Different surgeons and different insurance companies have different requirements for the pre-op diet. All want you to prove to them that you can lose some weight. This is because Bariatric surgery is just a tool to help you make the changes in life style and diet to lose the weight and not gain it back.
My Experience
I was required to lose 5% of my body weight which was 18 pounds. I lost twelve and then, had to have my bypass postponed for two months due to the need to have my parathyroid removed which was another surgery. I had to get through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I lost 12 pounds before Thanksgiving but ended up gaining it all back by January. My team did not seem concerned and during my two week all liquid diet I lost 15 pounds so all was well.Not everyone has to do the two week all liquid diet, but I am glad I did as it was an opportunity to shrink my already fatty liver, lose weight, get off of sugar and diet soda and shrink my stomach. It did make post op easier.
What did I consume?
I stocked the refrigerator with sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles, sugar free iced tea, Crystal Light (they have a version of their drink mix that is sweetened without sugar..they use Stevia..it is called Crystal Light Pure ) protein drinks (Premier Protein and Atkins), and I also added chicken broth warmed up which I pretended was a hearty chicken soup. I ate no food. Some people also drink skin milk.
Was it easy? Hell no!
No, it was not easy but I was determined. I used positive self talk , also called affirmations. I said things to myself like: “You’ve come this far you can do this.”, “One day at a time”, “I have the inner strength to do whatever I need to do.” “You can do this.” “I am strong.” Some people use post it notes and place them around their house or apartment for encouragement.
I also used the breath to calm my body and mind when I started to feel anxious. Whenever I started to feel anxious or wanted to eat food I would take in a few slow, deep breaths and then also exhaled slowly. You will find it does calm your body and mind. This helped alot. I also tried to keep busy. I saved some projects just for this time.
Journaling also helps because when you feel anxious, naming a claiming the feelings, helps them to dissipate.
You can also go for a walk. Basically, changing your environment also helps dissipate the anxiety. If you are in the living room and start to feel anxious move to another room and take a few deep breaths.
If you feel any anger during this time it also helps to name that feeling as well. You can release that feeling by writing down why you are angry and then tearing up the paper and throwing it away. One of my favorite ways to release anger is to write my feelings on a small rock with a magic marker and throwing it in a stream, pond, lake, river, ocean. Any physical activity helps the anger dissipate.
Before I knew it the two weeks had passed and I was on my way to surgery.
