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Usually depends on how much you need to lose to shrink the liver and make the surgery safe. I did the sleeve 3.5 years ago and I was a little smaller and only had to do a week of this same diet. This time for revision I had two weeks plus two days of clear. But you’re right. I was able to have a meal a day. It’s not much though just 3oz lean meat and a cup of veggies. I have seen some people have to do a full month. I am on day 15 of 16 now. It’s goes faster than you would think.

Congratulations so far and can I quietly say that a 12 week preop diet is wild?!?! The generic gym culture I have noticed is either people completely ignoring you because they are focused, regulars greeting each other and friends that work out together. I have not seen anyone overly social lately (positive or negative). In specialized settings (crossfit, yoga, Pilates, etc) it may be different but it seems gym culture corrected itself and is much more welcoming.

It is intimidating! However, everyone has a goal who goes to the gym and frankly no one is paying attention to anyone. Most people are heads down, ear buds in and going to work. I was the same way! Scared to try to new machines, didn't want to be that fat girl trying the stair master only to get off after 5min. BUT I did it and am improving. You stepped in and, made a goal to go at least 2x a week and that my friend is a huge accomplishment! Good on you!! You got this!

My doctor put me on 12 weeks! Not a typo. 12 weeks of protein shakes and broth. I have 10 weeks to go. The doctor will have their reasons for the diet so I guess it's just individual difference.

I had a really bad week last week nutritionally. I gained back about half the weight I lost in the last two weeks. I just didn't stick to the milk diet I'm supposed to be on. My surgery date is 7th of October and the bariatric doctor gave a diet he thought would be easy to follow so I can quickly lose weight before surgery. So protein shakes and chicken or beef broth and this is what I'm supposed to have for 12 weeks. Last week, I was sick, I was on my period and a little depressed so I went for comfort food. Starting to panic about trying to hit the weight target the doctor set for me, I thought I would try going to the gym. I've not been to a gym in years and I have memories of PE class and school bullies screaming back to me. But I went in. The staff member was great about showing me around, all the bulky gym buff types that I thought would be bullies because of every high school movie I ever saw didn't even look at me. I think I just assumed that being a fat person I would laughed at judged, but I was no different than anyone else. I was just there to work out just like they were. I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Some of the equipment is intimidating and I have no idea what it does, but starting slowly, I think going in at least twice a week for now is a good starting point.

I'm new here, I have surgery 8/19. I'm on a liquid diet for TWO WEEKS prior to surgery... has anyone else done two weeks? Seems like one week is the usual... and even then it looks like actual food is present in one meal a day. Interested to see if anyone else has this hardcore of pre-op instructions. thanks!!

Almost 3 months post-op, and this is my face! March 2024, 20 stone 1lbs (281lbs) Literally just took this photo! Around 16 stone 7lbs (231 lbs)

Congrats on passing your test My boobs look smaller (😭) but whilst I have gone down a couple of band sizes the cup size is still the same DD just doesn't look it, I think I am closer to a D but it depends on the bra. My bum is also smaller/flatter which isn't so bad. Today I was on a day off work so I went to the shops and got myself a couple of padded bras, never had to do that before but already they make me feel better. I know feel like my boobs are a bit of false advertising, like something out of a JP Gaultier advert. 😀 I have travel for work and vacations next month so trying to build up my wardrobe bit by bit. I put 1kg on during the week, no idea how but as I am still under the surgeons target weight I am not letting it bother me too much. The health system here covers some plastics post weight loss surgery and I hadn't thought it would be something I would be interested in but I think I will enquire about when I have my next surgeon appointment in January to see what areas they do the plastics on and what the requirements are.

@MrsFitz Thank you! I was so so nervous as I had failed 4 times in a manual pre-covid, so it was definitely a long time in the making! I shall make sure to get one up asap! Hope you are having a great start to the week!

I have always been a whole milk user. I can't say drinker cause before surgery I would rarely drink milk. Since the surgery I have been using it to make my protein shakes and overnight oats. In the last week I have been having tummy issues after drinking my shake or having my oats. Has anybody else developed an issue with milk after surgery. Now I need to figure out what to use instead of whole milk for my shake and oats. I am hoping this will be an easy fix.

