new to this

Okay, I'm new to this.  This is like my 3rd post here!  This by far is the best Band board I have found.  So I hope I dont get killed when I ask the following questions.  My surgery is scheduled for 3/23.  So of course I'm on the liquid protein diet.  I hate not being able to eat, I have to cook for my 3 kids and its sooooo hard not to eat with them...OMG, I think the Atikins shakes are very good, but I just wish I had more.  I have a KICK ass headache.  Does anyone have any advice on how to get through this next week??  I'm exhausted, my head hurts and I'm pretty sure if my hubby looks at me the wrong way I may have to take him out at the knee caps!!!  LOL.....2nd question, I have about 100lbs to lose, but I am so worried that I won't be able to lose it all w/ the band.  I'm not afraid to work and I refuse to go through all of this and surgery and have it fail.  Just worried I guess...3rd is before you guys even had had the surgery, when you all were on the liquid crap-ola, how much did you guys lose?  i am down 4 lbs as of this morning and that was just after 1 full day of liquid....I guess I should stop rambling!  Thanks for any advice, and please if I have offended anyone, I am deeply sorry...
jamie

It's not easy. Maybe get some Crystal Light popsicles. I didn't have the pre-op liquid diet, but I did the popsicles post-op on the liquid diet. It was a nice change.

Maria,
thank you for the advice. I did get some sugar free popsicles.  they are okay, but damn I really want that mac-n-cheese!!!  LOL

I don't blame u. Love that m n c too. One good point I will bring up though..........the first 2 wks. after my band I had NO appetite! Went from being hungry all the time to not even thinking about food for the first 2 wks.

Oh Maria, you have just made my day!  Thank goodness I wont be hungry..  If I had to feel this way all the time I wouldn't be happy!!! 

My pre-op diet was Bariatric Advantage shakes (2-3 per day) + one meal of 4-6 oz lean protein + low carb veggies and all the low carb veggie snacks I wanted.  I lost 13 lbs in about 11 days.  Just stay focused on the goal.  You will lose with the band if you understand that it won't stop you from eating...it will only work if you eat properly and follow the band rules.  As Jean M to post her band rules again...great tool and it really helped me early on.

Good luck...hope your headache goes away soon!

Steph

Im not banded yet, but from watching others and from my own previous hospital stays (having kids), your headaches are probaby from withdrawls.  It will probably only last for about 3 days or so, and you will start to feel a little better every day after that.  Im so sorry that you are going thru this but it will be worth it in the end.

Ok, I feel your pain. When I was on my pre-op diet, I had to cook for my family as well. The purpose of the pre-op is to shrink your liver for a safer surgery as well as loose as much weight as possible. I followed the Atkins diet with regular foods containing high protein and little or no carbs. It was much better, because with just liquids on pre-op, you're more likely to gain weight when you go back to soft and regular foods. I lost 20 pounds and my liver was small enough for a safe surgery. I don't know why the doctors torture their patients with a liquid diet for 14 days, when the same results can be achieved through a high protein, low carb diet. Let me be clear, I am not telling you to disobey your doctor, just telling you my story and how I approached the pre-op diet.

thank you guys so much for posting the replies!  I do think they are from withdrawls...its horrible how addicted I was to carbs/sugar or whatever else I was addicted to!!  Its funny, I like to eat meat, but I saw a plain hamburger on TV the other day, no ketchup/bun, mustard nothing, and I thought, DAMN that looks so good!!  HA HA HA HA!!!  I didn't realize that was the purpose of the high protein liquid.  I cant even eat cream of wheat.  I just want something to chew besides gum!!!  But I will stick with it and it will all be worth it!!!  I just took some before pictures, I can't wait to post them, but not till I get some after pictures!!! 

Thanks again everyone for posting and not tearing me apart!!  LOL!!!

You guys are great!

I don't know if you like it or not, but my neighbor brought me a cup of JUST THE LIQUID off pinto beans.  I thought it was heaven in a cup.  It tasted so good to me after broth, popsickles, and sf jello.