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To ask how to lose half a stone in one month for op?

44 replies

ScullyD · 04/02/2026 16:49

I’ve already lost 2 stone with mounjaro and have been informed I need to lose a further half stone in a month to get my laparoscopy op done. I went off mounjaro 2 months ago and haven’t regained.

currently I weight train twice a week for 30 mins and speed walk 3-4 times a week on treadmill. I eat fine but could be better.

i really want to do this but it seems challenging, can someone help with how i can achieve this in terms of diet and exercise?

OP posts:
OriginalUsername2 · 05/02/2026 08:03

Intermittent fasting. Simply skip breakfast and lunch, drink black coffee if you need something, absolutely no sugar in it as that will undo everything. Have a big dinner. Don’t be scared of a rumbling stomach. You’ll get used to it in a few days. Stay hydrated.

Pinkponyclub26 · 05/02/2026 07:55

I don’t think any extra exercise will make a difference in a month only diet change
good luck

Pinkponyclub26 · 05/02/2026 07:54

Can you look into keto temporarily until your lap?
I shifted 9 pounds in 10 days when starting and I did a rough calorie count- plenty salads, cheese, eggs and meat.

Shizzlestix · 04/02/2026 18:28

The liver reduction diet took 18lbs off me in 2 weeks, but I was extremely overweight and the heavier you are, the quicker it goes. At the time, I was given a choice of milk, Slimfast or soup and yoghurt. These seem to be the main 3 lr diets. I was allowed 2 tins of Heinz Big Soup and 3 Muller light yoghurts (there were others, but I don’t recall which) per day. As this closely resembled my usual work food anyway, I thought I’d give it a go. I missed ‘crunch’ so I cheated by eating occasional lettuce leaves.

I think the idea was 800 calories a day, so you need to check what your total would be. I think Big soup is no longer on the allowed list, must have gone up in calories, maybe?

Sartre · 04/02/2026 18:19

Ask GPT to work out your TDEE, it’s really useful. Your exercise levels are good so I wouldn’t change much there. You basically need to be in about a 800-1000 caloric deficit a day to shed 2 lbs a week so if your TDEE is 2500, eat 1500 a day. Track everything on MFP, don’t drink alcohol.

ScullyD · 04/02/2026 18:16

@AuntMaryMaria thanks!

not sure about TDEE, I’ll need to work that out.

wonder if I could ask my usual nurse to weigh me so I know how accurate my at home scales are. No point in doing the work for a month then finding out my starting weight was wrong the whole time!

OP posts:
AuntMaryMaria · 04/02/2026 17:33

No specific advice on losing the weight, but a few days before your appointment reduce your salt intake as much as you can to minimise water retention. Good luck!

StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 04/02/2026 17:09

Tinned soups are often around 160 calories a tin (not cream ones but things like oxtail, onion soup, vegetable, chicken noodle) so if you have one for lunch that is very low calorie. Just check the tins.

What is your TDEE?

ScullyD · 04/02/2026 17:05

I also realise it may not be possible but I can only try.

the woman on the phone said their weighing machine is often more accurate than the ones at home so that made me nervous too

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/02/2026 17:01

ScullyD · 04/02/2026 16:57

@mumofoneAloneandwell thanks do you just buy slim fast stuff online?

im nervous about not being able to work properly because im starving but i really want to do this.

been on a waiting list for nearly 2 years and they said I might be taken off if I don’t do it.

officially you’re supposed to buy the bottles but you can buy the powdered mix and use semi skimmed, works the same

Tesco’s etc sell them xx

To ask how to lose half a stone in one month for op?
SilenceInside · 04/02/2026 17:01

It’s challenging as you need to lose 2 pounds a week to be certain of getting half a stone off. That means being in a calorie deficit by 1000 cals a day, which could be very tricky if your daily calorie need is low. Do you know what your TDEE is at the moment? If creating a deficit is too difficult with diet alone, you could increase your exercise daily, do lots more walking if you can.

ScullyD · 04/02/2026 17:00

I should say I’ve already ditched breakfast since coming off mounjaro

OP posts:
ScullyD · 04/02/2026 17:00

I’m also wondering if it’s worth going back on mounjaro for a few weeks- they did warn me I’d never to come off pre-op

OP posts:
StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 04/02/2026 16:58

Also use an app to log exercise and calculate calories - My Fitness Pal is popular and has a free version.

If you need advice for cutting calories then some things that may work include:

Cutting out a meal per day - some choose breakfast or lunch.

Intermittent fasting

Removing all snacks from the diet

Swapping full fat dairy products for low fat (AND low sugar) alternatives with fewer calories.

Measure how much cooking oil you use precisely (this can add 100+ per tablespoon)

Eat high volume, low calorie, high fibre - lots and lots of vegetables on the plate instead of carbs or fats.

Only drink water

Eradicate alcohol from the diet

ScullyD · 04/02/2026 16:57

@mumofoneAloneandwell thanks do you just buy slim fast stuff online?

im nervous about not being able to work properly because im starving but i really want to do this.

been on a waiting list for nearly 2 years and they said I might be taken off if I don’t do it.

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/02/2026 16:55

Google liver reduction diet - 5 x slimfasts a day will do it x

edit, best of luck with the op

YellowStockings · 04/02/2026 16:54

I think it's very doable (if not very fun) just by heavily restricting calories for a month. Have two or three small, light meals a day, no snacks, no alcohol, lots of veg, fruit, and lean protein and fibre like tofu, lentils, and beans.

Good luck for the operation!

StrawberryJamAndRaspberryPie · 04/02/2026 16:53

You would need to be in a 790 calorie deficit daily. So calculate your TDEE and take 790 off the number and eat that amount per day.

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