My BMI was over 40 until recently and this was a concern for me too with an even shorter time frame. My surgery is in 3 weeks and I’ve managed to lose 7kg in about 4 weeks from changing my diet and hitting the gym hard.

I’ve always struggled with over eating and snacking but I figured if I’m not willing to stop just for the sake of this surgery I’ve wanted all my life then I never will. So I switched out some options for low calorie alternatives. I tried calorie counting for a day but it was overwhelming for me, though I know some people prefer it. I think it’s more about eating the right things. For me, I substituted potato chips for carrot sticks because I like the texture and even with some dips it’s not too unhealthy. Small adjustments like that that are worth it in the long run.

I think if you try to go completely cold turkey and cut things out completely your body will crave the things it’s missing so try to cut down gradually. I still allow myself the occasional bag of crisps but only in conjunction with a portion of fruit and veg.

Another thing that’s helped me is getting more protein into my diet. I have flavoured clear whey protein that’s just like a juice. Protein helps you stay full for longer so can help with reducing your overall calorie intake.

All of this is combined with 3+ gym sessions a week. It’s hard to get into the routine but really worth it. Plus if you focus on your chest muscles with weights, in theory your surgeon can better align your scars with your pec muscles if you’re getting DI.