Liquid Diet Preop...What is your experience?

Hi Everyone!

So I want to know what your doctors told you about how your lifestyle should be right before you would start your 10 day liquid preop diet.  I want to know the schools of thought that are out there. 

Also, tell me what you did and if you would do it again to prepare for the liquid diet.  Did you feed your face with all your favorites one last time?  Did you start weaning yourself and eating less and less?

What were some tips?

I would love to have a preview of what got you all through...if it were protein shakes, apple juice, special teas...fill me in!  I need to shop ahead of time.

Lastly, how did you stay "full" when you were still preop and your tummy was used to lots of food?

OK...Your Turn!  And thank you!!

I went out for dinner and ate six buffalo wings and french fries the last night before my pre-op liquid diet (and then went home and vomited it up...not sure what that was all about).  I had not changed my eating habits too terribly as my nut reviewed my food log and was okay w/ my choices but portions needed downsizing.  I did fine w/ the liquid diet.  The first few days really sucked and then it just became sort of routine.  Because most things on the liquid diet were sweet I relied upon chicken bullion when I did not want sweet.  I drank tons of the stuff.  I know the sodium in bullion is horrible but I just couldn't stomach the broth.  I used Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar free) for protein and drank 4-5 of those.  I also loved jello because I at least felt like I was eating something.  Meal preparation for my family was the most difficult time of the day for me but I made a point to prepare things that were not my favorites during those ten days.

Good luck!

Hi there!

I ate like there was no tomorrow, right up until the night before. I am having surgery with Dr.Pitt at SMDC in Duluth, and I am starting week#2 of a 3 week liquid diet!  I do 4 Carnation Instant Breakfasts, no sugar added, Crystal Lite, chicken broth, V8 juice, and sugar free popsicles. SF Jello is my favorite, as it allows me to chew!  I am really shocked that I am not hungry or craving salt or carbs! I forgot to mention that I add protein powder to the CIB shakes!  Good luck on your journey! 

Hi Theresa!

I'll BITE :o) I was not assigned a 2 week liquid diet, and my surgery is a week from tomorrow and until this past weekend, I tried hard to keep junk food out of thehouse (SUCCESS) and did try to avoid those last few stops at the drive-thrus (NOT as much success).

I am still losing pre-op weight despite a few fast food slip ups last week, but that is because I have totally changed our family's eating habits at home. This week is a different story with outside eating, because I know if I gain even a pound, they will not do the surgery. I am eating ALL my meals at home with HEALTHY choices, not having more than 1200 cals per day.

THANK GOD I am not a pop drinker, but did have to give up my 1 morning cup of coffee. I have had 1-2 cups of decaf in the past week, but nothing this week.

Do you know if you'll need to do a 2 week liquid diet? Do you have to lose an assiged amount of pre-op weight for them to do the surgery?

Best of luck,
Shannon

Hello Teresa....my doctor didn't really tell me much of anything about how I could eat before surgery...I just couldn't gain any weight...so really I guess he did tell me something huh?

I went out the weekend before and had a couple of my favorite meals...then I felt guilty afterwards!

As for the two week liquid diet I was on...I actually didn't mind it at all. I followed it and really did feel good. I drank three Boost High Protein Drinks a day. Drank chicken broth and had SF Jello. SF Popsicles are a lifesaver too!!!! Oh yes....I had Crystal Light Peach Tea and am still addicted to it!!

I really was not hungry. I just kept my eyes on the prize and did what I needed to do.

You will do great....those ten days will fly by and you will be on that Losers Bench with the rest of us!!

Think positive....you can do it!!!

Hugs.....connie d

I had my surgery on 9/23, I was given the two week liquid diet, for the first week I drank two slim fast a day and ate one small meal(kashi or similar), keeping my intake under 800 calories per day, the final week I went to 3 slimfasts per day.  It wasn't fun but it wasnt too hard.

Good Luck

Hayley

I had to lose weight prior to surgery so I was on 800 cal a day for a couple of weeks... pure hell, but worth every bit of it. The liquid diet (2days for me)was OK, I was already used to being hungry, what was draining was when I had to take the mag citrate to clear me out. Honestly not fun, but worth it for the lost weight and gain in quality of life.

Best of luck.

I could not eat any type of solid foods on my pre-op diet.. All "liquid" diet 10 days before surgery.

I did straight up protein shakes. Also I could have chicken broth, and any non-caloric liquids I wanted. No soda, no caffeinated beverages. Also had SF jello pudding with a TB of protein powder added to it.

I used the EAS carb control pre-packaged shakes.. Simply for convenience.  I had 3/day and for dinner I'd "treat" myself to a cup of chicken broth. Also would have my SF pudding w/added protein powder as my morning snack to get me to lunch. I also had soem unflavored protein that I added to the pudding and broth... I really never felt "hungry"... the high protein diet should sustain your hunger..

It's not easy... the first 3 days are REALLY REALLY tough... you want to scream, you want to cheat, you want to say screw this and give up... but you pull through and get over it. Your body kicks and screams for carbs, sugar, caffeine... everything we're addicted to and making us fat...

But I think it was the best thing I could do for myself... I would tell anyone who is going to have WLS to go cold turkey and do the liquid diet pre-op, even if their doctor doesn't require it. It purges all the "yuck" out of your body, it gets you used to eating very little, eating liquids (like we have to after surgery) for a couple of weeks, and you start out post surgery with a clean slate..

I didn't have much time to prepare... I got approved, had my appoint and my surgery was 11 days later so I immediately went on a 10 day liquid diet.      I did have a big dinner the night before and I probably had a bit of "last meal" syndrome the previous month or two while I was waiting.

On the pre-op liquid diet, I drank a lot of sugar-free carnation instant breakfast, cream of tomato soup, miso soup, skim milk, low sugar/carb chocolate milk. and tons of coffee.

I was diabetic before surgery so I still had to watch my sugar but i had no problem staying full on liquids -- the hot ones worked best.  I did not read any forums before hand so I didn't do any real protein drinks but I wish I had becaue they are yummy, filling and healthy.

I didn't have to do a pre-op liquid diet - I was subjected to GoLytely instead...I think I'd almost rather have gone on a liquid diet LOL   No advice just wanted to wish you GOOD LUCK!