mrs schultz

So this is day 3 of my Pre-op liquid (meaning Protein shakes only, max 1200 calories a day). I began the Pre-op diet on June 22 and my sugery date for gastric banding surgery is July 6. But let me start from the beginning....

So Day 1 of the Pre-op diet.... nothing short of MISERABLE. I was drinking the Bariatric fusion chocolate and vanilla shakes and tried the Met RX vanilla shake. I was questioning how they could call these things "shakes" lol. I had to gag these shakes down, it wasn't pretty. I made the mistake of leaving a shake in the blender too long and it was so thick that it wouldn't pour out lol. Can you tell I'm a newbie??

Day 2 got a little better. But I weighed myself and I gained .6 pounds! Now I know that was probably Water weight, but I couldn't help but get frustrated because I hadn't even eaten any food and I was heavier!

Day 3: Down 5.2lbs since day 1! I actually am starting to LIKE this preop diet thing. Crazy, I know... considering the terrible experience I had with them. My mom was banded 6 months ago and taught me some tricks with the Protein Shakes. So if you're on a pre op liquid diet and are desperate for some ides... or just want to mix it up a little... here's some ideas!

Try adding cinnamon. It makes a huge difference and helps to get rid of that protein-y taste that I dislike so much. Cinnamon and strawberries are actually a nice combo...

Try adding 1 tsp of sugar OR sugar substitute... Adding the calories of course... nothing goes uncounted!!

Try adding frozen rasberries (my favorite) or fresh strawberries, etc. Very low in calories and pack lots of flavor.

Try adding instant Decaf coffee (after it's been diluted of course). It isn't any calories and helps me to keep that coffee taste I love. I also added a 1/4 of vanilla extract and it tasted like a vanilla coffee shake.

And last but not least, 1 tbsp of Peanut Butter. This has the most calories (95 cal per tbs) but as long as I'm in my daily calorie range I add it. It has Protein in it and it also masks the protein0y shake taste completely.

***Do not try these without speaking to your surgeon first.*** These ideas seem to help me and have made a WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE in my preop liquid diet experience. Please share any of your own ideas And I am open to all suggestions and any advice

I'm not very good at this reply thing but I am sooo glad you posted this. I start my pre-op diet on the 30th and Im so worried about it.

I'm getting banded on July 19th. I have to do a 3 week pre-op diet. I'm so worried about it.

I start mine next week....I am REALLY worried about it.

I'm getting banded on July 19th. I'm both exited and terrified at once!

Me! My surgery is scheduled for July 19th! I'm both excited and scared to death at the same time.

Hey There,

Just looking for any July 2011 banders. I just started my process, but as that I am "self-pay", I am on a fast track to surgery. Although, not terribly obese (bmi 34), I am using lap band surgery as a tool for continued success after loosing weight. I have always been able to join a program(diet or exercise or prescription) and loose weight.....I've done it several times with several different programs (not a good thing), but I always gain the weight back and more. Now that I am in my 40s, it is harder to loose and faster to come back. No more, I say! I want to be heathy in my future - family history/genetics dictates that I will/can be using a walker or wheel chair from degenerative bones and joints, heart disease, diabetes. I am trying to steer clear of that but still keep seeing myself heading in that direction, so now is the time for further action. Although apprehensive about going under, I am reading all the good things about the lap band procedure and am hoping that it is just a little more than the tubiligation and endemetrial ablasion that I had done last year. At least, I am thinking of it that way, so as to not scare myself too badly!

Lisa B - Northern Virginia