Worried I can't do the pre-op diet!

[Castillo15 25]

I have a month before I start the pre-op diet. I have been trying to eat healthier so it won't be so hard. I have made some changes but they have not been enough for me. I had a visit with the NUT yesterday and gained 4 pounds. I told her I am worried about the per-op diet and whether or not I can stick to it. She didn't seemed worried but I am terrified. I can't diet! I try! I am overwhelmed for sure!!

[tmcx28 297]

I have the same fears. I start my liquid diet on the 21st so I've decided to ease myself in to it and I'm starting now replacing my Breakfast with a shake, eating cottage cheese or yogurt for a snack, I'm hoping this helps make it easier for me.

[HopeandAgony 566]

Hi. I am on day 3. I have zero will power, literally zero. I have stuck with it though and not cheated because I haven't gone thru this since April to blow it now. I refuse to go to my last appt, or worse, be on the table only to be told they can't operate. Keep the end goal in sight. You CAN do it.

Edited November 4, 2015 by HopeandAgony

[Kindle 8,667]

You just have to get your head in the right place and be 110% committed. Find what motivates you. Look at the big picture and your ultimate goal, not just the few weeks of preop and postop diet restrictions. Because really, Those are just a drop in the bucket for what it takes to be successful after WLS. Believe me, the lifetime of maintenance that awaits you is far harder than the preop diet. I look back at those early days and only wish it was still that easy.

I went through my preop diet during December and went to several Christmas parties, a birthday party and a funeral. Drank my Protein shakes and ice Water and never cheated once, so it's definitely doable. Postop got through Grandma's awesome dinner and New Years celebration also on full liquids. My health and having the safest surgery possible with no complications was a huge motivator for me.

Edited November 4, 2015 by Kindle

[PayItForward 207]

I understand your concern. It can be difficult to stick to the preop. But if you can just make it through the first three days, I promise it will get easier.

The one thing that kept me on the diet was the thought that my doctor might not be able to complete the surgery if my liver had not shrunk enough. I was on a two week preop. During the second week, I had to keep reminding myself what was at stake when I was tempted to cheat. I just kept thinking about why I was doing all of this. Good luck. You can do it.

[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,444]

Take a deep breath. If you tell yourself now, a month ahead of starting on the Yellow Brick Road, that you can't do it, you won't, in which case, cancel everything now. The entire process is about making choices. You got to the point where you chose to investigate surgery and kept choosing each of the next steps you've taken. Choose to follow the pre-op diet.

I sustained a concussion in early May and was discharged from vision rehab a few weeks ago and from vestib rehab yesterday. I'm not completely healed, so will continue vestib exercises until I am. I've been consumed by the concussion effects, fretful that I'll have them forever, and beginning to feel as though I am the concussion. Not being too dumb, I recalled that overthinking something can make it the entire reality; I choose to think about it minimally and, happy to say, the feeling of being my illness evaporated. Now I'm just a person who happens to be working on the issue. You're overthinking your situation. You don't have to do that to yourself.

A very wise NP who worked in a bariatric practice and had a lapband of her own would tell people who feared being unable to stick with a two-week, pre-op liquid diet that "You can do anything for two weeks." The same applies to four or any amount. Focus on your objectives and know now how wonderful you'll feel when you see yourself achieving them. Forget the parts of your history that serve no good purpose for your present or future.

Edited November 4, 2015 by WLSResources/ClothingExch

[Dub 9,922]

You just have to get your head in the right place and be 110% committed. Find what motivates you. Look at the big picture and your ultimate goal, not just the few weeks of preop and postop diet restrictions. Because really, Those are just a drop in the bucket for what it takes to be successful after WLS. Believe me, the lifetime of maintenance that awaits you is far harder than the preop diet. I look back at those early days and only wish it was still that easy.

I went through my preop diet during December and went to several Christmas parties, a birthday party and a funeral. Drank my Protein shakes and ice Water and never cheated once, so it's definitely doable. Postop got through Grandma's awesome dinner and New Years celebration also on full liquids. My health and having the safest surgery possible with no complications was a huge motivator for me.

[IncredibleShrinkingMan 437]

People often discover willpower and fortitude when embarking on pre-op, as opposed to diets in the past, as surgery is nigh and psychologically they are already in an entirely new place living a new life. I think you need to trust that you can do it. Nobody said the adjustment would be easy, but I believe you are discounting the fact that the more you do something, the less steep a climb it appears to be. Our heads are in our way, and our heads are what got us here, not our bodies. I got on the treadmill yesterday thinking I was going to collapse after running a mile and ended up running a 5K because it felt so good. And I am still obese. Temporary suspension of disbelief can very well become permanent, and should.

