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Liquid Diet Prior To Surgery



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Hello everyone....I am new to this forum and since I have officially scheduled my labband this morning for Aug. 20th I have had butterflies in my stomach. My question is about the fast b4 surgery....I know you have to do liquid diet and was told about Medifast or Isopure. Would you use this liquid diet as three Meal Replacements and do they actually make you full. I will need to do this for 3 weeks and am exremely worried that I can't do this for that long. How could I possibly not eat solid food for three weeks. I would love everyones ideas or own experiences.

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I had to use Optifast drinks - 3 strawberry and 3 chocolate plus per day. I'm actually feeling kind of full. I used alot of crushed ice to feel like I'm eating something.

Uusally on a liquid diet, you can have sugar free - drinks, Jello and popsicles for Snacks. I had chicken broth for dinner every other day. Ask you doctor if you have have these too.

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I'm starting my preop diet tomorrow. I'm allowed any liquids with single digit sugars and I can't go over 1000 cal/day. I bought a wide variety of things. Atkins shakes, 100% whey Protein from GNC in unflavored and chocolate caramel flavor, Kellogs K2O Water and All Bran tea packets, lots of sugar free Jello . I also bought Soups that I will blend and strain,

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I wish you the best of luck. I'm awaiting a packet from my surgeon and will see what final plan will be. The problem with my husband and myself is that we enjoy eating out as something to do. That is the first of our problems. I need to make eating just as important as getting out and moving around. Please let me know how your doing and any tips along the way will be great.

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Yes, I had around 6 drinks a day plus Snacks if needed. Optifast are ready to drink Protein box drinks. All my information is on my signature. I was banded on May 13th. I lose 50lbs before the surgery and lost about 25lbs afterwards so far.

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Just checking back in. I was banded 11/4/02, but due to mechanical failure (slippage), I am being banded again on 7/14/08. I have to do Optifast for 2 weeks prior to surgery which means Monday! I am quite nervous because when I was banded before I just had to follow 1000 cal per day for the week prior to surgery...so much has changed.

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Hi, Frazzled,

You sound like you are doing all the right 'mind' things to prepare for surgery. You talk about eating out...something that my hubby and I enjoy, too.

And, I am finding it just as enjoyable to go out for dinner when we share an entree...tell the waiter when you order and they will bring two plates. We usually order an extra dinner salad. When the food comes, I take a small portion, and have even included a very small portion of the baked potato! By doing all the processes we are supposed to follow after surgery...chewing slowly, putting the fork down between bites, and concentrating on the conversation, I still enjoy an evening out, and go home feeling very pleased with myself, and not uncomfortable because I ate too much.

I'm scheduled for banding in July.

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So on the preop liquid diet, what are we talking about in calories? About 1000?

My doc wants me to do Optifast but it's $180 for two weeks...that's more than my regular grocery bill! I have soy Protein Powder at home that I was using when I would get a fill. I think I will ask if I can use that instead of Optifast.

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 0 replies
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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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