Hello All,

This is my first post. I'm scheduled to be banded on Tuesday, 23 Sept. I started the pre-op liquid diet earlier this week and it is really tough! I've never been able to stick to a liquid diet in the past and now is no different. Is there any technique or strategy that might make the next eleven days a little easier?

I know this is the right decision but, unlike others, my approval came pretty quickly so it's taking a while to sink in. Eating is a very social event in my life so I really need someone to tell me that it won't disappear! That it will just be a little 'different'.

On a side note, I've been reading this website for a while now and really appreciate everyone's insight and comments. Well done!

I dont' know about you but for me, once I was firm with myself and realized..."I'm going to do this, I'm sticking to it, quit whining and move on. Other people have done it and you can, too. It won't kill you for goodness sake!" (and I really talked to myself and told myself that) then i just put it out of my mind. To me it was "just life" for the required time. No questions, no bounce room. Once I did that, it got way way easier. If I even started my internal whining for food etc I thought about the surgery, wanting the band, getting rid of my new clothes, etc and that shut the "minime" up who wanted to indulge.

Honestly! I followed "my own" preop diet the 1st 3 weeks, and lost 15 pounds! SO PLEASED! But it didn't shrink my liver, so I went thru surgery for nothing the 1st time. I used that as my final trump card....remembering how crappy I felt to come to in recovery and be told "Dr Cavazos couldn't place the band because your liver was too fatty". There is NO FOOD that tasted good enough for me to go through that embarassment again! Use me as a horrible warning!

I am on day 13 of my liquid diet as my surgery is Monday. I am such a foodie and thought I could NEVER get through this - but I found a protein shake that I actually like. My doctor recommends Optifast but I couldn't stand the taste of it so I tried a few until I found that I like that Atkins Shakes. I also have a cup of broth per day (let me tell you broth tasted like a 5-star meal after drinking protein shakes only for 4 days straight). I want to cheat so badly sometimes, but I don't want to have a fatty liver and them tell me they couldn't do the surgery and I just say to myself - one day at a time. Tomorrow it won't even matter what the food tasted like yesterday. I have lost 16 pounds and am proud of myself for doing it. I even have a roommate who lives on junk food and I have made it through her eating all sorts of things in front of me - even Mcdonald's in the car beside me - lol! I also have sugar-free jello and sugar-free popsickes...like one of each a day. Hang in there and you can do this!!!!

No I am not gonna cheat, I remeber reading about your 1st time and that was enough incentive for me. Just wanted to whine a liitle!!!!

Thanks

You are on 13 days!! Great JOB!! I only have to do 5 days very lucky!!! So will not whine again!!

LOL - you are entitled to whine - I have had emotional breakdowns over the last few days where I just start crying for no reason....lol!

So when is your surgery?? 16 lbs is a great start, even just a couple days on the liquid diet I feel like I have lost. not going to weigh until surgery on tuesday. Are you excited??

Sorry just reread your post surgery on Monday

Hi! I'm new here. I started my liquid diet on 9/4/08. My surgery is 9/16, so only 2 1/2 days to go! I am allowed to have 6 shakes a day and 2 bars (that I don't eat b/c I don't like how they taste), in addition to other liquids. So far, I have found it to be easy. I only drink the shakes, fat free chicken broth and sugar free Jell-O, that's it!! I know everyone doesn't want to hear that, but I keep telling myself that I have to do it because I want to live "forever" for my 13 month old daughter. Due to my weight I had trouble conceiving (PCOS) and now that I have blessed to have her, I use her as my inspiration to stick with it! I have lost 13 pounds since the 4th and I feel great. Any one having trouble sticking to the pre-op diet...it may help to find your inspiration as I have!:thumbup:

Wish me luck! :wink_smile:

No I am not gonna cheat, I remeber reading about your 1st time and that was enough incentive for me. Just wanted to whine a liitle!!!!

Thanks

If I can help, then it was worth it. OK not even close but glad I can help keep some others on the straight and narrow! :wink_smile:

OK I'm headed home to feed the horses. If I don't hear from you'll tommorrow good luck and prayers to us on Monday and Tuesday. Let me know how everything goes with surgery

I to am on day 3 of meal replacement drinks. My head hurts, I am shaky and hateful. Please say tomorrow when I wake up it will all be over and downhill. My surgery date is the 25th 12 more days.:wink_smile::thumbup:

I don't start my diet until Thursday and I am already hateful. What on earth is my poor family in for?:wink_smile:

I wish you all the best of luck with your upcoming surgeries!:thumbup:

Thanks, good luck to you also...i am finding that sleep is the best thing going for me...I get hungry and I go to sleep...

I was on liquid shakes only for 4 days and i spoke to the coordinator who agreed that if i did breakfast and lunch, I could have a small healthy dinner. However I had grilled chicken and green peppers last night. mm so good. but now im seeing my weight isnt dropping. dont know if its because ive just hit a lil hitch. I probably need to start excersing on top of it. tonight for dinner im having half breast chopped up grilled chicken ( grilled in pam) squash, and proti cream of mushroom sauce ( specially designed for bariatrics high protien 70 cals) and drizzling it over my meat and veggies mmm. If i see any gain tomorrow, back to liquid until monday which is my surgery. im so excited!!!

Hey there... I have TWELVE DAYS of the liquid diet and then the two days before surgery I'm on clear liquids ONLY. Apparently this is standard with my group but it seems a lot more strict than others! I know it's going to be worth it so I'm hanging in there. The post-op should be a breeze! LOLOLOL0 :wink_smile: