Preop caloric intake

I was wondering what everyones preop diet caloric intake was/is.  I was looking over my surgeon's preop diet requirements and noticed of course it is a 10-day liquid diet, with a caloric intake of no more than 1800 calories a day.  I have noticed some people only were required 500 to 600 calories a day.  Wow! if I cant have 1800 calories a day of liquids and low carbs, then I should think I wouldn't be excruiciatingly hungry.  At least I hope not. 

My doctor told me that he did not believe in preop diets.  The day before my surgery I am to have nothing but liquids.  That is it.  he told me to eat what I wanted prior to surgery.

Mine is about 1000 calories and I am not hungry..the hardest part is trying to eat every 3 hours...   

1800 calories is a lot of calories...I doubt you would eed that much unless you are reallyathletic..( as if a pre surgery person could be...?)

My surgery is in the morning and the hardest part of the pre op was...of course ..the mental stuff..no more cookise  no more bread...that sort of thing.  I really think the best thing to do is try hard to stay out of the food lane as much as we can...the bakery at the market, stuff like that is real hard to take...

I do just fine at home with my stuff all in it's place... Have to take the rest slow and keep the old head hunger in line.

All in all we just need to do what we are told and if we aren't willing we are in trouble anyway...  Good luck

Hi.. I did not have a calorie restriction... just a restriction on what I should and shouldn't be eating. I did not have a liquid diet requirement. I changed my way of eating and lost 50 lbs... twice what my Dr. wanted. But if your dr. requires it then a liquid diet should consist of at least 3 protein shakes a day. Most are low calorie... the one I drink is 30gm of protein, 1grm of sugar and 3gm of carbs and 160 calories. (premier brand at costco)  Drinking the liquids for 2 weeks prior shrinks the liver and makes surgery easier for the Dr. to perform, but does nothing to help you learn how to eat post op. There are a lot of Drs. out there that just do surgery after surgery without euducating their patients on proper eating for the rest of your life. The surgery is just a tool... it is not magic... its effects will diminish if it is not used properly.  I hope you are getting nutritional counseling along with your program. This is as much a mental change as it is a physical one. Without both success  will be difficult.  I don't mean to be harsh or assumptive, but I am just so passionate about this... I don't want any of us to have had this surgery only to be disappointed 2 or 3 years out. 
Good Luck with your liquid diet... it will be tough, but you don't need anywhere near 1800 calories. Getting in the nutrition is more important than the calories!! Best of Luck to you with your surgery... its the first step in an incredible life-long journey!
Take Care,
Debbi

Actually, I do appreciate your cander, Debbi.  I used to be a gym rat about 8 years ago.  I have battled my weight my entire life.  My biggest problem is feeling hungry all the time when I try to diet.  My personal trainer 8 years ago put me on a low carb, high protein diet and I ate every 3 hours.  I had a protein shake in the mornings, a meal replacement for lunch, a protein cookie, and what I can my "real" chewable meal for the day which usually consisted of chicken and vegetables.  Needless to say I lost a WHOLE lot of weight, but during my pregnancy I gained 50 pounds, lost 25 after delivery and then gained another 30 in 2 months' time.  I was even nursing.  I found out this past February I am hypothyroid.  So, I know about having to chance my habits and eating way too much.  I just need something that will help me feel full and actually stay full for a while.  I have been researching the band for almost a year and reading the posts here and at lapbandtalk.com, so I know this is going to be a serious committment, but I also believe this is exactly what I need to keep me on the straight and narrow.  I have already started trying to kick the habit of eating a lot of breads, and anything with sugar.  My biggest love is diet pop, but I am trying to kick that habit as well.  Better to do it now than wake up after surgery and have terrible withdrawals. 

I am sure I will have a few bumpy times ahead, but I feel I'm ready for it.  I did it once, and I think with the band as an aid I can finally achieve my goal and maingtain it. 

Thank you all so much for your reponses :)

Paulette