Very happy this week! The London gain of 3.5lbs has gone plus another 6lbs has joined it this week so I’ve hit my 2stones loss target 😊 Hubby has documented this by taking pics and I can definitely see a difference - my backside isn’t as much as a shelf now 😉 I will post pics when I gain more confidence but they are definitely worth doing for your own records, even if you hate and despise your photos being taken. I’m sat here with my feet on a circulation booster, with my feet and calves twitching away. I’ve got it for both me and hubby in the hope that it will help both of us with our circulation and start helping me strengthen my muscles around my knees. We had a chat yesterday and agreed to rejoin our local gym. I know I won’t be able to do cardio like the treadmill etc but I certainly do need to spend some time on the resistance machines and hopefully the free weights. I want to try and get some muscle tone going and avoid masses of sagging skin if I can. I desperately miss going to the gym so I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m due at physio next week for knee exercises so we’ve said we will begin 1st Sept (helps with keeping monthly finances straight too) Lots of NSVs this week…can now take my wedding/engagement/eternity rings off when in the bath. That certainly hasn’t happened for a long, long time. I’m finding more clothes to wear when ‘shopping in my wardrobe’. I’ve actually had to buy a BELT for my jeans 😮😮😮 I bought 3 pairs in the sales some time ago. 1pair fit fine, 1 I could just about fasten but not breathe, 1 I couldn’t fasten for love nor money. Fast forward to Saturday and it’s now 1 too big, 1 fasten easily and 1 fasten but can’t really breathe!!! Hopefully a belt will let me get some more wear out of them before they go off to the charity shop pile. It’s our wedding anniversary in September and I’ve set myself a target of wearing a dress that I wore for our wedding anniversary dinner 2 years ago. It’s a lovely dress and I felt fantastic when wearing it so hopefully it will fit again. I would like to lose another 10lbs or so before trying it on so fingers crossed 🤞🤞 Hubby knows what I’m aiming for and is all for it. Need to remember to record my food diary next week, ready for the dietitian appointment the week after. I record everything now but not the moods pre- and post- eating which they need. I’ve already recorded a dietitian diary just before I began my weight loss journey so hopefully she will be able to see the differences. Have a fantastic week everyone 🤩 Onwards and Downwards!

@Greekmom4 glad to hear you are doing well and feeling calm. I am the day after you and I start my liquid diet tomorrow as well. I changed my plan a bit to do my grocery order tomorrow so if they don’t have my Shakes I have time to order them. I am supposed to be two nights in hosptial but that’s what they said for my sleeve too but sent me home the next day. I didn’t get any perishable stuff for my purée stage because mine doesn’t start till day 10. I did add it to my Walmart cart though so I can pick it up or send my husband if I’m not up to it. I planned to just chill today and go get a pedicure but I am apparently on an organizing kick because I lost track of time and spent most of the day cleaning and organizing my utility room. Thats okay. I did my nails myself. Left them natural but manicured them so I’m good. . I have a trunk full of donations to drop off on the way to the grocery but that’s about it for tomorrow. Tuesday I just plan to do last minute things like change the bedding and put things out that I may need when I get home so I. don’t have to try to explain where they are if I’m in pain and need help. And if I’m able to get up myself they are within reach so I don’t strain too much. Tuesday night I want to get to bed early if I can since I have to wake up at 3:30 am. For someone who has pretty severe anxiety I’m surprisingly calm too. I Finally feel prepared and that helps me quite a bit to stay chill. I am sure that Tuesday night I will be a little anxious but I think I would be a little odd if I wasn’t.

I don't remember any specific food that gave me trouble. The advice I got was to try regular foods one at a time slowly so you can see how your body reacts. I have heard people say that they used to love food X but now it makes them sick or they lost their taste for it but that didn't happen to me. I had kind of a weird experience with salads an other raw vegetables - they went straight through me with hardly any digestion. Seriously, the toilet looked like I just overturned a bowl of salad into it. It didn't make me sick or anything, it was just strange. I was never a big salad eater to begin with but now I don't bother at all. During the thick liquids/soft solid stages I remember being frustrated at the limited options. I wasn't going to puree food in a blender or anything like that so I stuck to foods that were naturally the right texture. I ate a lot of scrambled eggs and yogurt during the soft solids stage. Two Good was my go-to brand of yogurt and I still eat it pretty often. It is low carb and they have several flavors. I'd also eat instant mashed potatoes thinned with broth or milks but that is a lot of carbs so maybe wasn't the best idea. I ate mostly soup during the thick liquids stage. Any cream of _____ soup should work OK. If there are chunks of meat or vegetables in it, you can strain them out. Split pea and tomato soup work too although I have never liked tomato soup. You can thin them with extra broth if it is too thick and strain or puree if it includes pieces of solid food. You'll feel a lot of restriction immediately after your surgery. The difference between feeling comfortably full and ready to vomit can be just one bite. You'll get a feel for it but you may mess up a couple times before that. The restriction lessens with time but I still cannot eat anywhere near as much as I could before the surgery. Sometime I catch myself thinking that I could eat a normal sized portion of food but I end up stopping 1/3-1/2 of the way through.

