Struggling with liquid diet

[Monday_thru_Friday 0]

Hi all. I have to do a 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I started on Thursday and as off right now I don't see how I'll make until the 11th without cheating. Four Protein Shakes a day. My stomach is growling, I feel week, irritable...and of course every commercial on TV is about pizza or McDonalds. Did anyone else have trouble with the pre-op diet? And more importantly is it like this after surgery? Because if it is, its going to be much more difficult than I thought.

[lisabug 10]

I had problems with 24 hour when I had my gallbladder taken out. I am not looking forward to the pre op diet. I only have to do it 3 days. Have you tried eating sf Jello? It is at least something in your tummy. I don't know about post op, but from what I have read food is the last thing on your mind. Trying to get enough liquids is difficult with the tiny tummy. You can do it. It is a necessary evil.

[clk 3,519]

I didn't have a liquid preop for my surgeon, but I forced myself to do Medifast for four months as a weight loss attempt in 2008. At least Medifast was 5 & 1 - five liquid meals, one lean and green meal. The hardest part of the liquid diet for me, beyond the insanely lowered calories, is that I desperately wanted to chew food.

I know how hard it is. I remember how my entire day revolved around when I could drink my next shake or Soup.

Does your pre op guideline allow any free foods, such as sugar free Jello or broth? If it does, you'll have a little flex room and can add in a free food twice a day. No, it won't be terribly satisfying (though you'd be surprised how much fun it is to "chew" Jello after you've been drinking for a few weeks) but it might help you out mentally.

Post op I didn't mind liquids for a few days. I was sore, I was tired, I was just happy the surgery went well. My post op guideline had me on liquids 20 days - 10 days of clears, 10 days of full liquids. By day 7 of clears I wanted fulls, but had to stick it out for three more days. By day 6 or 7 of full liquids I wanted nothing more than to chew food. Those last few days were long and hard for me.

In short, it's easier post op. You're not going to be feeling as hungry, and you'll have your surgery aches and the rapidly dropping weight to distract you. But yeah, by the end of your post op, if it's as strict as mine was, you'll probably want something you can actually chew.

For me, it was easy to look at the post op diet and compare it to those four long and torturous months on Medifast. I only lost 27 pounds in those four months. This is only for a few weeks, and you're going to lose a lot. Then, once you're able to eat more food, you're going to continue to lose weight (albeit at a slower pace). While it will still be a struggle sometimes and you will stall and plateau a few times you are probably not going to fight to lose every pound the way you have in the past.

It's all worth it. Just try to focus on the goals, and see if you can work a free food or two into your diet while you wait.

~Cheri

[6kiddos 18]

I am with you on this one. I am doing pretty well so far. BUT I am finding I am waking in the night hungry. I have been on it since Tuesday. The weight loss has been great (10 lbs!) but I am quickly tiring of Protein shakes. I still have to make dinner for the family which is hard. Yesterday my kids came home from church wanting to make treats for other families. So...we had brownies AND Cookies in the house AND halloween candy! I did well and didn't have any but it was hard.

Hang in there. You are not alone. broth will quickly become your friend.

[KSUCats 0]

Ughh I feel your pain. I have surgery on the 15th, so today was day 1 of a 2 week liquid diet. I think i've eaten 20 sugar free popsicles already lol. SF Jello helps too. I already have a headache, and I know it'll be here to stay... It is true, every comercial seems to be about food, or I'll be watching a TV show and bam there is food. lol I think this will be the hardest thing i've ever had to do!!

[cbchebert 3]

Are Protein shakes the only thing you are drinking? Here is a sample of my pre-op liquid diet:

7:00 am - 1/2 cooked Cereal

9:00 am - Protein shake

10:00 am - 16 oz. Clear Liquids (SF Jello, SF popsicles, crystal light, broth)

11:00 am - 6 oz. of approved yogurt

12:00 pm - Protein Shake

1:00 pm - 8 oz. skim milk (if not used in Protein powder)

2:00 pm - 16 oz. Clear Liquids

4:00 pm - Protein shake

5:00 pm - 8 oz. clear liquids

6:00 pm - 1/2 cup 98% fat free cream Soup

7:00 pm - 8 oz. skim milk (if not used in Protein powder

8:00 pm - 16 oz. clear liquids

I am having a little trouble not chewing solid food but the way this is set up, I get SOMETHING almost every hour. Maybe you need more than just Protein Shakes. Good luck to you.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I don't want to tell you not to follow your doctors orders . this is pre op though so you're not going to hurt a staple line.

Personally, I think chicken breast is much more filling , is low in calories and has no carbs What would be the difference

if you at a little bit of chicken breast when you are really hungry?

[caeverette 0]

Hi all. I have to do a 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I started on Thursday and as off right now I don't see how I'll make until the 11th without cheating. Four Protein Shakes a day. My stomach is growling, I feel week, irritable...and of course every commercial on TV is about pizza or McDonalds. Did anyone else have trouble with the pre-op diet? And more importantly is it like this after surgery? Because if it is, its going to be much more difficult than I thought.

[caeverette 0]

Hi , I am new at this & hae not set a date yet , did you have your surgery in Mexio/

How are you doing?