Hi All!

First day of my pre-op diet today and I’m really struggling!

Feel so weak, tired and hungry!

Does anyone have any advice on how to curb the hungry/weak feeling? Will it get better?!

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thank you!

I'm on day 2 of my liquid diet too. I get 3 protein shakes, sf jello, and broth. I've been around 640 calories. I'm starving. I'm sure it's head hunger, but my stomach rumbles all day.

Day two for the three of us then! We can do it together guys! I feel better today but I’m still hungry!! My belly hurts with hunger tonight!! Got to stay strong!

I’m on day 8. Mine is 3 shakes, broth, coffee and sf jello. Plus I can have milk instead of a shake. I use my milk in the morning coffee and then to add to the shake to cut the sweetness. Then I sip on broth when I need a flavor hit. Hate jello so that’s not happening. By day 3 it got much better.

Keep at it. Well worth it.

Pre-op liquid diet is almost harder than the surgery! The first 2-4 days are the worst, my post op diets you can't have caffeine, so it's great time to give it up now. I was allowed 2 protein shakes a day plus cream soups and sugar free things, less than 40 carbs less than 1000 calories practically no sugar for 2 weeks. Within 2 week I lost almost 15+ pounds try not to cheat and for me keeping away from carbs helped. It's tough, it's like bariatric boot camp.

It is like boot camp! My colleagues in the office are ordering pizza in. I don’t know how I’ll cope! It’s going to be torture!!!

2 hours ago, LD91 said:

It is like boot camp! My colleagues in the office are ordering pizza in. I don’t know how I’ll cope! It’s going to be torture!!!

My colleagues are the same way. today is my day 3 liquid diet. Yesterday my colleagues had cookies and Asian with egg rolls. OMG, it's hard, but I'm down 5 lbs already. That kinda helps.

Light is at the end of the tunnel! That was about 11 weeks ago for me and I'm close to 50 pounds down! (46 today!)

Magpie26 that is so amazing!!!! I’m sure I’ll have lost a lot before surgery anyway! Keep up your amazing work!! It makes me feel better to know this will be me soon!
MissLinsdey that sucks! My colleagues try to support me and are so lovely but it’s hard at lunchtimes! Their food smells so good! I actually salivate! ?

18 hours ago, MissLindseyR said:

I'm sure it's head hunger, but my stomach rumbles all day.

Why would you think starvation level calories are "head hunger"?

Just because you're fat doesn't mean that anytime you experience hunger it's "just in your head."

Fat people get hungry, too. Legitimately hungry. Because...shockingly...our bodies also require calories to live.

Most folks on the pre-op diet are eating 800 or less calories per day. Your basal body requirements are much more than that.

It's ok to be hungry. And admit you're hungry. And it's ok to be intentionally hungry to shrink your liver. And it's hard, too.

When we try to take real hunger and pretend it's "just in our heads"....we cross into trading one eating disorder for another. Extremist thinking got us into this mess. Don't trade one extreme for another.

Head hunger = you've had a decent dinner of chicken breast and veggies, but you think you're hungry because you're craving a Big Mac and fries.

Real hunger = you would LOVE to eat some lean chicken breast and veggies because your tank is empty and it would satisfy you.

I’m on day seven, halfway through. It more mental than physical. You’re getting the fuel your body needs from your shakes and your body’s fat stores.
Be hungry for all the times you ate when you weren’t. Be strong because it’s a long road ahead of having to make choices that are best for you, now and in the future.

I think the pre-surgical diet was the hardest part of the whole ordeal.

It was tough. Man, I don't envy anyone going through it. Take it a day at a time.

If you get crazy and cheat....eat some protein. Don't do carbs or you will defeat the purpose of the liver shrink. And by the way...don't cheat! LOL. (I cheated and had 3 ounces of turkey breast instead of one of my shakes...cause my presurgical diet fell on thanksgiving day and I had cooked the whole meal...ugh!)

Take it an hour a time. Shrink that liver. You can do this!

Edited June 20, 20188 yr by Creekimp13

We’re you allowed decaf coffee?

I was allowed decaf coffee, herbal tea, sugar free drinks.

I was also allowed sugar free jello, clear broth, and sugar free Popsicles.

I got 5 premier protien shakes per day, plus ONE serving of the following:

a 100 calorie greek yogurt OR

one cup of cream of wheat OR

one cup of cream soup.

I didn't get to eat meat and veggies like some folks do...I would have preferred that.

The last five days, were JUST the shakes and clear fluids.

I had a 14 day presurgical diet.

Lost 12 pounds.

Doctor said my liver looked terrific.

(my cheat with the turkey breast was on day 3...I fessed up to it...and it was ok)

Also...weirdly...my surgeon wanted us to carb load right before surgery....so we were instructed to drink a bunch of white grape juice the night before. I remember it making me feel super zippy and wide awake. I've never heard anyone else talk about this, so I think my surgeon might be an outlier. We do a lot of things kinda differently...part of a research project.

Edited June 20, 20188 yr by Creekimp13

During my pre-op phase, there were always temptations...cookies, cakes, doughnuts, fried chicken and I could go on. I asked four of my friends to each commit to joining me for two days of liquids. They motivated me and it comforted me knowing I wasn't alone. Hang in there guys, you're doing great. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. [emoji4]



Sleeved on April 25, 2018
HW: 258
SW: 238
CW: 219
GW: 165

Ask about broths. Something savory may help you.