Honest Answers Only!

[Sabredy12 55]

I am just wondering if there is anyone out there that didn't stick to their pre-op diet and if so what was the outcome??

[Jenny12 361]

Why would you not stick to your pre-op diet? You're about to have your stomach removed. That's a pretty serious thing. Do everything you can to ensure that you'll be healthy enough for the surgery and for the aftercare.

[Sabredy12 55]

Jenny I didn't say I wasn't! Just a simple question, as many of our pre-op diets vary. Some seem to be ok with a week and for others it's 3. To answer ur question as to why would u not, A: Because it's hard!

[gamergirl 4,609]

Please don't be offended but it almost sounds like you're looking for someone to tell you it's okay to cheat. That they did it and had no ill effects. Really, it's not okay to cheat. Even if someone got away with it, it's no guarantee that you will.

It's serious surgery. Don't take a chance. If you cheated, don't do it again. If it's really close to your surgery, call your doctor and let them know.

Not everyone has complications. Not everyone who has complications did something wrong. But you increase the chances of complications when you cheat, either pre-op or post op.

It's not worth losing your life over. Hang tough.

[No game 14,436]

"I ate like a pig!! I ate up until the moment I walked into the hospital! And look at me today I'm fine!!"

I'm sure you can find someone or even several people that will tell you these things.. But what does it mean?

Does it make it a done deal because others made it through?

When people "cheat" who are the cheating? The doctor? The system? They are cheating no one but themselves. The fact of the matter is this will take some willpower and some personal responsibility.. These are things we need to come to terms with before the surgery because we need them most definitely after surgery.

[Jenny12 361]

Jenny I didn't say I wasn't! Just a simple question, as many of our pre-op diets vary. Some seem to be ok with a week and for others it's 3. To answer ur question as to why would u not, A: Because it's hard!

And I didn't necessarily mean you were not sticking to it, I was just simply asking why one would not. I understand it's hard. I went through it. Hang tough, it will be worth it if you stick to the plan. Doctors vary because each one is so different. One may be more comfortable working with a big fat liver in the way of your surgery, and yours may not be. You don't want your liver poked, trust me.

[thedivinemsQ 89]

I did a 6 week preop - 3 weeks clean eating, 2 weeks full liquids and 1 week clears. During the clean eating I had a conference with a prepaid meal plan. I did the best I could, but was not 100%. As for the liquid phases, I stuck to them for a few reasons. A) I wanted my skin as loose as possible so there was no reason to not do the surgery laparoscopically. so my liver would shrink as much as possible, (same reason as A). C) a friend who had done the gastric bypass a year earlier than my sleeve told me her preop was the easiest diet she had ever done because she KNEW that weight was never coming back, and that's what I told myself on the bad days. In the last week of Clear Liquids I didn't think I could do it, but then I remembered that any food in the stomach could come up during surgery and I could die...also motivating.

Good luck to you

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,145]

Heck no I didn't cheat! I stuck to it for the sake of my health. We are taking a risk with surgery in and of itself. Add that we are overweight/obese/morbidly obese people having surgery. Some/many have comorbidities to spice it up....

Why on earth complicate it intentionally?!?!

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

I was so sick of eating like a pig that I welcomed my prep diet.

[Sabredy12 55]

Thanks a million Guys, I am struggling really bad and have cheated, I figure if I go cold turkey for the ten days pre op I will make up for it, maybe not x thx again x

[No game 14,436]

Thanks a million Guys, I am struggling really bad and have cheated, I figure if I go cold turkey for the ten days pre op I will make up for it, maybe not x thx again x

You can do it!

You are stronger than the food cravings, trust me.

I did it, you can too! This isn't a normal diet, this is to get your liver ready for major surgery, a surgery that will help you get the health that you need.

We sound harsh because we want you to succeed

[gamergirl 4,609]

Thanks a million Guys, I am struggling really bad and have cheated, I figure if I go cold turkey for the ten days pre op I will make up for it, maybe not x thx again x

It happens sometimes. Ten days is enough time to get yourself back on track. Come up with a plan for what you will do the next time you are tempted. I know a lot of people stayed extra busy so they could be distracted. That worked well for me as well. Take a walk, call a friend, clean your closet, come up with a list of activities to distract yourself. You'll be so proud of yourself in ten days!

