Is the pre-op liquid diet primarily to cleanse your system in preparation for your surgery or to help you lose weight?

The liquid diet is because the doctors want to shrink you liver in order to get to your stomach. Your body goes into starvation mode and causes the liver to shrink.

The shrinking of the liver also helps decrease the chances of the surgeon accidentally puncturing or creating any type of laceration on the liver itself.

In fact, my surgeon's team doesnt call it The Pre-op Diet....they call it The Liver Shrinking Diet. Mine is not all liquid but there are no carbs. I start it tomorrow...oh boy oh boy!

Is the pre-op liquid diet primarily to cleanse your system in preparation for your surgery or to help you lose weight?

It is supposed to shrink your liver. My doc didn't make me do it because he said, in his experience, he didn't think it shrunk the liver that much and it just makes the patient feel like crap. My doc actually did the diet and he said it was too hard so he wasn't going to make his patients do something that he couldn't do when it didn't really make that much of a difference.

Wow, that's wondeful that the doctor did the diet himself to know what his patients go through.

I was told the same thing about the liver.

It is supposed to shrink your liver. My doc didn't make me do it because he said' date=' in his experience, he didn't think it shrunk the liver that much and it just makes the patient feel like crap. My doc actually did the diet and he said it was too hard so he wasn't going to make his patients do something that he couldn't do when it didn't really make that much of a difference.[/quote']

It's also a great kickstart to weight loss, I lost 17 pounds on my pre-op liquid diet.

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In fact' date=' my surgeon's team doesnt call it The Pre-op Diet....they call it The Liver Shrinking Diet. Mine is not all liquid but there are no carbs. I start it tomorrow...oh boy oh boy! [/quote']

How's it going? I start mine tomorrow.

They say that the pre-op diet is required to shrink your liver so it doesn't get damaged in surgery. I also have a theory that they do it to get us to detox from sugars and bad carbs so we don't struggle with those cravings and issues post-op.

Khloé, I've wondered if that was the reason, too, although my diet does allow for one low calorie meal (around 300 calories) that isn't required to be particularly low-carb. I can even have things like Healthy Choice entrees from the freezer.

Khloé, I've wondered if that was the reason, too, although my diet does allow for one low calorie meal (around 300 calories) that isn't required to be particularly low-carb. I can even have things like Healthy Choice Entrees from the freezer.

My pre-op diet wasn't liquids. I had to drink 5 Protein shakes per day, and then I was allowed 5 oz of lean meat/poultry + 2 cups of veggies and a fat source in the evening for dinner. I was much more lucky than most.

I get to have 3-4 protein shakes a day, then a meal that makes up whatever is left of 870 calories for the day. I only have to do it for a week, though I took it for a test drive a couple of weeks ago (no restriction on the evening meal except for it to be high protein and healthy, but otherwise 3 protein shakes for the day) And you know, I'm good with that.

Well ive only lost 4 lbs!!! and cheated only once and that was in the middle of the 7 days........... and this sucks..so tomorrow is my day hope those 3 lbs were just the fat on my liver....

I have been on my diet for 8 days. I get 5- protein shakes a day and the rest are clear liquids. First few days sucked. I then went to not being hungry and hard time being able to get just the shakes in. Today 4 days before surgery and I'm starving!!! I cheated tonight and ate a piece of grilled chicken and guess what....STILL STARVING! I have drank my shakes, broth, tea, water and sf drinks. I just don't get it!

How's it going? I start mine tomorrow.

well I'm down 4lbs already in 48 hrs....but I believe it's all water weight! I'm constantly heading to the ladies room at work, and I get up 4 to 5 times a night. I don't feel crazy without the carbs yet, but my sense of smell has gotten more acute and I can smell bread and sugar if it's nearby (very weird, eh?). Last night I really really felt hungry, so I did have an extra protein snack (lowfat string cheese, 60 cal). This morning I made a huge batch of sugarfree jello, which I can have unlimited, so that will be my go-to from now on. I need to remind myself how very important it is to Be Prepared and Plan Ahead. Otherwise it's too tempting to grab the bad stuff and eat it.

I was making treats for my pre-k students' graduation (making them instead of buying because that usually makes me happy....and I might be a masochist). When I finished I licked the spoon out of habit and thought omg sooo good then immediately thought "OMG what are you doing? You're on the liquids only diet" I hope it doesn't effect much but now I just keep staring down those treats. This sucks