Question:
A realistic diet
I have to lose 45lbs by September 4th. I see the surgeon on that date and he will determine by that meeting when to set a date. I'm very afraid that I won't be able to lose it. I need to know if there is a realistic diet that I can go on to help me achieve that goal. I would appreciate anybody comments or suggestion because I don't have a lot of support at home. Thank you in advance! — Sweetsilence (posted on June 29, 2007)
June 29, 2007
good for you....45lbs by sept is a huge feat but you can do it..i have lost
37 since last jan. just by a diet alter..no soda, chips,protein shake for
breakfast and lean cuisine or similar for lunch with a fresh veggie or
fruit and portion control for supper. no snacks..add some exercise and
best of luck to you...
— aprilinmaine
June 29, 2007
That's approx. 5 lbs a week...without surgery I don't know if it can be
done but there's still hope. I think if you show the doctor that you have
tried and have succeeded in losing each week, you'll prove to him that you
can be successful. Many people go on the MediFast program which is an all
liquid diet. If you do not want to do it I would have 2 protein shakes a
day and then 3 small meals consisting of 2-4 oz. of protein. Stop eating
refined carbs, limit your complex carbs, i.e. fruits and veggies to a
minimum, have lots of salads but small quantities to get used to eating
less. Drink lots of water, iced tea, non carbonated beverages. To help it
all, exercise. Join Curves and go every day. Walk or use the treadmill
and build up to a level that will increase your heart rate. I find DVD's
boring but if that works for you, purchase a few for variety and do those.
You can also try Weight Watchers but I never knew anyone to lose more than
1-2 lbs a week. If the exercise is hard for you, do 10 minutes 3 x a day.
Diet alone won't cut it, you need to get moving! Good luck.
— Sheri A.
June 29, 2007
It's not an easy task, but you CAN do it! Try the pre-surgery all ilquid
diet and you'll be amazed at the lbs lost. My partner is doing it and
she's lost 20 lbs in 3 weeks. Good luck!
— cherryj
June 29, 2007
I DONT like surgeons who require stuff like this, truly if we could lose
that much weight then why have surgery at all? i would shop for a new
surgeon.
— bob-haller
June 30, 2007
I agree with the last poster! My surgeon did not require any weight loss
prior to surgery but did acknowledge that those who did lose weight pre-op
are usually more successful post-op. I lost 7 pounds in 6 weeks and the
nutritionist thought that was great. All I did was try to eat some protein
in the morning, eliminated (well, almost) refined carbs, and tried to limit
portions.
— cleo66
June 30, 2007
I did weight watchers, but I only had to lose 13lbs. (5% of my weight)
Others in my support group have had great results with Medifast.
www.c2linfo.com is a great website / store that has many different programs
and products to help you. REAL people own it that have had WLS. They are
super supportive and you can call or email them and they will help. Good
luck to you!
— robinmarra
June 30, 2007
Tif, thanks for writing. Girl, support at home is important, but not
necessary. If you know they won't support you, then don't look for their
support. Take their junk food and put in a cabinet that you refuse to go
into to. If you buy most of the food, don't buy their junk, they can buy
it on their own time. I don't understand why you need to lose 45 pounds
those in two months. That is unreal. The only way I know to do that is to
do a hospital fast. I think you need to go see your surgeon again and ask
him what he is thinking, because I don't know what he is thinking. You
don't have anything on your profile, and maybe you had more time than two
months, but 45 pounds is a lot to lose for anyone. I am thinking maybe you
need another surgeon. You don't need to crash your body prior to surgery,
you do need changes and exercise, you do need to not put if off and get
your body ready for the fight of it's life, but 45 pounds, that is unreal
for a 2 month weight loss. I don't know many wls patients that have lost
45 pounds in two months, unless their bmi was over 55. I say you need a
confrontation with your surgeon and find out what the story is, and you
need to take an advocate with you, a friend or a wls buddy from support
group, etc., so you are not bullied or shamed into thinking you cannot have
surgery without 45 pounds in 8 weeks. Take care, and I hope you get the
support you need. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
June 30, 2007
I have a friend who needed to lose weight quickly. He did the Cabbage Soup
diet and ate nothing but 4 oz protien and salads with it. He lost 60 pounds
in 4 or 5 months. I know you need to lose that much in a shorter time, but
I agree with everyone who has answerd to your post. If your show your
surgeon how hard you have tried, even if you lose half he will work with
you. It is the people who blow that part off who suffer. BTW, there is more
then effort involved on your part. It helps the surgeon by shrinking the
fatty Liver, makeing the surgery less complicated. It is to both your
benefits. email me at [email protected] for the Cabbage soup recipe.
