Trying so hard...

Day 2 was the hardest for me, so hang in there. It does get easier!

Also try putting the Optifast in the blender with water & ice and some sugar free syrups.

Good luck!

I am not on optifast, just protein shakes. I am using premir protein but I will try that  

Hang in there!  I know it's sooooo hard.  Try a variety of protein shakes and powders 'cause there's a wide variety out there.  The guys at my Vitamin Shoppe were very helpful. Use ice chips though not ice cubes.  Don't need a broken tooth! 

Good luck!!!

the premier protein is really good as a frozen slushy. 

You know they say This too shall pass. It sucks!!!! but hang in there. I had to do 3 weeks when it was supposed to be 2 weeks. You got this this. I agree with this sugar free popsicles. My personal opinion get the original Popsicle sugar free kind. A lot of stores have their brands. Invest in the good ones! Bite em, chew and indulge. Yeah it isnt what you want but pretty soon you will be getting that surgery. and after they will be a lifesaver too. I am a year out and i still keep a box or 2 in my freezer. 

Didn't think to freeze them! Definitely will do that. 

Hang in there! It is hard.  But you got this.  And try to find ways to distract yourself if you can.  I took naps those first few days where it's all headaches and wanting to eat.

I never thouht I would like broth, but it felt like a meal.  I watched YouTube videos of my 600 lb life continuously while on the pre-op diet.  You have to shrink your liver.  But another thing is that you have to get your body used to burning fat for fuel.  If you wait until after surgery, it is harder, I think.  Then you have the pain of the surgery, and the hardship your body is going thru, then your body has to learn to burn fat for fuel rather than food or carbs.   So, really this is the beginnining, not the actual surgery.  In fact, you may not feel any restriction for the first couple of weeks due to swelling.  You have to train yourself to eat only what you are supposed to eat.  So, this is step one in the process.  You will always have to train your body to do what is right, not what is habit, or what you feel like doing.  This is the beginning of the journey.  Rejoice!!, this is the begining of telling your body, that you will eat what you should and not what you want.  You can do it, your life will change for the better. I llove being thin.  I love that people don't automatically write me off, they value me as a person.  I am no longer invisible. 

you can do it.  I am on day 4.  I am on opti and I put my night time one in the freezer and it takes a long time to eat it - you get the 'chew" factor.  take some tylonel for the headache.  I also drink a ton of hot decaf tea - it really helps and fills me.

I know what you're going through, Achappe1.  Between the 2 week pre-op and 1 week post-op liquid diet, I had 21 days as well.  As everyone else says, the first 3 or 4 days are the hardest.

What really helped me, though, was not using premixed protein shakes, but getting unflavored protein powder and making my own.  I then bought cocoa, and several bottles of flavorings so that I could create my own blends and keep variety in all the shakes.  I was required 5 shakes a day, so the variety really helped.  My favorites were cocoa and coconut flavoring for Mounds Bar (add almond to it and you have Almond Joy!), Pina Colada (pineapple and coconut), and just pure banana...so good.  With all the flavorings available you're only limited by your imagination.  I'm not crazy about mint, but I can imagine Chocolate Mint would be yummy if you are!

Also, since I had the powder, I was not limited to sweet shakes made with skim milk (or almond milk or whatever you would use).  One thing that reallly helped me a lot and got me through was to mix the protein powder with different flavors of broth.  When I got sick of the sweet (between the shakes, the jello, the popsicles, etc.) my go-to was beef broth.  Tasted like heaven to me.

Keep as much variety in your options as you can, because 3 weeks is a long time.  But if I could do it, you can do it, too!!  Hang in there, girl, and it will be over before you know it!

Yes.... Liquid diet is a killer.  First (4) days are bad & then it gets better.  Treat the headaches with Tylenol & rest.

I am not sure how I did it all of December over the Christmas & New Years parties, BUT I did.

First.... You have to do it!  You have to be in a deligent mind set.  I focused on the importance pre op.

The surgery is easier with this preparation.

I used crushed ice & water to mix it.  It give you an opportunity to chew on the crushed ice.  Quite honestly drinking something cold 4 times a day was worse for me.

I made sure that I had warm decaffienated teas & coffees in between.

At the end of the day, you won't regret this decision and journey.  You have to embrace the hard work.

It does prepare you for this amazing journey.

Embrace it!

Lots of other great advice in this forum 

Good luck

Sandra   

Mahalo.