my date is march 31st....i started abouth a month or so before pre surgery diet to stop foods i know i wont have anymore. then a week before diet was to start i went out a few times and had a healthy nice meal that i wont have for a while, still sticking to only good things like salmon, chicken etc. then i also started skes and one meal for the week prior to get used to changing. transition has been great. i do not feel like it is as hard.