Pre op Diet Struggles

[EmorieJai 7]

Hey everyone!✋ I started the pre op diet which consisted of 4 slim fast shakes a day & Jello. I am having a very hard time with it & failed a couple of times. I really don't think I do it out of hunger, just habit. Tomorrow I start my real pre op diet & have to be on it for 4 weeks, according to my BMI. How do other people get over this challenging part in the process?

Thank you all for suggestins???œ

[dohair2013 22]

I hear ya with the struggles. I have been on pre-op diet for nearly 2wks and yes I have cheated. Nothing drastic but a taste here and there the first week. Now the second week I have been doing pretty good. Drinking lots of Water each time I feel hungry. I am using Unjury brand Protein that was a suggestion from the dietician. It is pretty good. I also have sf Jello, and am able to have a little fruit and veggies (off a list they gave me with amounts) I am fighting comfort and stress eating. I have surgery this Thursday the 19th and I am very nervous. I want to be successful and am a bit worried about such a huge life change. I need to do this for me and no one else!!! You can do this too!!! Good luck to you!

[shaz1977 0]

I have just had to do that for 2 weeks for my surgery I was on 3 slimfast mullerlight yogurts and milky coffee at the end of day the way i found it easier to get through is to space the yogurts a couple of hours between my shakes to use as a top up . Good luck it got easier as the days went on towards the end of the 2 weeks i wast having the yogurts .

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

well, you just do..

on mine, the first 4 to 5 days was the hardest for me.....the detoxing effects of headaches, liquids in and liquids out and me whining about it and saying i am starving etc....in reality, we wont starve and its more a mind game.....the pre and post op diet was the hardest thing i have ever done in my life.....my ole man got tired of me whining on my pre op and he looked at me and said something that made a light switch go off in my head...he said you wanted this *surgery*, you do what you have to in order to have it and told me to woman up....he sure did.....and you know what he was right.....i went through all the dr appts, follow ups, sleep tests, blood work, xrays etc.....and well, i am saying YOU can do this.....stay busy, drink alot......use SF popsicles (my life saver) and think of the big picture (not the i am hungry because you are just thinking you are right now as we are use to eating all the time/whatever we want)......

go hour by hour

stay busy, drink alot and get on with it..

keeping my fingers crossed

[lisacaron 5,075]

I have a question for you...does slimfast have enough Protein in it to keep you full? When I was doing my pre-op diet I remember looking at those shakes and the Protein content was pretty low compared to others on the market...

My husband and I used Premier Protein with 30grams of protein about 160 calories. We choose that one because of the protein content and it had the best flavor and texture for us to work with.

Also what helped me was I put a program in place, so I was eating or drinking something every hour. For example I would have a Greek Yogurt (chobani I found had the best nut values for the calories) at 9am, then at 10 I would have Water or Decaf coffee/tea then at 11 a shake, 12 Water, 1 Soup, etc.

That kept me from being bored, and I felt pretty satisfied. When I had the urge to chew I would try a piece of gum, if I really needed the chew and crunch I would have a small salad or grilled vegies.

Good luck on your journey!

[cheryl2586 3,053]

I have a question for you...does slimfast have enough Protein in it to keep you full? When I was doing my pre-op diet I remember looking at those shakes and the Protein content was pretty low compared to others on the market...

My husband and I used Premier Protein with 30grams of protein about 160 calories. We choose that one because of the protein content and it had the best flavor and texture for us to work with.

Also what helped me was I put a program in place, so I was eating or drinking something every hour. For example I would have a Greek Yogurt (chobani I found had the best nut values for the calories) at 9am, then at 10 I would have Water or Decaf coffee/tea then at 11 a shake, 12 Water, 1 Soup, etc.

That kept me from being bored, and I felt pretty satisfied. When I had the urge to chew I would try a piece of gum, if I really needed the chew and crunch I would have a small salad or grilled vegies.

Good luck on your journey!

I would think slim fast would be the last thing they would want you to have. Not only is it low in protein but its also high in sugar. But hey every doctor is different but it would not be my choice.

[Sojourner 2,446]

Hey everyone!✋ I started the pre op diet which consisted of 4 slim fast shakes a day & Jello. I am having a very hard time with it & failed a couple of times. I really don't think I do it out of hunger, just habit. Tomorrow I start my real pre op diet & have to be on it for 4 weeks, according to my BMI. How do other people get over this challenging part in the process?

Thank you all for suggestins💜

The pre and post op liquid diet and the variations prescribed by different surgeons are the most challenging of times. You are engaged in an immense amount of change, both with the how and why you eat, and confronting the "new normal " of understanding that the habit of just going to have something to eat whenever you want to has to change if you want to be successful with weight loss.

I structured my shakes and the one cup of fresh salad veggies so that there were at equal intervals during the day and evening. I had a bottle of Water with me at all times, and sipped from it frequently. And I kept very occupied with errands and those projects around the house that I never seemed to have the time or motivation. We never had such clean and organized closets and drawers in our house. But it worked to keep me on the straight path of not cheating on my diet.

