Ok, I need help...

[soy 0]

My nutritonist said my food intake for the day should brake down as follows:

900-1000 calories

10-15g fat

70-80g Protein

40-45g carbs

This seems impossible. Right now, I'm in the pre-op liquid phase and I've had to fill up on Protein shakes made with Water (instead of skim milk!) because I couldn't afford that amount of carbs! I was SO careful. I ended up consuming 900 calories, 18g fat, 91g protein, and 99g carbs.

Some of the extra carbs are coming from roasted veggies I put in my chicken Soup (made of blended whatever-was-for-dinner) to make it tastier. Some are from my Protein powder, which admittedly may have too many carbs... (8) And given the amount of protein I've ingested, it's not possible to be feeling as hungry as I've been all day...

Am I supposed to be restricting my diet so much during the liquid stage? Or do I have my numbers wrong? I feel like I'm doing something wrong...

[JoiaRox 430]

Everyone's doctors and prescribed diets are different. If you're concerned that you're not doing this right, or aren't sure how to make what you fit into your nutritionist's diet...you need to consult your doctor. I could tell you what I did, but you and I don't have the same doctor.

[BetsyB 9]

There are as many preop diets as there are doctors, but what most have in common is a strict carbohydrate restriction. You actually have a little more leeway than some of us had.

It's REALLY important that you adhere to the carb guideline. It will help your liver give up its glycogen (energy) stores so that it is smaller and easier (and safer) to maneuver around during surgery.

Try not to view this as punishment. ALL of our bodies have more than enough energy reserves to withstand a couple of weeks of stringent dieting. Our heads don't like it, but our bodies do just fine.

Tally up how many shakes you're making each day. (Inspire brand from bariatriceating.com is great mixed just with water). That'll tell you how many carbs you're getting via that route.

You'll probably find that you can afford very little extra, carb-wise, from other sources. That means your Soup may not have veggies blended in--if you need the veggie flavor, add V-8 (again, check carbs) or veggie stock. You may not end up with a thick, full-bodied soup, but again---your body does not need it. You want it, but you will get through this stage.

I know it sucks. It's really, really hard. But it's also good prep for what comes after banding, before you have restriction. Then, too, you will find yourself hungry---and telling yourself, "No, I can't have that."

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though--and you will reach it :smile2:

[honk 780]

It does sound like the Carbs in your Protein Powder is on the high side. In Gold Standard brand there are 3 G of Carbs for 24 g of Protein.< /p>

[soy 0]

Well today I tried the vanilla shake, which only has like 2g carbs and I did much better. However, I ate way to many grams of fat. I'm only supposed to have like 15, and I had 29... and I only had 850 calories... according to my doc I need 900-1100. I wonder if it's enough?? I kept trying to eat stuff with calories and carbs but no fat and I had like 3 sugar free puddings. My carb count was on the low side, but still enough. But I just couldn't get enough calories....

[BetsyB 9]

The fat grams are less critical, in terms of preparing your body for surgery. Yes, in terms of overall health, you want to strive to limit saturated fat. And even healthy fats pack on calories.

But if you stayed below your calorie level, got your Protein in, and stuck to your carb restriction, I'd call it a successful day!

[sandi2004 2]

My nutritonist said my food intake for the day should brake down as follows:

900-1000 calories

10-15g fat

70-80g Protein

40-45g carbs

This seems impossible. Right now, I'm in the pre-op liquid phase and I've had to fill up on Protein shakes made with Water (instead of skim milk!) because I couldn't afford that amount of carbs! I was SO careful. I ended up consuming 900 calories, 18g fat, 91g protein, and 99g carbs.

Some of the extra carbs are coming from roasted veggies I put in my chicken Soup (made of blended whatever-was-for-dinner) to make it tastier. Some are from my protein powder, which admittedly may have too many carbs... (8) And given the amount of protein I've ingested, it's not possible to be feeling as hungry as I've been all day...

Am I supposed to be restricting my diet so much during the liquid stage? Or do I have my numbers wrong? I feel like I'm doing something wrong...

Hi Betsy- Doctors seem to have different pre-op diets so call and check back with the office to see if you have the numbers right- or look in any informational material you were given. However, there are protein powders that mix with Water just fine and hav zero carbs..I found one that I like- it's called IsoFlex..there are other's- you just need to go to a health food store, a Trader Joe's type market (don't know where you live) or a Vitamin Shoppe or GNC and read the labels...That way you will not need to give up your roasted veggies:laugh: Good luck- when's surgery?

[MyBandJourney2009 0]

I hear ya on the nutritional numbers. It's hard to keep the carbs and fat low and get the Protein. With my band, meat isn't the easiest thing to eat,,, so much chewing and I fill up so fast when I eat meat. SO, I get some of my protein from the carbmaster yogurt you can get from Kroger and a fruit punch Protein Drink from Walmart. The yogurt is high in protein and very low in carbs,,, like 2 or 3 grams and the protein drink is like no carbs and 26 grams of protein. That works very well for me,,, its very sweet, so I mix more Water with it and ice and sip on it during the day. To me, getting 26 Proteins in that way is a life saver. Hope that helps some:-)