Question:
how can people follow the liquid diet before surgery?

I am so afraid I won't be able to stick to a liquid diet. I have absolutely no willpower. Any suggestions?    — marcia5000 (posted on January 15, 2009)


January 15, 2009
I found it hard, but each time I wanted to eat something instead of slurp down that unappealing shake, I reminded myself that the doc required me to shrink the size of my fatty liver to ensure a SAFE SURGERY. I didn't want any complications, so that kept me in line. Good luck. I am a year and a half post-op (gastric bypass) and I enjoy lots of yummy foods. You will be able to eat again, I promise. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
   — mosie555

January 15, 2009
You have to make the decision that being health is more important than eating waht you want. If you can not you are not ready for surgery. You will still have to make hard decisions. You will still have to follow a food plan. The surgery makes it easier to lose the weight but if you do not make good decisions it will just come back. Consider working with a counselor to find out why you are sabatoging your health. Why are you unwilling to take a stand for a better life? Believe me it is all worth it but only if you are ready and willing to put in the work needed after surgery.
   — trible

January 15, 2009
I agree with the last poster...If you have thoughts like that you are not ready for surgery...This is no magic trick...they only fix your stomach not to be able to take in as much. They do not fix your head...After surgery it is no easier than dieting before surgery except for the fact that the first 6 months or so you physically cannot take in too much food. After 6 months though you certainly can make very bad decisions and not lose anymore weight...You need to work with a dr to modify your thoughts and behaviors. Figure out your trigger foods and situations and ways to combat the negative thoughts about food and the feelings that go along with it... There is nothing a doctor can tell you to prepare you for how you will feel after surgery and I suggest to all to hit the meetings or have a trusted psych dr in place to handle all the feelings and situations that crop up after surgery..
   — lori042499

January 15, 2009
If you want the surgery bad enough, you'll do what the doctor tells you to do. Sorry, but that's the way it's got to be.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 15, 2009
I think I would try to look at it as the last big, hard, ugly diet I ever had to do as the last step to the end of morbid obesity and the beginning of my new healthy life being a thin, happy person! I honestly don't know how so many are doing it...I'm old school and didn't have to do the liquids...I did have to lose some weight though and I dieted by eating like I would post op and chewing my food and cutting out sugar and simple carbs and lost...Just give it your best and you will get thru it...knowing it's for your own good! Give yourself some credit...you are about to change your life as you know it and you MUST make changes...Start here! :::Passing you a protein shake!::::Bottoms up! LOL Good luck!
   — .Anita R.

January 15, 2009
It is very difficult and you will do it when you are sick and tired of being sick and tired and have had enough! If you are not at that point, it will be an even bigger challenge. It takes commitment and determination, I have read there is no such thing as willpower. Decide to do it, commit and just do it. Best of luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

January 15, 2009
I understand completely. I am now post op 5 months but I thought I was going to go insane before. I thought to myself if I could stick to a liquid diet the medifast system would have worked for me. I just did it. When I wanted to eat something I would eat chewable vitamins. I was chewing and it helped to make me feel like I was eating. Also if you put your shakes in in the freezer for a few minutes it will get thick and make you feel more full.
   — phyllismmay

January 15, 2009

   — ChelleBelle

January 15, 2009
Weird...not sure how my post included all that excess which looks to be part of what other posters had already posted. Sorry---I did not mean for it to be so freakin' long and screwed up!!! In a nutshell......It is SOOOOO worth it---JUST do it!!!! YOU have the power!!! :)
   — ChelleBelle

January 15, 2009
Marcia, I won't lie to you and say that it is easy. I am in the middle of a two week pre-surgery diet, myself. It is very hard to keep having ONLY these icky shakes! I will admit that I have "cheated" a bit here and there. I try to eat things that are low in calories and low in fat if I feel that I absolutely HAVE to have some "real" food. I will scramble one egg, or have fat free jello or pudding, I know, it's still "cheating", but sometimes you have to do what works for you. I'm down 10lbs anyway, so that is better than nothing, right?? Just remember, Marcia, the absolute worst thing that could happen is that your surgeon will do an "open" bypass, which means that they will open you up from about mid-breast to belly button or so. Of course, there is always the possibility that the surgeon may cancel your surgery. However, if you have shown that you have made an attempt to stick to this diet and have lost weight, then I think it is more likely that they will just do what they have to do to get the surgery done, even if that means opening you up. I am a bit worried about that, but if that is what he has to do, then I'm okay with that as I have been waiting for a long time for this and looking forward to being on the "losing side". Good luck to you, I hope that everything goes well for you.
   — anitak

January 16, 2009
I wasn't sure that I would be able to do it also. But I did. The first day was the hardest. But you can get the sugar free popsicles I believe and that helps. I probably will never ever drink another slim fast again. Not sure about broth soup either. You just need to keep in mind that you don't want anything to go wrong. I never thought I had the will power to do it either but I surprised myself. I've been smoke free for 9 months and had the surgery 3 months ago. I'm happier, healthier, stronger than I ever expected.
   — vonage vinvon

January 16, 2009
I am on day 3 of the 2 week liquid diet, I try to think about the goal at the end and just how close it really is. I think it will get better (for me anyhow) once I have reached the half way point. It kinda sucks because I run an in home daycare and have to fix breakfast, snack, lunch, snack for children 5 days a week, if it wasnt for that it would be alot easier on me. I am going tonight to get some different protien drink flavors and try to find the sugar free carnation instant breakfast (which is yummy) in a different flavor.
   — KARA_TOP

January 17, 2009
The biggest thing I had was to do was not wanting to think of food. It wasn't very hard I didn't want to look at food or see food the smell wasn't the best either. It won't be that hard.
   — Scott Ambrose




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