I want an apple SO BAD right now

[KittyChick 140]

I'm on a bleak 2 week pre-op which only allows 3 Protein shakes, Jello, one serving of veggie Soup, and green vegetables.

I'm a vegetarian and am used to eating a lot of fruit...this is day 2 and I'm already losing my mind.

Anyone know why they don't let you do apples or berries?

Is having an apple every few days going to be a real problem?

[Phoenix79 452]

It looks like from what you are allowed to eat, that the surgeon has you on a pretty low carb diet until surgery. The purpose for that is to shrink your liver so it doesn't sustain any tears or damage during surgery since they have to lift the liver out of the way to get to your stomach. My surgeon had me on 20 carbs or less per day leading for 2 weeks prior to surgery and like you, I loved fruit and needed something fresh! My NUT said as long as I don't go over 20 carbs, I can use some of them for fruit if I really want to. Every morning, I'd eat two strawberries, sliced very thinly and savored every piece. I'd have less carbs to use for the day, but doing that kept me sane. Berries are much better than apples to eat if allowed, since they are much lower in carbs per serving than an apple- pineapple, grapes, papaya etc are even higher! If you really want to eat fruit, check with you NUT and/or surgeon and ask if is allowable as long as you measure and track your carbs...you never know until you ask, but ask before doing it. If your liver does not shrink enough, they can not finish the surgery (in rare cases)- so it is definitely worth following your surgeon's advice!

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

Kitty, the doctors are the experts. They know what they are doing. Please focus on what you can have and this is going to help you stick to plan after surgery also, if you seriously want a lifestyle change and health change just go with it. We just dealt with it because fruit was keeping my husband's diabetic blood sugars stable during the night but also was spiking his blood sugars very high by morning. Either it is bread, Pasta, food, fried chicken, and all that stuff we used to be able to have, that we are missing. N0 fruit now in our lives and not missing it. No more high blood sugar either!! Best wishes!

[KittyChick 140]

Berries would be great too at this point. Apples have always been my thing though and since they ARE healthy, I wondered if having one or two small ones a week would be horrible.

Sorta makes me happy that it's not ice cream or pizza I'm craving though!

This is going to be very hard. I have to just try my absolute best to get through it...

[KittyChick 140]

A small apple is 55 cals and 15 carbs...

[fergodayol 0]

I'm on a bleak 2 week pre-op which only allows 3 Protein Shakes, Jello, one serving of veggie Soup, and green vegetables. I'm a vegetarian and am used to eating a lot of fruit...this is day 2 and I'm already losing my mind. Anyone know why they don't let you do apples or berries? Is having an apple every few days going to be a real problem?

absolutely not, an apple is not an important source of calories, your surgeon wants you to have an hipocaloric diet to shrink your liver and loose some weight before surgery, an apple a day won't change that, enjoy it eating it will lower your cravings and is good for you...

After surgery is much more important to keep the liquid diet so keep your inner strength for that moment...

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

No fruit per our surgeon. There are going to be a lot of things we will have to give up. But I know it will be worth it. The sugar in fruit kept my husband's blood sugar stable. Thank God it is now stable without the fruit, with sleeving. Counting my blessings.

[KittyChick 140]

I think the blood sugar concerns are valid for many people but I am neither diabetic nor pre-diabetic. My glucose has never been high- even at 285lbs. I've also never had high cholesterol, and my blood pressure is consistently 100/80 or 90/70- which is odd for someone my size but my Dr. attributes this to my vegetarian diet even with my sugar binges 5-6 times a week.

I won't need an apple every day but I am most likely going to allow myself 2-3 per week at this point. They make me full and because I have ulcerative colitis, I need some of that Fiber to "keep me going". Pre-op is really low on Fiber.< /p>

I am going to go ahead & notify the nutritionist at my Dr.'s office that this is what I've decided to do.

Oh and I've lost 8lbs since Sunday! I'm not worried about an apple derailing my progress.

Edited January 8, 2014 by KittyChick

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

Best of luck Kitty!!

[KittyChick 140]

Best of luck Kitty!!

Thanks and congratulations on your weight loss!!

[gottalose100 16]

I think Lindafromflorida has good advice. It's important to remember it's going to be an abrupt change... For life.

However, I think it is great that it's an apple that your lamenting! It could be worse!

Good call to notify your NUT.