The struggle is real today

I am in the middle of my 14 day clear liquid diet pre-op and I feel like I am failing. Today I have no desire to consume anything. The thought of a protein shake makes me sick to my stomach, water I can't even gag it down. Any suggestion? I have manged to do a "hot chocolate" protein drink and about 30 oz of water. But I am ready to pull my hair out. I just want something to not be so darn sweet.

Broth? It was a life saver for me when the sweetness was killing me.

Ditto broth. I didn't have to do a liquid pre-op, but post-op I got to a point where I couldn't take any more sweet. The Unjury chicken broth was good, but I found I much preferred regular chicken bouillon mixed with unflavored protein powder (mixing the protein powder with a small amount of lukewarm water, then mixing that with the hot bouillon kept it from clumping) much better, it was saltier and I was apparently getting low on sodium. :)

I found that I needed to mix it up and not constantly drink sweet stuff, I needed different tastes to make it through my liquid post-op period. Different temperatures of stuff helped too. I froze Syntrax nectars into tubes like ice pops, and was allowed jellos and puddings so I made those with protein when I could, and greek yogurts of all flavors. And bouillon and hot cider. Managed to get through to the soft foods phase, and none too soon!!

It's rough, but you'll get through this and it gets so much better!

thanks ladies. I have some broth I am going to try and mix I in some taco seasoning make "chicken tortilla" like. Point blank I am not hungry.

It is amazing how different surgeons can be. I have seen people have to do the pre-op liquid for 14 days like me, I have seen 7 days, 3 days, and no days. Makes me wonder why, I know why, but why some don't think shrinking the liver matters...

does eating crushed or chipped ice help - maybe sprinkle a little salt on it - not much - or freeze some pickle juice or get pickle pops - not the greatest choice I'm sure - but it's about all I can come up with that wouldn't be sweet.

I never thought about that. I think it sounds good! I love pickles.

I am finishing day 5 of liquid pre op too. 14 total days to do, and I totally feel your frustration! I'm pretty disgusted with shakes - 3 per day for me, and I can have two sugar free yogurts. What helps with the shakes, I make very cold and also dilute with much more water than called for. So it doesn't taste like a shake so much and is only vaguely sweet. Yup, I'm working on one now.

We have to hang in there. After all, being super focused on nutrition is a goal of this surgery. And I feel like I am earning it and learning it. I have not cheated once. Though I have to say, I was very tempted by some leftover peas in the fridge a few minutes ago. Pulled them out, thought about it, and put them back.

i really, really, want to say that at the time of my May 4 surgery, I still will not have cheated once. We will see. I'm certainly feeling tired, grumpy, and wish the day were tomorrow! Stay on goal.... oh, and if you are allowed fat free yogurt, one helpful woman suggested pitting herbs on plain yogurt to make it seem a little savory. I think that's a great idea.

Try a cup with a straw-- I found it a lot easier to deal with shakes when I didn't have to smell them.

Check your local vitamin store for some Syntrax Nectar protein drinks, it's basically like Kool-Aid. It was a lifesaver when I was sick of the milky kind.

I am in love with Syntax. I made some strong decaf coffee and blended it with a caramel premier protein shake, puts me at 50 gram of my 80 so I think I should be okay. I did cheat today and had a spoonful of plain mashed potatoes that my son had with his lunch. Now I feel guilty.

My standard protein shake is 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk mixed with a scoop of unflavored protein powder. I couldn't stand the sweet shakes post-op. During the liquid diet I also mixed unflavored protein powder into bone broth and drank that all day.