Question:
Help!! :0(

I am going back to see my original surgeon on July 11th. He wanted me to lose 30 lbs prior to surgery. But I havent lose ANYTHING! Is there anyway I can lose SOME weight by July so he can atleast see that I am trying?? I just fear that if I dont lose the weight he wont do the surgery until I do, even though I have everything else he wanted me to have done, done. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.    — Shavonne P. (posted on May 30, 2002)

May 30, 2002
The Atkins diet is the quickest way to take off weight IMHO. You could take off 20 or more lbs by then if you follow it religiously. It's the only thing I'd recommend, as you can eat a lot of food so you're not hungry. It's just that the foods you eat get old *fast*. Good luck!
   — GGinMA

May 30, 2002
I think it's such a hoot when doctors want patients to take off ____ number of pounds before their surgeries! If I could take off 30 lbs. I would have done so a LONG time ago. I don't imagine your doctor will cancel your surgery, as long as you tell him you've really been trying. Mostly, he is probably concerned about you having a "fatty liver" which can complicate surgery.
   — Terissa R.

May 30, 2002
I disagree and agree with the previous poster. I do beleive it is an odd request for a surgeon to make, although I do see it on here from time to time. I believe they've got there reasons, and fatty livers and other health issues are probably them. But, I don't truly believe that most of us have that much difficulty losing 20 or 30 pounds. If I haven't done it once, I haven't done it a hundred times. It's keeping the 30 off, or it's losing 100, 125, 150 pounds that seems to be trouble. Most diets I have ever been on I've lost around 20-25 pounds the first month, so it shouldn't be that rough. It sucks, I know...who wants to go on ANOTHER diet right before surgery when all you want to do is eat. But, if you've got to do it to have the surgery, then do it. It'll be worth it in the long run. Cut out carbs, if you are physically able to exercise, try to walk for at least twenty minutes a day, quit snacking, eat low fat - low sugar, drink tons of water...you know, diet. Ugh, I hate that word. I hope it all works out for you. Best of Luck! ~Paula
   — PaulaM

May 30, 2002
Before anyone says "if I could do that I wouldn't have needed surgery", let me add this: Keep in mind you only have to do this for one month. Anybody with even the littlest of willpower can do it for ONE month. And, every time you get down, just keep saying to yourself "one month till surgery, that's all I've got, is one month until surgery..." :)
   — PaulaM

May 30, 2002
I agree with some of the other posters that it is a crock, in my opinion...everyone hear that (IN MY OPINION <so I don't get bombarded with hate-mail..haha). Anyway - I don't get what the point is with it all - to have to prove a point prior to surgery by losing "x" amount of weight? Give me a break. As if most of us haven't tried hundreds upon hundreds of diets and most of have have lost hundreds and hundreds of pounds only to gain them back and then some. I sure as heck wouldn't get discouraged about losing - if it was me, I'd be looking for another doc. Again - this is only my opinion. I'd be curious to know how many doctors asked their patients to lose weight prior to a surgery. I've certainly heard from quite a few people on the message boards or question/answer section but I believe there are more who truly understand where we are with things in life. Good luck to you, friend ~ I hope all goes well for you.
   — Lisa J.

May 30, 2002
My answer/comment didn't come all the way through. Let's try this again - I believe it's somewhat of a crock that the doctors or surgeons (some) are asking their patients to lose "x" amount of weight. Most of us have tried hundred upon hundreds of diets and we've been successful but once off, only to gain hundreds upon hundreds (and then some) back again. And this is ONLY MY OPINION so please don't bash me with 'hate' mail, readers - I'm just voicing my opinion. If my doctor would have told me I needed to lose weight prior to him accepting me as my patient, I would have told that doctor he wasn't the right doctor for me. After months and months of trials and tribulations and the emotional roller coaster all of this procedure brings, the last thing on my mind would want to be trying to figure out a way to lose the weight I needed to just to be accepted in his/her care. I wish you the best of luck though, if you choose to continue to try and lose it - I can guarantee you this, it will not be NEARLY as hard once you've had the surgery. You'll lose successfully like crazy - you'll get there. Hang in there, friend.
   — Lisa J.

May 30, 2002
I agree with the crock statement, my Doctor also agrees, He says why make you lose weight before surgery , you have done it dozens of times. My thought on this, is that some doctors are forcing patients to do unhealthy things to their bodies rather it is laxitives or diretcs, or just plain starving oneself to lose weight before surgery, I cannot understand this train of thought at all. Now I am off my soap box......... please just eat healthy and do not do anything that can jepordize your health before surgery.
   — Jeri P.

May 30, 2002
looks like I needed spell check on my last post LOL
   — Jeri P.

May 30, 2002
My surgeon asks his patients to lose 10 pounds before surgery. I have found out that this is because he wants to see for himself that you can follow a structured plan. He even has the dietician give you the step-by-step, balanced "plan" to acheive the 10 pound loss. The 10 lbs he asks you to lose is at the first consultaion. He wants you to lose them by surgery date. For me, that was three months. I think it was more than fair. 30lbs sounds like too much. That is not just showing effort at sticking to a plan...that is a full-blown "diet". Just my opinion.
   — Sandra C.

May 30, 2002
Just go back for your appt and let him know you HAVE been trying and no results. Make it work to your advantage and say "See, Doc, no matter how I try I fighting a losing battle". All the more reason for the surgery. After you have the surgery, you won't have any choice. I gained 18 lbs. in between my last consult and my surgery date.....lots of last meals. I wish I hadn't done that because, as it turns out, those are going to be the hardest 18 lbs. to lose in the long run.
   — Annie H.

May 30, 2002
One of the great things about having a surgery practice where the doc has had wls himself, is that you are never asked to do the impossible. Your surgeon wants an event free surgery, but he just doesn't understand Morbid Obesity.
   — faybay

May 31, 2002
My Doc did not require it but he asked that you try to eat healthy as possible. The reason is because you liver gets all the fat and when he does it LAP he has to move the liver to go by it. He said this is easier if it is't full of fat. I may not have it perfectly correct but that is my understanding of it. To make the surgery a little easier....30 seems a bit much to ask of anyone!
   — Sharon F.

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