I let myself down today, big time.

You have not ruined anything.  Not all surgeons have 2 week liquid diets.  My surgeon does 7 days, and I started a day late,  so only did 6. 

Reset now and stick to it.  You CAN do this.  Yeah,  it sucks,  bit after surgery you will start shrinking and then it will be so much easier.  

Also, I go to therapy regularly.  If you have the ability,  please find a therapist who is experienced with eating disorders.  

Stay strong and do not give up.  

I think you've gotten some really great input here.  I struggle with emotional eating too and I'm waiting for my surgery in a month.  You're not alone!  I do see a therapist every week (and have been for the past 6 months) and I'm finding ways to stop the automatic eating when things go wrong.  A few things I'm finding that have helped me are pretty simple.   I take a deep breathe, count backwards from 100, ask myself "Is this feeling/experience/thought the end of the world?"  If not, then I can get thru it without grabbing the first available no-no food.  I keep a tin of SF Altoids - the strong taste kinda gets in the way of eating a McX.  I try to drink something like SF lemonade (don't know if that will work after surgery though).  Scream in a pillow, punch the couch, etc.  You get the idea... Basically, make up a list of what you WILL do instead and keep it handy.  Ive learned that understanding why I want to eat is great and I'm getting there, but in this situation, it's more important to find ways to simply stop the behavior - then I can look at the why as I'm ready.   I'm also learning that beating myself up for making unhealthy choices isn't all that helpful.  Yes, it's important to find ways to stop doing that and to look at why, but beating myself up only makes me more stressed.  So, I'm letting go of that too.  

Now about the liver cleanse thing.  My doctor doesn't do it.  At all.  Period.  All I have to do is not eat the day before and drink a bottle of laxative to clean things out beforehand.  I asked him about the liquid diet, and he thinks it has limited value and isn't really going to make that big of a difference.  I'm just telling you this so you can stop beating yourself up for making a mistake.  Is it the end of the world?  No?  Then let it go and find a tool that will help you stop beforehand next time.  (Can you hear that song from Frozen in your head yet?)

I hope this helps!

If you want to take charge of your emotional eating, and insure that you are successful in the long run, I highly recommend trying Overeaters Anonymous as well as a therapist. Getting involved with OA is literally saving my life. It sounds a little wonky and all, but it truly is a great program (and I'm 4.5 yrs out and been through major weight loss, substantial regain, and now more weight loss). 

I had a donut incident 3 days before surgery, but I just made sure I got right back on track after that and my surgeon said my liver looked good.

I think many of us make mistakes, both pre and post op. However, with the surgery, it seems easier to get back on track.

Now, when I get off track, I don't keep the downward spiral going, I don't wait until the next Monday rolls around to start over, and I forgive myself a lot quicker.

I've always thought pre op diets were cruel and unusual punishment.  Thankfully my surgeon didn't require it before both my surgeries.

I think sometimes the insurance companies require them as a means of weeding out people who aren't really determined to have WLS.  The only time I thought the pre op weight loss was valid is when a friend needed to lose 50 lbs because of the equipment.  She was about 400 lbs.  She could not do it.  

Many people can't diet even to literally save our lives.  That is why we have WLS, so we are better able to stick with a healthy way of eating.  If I could have dieted successfully (and kept the weight off) I would never have put my body through all the stress and pain of surgery.  I just didn't have one more diet left in me when I had my first surgery.  I still don't.

Your NOT alone, I think for most of us who have had WLS the preop phase seems "SO HARD".  I know personally I "fell" off the wagon twice, but it everything went fine.  No worries just get back on track.  Find some support whether a close friend, support group in person or such as this one, FB has a few as well.  When you feel sad/temptations creeping in reach out first before swooping into your old eating habits.  I'm 6 months out and while I can say this journey isn't easy, it is SO much worth it.

Agree with a poster above that said reflect on this but even more than that... 

Make an actual emergency plan... when I'm feeling stressed, upset...

I'm going to pull the $20 bucks I would have spent at the drive thru and go get a pedicure.

I'm going to drive to the lake, beach, scenic whatever and chill/meditate w/an app.

I'm going to turn on an asskickin' playlist (make one in preperation) and dance to 10 songs.

I'm going to remember/write down/read through the reasons why I started.

because without a plan and under stress, tired, anger, sadness... we often go to our default. 

Ask your surgeon's office for a therapist you can work with who works with eating disorder issues.

Keep posting here, attending support groups, making find a friend at your Dr's support group to call when you need talking down.

Best wishes on your surgery,

I think you need to forgive yourself, we are all human and make mistakes. The pre-op diet seems to vary by surgeon. My only pre-op diet was a full liquid diet the day before surgery. Just remember tomarrow  is another day start again.