Help! on pre-op diet...

 OK, so I am not on the official liquid diet portion yet, but I am on a self-imposed "diet" so I can lose as much weight as I can before surgery.  The "real" thing starts April 19th.  Went to lunch with some folks from work yesterday afternoon, everyone chose to go to this 50's diner, that literally had no diet friendly foods.  SO I get a burger and onion rings, ate the burger but left most of the rings.  (it wasn't that great anyway)  BUT ever since then I have had carb cravings...had a couple slices of pizza last night.  

I'm done but those cravings are kicking my butt!  How do ya get over those cravings?  I have cleaned my house from top to bottom, and it's still there.  I shoulda never took that damn bite!  :(

OK... take a DEEP, CLEANSING BREATH.  You are OK!    What's done is done - - and since you aren't on the actual doctor-ordered liquid diet, no harm done.

 If people insist on going to those types of places, and you are hungry, it is hard to make a good choice.  NOW (6 months out), I don't have a choice.  I may have been able to eat part of the hamburger or just the patty, but I wouldn't order that - I'd opt for soup or grilled cheese (and take half home) or whatever.  Potatoes aren't in the picture.

You are right - cravings are tough, but during the liquid fast, after the second day, you don't get too many cravings.  You kind of don't get hungry.  You keep your eye on the prize (surgery) and knowing that you are going to look and feel so good, it won't be such an issue.

Now - - go and have a life.  You are on your way.   All the best.

 Thanks.  Your right.  What's done is done and I need to just move on, refocus on the prize.  I am ready.  The old me would have said screw it and continued the downward spiral, the new me get's up and keeps on moving forward.  I have no choice, no weight loss, no surgery!  :)

Not looking forward to the liquid diet portion, but I know I can do it.  

Congrats on your success so far!  Looks like your doing great!  IF you don't mind me asking, how much did you have to lose preop?

Well.. I was lucky - I just had to stay the same and that's just what I did.  I was 399 when I started the journey, and 399 at my class two weeks before surgery.  On the liquid diet I lost 15, so was 384 pre surgery.  I'm now 305 and excited that shortly I'll have two greats - 100 pounds lost and under 300!!  can't wait.

My husband had to lose 20 pounds before his.  He was trying to have it in November, but with all the postponements, he ended up having it March 3.  He got 40 pounds off (carried it in his belly a lot) - the doctor was quite happy, since he knew surgery would be easier.  We had the same surgeon.  Michael had his at 40 pounds down, and now, a month later he has another 27 off!  It's just incredible.

Get ready for the ride of your life.

Protein can help some with hunger pangs. But the only cure for carb cravings I've found is to go cold turkey for three days.

I know, I know. Try drinking a lot of water. Brush your teeth a lot.

But you can do it!! YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!

You're so right.  Time is the only thing that's ever helped in me in breaking those cravings!  It's a nightmare, but the further out I get, the better I do.  I'm not sure I'll ever go back to eating bread, pasta, rice, white potatoes... my body chemistry just does NOT get along with those foods.

I agree with you guys, processed carbs, potatoes, rice, and pasta are like poison to me!  Just a few bites and I'm hooked again.  So, I try to steer clear.  Time and protein are what work for me.  Plus gobs of water.  Good luck!!  connie

I'm not preaching and Im a preop 53 BMI so I am in the same boat.... But Ive never been in ANY place where a burger and onion rings were the healthiest thing on the menu

salads

eggs with toast

fish

grilled chicken

buffalo burger



is there really a diner that had none of these?

As far as carb cravings go, the only thing I can say is I've noticed eating carbs leads me to eat more carbs, Im better off not having any if Im looking to control it

 Believe me when I say there REALLY is a diner.  Obviously not a very good one.  There was fish and chicken but it was all fried, there was no salad, and didn't see any breakfast items.  My way of thinking was well at least the onion rings aren't potatoes, so that is why I got the onion rings.  But then after getting them they were of course fried and covered in batter, and I gave them away.  There was tons of sodas and shakes, but I got an iced tea unsweetened.  Overall I chalk it up to experience and I am back on track, not looking back.

Well kudos!!!

So often we let one bad experience destroy our good efforts!

My advice, (coming from a presurgery, BMI of 62.5, aiming for RNY this Autumn) is this...

Perhaps this was just the experience you needed BEFORE surgery to see how you reacted and to come up with strategies for the same situations after surgery.  Look at it as a simulation experience.  Now you know you absolutely WILL encounter times when situations will conflict greatly with your diet plan. How did you fare, what could you change, what can you do better? 

The best way to defeat an enemy is a good strategy and I think you can use yesterdays experience as a tool to help formulate plans for post surgery strategies!!!