Good morning June Sleevers.

I know everyone has different doctors & each one of us will be expected to do something different for their pre-op diet.

I started my first day of 14 day New Direction (3x's a day) pre-op diet. I picked two variety packs with chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, hot cocoa, cream of chicken Soup, plus I picked a few boxes of the strawberry, chocolate and chocolate with Fiber which may help a bit. This morning I had the hot cocoa, it was kind of whatever tasting, it's mixed with Water. I'm used to drinking the Pure Protein 100% whey Protein Frosty shake with Skim Milk, which I absolutely love and have had for Breakfast every day for the last 6 months. I can't wait until post-op to go back to them lol.

I went to the grocery store this morning and picked up sugar-free Propel (Black Cherry), Sugar-Free Popsicles and Sugar-Free Jello, another box of Truvia and some Decaff tea.

I weighed myself this morning after my decaff & hot cocoa. I gained three pounds since yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday I had my normal breakfast shake, I had a Turkey Sandwich & Broccoli Cheddar Soup from Potbelly for dinner as my last food. I normally only get their salad but decided to actually eat bread, though I have avoided for a while now. I had a few oyster crackers for snack with Peanut Butter and was still under 900 calories and gained three pounds. Yeah...this is going to be a fun fourteen days. The way my silly metabolism works, I hope I don't gain weight within the next 14 days!

Does anyone have anything special planned for Memorial Day Weekend next week? Normally I have a huge BBQ here and we normally open up the pool at my house. Since only my parents, husband and son know, and I haven't told my siblings, this is going to be the first year I don't have a party. They all know I'm having hernia surgery and getting some scar tissue removed, but they don't know about the sleeve, so nobody will be too disappointed, but I still feel bad that I'm not having a party. Next year will be here in no time though.

Good luck to you all, it's getting closer. If anyone is nervous or excited or needs encouragement, please feel free to share.

My shakes will be glucerna. I don't really like them, so plan to put some sugar free torani on them to help... The last time, it was around day 4 that I stopped feeling as bad. I hope it passes soon for you.

thanks, my headache is not so bad, I am not cranky today like I was day 3 & 4, which wasn't as easy. I was a little tired out yesterday. I've been feeding the family pretty generic food and I feel guilty, but most aren't trigger smells & food. Monday was Pork chops on the grill, Tuesday Sandwiches and Potato salad, Wednesday Hot Dogs & macaroni & cheese, yesterday was Hamburgers and Lipton Noodles Parmesean which though is one of my favorite foods wasn't bad. They are used to roasts, steaks, chickens, salmon etc. but those are my favorites and I'm sorta shying away from cooking that this week. I have been trying to make sure I don't cook foods that I really truly like and that don't smell too comforting lol. That's helped me a lot.

A great suggestion is to rinse your mouth out a lot and brush and floss a little more often. The shakes are kind of sticky I noticed. I am used to drinking shakes for breakfast, but 3 times a day, you start noticing the stickiness and they coat my teeth. I don't use harsh mouth washes because of dryness, I use the Biotene and it helps to rinse my mouth a few times a day. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and drank some Water and used Biotene again. It seems to be helping.

I may have to try that. I've been doing quite a bit of sugar free gum chewing lately. Not good for me, but seems to help with that yucky Protein diet mouth...

I completely get where you are coming from on not cooking your favorites. DH doesn't quite understand that if I cook things I like, I'm going to want sample. Not good. I guess we shall see how it goes in my house in a few weeks when I REALLY have to be on my diet.

Has anyone tried out the Bariatric Advantage shakes? My NUT was very specific with me that they wanted me to either use unjury or Bariatric Advantage because of the amino acids contained in the product and the quality of ingredients. Personally, I was skeptical because I found several others that I thought would have been suitable (and cheaper!) but in the end I gave in and ordered the BA shakes.

I'm starting my liquid diet on Weds May 30th with surgery Weds June 13th. I find it so odd at the difference doctors say not only in the types of shakes, but in what we can have daily in our pre-op mode. I'm only allowed 2 shakes a day, and have to fill the rest with light yogurt, SF applesauce, SF pudding, SF popsicles and as many no calorie beverages that I want. I can't drink any juice because it's not sugar free.

