Help! I have 11 pounds to lose before my surgery in December but I've had a really difficult time losing right now. Can I do a liquid protein diet for two weeks prior? Can I just use the protein powder twice a day and one moderate meal or does it have to be something like Medifast? I might have to resort to Atkins, which works but is so bad for me!

Thanks

Aimee

Aimee, my doctor has his patients do a two week pre-op diet, liquid. Slimfast. (optima.) After the third day you may substitute a garden salad (only things grown from the earth) and FF dressing. You may have SF drinks SF jello, SF popcicles, any SFliquid. Nothing else, no solids with the exception of the small salad once daily. I lost about 17 lbs. in two weeks. Most everybody, IF they stick to it, loses at least 12-15 lbs. You have much longer, so you could lose it easily. Well, I mean by time. There was nothing easy about it for me, but I did it. It will help shrink your liver, which gives them more room to work. This is life changing, so it is a good time to push yourself and see how you do. You can do it..

I started about 6 weeks ago, I replaced one meal a day with a protein shake, then 2 meals a day. Then I went straight into my pre-op Liquid fast (5 Optifast shakes a day) I opted to start that a week early for 3 weeks instead of 2. I lost about 4 pounds just doing the protein shake meal replacement, and I have lost 7 this week doing the first week of Optifast. I expect to lose 3-4 more in the next 2 weeks prior to surgery. That's around 15 total (about 2 months), maybe a little less. This way I could ease into it and it really didn't shock my body to go from eating to liquid fast all at once. I just started breaking bad habits one at a time and it's been pretty painless.....

Patty,

Can you buy optifast shakes or do you need a prescription?

Aimee

Aimee,

I actually bought mine from a web site Journey Lite

They came to me from a company called Catalina Lifesciences in Irvine CA

I had been on Optifast before, and all the Dr had was the ready to drink. I prefer the powder, and I was able to go on that website and purchase it...good price too

website is Journey Lite

My surgery is this week (Thursday). 12 days before surgery, my doc had me start a diet to lose 5% of my weight (10 lbs). I had a Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch. Then 1 lean Cuisine meal under 300 calories for dinner. The weight fell right off. I am allowed 2 Fiber pills a day for hunger pains. I am hungry, but know it's worth it to ensure a safer surgery.

For the Protein shakes I have used 1 scoop of Isopure protein powder with 12 oz. fat-free milk. You can get it at GNC. This is also the protein powder that my nutritionist recommends post-surgery.

what kind of fiber pills do you take for your hunger pains? Will you be able to use them with your band?

I take Metamucil fiber pills, purchased from DrugStore.com (link here)

Buy Metamucil Psyllium Fiber Capsules Online at drugstore.com

I have no idea if I will be able to swallow them after I am banded this week. Some people write that pills are fine, and others need to crush them. Actually, my nutritionist recommended I NOT have too much fiber in my post-op diet. Not sure why -- I'll ask her.