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Pre-Op Liquid Diet Experiences, Suggestions, Tips



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For anyone who might find it helpful, here are some tips I have on the pre-op liquid diet, which I am following for one month.

(1) My favorite product is Bariatric Advantage shakes, which have to be mixed in a blender at home. I'm permitted to put fruit into them and my favorite is a banana. I use fat-free/low-fat soy milk or almond milk instead of skim milk or Water. It does help to add some ice. The fruit can be frozen. I have a Vitamix blender, which can handle anything put into it. Sometimes I mix in soft tofu. A blender is going to be an important part of a post-op life, so I recommend investing in a very good blender that will not burn out quickly. There are alternatives to Vitamix (but i cannot remember the names).

(2) I cannot take a blender to work. So I use ENSURE and/or GNC Total Lean shakes. When I am traveling, I find it easier to find ENSURE in a drug store. SlimFast is another alternative.

(3) When I drink a Protein Shake by itself, I am hungry after about 2 1/2 hours. So I drink another! I am permitted up to 6 per day. I never let myself feel hungry - that way I don't crave food solid food.< /p>

(4) Inbetween shakes, I find chicken bouillion in a cup - hot - to drink - to be helpful in managing hunger. It is great to have something savory instead of all of the sweet Protein Shakes.< /p>

(5) I did order the vegetable Soup from Bariatric Advantage and use that inbetween Protein shakes.

(6) I use FitnessPal to track calories. I try to stay at 1300-1500 calories per day. I am not interested in rapid weight loss pre-op. The goal is to shrink the liver. I am losing a bit of weight. But I prefer to lose it slowly.

(7) I have to drink a lot of water. The protein shakes make me very thirsty.

(8) The first three days I had headaches - now they are gone. I have 17 more days of this liquid diet, then surgery. Of course, then I start ANOTHER liquid diet.

(9) I view the pre-op liquid diet as good preparation for a new lifestyle - changing my relationship with food. Not every moment is fun. But I am convinced that the discipline of the diet is a good preparation for a new post-surgery relationship with food.

I plan to use protein shakes occasionally for convenience for the rest of my life - particularly for Breakfast.< /p>

I am not an employee of any company that produces or is affiliated with any weight-loss products, protein shakes, tofu companies, Vitamin manufacturers, blender manufacturers, food production, etc. I'm simply a consumer of these items.

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Not every moment is fun.

Are any moments fun? That's the question! LOL. Good, solid advice here. Thanks!

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Are any moments fun? That's the question! LOL. Good, solid advice here. Thanks!

Well, I cannot call the liquid diet fun. I do enjoy the feeling of being a bit more in control of my eating. It's hard to call that "fun." But it is a sense of accomplishment. I will definitely enjoy being able to eat solid food again. I like the idea of eating solid food again only after surgery.

I wish you great success with your weight loss journey!

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Thank you for this post. You have no idea how much it helped me! :)

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Thank you for your post great advice I am going to start my pre op in about a week.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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