What is normal weight loss during Optifast?

I'm starting to freak...3 weeks from today is my surgery!  I lost 10 pounds in the 1st 4 days but only 1 pound in the last 3...yes thats a total of 11 in only a week but I need to lose at least 30 lbs before surgery.  Is liquid diet similar to regular diets where you lose the most weight in your 1st week and then it declines?  I'm afraid I might not do this. The dietician told me to start with 3 shakes and then we would decline if necessary.  I've been attempting 2 1/2 sometimes 2 but having bad cravings and so hungry.  I have not been perfect on this but only a bite here and there.   Please share your experience

Hi Angela -

My biggest piece of advice for you is to please please please do not eat anything.  Follow your fasting "orders" to the letter.  Drink all 3 of your shakes unless you're directed otherwise by the dietician.  Drink loads of water in between.  Find things to do that will take your mind off of food.  You're stronger than you think you are.  It's VERY hard, this is true...and I did just 2 weeks, not  an entire month!

If your surgeon does do the surgery and you have either lost all 30, or close to it, and your liver has not shrunk  the procedure will be very difficult on you and you risk complications.  

This is rough, but you have to find the strength from within to pull it together and get it done.  It's only the beginning of a whole new way of approaching food.

You can do it!  You're a strong woman!!!!

Hang in there Angela, Try not to cheat. I know it is hard. I only lost 6 pounds the entire two weeks on slimfast. I thought he would not do me because I did not lose enough weight. My liver was fine though and he did. I didn't cheat though but it was hard not to. My sons are great fat food people and often had pizza and burgers in the house. I thought if I can prove I can do this to myself I knoe I can keep right with the aftercare too. I did and I do. I have not lost a ton of weight but I am happy with it and I still don't cheat very often. Once in awhile I will have a handful of chips but that's it. No more. YOU CAN DO THIS ANGELA!!!!!  You have waited so long for this and you have overcome so much. Just a little more and you will have made it. 

If you cheat the only person you are hurting is yourself. It does not really matter to anyone else if you do this as much as it matters to you. If you don't lose all the weight and you can look them in the eye and tell them honestly that you have not cheated and did your best, I am sure it will be alright. They will know if you cheated or not though so don't. The blood test HgA1c can give them an exact accounting of everything that passed you lips for the last month.

Are you allowed to chew sugar free gum? I didn't know we were allowed gum until long after I had surgery. I think it would have helped. Something to chew on.    We are all rooting for you. Hang in there!!

My fear is that you are not eating enough and you body is hanging on to the weight. I am NOT a dietitian. Call the dietitian and ask her, she is the expert.  Tell her your concerns. I am sure she has she/he has been through this journey many times and has a wealth of experience. You can't compare you experience with any of us, because we were on 4 shakes a day.