“You need a pre-op diet”…......

“You need a pre-op diet”….the shrieks can be heard from across the room. I promise it’s not that bad and there is a method in our madness!
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Happy New Year to you all. I hope you found my first blog helpful! You guessed it, today’s topic is the often dreaded pre-op diet.

Your dietitian may ask you to do a pre-op diet in preparation for your surgery. The length of time and the type of diet (formulated products, diet or a combination of both) they ask you to do will vary between bariatric surgeons and dietitians. Ideally, the pre-op diet is suited to the person we are working with at the time. 

Despite the different approaches, the reason for a pre-op diet remains the same- reduce the size of your liver and the fat that is stored in your abdominal cavity. Both these make your surgery safer and can reduce your operation time, risk of complications and how long you stay in hospital. Who wouldn’t want that?!

Given I am not seeing you as a client if you are reading this blog, the best thing to take away is to be armed with some questions to ask your dietitian? 🙋

1. How long should I follow this diet for?
2. What are the different types of ways I could do a pre-op diet?
3. What other foods and condiments can I have?
   • This will add crunch (e.g. carrot, salad, cucumber), flavour (e.g. herbs and spices, soy sauce), enjoyment (e.g. flavoursome foods), fibre (e.g. veggies) and sometimes extra protein to your day making it much more tolerable! 
   • Nutrition for Weight Loss Surgery has a great cookbook with meal ideas for your pre-op stage.
4. What brands can I use if having the VLED/VLCD formulated products?
   • Yes, there is a difference between them!!!
   • Avoid products labelled as ‘Formulated meal replacements’ and protein shakes
   • Why not try a few of the suggested brands to keep things interesting
5. What if I don’t tolerate them?
6. Are there any side effects and how should I manage these?
7. If on medication for diabetes- how should I manage my medication and blood sugar levels?

Top Tips for Success on a pre-op diet 🔑

1. Enjoy crunchy foods on your allowed list!!! It will be some time before you get to crunch again. 🥕🥒
2. Focus on the foods you CAN eat instead of what not to eat.
3. When the going gets tough focus on the reasons you are doing the pre-op diet, giving your body a great nutritional boost and your long term goals.
4. Put the scales away! Better yet, take a sledgehammer to them ⚖️🔨
   1. Weight loss on the scales is not our focus and it can cause people to feel they are failing if not losing the same weight as others. Most people having surgery already feel like they have failed (which is untrue and for another blog) and we want to reduce these awful feelings instead of adding to them.
5. Drink plenty of water! 🚰
   1. Get ahead of the game and maximise hydration - this can be hard to achieve in the first few weeks after surgery
   2. Practice having fluids between meals as this is a must after surgery

Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is fairly tiresome after a few weeks but YOU’VE TOTALLY GOT THIS! You’ve come so far and taken some really brave steps towards a healthier you, this is just part of the puzzle. 🧩​

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A little bit about me
I am an experienced bariatric dietitian and owner of Simply Nutrition Dietitians. I am privileged to be part of Dr James Askew’s weight loss surgery team based out of the Sunshine Coast. As a team, we pride ourselves on creating a safe space for our clients to speak and be heard. We walk alongside you throughout your weight loss journey and guide your post-op care through routine nutritional screens, regular follow-ups, psychology input, helping you to manage your diet throughout the journey and advising on suitable vitamin and mineral supplements. Once you join our team, we are friends for life!
 
I am passionate about:

• Taking the time to listen and understand what each person needs and wants
• Making sure every client understands the information I have provided
• Supporting clients to find the best plan for them
• Helping people to achieve their own goals for better health

Disclaimer: This information is intended as general advice for people who have or intend to under-go weight loss surgery. This information does not replace the individual advice provided by a client’s medical, surgical, psychology or dietetic health care team. If you are requiring individual advice from a dietitian (such as advice on textural upgrades, pathology or vitamin and mineral supplementation), please book in with a dietitian or reach out to us to book an in-person, phone or online consultation.

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