Pre-op diet ... How do I handle family eating

[defwen 4]

I start my pre-op diet on Tues (surgery is on 4/15). I live with husband and kids. What have some of you done about dinnertime the week before surgery when you're hungry and only having your shakes? Do you go to a different room, stay with family and have shake while they eat dinner? I'm planning on shakes, SF ice pops, SF Jello and Pho Soup with only the veggies (which I can do for the first 5 days of the liquid fast). Anything else you guys have done?

[Seela 1,187]

During pre op I just couldn't handle it. I was lucky in that my family was so supportive. My teenage daughter took over cooking dinner for pre op and immediately post op. I stayed in the other room until everything was finished and cleaned up and put away. Things are long back to normal now and I have re-taken back the mom/wife roll... to which my daughter is thrilled!

[Comfy_Blue 285]

Like Seela I was blessed with an extremely supportive husband. We emptied the fridge of everything except Protein shakes and filled the cabinets with clear broth throwing away all the Cookies, chips and other things.

My husband ate dinner every night in his car and when he snacked he would go into another room and close the door. There were a few times when he ate dinner in another room, but even then he would bring the food in tucked in his brefcase of gym bag and immediately go into the study and shut the door.

[1Day1Life4Now 882]

The pre-op diet is much more difficult than post-op because you're still able to eat and everything smells so darn good. Post op is a bit easier. My hubby was not thrilled about me having surgery but he said if that's what I wanted he would support me but not to expect him to change his "bad habits". I agreed so I had to put up with him eating things in front of me. I just kept telling myself... I don't want that...I want a better life and a better weight. Luckily, he ate pizza a lot and I'm not a fan so I wasn't too tempted. He came in one night with fried chicken and macaroni and cheese and though I wanted to kill him, I kept my mouth shut and drank my shake and ate some Jello. Its not easy but in the over all scheme of thing, 2 weeks is nothing and if we can't commit to that... the surgery might not be right for us, because afterall, the surgery is not a cure-all or a fix. We will be changing how and what we eat for the rest of our lives....or we will gain back the weight. We're the ones on a diet, not our families. We have to learn to deal with the food choices around us because they will ALWAYS BE THERE. The sooner we face that demon, the sooner we will learn to resist.

[Comfy_Blue 285]

The pre-op diet is much more difficult than post-op because you're still able to eat and everything smells so darn good. Post op is a bit easier... Its not easy but in the over all scheme of thing, 2 weeks is nothing and if we can't commit to that... the surgery might not be right for us, because afterall, the surgery is not a cure-all or a fix. We will be changing how and what we eat for the rest of our lives....or we will gain back the weight. We're the ones on a diet, not our families. We have to learn to deal with the food choices around us because they will ALWAYS BE THERE. The sooner we face that demon, the sooner we will learn to resist.

I absolutely agree with everything 1Day said. It definitely is easier post-opt and I think it's because we walk through the coals during pre-opt. This is also training you for once you've had the procedure how to be different and not give in to temptation. Even though I (mostly) eat healthy, it's still hard for me when I'm around my most closest, most comfy friends post-opt and they're downing slices of pizza, ice cream, Cookies, chips with onion dip, etc. I feel weak and want to gorge, so I try to draw on the strength I discovered during pre-opt.

Every time I resist, I feel like the next time it gets easier to resist. It's definitely good to start looking the "demon" as 1Day put it square in the face and begin to fight it now.

[defwen 4]

Thank you all so much for these replies to my post. Definitely worried about having an appetite next week but on such a restrictive diet. Guess I'll do whatever it takes to get through. My surgeon only requires a week of pre-op liquid diet so when I see so many of you doing it for 2 weeks and surviving...it gives me the courage to know I can do it too.

[StacyG777 3]

I am currently on the liquid diet and have hit day 7. Most people said day 2-3 was hardest, but I'm finding it more difficult now. It is definitely mental though. I want things because I know I can't have them and not necessarily because I'm hungry. I also noticed the days were I only have 2 Protein Shakes as opposed to 4 are the days I'm hungry. I am down 11 lbs so far. Seeing the weight loss has been extremely motivating!

[marmello 77]

I also have a husband and 3 kids I cook for. I try and fill up on Jello and broth when they r eating. I just tell myself that I need to do this to prevent any complications during surgery and that keeps me sane

[Casie83 38]

I too have a husband and 3 kids to feed each day. Today is day 3. So far it hasn't bothered me. Yesterday we even went to Olive Garden for my father in laws birthday and I ordered Water with lemon and kept busy by feeding my twin girls. We also took the girls for ice cream and I refrained. I know it's what I have to do and that's what I'm going to do. I'm more worried about after surgery and not going back to old habits of bad choices and over eating.