This Girl Is Losing It

Are fat-free chicken broth (10 calories), sugar-free Jell-O (10 calories) and sugar-free Popsicles (15 calories) universally allowed on a pre-op diet? My doc has me on Protein shakes/drinks only, but I've seen other posters saying things like, "remember you can always have..." about these things, since they're all fat-free and negligible calories. Thoughts? I know I can call my doctor tomorrow and ask. Thanks! Becky

Hi guys! I'm on Day 11 of a 15-day pre-op and I'm down 28 pounds - 6 before the start of the diet and 22 on the diet. I've exceeded my own expectations. Just realized today that I got my BMI down under 50, so now I'm "only" morbidly obese, not SUPER morbidly obese - LOL. I'm at 306 this morning and hoping, praying, to get to "twoderland" before surgery day, next Wednesday. I think I can, I think I can!

Thank you for asking. Surprisingly pretty good. Quite sore in the belly but otherwise doing fine. Gas pains are not bad at all, knock on wood. Finding ways to get comfortable. Had some applesauce and half a pudding just 'cause I needed something to mix the crushed pain pills into. They really seem to be helping. My body sure told me when it had been 4 hours and I needed another.

I lost 26 pounds in 15 days of pre-op. I was on 3 daily Protein shakes only. Doc was impressed. The diet was tough, but totally worth it for safety and ease of surgery - as far as I'm concerned the weight loss is just a bonus. Got banded this morning.

Back home already! They said I did great. Sore and bloated but doing fine.

Leaving in about half an hour for the surgery center. Scheduled for 11 a.m. Thank you for all the support, encouragement and inspiration thus far. See you on the other side! -Becky

So, I know the answer to this ultimately is to ask my surgeon and/or nutritionist, but here goes. I'm getting banded on Wednesday (and getting nervous). Trying to get everything I need in the house, food-wise and otherwise, so I can just rest and heal. Story is, my doc requires a clear liquid diet "in the hospital only," and I'm outpatient, so it pretty much doesn't even apply to me. Then on to Stage II, which they describe as "Soft/Mushy and/or Pureed" for 4 to 6 weeks before solid foods. Along with the usual cottage cheese, yogurt, smooth/blended Soups, etc., my mushy stage includes things like scrambled eggs, tuna salad with light mayo, and even flaky white fish like tilapia and turkey burgers (!) chew, chew, chew... lol. I will talk to my doc to confirm this, and will be sensible by having the softer, easier stuff for a bit (will get his recc on how long) before I move to the more challenging stuff, since this stage seems pretty wide-reaching. But I'm wondering if anyone else has been spared post-op liquids phase. Thoughts? P.S. I am finishing (what I see as) a reasonably strict 2-week pre-op diet of Protein shakes only (and it was no walk in the park). Lost 24 pounds on it though! -Becky

Wishing you success and fulfillment on your journey! I hope you are able to get banded if you decide that's what you want to do. The surgery is excluded by my insurance as well (discrimination, if you ask me) but luckily I have very supportive parents and we were both in the position where they could pay half, and I could pay half, and we're getting it done that way. My surgery consult was last May, and after all these months, my surgery is on Wednesday! I'm 29 and can't keep up with my boyfriend or friends. My therapist asked me last week what I want to achieve once the weight is off, and I said, "I don't want to be 'afraid' of physical exertion. I want to come up the subway stairs and not be winded. When I have 15 blocks to walk, I want to not want to take the bus instead. And I want to be able to hike with my brother" (he's an avid outdoorsman). All the best to you! -Becky

Congrats to you! Wishing you tons of success. I'll be on the bandwagon in 48 hours.

A patient's satisfaction and experience, as well as their success - however you want to quantify it (and I don't just mean the number on the scale) - all reflect on the doctor and the practice overall. The PA ought to know better than the be discouraging and negative and to upset you. We all know that weight loss is individual and that "results may vary," and that your success also encompasses how you feel emotionally and physically and your personal "non-scale victories" too. All that said, they also work FOR YOU. You and/or your insurance company are paying big bucks so you can get the utmost in care and compassion. I reiterate what everyone has said: Talk to your doctor. It is your RIGHT to be seen by someone who acts professionally, kindly and who has your best interests in mind. If you feel that way about your doctor, ask to see him for fills. Have the receptionist make a note in your record that you will not see the PA, and confirm before every fill appointment that you'll be seeing the doc (or someone else) but not her. If you're really feeling brave, now or in the future, you might even ask for an apology. You deserve one. Don't let her derail you. You're doing great. Stay above "the noise" and keep your chin up.

