Hi,

I am still awaiting a surgery date and was just thinking about my doctor's guidelines today; Full liquids for FOUR weeks and mushy food for another two after that. I am having trouble imagining staying on a liquid diet for a MONTH. I know most probably agree we should follow our physician's guidelines, but that being said, how many here had the same guidelines and started mushies early? If so, how early? I just can't imagine adhering to a month on liquids. I can barely imagine it for a week let alone four! How bad is to take matters into my own hands and start on mushies at week two? Thanks!

I was on a full 14 days (two weeks) of liquids, then two weeks of mushies, before moving on to "regular" food. It was tough, but doable. A month seems like a LONG time.

Trust me, you can make it two weeks on liquids, but more than that... I have no idea. You'll be surprised that you're not as hungry as you think you'll be (and honestly, you won't feel the same way you might now, so just keep that in mind). Anyways, if you don't mind me asking... what doc are you using? If you want to PM me, I'd love to know. Mine is pretty strict too, and he had us do liquids for a whole week even after a fill.

Best wishes.

I had a hard time with just liquids I felt so weak so my doctor told me to go ahead with mushies after a week. I started with applesauce and that new yoplat whipped yogert and cream of rice cereal and felt way better. I was on mushies for 2 weeks and slowly have introduced semi mushies.

I go for my first fill on wednesday so I'll probebly be back on mushies or liquids again but thats ok.

Well having been through the first month now, I'd now say I wouldnt comply with that, its just not necessary. I've followed my surgeons guidelines, not tried food before I was supposed to and I havent even had an episode of sliming, let alone a PB. I have a reasonable capacity, about a cup now. There's no way I'd still be getting by on liquids and it would make me angry because it's just not necessary, its way overcautious. When you think that some people only have to do a week on liquids, its laughable.

I think you also "know" somehow when you're ready to move on.

But - I guess you do have to do what your doctor instructs. It's certainly not going to hurt your band.

the doc that did my band requires some people to do the pre-op liquid diet for 2 weeks, but not everyone.

1. maybe your doc is telling you this based on your weight and medical history.

2. maybe check into how many surgeries he's performed. could be hes just not comfortable doing the lap band unless he knows that your liver is down to the smallest size.

one of the reasons i chose my doc was because i wouldnt have to do a liquid diet before surgery, based on the docs recommendation.

I didn't have to do a preop diet, but post op I had 4 weeks of liquids. My Dr defined liquids as anything that will go through a straw though.....so applesauce, cottage cheese, blended soups, mashed potatoes etc. Doing even this for 4 weeks was tough, I'm not sure how broad an interpretation your Doc takes of liquids but the protein shakes really make the difference in your energy & hunger levels. I then did 4 weeks of mushies after that (with no bread, pasta & rice). It really wasn't that different from the liquids phase. The good news is that 2.5 months out it is all already a distant memory!

OMG, four weeks of liquids, oh my. I barely made the two weeks liquids, cut it short by 1 day, LOL. It's not easy, but it can be done, well, I don't know about the four weeks, though.