My doctor didn't insist on a pre-op diet but did recommend it and explained the advantages in terms of liver reduction, etc (with comparative videos to make the point!) However, he didn't give me any specific instructions and I didn't have time to see the dietician before I had to fly back to work. I've been trying to stick to it with some adaptations, thinking that I had a bit of leeway because the doctor hadn't insisted

I bought the vanilla Optifast option which has 152 cal, 2.3g fat, 15g carb, 17g Protein. The recommendation is 3 x Optifast + salads/low carb veges, giving a total of about 500 cal, 7g fat, 60g carb and 51g protein. This seems high in carbs and low in protein to me. I've been substituting the evening drink with a small meal of very lean meat and low carb veges and putting my daily intake into Fitday.com. It comes out at around 550 cal, 12g fat, 50g carb and 60g protein. While the fat content is a little higher, the carbs are lower and the protein higher and it is MUCH more satisfying to eat! A couple of days I've had a slightly bigger piece of meat and its gone up to 650 cal, with similar rises in the others.

So my question is, am I blowing this by not sticking to pure liquids? What is the purpose of liquids in the pre-op stage? If the point is simply to lose weight quicky, then surely 550 to 650 cal should do the trick? The carb/protein balance on the Optifast is much more carb heavy than the Atkins diet, so I don't think the aim is to get into ketosis (I'd need to get my carbs down under 30g for that I think - not sure).

If I've stuffed this up, I have another week to go before the op to correct it, but I have had to guess as best I could, as I am 3000km away from doctor's advice at the moment. Can you folk help?

Hi Fanny, Just read your post an am hoping that you're able to be at the computer and receive this wish for quick healing. I'm scheduled for Feb. 13th, so anxious to hear how you did yesterday. Sleep well.

Tara5937

wow mrsjigglessame your bmi is the same as mine how tall are you? i started my 2 week liquid diet today my doc said 3 low carb slimfasts a day which equal 540 cals a day and they each have 9 g of fat so thats 27g of fat a day that seems like a lot i think i'm going to try optifast my surgery date is 12-28 keep me posted wow 11lbs. down that's awsome!!!!!!

wow mrsjigglessame your bmi is the same as mine how tall are you? i started my 2 week liquid diet today my doc said 3 low carb slimfasts a day which equal 540 cals a day and they each have 9 g of fat so thats 27g of fat a day that seems like a lot i think i'm going to try optifast my surgery date is 12-28 keep me posted wow 11lbs. down that's awsome!!!!!!

sorry my bmi is higher sorry maybe i'm going crazy from not eating today:embarassed:

Good luck Fanny. Let us know how it goes. Donna

What really is important is being willing and able to comply with your Doctor's orders. Every doctor seems to be different, but success will be forthcoming is you treat yourself well!

wow mrsjigglessame your bmi is the same as mine how tall are you? i started my 2 week liquid diet today my doc said 3 low carb slimfasts a day which equal 540 cals a day and they each have 9 g of fat so thats 27g of fat a day that seems like a lot i think i'm going to try Optifast my surgery date is 12-28 keep me posted wow 11lbs. down that's awsome!!!!!!

Thank you! I'm 5'6 and a little change. I have 4 more lbs to go by the 19. I'm affraid I won't make it. AHhhh.:biggrin1: Yeah, I'm freaking out a little bit...I'll admit it.