Hello Everyone!

Today is day one of my liquid diet with Optifast and I'm so excited about the surgery which is scheduled for 2/26. Although Ive been satisfied drinking the Optifast, Ive been enticed by the smell and preparation of food that i've been preparing for my Husband and children. Ive been encouraging myself not to give in. Its difficult, but Im trying to train my mind into thinking, "I don't need it!" or "You can do this!". Ive been thinking of all of the food that I have easy access to. Praying I can make it for another 13 days of just a liquid diet (11 days optifast/ last 2 days of clear liquids). Has anyone been where I am? :biggrin:

Hey! I have not but I just want to say- you can do it!!!! When were you banded? How much weight have you lost? I have not and I want to but I'm a little scared

Hey... we're in the exact same place. I am on day 2 of opti-fast. I just found the greatest addition to the chocolate. I had bought some sugar free syrups some time back and added the vanilla and ice to the choc and put it in the magic bullet. It completely changed the taste and I actually love it.

I completely understand what you're going through. During that time before banded when I was on liquids/protein shakes, I thought so much about food. It seemed like everything on t.v. had a food angle, and I started craving stuff that I had never really liked, e.g. egg salad. Even more weird were my dreams when I dreamt about eating certain foods and then woke up with a start thinking, "did I just eat that and screw up my diet?"

You're going to hear this a lot, but this phase in your life will pass and it's so much easier after being banded. I'm on to the mushy phase and it's gotten a lot easier. Scrambled eggs and tuna salad never tasted so good! Our mantra around here is that, "you can do anything for __ (number) of days." What helps us to get through this time before being banded (and to get through bandster hell in general) is that it is temporary. Think about what it would be like if this was your actual diet for the next six months or so, i.e. how some people lose weight.

Good luck. You're doing great. It's temporary!

I'm in the same d*mn boat, and it feels like this boat is full of holes and sinking fast:wink2:. I'm trying to take it one day at a time, actually more like one meal at a time. Last nite I went to bed and thought to myself "Yes you did it you made it through another whole day!" I'm also trying to remember that the weight I lose now will be weight that I NEVER see again!!

Hang in there, your not alone in this fight:thumbup:

I am doing the same thing with the optifast/protein shakes and clear liquids. My surgery is scheduled on 02/20 and I am so ready. I am thankful for this forum, everytime I get to thinking about food, I come here. SMILE

YeS!! I hear you! I have just been banded and I am on liquids for the next 3 weeks. It sucks, but at least this will be the last time. Hang in thee. We are all in the same boat! :smile:

Hi, I too have been on the Advantage protein shakes 3 x's daily and liquids only. I don't think I can do it. I have been so tempted to eat a 4 oz. piece of skinless, boneless, baked chicken breast. What harm could it do? I'm to be banded on 2/26/08. I am so unsatiated but not really hungry....HELP:sad_smile:

I know exactly what you mean! Now day 5... not really hungry; just deprived. My surgery is in 9 more days! Then, i have 3 MORE weeks of liquids only. I know I can do this... one day at a time!

I am on my 3rd day of OPTIFAST also. I'm ok, but the thought of food will not go away. Surgery is scheduled or 2/26/08 also. Long way to go, but the thoughts of not being fat anymore keep me motivated. This is not the most flavorfull stuff I ever had either. Hang in there everyone.

I just got back form the movies and the smell of popcorn almost made me faint! However, I survived the challenge and am sipping my yummy chocolate shake now. I found that if you put some Davinci sugar free syrup (raspberry, vanilla or caramel) in it and then whip it; it tastes SO much better.

im also booked in for the 26th /2/08 and i have massive withdrawals for my day 2 of no food.. got a head ache from not eating.. =/ but im hangin in there just drinking lots of Water..

hang in there i just think of the future in 6 months time ill be a diff person and on way to a better me

Hang in there! I was banded on 2/1 and my ten day liquid diet was very hard! I thought I was going to lose my mind about the 4th day, but I lost 12lbs and kept telling myself "This too shall pass" I really understood that I am definatly a food addict! Don't give up, you can do it and keep looking at the positive that you are proably going to lose weight before you're Band. GOOD LUCK

How did everyone do today? This is my first weekend on OPTIFAST. I was a little concerned on how I would do at keeping down the food cravings. At work, I can keep busy and don't have time to think about it. Well today went ok. In fact, I found it to be the easiest of all. I really think I will make it thru this now. I hope you all did ok today too?

No, I haven't been there yet, but I'll send up a prayer for you right now, because I can only imagine how tough that is...and in about 6-10 weeks, I'll probably be in the same spot.

In the meantime, I'm waiting on 6 months to be up.

Hey guys I was banded on 2/7/08 I had to do the 2 week pre-op diet liquids only. well I did the optifast shakes the first 2days then I had to stop!.. I was throwing up so bad that I had to call my surgeon who said stop drinking them and go to full liquids. So I did.. I dropped about 4lbs . I don't think I could have done the whole 2 weeks on just the shakes... Thank god my dr was ok with me going on just liquids.