Survival skills for the 14 day pre-op diet

[Italiancurves 117]

Tomorrow starts day three of my 14 day pre-op diet.

I will admit, I was rather nervous about it. My main concern was not having enough energy to get through my rather physical work day.

I'm here to say... It's really not that hard.

Everyone's pre op diet seems to be slightly different.

Mine is 11 days of 900 cals (3 Protein shakes+ 1/2 cup lean chicken, fish or 1 egg/ 3 cups lettuce and a few sprays of fat free dressing)

Days 12-14 are strictly clear liquid.

I thought it would be nice to start a thread where ppl can post some good survival techniques to help those who are going to be doing their pre op diets and are nervous. Things that have helped you get through easier. Here's my list... Pls feel free to add your ideas as well. Lord knows I will probably need some of them as the days go on!

1. I pre pack exactly what I need to consume throughout that day (including 90 oz water) in my ice chest. If it's not in my ice chest, it does not go in my mouth! (Aside from the Vitamins which I need to discontinue taking 7 days before surgery)

2. When driving down the road...only look straight ahead...turning your head side to side means you'll be bombarded with all the evil food signs. And I personally think they posted a few extra food ads and restraunts since I started this diet two days ago! They are EVERYWHERE!

3. If your favorite TV channel is the Food Network, like mine... Find a new favorite! I'm watching "Lock Up Raw" tonight... The food they feature on this program is certainly not making me hungry!

4.once you've finished all the food/drink you can have for the day, if you're still hungry... Add crystal light or Dasani drops or something with flavor that you like to Water bottle and fill up on that!

5. Stay busy! I've been working my a** off to make as much money as possible before I go down for post op recovery. The side benefit is that the day is over before I know it! I plan on staying super active Til they wheel me to O.R.

Well that's all I have so far, might think of some more tips and hopefully others will too.

2 down, 12 days to go!

We got this

Best wishes everyone...

[KaraBoo 37]

Thank you so much for posting this! I start my preop diet on the 23rd, kinda nervous about it! Good luck, you're doing great!

[unbesleevable1 420]

I just completed day 5 of 1000 cal a day or less. Gotta say it is getting easier, but is pretty challenging. I have had some good tips from ppl on this forum. I carry broth packets with me, just in case. I dont go anywhere without my shaker bottle and something to put in it. I eat a pickle a couple times a day. I also put a little sugar free pudding mix in my shakes (just a tiny bit) and it helps them taste better. sugar free popsicles are a godsend and give you something to do. I have also tried to stay pretty busy. I wouldn't recommend going out to restaurants, but I have done that a few times. It isn't easy, but this isn't forever. Stay strong, skinny army!

[tignet 20]

I did a Protein Shake diet last year and got used to it eventually. This morning I decided to do a shake instead of regular Breakfast and it is making my stomach feel like yuck. My surgery is November 11 so soon I will have to have shakes. I hope I can do them without feeling nauseated. I have some different brands to try so maybe one will be ok.

[tignet 20]

I do like your plan VST and will plan my food intake as you have.

[Sherry73 94]

I have been having a tough time with my two week pre-op diet. Started it on Wednesday. 500 Calories pre day of shakes and Water. Not sure if I am going to be able to keep this up.

[Italiancurves 117]

Oh and another perk/benefit to the pre-op diet... Is the weight loss!

Nothing like jump starting your slimming process!

And anything I can do to lower the risk factor and make the surgery less complicated for my doc the better. (Shrink that liver!)

[Kasey Parker 31]

I'll be doing my soon, but haven't had my preop visit yet so I'm not sure how my surgeon will tell me to do it. My worse thing is, I get up at 4am for work...where we sell food (I work for my dad), it's going to be tough!

[GBPackerGrl 57]

I'm glad you started a post like this because honestly the first two days were really hard for me. I started Friday and surgery is Nov1st. I get 500 cal a day basically. I am not hungry but the mental part of this was really hard to get used to. Today I am doing a lot better. Honestly the thing that got me out of my "Funk" was a great support system from home and people from this forum that haven't given up on me!!! Honestly I am glad my surgeon is having me do a pre-op because if I didn't I can only imagine what kind if shock I would have been in after surgery!!! Good luck to all of you!! We can do this!!

[ElginChris 87]

I just started my liquid diet as well and I did a couple of things that I think will help.

1 - stop caffeine use a few weeks before.. Why? If you drink a lot of coffee, soda, etc. the withdrawal can be pretty harsh. Its hard enough to not eat let alone face withdrawal symptoms.

2 - start drink a shake or 2 a day in advance. It gives you time to adjust to the consistency and flavor of the shakes. Are they too thick? Too thin? Do you need to add sweetener or no? Try some different recipes. Make shake combinations you can enjoy a bit. I have 5 or 6 i like, so i can have variety at least.

Again, this process is hard enough, why wouldnt you make it easier.

Hope this helps

[Isamartin 10]

This thread is very helpful!! Thank you!!

I started today and also had to ease into it.

I switched to Decaf a week ago and incorporated 3 shakes each day. I'm glad I did because I feel I got most of my withdrawals out of the way.

Today was hard but I'm counting on staying busy at work will help and make it much easier

Good luck to everyone!!!

[gamergirl 4,609]

Great thread. I'd like to add a few.

1. Know that the first few days suck. The way ou feel the first few days is not how you will feel for the rest of the pre-op. After five tired days, I felt GREAT and had even more energy than I did before. I also felt successful and that boosted my confidence.

2. Don't tell yourself it's okay to cheat, just because some people here did and didn't have complications. Maybe they got lucky and you won't. Tell yourself you cannot chest and you're less likely to.

3. Do not chew and spit out food. It's very bad for you and confuses your stomach which has been secreting acid, waiting to receive that food you've been chewing.

4. Understand that the purpose of the pre-op is to shrink your liver. It is not to lose weight. If you do, great. But don't tell yourself you can eat just because you lost weight. See (2) above.

5. If you do cheat tell your doc immediately. Do not post here and listen to people telling you it's okay. We are not doctors. We don't know what's okay. Don't let anybody tell you not to follow your doctors orders. You can choose to get a different doctor if you want. But you should not get one and ignore what she tells you.

6. It doesn't matter if you understand why your doctor's diet is different to everyone else's. Don't use that as a reason to justify cheating. If you trust your doctor to take out 85% of your stomach! trust her to know what pre-op she thinks you should be on. My husband and I got sleeved by the same doctor on the same day. We had the same BMI. We had very different pre-op directions. Don't second guess your medical professional.

7. Know that whatever lies our fat brains want to tell us, going against doctors orders either pre or post op vastly increases your likelihood of complications.

8. Believe that you can do this. Really. Believe it.

Edited October 20, 2013 by gamergirl

[tignet 20]

This is all very valuable advice. Thank you all. Especially for "believe you can do thus, really believe." I think I always sabotage myself with my crazy brain. Thank you for spelling it out.

[Italiancurves 117]

Oh, great additions you guys! Lots of great advice and tips.

I was already looking for some variety today on my third day so I added a pkg of mango peach crystal light to my vanilla Protein shake, blended with some ice. MAN that was GOOD!

[Italiancurves 117]

Agreed, self sabbotage is such a prevelent, counter productive demon.

No more of that for me, ever! Done.