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Pre-Op Diet Jitters



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I was finally given my surgery date, December 16th.

I was told that I need to do two weeks of the pre-op diet. I feel like this is really going to be my downfall.

I can't stand both. The mere thought of it makes me what to throw up, and this is without having to be forced to eat it!!!

I'm going to be starting my pre-op diet on December 2nd, so I am extremely grateful that it will be after Thanksgiving, yet slightly bummed that it's before Christmas.

I understand the reasoning for losing the extra weight and preparing, but I am feeling extremely glum about this particular portion of the change. I recently lost 6 pounds, however my family was going through a crisis and it literally came off from my lack of enthusiasm to eat.

Anyone else feel this way, have concerns, issues, dislike certain pre-op foods.....

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The pre-op liquid (or for some folks strict reduced volume) diet is a rite of passage to a new lease on life. You may not like it, but it won't kill you and you will live to tell about it. I added all kinds of non-caloric stuff to my Protein shakes. To the vanilla shakes, I added more vanilla and some sweetener packets. To the chocolate shakes, I added sweetener and sugar-free cocoa packets. I got a few strawberry shakes and added extra sweetener and a little vanilla to them.....not great, but not so bad - just tolerable. Just think.....in a few weeks post-op, you will be ready to encourage others who follow behind you.

Bariatric surgery is definitely a "pay it forward" situation. Having bariatric surgery does not mean that you will never enjoy a meal again, but it does bring a new outlook on how you can enjoy real food in moderate quantities that nourish your earthly human container. You can expect to come through this - diet and all - just fine. I wish you good luck and good health.

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I am grateful that my preop diet isn't as awful as some. I get 4 Protein shakes per day then 1 small meal a day ensures I stay under 1100 calories total. It's pretty easy since my Protein drinks are only 600 calories total. It isn't that bad. I'm on day 4 and have lost 5 pounds. Hopefully yours won't be as bad as you anticipate!

Edited by glass

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Here is how I bid farewell to my ridiculous caffeine habit while saying hello to a new sleeve friendly high Protein bev; I used Vanilla Protein Powder but substitute Vanilla Chai tea(already brewed, un-sweetened and chilled) for the Water or skim milk and 2 tbsp of vanilla soy Creamer. This my Sleevebucks! I've also done the same but with Mandarin orange tea and a touch of almond extract. Yum-yum!

Try giving it a chance and getting creative. The holidays will come around next year and just think you'll be prouder to pose in family photos! GL

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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