Preop weight loss - ThinnerTimes

karen4656 · 04-05-2008, 07:36 AM

Did everyone lose weight preop? I mean even before the liver shrinking diet. I know myself and I'm concerned about gaining during the six month period. Did any one gain before surgery?????

Cinerbelle · 04-05-2008, 07:43 AM

This was recently just a pretty hot topic. I gained weight during my 6 months... I can't remember how much, but I think somewhere between 12 to 17lbs. I was in the "I better eat it now cuz I will never get it again" phase. That mind set was stooopid...since I can eat anything now that I am 2 years out...just much smaller quantities.

'thann · 04-05-2008, 10:39 AM

My surgery is April 29, but I've been on this journey since last June. At that time BCBS required a 12-month physician-monitored diet (now that's changed to 6 months).

I didn't do a standard diet -- I simply changed how I ate, in preparation for life after surgery. I eliminated all processed foods (packaged, canned, frozen, fast food, etc.) and I try to avoid simple carbohydrates. Just by doing that I've lost 25 pounds since June. I've also learned to cook everything from scratch, meaning that I know exactly what I am putting into my mouth. I figure that this will come in handy post-surgery, too.

Essentially, once I set my mind on surgery, I began the commitment then to change my eating habits. I don't intend to splurge or binge before surgery -- I'm sure I'll just make myself terribly sick, and frankly I don't crave anything anyway. Before surgery I will, however, toast to The New Me with a bottle of fine champagne!

'thann

mistymee · 04-05-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

At that time BCBS required a 12-month physician-monitored diet (now that's changed to 6 months).

I guess it depends on which BCBS you have, though. I have BCBS of MA and I was approved within weeks of my doctor sending the paperwork, and was not required to do other diets or anything.

At the pre-op session required by the hospital/surgeon, we were told that BCBS has the quickest approvals without requiring anything other than a psyche evaluation if you meet the requirements, such as being 100lbs overweight.

Phoenixfire · 04-05-2008, 10:11 PM

I lost 40 lbs. before surgery. It came off when I followed my surgeon's advice: STOP EATING AS SOON AS YOU FEEL FULL and EAT SLOW.
He said they were the keys to post-op success, so I started doing them. He didn't require I lose weight before surgery and I wasn't trying. I WAS trying to get as ready as possible to live with a tiny tummy. In the end, at the time of surgery, I was afraid he wouldn't do surgery because I was a couple lbs. under the 100 magic number. Silly huh?
This WAS years ago though, before doctors even had a "lose weight before I do it" rule. I think his advice was a BIG part of my success after surgery. It might work for others, it's definitely something I would suggest EVERYONE do pre-op.
Chew slow
Eat slow
STOP as soon as you feel full. It takes 20 minutes from the time we start eating before our brain gets a full message (or some sort of "message" I can't describe completely right now). So I made a rule to eat 25 minute meals.

splendifor · 04-05-2008, 11:28 PM

I've lost quite a bit of weight in the months since I started getting ready for surgery.. just today I was going through my clothes and *downsizing* literally

it's kinda fun knowing that going into this I'm already getting rid of clothes that I will never fit in again.

I'll tell you this though, I've been going through the "I won't be able to eat this again" thing.. and (up til this upcoming tuesday) I do eat it, just a whole LOT LESS of it than I did before.. and I'm finding that a lot of what I thought I couldn't live without.. meh, it's okayyyy but I can *remember* what it tasted like (and the fantasy of the way it will taste is usually much better than the actual taste) ... so I keep having these moments like.. yep the memory is better than the experience.. so that's helping me to say goodbye to some things I thought I couldn't live without...

and omg, the mindfulness eating exercise? that goes a LONG way to actually enjoying the food item without having to gulp the whole thing down...