I'm getting banded on Monday the 19th in Dallas, I've been on a pre-op diet for 10 days now, protein shakes only (less than 500 calories a day). I've been very good and haven't cheated at all, but now that I am getting close I want to have real food before starting the clear liquid phase, I am thinking of a chicken breast with some peas as I am starting to feel weak from lack of food. I have lost over 17 pounds and am loosing roughly a pound a day now. I'm feeling a little guilty about contemplating "fudging" my diet, my Doc says to have between 800 and 1000 calories a day (i.e. multiple protein shakes I guess) however they did mention you could add a little fruit to the shakes or have a few baby carrots or a scrabled egg if you really needed it. One of the nurses commented that most people cheat and that they are looking for a solid 10 days to loose the fat from your liver. The mental struggle is really wearing on me, and calories are calories after all, it doesn't matter where they come from. Am I just rationalizing?

Its so important to eat ALL of your required calories so you dont feel so hungry..you would be so upset & angry to start cheating now when you have come so far to be turned away if your liver was too fatty, call your doc see what they say..then you know you are doing the right thing..

All docs are different, im on a solid food diet & i cant have soups until after my op..

I am on my pre op diet now too. My doc only makes us do the diet for 7 days. My diet allows a bit more than shakes as I can have a little cottage cheese, lite yogurt or SF pudding. Plus 2 small pieces of fruit and 2 cups raw veggies and 1 c. juice. Are you eating the egg your doc said you can have if needed? If you eat something normal you are just going to want to eat something normal again. The diet isn't so much about losing weight in general it is about reducing the type of nutrients that collect in your liver so a result your liver shrinks and weight loss is a bonus. You have made it this far you can go the rest of the way. This new journey in your life is about sticking to things you haven't stuck to in the past (think of this as one of those milestones).

I think you're rationalizing. I "cheated" on my preop diet and didn't get the surgery. Trust me; you'll get real food again (once you've been through the liquid phase post op) so don't think you'll never have food again. You wanting the chicken is probably just nerves. Tough it out, 2 more days (think how proud you'll be of yourself) and then you'll just have post op to get through.

Very nice, well-meaning people on this board posted about how they cheated (or only had 5 days diet, or whatever) and I assumed I could to. I was wrong. Don't risk it; do what YOUR doc tells you.

I have my surgery on Monday too!

I am in a total liquid diet and it is not easy. I've had the worst headache and nausea now for about 20 hours and I'm sticking to exactly what the Dr. ordered. I do NOT want to be wheeled into the operating room wondering if what I had will affect the operation, it will be stressful enough without any bad thoughts. I'm almost done and ready to start my new life, I can make it through another day..you can too!

Thanks all for the encouragement, you're correct of course, the right thing to do is power through another day. I have stuck to the diet tonight and will make it through tomorrow.

Good Luck to all you new ones....I know how you feel so close... It is so wort it.. Hang in there you all are going to be so happy... Enjoy the ride... The surgery for me was a snap... Better than a pap smear.. little sore but not much...Let us know how you are doing..

Thanks all for the encouragement, you're correct of course, the right thing to do is power through another day. I have stuck to the diet tonight and will make it through tomorrow.

My surgery is Monday too but I didn't have to do a specific diet, just nothing by mouth after midnight tomorrow -