A Weight Loss Diet Before Heart Surgery

While your attempts to begin eating smart and healthy may have come too late to prevent the need for heart surgery, beginning a new heart-healthy lifestyle prior to surgery has a number of benefits, including decreased recovery time and increased likelihood of never seeing the inside of a cardiologist's office again. It is never too late to make a positive change in your life, and we applaud your efforts. If you are looking for a place to begin your quest for health, read on and discover ways to lose weight before your surgery.

Adopt the 7 Habits Diet

Dr. John Berardi, a Canadian nutritionist, has developed the last diet you will ever need in his "7 Habits" plan. Berardi has worked with all types of individuals, from elite athletes to stay-at-home mothers, and these habits have been the linchpin of every successful physical transformation. In fact, he has stated that for most of his clients (who do not want to get "bodybuilder lean"), just following the 7 Habits is the beginning and the end of his nutritional advice--they can accomplish their physique goals that easily.

The Habits

So without further ado, we present the 7 Habits.

1.) Consume small, frequent meals every two to three hours for a total of five to eight meals a day.
2.) Consume lean protein with each meal--meat, chicken, fish, or eggs.
3.) Consume fruits and vegetables with every meal.
4.) Only consume carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables.
5.) Consume at least 25 percent of your daily calories from a blend of fats, including animal fat, fat from items like avocados and coconuts, and oils like fish, flax and olive.
6.) Drink only zero-calorie beverages--preferably only water and green tea.
7.) Stick to solid meals--no liquid nutrition.

And that's that. By following those seven habits prior to your surgery, you will shed pounds and be in optimal shape to recover quickly and efficiently. Depending on how much time you have prior to surgery day, you might want to adopt the habits slowly to avoid a "cold turkey" approach that often fails. By adding one additional habit per week, you can ease your way into the program, making it more likely to be a permanent change. We recommend beginning by cutting out all calorie-containing beverages, then complying with the all-solid-meal rule. After that it is your choice, but with each new "habit," you will notice positive changes in your body that will serve you well during your upcoming surgery. Best of luck.