Question:
Is a 50 pound loss obtainable in 45 days?

I began the journey yesterday from 409 pounds. My surgeon would like me at 350 before performing the surgery. As long as I keep at no more than 800 calories per day as directed by the doctor will I meet this goal?    — cbigdawg (posted on November 8, 2009)

November 8, 2009
Seeing that its more then a pound per day and a VERY restrictive calorie intake I'd say no. Why not push back the surgery another month? Is he having you do a liquid diet? If so, maybe?
   — kmom1420

November 8, 2009
Before I can give you an answer that would be appropiate with what I learned before I ahd my surgery, I would like to know if the doctor told you 'why' he wants you at 350.
   — texasred

November 8, 2009
Did your surgeon view this as an achievable goal? Maybe he's just wanting to see how compliant of a patient you will be and that 350 would be an ideal. Perhaps he feels he cannot safely operate on you until your weight is in that range. Also that's a 59 pound loss not 50, that's 20% more. Remember you have to burn 3500 calories to loose 1 pound of fat, so in order to do this you would have to burn 4588 calories per day not counting the 800 per day you are eating so you need to burn a total of 5388. I would say that's going to be EXTREMELY difficult unless you are planning on doing a tremendous amount of exercise.
   — rkurquhart

November 8, 2009
Time AND pound goals are dangerous... it's hard enough to modify your eating and exercise and keep up the modifications enough to lose 50 or 60 pounds. Harder still if you find yourself falling short of a time goal. Do your very best to lose as much as you can. See what your doctor says. Please be willing to continue losing even if your doctor does want to postpone your surgery. Remember, even after your large weight loss with RNY surgery, you'll need to watch what you eat, and especially a year or two out it may be hard work making sure you don't regain. So... the point is... surgery's only one tool of many you'll need to successfully lose weight and keep it off. You WILL need to modify your eating habits and exercise. You WILL need to change your lifestyle. It's hard. We've all been there. We all ate ourselves silly to get to where we are, so we know how it is. It's easier if you go to support group meetings, exercise with occasional help from a trainer who knows about helping heavy folks get moving, and find people who understand. Creating an account here on OH is a really good move... there are some great, caring people here. It takes time to read and respond to posts, but it's worth it as you work to change your mindset, your habits and ultimately your lifestyle so you can be more healthy and happy. Sorry so long! Bottom line: commit to changing your habits now as you really do need to long-term no matter what. If it takes longer than 45 days to get surgery, so be it. You'll be living with the changes for life.
   — Greg K.

November 8, 2009
I, too, would want to know why that particular weight? Is it a test of your determination or something more? Prior to surgery, my doc put me on a 10 day liquid protein fast. The goal was to "crisp" the fat on the liver so that it wouldn't ooze around the stomach where the doctor would be trying to work. With a starting weight of 469, I lost 25 pounds in those 10 days, so yes, it's possible. But I've never heard of anyone going on that kind of pre-surgical restriction for longer than 2 weeks. My doc doesn't do it for more than 10 days. Don't be afraid to ask more questions. It's your health. If he doesn't communicate sufficiently, maybe he works with a nutritionist who can help. BTW, the reason docs can't guarantee how much you'll loose with any of the surgeries is that everybody's metabolism is different. Same for 800 calorie diets.
   — jtoothman

November 9, 2009
My surgeons practice required a six week MediFast diet with which you needed to lose 10% of you weight at first appointment. The MediFast diet was closely monitered by weekly visits and required five packets per day at 100 calories each for a total intake of 500 calories per day. Their reason was to check for compliance in the patient and shrink the liver for surgery.
   — mmartel1

November 9, 2009
I lost 36 lbs (on a diet of protein shakes, lettuce salad with tomatoes and onions, also broth, tea and water) the two weeks before surgery. I believe that you can and will succeed, if you are motivated. I weighed 457 before I started the diet. May God Bless You Abundantly!
   — KathieV