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Sticking to a pre opp diet

I meet with my nutritionist this week and I was wondering how others have stuck to a pre opp diet? I want to start changing habits now so I'm successful in the future. I at times eat when I'm not hungry and I am really scared that this behavior will continue after I'm sleeved if I don't find some way of beating it. I do very good thur the day until the evening and I feel like I'm constantly snacking on things. So what are some things you have done to stop eating everything in site?!?! My change this week was to have a fresh fruit bowel in the frig and veggies to snack on. I also left many things off my grocery list including pop! Please help!!!

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Just keep trucking through. It becomes so much easier as time goes on.

I meet with my nutritionist this week and I was wondering how others have stuck to a pre opp diet? I want to start changing habits now so I'm successful in the future. I at times eat when I'm not hungry and I am really scared that this behavior will continue after I'm sleeved if I don't find some way of beating it. I do very good thur the day until the evening and I feel like I'm constantly snacking on things. So what are some things you have done to stop eating everything in site?!?! My change this week was to have a fresh fruit bowel in the frig and veggies to snack on. I also left many things off my grocery list including pop! Please help!!!

I am also really worried about this. My WLS handbook suggest that I find other ways to combat boredom or deal with stress. I am an emotional eater as well as a person who eats when I get bored. I haven't even met with the surgeon yet but I am already trying to make changes to my habits so that I can be better prepared for whats to come. One thing I have been doing when I get bored and find myself looking to eat even when I'm not hungry, is I have been doing suduko and other puzzles. I picked up a couple from the store and when my mind goes there I busy it. I'm also thinking of taking up knitting. Also I find music helps calm me when I'm emotional and want to eat the hinges off the refrigerator. I also plan to use exercise in the future. My weight really restricts exercise but after WLS I hope that I can start. I hope this helps! :)

I'm the same guys I constantly 'graze' sometimes without even noticing that much. Apparently it's a lot easier to control hunger post op as the hunger hormone ghrelin is removed but I've found putting little memos on my fridge and cub board helpful and drink water and wait 10 mins most of time time it goes away. But your completely right most of it is in our mind. Let me know how you go :) best of luck!

In the past 5 weeks I have given pop, coffee, fast food, full sugar desserts, fried food and started exercising. It has been really hard! But the other posters are right it does get a little easier each day. I reduced things a little at a time and that seemed to work.

It still sucks sometimes!

For me it was the soda. I gave it up about a mth before preop. I new that was going to be the hardeat for me. I was addicted I never drank water only soda. I actually went through withdrawal the sweats the mood swings. That was my wAke up call. I always told my family like any addict I can leave it whenever I want. Well no it wasn't easy it was the hardest thing to do. After that it was the drive thrus. Yup I said no more. This cannot control my life. I control my life. I'm 3 mth post op and I am living my life better and healthier than ever. And I don't miss a thing.

I am fine with pre op on the weekdays because I work and keep busy but on the weekend its really hard! The two days before my surgery is the weekend those two days on pure liquids are going to be so hard but I have to keep in mind the surgery will go so much easier and better if I follow the plan!! Good luck to all and follow those Dr's orders!! :D

I am almost 6 months post-op and 85lbs down. The pre-op diet was easy to get through for me. I dealt with my food issues and gave up unhealthy foods and started by cutting portions, not drinking with meals, and no snacking. The post-op was a bit of a challenge because of the the sweetness of the protein shakes and the cream soups. My wife started to purée and strain homemade sop which was a welcome departure from the other items. The main thing was that I stuck to the program and DID NOT CHEAT on either phase. I know some are of the mindset that it's ok, just get back on track the next day, but the next day turns into the day after that. It's important to get in touch with your respective food relationships and deal with them accordingly. The surgery is a lifestyle change and is a tool to help fix your body, but does nothing for your mind. You must handle that part separately. Good luck to you all.

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Thanks for all the info! I'm doing better everyday and once I'm put on a diet I think I have a drive that will not let me give up! Good luck to you all as well:)

I meet with my nutritionist this week and I was wondering how others have stuck to a pre opp diet? I want to start changing habits now so I'm successful in the future. I at times eat when I'm not hungry and I am really scared that this behavior will continue after I'm sleeved if I don't find some way of beating it. I do very good thur the day until the evening and I feel like I'm constantly snacking on things. So what are some things you have done to stop eating everything in site?!?! My change this week was to have a fresh fruit bowel in the frig and veggies to snack on. I also left many things off my grocery list including pop! Please help!!!

If you don't mid me asking, what does your diet consist of? Only shakes and veggies? Can you have unlimited anything? I know we all have different doctors and thus, different pre op diets. It hasn't been easy for ANYONE regardless :-) but I've tried my best to stay with it, even if it meant going to bed at 830 to beat the late night munchies.

I'm the same guys I constantly 'graze' sometimes without even noticing that much. Apparently it's a lot easier to control hunger post op as the hunger hormone ghrelin is removed but I've found putting little memos on my fridge and cub board helpful and drink Water and wait 10 mins most of time time it goes away. But your completely right most of it is in our mind. Let me know how you go <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> best of luck!

So how is the hunger hormone removed

I too eat out of boredom, especially at night while watching TV. Over the last few months I've simply (but not so easy) cut back and/or replaced the night time Snacks with a healthy alternative.

I am now starting my 4th day of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I've been battling the evening munchies with sugar free popsicles. They really help curve the head hunger for me.

Good Luck to you.

I was able to have a lot of success on my preop diet by keeping a food journal. Most people enter foods and calorie counts as they eat. But a better idea is for you to plan out your daily food intake and write it down and then stay on the plan. Many times people who are grazing through the day or impulsively eating don't have a daily plan

With regards to cheating, here's my take on it.......I didn't want to screw up this opportunity, so I didn't cheat....I will say on a couple of occasions, I reached for something, but pulled my hand back when I realized what I was doing......didn't realize how bad I had become at always looking for something.....I'm a grazer.....and an emotional eater.....it was my comfort, I ate when happy, sad, angry, bored......really, I didn't need an excuse LOL

If you are having trouble, do you know why you are cheating? Are you ready for this lifestyle change? Are you committed to it? Are you worried you won't be able to have a specific food post op?

Have you attended a support group? Often they are held at the hospital where bariatric surgery is done....they generally have a group that includes pre and post op patients---and you can ask them how they stayed on track for the pre-op diet. Are you working with a therapist? Perhaps a visit with one who specializes in obesity related issues can be of help.....your surgeon may even be able to suggest someone he's familiar with.

Next time your hand reaches for something, call a friend....go for a walk....read a book......put some music on and dance......do some laundry......just get out of the kitchen and get your mind on something else.....

following that strict pre op diet really helped me post-op.......I had my allotment of 3 shakes & 2 yogurts, and I was done for the day...it put a stop to always looking for something to eat, and so far it's made the first two stages post-op easier..................Sorry this is long......hope it helps.......

  • Author

I had my first nutritionist appointment today. I start my diet tomorrow. I'm on a 1400 calorie diet and then 2 weeks before surgery I go on a liquid diet. I pretty much can eat whatever as long as I stay under 1400 calories but she want me to start to make healthier choices which I plan on doing. I don't plan on cheating either, if I'm gonna do this I'm gonna do it right! Good luck to you all:)

Hi. I am 3 weeks post op and had lots of struggle with my pre-op diet. The surgery will initially control your eating habits. I couldn't graze, binge or compulsive eat today no matter how hard i tried. That said, recovery from the surgery was hard enough on my body. Im glad i didnt have to battle, caffiene, wine and soda withdrawal at the same time.

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