Hi!!!! I’m on day 4 of liquids and it gets a little better everyday. That being said I’m still struggling. I’ve been having some strained soups per my surgeons list, and have been picking at a few pieces of chicken/veg. How bad is it that I’m technically cheating? Any other tips to make this better lol? And does it get better post op? I have two more weeks of liquids after surgery (RNY on 8/7)

Okay, I’m going to go down the straight talking path first so be warned. Cheating is cheating. A slip is different. A slip happens once & then you work to ensure you don’t repeat it. It’s understandable & relatable - everyone slips along the way in some way or other. Cheating implies you are doing it repeatedly. Only you know which category you fall into. This is just the beginning. After surgery you have at least 6 more weeks of restricted eating then months of following a eating plan to support your weight loss & your adopting better eating habits. Not everyone loses their appetite & has no interest in eating in the months after surgery. Our battles with eating do continue in some form or frequency even for those who lose their hunger in the beginning. The surgery isn’t a magic cure. It’s just a tool which works best if you put in the work. It isn’t easy but so worth it.

When you reach for that chicken, etc., remind yourself why you’re doing this. Also reflect on why you’re reaching for it: a craving, an emotional need so for comfort, are you bored, angry, sad, annoyed, stressed, is it a habit, etc.? Try looking for a distraction. Go for a walk, read, ring a friend, craft, play a game, garden, check social media, etc. Try having a hot drink instead too. These can be useful habits to adopt long term.

Now the softer path: Some plans do allow one meal of lean protein & vegetables & two protein shake meals on the pre surgical diet. (Some surgeons have a preferred plan they put all their patients on while others put different patients on different plans based on individual needs & circumstances.) Speak with your team to see if they would be willing for you to follow a modified plan instead of the all shake diet. It doesn’t hurt to ask & they may say yes.

You can do this. All the best.

Every person who does the pre op diet in any of its forms will struggle. Its brutal. You are over the worst and you just need to white knuckle the rest of your time to surgery.

After surgery, for the first two weeks drinking is a full time job and only a few people manage 'food' So don't worry about the afters.

Hang in there, we did it, so you can too

After surgery the liquid diet is much easier than before so don't sweat it. People always trying to find a reason you want to eat, is it emotional blah blah blah- how about I'm just hungry!

There are different types of hunger I think. Boredom was huge for me in the pre-op diet, also just wanting the mouth feel of solids (I was on shakes only too). I stuck to mine (but that's not to big me up in any way) it was really really hard.

Honestly OP the surgery will help you stick to your plan post op but you don't have that help yet and it is hard, really hard, to change the habit (drive) to eat when you experience hunger. I do think you should tell your team how tough you're finding it and asking whether there is any wiggle room to get you through it.

I wish you luck.