Greetings everyone,

Well, I was suppose to be on this "liquid" diet for the last 10 days and have not been. Went to the doc today and he told me if I donot lose 5 pounds by Monday I will have to pospone the surgery,:confused:. I thought since my BMI is only 35.5, I could get away with not dieting- WRONG! The doc straight out and told me I didnt appeared to be committed- and that I will have to be on liquids for the next 3 weeks after the surgery or I will fail. I am confused? can anyone give me some advice? Is it true that if I am not willing to do it now and that I will fail after the surgery? Any advice would be great

well doll...i wouldnt say you are going to fail....BUT the full liquid stage is probably the hardest stage to deal with and you REALLY have to be motivated and committed to even get to that point. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! do you have the protein powder stuff for shakes?? have 3 of them a day with some sugar free jello/pudding/popsicles in between and you will loose the 5 lbs. BE POSITIVE and BE STRONG!!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Sorry, he's right. The Band won't follow the Bander rules for you, keep you from putting the wrong things in your mouth, or keep you from eating too much...only you can do those things and you'll have to in order to lose the weight. It takes a great deal of committment. The only thing the Band will do for you is help take the hunger away between meals. BTW-I started out with a similar BMI and although I've been very successful and committed to many diets in the past, this WL has required even more committment. It was easier for me to follow a diet plan and only eat certain foods...it's much harder to make an entire lifestyle change where no food is off limits...and even harder to have to finally deal with the head hunger and food issues that got me fat to begin with. For me, any WL surgery is like an alcoholic hitting bottom...you have to be ready and committed to make the changes or you'll fail. I'd be asking myself how ready am I to do what it takes? Good luck on your decision...if you decide to do this, we're all here for you and will help you through! -BG

It's head hunger~ Food is my anti depressant. So I thought- but actually made me more depressed. It's all a mirage. I want this, I do. I just cringe at the thoughts of more "dieting" ?It's a pure nightmare. BUT. It's not dieting. its a life style change. I have to stay focused and really want this. Thanks for the advice ladies! It really helps me.

I was a lucky person who got to go early that is I got my surgery a month early. Because someone was not able to have their surgery. I was also in a psych meeting where a person shared that his Dr. told him because he did not lose the weight he was supposed to his date was postponed. To see a grown man cry was so hard. I tell you if you really want this, FOLLOW THE RULES. BG is so correct the band does not make the choices you do! This has not been easy peasy lemon squeazy for me, I am still learning everyday. We do not want you to fail we want to be here to support you, keep blogging it helps so much. It keeps my paws out of the cookie jar. Best wishes imaluckydog YOU can do it.....

My surgeon didn't require a pre-op diet. In some ways that was good, but I think in some ways bad. I think my first 10-14 days was the WORST. I am now at week 3 and have not cheated...at all. But I will tell you one thing, it was hard as hell. I cried and mourned my old friend (food) and my anti-depressant. I didn't anticipate how difficult the food withdrawl would be. So doing a pre-op diet is certainly setting you up for success afterwards. Plus it gives you a great head start on weight loss. Good luck to you. You can do it.

"It's head hunger~ Food is my anti depressant." Good job...you're on your way now! If we all weren't self-medicating with food we wouldn't be here. Here's the good part...remember when I said 'no food is off limits'...well not only is that the hard part, it's also the good part. I've been on a diet for 20 years and I'm sure I've lost over 1000 pounds...I'm a good dieter...I'M NOT ON A DIET! I eat the same things my family does for the most part-minus dessert, but I have other treats...and sometimes I'll eat another leftover if they're having pasta, but not always LOL, you get the picture...other than those I eat like a normal skinny person...small (the former me would call them tiny) portions of normal food. You CAN do this...if this meant going on yet another diet I would NOT have done it. Now get in that sauna, stop eating, or whatever it takes to show your doc you're committed...and if it doesn't work out on Monday, chin up...it's just postponed! I waited a year and I'm sure you've been waiting too. If you want this to happen it will! Keep us posted and good luck! -BG

You do have to be committed. It's NOT easy. But I have found it worth every minute, every struggle. I also eat whatever I want, just in MUCH smaller portions. I have discovered (and I think in a large part due to the pre and post liquid diet portion) that I view food entirely differently now and my eating habits are so different. I do eat sweets occassionally but have found 1 or 2 bites completely satisfy me. I don't have to eat the whole darn cake! LOL If you are indeed committed to a new lifestyle, go for it! LBT is a great place to find support! Good luck!