Question:
Pre-Op Liquid Diet: What exactly is liquid???

I have to do a one week pre-op liquid diet before Lap Band Surgery. This helps 'shrinks the liver and makes surgery safer'. My nutritionist was quite serious about 'no chewing' as the test. Then she highly recommended Trader Joe's soups. Well these are as thick and chunky as they come. I called the office and they said, "She's not here. Don't eat if you don't think you should!" Well, they are on the menu she gave me! I have been trying to follow instructions but they are contradictory. You'd hope they've done this enough to know, even in the front office but I guess not. Any ideas??    — homesweethome (posted on December 2, 2005)

December 2, 2005
Hi Wendy - protein drinks, water, etc. are the liquid diet they are talking about. If the office said the soups are ok, they probably would recommend that you puree them to get rid of chunks.
   — johare

December 2, 2005
The stock answer is "anything that will go through a straw". Hence, blended soup is a liquid, but refried beans would be a mushy. Hope that helps.
   — Jeanie

December 2, 2005
Hi Wendy...My doctor actually supplies the food you eat for your 2 week pre-op diet, all of which is high protein. Some of it was pretty nasty, but some things were actually pretty good. One of the things I really liked were the protein bars I was allowed to eat. They tasted like an Almond Joy candy bar. I was quite surprised because I was told that it was a liquid diet, but it really wasn't. The main goal was to lose some weight before the surgery for the exact reason you stated. I was able to lose 22 lbs in 2 weeks on this diet, although it's not a diet you could stay on much longer than that. I'm 7 months post-op with the Lap-Band and have had a few issues, but love the results. I've lost 125 lbs. since the surgery and a total of 152 from my highest weight ever. I have been a little aggresive on having the band tightened, maybe to the point of going a little to tight. But within a couple of weeks of having it adjusted, things seem to even themselves out. But for the first week or two after an adjustment I'm not able to eat much at all. But I make sure to get all my protein at least, and my vitamins. Good Luck!!! Bill
   — billyblaine01