Well, my 2 week preop diet starts tomorrow. It's pretty strict, with 5 shakes a day, sugar free beverages, sugar free Jello and sugar free ice pops only. And no caffeine (although I'm allowed to drink 1 cup of decaf coffee or tea per day.) My surgeon wants me to lose at least 10 pounds. I'm terrified.

I'm terrified because I don't deal with hunger very well. If I did, I wouldn't have ballooned up to 270 pounds. I'm also terrified because for the first time in my life I will have to get a divorce from binging and compulsive overeating. The head hunger is going to be overwhelming.

My surgeon told me that in her experience patients who comply with the preop diet have a higher degree of success post-surgery. And I have no intention of cheating. I don't want to wake up from the OR without a sleeve because my liver was too big for the surgery.

I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude--knowing that I'll feel so much better as the weight comes off. And I'm seeing this as my chance to FINALLY leave the self-destructive behaviors behind.

I know that some of you may suggest that I start therapy to deal with these feelings and compulsions. I haven't made that decision yet. I have attempted therapy several times in the past and I've never been able to find someone who was a good fit. My experience over the next 2 weeks will go a long way in my determining whether therapy is an option for me or not.

A part of me is so damn tired of it all--the eating has gotten so out of control. And I have put on 10 pounds in the last month thanks to all of my last meals and food funerals. This madness has to stop. But I am going to miss food so much.

Like I said, I have no intention of cheating. But I'm still terrified.

I'm on day one as well and so far so good! I hope the remainder of these two weeks is as smooth as this but I have a feeling it won't be!

Luckily I live alone (my best friend and my boyfriend live down the street) and no one's here to eat in front of me!

I think my strategy is going to be this:

*Stay at work as long as possible- 10 hrs if I have to! Maybe being "productive" will keep my mind of food. The less time at home the better!

*Once home, drink the last Protein shake, have some veggies and Jello then sleeping PILL! Cause the less time awake, the better.

* Weekends- sleep diet as well. Wake up for protein shakes, go back to bed!

Basically working and sleeping to avoid eating.

This sounds crazy huh?

Edited January 7, 201412 yr by KittyChick

Reading all this is really concerning since my surgeon doesn't require a pre op diet.....thinking I should do it anyway!?!?!

Steph ~

If you feel like you may want to do your own little preop diet go ahead and do it, it won't hurt. Mine consisted of 24 hour liquid diet, pretty simple. I felt lucky compared to some of the pre op diets I've seen some ppl have, yikes! Lol.

Reading all this is really concerning since my surgeon doesn't require a pre op diet.....thinking I should do it anyway!?!?!

Hi,

I luckily only had to do a 3 day clear liquid diet. Many choices on my list, but had to be able to see through it. No sugar or caffeine. My understanding is that this is done to help shrink the liver back a bit so it is out of the way during the procedure. The more fatty the liver, the longer the pre-op diet may be.

With all we have on our minds ahead of surgery maybe give your surgeon a call and ask about it. Just to put your mind at ease & so you don't feel concerned about it.

You will do great! ;o)

First of all, my heartfelt thanks to all of you. I'm touched.

The first day of my diet is almost over, and I'm pleasantly surprised at how well things went. I haven't been hungry at all and surprisingly enough have had no desire to compulsively overeat. It's like all that Protein turns off a switch in your brain. I don't know what it is, but I like it!

I had a scary experience after my workout today where I started getting lightheaded and trembly. My trainer suggested that I go home and eat something. I stopped at my surgeon's office on the way home and she told me that it was OK for me to eat veggies and to drink an extra Protein shake. I'm supposed to drink the shake 30 minutes before my workouts.

And in an amazing show of sympathy, my wonderful husband is going to be drinking Protein shakes right along with me! We will do some modifications for him, like adding fruit and milk to the shakes, but he wants to lose weight and support me. What a great guy!

So...the net 2 weeks may not be so awful after all!

Well congrats to you. Day one gone...you'll be on the other side before you know it. The dizzyness is a normal reaction, especially if you're still working out hard. You might consider easing up on the workouts this next 2 weeks since you're body is going through a massive adjustment period....but then again if it makes you feel better stick with them.

Funny story...my wife too went on the preop diet with me....and the post op diet. About 2 weeks post op I went to take out the trash, and there was an empty dorito bag in the trash can...stuffed way down in there but I could see it through the bag. God bless my wonderful wife, I never told her I saw it. I appreciated that she was not eating them in front of me.

HI all,

I am on day #8 of the Optifast diet. I have only lost 10 lbs, and I am very deidicated and unwavering. I have not faltered once on the diet and it gets earier each day. I have been doing 30 minutues on the treadmill everyday and I have only lost 10 lbs so far....is this normal??? I think the drs are expecting a much more signficant weight lost pre surgery...any thoughts?

Thanks

Melody~

For pre op your not racing the clock to lose so much weight so fast. Your goal/requirement is to lose a certain amount, they don't expect it gone in two weeks. Losing ten pounds in eight days is just fine, although depending how far you are preop I wouldn't do so much so quick. I started mine with have three appropriate sized healthly meals a day, no seconds. Then next I replaced a meal a day with a protein shake. Then next step replaced two meals a day. You can't do to much at once, it will make it harder down the road. I was sleeved three months ago today, October 7, 2013 and since my surgery I am down 80 pounds. Keep us post on your progress.

