I am getting my sleeve through Kaiser and they require a 4 week liquid diet (optifast) and I started this morning.

I really appreciate all the wisdom experienced sleevers share as I know it will get better in a few days. I am trying to remember that every pound I lose before surgery is one less pound I have to lose afterwards!

Thanks for reading - any suggestions on how to best get through 4 weeks is appreicated!

Edited March 18, 201511 yr by butterfly23

Hi, I did just under 3 weeks and lost 22 lbs. 90% of what I consumed mostly Protein shakes for calories and protein. Low sodium chicken broth was also a friend.

Some treats made it easier. Italian Ice, sugar free Jello, and low cal Gatorade. My Doc said nothing reddish in color the week prior to surgery. He didn't want anything stuck in my system that could be confused with blood.

I also worked out 60 minute a day, 5/6 days a week. I was by far the fattest guy at the gym, and felt very self conscious at first, but quickly remembered that I really don't care about jerks who judge.

My surgery took 45 minute. The Doc said my prep made his job easier. I'm 9 days post op and went for a 13 mile (flat path) bike ride today. I'm pretty sure the pre opp work (losing weight AND working out) helped with my recovery.

YES, IT SUCKS, Try not to think about it. :-)

POPSICLES! The sugar-free ones, of course. I wouldn't have made it through pre-op or post-op without them! Stock up now, I found the Popsicle brand to be the best flavored. It gives you the crunch and chew you are going to crave! Good luck on your surgery and your journey!

Holy cow!! 4 weeks. Mine is only one week! Now it makes me wonder if it should be longer!!

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the suggestions! I am inspired by you all

Holy cow!! 4 weeks. Mine is only one week! Now it makes me wonder if it should be longer!!

Best of luck to you!

I've notice there are several different requirements for pre-op meals. I'm guessing a lot has to do with insurance requirements. And I'm sure different doctors have their own preferences. Maybe it also has to do with the weight and health of the patient. (Just my option from reading various posts.)

I have a BMI of 43 and my doctor isn't concerned about how much weight I lose during my 10-day pre-op. (That is an inevitable side effect.) He did, however, want me to have a very low carb diet to shrink my liver, therefore giving him more room to do the sleeve. On a daily basis, I can have 3-4 8oz Protein shakes a day and 4oz of lean protein like chicken or fish with 1/2 cup of green vegetables. I'm self pay, so fortunately no insurance requirements dictated my pre-op instructions.

As far as helpful tips on how to get through the pre-op diet...well, I only have 2 full days behind me, but for me variety is good. I have my favorite Protein Shakes I keep on hand, but I'm not afraid to try new things. And when I have to sit there and smell the delicious chicken burrito that my husband is eating for dinner, I remind myself that I just "can't" (because even one tempting bite would cause a downward spiral and I know I would continue to cheat throughout the week, defeating the purpose.) And when my co-workers bring in giant fluffy glazed doughnuts, I tell myself it's more important to prepare for surgery than to have that melt-in-your-mouth doughy ball of sugar-coated goodness. It's my chance to prove to myself that I can do this - that I have self control.

It's also helped to get up and move. Take a walk, brush my teeth, drink some Water and focus on other things than food. Also, I find it very helpful to track everything I eat and exercise. I use Endomondo for exercise and sync it with MyFitnessPal for food tracking.

My surgery is March 30, and I am very much looking forward to it.

Wow my diet wasn't liquids until the day before. It was just replaced to meals with protein shakes and the third meal had to be low carb similar to an Atkins diet meal. Now post op my surgeon hd me on a full liquid diet for 17 days and then the puree I am on until the 17th wich is a little over two weeks. I then move to the next phase on day 45 so he hs more of a stricter post op then pre op. However every doctor has its own specifics and I think it does also have to do with the patient as well. One thing that kept me going through the liquid phase was Apple juice no sugar added 100% juice. I hd dry mouth for the first 2 weeks post op even plain water wouldn't quench my thirst. I didn't drink apple juice hardly before surgery but I did it half n half mixed the apple juice with water and it was the most delicious thing ever and it was the only thing that quenched my thirst. Weird but it worked. Also sugar free hello is on the liquid diet I hd and sugar free Italian ice that was good for a few days as well. I think what was the hardest is when I found something I like I drank that for days straight n then I was sick of it doing something different through out the day helps.