Starting my Pre-Op Liquid Diet - it's TOUGH

[Camalli26 3]

Hi Sleeve Family

I'm fairly new on here - but so happy to be here in a community that I can share with and learn from.

My surgery is scheduled for 9/27 - in two weeks! I'm excited, nervous and a little scared. I started my 14 days liquid diet yesterday and it was ROUGH. My mind is playing tricks on me - that I'm HUNGRY the entire day. It's crazy, because I could go an entire day and not feel hungry until late in the evening - but yesterday morning I woke up - I actually smelled food cooking in my house (my hubby can't cook to save his life - so it was all in my mind) lol.

Anyone has any recommendation for high Protein Shakes? I bought the one from my surgeon's office and it's like drinking diluted milk Water. Just to drink 6oz of it, took me about 10mins, because I felt like I was going to throw up. I use to drink Glucerna Hunger Smart as part of my pre-diabetes 2 plan and those are yummy - but I can't drink those now - because of the high carb and fat content and getting my liver down/clean. My surgeon and nutritionist had Premier Protein, Slim Fast High Protein and Premier Protein Clear as alternatives. Anyone here tried any of these in their pre-op liquid diet regime?

Thanks in advance for your feedback/guidance.

[Russ D 115]

8 minutes ago, Camalli26 said:

Hi Sleeve Family

I'm fairly new on here - but so happy to be here in a community that I can share with and learn from.

My surgery is scheduled for 9/27 - in two weeks! I'm excited, nervous and a little scared. I started my 14 days liquid diet yesterday and it was ROUGH. My mind is playing tricks on me - that I'm HUNGRY the entire day. It's crazy, because I could go an entire day and not feel hungry until late in the evening - but yesterday morning I woke up - I actually smelled food cooking in my house (my hubby can't cook to save his life - so it was all in my mind) lol.

Anyone has any recommendation for high Protein Shakes? I bought the one from my surgeon's office and it's like drinking diluted milk Water. Just to drink 6oz of it, took me about 10mins, because I felt like I was going to throw up. I use to drink Glucerna Hunger Smart as part of my pre-diabetes 2 plan and those are yummy - but I can't drink those now - because of the high carb and fat content and getting my liver down/clean. My surgeon and nutritionist had Premier Protein, Slim Fast High Protein and Premier Protein Clear as alternatives. Anyone here tried any of these in their pre-op liquid diet regime?

Thanks in advance for your feedback/guidance.

I just stuck to using the mix in skim milk. Wasn't pleasant, but it got me through. Pre-op, I tended to pound them. Drain the whole thing in 2-3 quaffs, then be about my business. First 2-3 days were the worst. Light-headed, lack of energy. It got better after that as my body adjusted to the lack of calories and sugar.

[Matt Z 4,140]

6 hours ago, Camalli26 said:

Hi Sleeve Family

I'm fairly new on here - but so happy to be here in a community that I can share with and learn from.

My surgery is scheduled for 9/27 - in two weeks! I'm excited, nervous and a little scared. I started my 14 days liquid diet yesterday and it was ROUGH. My mind is playing tricks on me - that I'm HUNGRY the entire day. It's crazy, because I could go an entire day and not feel hungry until late in the evening - but yesterday morning I woke up - I actually smelled food cooking in my house (my hubby can't cook to save his life - so it was all in my mind) lol.

Anyone has any recommendation for high Protein Shakes? I bought the one from my surgeon's office and it's like drinking diluted milk Water. Just to drink 6oz of it, took me about 10mins, because I felt like I was going to throw up. I use to drink Glucerna Hunger Smart as part of my pre-diabetes 2 plan and those are yummy - but I can't drink those now - because of the high carb and fat content and getting my liver down/clean. My surgeon and nutritionist had Premier Protein, Slim Fast High Protein and Premier Protein Clear as alternatives. Anyone here tried any of these in their pre-op liquid diet regime?

Thanks in advance for your feedback/guidance.

It sure does suck! But as much as it sucks, just follow the guidelines you've been given. If you REALLY have that much of a problem with what your team has suggested, call and talk to them. They can and usually will make adjustments if you are having a hard time, the logic is that they would rather modify your diet rather than have you go off it all together because you are having issues.

Stick with it as much as you can, because as much as it sucks, it really does prep you for starting over post-op.

Stay strong, Stay in contact with your team and Good luck!

[MargoCL 677]

7 hours ago, Camalli26 said:

Hi Sleeve Family

I'm fairly new on here - but so happy to be here in a community that I can share with and learn from.

My surgery is scheduled for 9/27 - in two weeks! I'm excited, nervous and a little scared. I started my 14 days liquid diet yesterday and it was ROUGH. My mind is playing tricks on me - that I'm HUNGRY the entire day. It's crazy, because I could go an entire day and not feel hungry until late in the evening - but yesterday morning I woke up - I actually smelled food cooking in my house (my hubby can't cook to save his life - so it was all in my mind) lol.

Anyone has any recommendation for high Protein Shakes? I bought the one from my surgeon's office and it's like drinking diluted milk Water. Just to drink 6oz of it, took me about 10mins, because I felt like I was going to throw up. I use to drink Glucerna Hunger Smart as part of my pre-diabetes 2 plan and those are yummy - but I can't drink those now - because of the high carb and fat content and getting my liver down/clean. My surgeon and nutritionist had Premier Protein, Slim Fast High Protein and Premier Protein Clear as alternatives. Anyone here tried any of these in their pre-op liquid diet regime?

Thanks in advance for your feedback/guidance.

During my preop I stuck primarily to the Premier Protein pre-mixed shakes. But I also had to travel so, I went to the BP store and bought some Soup mixes to mix into canned broths and / or strained homemade bone broths. This helped and kept me full during that two-week period. Having homemade soup broth really helped with the hunger because it wasn't just drinking, I could use a bowl and spoon (mind tricks).

I also bought some of the sampler packs for different protein flavors at the BP store. Although personally I was really missing coffee / caffeine.. and found the Cappuccino / mocha flavors to be my favorite to a caffeine free (mind trick) coffee.

I mix everything at home with Almond Milk but for added protein, I am planning on trying the fairlife milk brands.

Good luck on your journey.

[Robert W 4]

My two week pre-op consisted of 4 Premier Protein shakes a day space out every 2.5-3 hours and either low sodium broth (Blood Pressure problems) or Tomato Soup for dinner. Like another poster said mind tricks the warm dinner helped me get through the Protein Shakes in the morning and drinking them every 2.5 hours kept my stomach satisfied most of the day. I didn't per say feel hungry during my pre op but more so unsatisfied with the same thing every day for two weeks straight. But sticking to it and all taht was around 950 calories/day I dropped 27 lbs in the two weeks before surgery. So it really does work and my surgeon said my liver looked marvelous on day of surgery. I wold try the Premier Protein you can get them at Walmart, Sams and costco and it comes out more milky that watery (be careful with the caramel one it has come seriously strong flavor). Personal favorites are Bananas and cream, chocolate, and if you can find it Cookies and Cream is awesome. Hope this helps just stick to it its worth it to see those numbers on the scale go down.

[glenna18 11]

The liquid diet wasn't fun. I did lose 18 pounds in 12 days on mine though - so that was exciting.

My surgeon told me I could mix fruit in my shake as long as I blended it thoroughly. I didn't want to overdo it, so I put a 1/2 of a small banana in my shake, and added a cup of ice.

The banana helped, but the ice really helped. I turned a liquid Premier Protein shake of 11 ounces into a huge frothy 32 ounce shake that actually filled me up. The banana added maybe 35 calories. The ice - none.

A couple of days I did the ice only. So I'd have a super thick 32 ounce shake that was way more filling that the 11 ounce premier Protein Shake.

That definitely worked for me.

[KCgirl061 1,533]

Yes it is tough! But a small part of me was grateful for it. It helped me distinguish between physical hunger and head hunger. I started to learn to ignore head hunger “YOURE NOT IN CHARGE ANYMORE!”

I’m a big fan of premier. I’m sticking with it even postop, there is a good variety of flavors and I like them all.

[leebick 448]

I found that I like the powdered Protein Shake mix MUCH better than the ready to drink kind. I used Syntrax Nectars, mixed with unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I like the Almond Breeze or Walmart/store brands better than Silk). I know it'll take time to order it, but you are probably looking at 4 weeks of liquid diet (2 pre-op, 2 post-op) so you will need to find something you like- or at least don't actively hate. I bought a shaker bottle at Walmart, the kind with the metal-coil ball in the bottom, and everything mixes pretty well.

For a savory option, I made my own chicken and beef broth. Roast the beef bones on 375 for about an hour, then simmer them in bouillon broth (I got mine at the Dollar Tree) with onion, garlic, carrot (can't remember if I used celery or not). Drain out all the solids and keep the broth (you'll probably need to remove the fat layer after the first chilling). You make the chicken the same way, except I used the carcass from a grocery store rotisserie chicken (I always freeze the carcasses when we are finished with the chicken- but you could buy one, pick the meat and freeze it- some day in the not-too-distant future you'll be able to use it in Soup, stew, chicken salad, etc.)

[Camalli26 3]

Hi Sleeve Family

Apologies for the delay in response. Got a little busier than usual over the last couple of days. Attached is a little video with my update. 😊

Snapchat-347003494.mp4

[aapb79Gmail.com 69]

I am on day 3 of pre op diet. Yesterday was absolute hell for me and today I do feel a little better. I just had a question. Is anyone counting calories also? I am starving to death and I want to drink more but they said don’t drink too many calories just make sure you get your Protein and liquid in. I didn’t ask but does anyone have a range of calories they are sticking too or do the calories not matter? And yes doing everything sugar free

[Camalli26 3]

On 9/21/2018 at 12:35 PM, aapb79Gmail.com said:

I am on day 3 of pre op diet. Yesterday was absolute hell for me and today I do feel a little better. I just had a question. Is anyone counting calories also? I am starving to death and I want to drink more but they said don’t drink too many calories just make sure you get your Protein and liquid in. I didn’t ask but does anyone have a range of calories they are sticking too or do the calories not matter? And yes doing everything sugar free

Hi

Hope things are a little easier for you. I realized that by day 7 (which I think today is your day 7?), I was not feeling hungry. My struggles were more mental, than physical. I don't think calories are the main focus here, they just want you to adhere to the Protein range requirement through the shakes and your Water intake. Focusing on that, I believe the caloric daily intake is around 600. That's what I've been getting. You can do it. I promise you, it gets easier. Today is day 13 for me and it's like nothing. I've also lost 22lbs so far during this preop liquid diet phase.

Edited September 25, 2018 by Camalli26

[Vizslamom 92]

I was told to use the Atkins shakes. I did it. It was not easy at all.