I gotta come clean. I have had to alter my pre op diet. I was becoming physically ill and this is only day 3. I have decided that instead of a strictly liquid diet I'm going to go with the Atkins Induction Phase. I couldn't even make it thru the first day without becoming physically ill. As such, I have been sticking with basically high protein drinks for two meals and 1 extremely low carb meal (maily lean meat, cheese, or eggs thus far). I am careful to keep my daily carb intake under 20 grams. It appears to be working because I am on day 3 and I've already lost 5 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I am still pretty hungy but it is more bearable. I will probably switch to all liquid about 3 days prior to surgery but for now, this is the only way I believe I truly stick to this pre op diet and shrink my liver. So that's it. I've come clean. Don't judge me. )

Update: I am now down 9 lbs since Monday. 9 more days to go til surgery.

I think the pre op diet depends on how heavy you are from what I've heard and read from others. Some have only 3 days others had 2 weeks. I was a big girl rolling in at 399. I stuck to my pre op diet one week out of two. EAS Carb control shake in the morning and lunch. Water And Sobe in between then turkey for dinner with salad. If i got hungry between that i'd add sugar free Jello or Protein shake.My body eventually got used to it. I cheated one day and had pizza and popcorn at night at my favorite movie dine in place but that's about it. Lost 20 pounds and it was all worth it. Was so scared my liver would be too big and my surgeon would call off the surgery. But turns out my liver shrank to normal size' date=' my surgeon was so stunned when he operated on Tuesday 4/10. He was so proud of me and liver, I felt like a champ lol. Liquid pre op is hard, no joke but you can get through it. Sometimes you have to tweak it to customize it to fit you.

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Wow that's Awesome! So you only had liquids throughout does two were not including the day you cheated

Everyone at my surgeon has a 2 week liquid diet, regardless of BMI. I know this because a group of us went through pre-op education and testing together and we all started at the same time. We were all range of sizes, one woman didn't even look fat to me, just a few extra pounds.

Anyway, if I knew then what I know now, I would not have stuck to the liquid diet. I would have just went strict no-carbs at best. After surgery, I asked one of the resident surgeons who was involved in my surgery how my liver looked. He said it looked fine. Wanting details of how effective my "liver shrinking" diet went, I asked if it was too fatty and if it got in the way. He told me it doesn't really matter how big or fatty someone's liver is because they use a retractor device to hold it out of the way. Interesting.

Update: Today is exactly the 1 week mark. I'm down 10 lbs.

Everyone at my surgeon has a 2 week liquid diet, regardless of BMI. I know this because a group of us went through pre-op education and testing together and we all started at the same time. We were all range of sizes, one woman didn't even look fat to me, just a few extra pounds.

Anyway, if I knew then what I know now, I would not have stuck to the liquid diet. I would have just went strict no-carbs at best. After surgery, I asked one of the resident surgeons who was involved in my surgery how my liver looked. He said it looked fine. Wanting details of how effective my "liver shrinking" diet went, I asked if it was too fatty and if it got in the way. He told me it doesn't really matter how big or fatty someone's liver is because they use a retractor device to hold it out of the way. Interesting.

I'm not sure if a person's BMI has anything to do with it either. I'm actually on the lower end and had to have 2 co-morbities to actually get approved. The surgeon still required a liquid diet for me.

Update: Today is exactly the 1 week mark. I'm down 10 lbs.

Wow that's Awesome! You are on strictly liquids?

I did have a two week liquid pre op diet and I am glad I did. By day 3 my cravings were gone and I had no desire to eat regular food, just wasn't hungry. Once I reached my surgery date I knew I had two more weeks of post op liquid diet and I wasn't worried about it, I had already done it for two weeks. And I have had no head hunger since day 3 of the pre op diet- this has made post op easier, IMO. Every surgeon has different requirements, the key is to be comfortable with and trust your surgeon. Good Luck with your upcoming surgery!!