So I'm about the same size that I was in high school. I weighed 160 my senior year when I was going into the military. I weigh 176 now. I've had kids, so I don't expect to get to my high school weight. REALLY hope I don't lose another 16 pounds!!! But I'm in a size large now (XL is getting a bit big now) and I haven't even had my skin surgeries yet. I have to be able to maintain my weight for a year before I can have it, and so far I haven't been able to stop losing to be able to be in maintenance. Hopefully my body levels out soon... I know about the 2-3 year rebound weight gain, and I'm actually looking forward to it lol My final goal was 190, so even if I gain 10 pounds, that still puts me below goal. I'd like to maybe get to 185-187 and maintain so I can have my skin surgery (I may drop another 3-5 pounds after that, but more importantly, I'll likely go down a size because of how much skin I have that will be removed).

Thank you all so much!!! I'm definitely taking note of all of this. I've gone shopping and added more fats and a little higher carbs to my diet. I'm at around 1300 calories per day on average, but I'm working on upping the fats and carbs a bit. I'm also looking to keep my protein at around 100g per day if it's at all possible. Not sure about increasing the sugar and salt intake too much. I HAVE had to start using a little bit of Himalayan salt because my bp has been running super low since my hysterectomy (it's been 3 months and it stays around 97/50, sometimes a little lower) and we're trying to get it to come up. Last time I went to the doctor for my 12 week post op appt it was 88/51, so not having a lot of luck there just yet. I don't like the taste of salt anymore, so adding it to nearly everything is tough, but I'm working on it. Thanks again for all of the suggestions!!! OH, and the potatoes are going to be tried tonight. I'm hoping the carbs won't make me sick. And I can't do any kind of cow's milk at all because I'm severely lactose intolerant, so I use almond milk and non dairy cheese and nutritional yeast. Should I be looking at muscle building exercises, and if so, which ones do you recommend? Maybe I should try to bulk up just a little......

2 month post sleeve and my diet is basically 3 oz chicken nuggets, fair life with whey, cottage cheese and handful of berries Any idea how to introduce variety inc avacado, egg toast (best low carb bread,thin, muffin?) and more?

I had my bypass in May 22. Happily and I needed to,\ I have lost a decent amount of weight after the bypass. My diet has been much improved. I go for walks most days and attend a gym once a week. On the down side depression has been kicking my butt and I have recently been hospitalized because of it. I spent a month inside and tried a new medication but it didnt seem to do anything for me so My P'doc said to stop taking it. Ever since then appetite has skyrocketed and it is causing me so much distress which I try to fix by eating. Yes, the cycle continues. So far my weight has not altered much but that wont stay the same forever. My psychiatrist has suggest that I ask my GP to prescribe Ozempic. Yes, I am a diabetic but since the bypass have managed my bsls with exercise and diet. Has anybody added Ozempic to help with their wls journey? Were there any draw backs. WHat else have you tried to get help with food addiction.

@Theia103121LENTILS!!! Oh my goodness beyond versitile and as a plant-based eater of >5 years, this year I don't think I've went more than 2 weeks in a row without a lentil dish (and usually they're eat on repeat!!)

I bet I will be right there with you in a week, honestly, so please don't feel alone. I DO feel that it is totally ok to be looking forward to *real food* and wonder if your therapist wasn't using that word to prepare you for the fact that maybe food will end up tasting differently once you DO go back to it? I know my taste buds have changed a lot just during this liquid diet phase, and it makes me think of how when I stopped drinking soda my mind would be like 'Ooh a Coke sounds so NICE' but then I'd go to take a sip and it just.. tasted awful. My Chantix has caused the same effect for me regarding cigarettes. Once in a while I get to thinking that I want one, but because of the medicine even if I take a puff it doesn't taste good or satisfying AT ALL. There are some things that I used to not particularly enjoy that I'm now finding I like, though, like hot lemon water, well salted vegetables, and chicken/salmon much more than say - a burger. I'm not sure what is causing my change in preferences, I know in part is is the no-sugar, but it's also just across the board. I even rinse my mouth after the shakes and don't like the drink mix I used to use very much. I agree wholly with what others have posted here - It's fine to enjoy food, we'll just be enjoying it in a different way once we ramp back up to being able to eat it, and any sugary indulgences will have a cost-ratio we'll have to consider when we DO decide to treat ourselves. So glad you posted here, and hope you're doing well! My surgery is the morning of August 5th - I'm having a virgin SADI - a sleeve plus revision style surgery to my intestines all at once as my first WLS.

