preop diet...

[mindi651 1]

Finally through all of the tests to be cleared for surgery. Waiting on insurance approval then my date! I don't see the doctor until surgery day, which I thought was odd. What prop dieting should i be doing? I wasn't really told anything but I want to get my body adjusted to the post open diet stuff as much as possible now so i don't have huge changes to make all of the sudden. Suggestions please!!

[rebecca_dsu 241]

Depending on your doc, they will have you either do:

- A 2 week liquid only diet

- A 2 week low carb diet

- A 2 week liquid only + one low carb meal diet

- A 1 week diet of one of the 3 above

- A 1 day liquid only diet

- Or...no diet at all.

All docs are different. But if you'd like to go ahead and get use to what life will be like post sleeve, you can start doing a low carb diet (kind of like atkins). And go ahead and sign up for a tracking site like My Fitness Pal, and get use to logging what you eat/ drink. That away you will know exactly how many calories/protein/carbs you are eating.

Focus on eating Proteins (lean meats, eggs, nuts/nut butters, dairy) & complex carbs (veggies). Try to limit fruits to a one or two servings a day.

Also, start taking a Multivitamin every day to make sure you have all the nutrients your body needs.

Good for you for wanting to go ahead and transition into a healthier eating lifestyle. I personally did horribly at that, and had too many "food funerals" presurgery.

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

Good for you wanting to get as ready as you can! I agree, all docs are different and some are very strict and some have no pre-op diet at all. I found the pre-op really helped me get motivated and ready for surgery. Mine was not too bad at all. 3 high Protein / low fat/ low carb shakes a day and one low fat/carb/calorie meal. Though I was never a soda drinker, seltzer was my choice, I went off all carbonated beverages before to make it easier too.

Best of luck to you!!!

[marfar7 1,533]

For me, I'm glad that my dr doesn't require anything but a 1 day liquid diet the day before. 4 weeks on a liquid diet (post) is long enuf for me. This time, however (I had a lapband 3 1/2 yrs ago) I plan on NOT CHEATING post op. After my lapband, I was sure I would starve to death, being on liquids only for 4 weeks. I started mashed potatoes at week 3. However, this time I will have more than 1/2 of my stomach stapled and have the chance of leaking if I cheat. I so don't want that. And this time (I'm recently married- 18 mths) I have someone to actually watch eat food, intstead of being by myself with my chicken broth.

I have to argue with wanting to start earlier on the pre op diet. I guarantee at about 14 days post op you may be so hungry (and I'm just going by lapbanding, not sleeving, so it may not be accurate.) you'll regret those extra days of liquids. JMHO, btw! If you want to start early, kudos to you! Wish I could be so good!