My surgery is scheduled for 7/9. While I’m excited, i’m Struggling with the pre-op diet. I just want a piece of pizza. Did anyone else have cravings before surgery? I don’t want to give in and feel bad about it but am white knuckling it for the next few days seems like forever.

It's tough. Anyone that says different is fooling themselves. But you can do it! Stick with it and you'll be so proud of what you can accomplish.

During my pre-op diet there was pizza brought in to work for some reason or another. I wanted to cheat so bad. What I ended up doing was peeling a couple of pepperonis off a slice and sucking on them. Satisfied my craving without truly giving in. That's my weird advice - suck on a pepperoni slice or two or three.

Post op is challenging as well ?

The struggle is real! I didn't do a great job (but we're talking an ounce of cheese, not a slice of 3 of pizza), only lost 6 lbs...other people going through it at my surgery center reported under-10lb losses as well. Just keep doing your best, it will get you there [emoji4]

I can tell you for me it is a struggle. I was ordered a two-week liquid diet. I know myself so I stretched it to three weeks so I could get a practice week in to help me figure things out. It is soooo hard - for me. I have tasted some protein shakes that I hate and two that I am now Ok with. I am taking it day by day.... 11 more days to go.

This is where you have to practice some real commitment to your long term goals. Develop some mantras that are really meaningful to you and they will help pull you through temptations. There will be temptations for the rest of your life! My three little sayings that help me keep my resolve are:

I'M NEVER GOING BACK! (I am determined to do whatever it takes to keep from being obese again! If that means walking every day or resisting pizza, I will do it.)

I WILL HAVE THIS AGAIN - JUST NOT NOW. (You will get pizza again - just not now. I had my first piece last week, and honestly, it didn't taste as good as I remembered! I've made 2 full Mexican meals for family events, and made 4 birthday cakes during this time, and this little saying got me through them all.) Delayed gratification is a really important skill to develop.)

IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT. (That taste of ice cream or bite of dessert is just not worth it. It will create more cravings, lead to further temptations and slips, and will just mess up my head for my lifelong goal of health. It will jack up my insulin level which leads to more fat storage instead of fat burning. The taste lasts 10 seconds tops, but the results can be lifetime. Our health IS worth it - more than that silly bite.)

Hope this helps. Having determined resolve is one of the chief markers of WLS success, according to some research. We have got to get honest and recognize the games we have been playing with food. It is hard, no doubt about it. If your coping skill for stress was eating, then you have to find new coping skills. The little sayings are one of mine. Exercise is the other. Whatever works for you, but you have to develop strategies that will get you through the temptations for the rest of your life. Preop is the best place to start practicing. I also found it very helpful to use the preop time to get rid of caffeine, soda and sugar. It's MUCH easier to get through the withdrawal prior to surgery. Surgery is hard enough by itself.

Edited July 5, 20197 yr by AZhiker
additional thoughts

Thank you for the thoughts and encouragement. I appreciate the help.

Like your pen name, I assume the Meep Meep is to honor our little buddy, the Roadrunner caroon bird? I always cheered for him at all the movies.

1 hour ago, MeepMeep said:

Thank you for the thoughts and encouragement. I appreciate the help.

Hang in there! I think the pre-op time was especially challenging, because you still have your appetite and your stomach is still full sized. But...…. this part will be over soon and by being strong now, you will more confidence to be strong later. Post op is not real pleasant...….but you have no appetite!

Pre-OP suck$ hang in there. The not chewing really gets to all of us.

Take a walk, take a nap, take another shower!

I did cheat with tuna twice, lol. The purpose is to de-carb your system, remove glycogen stores from the liver so it is easier to lift out of the way for surgery, and get you ready to burn fat. I lost about 10 pounds, you will make it. Be strong.

16 hours ago, MeepMeep said:

My surgery is scheduled for 7/9. While I’m excited, i’m Struggling with the pre-op diet. I just want a piece of pizza. Did anyone else have cravings before surgery? I don’t want to give in and feel bad about it but am white knuckling it for the next few days seems like forever.

You can do this ! It's not forever. Day by day ?

I can tell you for me it is a struggle. I was ordered a two-week liquid diet. I know myself so I stretched it to three weeks so I could get a practice week in to help me figure things out. It is soooo hard - for me. I have tasted some protein shakes that I hate and two that I am now Ok with. I am taking it day by day.... 11 more days to go.

How are you getting on with it? I did 3 weeks liquid. I'm now on the pureed diet for 2 weeks.

Make sure you find a good quality protein powder you like because you will be living off protein preop and then post op for a while