Pre surgery diet before the pre surgery diet

[Artinthebox 2]

I am new here, this is my first post. I am in the process of getting approved. My surgeon has not asked me to lose any weight but I want to start anyway. I have a BMI of 70 so I am in no danger of disqualifying myself by losing too much weight prior to surgery. I won’t be submitted for approval before mid-may after my last nutrition class. I want to try and prepare myself for the lifestyle changes WLS will bring on by adapting as much as I can pre surgery. I am thinking of trying a Keto diet but I am open to any tips or suggestions. I am not sure I could do the liver shrinking diet for several months but I am thinking I could cut carbs and increase Protein. It looks like that will be my post surgery diet from what I can see. Is that about right? Any advice welcome.
Cheers,
Artinthebox

[NovaLuna 710]

I did the same. My surgeon didn't require me to lose any weight but because of my insurance it would be at LEAST six months before I could have my surgery (it was actually 8). I decided to do a pre-diet. My goal was actually to lose 35 pounds and I thought that was stretching it, but I lost 64 pounds before my surgery! My BMI was 62 when I started and 52 on the day of my surgery so I think I did damn good lol. What worked for me is I did something of an elimination diet. I drank one Protein Shake a day with 30g of Protein and I started cutting portion sizes of my meals by eating smaller meals with no seconds. The second month I cut out soda. The third month started monitoring my carb intake and I cut out rice. The fourth month I cut out Pasta and started watching my sugar intake. The fifth month I cut out bread. And the six month I cut out potatoes and Beans. The following two I just maintained my diet. I ate a lot of salad and I MISS it! T^T I'm only a month and a half out from my surgery and I still have to wait another month and a half before I can eat salad again!

I also started attending a nutrition support group around my fourth month that helped. I recommend that! I got ideas on alternative foods through them. Cauliflower rice to replace rice which is good with sauce (do NOT eat it without a sauce because ewww) there is sugar free brand sauce called G Hughes that sells at Walmart that sells a terriyaki sauce, and BBQ Sauce (for chicken) that is DELICIOUS and you cannot tell at all that there is no sugar! Also, Cauliflower pizza is delicious and a perfect alternative for the real thing since it's low carb. I'm iffy on Cauliflower potatoes thoug because the only way I could stomach them is to add a ton of cheese. Also, a favorite snack that can double as croutons are cheese crisps. I buy a brand from Walmart called Whisps, the Asiago and Pepper Jack cheese ones are my fave, but if you dip the Cheddar ones in salsa it's delicious! And if you have an ice cream addiction Breyers sells a Carb Smart ice cream that comes in vanilla or chocolate and they also sell bars with or without nuts.

I hope this helps in some way...

[Artinthebox 2]

Hi Liz B. This is immeasurably helpful. Thank you so much for taking the time to post, it gives me validation that I am on the right track and your success gives me inspiration to follow through on a similar plan. Thanks also for the tips on sauces and Snacks. -Artinthebox

[Machalo 283]

I did something similar to Liz, too. Each month, I either cut something out that I knew I was going to have to give up anyway, or I lowered the amount of food and upped the Protein. Between trying to get in 5 small meals a day and all that Water, it seemed like I always had one or the other in my mouth, or I was on a 30-minute post meal moratorium on water consumption.

Those are great suggestions Liz has for alternative foods and sauces, too. I eat a fairly boring diet with an occasional something different thrown in to keep me sane. I think I may incorporate some of her suggestions to my repertoire.

All the best to you!

[Artinthebox 2]

Thank you Machalo,
I really need to up my Protein, that’s a good thing to focus on, I didn’t know I should practice 30 minute post meal moratorium on Water consumption. Thanks for the tip!