must have a no carb diet in place. 

Thx for your reply. 

S

There are several different pre-op diets in the US.  However, the original poster isn't taking about the liquid pre-op diet.  He is referring to the weight loss required during the approval stage of surgery.  

My center put me on optifast for 4 weeks. In US.

It depends on a doc or a center..