laurenjane

If possible, get rid of ALL the foods that don't fit into your surgeon's liver shinking diet plan. Otherwise you will end up eating what you have on hand. I'm about to do a second round of cleaning out my pantry and fridge in preparation for my two week liquid diet.

Hey @@blashlee! Congrats on making it to soft foods! It sounds like you're doing really well. Please feel free to share any great recipes you concoct in your test kitchen! I'm closing in on the 2-week liquid diet (starting a week from tomorrow) and I've come up with some awesome Protein shakes. I just don't yet know how I'm going to stick with only liquids and Protein Shakes for that long. I'm scared!

I'm scheduled for surgery on May 7th! I'm both excited and terrified.

@@BariatricGirl I have a PPO through Anthem Blue Cross and I was approved a few weeks after my first consultation with my surgeon. They did not require me to do a 6 month supervised diet. I was actually surprised when my surgeon told me that I did not have do to the 6 month thing because everyone who has reviewed my insurance coverage has said that I have a VERY strange plan!

@@harry866, I'm so encouraged by your post regarding your diabetes after surgery. Diabetes is the main reason I am having gastric bypass on May 7th. I'm 37 and I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about two years ago. I have already experienced complications from diabetes and I can't bear the thought of having to endure additional complications as I get older. My grandfather was my only other family member who had diabetes and I watched him die of several complications due to the disease. Watching him deal with the complications was heart-wrenching. I just don't want to go there! I feel like I'm taking my future health in my hands and changing my life for the better. Wishing you a quick and easy recovery!

Good luck tomorrow @@meSparkle83!

@@Redsfan19, thank you SO much for your post. My surgery is scheduled for one month from today. I've gone back and forth between being excited, happy, nervous, and scared. I am confident that my surgery will go well and am hopeful that I won't have any of the complications or problems I've read so much about on these boards, but the more I read the more nervous I become. I really needed to find an encouraging post and yours was just that! Keep up the great progress and keep us posted!

@@blashlee I am SO glad to hear that your surgery went well and that you're resting somewhat comfortably! I will be exactly where you are exactly one month from today.

I LOVE Magnum Quattro chocolate Love. I have three other Protein powders, but the Chocolate Love is the absolute best.

@@blashlee you've been on my mind today as you will be again tomorrow. I pray that all goes smoothly for you. You're in great hands with Dr. E. Wishing you a quick and easy recovery. Keep us updated as you're feeling up to it.

Yum! I'm SO making that!

Hey @@blashlee! You're more than half-way through the liquid diet phase! How's it going now that you're on the home stretch? I hope it's gone quickly for you. Any tips or tricks for those of us with the liquid diet still looming ahead of us?

Hi Ashlee! I look forward to meeting you this week at the support group and finding out how you're doing on day 3 of the liquid diet. I'm afraid that the liquid diet is going to be tough for me, so I can't wait to find out how it's working for you. I'm hoping the next two weeks go by fast for you too. It looks like I'm almost exactly one month behind you. My surgery is scheduled for May 7th!!

The liver shrinking diet varies a lot from surgeon to surgeon. I was wondering the same thing since my surgeon had me start on the liver shrinking diet after my first consultation. My surgery hasn't even been scheduled yet! My surgeon's version of the liver shrinking diet seems more strict than most - no dairy, no oils, no fruit, no nuts. However, now that I've been on this diet for three weeks, I've lost 15 pounds. I seriously hope it's ALL from my liver too! I will say though that the transition to the liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery will probably be a lot easier after being on the liver shrinking diet than going from eating normally to liquid only. I'm starting to incorporate Protein shakes into my daily routine now to hopefully ease the pain later.

Hi @@blashlee! I'm so glad to hear that you got your surgery date at your second appointment! I really wasn't ready for surgery at my 1st appointment, but I definitely am now. I'm getting anxious and I just want to get my surgery scheduled! I agree, this is both exciting and terrifying, but I'm ready to get it done and get on with my life! I really like Dr. Ellner and Dawn too. When I first began looking at local bariatric surgeons, I was immediately impressed with Dr. Ellner by her website alone. She seemed so open, friendly, caring and willing to provide as much information as she possibly could. Once I went to one of Dr. Ellner's seminars, I knew that she was the right surgeon for me. I had to change my insurance in order to go to her, but I'm glad I did. I am confident that I will have a successful surgery and follow-up experience with Dr. Ellner. I look forward to meeting you at the support group on 3/25!

Hi @@blashlee! I'm Lauren. I live in San Diego and Dr. Julie Ellner is my bariatric surgeon too. Like you, I'm also a native San Diegan. I'm 37, so I don't exactly fit into the age group you were looking for, but I'm close! My first consultation with Dr. Ellner was on February 20. I was not required by my insurance to do a 6 month supervised diet, but I've been on Dr. Ellner's liver shrinking diet since 2/20. Currently I'm STARVING! I've completed all but one of my pre-op required appointments and I'm hoping to get a surgery date at my next appointment with Dr. Ellner on 3/19. I'm planning on going to the next support group meeting, so hopefully I will meet you there!

@skc72, please let us know how you like the Premier Protein. I've seen those in huge cases at costco, but I'm afraid to buy a whole case if I'm not going to like them. The only Protein shake I've been able to handle so far (other than the Isopure bottled drinks) was Motiv8 Cafe Latte, but SUPER watered down. I was excited to have the taste of coffee again since my surgeon required me to quit coffee two weeks ago. :-( I've tried a few more flavors of the Isopure bottled drinks over the last few days. My new favorite is Grape Frost. It's not as syrupy sweet as some of the other flavors and it doesn't have that funky protein aftertaste. I'm ordering a case of Grape Frost today. Woohoo!

@@skc72, I've only had the pre-mixed bottled drinks. I haven't tried the powder yet. The bottles are 20oz and can be found between $3.75 - $4.25 per bottle. The lowest price I've seen for a case of 12 was $45.

So far Isopure is the only Protein drink I can handle. I'm pre-op and I'm trying to find protein drinks/shakes that I can stomach. All of the shakes I've tried have given me painful stomach aches. I can't even imagine ingesting Protein Shakes that give me stomach aches AFTER surgery! Yikes!! I have tried five different flavors of Isopure now and my favorties have been Passion Fruit and Orange/Pineapple/Banana. Arctic Punch, Blue Raspberry, and Mango Peach are the other flavors I've had, they're good but they are a little too sweet for me. If you like Crystal Light, Isopure might be a good option for you. You can always dilute it with a little Water (or melted ice cubes). BTW, where have you found Isopure at half price? I think I'm going to be living on Isopure during the liquid pre-op diet!