A little stressed about the pre-op diet.....
meltinglbs
Posts: 20 Member
So how hard is the pre-op diet? I am now waiting for my surgery date, will be sometime in April. They gave me the pre-op diet and I have to admit, I'm thinking it's going to be extremely hard! 14 days of liquids only (3 protein shakes, or 2 shakes & 1 mini-meal with real food) plus water, broth, sugar-free popsicles, etc.
I know I'll get through it, but just wanting to hear the experiences from others.
I know I'll get through it, but just wanting to hear the experiences from others.
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I was lucky in that my surgical center did not require liquid only for my pre op diet. However it was very low carb. I was allowed lean meats and veggies, staying under 40g of carbs a day, no sugar. The point of the pre op diet is to shrink your liver to make the surgery easier and safer. The more weight you lose at the beginning, through the pre op and first few months post op the better as the rapid loss phase can slow pretty quickly after that.
If there is ever a time to be 100% compliant with your surgeon, pre op and the first few months post op is the time. Stay positive and write down all the reasons you want to succeed. It doesn't feel like it at first, but the time will pass quickly.1 -
I found the pre-op diet a lot easier than many simply because I started preparing for it 16 weeks out, just like my dietitian told me to do.
16 weeks out, began dropping carbs by 10g per week, start measuring portions and logging food
8 weeks out, down to 100g or less carbs per day, learn how to wait out hunger for at least one hour
6 weeks out, dropped carbs to less than 60g per day, stop snacking
4 weeks out, dropped to lunch, snack, dinner with a shake for any other time of the day
3 weeks out, I dropped out the extra shake
By the time 2 weeks out got here and I started with the hardcore small meals and mostly shakes, my body had stopped the freaking out it was nothing. I enjoyed a few final (low carb) meals, but by then, I was "meh" about food in general.
Part of the pre-op is learning how to eat without the aid of surgery. Somewhere around 6-12 months out, other than a smaller volume, all the little helpers like nausea, pain, lack of hunger will all be gone and it'll be up to you to use the pre-surgical how-to-eat lessons for the rest of your life. Pre-op learning is the mental game.
My dietitian said I extended my honeymoon losing phase by a good 2-3 months because I learned the pre-surgery food lessons and I stuck to them hardcore the entire time. No cheats, no "maybe a little bite" or "just a few extra carbs" here or there. Just hardcore and it worked. Once the honeymoon phase was over, it was over. Done. In 2 months, I went from losing 5lbs a week (easy) to having to work at 1lb a week and hitting some serious stalls. You want that honeymoon to last and the longer you stick to the rigid low carb, low volume, low weight-loss expectations, pre-op lessons, the better chance you have that it'll last.
The biggest enemy of your continued success is getting used to the quick and easy losses and then getting discouraged when it all slows down to a crawl. You've got to get your mental game solid now and the pre-op food lessons can help with that.1 -
Not going to lie, I thought it sucked. I hated it. In my head, I was thinking I was going to quit, that I couldn't make it one week. No 'food'?? Like seriously, yes, I was serious, I hated it, and that was the first day. My poor husband, I wouldn't let him eat around me, for fear I would not be able to control my temptations.
To me, this was a test, and I didn't want to flunk it. I mean, if I couldn't control the diet for one week, what the heck what I doing going thru all of this in the first place!!
Second day, a bit better, but had a killer headache all day. Popsiscles, and jello didn't seem to make up for it, but I was still making it.
Third day, I was really having my doubts, I was seriously struggling more at work than I was at home. Everywhere I was surrounded by people and food. It was making me really upset that I felt that I was so weak that I couldn't control myself...but I did.
Fourth day, hmm...headache was gone. Hey, I even still had energy and I didn't seem so grumpy (or so I thought, my hubby said otherwise). But, it was very much easier.
Fifth, sixth and seventh, I was so in control. I had it, and I knew that I did. I knew that I was going to kick it.
I had survived my hell week...it was a test and I passed.
But yes, I hated it and was miserable, but I made it, AND YOU WILL TOO!0 -
It was my least favorite part - but I was so motivated to get it right I just resolved to be 100% compliant - and it was ok after the first 2-3 days...but it was a mental game0
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Definitely a mental test... but the way I approached it was that I was about to make a significant change to my life by undergoing surgery. Adhering to the 2 week liquid diet was my commitment to making it work.... it definitely got easier after the 3rd and 4th day...0
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First week was a little hard but by the second week you're doing ok and you're losing weight so that's cool. I'm 2 weeks post sleeve and between the pre op diet and surgery I'm down 25lbs.
So definitely do the pre op diet.:)0 -
I had a requirement for a two week liquid pre-op diet. It was rough because I had to travel on business most of those two weeks. Nothing like being stuck in a hotel room at night and not being able to eat! But I'd have to say that the weekends were the hardest. On the other hand, I lost 15 pounds in that two weeks...0
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My preop was just like yours and it was not easy. The 1st three days were tough but after that, it got easier. Just keep your eye on the prize. It goes by quickly......0
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Ki4eld nailed it! I had to lose quite a bit of weight before I even qualified for surgery. I started my journey at 5'2" and 417lbs! I lost 82lbs presurgery by following about the same process ki4eld outlined above. By the time that I hit my presurgery diet...I was ready! I'm not one to buck dr's orders plus I was REALLY freaked out because when my approval came through I received a call from my center that informed me that my liquid diet started that day, and surgery was schedule. I had a lot more to worry about than food lol. I also found shakes that I loved (and still drink daily). I buy the premade premier protein shakes. I bought a ton of other powders and premades...but they just sit in the pantry lol.
It isn't as hard as it sounds. You'll have a lot of other things on your mind at this time. Focus on exercise, and maybe enjoy walks with family or friends. It goes quickly.1 -
It sucks. Plain and simple. But you will survive it if you keep your end goal in mind.
My biggest advice? Surround yourself with positive support, whether it's here online, in real life, or both. Knowing I had people to support and cheer me on, and even people to say, "yeah this part blows," was a bigger help to me than any food or supplement. Mind over matter.
I had to do it for 10 days. The first 4 days were hard. I'd get tired easily and cranky and sad. But around day 5 I got my stride ...I wasn't any less hungry but I was used to it by then and it became second nature.
You CAN do this. It's not fun, it's not easy, but you can and will do this!!!! All of us in this forum are cheering for you! And if you get discouraged, hop on here. We all will have encouragement to share and lend you if you've lost yours! GL!!!1 -
My surgeon did not require a liquid diet. I had to do 2 weeks of very low carb, and that was all. But.......one person I heard from in our support group did not do what she was supposed to and so she had to be opened up instead of laporoscopically done.....much longer recovery time and more painful overall. You will be able to do what they need you to--makes the other side so much easier!!!
Good luck!
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