Pre-op diet impossible
Hi Beth, I have been on the "liquid diet" for a couple weeks, only thing is it was so hard for me to keep from cheating. My surgery is scheduled for 11AM tomorrow morning and now I'm freaking out because I didnt lose the weight I was instructed to. I know I have to prepare for the worst (surgeon cancelling or rescheduling my surgery because I didnt comply with his instructions). Do yourself a favor and stick to the doctors orders or you'll end up like me... unable to get a peaceful night of sleep the night before surgery and fearing for the worst.
I'm starting my 2nd week on the liquid diet. It is difficult. I cheated and had a couple boiled eggs without the yolks and tomato soup. My diet is supposed to be only protein drinks and water, no popsicles, Jello, etc.
I get so hungry but another shake won't satisfy that so maybe it's not real hunger. Lots of headaches with this, but it's only 2 weeks. Think about the future and all the health improvements you will have plus looking better.
Good luck!!
Hi Beth -- I've got a couple weeks before I start mine, and I just hope I can do it. Have you ever done anything like "Optifast" or what they used to call the "liquid protein diet"? I've done them both, over the years, and lost a lot of weight relatively easily (gained it back really easily, too 
) They are both very low calorie, high protein plans similar to the pre-op diet -- what I found is that if I could do it for about 4 days, then it was a piece of cake (so to speak 
) -- because by then you start going into ketosis -- your body has burned up all the easy fuel (carbs) and begins to switch to using its stored fuel (fat). Then you start being less hungry -- after a while I wasn't ever hungry -- I could just tell it was time for my protein because I started getting tired. Burning carbs is easier, though ---so if you eat carbs you will switch off the ketosis and go right back to burning the easy stuff -- and you'll still be hungry and tired while your body figures out there are no more carbs to burn and starts up the ketosis again.
Ketosis takes a while to get started, and it takes time get up to full speed. If you can get it going and keep it burning now, then when you have the surgery your body will be already switched over and ready to boogie 
-- one less thing to contend with while trying to figure out where the stomach went, you know?
You could think of the pre-op diet as sort of a gift from you to your post-op self -- a way to have some of the discomfort now, ease those post-op days a little bit and give post-op-you a head start.
On the other hand, Beth -- if we were good at this diet stuff, would we be here? Do the best you can, but be kind to yourself if your best isn't perfect. 
Blessings,
Rachel
) They are both very low calorie, high protein plans similar to the pre-op diet -- what I found is that if I could do it for about 4 days, then it was a piece of cake (so to speak ) -- because by then you start going into ketosis -- your body has burned up all the easy fuel (carbs) and begins to switch to using its stored fuel (fat). Then you start being less hungry -- after a while I wasn't ever hungry -- I could just tell it was time for my protein because I started getting tired. Burning carbs is easier, though ---so if you eat carbs you will switch off the ketosis and go right back to burning the easy stuff -- and you'll still be hungry and tired while your body figures out there are no more carbs to burn and starts up the ketosis again.
Ketosis takes a while to get started, and it takes time get up to full speed. If you can get it going and keep it burning now, then when you have the surgery your body will be already switched over and ready to boogie -- one less thing to contend with while trying to figure out where the stomach went, you know?
You could think of the pre-op diet as sort of a gift from you to your post-op self -- a way to have some of the discomfort now, ease those post-op days a little bit and give post-op-you a head start.
On the other hand, Beth -- if we were good at this diet stuff, would we be here? Do the best you can, but be kind to yourself if your best isn't perfect.
Blessings,
Rachel I've been really surprised that everyone seems to be on a liquid-only preop diet with this surgery. My lap RNY is scheduled for July 16 and on Monday I began my strict high protein diet (basically Atkins). This is per the instructions of my surgeon, who is Chief of Surgery at a level 1A facility, a Center of Excellence... there are only 26 of these in the entire country, so they know what they're doing 
He instructs this of all his numerous patients with awesome results. He says that this shrinks the liver down and puts the body into ketosis completely adequately. Obviously everyone should follow their own surgeon's instructions, but I have just been surprised that no one else seems to be doing this. Hang in there... it'll be over before you know it! Don't be too hard on yourself, perfection is overrated. 
He instructs this of all his numerous patients with awesome results. He says that this shrinks the liver down and puts the body into ketosis completely adequately. Obviously everyone should follow their own surgeon's instructions, but I have just been surprised that no one else seems to be doing this. Hang in there... it'll be over before you know it! Don't be too hard on yourself, perfection is overrated. 
Diane J.
Shelbyville, TN Most Active
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