[Momof3girls]

Hi, I'm new here. I haven't had the surgery yet. I just went to my appointment with the doctor on Monday. My daughter and I are both going to have the surgery done. They gave us a tentative date of April (something) they will be sending all our appointment dates to us.
I was told I had to lose 35-40 lbs before I could even have the surgery done. I am so scared I won't lose it in time. I also can't afford to get Medifast ..It's like $55 a week for me and another $55 a week for my daughter and I am not working at this time..Just my fiance is. I don't want to chance not losing what I need to..

Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.

[qt82699]

welcome!! you can always start following the rules you would follow after surgery..that way you will lose weight and already have a jump on how you are going to have to eat after surgery..also make sure you are drinking plenty of water and start exercizing..you can do this!!

[yoshicheeks515]

Aww don't be sad. Do you by chance have a Jenny Craig near you? It's not too expensive at all and is great if it's only temporary. See if you have one in your area and let one of the reps there know your intentions and they'll be a great help to you. You'll lose a good amount of weight the first week because of course you lose the excess water in your body which holds quite a bit of weight. May I ask how much you weigh? I lost 11 pounds my first week there but you really have to stick with what they tell you to eat and exercise once a day. If you don't have the money for a gym, turn on some energetic music on the radio or put in a favorite upbeat CD or cassette tape and dance dance dance! You'll do great! Good luck to you and let me know if this is something you can work with. *Hugs*

[Imlosinit]

Hi.. Welcome to our home. Good luck as you and your daughter head toward your surgery. Question.. how much do you spend on groceries per week right now?? Would it average out to the same cost as the Medifast?? Even if it's only 1/2 to 2/3's.. could you afford the difference?? I don't know what the nutrition is of Medifast, but I know that Low Carb Slim Fast (NOT OPTIMA) is one of the drinks approved as protein drinks after surgery. I think here in Rochester it's about $6.50 per 4pk so if you drink 3 of those a day times 7 days , you'd need 6 for the week, so that would be about $39 a week. Ask your doctor if you can do the slim fast vs. Medifast.

Also, don't be worried about not losing "in time". Is your surgery scheduled already?? If not, they may just wait until you've lost the weight needed to schedule the surgery. Don't stress yourself out before you've even started. We're here to support you and answer any questions you may have.

Good Luck!!

[Christy0283]

First of all, welcome, and good luck to both you and your daughter. I agree with what others have already said.... you can start following the post op rules and you will be well on your way. Good luck! You can do this!!!

[smease]

Weight Watchers is also a good way to get a jump start on weight loss and is rather inexpensive. I joined WW to lose weight before surgery and it was a great way to have documentation that I was on an official weight loss program and proved that I could lose weight for insurance purposes. Stay positive and you can do it.

[kitty56]

Congrads to you and your daughter. My daughter had her surgery almost a year before me and did great. If you read some of my posts I have the history of me and my daughter. Now about trying to lose weight before surgery, I lost 36 pounds before surgery and I learned a few things doing that. The doctor was amazed at how much I lost and cooking the regular foods for hubby and meals when family came. I stuck to my menu becasue I wanted that surgery so bad. My first surgery was scheduled for august 6, so when I went back for scheduling the surgery, my doctor told me that it was up to me if I wanted the surgery at that date but would be more of a risk at that time and I should try and lose more weight and I told him I want to lose more weight to make the surgery safer for me so they rescheduled me for Sept. 10th and the doctor told me after surgery that it was just the right amound that I lost for a safer surgery. I also went to a doctor that helps people to lose weight. I got all those ready to drink protein drinks. But at the last month I switched to the protein drinks my daughter was drinking and I really cut down the carbs and the protein powders that my daughter drank at that time were very good. That doctor also put me on a veg. diet and only 3 to 4 oz. of meat a day. Wow did I ever get creative with my veg. If you like hotdishes with veg. make them with your 3 oz. of meat and I had lots of meals that way and did not crave other foods so much. Absolutly no potatoes, noodles, and breads and I also stopped eating fruits becasue of the sugar content in them. I ate alot of veg. made with seasonings and after a week about this you get so use to it that it fills you up and the other foods do not bother you. also do not bring the unhealthy foods into the house. If you crave something sweet make some protein bars with the powders that hardly have any carbs and have a piece about once a day, only if you have a sweet tooth. I got a small protein bar from the doctor that helped me lose weight and only had one bar a day and wow, I ate it so slow and tiny tiny bits to savor each little bit. Now what I know now I would have done it on my own with my soups and add no flavor protein powder into it and add salsa to it and wow was it ever good. I also would have made the protein bars that would be so low in carbs and that would have been my bar. I know what you mean by pricey to do this becasue I did it and it cost me around 400 dollors a month. But the last month I had the drinks and let hubby drink them becasue I went to my daughters drinks. I had a hard time with the soups and ended up throwing out about a dozen packages.
You could also do the sugarfree puddings and just add a scoop of proetin powder to it and it sure tastes good. Jellos, just use your imaginaton, but keep the carbs down and fats down too. I started to go on my own on the last month and I lost 16 pounds and the first two months I lost 20 pounds with their drinks and products and it is pricey. The biggest key to this is, you have to stick to it and it does work. I forgot to say that the last 2 weeks before surgery I went off all the meats and the last 5 days before surgery I only did the protein drinks to make sure my liver was small enough and the doctor told me that my liver was very small and it worked out great for me. So this is what I did, but you have to choose what will work for you.

[Momof3girls]

Thank you to everyone for answering my post. I am going to take you up on following the post op rules..since Monday I have been eating way different. No Carbs, I have been eating tossed salad a lot! Also drinking alot of water. Is there a place where I will find post op eating? I will be looking around so I might find it anyhow..I haven't posted my weight yet cause well to be honest I don't share that with anyone but doctors. I am just so embarresed of it, It is nothing personal. Oh, how do you post a picture anyhow? I will look for that too..Well thanks for all the advice, I really think this site will be a great help to me..and I hope I someday will be a great help to it

God Bless
Momof3girls

[keynabeena]

My doctor told me I needed to lose 25-30 pounds if I wanted Laproscopic ByPass which I absolutely wanted! I decided to go on a all liquid diet 3 weeks before my surgery, I did it all myself and I had protein shakes, sugar free jello, sugar free pudding, sugar free carnation instant breakfast, LOTS of water..... I did that for THREE weeks and only lost 10 pounds but it was enough and he was able to do it laproscopic! I was very happy and I think starting the liquid stage early really helped when I HAD to do it after the surgery! Hope that helps you!

[robinb3463]

I was told I needed to lose 20lbs before he would set the date for surgery. I lost it by walking and practicing the GBS diet before the surgery....I actually lost 28lbs..LOL. eat with a babyspoon, make each ounce of food last 10 minutes (you will be surprised how satisfied you will be), chew the food to mush, and use a small saucer instead of a huge dinner plate. You can do this!
Robin