[No game 14,436]

Here read this ok?? <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/249104-the-pre-op-diet-is-not-a-punishment-its-an-opportunity/?fromsearch=1'>http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/249104-the-pre-op-diet-is-not-a-punishment-its-an-opportunity/?fromsearch=1</a>

Hi guys. I see a lot of you are struggling and worried pre-op about the pre-op diet. It is a HUGE challenge, but for me, it was an important one.

Exactly 1 year ago, I was in the middle of a 2 week liquid pre-op diet because my BMI was 55+ and I was self-pay in Mexico. Traveling from Canada meant that a reschedule would be A LOT of extra expense if my surgeon had to stop due to an enlarged liver mid-surgery. I had NO CHOICE but to follow the diet.

It also meant that cheating would increase the chance of complications and a longer recovery (or worse), all because I could not follow a 2 WEEK diet. Really? Here I was, about to take a seriously radical, life-changing step and get 85% of my stomach cut out permanently. But I can't follow a 2 week diet? That's crazy.

Post-op was going to be difficult for MONTHS, not days. So if I couldn't get my head in the game for the pre-op diet, then maybe I wasn't ready for what was going to follow post-op. I was terrified!

So I started the liquid diet. And I was STARVING. I was dreaming of all the foods I thought were leaving my life forever. Suddenly I didn't care that I had spent my life morbidly obese, I wanted my comfort back. I wanted to fill myself to bursting at every meal, like it was my last meal forever.

But I didn't break my diet.

Because for once, I wasn't going to cheat myself. It was time to grow up (I'm 43....) and take responsibility for my health, my future and my choices. A lifetime of justification, gluttony and excuses brought me to that operating room. Now it was time to face the music and get on with owning my future.

The first 3 days were HELL. That is when your body is detoxing from the carbs. You are using up the glycogen in your liver (to help "shrink" it) and it's screaming for replacement carbs to fill it back up. You can get through it. After 3 days it gets MUCH better. After a week you start to feel normal and more healthy than you have felt in years. You may be hungry, but you don't have the carb cravings anymore.

Most importantly, you feel IN CONTROL; and mentally and emotionally strong for battling your demons and winning. This is the first tangible proof in an unsure future that you CAN get through the post-op recovery and that you CAN succeed in losing the weight this time, FOR LIFE.

Whatever weight you lose during your pre-op diet is really inconsequential. What is important is what you gain:

- Confidence

- Emotional and physical self-control

- The desire to succeed and overcome "impossible" obstacles

- The knowledge that you are a WINNER as long as you do your best

Please don't look at the pre-op diet as a "condition" that your surgeon imposes on you (and some surgeons don't require it!). It is an OPPORTUNITY for you to test yourself, to help build your will, character and emotional toughness BEFORE you have the surgery.

It's like training for a marathon.....you put the blood sweat and tears in before the race to help you finish the race on game day. Without training and preparation, you will likely fail and you can get hurt really badly along the way!

Use your pre-op diet to work through your demons, build up your confidence and prove to yourself you can do it. If you "fall off the wagon" one day, the next day is a fresh start.

Aim for excellence. You owe it to yourself.

[thedivinemsQ 89]

Thanks a million Guys, I am struggling really bad and have cheated, I figure if I go cold turkey for the ten days pre op I will make up for it, maybe not x thx again x

It happens sometimes. Ten days is enough time to get yourself back on track. Come up with a plan for what you will do the next time you are tempted. I know a lot of people stayed extra busy so they could be distracted. That worked well for me as well. Take a walk, call a friend, clean your closet, come up with a list of activities to distract yourself. You'll be so proud of yourself in ten days!

Oh Lord this is true! My house has never been cleaner, and my dogs more loved and entertained, and my friends more socialized with. I did everything to avoid food and it totally helped!

[Sabredy12 55]

I love u guys I am gonna do this ?!?!? Gamergirl thanks for sharing that piece, truly inspirational, I hope 10 days instead of 3 weeks will be enough, but I'm sure if done properly it might suffice