So I know that there are a bunch of us starting the pre-op diet either today or in the coming days.

I thought rather than littering around a bunch of other post that we could use this one to offer words of support, thoughts, trcks & tips and just general support.

Anyway, I am off to make my first shake & head to work. Hopefully the blender does not wake up the baby. :hungry:

Andrew

Okay just had my first Optifast. It wasn't the worst thing I have ever had in my mouth but it certainly wasn't the greatest.

Big Shout Out to all of you that have and are doing this for three weeks. I am just doing for two and that seems like it is going to be a struggle.

I am keeping track of everyones ideas though and I think I will make this optifasting a challenge. The challenge being how I am going to make this taste better. I think everyday I wil plan to experiment with various things and flavours and that way maybe I wont have to dread the optifast so much.

Mandy wow you only did one a day? Were you not super hungry?

Hey there Dame J,last night I tried butterscotch no fat pudding in (1/2 pkg)in my vanilla optifast,it was ok for a change.I do have to say today ,day3 , I seem less hungry.But tonight I have to serve meals at a potluck fundraiser,that might stimulate the old hunger pains.:rolleyes

Astrotoes I don't know if I can handle making great food and not trying some of it. That would be a first. I guess the best you can do is just keep focused on the end result and just play from there. Or while you are preparring the food keep little reminders around you so you wont be tempted. Good luck I am sure you will do just fine.

My mom made reverse chocolate chip muffins yesterday and this morning I was so tempted to just grab one for work and the thing that stopped me was picturing my liver looking like foie gras at the surgery. Trust me I didn’t even look at the muffin again. :biggrin1:

Fois gras, I dont know how people eat that stuff, I would rather have an Optifast any day.

As for the taste, I gotta say that I am pretty happy with the chocolate as is. I used to drink protien supplement for the year or two that I was buff, and these are not the worst I've had.

I also like the rasperry syrup in the vanilla. I tried the chai, and it was pretty good too, but I think it was too early in the morning.

My hunger has pretty much gone away, and I can taste & smell the ketones.

Hang in there gang, keep your eye on the prize. It is all worth it in the end.

Andrew

Well I am sitting here on my lunch break drinking my second Optifast. Here is what I have learned thus far:

1. Do not smell the Optifast. Smells putrid and I believe it was cloe who did mentioned the smell in another post but I had forgot. Will not forget again.
   
2. Blended is indeed better.
   
3. Telling yourself that this tastes better than a McDonalds Milkshake fools no one

You guys are doing great!!! Keep it up.

Andrew, I think you'll be happily surprised by the amount of weight you'll lose just on opti-fast. I started out about the same weight as you, and after 3 weeks of opti-fast I was down 24 lbs. Plus they say men lose weight faster!!!

When do you have to start the pre-op diet, is it after you visit with the nutritionist?? I had my ultrasound yesterday and found out that I have a fatty liver. I assume I will have to go on this pre-op diet as well before surgery????

Sherri

You guys are doing great!!! Keep it up.

Andrew, I think you'll be happily surprised by the amount of weight you'll lose just on opti-fast. I started out about the same weight as you, and after 3 weeks of opti-fast I was down 24 lbs. Plus they say men lose weight faster!!!

Thanks Cloe, I am hoping to lose at least 25lbs during the pre-op, but I will take anything I can get.

berry, the pre-op diet is up to your surgeon. Many of us here will/have been done by Dr. Coburn. For me, I have a high BMI & was put on 3 weeks of Optifast. Typically if you have a pre-op diet it will be 2-3 weeks.

Andrew

Optifast weekend #1 was'nt as bad as I thought, My determination was reinforced when we went to a party on Friday night.My hubby is with this hockey team and although I know some of the wives, I only know a couple of them really well.Ok I felt like I was in high school.....all the slim cool chicks at one side of the room and all the rest invisible and in the other corner, argggg. I wanted to scream...WE ARE ALL 40 SOMETHING....Get OVER IT!!! So now I want to go back to that same party next year and really be a little snotty back:heh: . So I drank my Optifast with some sort of evil reslove this weekend and you know it did'nt taste too bad!!!

Way to go Astrotoes, revenge can be very sweet indeed, you are doing great keep up the good work.

Maria :confused:

coffee seems to work. Used coffee in my vanilla Optifast (blended with ice of course) and it wasn't too awfull. Still had to choke it down a bit by the end but it has been the best thing I have tried thus far.

Got a call from Dr. C's office wanting to know if I wanted to move my surgery up to this week and I was so tempted but I have work and things to tend to first. Oh well my date is not too far off anyway.

Day 6 of Optifast - lost 5 lbs! Coffee crystals in vanilla is okay. Coconut flavour in chocolate is not bad. I also have sauteed cabbage and onions and garlic with lots of no cal spices for supper for my veggies. Throw in a little chicken in a mug and chicken broth and you have a feast folks!:hungry: Hunger has absoutely gone away. Got to force myself to drink - look forward to my "filet of cabbage" every night though. My husband is living on cabbage too - minus the shakes. He goes off to sneak a hamburger somewhere though - I can smell it on him. Keep smilin' it helps. Thinking of all you optifasters out there - misery loves company:clap2:

Day 6 of Optifast - lost 5 lbs! coffee crystals in vanilla is okay. Coconut flavour in chocolate is not bad. I also have sauteed cabbage and onions and garlic with lots of no cal spices for supper for my veggies. Throw in a little chicken in a mug and chicken broth and you have a feast folks!:hungry: Hunger has absoutely gone away. Got to force myself to drink - look forward to my "filet of cabbage" every night though. My husband is living on cabbage too - minus the shakes. He goes off to sneak a hamburger somewhere though - I can smell it on him. Keep smilin' it helps. Thinking of all you optifasters out there - misery loves company:clap2:

Right on Priscilla. I am on day 6 too. I will have to try your "filet of cabbage". I have been pretty light on the vegis, mostly some spinach and some romaine yesterday. I have been diggin' on the ocasional dill pickle. They are only 3cal per 2 bicks, but they are pretty salty. I think I will have some steamed cabbage tonight with a tone of fresh pepper. Found onion sprouts are an easy way to liven up a bowl of spinach.

For the shakes, I like either Davinci SF Chai or raspberry extract in vanilla. I think the chai is a little too sweet but it is okay.

I am down about 10lbs, although Wednesdays are my "official" weight days so I will see where I am at there.

I keep telling myself that after the preop, living with the band will be easier.

Andrew

You guys are going sooooo great!!!! Keep it up!!!!

Filet of cabbage, I love it!:laugh

Hey Andrew - you can also add mushrooms to the filet of cabbage" to give it a variance in chew texture. Yesterday I even used poultry stuffing spice and I almost had myself convinced that I was eating Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks for the thumbs up Cloe! It all helps keep me on track.