Modified Liquid Diet started today, MFP is yelling at me! =}

oStephhanie

Surgery is scheduled for 7/16, started my 14 day modified liquid diet today. 12 days of two shake meals, and a meal of 4 oz of baked meat and 1 cup of veggies, day 13 is all shakes, day 14 is clear liquids, nothing red.

Only got up to 495 calories today- but I am not even hungry. I use almond milk for my protein shakes, and there is only 30 calories per serving in that, and 1 carb. Measured out 4 oz roasted turkey breast and a cup of broccoli, I am eating my meal at lunch time, shakes at breakfast and dinner.

I have to lose 30 pounds prior to surgery, I have 6 more pounds to go in 13 days. My question is, eating this low amount of calories (and MFP hollering at me for it =}), am I going to be able to keep up the energy level to keep walking everyday?

Any tips on how to add more calories without falling off the plan in case my energy ebbs? I am thinking I am just not hungry because I am so excited!

murphyraven

As always it is best to follow the plan your surgeon has outlined for you. If you need more calories, could you blend in a half of a banana or avacado into your shakes? (at least in the early stages?) I wouldn't worry about MFP's guidelines too much when eating towards surgery. Get enough protein and liquids and make sure you are taking your vitamins.

Grats on surgery!

Mangopickle

Surgery is scheduled for 7/16, started my 14 day modified liquid diet today. 12 days of two shake meals, and a meal of 4 oz of baked meat and 1 cup of veggies, day 13 is all shakes, day 14 is clear liquids, nothing red.

Only got up to 495 calories today- but I am not even hungry. I use almond milk for my protein shakes, and there is only 30 calories per serving in that, and 1 carb. Measured out 4 oz roasted turkey breast and a cup of broccoli, I am eating my meal at lunch time, shakes at breakfast and dinner.

I have to lose 30 pounds prior to surgery, I have 6 more pounds to go in 13 days. My question is, eating this low amount of calories (and MFP hollering at me for it =}), am I going to be able to keep up the energy level to keep walking everyday?

Any tips on how to add more calories without falling off the plan in case my energy ebbs? I am thinking I am just not hungry because I am so excited!

When i need energy but low calories I drink skim milk. Kroger carbmaster skim is my favorite because it has 11g protein and only 60 cals a cup but I will drink any skim milk. It is the original protein shake. MFP doesn't have a bariatric setting so it will always holler until you actually get to your maintenance calories.

DJRonnieLINY

@Mangopickle is spot on; "MFP doesn't have a bariatric setting so it will always holler until you actually get to your maintenance calories".

We go through a medically supervised period of extreme weigh loss that is not recognized by general tools and apps. You must trust your Dr., Nutritionist and work the perscribed plan. I suggest that prior to surgery you increase protein and energy related shakes to help keep your energy up but I would not worry too much.

Post surgery focus on Protein and liquids and don't worry about calories. MFP will yell but keep tracking to build a real good history. Everyone is different so your post-op experiences will be unique to you. Work through the food stages from full liquid through full foods and start exercising immediately. Walk immediately and as much as possible.

Good luck,

pawoodhull

Good advice here from everyone! I found the increased protein and water on the presurgery plan really kept me from being hungry. I had no loss of energy either. Follow the plan and you should be fine. Ignore MFP yelling at you. Frankly they tell me every day that "if every day was like today in 5 days you will weigh ___". It never happens even though my calories are close to the same amount every day, I still don't weigh what they say I will, so I ignore them! :laugh:

pookeyism

If you stay hydrated, you should be OK for the last leg of your pre-op diet. If you feel particularly fatigued, uncomfortable or get in a fog that you cannot shake, or begin to have very sweet breath, etc. contact your doc.

The last leg of the diet is not intended to sap your physical resources. While you want to go into the surgery with as much fat off your liver and abdomen as possible, you should not tax your body to the point you have no resources should something unexpected happen in surgery.

Follow your eating, exercise as much as comfortably possible...do you do yoga? I suggest it!

Also - are you on Bariatric Pal? It is a great online resource!

oStephhanie

Wow, thank you all for the advice- I appreciate it! I guess I need to check my MFP settings, because I never received notification that anyone responded.=)

I have my pre-admission testing today (surgery in one week!) I will check with the surgeon today on the calorie count. I've been afraid of drinking milk because I am supposed to have 15 carbs or less per day, and skim milk is already over that , without adding the protein shake.

I've been doing really good as far as energy in concerned, and I have been able to get up to about 700-800 calories in (the Bariatric Advantage protein shakes have more calories in them).

28 pounds down, 2 to go!

Thank you all for the sound advice!!!

relentless2121

Good luck with your surgery Stef. Be sure to give us an update when you are feeling up to it. You are almost there. :flowerforyou: :drinker:

bikrchk

Yep, MFP's caluclators are not tuned for WLS. Follow your surgeon's plan. I'm pretty sure MFP yells at all of us most of the time. I know it does me and I'm 10 months out. I get between 1000-1200 calories per day even with hard exercise 5 days per week, (which is a lot more than a lot of folks on here), and I'm "under" most of the time by a little bit, but it's worked for me.

JreedyJanelle

I eat around 700 to 800 calories a day. I was nervous about working out, but I started the Turbo Fire rotation and getting ready to start week 4, and honestly, I feel great. I eat what is on the plan that was provided to me, and I have had no issues. I find that I sleep better, feel better overall, I am more flexible and feel less stressed. I work out 6 days a week. I am 3 months out from surgery. MFP yells at me all the time.

katematt313

Don't worry about MFP. You are going to get those warnings no matter what, so long as you eat fewer than 1200 calories (which you will be doing for a while).

Follow the MD's diet. Pre-op, I was eating about 450 calories per day following a similar diet to the one you described. I had fatigue the first few days, but got over it. You are supposed to starve yourself to get used to low calories and small portion sizes.

Believe me when I say that you want to suffer this transition before surgery, and not after.

oStephhanie

Awesome, thanks for the advice!!

2BeHappy2

How are people able to get their date set up before they've fully completed everything?
I had a lot of requirements that I had to meet before and only then could I get a meeting set up...then Id still have to wait for the actual surgery date.
Mine wouldn't even entertain me with any future info.
Like I was told...it takes everyone different amounts of time to lose their required %.
Even though insurance said 3 month supervised dietician, unless and until I lost the full % amount, I might've needed to have kept going in to see her as long as it took for me to lose what they required.
Im always amazed when I read that people get a date before they've completed everything...Ive been done with all of of mine for 1 month (today) and Ive yet to get a call :ohwell:

katematt313

Every insurance has different requirements, and every MD has different practices. I didn't have to lose a % of my weight, or be supervised for 3 months. I had to go to 2 dietician appointments, 2 support group meetings, and not gain weight. I had to have an upper GI, and also see a psychologist and cardiologist and have labs done. It was not onerous. Some people have a much more difficult time of it. I think it is usually an insurance issue.

itsdreday

I had a laundry list of items to get done and they wouldn't let me schedule my operation until I completed all of them (with the exception of 1 blood test). Once it was time to schedule I was given a date about 4 weeks out (with the pre-op appointment 1 week before).