I started my pre-op diet yesterday. For 2 straight hours at work, I obsessed over food. I couldn't concentrate. My body was so mad at me for not feeding it. It was miserable. Then I went home and yelled at my husband a lot (who is really happy gets to go out of town for business this week) and was pretty much a crazy person.

Then I went and bought a scale because before my attitude was all 'I'm not going to have a scale- I don't want to obsess about pounds.' But soon realized I needed to see results if I was going to stick to this. I went to bed at 7:30 because I could not stop thinking about food, food, food.

What are some ways you kept yourself busy on the pre op diet? I'm doing medifast so if I'm not thinking about good food, I'm thinking about how awful this food is. Thoughts? Before I go insane? Please?

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UPDATE!

Okay I've made a short list of things to keep me busy while I'm trying not to eat. Please add if you think of anything. I'll take honest answers, crazy answers, funny answers...etc.

Top 10 things I will be doing to keep me busy while on my Pre Op Diet.

1. Finish my Jersey Shore Marathon and clean off my DVR.

2. Finally learn step 2 of my 'Learning to Crochet' book.

3. Lick the empty wrappers of my sons Halloween Candy (Yeah I'm still complaining about that!! Get it out of my house!)

4. Rework my fantasy football team with players who have names that sound like food.

5. Start writing my congressmen about things I'm p*ssed off about. (I always say I'm going to do this)

6. Figure out a new secret handshake with my 6 year old son.

7. Pose my neighbors cat for photos for FluffySnowballs Calendar 2012.

8. Lock myself in my room and refuse to come out for 12 more days.

9. Put cameras all around my house and do my own version of 'the truman show'.

10. Actually do work for my job. (This is a last resort.)

Edited November 9, 201015 yr by DizzyGirl

And I'm not lost on the fact that a lot of the ads on LBT are of large sandwiches and fast food. Boy, they really 'know their audience'

Edited November 9, 201015 yr by DizzyGirl

Hm, I remember I didn't really go out much unless I had to. I spent a lot of time on lbt. Honestly, after the first few days it was okay (I had a 3 week preop diet). The first 3-4 days are the hardest. You could always exercise or go to a movie (or just watch one at home if you think the movie candy/food is not something you want to see). Go for a walk. I lived in the middle of a city and so I didn't go outside for the first few days because there were so many restaraunts all around me calling my name but I love walking - it always centers me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's isolating myself. It seems the easiest way. Day 2 is going better. I've already eaten my bar today (for lunch) and now I'm going to make some soup. I know it's all worth it. It's just tough.

Edited November 9, 201015 yr by DizzyGirl

I probably will be starting this phase soon too! I have heard that the first few days are insane! Then it gets better! I think I am going to work on making some really savory broths..like thai and asian inspired so it feels like more then it is! Can you do that or is it all pre packaged soups and protiens!?

The first few were awful! Then the rest of that first week was a lot easier. I am on day 8 today and the reason I am on the boards today is because the hunger pains are back in full force. I am wondering if it is because I worked out this morning early (normally I work out in the evenings). Either way, it will be worth it in the end.

I found that spacing it out as long as I could helped, and making a cup of broth tides me over if I am really hurting.

For me the isolation didn't help, getting out and staying busy did though. Just another perspective.

My diet came all prepackaged. Although I think a broth is fine as long as there isn't too much sodium in them. There is such a wide variety of pre op diets. Some who don't do it at all. Some who have very strict (I think my surgeon does a strict one). But whatever you do - don't read the 'Did you cheat on the pre op diet?' thread. It will have you convinced that it's okay to do it because the diets have such variety. But if you really want to stick to what you have - then you'll stay with it and get a head start on your weight loss.

Seeing how hungry I am at this point makes me wonder how if you didn't have a pre op diet - how can you go to eating nothing all of a sudden. With this liquid diet - I will be used to having less after the surgery. I would have gone crazy if I would have waited until after the surgery to have restriction.

The preop diet definitely helped prepare me. It made eating less already seem normal instead of being shocked after surgery. It also made the 3 days of clear liquid and 2 weeks of full liquids postop much easier. After 5 weeks of liquids, I was definitely happy to go to mushies tho I also used the weightloss as motivation to stick with it even when it was tough. I loved seeing the pounds melting off. My fiance was great for support - he did a lot of the liquid diet with me and when he wanted to eat he went out so it wouldn't be in front of me.

Okay I've made a short list of things to keep me busy while I'm trying not to eat. Please add if you think of anything. I'll take honest answers, crazy answers, funny answers...etc.

Top 10 things I will be doing to keep me busy while on my Pre Op Diet.

1. Finish my Jersey Shore Marathon and clean off my DVR.

2. Finally learn step 2 of my 'Learning to Crochet' book.

3. Lick the empty wrappers of my sons Halloween Candy (Yeah I'm still complaining about that!! Get it out of my house!)

4. Rework my fantasy football team with players who have names that sound like food.

5. Start writing my congressmen about things I'm p*ssed off about. (I always say I'm going to do this)

6. Figure out a new secret handshake with my 6 year old son.

7. Pose my neighbors cat for photos for FluffySnowballs Calendar 2012.

8. Lock myself in my room and refuse to come out for 12 more days.

9. Put cameras all around my house and do my own version of 'the truman show'.

10. Actually do work for my job. (This is a last resort.)

And I'm not lost on the fact that a lot of the ads on LBT are of large sandwiches and fast food. Boy, they really 'know their audience'

Do a search for an ad-blocker for whatever browser you use.. ie, firefox, etc. I have one and I do not see 99% of ads. :crying: Love it.

Seeing how hungry I am at this point makes me wonder how if you didn't have a pre op diet - how can you go to eating nothing all of a sudden.

I was one of the lucky ones who did not have to do a pre-op diet. I had absolutely no trouble adjusting to less food after surgery. The swelling from surgery (and therefore lack of hunger) is the same for most of us.

I've observed that we all lose at about the same rate.. but those who have to do the pre-op diet lose a good percentage before surgery and then are often frustrated when it doesn't continue at the same rate afterwards. Those who don't have to do pre-op, lose the same percentage-wise after the surgery. I've asked a nurse I know who works in the bariatric field if this is a true observation.. and she says she sees these types of results too (she works for more than one doctor). Not an official report.. just an unscientific observation.

Good luck on your pre-op. Your sense of humor should serve you well.

Thanks for you input Melissa! Glad you didn't have a pre-op diet. It seems to have worked just as well. Awesome.

Here are just a few ideas...

First of all, be sure you're drinking plenty of Water.

Stay busy...and OUT of the kitchen. Clean out closets and sort clothes. You'll be getting rid of your "too big" clothes soon anyway. It's good to know which ones are worth keeping and altering as you lose weight.

If you have to prepare food for the family, get it done and get out of the kitchen. Take a walk while they are eating. It will get you away from the sights and smells, and you get the bonus of being healthier at surgery day and beyond.

Remind yourself that this is TEMPORARY! The pre-op diet is only a couple of weeks! And, it prepares you for the post-op diet. My pre-op diet was 6 Protein shakes per day, plus all the water I wanted. I spaced them out every 3 hours EXACTLY. That way I knew I never had to go more than 3 hours without something to eat/drink.

Hang in there! You CAN make it through this, and you will be SO glad you did!

Thanks Donna - you're weightloss is a great inspiration. CONGRATS!