I have just completed the first week of my 2-week pre-op diet.

The first and second day were hard. Then it got easy......

Protein shake for breakfast. Egg beaters and fat free cottage cheese omelet with grape tomatoes for lunch. Cup of fat free Greek yogurt and cup of fruit for snack. 3 ounces of tuna and 3 ounces of chicken with a can of green beans for dinner. Protein shake for after dinner snack.

I'm full. I'm physically satisfied. I'm not physically hungry. I'm hovering around 1000 calories a day.

So why can't I eat like this all the time, every day and "do it myself?"

Why is it in the face of surgery that I'm so disciplined and careful and attentive?

Could I just cancel surgery and hope that I could continue being this disciplined?

I asked myself these same questions... but then I remembered all the times I have stuck with a diet program for months and lost 40-60 lbs each time. After a certain amount of time I would get so tired of eating foods that I do not like and start back with the bad eating habits and then gain back all the weight I lost, plus some. I am now one week post op and I'm hoping that I will stick this for life...but if I don't, I am also hoping that my stomach is so small that there will be uncomfortable consequences if I cheat and that will deter me. I realize that I have to eat healthy most of the time but if I eat a slice of pizza occasionally or one cookie, then it's not going to make me gain weight back. I think now with my new stomach it will be easier for me to eat moderately and only occasionally treat myself.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I have lost 40 pounds during the pre op stage and wondered the same things myself. If I can do it now without surgery...but then I realized that I am not always as disciplined which is how I ended up overweight in the first place...more than once! I am part way through my full liquid pre op diet. Sure wouldn't want to be on liquids forever! Your pre op diet sounds wonderful! I'm having a hard time getting in all of my calories with just liquids.

Because studies have proven that our bodies fight us tooth and nail to put the weight back on. I can tell you that this small tummy I now have gives me the full feeling I never experienced prior to surgery. It keeps me from overeating if I follow plan and eat the protein first. I will never again be able to eat a whole plate of food from Outback along with 1/2 a blooming onion - just not possible and I am so grateful for that.

I agree with previous posters. I also had second thoughts the few days before surgery. I think it's important to consider your reasons for having the surgery in the first place. I think it's easier to stick to the preop diet because it has a defined end date and your surgeon probably impressed upon you the importance of sticking to the diet to make the surgery safer. Neither of those factors will be in play if you cancel the surgery.

I've had these exact thoughts. Here's my conclusion. I'm 52 and haven't managed to do it yet. Time for help. I'm sure as it gets closer for me I'll have these same thoughts you're having though. I'll come back and read this. Good luck with whatever you do decide.


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