Start Atkins - pre surgery??

I posted this earlier on the Atkins group discussion - would love your input as well:

Hi,

I am in the beginning process of getting the sleeve.  Probably earliest I would have surgery is May.  My BMI is 40-41 ish and don't want to jeopardize insurance benefits, but I really want to start doing something.  It feels weird not being on a "diet" or something.

Anyway, I have done almost every diet known to man.  I have tried Atkins in the past, but never really "stuck" to it.  Doesn't seem like I can stick to anything.  I had tried the new Weigh****chers program, and even though I felt pretty well when I was on it, I lost 4# and gained them back.  Ugh.
I have seen where many of you who have had surgery are stating that low carb is your way of keeping weight off.  Should I just start Atkins now and see if I lose without surgery???  I have the new Atkins book and everything - I am just so scared to fail again.  

Also, I understand how the surgery is a tool to help you lose, but how has your behavior changed as a result of the surgery?  Do you think if you would have done Atkins prior to surgery you could have avoided the surgery?

Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks!  Lynn

P.S.  I am 53 & menopausal & hypothyroid, would love to lose about 80#

Hi Lynn!!

I think most of us can vouch that we HAD done the Atkins diet if not once, several times before we had WLS.  You can give it a try though if you want to see if you can lose the weight without surgery.  I have lost 30-40 lbs countless times... but gained them all back.

My metabolism (I'm 51) was broken from the yo-yo dieting and I needed some intervention, thus the WLS.  The surgery is a tool for you to get the weight off, but during the active weight loss phase you are learning new and good eating habits.  The success you'll have keeping the weight off will depend on whether you maintain your good habits you learned while losing weight.  Most of us have found that low-carbing is what works for us.  There are some on the board here that like low-fat.  It all depends on you and what kind of eater you are and what works for you. 

Would your insurance be paying for the WLS?  Have you done any research into the type you'd like to have?

Most insurance copanies want a BMI of 40+ without comorbidities and 35-39 with comorbidities. 

Best of luck and glad you found us!

Hi,

Thanks for writing back.  I have Fed BCBS. 

I feel that I would benefit from an intervention as well. I have battled weight my whole life.  I have been nervous about surgery & also beating myself up that I cannot get weight off at this point - mainly because I have not been able to stick to anything for any length of time.  I am scared that the surgery will help me get weight off, but I haven't been able to figure out what the difference is that people have been successful in changing their habits for good.  Does the surgery somehow change what you WANT to eat?  

I am planning on getting the sleeve.

Thanks again!

Lynn

I had been on Atkins and everything else at one time or another.  I knew I couldn't do it myself and keep the weight off.  I know maintainance won't be easy after surgery either, but at least my capacity will be less.

I lost 16 lbs in a month on Optifast before surgery.  But without the surgery, I don't think I would have kept it off.

I think for me surgery did change what I wanted to eat to some extent.  I have never been a big carb person but I really could care less about them at this point.  I still want veggies but not simple carbs. I was a volume eater.  Althought I ate mostly good for you things, I ate too much.  Now I eat much more reasonable portions. 

Thank you!

I am a BIG EATER, big carb lover.  I also am a very emotional eater - and that is probably what is my biggest fear - how to deal with that.  I just started reading the "Beck Diet Solution" book & workbook so that will help prepare me for surgery/weight loss journey.

I, too, have tried just about everything out there.  Once I deviate, then all is over and I go back to bad habits.

I think it is wise that you are asking yourself these questions. To make this surgery a long term success, I think it is crucial that we ask ourselves these and many other questions. There are several layers to think about when considering WLS.

There is of course the active losing phase, which I think is the easy part. I am not at goal yet, and am aware that it will take work on my part to keep my excess weight off. I too have been on many diets, and am definitely a "volume eater". My hopes are that I will always stop consuming calories when I reach satiety. I have always been able to lose weight. Well, usually. I've had a lot of 20 pound losses, which were a good start, but not enough. I would then gain it all back, plus extra.

For me, this surgery wasn't to just lose weight. I was to give me that tool I needed to figure out how to KEEP it off. that seems to be the biggest problem for most people with extra weight... long term success. Good luck in your personal weight loss journey.

kim

I do low carb as well mostly because my body doesn't like gluten but since the surgery my number 1 favorite thing to eat I can no longer stand, chocolate or anything sweet for that sake I can't eat and don't want to eat. Your eating habits can help determine what surgery you want to get..for me and my sweet tooth I knew RNY would be for me. For my husband who is an overeater DS was for him..

I think my eating habits are "all of the above"  - lol.

Seriously - I can be a "snacker", but I think my main downfall is carbs/junk food.