Weight loss success requires "getting your head in the game", and understanding that there is much psychology involved with retooling out eating patterns. Many times what we interpret to be authentic hunger is really "head hunger". We need to be aware of the difference between the two. We also need to be aware when our thoughts create a "need" to eat if/when we are bored.

We need to revise our thoughts to be "mindful" when we are eating. That encompasses small bites, timed meals, chewing, chewing, pausing between bites. That also includes being aware of everything you put in your mouth.

Best wishes for a successful journey...

[EmorieJai 7]

Thank you all for the tips and words of encouragement... I have done everything suggested today so far and have been doing great. It's a very hard process, but will be well worth it. I was talking to a friend at the gym last night & she put it plain and simple you control food it doesn't control you. So I am "womaning" up & getting over this hump to achieve a healthy new me. I still have the horrible headaches. But I guess just like any addiction, and I did have a food addiction you go through withdrawals symptoms. Another user had posted that slim fast were high in sugar. I am aware of this but it was the doctors strict orders 3 to 4 slim fast a day so I am going by it. I go for another intake appointment tomorrow , so hopefully ill have my October surgery date! Fingers crossed!

[MrsTaylor09 5]

I started my pre-op liquid diet on yesterday and so far so good. I did want to know if there were any other Protein shakes out there that I could use beside Slim Fast becasue that is what was suggested to me. I'll look into the Premier Protein that someone mentioned earlier.

I am constantly drinking something, whether it be Water, flavored water, Soup or a smoothie also I chew gum inbetween that actuall curbs my appetite. Oh and fudge popsicles those were a life saver last night.

I will be banded on next Friday, September 27th so I pray that I can keep this momentum up.

Good luck

[EmorieJai 7]

I started my pre-op liquid diet on yesterday and so far so good. I did want to know if there were any other Protein shakes out there that I could use beside Slim Fast becasue that is what was suggested to me. I'll look into the Premier Protein that someone mentioned earlier.

I am constantly drinking something' date=' whether it be Water, flavored water, Soup or a smoothie also I chew gum inbetween that actuall curbs my appetite. Oh and fudge popsicles those were a life saver last night.

I will be banded on next Friday, September 27th so I pray that I can keep this momentum up. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Good luck[/quote']

Same here! I never thought about fudge Popsicles! I'll have to go pick some up:) Good luck on your surgery!

[MrsTaylor09 5]

Same here! I never thought about fudge Popsicles! I'll have to go pick some up:) Good luck on your surgery!

I don't remember the kind I got but they are in a yellow box and they are sugar free but you wouldn't know. They are great. I'm sure I'll go through that box very quickly as I can have them unlimited.

[EmorieJai 7]

I don't remember the kind I got but they are in a yellow box and they are sugar free but you wouldn't know. They are great. I'm sure I'll go through that box very quickly as I can have them unlimited. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Thanks for the suggestion... I'm going crazy with just sf Jello!

[skikyd 165]

I am on day 4 of liquid diet. My doctor suggested New Direction. I am very. Happy with them. There are cold shakes, hot Soups, pudding, hot cocoa.

I mam allowed 3 to 4 per day. Each is 200 calories, 53 grams of Protein, and 100% of MDR of many Vitamins. Very satisfying.

Hot Cocoa for b fast, vanilla or choc shake for lunch, Soup for dinner, and possibility a pudding. For evening snack. Also at least 1/2. Gallon

Of Water /day.

So far , so good.

[EmorieJai 7]

I am on day 4 of liquid diet. My doctor suggested New Direction. I am very. Happy with them. There are cold shakes' date=' hot Soups, pudding, hot cocoa.

I mam allowed 3 to 4 per day. Each is 200 calories, 53 grams of Protein, and 100% of MDR of many Vitamins. Very satisfying.

Hot Cocoa for b fast, vanilla or choc shake for lunch, Soup for dinner, and possibility a pudding. For evening snack. Also at least 1/2. Gallon

Of Water /day.

So far , so good.

[/quote']

Good luck with your pre op diet phase! I am on Day 2 of my "official" pre op diet. (I started early

Trying to get my body used to it-major fail!) I am doing great so far with all the helpful suggestions & definitely keeping myself busy with the gym or projects around the house. My dr is very strict about 3 to 4 slim fast a day & Clear liquids.. So that's what I'm going by. So far, so good:) I think these 4 weeks I will get everything done that's needed done for months lol .. The more busier I am the easier it is! Now if I can just get over this horrible headache ill be good to go:)

[skikyd 165]

Good luck with your pre op diet phase!<img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I am on Day 2 of my "official" pre op diet. (I started early

Trying to get my body used to it-major fail!) I am doing great so far with all the helpful suggestions & definitely keeping myself busy with the gym or projects around the house. My dr is very strict about 3 to 4 slim fast a day & clear liquids.. So that's what I'm going by. So far' date=' so good:) I think these 4 weeks I will get everything done that's needed done for months lol .. The more busier I am the easier it is! Now if I can just get over this horrible headache ill be good to go:)[/quote']

Thank you. I had headaches in the beginning. I noticed if I eat at regular intervals , I get fewer headaches.

Of if I get stretched out between meals, a few sips of a bottled Protein shake, ( pure Protein, or muscle milk) helps. But regularly times meals helps the best.