I'm nervous about starting (more worried about being hungry) but I'm also anxious to get started and get on the losers bench!

I know every person is different, but from experience after the first few days of the liquid diet, your stomach adjusts and you are not as hungry. That was my experience the first time.

Duran, I was nervous about this aspect too. The deal break after six months was the quitting caffeine, I needed my one cup of coffee a day, I did this about a month ago so I wouldn't have to deal with it during this shake phase. It's day 5 and I'm a little hungry, but I haven't had my second shake which I need to do now, but the hardest day was day 3 and part of day 4, I had headaches those two days and today I'm not really starving and I'm doing fine. 9 more days until surgery, I guess we may as well shrink our stomach and get used to this beforehand.

We had to purchase our shakes from our Doctor's office. It cost $200.00 for 42 shakes. I think our doctor is trying to make sure everyone is on the same program. Instead of leaving it up to the patient. He said it's a controlled, proven, method. He realizes people didn't spend the six months prior following a strict diet like they were suppose to and he realizes many go out for their "last chance" dinners and end up gaining weight. This is to shrink the liver, etc. The New Directions have all the Vitamins needed, I just don't care for them too bad, though right now I think I can go for a strawberry one lol.

Good luck.

Hello all. Had able great day yesterday! I stuck to replacing two meals with shakes and drank 80 oz of fluids besides. My only downfall was I had a lunch date. We went to a local restaurant and I had a huge turkey burger and about half of the homemade chips that came with it....I really want to see Jim again before surgery (which he knows about) but not sure if I can because dates usually revolve around some sort of food.

It'll be much easier dating when my sleeve is healed!!

Well if it revolves around food and you are going to go out with him again before pre-op shake order a broth type Soup and eat the broth (if it's chicken noodle) skim around the noodles, order your turkey burger with cheese and extra lettuce, tomato, pickles & onions (or since its a date forego the onions lol) remove the bun and use a fork and eat like it's a turkey burger salad. Always eat the meat first, the vegetables second and forego the chips for something like coleslaw or the appetizer soup. When your lunch date is over, suggest a walk somewhere.

You get to date, eat and get exercise in.

Good luck to you !

Day 7 of liquid diet here, I woke up at 5:30 to a cat (who isn't allowed on my bed) on my bed throwing up. I was highly grossed out and woke up a bit cranky.

A week from tomorrow surgery seems like a lifetime. Truth is reading stories of people having a hard time yesterday sort of brought me down, but I know everyone is different and my normal tenacity should pull me out of it. I know it's going to be a tough month after surgery, it's not going to be easy peasy. A year down the road people seem to forget exactly how hard it is, so I have to realize that people having a tough time perhaps thought it would be easier than it is and I'm balancing reality (it's probably going to suck some) with positivity (it's going to suck but I can deal with it!)

I hope everyone is doing well and we're coming down to the wire. In five days we all start the Official June 2012 sleevers club.

Well I weighed in this morning for my (pre) pre-op week...lost 11 pounds!! very happy!! I need to lose 8 more pounds to be back to the weight I was when I began this process....my actual pre-op diet starts on Memorial Day....my doctor recommends 4-5 low sugar/low carb shakes.....then atleast 64 oz of fluids (sf popsciles, sf Jello, Water, sf/low cal (crystal light) drinks)....

I really like the synthrax protien drinks....Matrix and nectar....also EAS Lite has really good RTD shakes....low carb/low sugar/high protien...

I hope to lose another 25 pounds before June 11th, I probably step up the walking...

So day 2 on the liquid pre-op shake diet. I did almost 2 hours on the gazelle yesterday - one hour in AM and hour at night and did about one and half mile walk yesterday at a fast paced. Last night in bed my tummy got a little funny and I turned over and my tummy rumbled and I just knew' date=' I hopped out of bed and ran to bathroom and (gross- a shart happened) I haven't had that happen to me in forever. I had to shower and since my pj's bottoms are too big, I threw them out! I was so tired last night and was worried every time my stomach made a nose. This is weird for one day on the 3 shakes. These New Directions don't taste as good as the Pure Protein and my tummy isn't really liking them.

