Question:
How do you lose the 10%? I'm finding the diet unbearable, and it's making me sick.

I was put on a diet that consists of 10 ozs meat, 24 oz vegetables daily, and it is terrible. After 3 days, I have been cheating. Nothing bad, just some cereal. It's just that I have had such a headache and felt so nauseus with this diet, but I really want to lose the weight. I guess I only have 12 # to lose in 3 weeks, but it's so hard!! Does anyone have a diet they went on that worked well, and what if my surgery date isn't for a few months? Do I have to maintain the weight loss or do it again? I go back to the nutritionist in 3 wks, and if I lost it, can set a date. I can't fail. I really want and need this surgery!!    — Kimberly M. (posted on January 2, 2001)

January 2, 2001
Hello..well, I'm thinking I would be nauseated also..so, I'm going to give you a few suggestions that might help out. I hope so anyway... First, try (and, I mean really try) to get in 8 (8 ounce) glasses of water a day..4 of them before noon. Second, Eat..around 5 ounces of meat for the day, 5 ounces of bread/starchy veggies, 3 ounces of fruit, 2+ ounces of veggies, and maybe some skim milk...if you don't like milk, try fat-free, sugar-free jello pudding made with skim milk..makes a great dessert. It's kinda like the exchange programs...'cept you will probably only be getting in about 1000 calories or so. Third, do some exercise...walk at least 10 minutes (slowly~warm up), then 10 -15 minutes of fast walking, then back to 10 minutes slow, okay? Or get you an old "sweatin' to the oldies 2" and do the warm up, stretching, and 25 minutes of low impact aerobics...it's fun and easy..well, not at first..but then it gets that way. It will help you lose weight...and you will feel better. Also, spread those meals apart..maybe 6 small meals...so you won't get too hungry and become sick. If you have given up caffeine, maybe that could explain the headache...have a little coffee...either black or with low-fat, non dairy creamer and a sweetner of your choice (perferbally not sugar) LOL. Okay, there you go...try it, what do you have to lose? *giggles* I will be praying for you...and if you want ~ stay in touch...love, Terri ([email protected])
   — Terri G.

January 2, 2001
I have found that if I take tylenol, drink WATER, and plan something to do besides sleep, I make it through the rough days. Sometimes, though, you need to just give in, go to bed early, pamper yourself a little, and only eat the meat and veggies you really LOVE. Make certain you keep yourself warm enough, drink decaf tea (peppermint helps nausea) and remember, IT"S A MEANS TO TO AN END!
   — Elaine P.

January 2, 2001
Hi Kimberly...congrats on your date, and I'm sorry your having a hard time with the pre-op dieting. During one of my many diet attempts, I found the best way for me to lose weight without being headachy and shaky was to go by the food pyramid. I wasn't (still not) much of a breakfast eater (maybe an occasional bagel), but at lunch, I would have a cup of yogurt and three pieces of fruit, and a couple of pretzel rods. Dinner would be, as they say on those commercials, "sensible", with two veggies and a piece of meat, chicken or fish. At night, if I had to nibble, I would either go to bed early (not hungry while I'm sleeping!), eat tootsie rolls, or have coffee with cream and sugar to satisfy my sweet tooth. I also walked 1-2 miles everyday and drank about 2 litres of Diet Pepsi, although now I would replace the soda with water. If you exercise everyday, you can get away with eating more carbs. Basically my plan was lots of fruits and veggies, high carbs and very low fat. I lost 60 lbs. in two months 8 years ago. The first 30 lbs. was through starvation, and I actually blacked out at one point. That's when I modified the food pyramid and ate as described here and lost the other 30 in a month (of course I gained it all back + 30...). Also, I seem to remember eating almost constantly through the day then, so I believe 6 small meals with give your metabolism the boost it needs. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A TEMPORARY DIET IN ORDER TO MEET THE SURGICAL GUIDELINES AND NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE POST-OP DIET. (Just thought I'd put that in there so nobody yells at me!) Good luck to you and please let us know how you're progressing! Hugs,
   — Allie B.

January 2, 2001
Why do some patients have to go on a diet before the surgery?
   — Betty Todd

January 2, 2001
Kimberly, for the short term you might try this. i lost alot of weight doing this diet but of course, gained it back in time but for the purpose you need, it might be perfect. Try the Atkins diet basically. All meat, only a half cup of veggies a day and no bread or fruit or sweets. Nothing "white" at all. I know it sounds bad but, you can eat as much meat, eggs etc that you want. Even bacon is okay. Also, here was my secret...DO NOT eat anything after 5 in the afternoon..this will help enormously. I only had unbuttered popcorn in the afternoon if i really really needed to but, that defeats the diet really so I would say, just stay away from food after that time of day. It sounds harsh but I lost 18 pounds in 2 weeks easily and I wasn't that big. I started at 280. Hope this helps alittle bit and good luck. I dieted for me. My doctor didn't make us lose before surgery.
   — Barbara H.

June 12, 2001
I think I would run, not walk to another surgeon. I was talking to my surgeon about this and he stated that there is no reason for any surgeon to require anyone to lose weight before surgery. As he said, if we could lose weight by dieting, we wouldn't need the surgery.
   — [Anonymous]