Hello. I started the pre-op diet yesterday--2 protien shakes, a small meal, and LOTS of water. I hate to say it but I am STARVING. I was told if I was hungry I could eat sugar free popscicles or sugar free jello...that did nothing as it is just fancy, flavored water. My surgery is scheduled for April 26, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to help with the hunger. Today I am going to alter the time I drink the shakes to see if that makes a difference.

As I am not a morning person I would wait as long as I could in the morning to have the first shake. Have popsicles and jello until late afternoon and have the second shake. Have the meal at suppertime at say 7. I bought a great single serving blender by Hamilton Beach at Walmart ($15) that the blending bottle is a travel mug. Does a fabulous job chopping up ice. If you freeze fat free milk into ice cubs if you use them to mix up your shake they will give the shake a nice icy texture.

I started my liquid diet yesterday to, my lapband is scheduled for April 26th. I am starving too. I am allowed to drink 4 protein shakes a day, 2 pieces of fruit, as much water, broth, sugar free popsicles and jello as I want. But no real food other that the 2 pieces of fruit. I hate to say but my friend spent alot of time sleeping thru her liquid diet last year, and I think I will probably be sleeping alot too.

Really think about it. Are you really starving or is it just head hunger? Keep yourself busy to keep your mind off being hungry. You can do this. Just remember we have all been there and we all survived! Good luck!

I am also scheduled for my lapband on April 26, but I do not start my pre-op diet until April 19th. I wonder why some doctors make you do the diet for 2 weeks and some for 1 week. I will say one thing about this week. I have been eating way to much. More than normal and I think it is a mental thing. I know that in a week I will be on the pre-op diet and my brain is thinking I need to eat up the good stuff. (atleast what my brain thinks of as good).

I feel sorry for my children next week. I know if I cant be eating it I wont want to be cookin it. Anyone say "takeout" ?

The first couple of days are the worst, then you get used to your new regime and it isn't quite so painful. If you're really struggling, call your nutritionist. But it does get better. And it's worth it!!

weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 293/surgery scheduled for April 10!

Thanks everyone for the great support. I know that after a couple days i will be fine...but right now my stomach is gnawing on itself. Oh well...guess the end results will be worth it.

I worked at a weightloss center for 2 years and one thing I can tell you about the Protein shakes is to make sure you are getting the highest amount of protein. Some of the Protein Shakes only have 20 or so grams of protein and that isn't enough to make you feel full. Also make sure you had the chopped ice into the shake, it will give it a thicker consistancy and make you feel fuller longer.

I haven't worked at that clinic in over a year, and they had a sugar-free Protein Shake that had 39gms of protein in every serving. I want to get that one, but do not want to go in that place to get it. I am thinking about sending in a friend to get it.

Good luck on your journey..

I'm going in for my surgery on 4/20/12 n I don't have 2 do any diet. I just have 2 do clear liquids 24hours prior 2 surgery n nothing after midnight.

Make sure you are getting enough protein. Some "protein" drinks or weight loss shakes only have 10g protein, and if you are drinking one of these, the hunger would be understandable. I am not actively drinking my shakes everyday now, but use the Premier Nutrition chocolate shakes found at Costco, 18 for approx $25. These shakes have 30g protein, low carb and low fat. I was not required to be on a liquid diet, but I did do a self imposed one of two shakes, two Yoplait Greek yogurts (the four pack kind, which are smaller than normal), and one Quest protein bar (high fiber and protein) per day. I was honestly not very hungry and I believe it was because I was getting 80g+ protein per day.

I think the pre op diet is come kind of tourcher. My MD told me that if during that time it was eat something or someone would die, he said to eat something. I found that putting in a couple of pieces of frozen fruit and crushed ice helped with the chewing sensation loss with the shakes.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN I started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday, getting banded the 25th. I am furiously starving. It's not head hunger, my body is physiologically in starvation mode and the hunger pains/ lightheadedness are pretty uncomfortable bc there's no restriction yet. Having total of 770 cal a day- four ultra met light shakes (190 cal each) plus one sugar free Popsicles and h2o. My doc told me I should be exercising vigorously- maybe tomorrow or the next day after I get adjusted. I just ate a pickle and 1/8 cup pumpkin seeds because It's too early for my second shake and i felt really shakey. Surely a pickle has less calories than a SF popsicle and pickles are just fiber, water, vinager, and salt 0 cal, 0 carb. Is this what it feels like to come off a drug addiction??? I hope yesterday and today are the hardest.

I FEEL YOUR PAIN I started my pre-op liquid diet yesterday, getting banded the 25th. I am furiously starving. It's not head hunger, my body is physiologically in starvation mode and the hunger pains/ lightheadedness are pretty uncomfortable bc there's no restriction yet. Having total of 770 cal a day- four ultra met light shakes (190 cal each) plus one sugar free Popsicles and h2o. My doc told me I should be exercising vigorously- maybe tomorrow or the next day after I get adjusted. I just ate a pickle and 1/8 cup pumpkin seeds because It's too early for my second shake and i felt really shakey. Surely a pickle has less calories than a SF popsicle and pickles are just fiber, Water, vinager, and salt 0 cal, 0 carb. Is this what it feels like to come off a drug addiction??? I hope yesterday and today are the hardest.

I would stay away from pickles becuase the high amount of sodium can cause water retention. If you must eat, which I don't say you should if it's not part of your pre-op, find a Protein bar low in fat and high in protein.

It will get easier...trust me. The first few days are hard. I originally had to do two weeks...my surgery was scheduled for yesterday but they pushed me back to next Thursday because I lost my voice...anyway my point is now I have to do one more week of a preop diet (2 shakes and 1 lean meal). You just have to push through...yah I get hungry...but they want your body to get used to liquids...that's all you'll have for a while. I would definitely check out your protein shake though to make sure it has plenty of protein...I make mine on skim milk. I love Pure Protein in Frosty Chocolate. For dinner Ive been grilling chicken breast, have some cottage cheese and steamed broccoli. Ive lost 15 lbs in two weeks. Good luck!!

After 3 days on my prep diet I dint really get too hungry but the first couple of days were hell .I was on all liquids .on day 3 I called and said I am really hungry there has got to be another way.then they said I can have 1 serving of protein (chic breast) if I felt hungry after the shakes.I found that I could only eat 1/4of the breast .the rest of the time was easy I wasn't really hungry and rotated 1/4 lives of grilled fish and chicken the rest of the time.

Banded 4/6/2012

From preop diet till today 20lbs down in 21 days.:-)

I'm going in for my surgery on 4/20/12 n I don't have 2 do any diet. I just have 2 do Clear Liquids 24hours prior 2 surgery n nothing after midnight.

That's awesome wish I could do that