Question:
Help! Have to lose my required 10 lbs during the holidays!!!

I'm a little nervous right now...I have my last evaulation 1/9/03. I have to lose my 10 lb requirement. I was doing really well for a while-I actually have lost 23 lbs since June. Ever since the holidays, however I've been binging like crazy! Luckily I haven't gained any weight but I gotta lose the weight fast. Factors inculding the "last meal" syndrome and holiday depression is triggering the eating. I keep saying I'll do better tommrorow but it hasn't happened yet! I sprained my left leg cause I fell down a flight of staris, but I saw my PCP yesterday and she said it's Ok to start working out again. So that'll help. But what about the food? With X-mas and my birthday 5 days later it seems like a close to impossible task. Anyone else experiencing this? What's a good plan to take off weight quick? My surgery could be scheduled as early as February and I don't want it to be held up cause of the 10lb rule. Any advise would be greatly appreciated! Thanks :)    — mzcath (posted on December 21, 2002)

December 21, 2002
Do try to lose the weight, however you could also take some fluid pills and dehydrate yourself just before you see your doctor. It is'nt good to do that to your body, but it may help in the "short term". I have to take fluid pills and so I know they can dehydrate you and drop your potassium. So be careful.
   — Danmark

December 21, 2002
I have never heard of "fluid pills"...what are they? I don't think she can lose 10 lbs with it but it might help. I have to just remain steady during the holidays and am finding it quite the struggle!!! I have been eating protein and fruit. It's helping.
   — susanje

December 21, 2002
If you go on an Atkins-type high protein diet you'll lose that weight very quickly. Ask your PCP or nutritionist about a "protein sparing" diet. It's similar to Atkins but lower in fat. You eat lean meats and low carb veggies. Just be careful, if you go off of the diet before surgery, and eat carbs, the weight will come back on as quickly as it came off. My surgeon requires a 10% weight loss before surgery. I took off 30 pounds in a month on a protein sparing diet.
   — Michele C.

December 22, 2002
My surgeon didn't require a certain amount of weight loss but did tell me on my first visit last June to try to lose some weight before our second consultation. He recommended a diet high in protein and fiber and very low on carbs. I just had my surgery last Tuesday, Dec 17. At my pre-op appointment on Dec 11 I'd lost a total of 70 pounds. But my birthday was also on the 11th so I can fully sympathize with you. I found it very hard to fight off the "last meal" syndrome, especially those last six days between my pre-op and the surgery. All I can advise is to keep your eyes on the prize. Just remember that those frosted cookies you're longing for will be just a memory shortly after you've eaten them but this surgery is a gift you're giving yourself for a lifetime. It might also help, if your circumstances permit, to eliminate all the problem foods from your home. I'm very lucky that my significant other is not into sweets so there was no problem about having them out of the house and that helped so much. I'll admit that even though I'm five days post-ops now I'd still not mind chowing down on something forbidden so this surgery isn't a cure for our heads, it's just a tool we can use to help us. Best of luck to you and remember to push the protein, it will help you feel fuller and more satisified. Gwynne
   — Birdie59