I’m struggling with the pre op and it’s only day 1. I’m STARVING.

no two ways about it - pre-op diets are tough. You just have to white knuckle it. It gets better by the 3rd or 4th day when your body goes into ketosis (or at least it does for most of it). I thought the pre-op was the worst part of the whole thing - I was actually relieved the morning I checked in for surgery because I knew the pre-op diet was OVER!!!

3 hours ago, FatPositiveMotherhood said:

I’m struggling with the pre op and it’s only day 1. I’m STARVING.

What does your doctor allow you and for how long ? Big hugs. I am in your place next week

Hi All

New to the forum. I am post op and one day away from starting puree.
I am a professional chef and I wanted to just answer your question from my experience thus far. I too was going nuts after day 3 but then I think I figured out why.
The main problem with the pre-op and post-op liquid diets is they are antithetical to the way we eat from a taste perspective. We may be getting nutrients and protein and, sure, it's weird to drink all of your food but the biggest unaddressed issue is that most societies don't eat sweet over savory.
With a regular diet we may eat a sweet thing for breakfast but mostly it is three savory meals punctuated by little moments of sweet. A dessert, a cookie etc. With this diet all the nutrients comes from things that are way sweet and we might punctuate it with savory. This may be the very thing driving you mad.
Now, I will preface this by saying, check with your doctor first. My doctor approved the following.
Rather than all sweet shakes I was able to buy unflavored Whey Protein Isolate. I bought a good quality with a high dissolve/absorption ability. I then was able to go to the store and find broth that was better than your Swanson chicken broth. I recommend, if you can find it, Zoup Chicken Broth or Bone Broth (bone broth has more protein which you will want to get as much as you can), Target's brand of Miso, Ramen or Pho starter broth. These are clear, low in calories and packed with flavor. Heat a cup of these to about 140ºF or lower. Any hotter and it does weird things to the powder. Add one scoop, stir till dissolved and give the cup another 30 sec of heat up in the microwave.
You get everything you get in the shakes, clear liquid broth and tons of allowable flavor.
My second recommendation is to look into a company called Unjury. They make a protein powder chicken soup that tastes like Mrs. Grass. They also do a Southwest Chilli flavor but I am actually regretting having bought that since it is just OK.
Anyway, talk to your doctor and try it. I found that getting back to mostly savory punctuated by sweet was my saving grace.

The pre op diet was the hardest part for me too. The liquid and purée phase aren’t fun but at least you are losing weight and most are not hungry so it’s not as bad. Just try to occupy your mind with other things and hang in there. It is definitely worth it.

I’m struggling with the pre op and it’s only day 1. I’m STARVING.

my preop last day is tomorrow, and ill be honest with you, i cheated. I started tursday, ive been having chicken, ground beef, and burger patty. Also had soda crackers. each day i had one item, an item with no carbs, and only water, plus everything else required. And guess what i still lost weight. im down 7 lbs today. And yes it gets better, today im not hungry at all, but did have chicken and romaine lettuce.

my preop last day is tomorrow, and ill be honest with you, i cheated. I started tursday, ive been having chicken, ground beef, and burger patty. Also had soda crackers. each day i had one item, an item with no carbs, and only Water, plus everything else required. And guess what i still lost weight. im down 7 lbs today. And yes it gets better, today im not hungry at all, but did have chicken and romaine lettuce.

*Tuesday* started tuesday

I’m allowed
- Protein shake breakfast
- Fruit snack
- Protein shake lunch
- Protein snack
- Sensible dinner

Which I know is a lot - buuuut it’s a drastic calorie decrease.

My surgical team called the first week of the three shake a day diet hell week. You’re breaking a lot of addictions & food dependencies but you usually just have to get through that first week. I thank God I didn’t have to do it this time (done it a couple of unforgettable times in the past for myself). I had to follow keto for about 2.5 weeks.

Good luck.

The only other time I was on all liquids, and only for a day, was before a colonoscopy. You are right, it's a mind thing with feeling like you need to chew. It was a struggle, but I knew I'd have yo do for much longer later!! Just like having to have multiple textures in your meals. I used a spoon in my broth to try to help.
I LOVE Mrs Grass soup! No one in my new area knows what it is. I made my own bone broth and froze in Souper Cubes so I could easily pop one from freezer to bowl and warm up. I also had my Asian neighbor who is an awesome cook make a huge batch of pho broth and I froze in the Souper Cubes too. Hoping I don't have to buy too much store bought stuff. Anyone ever buy the bone broth powders, like in the stick pouches?

Hi All
New to the forum. I am post op and one day away from starting puree.
I am a professional chef and I wanted to just answer your question from my experience thus far. I too was going nuts after day 3 but then I think I figured out why.
The main problem with the pre-op and post-op liquid diets is they are antithetical to the way we eat from a taste perspective. We may be getting nutrients and protein and, sure, it's weird to drink all of your food but the biggest unaddressed issue is that most societies don't eat sweet over savory.
With a regular diet we may eat a sweet thing for breakfast but mostly it is three savory meals punctuated by little moments of sweet. A dessert, a cookie etc. With this diet all the nutrients comes from things that are way sweet and we might punctuate it with savory. This may be the very thing driving you mad.
Now, I will preface this by saying, check with your doctor first. My doctor approved the following.
Rather than all sweet shakes I was able to buy unflavored Whey Protein Isolate. I bought a good quality with a high dissolve/absorption ability. I then was able to go to the store and find broth that was better than your Swanson chicken broth. I recommend, if you can find it, Zoup Chicken Broth or Bone Broth (bone broth has more protein which you will want to get as much as you can), Target's brand of Miso, Ramen or Pho starter broth. These are clear, low in calories and packed with flavor. Heat a cup of these to about 140ºF or lower. Any hotter and it does weird things to the powder. Add one scoop, stir till dissolved and give the cup another 30 sec of heat up in the microwave.
You get everything you get in the shakes, clear liquid broth and tons of allowable flavor.
My second recommendation is to look into a company called Unjury. They make a protein powder chicken soup that tastes like Mrs. Grass. They also do a Southwest Chilli flavor but I am actually regretting having bought that since it is just OK.
Anyway, talk to your doctor and try it. I found that getting back to mostly savory punctuated by sweet was my saving grace.