Creekimp13

That is interesting. 30lbs in 6 months while a good rate for most. Is to slow for me. But I trust my doctor and the plan he has me on and I take all my Vitamins and blood work is fab! I'm fat and disabled so perhaps that's why I shouldn't go over 800 because I don't move as much as you eating 1200 I'd stay fat really. So I suppose it's individualised. I probably wouldn't lose much.
My plans also balanced thank u for explaining it is good to learn about other plans
Sent from my Vivo 5R using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you KCRN.... I know 1 piece of chocolate is not going to blow my entire diet, but the feeling like a complete failure sucks. I called my Dr. office, and they said I will be fine, just stick with it from here on out....
Glad to know I'm not the only one.... And you're right...this feeling will definitely be my guide....

I think I felt similarly to you, and that feeling really is awful. I cheated on my pre op once too. Didn't feel too great about it, which is what kept me from doing it again. Just let this bad feeling be your guide, you don't want to cheat. I think if you stick to your diet from here on out you'll be fine.

We might all be adults, but we're not all doctors. Part of the reason we're in this mess, is because we make notable BAD food choices and write our own rules about food....that don't work.
In all other areas of medical treatment most of us would say....follow your doctor's instructions exactly for the best outcome.
Why would this be different?
Yes, we're all adults. Most of us are adults with food addiction. Addicts love to bargain and justify themselves and make their own special rules that are often counterproductive and unwise.
Just sayin...lets not be in denial about that.

To each their own. But to me? I've worked too hard and this is too important to go off script and make guesses against my doctor's instructions.

I wondered the same thing.....because when you start that two week liquid diet it's a big ole slap upside the head of reality....THIS IS HARD!
My personal theory? Eliminating meat is not physically necessary to shrink your liver pre-surg.....but it IS psychologically necessary to make sure you're gonna survive the restrictive diet after surgery and not do something stupid that could HURT you.
Yep, that two week diet feels like torture. Guess what? So does the post-surgical diet. Except with the post surgical diet, you don't get to change your mind. If you cheat you can end up needing emergency surgery. My doc recently had a case of someone eating on Thanksgiving 5 days post op and getting their sleeve impacted. They tried to shift the clog with an endoscope and couldn't....needed to do surgery to unstick a wad of turkey.
Maybe that is why we have to prove our metal with the liquid diet. Just to know what we're getting ourselves into and making sure we have the courage and tenacity to make it through. Doctors really don't like their surgical complication rate to tick up....and they have to trust you not to sabotage yourself.
Do your pre-surgical diet as written. Don't cheat. They do it that way for a reason. It's hard. Yes. Yes, it is. Very hard. (says a woman who has eaten nothing but Clear Liquids and protien shakes for three miserable weeks...two pre-surg, and one post surg) But guess what? I had a terrifically easy time in surgery, no nausea, little pain. Tomorrow, I should be cleared to eat yogurt, oatmeal, Soup and pudding. Looking very forward to that. Around Christmas, I'll get mashed potatoes and soft meats....which sounds like heaven.
You're hitting the hard part. Buck up and do what you're told. DONT CHEAT! The success of your sleeve depends on it.

We might all be adults, but we're not all doctors. Part of the reason we're in this mess, is because we make notable BAD food choices and write our own rules about food....that don't work.
In all other areas of medical treatment most of us would say....follow your doctor's instructions exactly for the best outcome.
Why would this be different?
Yes, we're all adults. Most of us are adults with food addiction. Addicts love to bargain and justify themselves and make their own special rules that are often counterproductive and unwise.
Just sayin...lets not be in denial about that.

To each their own. But to me? I've worked too hard and this is too important to go off script and make guesses against my doctor's instructions.

