pre op diet HELP

I will be banded on March 9th,  I have been on the pro op diet for 6 days now and it sucks. I am soo hungry. I am havingthe hardest time getting all the liquid in and I barely reach 800 cal. ( I am able to have 800-1000) and my carbs most days are barely over 50g  for the day. I am not a sweest person I really love savory so all the sweet shakes just don't do it for me  they actually  make me a little nausious. I am at a loss. I call my nut. and she said I could ass some veggies in but  not sure how much to add. what are some things I can do to help witht he hunger and the cravings? Is the pre op diet more about liquid than solids or more about calories,carbs and protien?

Are you on the liquid diet? I have to do a liquid diet for 4 days. This is my 3rd day. It is very tough. I can have soups with no peices and I eat low ice cream. I just want to crunch on something. I have to do a clear liquid diet for 2 days after surgery and then back to this diet for 7 days. I am hoping it is easier after surgery becuase I will be sore and swollen. Then it is on to mushy foods. By then I am sure I will be so greatful for anything non liquid. This month is going to be the hardest part. I am hoping the weightloss is enough motivation to keep me from freaking out.
Sharon  

The following is for post surgery, but may be helpful pre surgery. 

ADVICE WARNING: TALK TO THE DOCTOR BEFORE INCREASING / CHANGING YOUR INTAKE

 

CLEAR LIQUID STAGE – for first 48 hours – or directed by your Surgeon

 

Water/Ice chips

Low-Fat broth

Sugar-free gelatin

Sugar-free powder drink mix (ex Crystal Light)

Clear fruit juices (no sugar added) and diluted 1/2 with water (ex Apple/Grape juice)

Non-carbonated/sugar free flavored waters

Unsweetened decaffeinated ****) tea

Sugar-Free Popsicles

Clear Protein drink

 

ADVICE WARNING: TALK TO THE DOCTOR BEFORE INCREASING /CHANGING YOUR INTAKE

 

FULL LIQUID STAGE – After day 3 or 4 and for two weeks – or directed by your Surgeon

 

Protein shake – less than 30 grams of protein and 10 carbs per serving.

Skim (Plus) Milk

Low-fat STRAINED cream soup made with Skim (Plus) Milk

Non-fat/no sugar ADDED Light smooth yogurt (remember yogurt will have sugar because it’s dairy).

Sugar-free/Fat-free pudding (make with Skim Milk)

Natural/No Sugar added smooth apple sauce (no chunks)

Thinned hot cereals that can pass through a funnel (ex. Oatmeal; Farina; Cream of Wheat)

Whipped low-fat cottage cheese.

In the beginning don’t be too concerned/worry about “calories, fats, sugars, carbs, etc" (unless instructed to do so). Make sure you are getting your 60 to 80 grams of protein. PROTEIN IS IMPORTANT TO WEIGHT LOSS. In the future you can worry about all those other things, but for now - WORRY ABOUT THE PROTEIN. Now don’t get me wrong - I don’t want you to eat a bag of chips, or whole cake or drink tons of ice cream shakes in order to get protein in. You need to use some common sense :) !!

Just make sure you're following all the rules: drinking 64 ounces of non-carbonate caffeine-free liquid; 60 to 80 grams of protein; no drinking during/30 minutes before/after meals; etc.

I only had to be on a clear liquid diet for one day prior to my band surgery but I was on a low-carb diet for two weeks prior to that. The doctor's nurse who gave me the diet explained it was intended to shrink my liver by reducing the carbs I ate below 100 grams per day. I could eat anything on the low-carb diet as long as I emphasized protein and kept carbs and fats low.

I'm not sure what pre-op diet you've been given. If you can have solids you should be able to eat skinless, boneless chicken breasts or fish fillets (not the frozen, breaded kind but plain fresh/frozen fillets). My favorite on the low-carb diet was baked chicken breast with fresh asparagus (I cut the asparagus up & nuked it until it was cooked but still crisp). I wasn't given a calorie range to stay within so I just focused on keeping my carbs as low as possible. With enough protein in my diet, I seldom felt very hungry at all.

As far as liquids go I carried water with me wherever I went and forced myself to sip it often. At home I used 24-ounce iced tea glasses and tried to drink 3 of them every day. When I was running around I would have bottled water with me at all times.

Best of luck to you. Let us know how you are doing.

It amazes me how differently doctors are with a preop diet. I have been on a diet for many weeks with protein being the most important item, then veggies, then small amounts of fruit & carbs. No milk of any kind.....don't drink your calories & of course no sodas only H2O or Crystal Light. The week before surgery is to be an all liquid diet to shrink the liver. Wow, 1 day of liquids seems like nothing, that's prep for a colonoscopy!

Patti,
I use the same office, Dr. McCullough is my surgeon.  I see him 3/10 for my pre-op visit and will learn all about the pre-op diet then for surgery 3/24.  I have heard some in the support group, but I don't think that it should be too bad. We already have been very restricted on what we could eat since seeing them.  My hardest part was giving up milk.  But I have found that eating more protein keeps me full longer and the only time I feel crazy hunger pangs is about 1-2 hours after I have eaten something that I shouldn't have, like a banana.  I feel I have much more control now.  Good luck.

Christina,

Nice to meet you, I didn't think anyone from our area was on here. I have Dr. Mike, I like him a lot. I think the whole program they have set up is amazing, the fitness center is another great tool, I hope you are using it. I think many people don't perhaps of where they are located, not everyone lives close to the fitness centers. Anyway, glad you have your date. My preop is 3/9. I am assuming I will start the liquid diet the next day as my surgery is 3/16. It is weird not picking up milk at the grocery store anymore. I have been drinking skim milk for years, no milk at all is strange. I love bananas, again, not buying those is odd. I do like the protein powder, actually a lot, are you drinking that yet? Good luck to you too!

I've been trying out different protein powders. I have "texture" issues with food and I don't like the feeling of drinking something that tastes like something that is normally a solid, i.e. peanut butter cookie.  It's too weird.  I have found some good ones, the Unjury chocolate and the Bariatric eating pomegranate/rasp are pretty good since they taste like drinks anyway. 
I have been working out at the fitness center in Salisbury; they do run a great program.  Good luck starting the liquid diet next week. Let me know how it all goes.
Cris

I will keep you updated for sure. I guess I'm strange, I really like the protein powders in water. I go to the center in Rehoboth, it's a great gym, I actually feel better after working out. That is a tool we will have keep using too! I'll keep you updated, they called to remind me of my appt. on 3/9 today....I think it is a little odd to call a week ahead to remind you of your appt. most doctors call the day before, anyway, take care!
Patti

my pre op diet consist of a shake for breakfast and lunch  a meal of a lean meat  1/2 cup veggie ( altough they said I coudl add more) and 1/2 c. starch (peas carrots beans  potatoes rice etc) and a small snack in the evening. One thing I have been doing  that I am not sure I am supposed to do is adding SF pudding mix to the shakes. I count the cal. and carbs in my daily intake but I am not sure if I am supposed to even have the mix. It is really frustrating forme. I feel like I am at a loss.