I feel like you're exactly right and your post was really well worded. I bet that's what the therapist meant as well - and boy oh boy are you on target with an 'adjustment period' being needed when you're used to turning to food for comfort! I had a couple of weepy episodes during this week quite unexpectedly when I didn't even feel hungry. Maybe it was the thought of an upcoming major surgery (I've never had major surgery) but I also think it was the sense of 'forced control' and the knowledge that I couldn't turn to chocolate or pizza to make me feel better, even if I wanted to. Maybe I was kind of 'mourning' the lost of that coping mechanism -- but I do think the fact that my taste buds are changing is going to be helpful, personally.

When I was trying to slow my weight loss I was snacking 5 x a day. I felt like I was eating all day long. In time my meal sizes got a little larger though I still snack 3-4 x a day to get the calories in. Peanut paste, nuts, protein bar, string cheese, yoghurt. baked fava beans or chick peas, half an apple, small bunch of grapes, & my left over rolled oats, yoghurt & dried cranberry breakfast are all snack options. I’m a full fat milk & full fat salad dressing girl too. No low fat foods in my kitchen (in many cases it’s high sugar &/or high salt to compensate for the low fat). I wouldn’t get worried yet. Yes there is the bounce back many experience to keep in mind. Your remaining fat will resettle and changes your body shape & you’ll look less gaunt especially in the face. Much like we tell people while they’re losing not to worry about the number on the scales too much, the same is true now while things are stabilising. Though you say you look bony & too skinny how much of this is body dysmorphia & you’re not really seeing yourself? Are you too skinny or is it too skinny in comparison to how big you were before? Are you really seeing bones sticking out or just seeing some shadowing of bones or feeling bones which you’ve never seen or felt before or have forgotten? It takes time to really see yourself after weight loss. Our brains can really twist our thinking.

I'm a bit envious of your ability to purge your pantry! I share a home with my fella and my Mom, who I'm taking care of, so I just have to soldier through and think of what negative consequences would come from me eating the wrong thing. It has been interesting this week seeing them 'figure out meals' without my participation. I still cooked twice for them, the first time I made a big platter of stuffed peppers which wasn't TOO difficult to smell on day one but man, as the week went on smelling it be reheated was rough. The second time I cooked them salmon, broccoli, and rice. I DID break down and eat like two tiny bites of the salmon. I think my body will be forgiving of that tiny lapse - it was after all lean protein. I almost wish I'd done two weeks of this diet to make extra sure I was ready enough for the surgeon but I AM following the diet as I was told to. Granted, the last several months I didn't *exactly* eat the greatest but I did stay on track with my allotted calories for the day, which they had set at 1600. I admit that I did eat more fried food than I was 'supposed to'. It's been hard, honestly, losing my ability to turn to food for comfort, not turning to cigarettes for anxiety / comfort, bouncing around emotionally while I adjusted to taking the Chantix, and also - hadn't mentioned this previously, but I WAS drinking far more alcohol than I should have been up until about 4 months ago. That's another reason I took the extra month's delay when I shifted surgery types gracefully. You seem to REALLY have your stuff in order! Oh - the nail polish - Honestly, the nurse in my closing seminar seemed to be very 'no-polish' strict but when I went to my pre-surgery check-in at the hospital I asked about it and they glanced at my short nails and said they were fine. I was nervous about that, because I keep mine maintained due to my anxiety issues - I used to have trouble not scratching at wounds, biting my nails, etc - but they said as long as my nails were short enough to get the finger monitor on and I didn't have any gems or super dark colors it would be fine. I just went and got my nails done on Thursday and chose super light, neutral colors so you really have to look closely to notice that they have a little shimmer to them and had them done very short. I appreciate that they worry about risk of infection; I've always been super neurotic about looking under my nails for dirt, scrubbing them, etc so I think they will be fine. If I say that often enough everything WILL be fine, right? Lol -- I can't wait to get past Monday!