I wondered the same thing.....because when you start that two week liquid diet it's a big ole slap upside the head of reality....THIS IS HARD!
My personal theory? Eliminating meat is not physically necessary to shrink your liver pre-surg.....but it IS psychologically necessary to make sure you're gonna survive the restrictive diet after surgery and not do something stupid that could HURT you.
Yep, that two week diet feels like torture. Guess what? So does the post-surgical diet. Except with the post surgical diet, you don't get to change your mind. If you cheat you can end up needing emergency surgery. My doc recently had a case of someone eating on Thanksgiving 5 days post op and getting their sleeve impacted. They tried to shift the clog with an endoscope and couldn't....needed to do surgery to unstick a wad of turkey.
Maybe that is why we have to prove our metal with the liquid diet. Just to know what we're getting ourselves into and making sure we have the courage and tenacity to make it through. Doctors really don't like their surgical complication rate to tick up....and they have to trust you not to sabotage yourself.
Do your pre-surgical diet as written. Don't cheat. They do it that way for a reason. It's hard. Yes. Yes, it is. Very hard. (says a woman who has eaten nothing but Clear Liquids and protien shakes for three miserable weeks...two pre-surg, and one post surg) But guess what? I had a terrifically easy time in surgery, no nausea, little pain. Tomorrow, I should be cleared to eat yogurt, oatmeal, Soup and pudding. Looking very forward to that. Around Christmas, I'll get mashed potatoes and soft meats....which sounds like heaven.
You're hitting the hard part. Buck up and do what you're told. DONT CHEAT! The success of your sleeve depends on it.

My doc gives literature that anything under 1200 a day for an extended period of time is correlated with nutrient deficiencies, bone loss, loss of hair, and a lot of other malnutrition nastiness. They lean on you to get 1000-1200 calories per day by the third week post-op to maintain good nutrition and health.
I'll personally lose weight like crazy on 1200. I lost 30 pounds in 6 months on 1800 calories a day. But I do walk 5 miles with my fitbit every day.
Losing weight really fast can be really dangerous to your health. Sleeve patients should lose the bulk of their weight over 12-18 months. Super low calorie diets are never a good idea long term. Yep, they get results, but they can also damage your health and set you up for a nasty rebound.
Slow and steady...lifestyle changes...wins the race long term.
My group also integrates sensible low glycemic carbs and healthy fats into our diets in addition to adequate Protein. I like my dietitian's approach. It feels more balanced than some of the plans I hear about, and easier on the kidneys long term.

I was the first surgery on Tuesday with my group, so with an arrival time of 5:30, I was up at 4am.
Got there and it all went very smoothly. They wanted a little last minute blood, they wanted a pregnancy pee test, then on to pre-surgery where I got a couple of shots and an IV catheter in my forearm. Everyone wants to know your name and birthdate...lol.
Had already taken the Emend pill for anti-nausea. Was given an antinausea patch behind my ear, and a motion sickness med. Also, a med for preventing blood clots.
Surgery went well. Woke up and learned that I'd had a small hiatal hernia that my doc tightened up to help prevent acid reflux.
Surgery was 7:30-9:30. I spent 9:30-12:30 in recovery. Was ready to leave at around 11, but there was a little delay getting my room ready. Got a few ice chips in recovery.
Around 12:30, I was wheeled up to my room. The pain from the surgical sites wasn't bad. The trapped gas, particularly in my shoulders, hurt like the dickens, though. Miserable feeling, but tolerable.
As soon as I got to my room, I asked to go to the bathroom. Got up without any problem, took myself to the toilet. (nurse did stand outside the door at first). Got out and said that standing upright made my gas pain feel much better, so asked if I could walk. Nurses seemed very enthusiastic about my willingness to walk and took me for a walk. I did a couple laps of the ward and wanted to sit down again.
So, then, I was given a little one ounce cup of Water to drink slow. Got some pain meds, some more anti nausea meds, some meds to encourage my guts to keep moving.
I drank my little one ounce cup without any issues for a couple hours in a row and they advanced me to drinking FOUR little one ounce cups per hour, and sucking on this plastic breathing thing ten times an hour. After a bit, they helped me put an order in to food service for some broth, Jello, and other Clear Liquids.
But here's the routine I had to follow (and am still following today)
10 sucks on the breathing thingy per hour, One or two small walks per hour. Four ounces of clear liquid per hour....drinking one ounce every 15 minutes in 10 little sips.
Yesterday at 6pm, they sent me home, and I've been doing the same schedule. Tomorrow, I'll alternate hours, and do 4 ounces of Protein Drink, then four ounces of clear fluid...alternating like this for at least 10 hours of the day. The goal is at least 40 ounces of Fluid per day.
I'll remain on Protein drink and clear fluids until my recheck a week from surgery. At that point, if all is well, I get cream of wheat, yogurt, pudding, and oat meal back in the rotation.
The toughest thing for me has been getting comfortable in bed. I'm a side sleeper and it's kinda painful...but wedging enough pillows around me helps. Also, I have a little narcotic medication in liquid form for home, that so far, I have only had to take at night.
Am feeling pretty good today! Still pooped, but getting my walks in.
One funny thing....they loaded me up so much with IV fluids that I actually gained about four pounds while away having surgery! All those swollen tissues must be holding a lot of Water. I was told this is very common and not to worry about it. Could also be a function of them taking me off my diuretic for a while until fluids get easier to swallow in bigger volumes.
Anyway...I'm doing great and wanted everyone to know the sleeve isn't that bad. The hardest part for me is all the meticulous measuring and making sure all my little recovery jobs are getting done. Walk, sip, suck. Rinse, repeat.
Good luck to everyone on a safe and effective outcome!

