My girlfriend wanted to go to coldstone yesterday. I told her I didn't have a problem going with her, but I probably wouldn't be able to get anything because of my pre-op all liquid diet. But they now have smoothies. While my friend got french vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce mixed, in I had the Strawberry Bananza. It was orange juice, strawberrys, bananas and ice in a blender. It was delicious!! You could really taste the banana. I was able to suck up the whole thing through the straw. It felt good to go to a regular resturant and be able to get something within my terms.

I love the blueberry bannana smoothie with a shot of protien. It will soon be a favorite of mine. My kids love to go there, so I too was glad to see that they have something I can have also (on a special occasion)

You know that ice cream is considered a liquid.

I thought about the melted ice cream thing trust me. I usually get coffee ice cream with oreos and pb. But I did get a taste of their new flavor...Blueberry muffin batter. Taste like your making muffins at home.

May I ask if you can explain why you're on an all-liquid diet? I understand why docs put their patients on a liquid diet like Optifast pre-surgery, and I understand the purpose of the liquid diet after surgery, but I don't understand how a liquid diet that still includes stuff like ice cream, melted or not, could be accomplishing anything. I'm not criticizing at all - I just want to understand the science here.

I'm scheduled to be banded the day after you, and all my doc said was to eat mostly Protein and limit carbohydrates as much as possible from now until then, and Clear Liquids only for 24 hours before surgery.

May I ask if you can explain why you're on an all-liquid diet? I understand why docs put their patients on a liquid diet like Optifast pre-surgery, and I understand the purpose of the liquid diet after surgery, but I don't understand how a liquid diet that still includes stuff like ice cream, melted or not, could be accomplishing anything. I'm not criticizing at all - I just want to understand the science here.

I'm scheduled to be banded the day after you, and all my doc said was to eat mostly Protein and limit carbohydrates as much as possible from now until then, and clear liquids only for 24 hours before surgery.

not sure about her story, but from what i've read ALL the doctors are different, and some docs dont even have pre-op diets:confused:

The purpose of a pre-op liquid diet is, of course, to lose some fat around the liver and to make surgery safer and easier for both patient and surgeon. I dont' think ice cream or smoothies would meet the goal of losing fat. Low fat protein shakes are as close as you can come to ice cream and still do what you need to be doing for your success both before and after surgery. Bending the rules ain't gonna work!! That's how we all got in this sad situation to begin with.

I have not had the surgery yet but will have to go on liquids for 5 days, I was told that it shrinks your liver so it does not get accidently cut with the instruments.

I have not had the surgery yet but will have to go on liquids for 5 days, I was told that it shrinks your liver so it does not get accidently cut with the instruments.

So many different answers and pre opt diets. Some say studies have proven that it would take at least 2 weeks to shrink your liver. 5 days sounds to me like they are trying to get you used to eating less?

I was told to do low fat high Protein, nothing about liquids or not liquids. I think the purpose behind a liquid diet is if you are supposed to do nothing but liquid shakes they keep you from snacking on bad choices.

you are probably right.:smile2:

Ok everybody,,those that have never been to Coldstone need to know that a sample is maybe a 1/4 of a teaspoon, It's just a taste. And the smoothies didn't have any ice cream in them at all. Just orange juice, strawberrys and banana all blended with ice. The ice cream talk was just a joke about it being OK if it is melted.

My doctor wants me to do 2 weeks all liquid before my surgery. It was explained to me that it helps to shrink the size of the liver and this will have to be lifted out of the way for them to get to the stomach. Today is day 5 and I have lost 8 pounds. I thought I wasn't going to make it last night, I was soo hungry!! Kept thinking about pizza and taco bell. But I made it. Only 11 more days till surgery. I've only cheated once and it was a few of the noodles from the chicken noodle soup slipped into my cup. :confused_smile: But it's mainly been Slimfast, water, gatorade and grape juice. Tummy still rumbles, but it'll be worth it. I hope this helps all the people thinking, "hell, I gotta get to Coldstone and get one of those protein smoothies with ice cream." This is not the case. Susan

Not all doctors require a liquid pre op some just say SUPER low fat, low carbs.

And a few say liquids Breakfast and lunch with a sensible dinner.

If you've ever watched the lapband surgery videos on youtube you can see how they have to use a bar of sorts (Shaped alot like a L or J)to hold the liver up while they work on you.

If your liver is to large there have been people on these boards who doctors have just closed them up and stoped the surgery at that point(not very many but it has happened!), because their livers were to large to safely move out of the way. It is my understanding that the liver cannot be handled to much as it damages easily. And being as we only have one they cant take chances.

Their might be other reasons some doctors insist on liquids too besides shrinking down the liver, if your on only liquids that would tend to make sure your bowels were also cleared out BEFORE surgery(liquid in liquid out after a couple of days), so the chances of the anesthisia and or surgery causing constipation would be less and avoiding the old pre surgery enemas they used to do.

Also being on all liquids, its pretty assured that you will have none or very little fat in your liquids, youv'e also started on breaking the carb/sugar/caffiene addictions before surgery to. Many don't allow caffiene before/after surgery either.

And it could be also be a way of testing you to make sure your dedicated enough to handle the liquid phase afterwards, When healing is the most important part of the whole process.

And honestly the fastest & most weight loss I have ever had over the years has been on liquids, (medifast, slimfast etc.) But you can't live on them forever.

orange juice, strawberrys and banana all blended with ice

linksmom OOh now that sounds good! We dont have any Coldstones around here. Closest thing even remotely similar (so not really! ) is the snow cone stand out front of the hardware store LOL.

Now I may just have to go out again and get some strawberrys. But my feet hurt darnit! :confused_smile: