10% pre-op weight loss

klcharnoski

Did anyone else have to do this for insurance? I have to lose 25 lbs, and I am trying to do it before my first appt on 10/22. I am currently switching between Medifast and Bariatric Advantage shakes, with a no carb, high protein, low fat dinner. What else can I do?

klcovington

I had to lose 5%. But I had the whole six weeks of the program to lose that. I used the protein drinks and had a light / small dinner. That worked for me. Good luck!

rpyle111

Did anyone else have to do this for insurance? I have to lose 25 lbs, and I am trying to do it before my first appt on 10/22. I am currently switching between Medifast and Bariatric Advantage shakes, with a no carb, high protein, low fat dinner. What else can I do?

My program had a similar weight loss target, but went about it in a different way. They laid out the post surgery reality of eating and then set up the pre-surgery diet plan to get used to the habits and behaviors you will need post surgery. It was:

1500 calories
100g protein
64 ounces of water
cut out caffeine and alcohol
log everything
start exercising

I hit that diet hard and the pounds fell off. I was by no means perfect, but generally compliant. Now I'm a really big guy, so the 1500 calories was a large deficit for me, but the plan made it clear to me that the path I was taking was sustainable for me. I got more than half way toward my weight loss goal pre-surgery, and had a good surgery experience.

Hitting 100g of protein within the 1500 calories required getting used to protein supplements as a part of the diet, and didn't leave a lot of room for sugars or carbs. The hunger wasn't there with the high protein levels.

So I guess what I am saying is that my advice is: don't look for a crash diet to lose a number before a date, find a set of habits and eating behaviors that will get you there and prepare you for life post surgery.

Rob

stroynaya

Mine didn't have a specific number to lose, but you had to do a 6 month medically supervised weight loss program. The center where I had my surgery included that for free as part of the program.

Like rpyle111's program, the focus was as much about changing habits to set you up for success post-surgery as it was to help you lose weight pre-surgery.

klcharnoski

I agree, and that is why I am trying the liquid diet. I guess instead of rushing so I can get the surgery sooner, I should just focus on being healthy. From people doing it, can you tell me if my meals yesterday sound good or if I should add anything?
Bariatric Advantage shake
1 scrambled egg with some cube ham
Bariatric Advantage shake
Quarter of a cucumber
Medifast bar
Handful of grapes
1/4 cup meat sauce with zucchini and mushrooms
Medifast brownie
Babybel cheese

rpyle111

Are you logging in MFP? At the end of your day, look at the macros at the bottom of the log. I would generally see if I got over 100g protein and under 1500 calories. if I did that and I wasn't terribly hungry, it meant I had a good day!

If I spent the non-protein calories on carp, I would notice I was much hungrier. My snacks turned into jerky, cheese and sometimes nuts, rather than fruit or other healthy but low protein stuff. It kept me more satisfied.

But, your day doesn't look bad at all.

Rob

kchaki

My insurance requires a 3 month pre-surgical weight loss program. No specifics, just make sure I don't gain any additional weight. Of course with my healthy lifestyles program, which other than the exercise portion I have followed pretty well, I have managed to lose about 6 pounds in 3 weeks. I go in for my official 1 month weigh in next week, so we'll see. I was hoping to just pig out for 2 months, but hey, that's what got me here in the first place. And like everyone has already stated, better sooner than later! I'm hoping for surgery in late December or early January. And I'm glad I was not given a free pass, cause my past shows that I wouldn't have been able to handle it. Welcome and best of luck, I'm looking forward to following your success!!

jfkoenig

Eat less...Move More...I've lost 70 pounds pre surgery in 115 days doing that...

pawoodhull

My requirements came from my surgeon who wanted 20 pounds off in the two weeks before surgery to shrink the liver and make doing it laproscopiclly easier. They have a non-surgical weight loss program so they gave me the food and shakes from that program. Everything was very high protein and low carb. That along with 64 ounces of water daily made it really much easier than I had anticipated.

madmags

20 pounds in 2 weeks? Wow that is a lofty goal, I wonder if they set high #s like that to try to get you to really give it a go. I know my surgeon requires a certain diet 2 weeks out for the same reason, but they do not put a weight amount on it.

pawoodhull

It was actually very easy and I did lose the 20 pounds in 2 weeks. What made it easy was all their food, but I know I wouldn't be this far down on the Non-surgical plan they have. I really did need the surgery to get it all off and I will need the surgery to keep it off too. I failed too many times in the past to think I can do this any other way.

2BeHappy2

I had to do a 3 month dietician and 5% weight loss. Even if we lost the 5%, we still had to fulfill the whole 3 months seeing the dietician. They wanted to make sure we complied and fulfilled everything before setting us up w/ a surgery date because some people may need more than 3 months to meet their 5%. Of course we're expected to keep that much off and Not regain while waiting for surgery!

bikrchk

Mine was "lose 10 pounds" and it was required by my Doc. I did it on protein supplements, shake or Quest bar for breakfast and lunch followed by a piece of grilled meat and some veggies for dinner.

Losing_Sarah

rpyle111 wrote: »

Did anyone else have to do this for insurance? I have to lose 25 lbs, and I am trying to do it before my first appt on 10/22. I am currently switching between Medifast and Bariatric Advantage shakes, with a no carb, high protein, low fat dinner. What else can I do?

My program had a similar weight loss target, but went about it in a different way. They laid out the post surgery reality of eating and then set up the pre-surgery diet plan to get used to the habits and behaviors you will need post surgery. It was:

1500 calories
100g protein
64 ounces of water
cut out caffeine and alcohol
log everything
start exercising

I hit that diet hard and the pounds fell off. I was by no means perfect, but generally compliant. Now I'm a really big guy, so the 1500 calories was a large deficit for me, but the plan made it clear to me that the path I was taking was sustainable for me. I got more than half way toward my weight loss goal pre-surgery, and had a good surgery experience.

Hitting 100g of protein within the 1500 calories required getting used to protein supplements as a part of the diet, and didn't leave a lot of room for sugars or carbs. The hunger wasn't there with the high protein levels.

So I guess what I am saying is that my advice is: don't look for a crash diet to lose a number before a date, find a set of habits and eating behaviors that will get you there and prepare you for life post surgery.

Rob

Great advice!! Don't rush to lose the weight just to get the surgery asap. Really, if you follow the plan they lay out for you the weight will come off relatively quickly anyway! The more practice you have eating like you will be required to post-op the more successful you will be long term!

Good luck!

asia1967

I had to lose 50lbs, because I was super morbidity obese. My program had no plan at that time as how I should lose the weight. The first thing I did was cut out all pop, then I moved onto smaller portions. So I agree with Rob (rpyle111) start eating as you plan on eating for the rest of your life. No fad diets, we all know they didn't work for long.
All the best, and good luck.

klcharnoski

Thank you! I have 18 more pounds to go. I am currently drinking 3 Premier shakes a day and eating dinner. No sugar, low carb. Thak you for all the advice!