Take chapstick, you'll need it.
Post op, you'll likely be wearing a hospital gown on top for a while because of the IV. (they capped mine when I wanted to take a shower the second day, and I was able to get my top dressed then)
For right after your operation bring something for your butt...lounge pants, pajama bottoms...whatever you like. They'll likely make you wear color coded hospital socks. (the color of the "safety socks" determines your fall risk...everyone walks with someone else first, until they trust you to walk alone)
Wear loose comfortable clothes. You'll have a lot of incisions in your belly....right next to and above your belly button and your belly will feel bloaty and sore...so the waist has to be super loose. I wore lounge pants that were a little too big with a loose draw string waist and they were perfect.
Bring a cardigan or hoodie....I got cold sitting around in my street clothes and roaming the halls. I swear the surgery reduces your cold tolerance. Having my cuddly cardigan helped.
I brought my own pillow cause I'm picky and it smells like home.

I am 5 days out and the first week is not easy. It’s very mental. I’m noticing how my MIND tries to trick me to make me think i want these foods but i don’t give in to it. I’ve had plenty of breakdowns to my support system about how I’m ready to chew somethin. It’s def mental, far from easy because it’s new (atleast for me).

Get a fitbit and start walking. Up your steps every time you can tolerate it. The more steps you get, the more calories you burn. Journal everything you put in your mouth.

Dietitian told me today that the people who experience less Hair loss seem to be people who are eating enough calories. She said that prolonged periods of eating fewer than 1000 calories can contributes to worse hair loss. I think everyone loses some hair and I'm told it grows back just fine, but keeping track of your nutrition and making sure you're not on the extreme side of low calories can really help I'm told. Avoid malnutrition.

I was the first surgery on Tuesday with my group, so with an arrival time of 5:30, I was up at 4am.
Got there and it all went very smoothly. They wanted a little last minute blood, they wanted a pregnancy pee test, then on to pre-surgery where I got a couple of shots and an IV catheter in my forearm. Everyone wants to know your name and birthdate...lol.
Had already taken the Emend pill for anti-nausea. Was given an antinausea patch behind my ear, and a motion sickness med. Also, a med for preventing blood clots.
Surgery went well. Woke up and learned that I'd had a small hiatal hernia that my doc tightened up to help prevent acid reflux.
Surgery was 7:30-9:30. I spent 9:30-12:30 in recovery. Was ready to leave at around 11, but there was a little delay getting my room ready. Got a few ice chips in recovery.
Around 12:30, I was wheeled up to my room. The pain from the surgical sites wasn't bad. The trapped gas, particularly in my shoulders, hurt like the dickens, though. Miserable feeling, but tolerable.
As soon as I got to my room, I asked to go to the bathroom. Got up without any problem, took myself to the toilet. (nurse did stand outside the door at first). Got out and said that standing upright made my gas pain feel much better, so asked if I could walk. Nurses seemed very enthusiastic about my willingness to walk and took me for a walk. I did a couple laps of the ward and wanted to sit down again.
So, then, I was given a little one ounce cup of Water to drink slow. Got some pain meds, some more anti nausea meds, some meds to encourage my guts to keep moving.
I drank my little one ounce cup without any issues for a couple hours in a row and they advanced me to drinking FOUR little one ounce cups per hour, and sucking on this plastic breathing thing ten times an hour. After a bit, they helped me put an order in to food service for some broth, Jello, and other Clear Liquids.
But here's the routine I had to follow (and am still following today)
10 sucks on the breathing thingy per hour, One or two small walks per hour. Four ounces of clear liquid per hour....drinking one ounce every 15 minutes in 10 little sips.
Yesterday at 6pm, they sent me home, and I've been doing the same schedule. Tomorrow, I'll alternate hours, and do 4 ounces of Protein Drink, then four ounces of clear fluid...alternating like this for at least 10 hours of the day. The goal is at least 40 ounces of Fluid per day.
I'll remain on Protein drink and clear fluids until my recheck a week from surgery. At that point, if all is well, I get cream of wheat, yogurt, pudding, and oat meal back in the rotation.
The toughest thing for me has been getting comfortable in bed. I'm a side sleeper and it's kinda painful...but wedging enough pillows around me helps. Also, I have a little narcotic medication in liquid form for home, that so far, I have only had to take at night.
Am feeling pretty good today! Still pooped, but getting my walks in.
One funny thing....they loaded me up so much with IV fluids that I actually gained about four pounds while away having surgery! All those swollen tissues must be holding a lot of Water. I was told this is very common and not to worry about it. Could also be a function of them taking me off my diuretic for a while until fluids get easier to swallow in bigger volumes.
Anyway...I'm doing great and wanted everyone to know the sleeve isn't that bad. The hardest part for me is all the meticulous measuring and making sure all my little recovery jobs are getting done. Walk, sip, suck. Rinse, repeat.
Good luck to everyone on a safe and effective outcome!

