5 days in 9 to go--and I'm hungry and can't stop thinking about food. Arrggh.

My doctor's diet:

Breakfast: Atkins Advantage low carb Protein shake or Isopure

Snack: 1 oz string cheese

Lunch: Atkins Advantage low carb Protein Shake or Isopure

Snack: 1 oz string cheese

Dinner: 4-6 oz lean meat and 1/2 cup non-carby vegetable.

64 oz water/day

I'm doing exactly what's written and I feel like Shoot Me Now how am I going to do this for 9 more days!

It worked out GREAT!!! I loved it. I used Green Tea Peach Mango, and I've used Citrus Splash, and Fruit Punch, and it tastes absolutely wonderful. I put about double the called-for amount of Gelatin in, so it's really, really firm. And it's a much better taste than regular Jello flavors.

I have to admit, I cheated just a tiny bit this evening, even a week post-op. My husband was slicing up fresh tomatoes, straight from the garden. I sprinkled salt on one tomato slice and sucked the juice out of it. Best taste in the world. I didn't eat the tomato, just the juice. *whimper*

I cheated because I got desperately hungry and couldn't stand it. Week one I had quite a bit of wine and buttered bread, and 1/2 wild rice at a restaurant. Week 2 I had 2 KFC biscuits (not on the same day) and some wine. Haven't cheated since, and didn't cheat on the clears diet the day before surgery.

I lost 18 lbs over that time. After the surgery I asked the doctor how my liver looked, and he said it was "small and healthy" and not a problem. Now, I'm not suggesting that anyone try to "work the system" by cheating because that's a bad habit to get into for later. I got sleeved on 7/14/10 and haven't cheated on the post op diet. Don't plan to.

I cheated once, today. It's the only time it's going to happen, too. I sucked a tiny amount of juice out of a vine-ripened tomato straight from my garden. Managed not to eat anything and just got juice, and it was the most heavenly thing in the world. I need to get a juicer for later, and make my own V8.

The part that's difficult for me is that I am absolutely addicted to fresh vegetables. I don't need a lot on them besides salt and maybe a little lime or vinegar: turnips, mushrooms, radishes, cucumbers, asparagus, onions, avocados, spinach, kohlrabi, celery...I'm SOOOO looking forward to being able to eat all of that again!

You should be on mushies by now--throw some of those fresh tomatoes in the blender with onion, cilantro, and avocado!