[Elisa]

Hi All

I very often read that when people are awaiting their surgery, they are required to start dieting.

What I dont get is...why start dieting before WLS if you are having WLS because regular dieting was unsuccessful?

...if I coulda done it on my own...I wouldnt need WLS!

Can anyone shed some light on this for me please? Because im not seeing the sense in it!

[Lilly]

When I went to my consult my nutritionist told me that I had to change my diet for a couple of reasons, 1. To get use to eating healthier meals for my post op diet (based on Canada’s fabulous food guide) 2. To ensure that I will be able to stick to a post op plan, 3. To get my body healthier and in better shape for the surgery. I first saw her in June and she put me on a special diet, then I had to see her in Aug, and Dec to ensure that I was sticking to our plan and starting to lose weight. The less you way the better it is for the surgery itself and the recovery. True if I could stick to a diet then I wouldn't be in the position either but for me it is so many emotional factors that cause me to fail. I need this additional TOOL to but me on a path where failure isn't as easy as going through the drive thru at MC Donald’s and eating half the menu (not that I have done that or anything )

[garda markham]

Hi Lily: Great advice - I'm from Canada also - Chatham Ontario. Mind telling me where you live and where you had your surgery Garda.

[DocSanae]

Do you mean the pre op 2 or so week diet, or the 6 month supervised diet prior to the surgery?

The immediate pre op diet is to prepare for the surgery. Losing weight before surgery will shrink your liver, so the surgeon will have a better range of view when going in lap, and the liver has less of a chance in getting in the way. Also, the less weight you carry, even if it's 5 or 10lb, the risk for complications is less.

The 6 month supervised diet is to prove that you can't lose weight significant enough to make a difference in your overall health, as well as for you having a trained professional instructing you in making changes to prepare you for post op life as Lily has already said.

In any case, the surgery is only a tool to help you lose weight, you have to change the way you relate to food to succeed in losing weight through surgery.

[Lilly]

I am only 45 minutes away from you in Windsor. It looks like I will be having my surgery in mid June (no exact date set yet) my family doc referred me to a surgeon in Guelph name Dr. J. Kenneth Reed. It is a bit of a hike but he is a really nice man.
I think I read that you have already had your surgery in Michigan?? I was surprised I wasn't referred to the states being so close,
how are things going??

[fr1endly2]

WELL i had this as a requirement from my surgeon and for many fine acceptable reasons to mei had to loose 10 percent of my body weight before he would schedule the surgery).....

1. first off my surgeon strongly believes it reduces the risk for complications.
2. Dieting pre op will reduce the fatty liver size makeing it far safer for lap surgery
3. if shows that we can follow eating rules and make our tool work because it takes work to maintain the weight loss at some point and health habits have to be made in order to be a pemenent success storey.
I think showing some control even pre op shows the drive and determination to stick to rules and a positive can do attitude.

I struggled to get my weight off pre op but did it...it only made me more determined. SURE i could have gone to other surgeons in my area that didnt require this but i had a HUGE trust and love the personal attention my surgeons office gave that the others dont have. HE has proved this personal attention and care over and over post op when i needed him.
good luck if you have to loose pre op weight..for me i used atkins, as it is very similar eating and thinking to post op!!!!
hugs

[mike]

On my first visit to the dietician, which was a requirement for me to have the surgery, I had to do the dietician therapy for 6 months. That consisted of watching what I ate, getting exercise, and trying to diet successfully. She had told me that some people did very well, and decided against the surgery in the end. HOORAY FOR THEM! You are right though, people like us couldn't do it, so went for the bypass surgery. I don't regret for a moment going through all those hoops to have the surgery. It has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I wouldn't go back to the old me for anything.
mike

[Elisa]

Hi All !

Well, Yep, you are all right! I went to see the surgeon today, and I been told lol. He said he would like to see me slimmer next time he sees me or "you will have a problem with me" Oh Raaar! I was like...."yes sir!"

Whys he starting me on the dieting thing so soon considering his waiting list is so long???? His secretary says 3-5 years, he says 2 years.

Thanks for all your responses..you guys hit it right on! Everthing you all said was what he said! Geez you all are goooooooood!!!

[Kat]

I didn't have to go on a program before my WLS but I think had I lost some weight prior I would not have been as sore after.

[butterfly73]

I started out doing the medical management diet with a bariatric nutritionalist just for a means to loose weight. I figured if that works then I wouldn't have to consider the surgery. I lost 40 lbs just doing that. 3/4 of the way thru the 6 mo diet, I changed my mind and decided to have the surgery, but I still continued to lose minimal weight for the next 2 months. I felt as though I would never truly reach my goal by diet alone. Some people say I was crazy for having the surgery, especially when I lost so much just on diet alone! I am 23 days post op and now I am wondering if I should have had the surgery, and will it truly benefit me. Maybe I should have tried harder at the diet. By all means if you can do it without surgery, that is surely the best way to go in my book. But the surgery option is always there.