I appreciate your clear post, but it doesn't really answer my question. My question is, since the result - not the point, but certainly the result - of the pre/post-op diet is quite a good size weight loss, can I use the diet itself without the surgery to lose weight? Answers to my question would include comments on safety, comments on the post-liquid-diet diet, comments on how to avoid regaining the weight, etc. Obviously I stick strictly to the diet my doctor gives me. But my question has to do with possibly avoiding the surgery altogether by using this part of the diet by itself. Anyone who knows about the ins and outs of this, maybe from a doctor's words, maybe by trying it themselves, would be able to help. So thanks for the info, Mariasha, and maybe you can comment on what I've just written as well.