:angst: HELP!!

My surgery is scheduled for may 15th (in 2 weeks). dr Bour had me start the optifast a week ago. The first 2 days went fine, but deeper into the week I found myself wanting to slip and I've actually been really hungry. I'm not even sure if I've even lost any weight, a pound at the most. What will they do? What can I do. Is it true that if I dont lose some weight they may not do my surgery. I really need some will power!!

it helped me to think of it as a medical necessity to shrink my liver so that surgery went smoother and that my body was in optimum shape beforehand.. Although i wont lie! I did cheat, even told them when i had ate pizza i lost about 11 lbs on it, and i did gain 2 lbs the week before surgery .. i blame stress eating! they understand though.. but do try to do your best because every little bit helps! (i liked the chocolate ones premixed in the juice box.) good luck!! you can do this!!! jen

Tanah Hi! You need to really try to stick with it. It really helps to prepare your body for surgery. Like Jen said it will shrick your liver ( which will help Dr. Bour when he is rearanging your innerds), it will boost your bodies protein store which will help you in the days following surgery when you aren't getting much protein in and it helps your body to heal from the surgery! ( can you say run on sentence). Anyway, you really need to try as hard as you can FOR YOURSELF!!! YOu want to make things as easy for yourself as possible and this will help. I don't know how you are doing the shakes and one meal, but I drank the shakes during the day.....ate my weight in pickles in the afternoon when I felt like I needed a snack....and then ate a grill chicken salad every night! That really seemed to work for me. I can go all morning and not eat, but I REFUSED to go tobed without dinner. ONe of my little quirks I guess!! Anyway, you may want to look at your day and see when you are the most hungry and let that time be when you eat your meal. One more thing....the Optifast really helps get your body ready for not eating. It seemed to be less of a shock after surgery, because I had gotten used to eating once a day, and used to drinking all the time!!! I hope this helps! Don't stress too much over it. Just remember that this is the first step in really changing the way you eat and becoming the HEALTHY YOU Send me an email if you want to talk! Melissa

Hey Tanah! Hang in there! We feel your pain! The girls are sooo right. Just tell yourself that if you bite the bullet now, your chances of an easier surgery will be so much greater. I also waited until dinner to eat my meal, and ate a bunch of pickles, sf popsicles, and sf jello cups! Lots and lots and lots of water and crystal light, anything to fill me up. I found that after the first week, I wasn't as hungry anymore. The urge to chop peoples' heads off seemed to subside! I too cheated the week before the surgery, but I was so stressed, and I didn't need to be! (Don't you stress . . . know that you are going to be starting a wonderful journey, and the hardest part is taking this first big step.) "The Surgery". I'll be praying for you as your day gets close. Keep us updated! Terri

Hi Tanah, Are you making sure that you eat the full meal along with all the shakes? Measure the food and make sure you are eating all they allow you to have. Also, try upping your fluid intake. Drink LOTS of water. I know of some who "fell off the wagon" a bit during the Optisource time, and they still did completely fine with the surgery. But really do try to do your best to stick to the plan. It does prepare your mind and body for the weeks after surgery when your choices are limited. And it builds the mineral and vitamin stores in your body, which will help in healing following surgery. Stay busy, stay hydrated, and have one of those lovely Optifast shakes every 3 hours or so. And when you have your "meal", eat the full amount of what they tell you to. I had to do it for 3 weeks before my surgery, like you ... and I ate lots of sugar-free popsicles when the snack attack**** But I really did manage to make it through the entire 3 weeks without slipping up. I wish I had the same discipline NOW! Don't worry about the weight loss at this point ... some lose and some don't on the Optifast. But really try to stick to the program. It will pay off in 2 weeks. I hope the time flies for you, and that things will get easier for you. You can do it!!! Dawn

I'd edit if I could ... I typed "Optisource", but you know I meant "Optifast", right? Good.

Thanks guys, I feel a little more at ease now. And empowered, but I may call on you again in a few days if I feel I'm slipping. Thanks so much!