Need to lose 9lbs in a week for surgery. Help!

[Sylver75]

I was scheduled for urgent neck surgery on Feb 29th, got a call 3 days before to say it was cancelled and to ring back in 14 days when I'd lost 14lbs. I decided to cut calories to 600 per day and lost the first few days, then it ground to a halt. I upped calories to 900 hoping it might help get metabolism moving but I'm still seeing very little movement on the scales (0.2lbs) this morning, I weigh daily. I'm drinking two itres plus of water, eating mostly protein (eggs, chicken or turkey) but am panicking that I'm running out of time.

I risk being paralysed from the neck down without this surgery. The surgeon fought the anaesthesist to get it done but they wouldn't budge.

I'm 48, BMI is 48.4 and they want it below 47 by next Tuesday. That's 8.5lbs in a week.

I tried my GP, she said drink water instead of eating and she just talked me into going on Ozempic so I'm on that now too since last week but at 600cals the injection isn't gonna make me wanna eat less than I've been doing already through sheer willpower.

I'm desperate at this point. Not getting this surgery will be potentially catastrophic to the whole rest of my life.

I can't exercise as my neck is in the same kind of condition the surgeon said he normally only sees after a car accident. I had no accident but do have degenerative issues with my entire spine in general. I've had two previous surgeries and 15 years of pain.

Has anyone had to do this?

do you have children OP?

when you slashed to 600…. how much did you lose before you increased to 900?

No, I don't.

will you be at work this week?

you need to ram this week full plans to have friends and family over if possible

im guessing you can’t be out the house much?

Ozempic with 100% make you stop.

You throw up when you've eaten too much.

do you have a partner? can they take control of the kitchen?!

Keto diet might help op. Will only be water weight at the start but if it’s only scale movement you need it might get you through! I started ozempic 2 days ago and am two pounds down! This might be ok for you even if it’s a big ask!!!

I lost 11lbs in the first 8 days.

Just have bone broth or clear soup.

well then do that?

why did you up calories? it didn’t slow down

My issue isn't avoiding food, I am doing that. I've stuck to the 600 calories strictly, my life literally depends on getting this surgery.

I don't need distraction from the kitchen, I need a way to boost what I'm losing faster.

It did slow down. I lost most of that in the first three days. Instead of losing 1-3lbs a day, I've gone to 0.2-0.5lbs per day.

If it's about BMI then diuretics. Black coffee

Essentially you have 3 options; eat less calories, burn more calories or both.

600 cals is very low, so I'd suggest sticking at that and burning more calories. Can you walk more?

Jog or march on the spot whilst watching telly in the evening?

Meet friends and walk together and chat?

You don't particularly want to build up muscle, so I wouldn't lift weights or anything, just move, all the time you can.

Keto! I lost 18lbs in 2 weeks when I started.

Have you tried the cabbage soup diet? You could make your own soup rather than eat tinned. Cut out all carbs. Maybe try some fasting with the 16:8?

No advice sorry OP although good suggestions here... just wanted to say that sounds incredibly tough, I really hope you get the surgery and it helps you, sounds like you are doing everything you can to lose it.

I don't suppose that you feel like it, but maybe try some exercise at home? Have a look on YouTube for something suitable. You are doing a lot to get towards your goal so maybe the only option may be fasting? Clear soup every 3 days? Hope you get the op.

I lost a stone in 2 weeks doing the following, but I was a lot younger then.

Keto - probably just meat & cheese.
Intermittent Fasting - 1-8pm.
Alternate day fasting - 500 cals one day, 1200 the next.
2-3L water a day.
All water had apple cider vinegar in it.

You could try couple of days of slimfast, black coffee and sparking water.

I didn't think you could take ozempic before surgery.

Yes you can’t take ozempic before surgery. It’s dangerous.
You can lose that at your weight fairly easily. Keto and under 1000 wil be enough. Mainly eggs if you can manage it. I read that eggs take up as much energy to digest as there is in them. Might be bollocks but I do seem
to lose a lot when I base meals around eggs.

Try the liver reduction diet. If you have 4 of the "New You" products daily that'll be around 600 cals and it's very doable. You can choose from porridge, shakes, pancakes, bars, soup and chillis/cottage pie/noodles etc.

Good luck!

www.jaduncan.com/2006/04/how-i-lost-stone-in-week.html?m=1

Thank you for telling me this. I specifically asked my GP if taking it would have any repercussions when it came to surgery and also asked the practice nurse who showed me how to do the injection. Both said it was fine.

I won't be taking any more of it.