Today I did an hour on the Gazelle, went through all my bills, went through coupons, worked on wls binder, and made sure everything I need to bring with me to the hospital is in there. Hard to keep busy, because of the countdown.

Seems the only one that I really like is the strawberry. I have only two vanilla, which I'm not fond of vanilla anything so I had that for lunch to get it out of the way. I am not sure if I made the mistake by having the chocolate with Fiber for dinner last night, so I may do those only for Breakfast (as long as I don't have to go anywhere).

I do have an intolerance of sugar-free products and I had one sugar-free popsicle last night besides the three shakes and all my Water, so I may avoid the SF popsicles and jellos and see how this evening goes.

I decided to weigh myself (like I said I would not do) and this morning I was back to 237, down from 240. How I gained 3 pounds from Sunday to Monday in one day over a skinny turkey sandwich and soup is still crazy.

How is everyone else doing?[/quote']

Mina I love reading your posts. I have a low tolerance for SF products in large quantities die to GI upset so I'm not looking forward to the liquid part.

Boy - my Dr is different. My pre-op diet started 30 days before surgery but I actually began it the day I left his office after our initial consult. He puts you on a low carb atkins style diet - no more than 30g of carb a day. This is to put you into ketosis and to shrink the liver. I have lost 23 lbs since late March doing this diet. Two days before surgery I have to do the bowel prep which is pretty much like getting ready for a colonoscopy so no getting away from the house.

Is anyone else a bundle of nerves? I feel like I have a split personality where one minute I feel great and then the next I'm terrified. I'm such a researcher but in this care maybe "ignorance is bliss". !

Hi Everyone,

Just realized there is only four days left until my big day. I've lost 10lbs so far on my pre op diet, which I am excited about. The first few days were rough and I found myself lashing out at those around me. =T After those three, four days were over I was pretty much fine and didn't really think about food anymore. Welp, June 1st is right around the corner and i'm sure these last few days will fly by. I've been staying pretty busy. Keep in touch y'all. =)

Thank you Skane, I think insanity has it's privileges lately, that's how I feel, up & down, nervous, excited, sick of Protein shakes. Luckily I haven't had any other bathroom incidents and haven't had to throw anymore pants away lol.

Karen, I hate being on this site non-stop, but I keep coming back. I go exercise come back and read, every time I read of someone having a hard time, I start pacing. We're working on getting the pool ready for the season today and I really wish it was ready because I would spend some time outside doing that, but I keep thinking knowledge is power. I feel manic, and I'm not bipolar. One minute I'm calm the next I start obsessing about what I need to do prior to surgery, I need to pick up Isopure for after surgery, I need to pack my bags, heck I have already taken off my nail polish on my toes! I bought a small fan to bring to the hospital so sleeping will be more comfortable, I have my lip balm ready. I've cleaned out my closets in the house, I still need my eyebrows done and I am going to color my hair Thursday and Friday I'm going for a haircut for surgery on Monday.

I charted out all my bills that need to be paid for the first two weeks and am having most automatically deducted, because my husband doesn't do them. I have charts, sheets on where everything is and I don't even know what possessed me to do the June Compilation List - but I did it cause well I think I organized everything in my house already, but I'm sure I'll find more chores to do. I know what you are talking about for sure!

BigGirlVee, after day 4 my headache went away, which is good. My scale died this morning so I have no clue what I have lost, as the days creep closer, the more anxious I think I'm becoming.

June 1st is 5 days away and I can hardly believe it. The first of the June 2012 Club will be on the other side with a bunch of us to follow starting Thursday!!!

Oops, I miscounted - five days. I must be excited. Still haven't had nerves hit me yet. I'm sure they will all come out in tears as they are rolling me into the surgery room. Lol =T

I'm going to be deep cleaning today. My Mom is coming down to stay with me for 3 days to take care of me so I don't want her to worry about that. I wish my hubby could take time off, but since he just started a new (better) job, it'll be impossible for him. But, i'm just grateful I'll have my Mom here to watch me and my daughter.

Ok, ok...back to cleaning I go.