We might all be adults, but we're not all doctors. Part of the reason we're in this mess, is because we make notable BAD food choices and write our own rules about food....that don't work.
In all other areas of medical treatment most of us would say....follow your doctor's instructions exactly for the best outcome.
Why would this be different?
Yes, we're all adults. Most of us are adults with food addiction. Addicts love to bargain and justify themselves and make their own special rules that are often counterproductive and unwise.
Just sayin...lets not be in denial about that.

To each their own. But to me? I've worked too hard and this is too important to go off script and make guesses against my doctor's instructions.

I wondered the same thing.....because when you start that two week liquid diet it's a big ole slap upside the head of reality....THIS IS HARD!
My personal theory? Eliminating meat is not physically necessary to shrink your liver pre-surg.....but it IS psychologically necessary to make sure you're gonna survive the restrictive diet after surgery and not do something stupid that could HURT you.
Yep, that two week diet feels like torture. Guess what? So does the post-surgical diet. Except with the post surgical diet, you don't get to change your mind. If you cheat you can end up needing emergency surgery. My doc recently had a case of someone eating on Thanksgiving 5 days post op and getting their sleeve impacted. They tried to shift the clog with an endoscope and couldn't....needed to do surgery to unstick a wad of turkey.
Maybe that is why we have to prove our metal with the liquid diet. Just to know what we're getting ourselves into and making sure we have the courage and tenacity to make it through. Doctors really don't like their surgical complication rate to tick up....and they have to trust you not to sabotage yourself.
Do your pre-surgical diet as written. Don't cheat. They do it that way for a reason. It's hard. Yes. Yes, it is. Very hard. (says a woman who has eaten nothing but Clear Liquids and protien shakes for three miserable weeks...two pre-surg, and one post surg) But guess what? I had a terrifically easy time in surgery, no nausea, little pain. Tomorrow, I should be cleared to eat yogurt, oatmeal, Soup and pudding. Looking very forward to that. Around Christmas, I'll get mashed potatoes and soft meats....which sounds like heaven.
You're hitting the hard part. Buck up and do what you're told. DONT CHEAT! The success of your sleeve depends on it.

Nothing you can do. Her life. Her choice. No one can change unless they want to..writing a letter to show your concern is an idea.
Sent from my Vivo 5R using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you all for your thoughts. I have no intention of breaking my preop diet. I’m just very curious why there is no standard. Seems like there should be one diet proven to shrink livers most effectively. Oh well! It’s off to liquids I go!

Amen!
This is a rant..Not to the original poster but to anyone giving medical advice on here.....Who in the hell on this board is a medical professional ? Can they show their credentials to prove it?
trust the process and instructions given to you by your surgeon's office.
Yes, we are adults...Make your own choices....The only one that has to be happy with your outcome is you.
Anyone that says bariatrics is the easy way out can bite me! This takes work.

