What kind of a diet?
~~~a 4 weeks skim milk diet

What side effects if any? 
~~~ it was giving me low blood sugar/dizziness/nausea.  The dr ok'd add protein powder in low amounts,  It has helped,  Also the sugra free coffee syrups were making me sick, sugar alcohols dont agree with me!!

How much weight loss? 
~~~18 so far, yes i cheated a little

Love it/Hate it? 
~~~Both, It is super tough mentally, having no variety does something to your brain and makes you feel kind of deprived, head hunger was awful!!  Had trouble even grocery shopping for family.  My husband has generously been doing all the cooking and even making my son's lunches so i can focus on me and not have to look at food!  on the other hand there is a certain freedom in just drinking milk. I also had a mini breakdown and learned alot about myself and what causes me to eat.  it was super enlightening and i am hoping will make after surgery easier!

 Have you learned anything from it?
~~~I eat at certain times of day for now reason, in front of computer, out of boredom or nerves.  Cravings are for the most part mental and when i think i can't stand it any longer and have to have food, I drink milk and feel full,  i learned that i can be satisfied with anything that nourishes my body.

Do you recommend it? 
~~~Oddly yes, with dr supervision

 How have you coped?
 ~~~I think i went through a grieveing process with food, it was like a breakup. denyed i needed preop diet because i thought i knew everything about dieting. tried to bargain with my eating and straddle the fence.  accpeted it felt good about it at first because i was doing the right things.  got angry and depressed had a mini hissyfit.  now i have accepted and embraced it and dug in to get through it. 

my advice meditate, listen to music, do whatever it takes to get through it.  "cheating" is a slippery slope and leads to alot of guilt and lost time.  take advantage now because the lower your preop weight the lower your ending number, believe it or not at this high of a weight it is easier to lose weight than after you lsoe 100 pounds! enlist your family and friends by asking them to cook, or do activites that arent food related.  finally love yourself enough to choose yourself over food!