It is hard. Actually, it's been harder than I expected. I am on Day 11, 4 days to go. I've had great days and somewhat miserable ones. Such a roller coaster in such a short time! But it's reminded me that I do not NEED food, and that is something I'll have to draw on once I'm banded. I wish you well and hope the pre-op phase is enlightening for you! Keep in touch - we're here for you.

Absolutely AWESOME! I'm so happy for you and proud of you, and I don't even know you. Maybe because I can relate. One of the motivations in my mind is a thin me on my wedding day. No matter that I'm not quite engaged yet, haha. Anyway, GO YOU!!!

I used to be literally afraid to be hungry. I had an irrational fear that something bad would happen to me if I didn't eat. For the most part, I overcame this about 5 years ago (with some help from a therapist) and was able to lose almost 60 pounds on my own. Kept it off for 4 years, then gained it all back over the last year. I'm on Day 9 of my pre-op liquid diet now, and it's certainly reinforcing my revelation from 2007.

I'm rebeccaoliver31 - I'll add all of you.

Thanks, everyone. I did call my doc today and he OK'd these things for my diet. The chicken broth is nice as it's the one non-sweet thing allowed! Wrapping up Day 7 here and down 16 pounds.

I've been experiencing this too, especially when exerting myself a bit (I visited a museum for a few hours with a friend this weekend, and really wore myself out just being on my feet and walking around for a 3 hours or so). My doc has me on 3 protein shakes/drinks a day, totaling 81g protein and 450 calories. I found out just today, after calling his office, that it was OK to have chicken broth, and sugar-free Jell-O and Popsicles. They didn't tell me this previously! Today is Day 7 for me, and I've lost 16 pounds. It's at least as hard as I thought it would be. We'll make it!

Today was my first day of the pre-op diet, three Protein shakes a day. Mixed up my very fist one (vanilla, the only flavor I bought - whoops), took a sip and literally gagged. The flavor was too strong (and just gross), the consistency like phlegm (sorry), bad aftertaste. I thought maybe blending them up with some ice would help, so I put it in the blender with about 6 ice cubes and blended. A tiny bit more tolerable, but now there's twice as much of it! I know I HAVE to drink 42 of these shakes. I feel like I'm being a big pansy. I can't call my doctor and complain; they'll tell me to suck it up. Help! -Becky

Let your haters be your motivators.

I am on day 4 of a 14-day pre-op liquid diet, and daydreaming of enchiladas. But they'll stay there, in my dreams, because to me, the pre-op diet is about proving to myself that I can do this, no matter how damn difficult it is. I mean, I know it's actually about my liver, but to me it's about inner strength. Oh yeah, plus I'm down 11 pounds in the 4 days!

Lap BANG. Now I'm gonna call that a Freudian slip!

I'm on Day 3 of a 14-day pre-op. I was hell on wheels for the first two, and this morning I woke up feeling on top of the world. I hope it sticks. I have a friend coming to stay with me this weekend and I don't want him running for the hills. Good luck! We're all gonna make it!

Day 2 of the pre-op diet. I actually started it a day early because I have a friend coming to town on Friday, and I wanted to get over the "hump" of the first 3 days that everyone says is the worst. Hope that's true! I was freaking out yesterday because I thought the shakes tasted disgusting, but I am handling them OK now. Only had 2 yesterday, not the prescribed 3, which I know is not good, so it's 3 a day from here on out. Boyfriend cooked his own stir-fry last night, and it smelled divine. Even a banana right now seems like a bacon cheeseburger. I will make it. I am an all-or-nothing girl, and I'm gonna rock this. Becky

18K, which includes 3 months of post-op visits/fills.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. Guess I should have said, I have to use only a certain kind my doctor specified. Bariatric Advantage High-Protein Meal Replacement shake. I think I will order some of the strawberry and try that. Thank you for the encouragement! P.S. FLORIDAYS, your journey is an inspiration!

I live in Brooklyn. To be banded Jan. 30!