I wondered the same thing.....because when you start that two week liquid diet it's a big ole slap upside the head of reality....THIS IS HARD!
My personal theory? Eliminating meat is not physically necessary to shrink your liver pre-surg.....but it IS psychologically necessary to make sure you're gonna survive the restrictive diet after surgery and not do something stupid that could HURT you.
Yep, that two week diet feels like torture. Guess what? So does the post-surgical diet. Except with the post surgical diet, you don't get to change your mind. If you cheat you can end up needing emergency surgery. My doc recently had a case of someone eating on Thanksgiving 5 days post op and getting their sleeve impacted. They tried to shift the clog with an endoscope and couldn't....needed to do surgery to unstick a wad of turkey.
Maybe that is why we have to prove our metal with the liquid diet. Just to know what we're getting ourselves into and making sure we have the courage and tenacity to make it through. Doctors really don't like their surgical complication rate to tick up....and they have to trust you not to sabotage yourself.
Do your pre-surgical diet as written. Don't cheat. They do it that way for a reason. It's hard. Yes. Yes, it is. Very hard. (says a woman who has eaten nothing but Clear Liquids and protien shakes for three miserable weeks...two pre-surg, and one post surg) But guess what? I had a terrifically easy time in surgery, no nausea, little pain. Tomorrow, I should be cleared to eat yogurt, oatmeal, Soup and pudding. Looking very forward to that. Around Christmas, I'll get mashed potatoes and soft meats....which sounds like heaven.
You're hitting the hard part. Buck up and do what you're told. DONT CHEAT! The success of your sleeve depends on it.

We might all be adults, but we're not all doctors. Part of the reason we're in this mess, is because we make notable BAD food choices and write our own rules about food....that don't work.
In all other areas of medical treatment most of us would say....follow your doctor's instructions exactly for the best outcome.
Why would this be different?
Yes, we're all adults. Most of us are adults with food addiction. Addicts love to bargain and justify themselves and make their own special rules that are often counterproductive and unwise.
Just sayin...lets not be in denial about that.

To each their own. But to me? I've worked too hard and this is too important to go off script and make guesses against my doctor's instructions.

We might all be adults, but we're not all doctors. Part of the reason we're in this mess, is because we make notable BAD food choices and write our own rules about food....that don't work.
In all other areas of medical treatment most of us would say....follow your doctor's instructions exactly for the best outcome.
Why would this be different?
Yes, we're all adults. Most of us are adults with food addiction. Addicts love to bargain and justify themselves and make their own special rules that are often counterproductive and unwise.
Just sayin...lets not be in denial about that.

To each their own. But to me? I've worked too hard and this is too important to go off script and make guesses against my doctor's instructions.

Tough Love:
Alcohol slows lipid oxidation (the burning of fat) by about 75%. So yes, it's likely the alcohol causing your weight gain. And it's probably contributing to your nutritional deficiencies. You should be eating nutritious food, not alcohol. Particularly if you are deficient.
DUI is selfish and dangerous. You are extremely lucky that you...or anyone else.... wasn't injured/killed by your poor choices.
3-4 mixed drinks, or a whole bottle of wine a night....is an addiction. I think you're trading one dangerous addiction (food) for an even more dangerous addiction (alcohol).
Try to stop drinking for a month. If you can't? Seek help.
I don't mean this to sound overly harsh, it sounds like you've been through a lot. But sometimes being kind means being honest....even if the truth hurts a little. Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

Tough Love:
Alcohol slows lipid oxidation (the burning of fat) by about 75%. So yes, it's likely the alcohol causing your weight gain. And it's probably contributing to your nutritional deficiencies. You should be eating nutritious food, not alcohol. Particularly if you are deficient.
DUI is selfish and dangerous. You are extremely lucky that you...or anyone else.... wasn't injured/killed by your poor choices.
3-4 mixed drinks, or a whole bottle of wine a night....is an addiction. I think you're trading one dangerous addiction (food) for an even more dangerous addiction (alcohol).
Try to stop drinking for a month. If you can't? Seek help.
I don't mean this to sound overly harsh, it sounds like you've been through a lot. But sometimes being kind means being honest....even if the truth hurts a little. Please take care and let us know how you're doing.

I struggled to get over about 600 for months and months. At six weeks I was maybe 400.

But I would continue to lose at 1200. I eat between 2000 & 2500 most days to maintain. I am pretty dang active, but on really active days I've been known to go even higher.