My surgery date is Oct 22 (yay!) I start my protein fast on Monday... How does one maintain LIFE...going to work, taking care of family, crankiness, food commercials ... for the two weeks prior? I bought a little shaker thingy to take to work... but I am thinking that I will likely keep some of the pre-made shakes handy for work... I am still not sure exactly how many I am allowed per day... Any advice?

Each doctor is different. We were allowed to purchase 14 day supply from their office of different types of shake flavors. Find out what kind they recommend. I do suggest mixing it up because the same kind will get boring. I never liked strawberry shakes and those ended up being the easiest for me to get down though, which is weird.

My biggest suggest to you is this. This weekend DO NOT CARB BINGE before you start. Repeating this again....do not carb overload this weekend. Stick to high Protein foods, it's for your own good truthfully. If you carb overload thinking that your protein fast starts on Monday, it will be horrendous on your system. The more carbs one eats, the more carbs they want, so come Monday, when you aren't feeding it carbs, your body will hate you. Wean from the carbs now, to make the transition easier on you.

Realize that the first three days are going to be rough. You may...or may not have a headache. I did as did many other's. Drink lots of Water.

Things that helped me. Lots of walks. Reading. Brushing my teeth. I know weird, brushing your teeth, but it helped....a lot. When you are on the Protein Shakes for the two weeks you go into ketosis and it does affect your breath, and also protein shakes sort of bind on your teeth and to me it became a bit like elmer's glue. I brushed my teeth and it helped immensely.

Don't focus on it. Change your meals with your family. Let your family eat, while they are eating go for a walk, march in place, find a show on the Dvr. and walk in place or stand and dance while you watch a show. I did the gazelle when they ate.

At work, don't eat in the break room where all the smells are of other foods. Find a place to have your shake away from other smells.

Bring a package of Summer's Eve Feminine Hygiene Wipes with you to work, the one thing you need to know about day 4-10 is....NEVER trust a fart. There's so many posts regarding this for a reason. You will be standing there and realize you have to go....quickly. At night, take a bathroom towel and put it on your bed, just in case night sharts happen, be prepared. This could happen day 4-10.

I was allowed sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, crystal light, and decaff peppermint tea (with truvia) during the 14 days. I don't handle sugar-free products well so I avoided them and stuck with the decaff peppermint tea.

Attitude --- your attitude dictates how hard or how easy the next two weeks are going to be. If you go into thinking it's going to be too hard, it won't disappoint, it will be really hard. If you go into this thinking you can handle it, you are strong enough and you are worth doing this, it will go faster and be easier.

It's not super duper easy, we all know this, but it's not the end of the world either, and so many have gone through it and made it through. It strengthens you.

Keep in mind that the next two weeks while you are on this Protein Shake diet, you are probably going to be getting BETTER nutrition than you have in the last six months lol. You are not going to starve to death, you are not starving, there are elderly and many people that live on liquid diets and thrive because of it.

As the day of surgery approaches, use the SAME attitude going into it. If you keep telling yourself you are scared or terrified or afraid, that day you will be. Keep the good attitude going into surgery. Keep telling yourself you are worth it, you can do this, this is a good thing, going into surgery with a smile on your face and positive thoughts will help you when you wake up and will help you through the 5-6 weeks of healing that you will have and carry you through.

Doing a good job with the protein shake fast does help promote confidence in yourself and makes you feel like you truly are taking full control of your life, health and destiny.

Best of luck to you.

PS - If you drink pop or coffee and haven't stopped yet, do so before Monday too.

Edited October 4, 201213 yr by MinaT

I am scheduled for one week after you and keep wondering the same thing myself. I know it will be difficult but we can do it. In the scheme of life, 2 weeks is not that long of a time. Lets just hope I remember that in 11 days! Good luck!!

MinaT had an excellent post. The only thing I thought to add was not only to change up flavors but drinks. I literally gag on the creamy texture protein drinks, the only one I can kind of tolerate is strawberry banana and I drink it with my nose plugged. I actually prefer Isopure but dont want to get tired of them. I do my nose holder protein in the morning, isopure for lunch, and then I'm allowed lean protein on a sald for dinner. There have been times where I have been out and about for dinner and just did another isopure instead. Good luck with it all!

I am working from home week 2

I start my 2 liquid diet tomorrow. I so appreciate Mina's advice... it is just what I needed to read and I will prolly re-read to assure myself. Thank you!

I just posted that I start Monday also. I'm going into this with excitement. I will keep that attitude the entire way (positive self talk happening here!!) thanks for the great advice. I'm excited also about dropping a few pounds on the pre op diet as well. The more the merrier!! Good luck all ????