and I feel like if I have to eat one more bowl of Jello or sugar free Popsicle I'm going to lose it. What tricks did you have during this "clear liquid" phase? Is there anything that makes you forget that you're limited to Clear Liquids?

Also, any advice for a newbie? What's one thing you wish someone had told you going into all this?

Thanks in advance!

Ugg! How long are you on the clear liquids phase for?

Those days/weeks seem to go by so slowly, and they can be hard to get through. BUT- you CAN do it! I just couldn't wait for mushy foods. Anything that had some kind of mouth feel! (I never looked so forward to cottage cheese in my life!)

It'll end, and you'll get back to regular foods. Here's the thing that that liquid/mushy phases helped me with. Before my surgery- I had a major, major carbohydrate addiction. I could barely drive past the deli without stopping for a cookie, or bread (Burger King was my crack.) Staying on liquids and then mushies with a Protein focus really made those cravings go away. It was a huge blessing for me. I do eat carbs now (and probably more than others on this board) but they are all whole grains and not-craving-forming. I consider my liquid phase to be the key to this transformation for me.

So look at it like that- or look at it as what it is-- time for your stomach to heal. Each sip of chicken broth is just you taking care of your stomach. I couldn't do the jello-- I HATE Jello. Bleh!

It will be over soon! Good luck!

chew gum and use sugar free mints also use instant mashed potatos if you use protein drink it will fill you up and you can change the flavor of them. you can do this

I have 7 days of clear liquids, then 7 days of full liquids. Next comes 14 days of pureed foods, 21 days of soft foods, and then, finally, regular foods.

I really can't wait to get to even pureed foods. I miss chewing, as odd as that sounds.

on clear liquids i made homemade chicken broth soooo good to have something not sweet!

be sure to follow your doctors guidelines to the T for what to eat when regardles of what others say on here - your body, band and program is likely unique to you or at least your doctor

with that said when i started feeling hungry again thanks to the swelling in my tummy going down i was still on clear liquids - the broth out of the box wasn't cutting it neither was Jello - i stuck with my clear Protein Drinks that had 40g of Protein and drank well sipped religiously when i couldn't stand it any more i sent a friend out to get restaurant Soup - french onion and homemade chicken noodle both from my fav rest. I had him strain off everything i couldn't have and i drank the broth - it was AMAZING how satisying that was just the different seasonings made me think fuller even tho in the end it was still broth :thumbup: