Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Tips for surviving the pre-op diet



Recommended Posts

So I start my pre-op diet on October 23. I plan on having my last hurrahs before then (certain foods I will likely not be able to eat, as they are, again), but I am really concerned about how I am going to not starve on the actual POD. 😁 I know I will get used to it after a few days, but those FIRST few days... ouch. I do have a few (literally 3) phentermine left over from a past diet attempt... those would probably get me "over the hump" a bit, but I don't know if I should risk taking those and having them come up as meth or something on my pre-surgery labs on the 28th (surgery is November 2).

Any tips for getting through, when you are normally hungry ALL. THE. TIME?! 😔

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yes, those first 3 or so days are the absolute worst and I wish I had some magic trick to make it not be so bad. I focused on just keeping fluids going into my body so it at least felt like I was consuming something to try and fool the head hunger (body hunger was not as much of an issue). It mostly worked, but I was most definitely one grouchy jerk for a couple of days. I quarantined myself to my office when my boyfriend was cooking or eating. If I didn't do that, there might have been bloodshed. Then after the 3rd day, my body just kind of accepted that this was what was happening and it went more smoothly.

Up until the point I had to do the bowel prep, but that's a whole other thread. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If you can get through Day 3 it’s much smoother sailing. Pickle Juice saved my life. It helped a lot with my headaches and also sort of bolstered me through tough spots in the day. I just sipped it here and there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

All of us who have gone before you managed to do it, and you will be able to do it too! I used to eat fast food 2-3 times per day, wash it down with a few sodas, etc. Like others have said, the first few days suck, but your body gets used to it.

Toss the phentermine, as it will only make things worse. You can DO this!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Pandemonium said:

Up until the point I had to do the bowel prep, but that's a whole other thread. :)

Please tell me the bowel prep is something not everyone does? LOL!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, colormehappy said:

If you can get through Day 3 it’s much smoother sailing. Pickle Juice saved my life. It helped a lot with my headaches and also sort of bolstered me through tough spots in the day. I just sipped it here and there.

Thanks... 😊 I wonder if I can do this with like... Bouillon or something. (I despise pickles, and the juice 😁)

2 hours ago, Sam1979 said:

I would go for a walk around the neighborhood when the family had dinner. After day 4 I was fine. Good luck!

I'm the one who MAKES the dinner. 🤣 I suppose I could make theirs, then leave while they're eating. I used to do that when I've dieted in the past, so it could work. Thanks!

2 hours ago, ChubRub said:

All of us who have gone before you managed to do it, and you will be able to do it too! I used to eat fast food 2-3 times per day, wash it down with a few sodas, etc. Like others have said, the first few days suck, but your body gets used to it.

Toss the phentermine, as it will only make things worse. You can DO this!!

I know I can do it, but... I'll whine about it. 🤣 Fortunately, I don't drink pop anymore, so at least that hurdle has been overcome. Maybe I'll just take the phentermine over the next couple weeks (well before the pre-op) to get stuff done around the house a little easier 😁😁😁 or maybe I'll toss 'em.

Thank you for the encouragement. 😊

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, GivinItMyALL said:

Please tell me the bowel prep is something not everyone does? LOL!

Bowel prep is one of the many things that varies from doctor to doctor and program to program.

May the Bariatric Surgery Gods bless you with not having to go through THAT particular experience.

The worst part for me? The first of two days of bowel prep was on my birthday. Crappy Birthday to me!

Literally.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, The Greater Fool said:

Stick to plan like I didn't. I'm glad I didn't have to explain the pound I gained.

Tek

I'll for sure try my best!

2 minutes ago, brebrexoxo said:

Omg going on day three . I needed this cuz I am having a super hard time being faithful to this diet. Ugh

Aww... I feel ya. I'm excited for you, though!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, Pandemonium said:

Bowel prep is one of the many things that varies from doctor to doctor and program to program.

May the Bariatric Surgery Gods bless you with not having to go through THAT particular experience.

The worst part for me? The first of two days of bowel prep was on my birthday. Crappy Birthday to me!

Literally.

LOL... I can relate! My birthday is during the pre-op diet, so... yeah... At least it won't be AS crappy (literally) 🤣 I'm just consoling myself with the fact that the surgery is my belated birthday present 3 days later. 😁

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

you will starve, but you just have to white knuckle it. It gets better by about day 4, because your body goes into ketosis.

I remember eating sugar free popsicles and sugar free Jello with abandon. Like - tons of it - I'd make it in the morning and eat the whole thing that evening. Also, I was allowed something like a cup of broth and a cup of V8/tomato juice per day, and I took advantage of that. Those both have sodium in them, and I retain Water, so those made me feel kind of full and bloated, which helped, too.

at any rate, it's an ordeal that many of us have to go through - and somehow, we do survive.. I remember being relieved the morning of my surgery because it was finally over!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, GivinItMyALL said:

LOL... I can relate! My birthday is during the pre-op diet, so... yeah... At least it won't be AS crappy (literally) 🤣 I'm just consoling myself with the fact that the surgery is my belated birthday present 3 days later. 😁

I made sure that all of my friends knew my birthday was really going to be in October or November this year because of the timing of my surgery. When they called me in June to schedule and said that July 7th was the earliest date, I ALMOST asked to schedule later in the month. Except with COVID, it really wasn't like I had any way to do anything for my birthday, so I grabbed the open date and charged forward with it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

I remember eating sugar free popsicles and sugar free Jello with abandon...

I haven't yet looked for the SF jello... I get a nearly instant Migraine from aspartame, so if it has that in there, I'll have to skip it. All the other sweeteners, I'm okay with. I tried looking for SF popsicles the other day in Walmart, and didn't really see anything. Are there particular brands I should look for?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 2 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×