Just curious to see how many out there really did cheat.

I think it depends on your doc fly. My husband had 3 weeks liquid only...he did GREAT! I have the same doc but only have to do 2 weeks liquid only. Some doc's just do one day clear liquid and no other diet so I am not sure? Its very odd to find such drastic differences in diets.

Yeah, I talked to some of the ladies at my job who had Dr. Esquivel in Austin...and said he kind of does things out of the norm. I guess it works, I know others around me said they can tell I've lost weight by seeing my face and stuff....I kind of feel it w/ my slacks for work, their baggier.

I just keep freaking out that I won't get my surgery done because of the slip up.....lol.

I had some ham on Christmas day.

I am on day 3 of my 14 day pre-op diet and I havent cheated. Like many have mentioned I want to make sure my liver isnt going to cause any trouble during the surgery and its a jump start to my new healthier life.

To be honest I'm not hungry (amazing) I'm a bit light-headed if i stand up to quick but my pre-op diet is only about 800 calories / day....wayyyyy less than i'm used to.

I'm just so excited and anxious to have this done that I'll cross this bridge straight and narrow....right down the middle to make sure everything goes well.

Absolutely did NOT cheat.

It took me almost a year to get approved... a year of various tests, meeting all sorts of doctors, etc.

I figured that, since my insurance was paying for 100% of the surgery... the least I could do was stick to a simple pre-op diet.

Was it fun? No, not really. But it was two short weeks out of the rest of my life.

i cheated once, I still feel bad about it. I got weighed in and i had lost so much my surgery was a definite go in three days. I just don't know I was crazy and went to jack in the box and had a hamburger and then cried a bunch after. It was the first time I felt full in a month, I felt so guilty. It was one time and other than that I was perfect on a super strict all clear liquid diet. In the end it effected nothing except my self esteem.

i cheated once, I still feel bad about it. I got weighed in and i had lost so much my surgery was a definite go in three days. I just don't know I was crazy and went to jack in the box and had a hamburger and then cried a bunch after. It was the first time I felt full in a month, I felt so guilty. It was one time and other than that I was perfect on a super strict all clear liquid diet. In the end it effected nothing except my self esteem.

Aww Sweetie don't beat yourself up. This whole thing is a gradual process... and I'd say that about 80% of it is mental.

Despite all of the support groups and counseling I attended for a year prior to my surgery... I still don't feel like I was adequately prepared for (or even fully aware of) the emotional strain of it all.

For me, it was totally easy to be "gung-ho!" pre-op, because I had myself SO pumped up. Post-op was much more difficult... because I began to realize that I really did use food as a crutch.... and that I'd been in total denial.

Keep your chin up though, it looks like you're doing great!!:smile2:

I just start my pre-op yesterday. My doctor allows 1 chicken breast or cooked egg whites per day. So far so good.

I'm on day six of my pre op liquids diet. Unfortunately this pre op diet took place over the New Years holiday and I am dying. Everyone else around me is eating some pretty great looking food. I haven't cheated but am extremely tempted. I cannot wait to just get surgery over with now, January 5 2009!

I'm in week 3 of my pre-op diet - the only food I'm allowed to take are 3 to 4 protein shakes per day.

My diet lasts for 3 weeks, and my surgery is due on the 8th. I did cheat a bit, but only with "smart" stuff, mainly from my reading on the subject. Non-root vegetables, stuff with very few calories, very little fat and carbs, etc.

I couldn't stand it after a while. The protein shake diet is absolutely horrible on my body and it's incredibly difficult to go through only having that. The problem isn't so much cravings as it is total loss of energy.

I was still smart about it, though. I once replaced a shake with a grilled chicken breast (no skin or anything, just the white meat), and I sometimes (like once a day) eat a branch of celery, etc. Nothing big, and from what I've read it falls in line with what most surgeons recommend before surgery anyway if you're not doing the protein shake one. I also figured out that three weeks is a HELL of a long time, and in 2 weeks I've lost about 10 pounds just by doing it. I'm pretty sure my liver is going to be fine.

I can't believe I did it without cheating. Wow that was rough. lol

I did cheat. Fortunately it did not affect my surgery poorlyl I ate like it was my last day of living everyday until my surgery ( a month). Good luck - but I'd recommend whatever your dr tells you. I have found that my dr, while a bit of a geek, was well trained and does know what he is talking about. GOOD LUCK!

Luckily my doctor doesn't do the pre-op liquid diet.

This is my last day of the pre op diet.I have to be at the hospital at 5am tomorrow morning.

I have not cheated. And I haven't even thought about it!

It's 9pm ... you are probably getting into bed and won't see this ... best of everything tomorrow!

So...on the Optifast diet....how does it effect your bowel movements? lol gross sorry....but important to know for those of us with one bathroom in the house!! :-)

Day 1 of my pre-op liquid only diet ....Starting to get hungry haven't ate since yesterday @ 5pm my surgery is Wednesday Jan. 27th @230pm. Im not gonna cheat but i just want the hunger pains to go away aaaahhhhhhhh