Hello all! I’m on day 6 of a 2-week pre-op diet and can feel my brain working against me. I’ve got it a little better than most with the diet requiring less than 40 carbs per day and no more than 1200 calories. My nutritionist said she doesn’t mind if I go above the calories limit so long as I don’t exceed 40 carbs. I’ve been squeaky clean so far, even when I went to the movies last night (salivation is real lol), but I just cut caffeine completely and my body is not having any of it. I started to negotiate with myself - “Just one Oreo isn’t going to screw up the whole plan” and then snapped myself out of it by making a cup of decaf tea.

How did you all do on the pre op diet? I feel like I must be super weak if I’m struggling to do this for 14 days ?

I was on a 2-week all liquid pre-op diet. Fortunately, I felt happy during it. I didn’t agonize over what I could or couldn’t, should or shouldn’t eat. Every day brought me closer to surgery, and that was exciting.. On the evening of Day 13, I got a call from the surgical nurse letting me know all surgeries were cancelled due to Covid. This was in March 2020. So I had another few months of food funerals, but nothing too crazy. When I was scheduled again for VSG four months later, I was happy to go back on the liquid diet. I knew I could do it; the first time was a rehearsal! I guess it’s all a matter of attitude and keeping a positive mindset.

2 hours ago, Elidh said:

I was on a 2-week all liquid pre-op diet. Fortunately, I felt happy during it. I didn’t agonize over what I could or couldn’t, should or shouldn’t eat. Every day brought me closer to surgery, and that was exciting.. On the evening of Day 13, I got a call from the surgical nurse letting me know all surgeries were cancelled due to Covid. This was in March 2020. So I had another few months of food funerals, but nothing too crazy. When I was scheduled again for VSG four months later, I was happy to go back on the liquid diet. I knew I could do it; the first time was a rehearsal! I guess it’s all a matter of attitude and keeping a positive mindset.

Omgosh, on day 13 your surgery got post poned?? That must’ve been frustrating! I’m really happy you were able to have the surgery eventually.
Do you remember what you had for your liquid diet? Was it all protein shakes or other? I’m thinking I may move to liquids the last three days. Just wanted to see what helped you ?

20 minutes ago, mcipanda said:

Omgosh, on day 13 your surgery got post poned?? That must’ve been frustrating! I’m really happy you were able to have the surgery eventually.
Do you remember what you had for your liquid diet? Was it all Protein Shakes or other? I’m thinking I may move to liquids the last three days. Just wanted to see what helped you ?

I had protein shakes (I think 4 or 5/day, unlimited broth, SF jello, tea coffee). The limited choices of liquids was actually liberating, for some reason....

The withdrawal from caffeine, sugar, etc. can be awful. Headaches, shakes, cold sweats, …. and the craving for them can be greater. Thankfully the first week is usually the worst. My surgeon recommends different diets for different patients but the all shake diet is known as hell week in his office. I’d done the shake diet twice before (two shake meals & one low carb, low fat meat & vegetable/salad meal) so I was much relieved when the dietician said I was to do keto for the two weeks. No calorie requirement or macro goals just high fat, high protein, low carb, low sugar. (She also said keto was a good way to kick start my weight loss but not as a long term diet.) I lost about 5kgs.

The pre op diet is a doozie isn't it. 99% of people really struggle with the limitations, its the ultimate cruelty for fat people. The thought of the surgery starting and having to end due to a fatty liver kept me on the straight and narrow for the most part. I did break twice in the 3 week of my torture, I ate 2 small packets of Jerky ! This caused me so much worry that it was not worth the cheat. I lost 15lbs.

I was allowed caffeine [ thank the lord] any low carb vegetable, a quart of skimmed milk, 2 low fat yogurts, 2 items of fruit. Sugar free jelly and popsicles a day. It was winter so I ate lots of asian style vegetable broth and curried vegetables. I ran to the operating theatre, I was so over the diet.

I had to do 10 days. Liquids with one small, evening meal.

Day 1-3 were the worst. Caffeine headaches. From there on not too bad, lost about 10lbs.

6 hours ago, summerseeker said:

The pre op diet is a doozie isn't it. 99% of people really struggle with the limitations, its the ultimate cruelty for fat people...

I did break twice in the 3 week of my torture, I ate 2 small packets of Jerky ! This caused me so much worry that it was not worth the cheat. I lost 15lbs.

Yes! It’s a real doozie. The first few days were good, but the second few days were harder for some reason. The caffeine withdrawal is definitely tough. I even dropped to half caffeine and only 1 cup a day before quitting entirely but the headaches and grouchiness made it so I felt the needle to keep myself away from the family for their own protection ?

I totally understand the worry factor when it comes to cheating. Every time I think about it, I imagine my surgeon shaking his head in disappointment while tearing off the gloves. “This liver is just too big, close her up!” Ahhh worst nightmare ??

5 hours ago, Fred in Pa said:

I had to do 10 days. liquids with one small, evening meal.

Day 1-3 were the worst. Caffeine headaches. From there on not too bad, lost about 10lbs.

Thank you for sharing, Fred ? I hope I can lose a tener as well!

17 hours ago, Arabesque said:

The withdrawal from caffeine, sugar, etc. can be awful. Headaches, shakes, cold sweats, …. and the craving for them can be greater. Thankfully the first week is usually the worst. My surgeon recommends different diets for different patients but the all shake diet is known as hell week in his office. I’d done the shake diet twice before (two shake meals & one low carb, low fat meat & vegetable/salad meal) so I was much relieved when the dietician said I was to do Keto for the two weeks. No calorie requirement or macro goals just high fat, high Protein, low carb, low sugar. (She also said keto was a good way to kick start my weight loss but not as a long term diet.) I lost about 5kgs.

Haha “hell week” is right. I’m not sure if a liquid diet would be better (as Elidh said, fewer choices = easier?) or the freedom to eat what you want as long as it fits specific macros. Heck, even macros gave me heck recently. My brain is bouncing back, but A couple days ago, I wouldn’t have remembered my middle name without a drivers license ??

Edited March 5, 20233 yr by mcipanda

I lost 22 pounds and literally was in shock, i thought my scale was broken ?

I had to do 2 weeks of 800 calories max - whatever way I wanted to do that was fine. There are so many different programmes it's almost unbelievable! Hope you get out the far end unscathed OP.

Thanks @Spinoza! I’m starting Day 8 and so far, so good. It’s fun to say “this time next week, I’ll be in surgery!”

My pre-op was strict compared to most but was only 7 days.....liquid only with exception of the Doctor's recipe of homemade vegetable soup. I rarely consumed more than 400 calories a day. In lieu of the vegetable soup, I ate Claussen kosher pickles.....the crunch, savory and tartness was so satisfying that I wasn't tempted to cheat. My surgeon had no issue with my "vegetable" substitution. The pickles were also a welcome change from the sweetness of the shakes. For protein, in addition to the shakes, I drank the Peach flavor Premier Protein Clear.

22 hours ago, Becksleeved2-20 said:

I lost 22 pounds and literally was in shock, i thought my scale was broken ?

Lol this would be the greatest way to end the pre-op diet!

My pre-op is 5 atkins shakes a day and 60 oz of water. It got to point I would gag from the sound of ice hitting my water bottle lol. I did kind of cheat by having one Protien2o. I felt so much better afterwards for some reason. Helped my headache