About to be banded have a question

Geeta · July 7, 2005

Hi everyone,

This is an amazing website and I am thrilled I found it! The before and after photos blew me away. I am having lap band surgery in Los Angeles through USC bariatric center on July 25. I am very excited and naturally nervous too. I have a question, the surgeon is asking that I lose at least 15 lbs before the surgery, five of which I am down. But I am not sure how I am going to get off the other 10 before the surgery which is coming up quickly. Does anyone have any suggestions for fast pre-surgery weight loss? It's ironic that you need to lose weight before the surgery because if I could lose it so easily I wouldn't be having the surgery int he first place! I am currently at 295 and I am 5'8". Thanks a bunch.

Geeta

Alexandra · July 7, 2005

Hi Geeta,

Many people are asked to do something similar pre-surgery, though like you I'm not convinced of the benefits. Some doctors say it makes surgery easier by possibly shrinking the liver, but not all doctors do this so I just don't know.

In any event, I know that strictly following Atkins can help drop significant weight pretty quickly. If you're not familiar with that, in simple terms it involves avoiding ALL sugar and most carbohydrates such as fruit for the first couple of weeks. Stick with Proteins mainly, such as meat and cheese. July 25 is right around the corner so you'd just have to follow that rule to get you through. And it's crucial to drink as much Water as you can--at least 64-80 ozs a day.

Otherwise, just follow your dieting common sense and stay away from all junk and extra calories. If you eat Protein first at every meal you will be much less hungry between meals. Good luck!!

Geeta · July 21, 2005

Thank you so much for the suggestions Alex! I have been very careful with my eating and I have managed to drop to 289 to date. I think the fact that it is so hot here in Los Angeles has helped because I am not that hungry and mostly just drinking a lot of fluids. Just psyching myself up fr the surgery now!

beautifultina · July 21, 2005

Geeta, I too am about to be banded. Tuesday , July 26 is my date. I have had great sucess with the Liquid Protein diet. It takes a lot of will power to stick to the liquid diet before surgery. Keep up the good work. Best of luck to you with your band.

Dragonwillow · July 21, 2005

I haven't been banded yet...still in the testing testing and more testing stage. But my doctor requires a two week liquid protien diet before surgery. This is to shrink the liver to make it easier to perform the surgery laprosopically. That being said, the protien powders they have us use are all very LOW calorie, and very low carb. GNC has one that tastes pretty good call GNC Pro performance 100% whey protien. I really like the chocolate caramel flavor the best. It has 120 calories, 2g fat, 4 g carbs, 3 g sugars, and 21gs protien. Add carb countdown milk and thats ALOT of protien. If you aren't required to I would do a full liquid diet. I would do like a shake for Breakfast and then either another for lunch or some type of lean meat and veggies for lunch and dinner. I would avoid the carbs if at all possible. And like someone else said, drink plenty of Water, and remember to drink another 8 oz of Water for any caffine drink you drink.

I'm currently trying to loose weight myself since my surgery can't be scheduled until a test is peformed 6 weeks from after I finish the round of antibiotics for the h pylori virus. From the instructions I am suppose to avoid Calcium with in in 3 hours of taking the pills....and since I am taking 19 pills aday spread out to 4 different times a day...I don't see when I can have any dairy. So no protien shakes for me for two weeks I guess.

For Breakfast I had pb toast, lunch a can of tuna and some crackers (the mayo made me feel sick so ended up eating it dry...almost as yucky...heheh) and I have no clue what I can pull out of the freezer for dinner. Anyone else go through this?

Melissa