[betterme38 275]

You can do this, I believe in you and you have taken the steps to have this done...don't quit and don't give up. Take it meal by meal and before you know it you will be there SUCCESSFUL!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

It was one of the hardest things i have ever had to do.

For my surgeon, the purpose is liver shrinking so I wasn't expected to lose weight, but rather to shrink the liver. I did lose 8# in 2 weeks and thought I would die of starvation since I didn't know how to eat low carb back then. Anyway, my motivation was that i was quite frightened of surgery and I felt that shrinking my fatty liver was something I could actually DO to reduce my surgical risk. I don't know how true that is - but it is the belief system I had which helped me stick with it. It was absolute misery, and frankly the post surgery time frame wasn't so fun either - but i did it and I am glad because it set me on the path to attaining a normal weight.

You can do this!

[rking 484]

I posted a little earlier this morning, but I do not see my post!!

I also wanted to say that one main reason I was so worried was because I thought I could not have caffeine. I now know I can. I was already weaning off of it because I know if you stop cold turkey you will have huge headaches from caffeine withdrawal. Find out if you are allowed caffeine, and if not, start weaning off now. I am on my second day of liquid diet and I have felt great yesterday and today!!!

[rking 484]

Ok, here we go. I started my liquid 2 week pre op diet yesterday. I was really having anxiety about it the last month which is not like me. I normally do not worry about much and am pretty calm. I felt your fear! I was so afraid I could not do it!!!!! food is one of my best friends. How could I be without it??????????

Yesterday, as I said, my first day, was INCREDIBLE! I did it! Well almost..... I can have five shakes, broth, unsweetened tea, coffee. I had a shake every 3-5 hours with broth in between if I needed it. I felt hungry sometimes, but it was completely bearable. It wasnt horrible at all!! I couldnt believe it! I was so excited that I could actually do this and I wasnt miserable. I did stay busy at work which helped. So, I thought..... after such a good day, tomorrow will be the day it really sux and I am sure I will wake up with a headache and feel like crap all day. WRONG!!!! I still feel great!!! I did wait too long this morning to have my 2nd shake and I got really weak. But all is good now!

I said I did it....almost. I could not go to sleep last night due to the neuropathy in my feet. It was really bad and I was really frustrated. I have to be at work at 7:00 am and I have to have my sleep. I ended up eating a weenie and a few spoons of chili. I was really disappointed in myself and I know it will not happen again. I wasnt starving, I just wanted it. Bad girl!!!

I wish you the best of luck!!!

[MojoCAMI 75]

Castilo15 -

Not sure if you have had a chance to ready the replies to your post, but you are getting the best advice from all vantage points: some who are walking the path, some who completed the pre-op and those who have done pre-op with a few hiccups.

soak it all in, know that people who have never met you in person are rooting for you; want to see you succeed and will do what they can to provide encouragement, support and advice.

I am currently at the mid-way point in my pre-op, I don't have to do full liquid but I do have to stay below 1200 cal with no carbs, starch, fruit or added sugar...I can't tell you how many times I wanted a potato chip or bread for my sandwich.. but instead I used romaine leaf to wrap my sandwich in, and only a half a slice of cheese.

For Breakfast last Saturday I had 1 sausage patty (which my NUT said was okay) and 2oz of egg beaters, lunch was Protein shake and dinner was baked Cod with sauteed spinach using a tbs of olive oil..

Water .. Water ,water sip of non-flavor vodka ...water...water water

We all have our hills to climb, I like to have grapefruit as before bed snack, now I have water..I can't lie it sucks

but.. and this a big big but.. its only for 2 weeks.. i will face an entirely new set of eating habit changing challenges post-op and 4weeks post op and 8 weeks post op.. i am looking forward to change in not only my taste buds, but other eating habits and of course the weight loss.

So again soak in all of what everyone is saying, take the parts and pieces of the advice you can apply to your life to make a plan, to climb this hill. We will be here cheering you on the entire way and even after your procedure...why..because we care..

~MojoCAMI

[lauraellen80 855]

food is one of my best friends. How could I be without it??????????

This is where the pre-op diet (as well as the post-op liquids phase or phases) is helpful. It gives you a good month or so to "break up" with food and start figuring out who you are and how you relate to the world without that relationship. It's like when you break up with someone. Even if it's amicable, you usually have to have a period where you don't talk to each other, to get some distance before you can be friends, and set new boundaries and parameters for interacting with one another in the future.

[net0girl 13]

If i had it to do my preop over i would! My doctor made the mistake of telling me just to keep doing what I was doing and didn't put me on a pre op diet or anything and I gained 8 pounds so now I have to lose five to be able to have surgery on Monday I was eating all the things that I thought I wouldn't be able to have again it was stupid. food funerals do not worth it!