How necessary is this pre-op diet?

[CPArnold 35]

I'm now on day 7 of pre-op liquids. Six more to go. I am really not hungry because I have what I'm allowed at the first sign of hunger. I have to drink 4 Protein shakes per day. I don't mind them, but hate the aftertaste. I discovered that if I eat the sugar free Jello after the shake it takes away the aftertaste. Yesterday I had to go to my sleep doctor in Philly - 1 1/2 hours away and wanted to do some shopping on my way home. I took a cooler with everything I would normally eat during the time period I would be gone. It worked out fine. I love my broth and went to Trader Joe's and expanded the kinds of broth I have on my pantry shelf. Now have Miso Ginger, Mushroom and Veg to add to my chicken and beef. The up side is I have lost about one pound a day! That makes me happy. Maybe my doctor wants two weeks of liquids to shrink my liver AND to give my weight loss a boost going into the surgery. Maybe he's working on my head a little bit and teaching me that I CAN do this and helping me get used to eating less. I have to think he has a very good reason for everything I have had to do. He is an excellent surgeon at one of the finest teaching hospitals in the country. I believe he is having me do all this because he wants the best possible outcome for me. If I didn't believe he was the best doctor I would find, I wouldn't be going to him! No one said this was going to be easy but I believe the outcome will be well worth it.

[Carol1560 45]

It all gets better believe me. And if you havent been there, you havent done it.

Just dont stock up too much on anything before surgery, cause your taste might change

[bikrchk 1,313]

I second the nectar product suggestion! You can also put lemon juice in the nectar Iced Tea to cut the sweetness some. I was not required to follow a specific pre-op diet except just 5 days before surgery, but I WAS required to lose 10 pounds (which was a very small request compared to what others have been required to do) to shrink my liver and show commitment to the new lifestyle. All programs are different in their requirements.

Have you tried the Nectar Protein drinks like Roadside Lemonade? Caribbean chiller? They are not on the sweeter side, and aren't thick like a Protein shake. Also, you can add 1 T. of sugar-free Jello, pudding or even cocoa to cut the sweetness. There is also unflavored Protein powder that mixes easily with anything. Also, powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup is good.

My doctor required a 2-week pre-op diet and I did what I was told to do. I looked at it like a challenge, and a hoop I had to jump through to get where I needed to be. It's tough, but nothing about WLS is easy.

[NotGoingThere 19]

My doctor told me that the diet was to shrink the size of the liver, but also to reduce the weight of it. He says if the liver weighs too much due to fat and they lift it out of the way, it could develop a crack, which would be bad!

[JakeLancaster 36]

I understand the need to shrink the liver and I know most surgeons require a pre op diet of some sort but I think that a liquids diet is brutal. I was lucky enough to not have been asked to do one but I would have questioned it if I had. Can you shrink your liver without a liquid diet? Many surgeons seem to think so. Just something you might want to ask your surgeon. Do not decide on other's experience , ask him directly and see if there is any flexibility.

[Carol1560 45]

Well once you have the surgery, you will find out that is what you will be doing for a while is an liquid diet.

So you might as well get used to it. It can also be viewed as a tool. Getting some of your stomach cut out for weight loss is an brutual move, so might as well make it smooth as can be

[Jezika 11]

Well once you have the surgery, you will find out that is what you will be doing for a while is an liquid diet.

So you might as well get used to it. It can also be viewed as a tool. Getting some of your stomach cut out for weight loss is an brutual move, so might as well make it smooth as can be

This is the hard part for me to wrap my head around. I'm going to be doing this for a long time after surgery, so why would I WANT to do it before?

I'm so skeptical of the medical industry.

[Carol1560 45]

Well, they are the experts. I also believe that "Most" doctors want their patients to enter this journey with a positive attitude because their chances of success are much higher with a positive attitude.

And I think that concept is fairly easy to grasp.

So both you and the drs knowing that, why would they risk ruining that attitude with anything that they felt was unnecessary or wouldnt contribute in a positive manner to their surgery.

I did it and if I was told that I needed to do it again with the liquid diet prior to the surgery, I would do it again.

[Kindle 8,667]

I think it would help to step back and get a little perspective. This surgery is a commitment for the rest of your life. The preop is only 2 weeks for shit's sake. I was so excited for this change, I actually started my preop 2 days early just to be able to say "yeah, here I go!" It makes no sense to put this much effort into whining and complaining and questioning something that is a tiny fraction of the big picture. You want to be thinner and healthier, right? A couple weeks of liquids is a small price to pay. The years of maintenance you have in front of you is a hell of a lot harder than that. You might as well start changing your relationship with food now, because that's what it takes to be successful long term.

Edited September 18, 2014 by Kindle

[alwaysvegas 702]

Having been through 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op on all-liquids, I must add that there were so many benefits...here's a few:

• Lost 25 lbs
• It completely reset my taste buds so that even simple foods like cottage cheese and plain chicken tasted wonderful post-op. This has been a HUGE plus for me. I don't need super sugar-laden, fat-laden, or spice-laden foods to satisfy me.
• I realized I need MUCH less calories than I'd taken in previously...and I didn't die. So much head hunger. Especially AFTER surgery you will likely be able to differentiate between head hunger and physical hunger. The all-liquid diet was a snap post-surgery.
• The tired feeling was very temporary and my energy actually went up.
• It motivated me that I could lose weight even before surgery and got me excited that after surgery will be even better. And it is!

[Carol1560 45]

Woo Hoo You Right

[CPArnold 35]

I think its safe to say that none of us WANT to do liquids for two weeks before surgery and two weeks after. It's not about what we WANT at this point. It's doing what is required of us to have the best possible outcome. I can't even think about two weeks of liquids after surgery. I can only concentrate on the five days I have left BEFORE surgery. I have no idea how I'll feel about it after the surgery, so I'm not going to worry about it. However, I'm certain that I'll be able to handle it. I have a feeling that this part is going to be easy compared to the changes we're all going to have to make after surgery in order to be healthy and thin.

I have never spoken to anyone who's had the surgery that hasn't said this was the best thing they ever did. Time goes quickly and before you know it the liquids and pureed food, etc. will just be a memory. Just put on your big girl pants and do what your doctor requires. You'll be proud of yourself when it's all said and done.

[Carol1560 45]

HA ha you will be lucky if it is only two weeks that you are on liquids after surgery

[Luana526 61]

Okay, everybody . . . thanks for all the input. But, uh, can we dispense with the advice to "stop whining" and "pull up my big girl pants." I'm not whining--never was--I was simply curious as to why a diet that was presented to me as "follow it or else" was not uniform across the board for others. A friend of mine whose starting weight was 420 wasn't asked to drop even one pound before her surgery or follow any special diet. Apparently her liver wasn't too slimy to handle! Just found it odd. That's all. Curiousity. I've got it, people. Small liver. Prepare for future. Get used to things. For my own good. Thanks all, but it's getting a little weary having people respond like I'm a whining idiot. Some of you are very positive and uplifting, which is great to hear eight days before my surgery.

[Rovobay 920]

fast forward 2 years...... you at goal weight, living life, confident, happy.... won't those 2 weeks all be worth it? just a short chapter on your road to greatness?

yeah, all programs are vastly different. perhaps for many different reasons. my clinic (a bariatric center of excellence) required me to do a 3 week pre-op of a low carb, low fat, high Protein diet following a strict list of available foods. although I was just sleeved 8 days ago, I have already forgot about those three weeks and I am focused on what tomorrow holds in store. take care, follow your plan, you will be successful. keep up your good work!!!