— bderuiter
June 30, 2007
What most of the previous posters are forgetting about weight loss before
surgery is the fact that the liver shrinks dramatically therefore lessoning
the risk factors of things going wrong during and making it a faster/safer
surgery! That much loss before surgery can be done, it is just more
difficult for us than for normal people who don't need this surgery. Try
to start walking, that will kick start your metabolisim and aid in your
weight loss and watch those calories, and carbs. You will have to do that
after surgery anyway, so you might as well get into it now. Good luck and
God Bless!
— crystalsno
June 30, 2007
The previous poster said exactly what I was thinking.My surgeon required
EVERYONE to go on atleast a 2 week all liquid diet. I however due to my BMI
went on a 4 week all liquid diet. Most surgeons carry protein shakes in
their offices that are low calorie and high protein and cost the same as
buying in gnc or walmart. What I did for my 4 weeks was 3 protein shakes a
day and a small meal at dinner 3oz lean meat/fish and a steamed veggie. I
cut soda out of my diet at about week 2 so that I knew I would be able to
live without it. I also drank LOTS of water/crystal lite. I lost 40 lbs in
a month doing the diet without any exercise. However, if you've got a lower
BMI adding exercise can most certainly help you achieve the goals you need.
Remember-- this is for you and you alone. Your surgeon could do the surgery
without you losing the weight but it will be an easier recovery if you
start on your new lifestyle now! I wish you the BEST of luck hun!!
Zandra
— Zandra C.
June 30, 2007
The previous poster did the exact same diet that I did on my own prior to
starting the process with my surgeon. I did 3 protein shakes a day and a
small sensible dinner with fruit or veggies as snack or another protein
shake. I lost 50 lbs in 4 months this way. What concerns me though about
your question is why your surgeon is requiring you to lose that much weight
in a two month time frame. Even though the liver does shrink with a high
protein diet pre-op, a lot of surgeons require a preop liquid diet to test
you to see if you have what it takes to do what you need to do after
surgery. My surgeon did not require the two week fasting but the other
surgeon that I consulted did. My surgeon said that in his experience that
the liver shrinkage wasn't really enough to justify putting a patient
through two weeks of hell when they are going to be on a liquid diet for
several weeks post op while recovering. I'd contact your surgeon NOW and
find out what his justification is for this rapid, large loss because by
losing that much that fast you are setting yourself up for gall bladder
problems as well as other problems pre-op.
Good luck
— oceanrayne
July 1, 2007
I would say liquid protein is the only way in that short a time. Good luck
— DonnaB.
July 1, 2007
I am surprised that your doc has made this decree. It would probably be a
good idea to verify this #...I know that I felt better that I chose to lose
some wt before my surgery,but my doc didn't order me to. I wonder the
rationale about starving yourself prior to surgery? I felt I needed to be
as healthy as I could be to have a good outcome,so I joined Curves &
cut out caffeine,sugar &cut down on salt,fats & carbs,for the 2
months prior. You did not mention if your wt was >400 lbs or not...
Could it be a medical necessity???
— peacelovecat
July 3, 2007
I had to lose 15 lbs before surgery. 45 lbs seems like a lot. Where you
supposed to lose 45 before surgery, but did not work on it previously? I
know several in my WLS group that did lose larger amts of weight before
surgery, but they took longer to do it. My surgeon will delay the surgery
if you don't lose the required loss. My surgeon says this is to show that
you are serious about the surgery. Just some thoughts.
— Danita S.
July 4, 2007
If you are able to lose weight on your own, why would you go through
surgery?
— Novashannon
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