I'm new here but thought I'd just jump right in. I'm on day four of my nine day pre-op diet. My surgeon prescribes the HMR shakes. They are expensive - almost $40 a box and I need two boxes - but they taste really good! They also gave a list of recipes to make different flavors so I got a box of vanilla and chocolate and I can make pumpkin pie, chocolate raspberry, strawberry vanilla, pistacchio, etc. I can also freeze them and they are like an ice milk or "frosty" type treat so that makes a nice change. I eat the frozen one for my last of the day (I have to have four.) My diet is four of these shakes a day, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese OR yogurt, 2 cups of fruit juice or vegetable juice and as much sugar free jello, drinks, water, and broth as I like. I'll admit that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I have to catch myself by not automatically trying to take a bite off the kids plate when I'm clearing the table. Bad habits die hard. But so far I've been good. My surgery is this Friday and I'm just anxious for it to be over with and get on with the next stage of my life. I feel like this pre-op diet is training for the marathon of after surgery.