I added my measuring tape to the collection of items I'm gathering for the hospital when I read your post! It IS getting really close and I'm definitely feeling it. I did get pretty moody a couple of times this week, honestly. I don't know why, because I didn't really feel hungry but I did feel very reactionary and super sensitive. In fact, I was (and still am a little.. ) worried that it was PMS because I read that women who swiftly go on the type of liquid low carb / no sugar diet can have a change in their cycle. My brain immediately went "Oh Noooooo what if I have to deal with cramps on surgery day?!" So far I'm just crossing my fingers against that being the case, and hoping my body at LEAST waits a week! It feels surreal for me because I haven't been apart from my fella hardly at all in the two years we've been together and I realized tonight is the last night for a few days that I'll get to sleep beside him. Because of travel and work he isn't going to be with me at the hospital but my Mom and good friend will. It's Saturday night and I'm scheduled to be at the hospital around 5am Monday! I head out of town tomorrow evening. I'm holding strong on not smoking and plan to do my very best to maintain that post-op! I've already noticed, from not smoking and from the diet, my taste buds changing. The drink mix I used to really enjoy (A cheap one, surprisingly, zero sugar Hydrate in Grape flavor sold at Dollar General for like 1.20/6 flavor packs) now tastes kinda gunky. I'm not sure if it is because of all the shakes or just the lack of sugar/carbs. I find myself rinsing my mouth out a lot, especially after the shakes, and even though I'm drinking a lot of water my throat still feels dry from time to time, especially at night. I've started drinking my water plain or with a little lemon in it, which is especially nice when I drink it hot. I don't enjoy my coffee sweet or creamy anymore, either - it feels like 'too much'. Not that I have more than one cup, max, of caffeinated coffee per day - I even purchased a 3 in one coffee pot that takes loose leaf tea, pods, and regular coffee for the sake of my Mom and fella. I'm not entirely surprised at the change in taste buds seeing as when I quit drinking soda and would take a sip after a long time it would taste awful (especially any kind of dark colored soda). Oh - and to follow up on the Colace; I do think my doctor's office made me start the colace with my liquid diet BECAUSE of all the protein, especially in the shakes. I'm pretty sure those do slow your digestion; I've actually found myself taking an extra allowed laxative just because I want to be sure they have as much space to operate as possible and I feel like I've remained borderline constipated. My friend said that she didn't have a BM until 4 days post-op and they were concerned about that. I keep editing this post realizing I forgot to add things -- I SO feel you on the use of public restrooms! I've always done pretty well to avoid having to go #2 at public places and what you described happening - noise, smell, makes me nervous. That's really the ONLY side effect of the SADI that I'm a little concerned about. So far I'm telling myself that since I've been running on the side of constipated it should be ok, especially if I am mindful with my diet. It was really cool to see a post here from someone 4 years post-SADI! That was very reassuring, about being able to eventually eat most of the same foods, but in moderation and in much smaller portions. This might be my last update prior to surgery as tomorrow I plan to do last minute laundry and triple check my instructions, but I'll definitely be checking in as soon as I feel up to it to tell everyone how it went! How exciting is it to see this thread starting to pop with activity?! I feel SO lucky to have found this place and be receiving so many tips and insights from others who have / are going through the same things! Best wishes to all, we got this!!

Hello! Thank you for posting here as well! I'm scheduled to have my 'virgin SADI/sleeve' on Monday morning and I was SO happy to read your post so I could get a realistic idea of what my life will be like post-surgery. I hadn't gotten much feedback yet on what to expect after a couple of years and had only read that the malabsorption would diminish after 18 months. Your experience seems to match up with that pretty closely. I've got the same three week diet guidelines to follow post-op; do you remember any particular foods that gave you trouble as you were adjusting to life post-op initially? Or do you have any suggestions on what to start with in the soft food week? For the liquid diet I've almost entirely relied on shakes and a few helpings of sugar free jello. Today I got some zero sugar yogurt and added that, and had a sugar free popsicle. I know that I'll have to be eating / drinking room temperature for at least the first week if I remember right.

I’m sensitive to carbs (dumping) and totally lactose intolerant. I can eat potatoes if there’s protein with it, but it can still backfire on me. I agree with Ms. Sss. I feel better with one once of walnut, almonds, or avocado, basically a healthy fat mixed with blueberries or whatever else you want. (I need to measure one ounce fruit but you know yourself better). I tried healthy fats to add some calories and now they help me maintain. I have to measure it because the 3 year rebound is upon me. You do you. Other later night fat snack ideas are one teaspoon peanut butter, or one teaspoon of liquid omega3 orange syrup from Vitamin Shop, or one ounce of real Vermont cheddar cheese. Hard aged cheeses are basically lactose free.