Pre-Op Diet

I start my 2 week liquid diet in the morning! I have a feeling I'm going to be pretty grumpy! I have decided to take it a little at a time or, or, Oh brother I don't know. LOL! Have to keep telling myself I can do this. A few months from now I won't even remember it. This is one more step to a better life and I want it so bad. Hope you all don't mind but I'm going to need help thru this.

I am lucky, my surgeon did not put me on the 2 week liquid diet, because her rule was that you needed to lose 10 lbs. prior to surgery, she only put people on it who either did not lose weight or gained. . .  but those who had to do it, it is not easy, but getting and staying healthy is a participant sport, if you get my meaning. . .  your willingness to do this says a lot about your ability to go the distance and your ability to maintain, as that is where the tough part is. . .  we get a tool, but tools that are thrown in a dark corner, do us no good. . . 

Best wishes as you are now in the homestretch of your life changing event!!!

Laureen

P.S.  I have a good friend, who was on that 2 week liquid diet and the day of her surgery, due to an emergency that the surgeon had, she had her surgery rescheduled and was on it for an additional week and a half. . .

Hello Debbie!!

I did the 2 week liquid diet. I didn't think it was bad at all. The first day was the only day I felt hungry. I just kept reminding myself that after this I would be on my way to being thin and healthy!!  Remember...Nothing Tastes As Good As Thin Feels"!!

You can do it....and you will be glad you did!!

Good luck....HUGS....conne d

Thanks Connie and Laureen!

Hi Debbie,

Frankly, the 2 week liquid protein diet was the hardest part of the entire pre- and post-surgical experience for me. Maybe it was because my husband was gone at the time and I was all alone in the house. Like Connie, I went into ketosis very quickly and wasn't really hungry, but I just got to the point where I didn't think I could choke down one more sweet shake. So I called my doctor and they gave me permission to have a baked chicken breast once a day. Boy, did that help! I also found a Medi-fast savory tomato soup that was allowed, but I liked the chicken breast the best. Don't be afraid to call and ask your doctor's office questions. It's impossible for them to tell you everything during a visit and problems do come up.

Also, go to your drug store and ask them for some "Ketostix". They are little test strips that you pass through your urine in the mornings before you eat breakfast. If the stick turns any shade of purple, then you know your body is in "fat burning mode". Oh, I can't tell you how much of a mental boost that was for me during that 2 week fast. When that stick turned dark purple, I could pat myself on the back and know that I was doing it right!

You just keep posting here, hon. We'll help you! You can do it!

Thank you Vicki!! Called the doctor and they said that a small frozen meals or chicken breast once a day is fine as long as I keep it at 300 calories or less! Whoo Hooo! The hardest thing I'm going through is no advil, I take it daily for arthritis in my back and for headaches. Tylenol does nothing for me. I feel with you guys behind me I can do the.

Hi Debbie!! Congrats on the new you to come soon!!! I see you have arthritis in your back...have you tried the tylenol for arthritis pain? I have used it and to me it works ALMOST as good as vicodin!

Can't say anything else to you that hasn't been said already....I also went through the 2 weeks on dr's liquid/protein diet and it was a piece of cake...pardon the pun...but it did help!!! You CAN do it and we ARE here for you!!!

HUGS

Hi, Debbie!

I'm also pre-op, but haven't started the diet yet. However, I've been working on changing eating habits for awhile now, gradually reducing my daily calorie count, and getting in more protein. It's made a wonderful difference in how I feel!

One reason I'm replying to your post is the issue of arthritis, which I have also. Knees, hip, back, neck. I haven't completely stopped taking Advil, but I've been cutting back on using it, and it's hard! I'm going to check into the suggestion about Tylenol for arthritis, though.

Do you mind if I ask how old you are? I'm 60, will be 61 in October, so I'm hoping to get this surgery show on the road ASAP! If it'll bring me a few more years, and a better quality of life - being old and fat is definitely for the birds! - I'll be a happy camper.

Best of luck on your journey, and I hope everything goes really well for you. Feel free to friend me, and maybe we can encourage one another as we go through this process.

Beth

Hi Beth,
I've only been going without Advil for 2 days now and wow do I hurt. My doctor told me I can try the Tylenol for arthritis or just take my Vicodin as needed. I'm hoping after the surgery and I loose some weight the pain in my back will get a litter better. I'm 57 and I totally agree with you on-being old and fat is definitely for the birds. I'll be happy to friend you if I can figure out where to go to do it.LOL I'm sure I'll find it.

Debbie

I had to do a two-week pre-op protein diet ... not all liquid, but all protein and 800 calories. I had to use my bariatric center's products and I had my choice of products ... bars, shakes, soups, gelatins, fruit drinks, soy nuts. Some things were good, some I didn't like. The bars were good, I experimented with the shakes, the soups were OK (and since I needed to go all liquid post-op, that was important). The hardest part for me was cutting out caffeine cold turkey. I was miserable for a week. Then my body got used to it. But that first week was hell.

I kept telling myself nothing tasted as good as being slim (just as Laureen said ... it's actually stolen from someone else). I could do it for a couple of weeks. And I did. You will too. Actually, I did it for four weeks ... two pre and two post. Post was easier because I just wasn't hungry at all.