I am day 6 of Optifast diet and similar diet to the op. If you stick to your diet you will lose the weight your requirrd to lose. I have lost 9 lbs so far.

In between meal drink a tall glass of Water and munch on ice chips. I have found the optifast diet to be satisfying.

You can do this. You have come a long way not to.

Good luck

My surgeon is Lisa Dobruskin too (LOVE HER!) I started 2 week pre-op diet on Jan 1st and ready to shoot anyone in the line of fire:-) Almost done with week 1 so just have to hang in there another week. Had pre-admission testing and completed all mandatory doctor visits. Excited and anxious at the same time. Lapband removed on 11/26 - looking forward to my new life................boy, even a beet sounds good right now.

My surgeon is Lisa Dobruskin too (LOVE HER!) I started 2 week pre-op diet on Jan 1st and ready to shoot anyone in the line of fire:-) Almost done with week 1 so just have to hang in there another week. Had pre-admission testing and completed all mandatory doctor visits. Excited and anxious at the same time. Lapband removed on 11/26 - looking forward to my new life................boy, even a beet sounds good right now.

Yes, Dr. Lisa is the greatest! I just need my medical clearance from my PCP and my insurance authorization, then I should be good to go for the 22nd! We are lucky to have such a great surgeon.

Day 2 of the preop is almost over--going to have my last shake and a big cucumber/lettuce salad. Am a bit nervous about hitting the weight machines again tomorrow as that trembly weak feeling really freaked me out. I think I'm going to cut back on the number of reps and the amount of weight I will use. I'm ask going to have an extra Protein shake and a handful of baby carrots to sneak in a few carbs for energy. I don't think that'll mess things up.

I am doing liquids only, at her request, but may have to add a veggie or two. I am sure everything will work out for you. I am now on day 8 of liquids and getting anxious - but it's a good anxious - just want the 15th to come and go:-)

Good luck to you and perhaps we will meet at a support group? What hospital?

You can do this. It's not going to be easy, especially the first week. You are in a few days now so I know you are getting ready to hit the hardest part of this. On day two, I was dying for food, or at least I thought I was. The evil pizza Hut commericials came on and I thought I could smell and taste the pizza on the screen. That pizza would have tasted good for all of five minutes had I really had it in front of me, but it's not worth the chance to become the person is screaming to come alive while I lose this weight.

You can do this. Be sure you have some Tylenol in advance to help with withdrawls from caffeine, carbs, and sugar. I went through one day of it and cried myself to sleep the headache was so bad. The next day my husband went to the store and got some and he was a lifesaver for doing that. Be sure to prepare yourself and set yourself up for success.

I am now day 5 of the liquid diet and ICE cubes helps with the chewing withdrawals.

This is great advice from SkinnyGirl. My jaws actually hurt from not being able to chew/crunch, etc. I didn't even think about crunching on ice. Get some of those Mios, Kool Aid, Icee flavor squirt bottles to change up your Water. I wish you the best of luck and remember to keep at it. This is a true test of ourselves and our will power.

At my last appt. with my surgeon, he told me that when we get those pangs of hunger where it feels like we would be close to bartering to have a piece of food we aren't supposed to on our plan, that was our shrinking liver (and head) trying to trick us into thinking we need it. You are in control and can make the right decisions. Good luck!

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by lauri407

You sound like you are getting in the right frame of mind to start this journey. Dehydration also can make you "feel hungry" when you're not. Keep liquids at the ready.

Every day closer to surgery is a victory for you. You are making the choices you need to succeed. I love that when your trainer told you to eat something you consulted your doctor first. Trusting our doctors is critical. We all had / have different pre-ops for different reasons. No one else's advise should trump the advise of the person we trust to take out a chunk of our stomachs. Butter knows his stuff regarding the exercise aspect.

Support from your hubby is awesome. Best of luck to you!! You got this!!

I am doing liquids only, at her request, but may have to add a veggie or two. I am sure everything will work out for you. I am now on day 8 of liquids and getting anxious - but it's a good anxious - just want the 15th to come and go:-)

Good luck to you and perhaps we will meet at a support group? What hospital?

What a happy coincidence that we have the same surgeon. I haven't been to Dr. Lisa's support group at the Hamilton YMCA yet but I'm going to try. My surgery is going to be at Princeton Hospital @ Plainsboro.

Well, it's Day 3 of the diet and I must say I'm feeling awful. Have a major headache. I am so grateful that my surgeon is allowing me to eat veggies--I ate an entire cauliflower for lunch this afternoon! I walked in the pool for an hour today and was pretty worn out afterwards. I'm going to stay away from more intense cardio and weights until after my surgery. I'm just not up to it now.

Thanks again to all of you. Your kindness and concern shown means more than you could ever know. Hopefully tomorrow will be better!

T-4 days!!!! I must have a burst of energy because I'm home making homemade broths/soups...using some veggies, beef bones, chicken scraps, to make veg/chicken/ beef broths & butternut squash soup). Putting them in plastic containers & freezing them so I'll have plenty on hand..doing this for 2 reasons the store bought ones have too much sodium &I dont want to retain water during post op as it can hinder my body's ability to hydrate and create variances in weighing in. And also because I don't want to have to worry about my food choices for the full liquid part of my diet which lasts for 30 days. I feel like June Cleaver! Lol

Edited January 8, 201412 yr by A_ReNUDE_me