incolorado

I've lost 5 lbs in 2 days of doing Clear liquids only...of course, that is the exact same 5 lbs I lost earlier in the month, then regained. That is why I am getting this band tomorrow! Great job on your pre-op losses!

Won't be long now! I am packing for my drive to the hospital (about 6-7 hours from here), staying overnight in a hotel then surgery at 1030! So psyched. I know you all are too!

My fav. is Shrinking Septembers. I thought of September Success Stories, but too long!

Wow you are doing great! That is one rough diet you have, esp. for that long! So glad I only have three days! Congrats on the losses already!

Not too much worse today. I did dream that I cheated last night. The dream involved chocolate chip cookies. Luckily we do not have any in the house! Being sick earlier in the week gave me some perspective. I really felt like total crap for a couple days. This diet is totally bearable compared to that!

OMG I would kill for some oatmeal right now!!! :wink2: 48 hours so far of nothing but broth, a little bit of sf jello, sf drinks. One more day of this then band on Tuesday! Soon we will all be looking forward to solids again, right!

I am proud to report that I have made it through my first day of clear liquids without a single bite of food! Nothing but broth, sf drinks, sf jello. And I am still alive, amazing! :mad: I also had the best Last Supper with my husband last night. I described it in detail in my blog, for those who enjoy "Food Porn." Two days and a few hours left.... :wub:

Thanks Cortney! Now I have your blog saved on my favorites!:wub:

Seems like some surgeons focus just on depleting the glycogen stores and Water retained in the liver, while others (prescribing the longer diets) focus on reducing the fat in the liver? I know just being on a clear liquid diet for 3 days, all I am really losing is water weight, maybe a tiny amount of fat. Here is my basic understanding, from one surgeon's website: Some surgeons mandate a very restricted diet - one that is low in fat, sugar and carbohydrates - for one week prior to surgery and even if your surgeon doesn't ask you to follow this diet, doing so will increase your chances of your operation being completed laparoscopically because it will shrink your liver down in size. By following a strict diet, your body reduces its glycogen stores (glycogen is a form of sugar stored in the liver and muscles for energy). With each ounce of glycogen, the body stores 3–4 ounces of water, so when you follow a very strict diet, especially one that is low in starch and sugar, your body loses its glycogen stores and some water. The liver shrinks as it has less glycogen and water in it. This diet is only recommended for one week before surgery and is not to be followed post–operatively. It is quite possible you lose a lot of weight that week, but it will be mainly be water loss. Please ensure you continue to drink throughout the day.

Hey Cortney, where is your blog? Would love to check it out.

It is going to be tough doing food and caffeine withdrawal all at once! It does help to think that people do these fasts all the time (you know, people that are not overweight, doing it for spiritual or "cleansing" purposes). It is not going to kill me. But I must come up with things to do to make the time pass quickly! Organizing the closet is a good idea, but that is about #2 on my list of top 10 things I hate to do. I need to think of things I like to do! I have a pretty full day tomorrow with my boys' 2 football games and a meeting at church, but not much else planned... I am trying to think of it as a vacation from food. Free from thinking about it, planning meals, shopping, deciding what to eat, all of it. A positive thing, right? :w00t:

Hi Cortney. Thanks for the thoughts. I am sure I will have a huge caffeine headache! That does not worry me as much as the hunger....But you know people fast for 3 days all the time. True story: I just saw my regular doctor today (not the band surgeon), and was telling him about the clear liquid fast and he said, "Oh, great, I do 3 day fasts every once in a while. In fact I just did one this week - green apples and water." Like it was no big deal and a normal part of life! Well, I guess that is why he is like 160 and I am like...um, more than that. I will have to check out your blog. I started blogging 2 weeks ago and, to my surprise, really enjoy it. Come by some time. I Heart the Band I think the Yahoo or whatever group would be great! I am just clueless about setting up these things. Oh, btw, I am totally going out tonight for the Last Supper. It will be a nice restaurant and I am ordering every course plus a bottle of wine! :w00t: I'll check in from the clear liquid world tomorrow.....:w00t:

