Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery in Japan: Diet Changes and Preparing for Surgery (Part 2)
To have gastric sleeve surgery covered by health insurance in Japan, patients are required to undergo a waiting period of at least six months, during which they must complete various tests and adhere to guidelines set by the hospital dietitian.
Fifth Appointment: October 2, 2024: Dietician
I recently had my second visit with the dietician and another body scan. Over the course of a month, with minimal changes to my diet, I lost about 1 kg. My overall weight decreased, but unexpectedly, my muscle mass also went down, while my body fat percentage increased. I'm not sure why this happened, as my eating habits had improved.
After reviewing my scan results and discussing my usual meals, the dietician made some recommendations:
Reduce carbohydrates and fats: I tend to use excessive amounts of butter and oil when cooking, so I will be cutting back on that.
Limit cereal intake: Although I had been using cereal with plain yogurt and berries as a healthier substitute for sweet snacks, I was consuming more than one serving, which diminished the benefits of this switch.
Decrease alcohol consumption: On average, I have 2-5 drinks per week. Since I will need to stop drinking alcohol both in the final pre-operative stage and for a long period post-operation, reducing my intake now will help me adjust.
Instead of traditional calorie counting, the dietitian suggested I take photos of all my meals and maintain a photo diary. Unlike previous doctors who had me track calories, and portion sizes, and keep written records, this approach focuses on documenting my meals visually without specific references to calories or measurements.
So, I will keep a photo journal of my diet and weight on Instagram.
Appointment Cost: ~¥900
Up Next
My next appointment is in December, where I’ll meet with both the dietician and the surgeon. At that time, we’ll discuss possible surgery dates. I'm feeling a bit uneasy because, so far, no one has shared any financial information with me (despite my asking), so I don’t even have an estimate of the surgery or hospital stay costs. I hope this will be discussed during the December appointment, though I’ll be really disappointed if the cost turns out to be much higher than I’m expecting. For the next two months, I’ll just focus on making healthier choices! Stats: 35, female, caucasian
HW: 100KG
CW: 94KG (-1KG)
GW: 58KG
