I am still on a clear liquid diet. My dr doesn't give me any protein goals until next week. Including my clear liquid diet the day before surgery, I have only had clear liquids for 7 days now. I am hungry. It's not head hunger, it's stomach hurting hungry. I still have 3 days until I go for my first post-op checkup, and I don't know how I can make it 3 more days. Honestly the thought of pureed foods sounds so good to me right now, but I know I have at least another week for that. Any ideas how I can survive the next few days?

You may not think it is head hunger but it is. I also had the same on day 5 post op-thought I could eat a horse! Take some extra water...add flavoring or some bouillon. Hang in there!

I'm with @innwtitdtity. There may be a physical component to the hunger, but the way to master it is all in your head. It's important to fight this battle at this phase and win it, because it sets the stage for your next battle and the one after that. The next few weeks will really test your resolve at times, but you can do this!

That said, I think it's okay to push the boundaries, but not go all the way into the next phase. One thing that helped me a lot was to strain the food out of some good Soups and just drink the highly flavored broth. For example, Progresso chicken & Herb Dumpling Soup - with the chicken and dumplings strained out - was just about the best thing ever and kept me from losing my mind while waiting for the next phase.

Head hunger... It's a booger! It was really bad for me when I smelt food cooking. But it gets better and easier! You will get through it it will all be worth it.