Hi there. I can see how you would be pissed! That seems a little extreme. On 900 cals a day you should lose a bunch of weight - is this part of the goal? As far as shrinking the liver, that can be done pretty quickly from what I understand - it is all about depleting your glycogen stores. I only have to do 3 days of Clear liquids (with zero Protein - it is really a total fast, not a diet). Starting tomorrow! But my Dr. thinks this is enough to shrink the liver - all of his patients do it, no matter what BMI. I think part of what these liquid diets is about, too, is totally eliminating any sort of choice on the part of the dieter. In a way, that makes it easier to stay on the diet. Low carb would probably work just as well but seems like some Drs. are afraid to give their patients that much choice - like we can't handle it or something. Well, from my own past dieting attempts I guess there is some truth to that.... Anyway, I would ask about adding some more protein in to your diet, or see if there are any other options. Good luck. I am self pay too, I know how that goes.

Great! Good luck! I have my surgery in 4 days. Can't wait. :w00t:

If you go to the top of the screen, click on User CP and you will be able to see the threads you have posted to. This is also where you can change or add to your signature, just look at the options on the left once you are on the main page of User CP. Great to hear from you!:w00t:

Hi all & welcome new posters! Today is my last day of real food for a long time. Tomorrow I start my 3 days of clear liquid and I get my band on Tues. 9/1. I know there are a few of us Sept. 1 bandsters. Anyway, I emailed the nutritionist asking if I could do the clear Isopure drinks, and she said nope, just broth, crystal light, sugar free Ocean Spray, sf jello & popsicles. That is it. No coffee. No straining soups, just plain broth. NO protein at all! So I will be starving for sure, not to mention cranky from the caffeine detox. Am I the only one that has this sort of pre-op diet? At least it is only 3 days. Good luck everyone & have a great weekend. :w00t:

I am also having surgery 9/1...just a few days! I am excited but also having those mixed emotions....I start my 3 day all clear liquid diet on Saturday. My husband is totally supportive, he knew me when I was "small," so no doubt he is looking forward to the old me returning. I also have 4 kids and thinking it may be difficult cooking for everyone...I am the only cook in the family. But I know we will work it out. Good luck to all. :thumbup:

Dr. Brown is doing my surgery next week, $9900 for self-pay. They are very helpful with directing you to financing options, they accept credit cards as well. The only good thing about paying yourself is the speed of the whole process: less than one month from first phone call to surgery for me. I have good, comprehensive group insurance but WLS is completely excluded, so it was never an option for me. Good luck. If I were you I would do the self pay rather than waiting so long!

Right on Kart! Way to rock the band.

Yep, no Protein shakes or anything at all! Virtually zero calories for 3 days (broth has like 30 cals I think?) I think this starvation mode diet really uses up all the glucose in the liver, making it shrink really fast. Plenty of others have done it, I know I can do it too, but I am ready for it to totally suck! I wish I could just take a weekend -long sleeping pill and sleep through the whole thing.

Yeah! Only 7 more days to go for both of us. I have to report that I sort of gave up on the voluntary pre-op diet...it was good to try it out for a week anyway, I definitely learned a lot and lost a few pounds. I start my Clear liquids (the real pre op diet my surgeon requires) on Saturday. Good for you losing so much before surgery! Without anyone telling me I had to do it, I just lost steam ....anyway, I am so excited to get going with the band next week! Let us know what happens at your pre-op appt. I am done with all testing until surgery day!

Thank you Diana and everyone else. I am hoping my mom, who is 62, will also look into the band. She is waiting to see how I do with it! I am already wishing I had looked into the band years ago....but at this rate (age 42), I still have many (hopefully) skinny years ahead of me. Good luck to all those making their decision. It was an easy decision for me once I realized I had my husband's support and willingness to make the financial sacrifice (self pay).

Wow, that is awesome. I will be a different person once I lose 50! Thanks for sharing this! :thumbup:

It is always good to hear this! I am getting my band 1 week from today, no turning back at this point! I understand some people have problems with the band, but the vast majority do not (so say the experts, anyway). I am so looking forward to getting my life back. Thanks again. :thumbup:

Hi there, I am getting my band 9/1 also. I did protein shakes last week - voluntarily - but just eating normally now until I have to start my 3 days of clear liquids (Sat). That is all my surgeon requires. Keep up the good work, you must be losing lots already!