Sugar, sugar, sugar and the liver reduction diet.

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

Newbie here! Just started the process in December with a probable date in June if all hoops are jumped through. My surgeon requires a liver reduction diet which is also supposed to prepare me for my diet after surgery. I'm already at my surgery weight of 245 (5'3) and worry about losing too much more weight. My weight at referral was 277.

I will sorely miss Pasta, bread, and all those sweet carb Snacks but I'll survive. I have no idea how I will go completely sugar free. I have psudotumor cerebri and am completely banned from artificial sugars. I cannot stand stevia or surlacose. I'm on topamax so I can't taste carbonated drinks. coffee with cream and sugar in the morning is my life. I can substitute the cream but not the sugar.

Fruit! I love fruit! I eat two apples a day. Bananas are often Breakfast. Raspberries dessert or a snack. Oranges I can eat by the crate. I also have Vitamin deficiencies my pcp was trying to solve by food.

How strict are people with the liver diet? Is sugar absolutely a dealbreaker? Is fruit something I'm never going to be able to enjoy again?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

The point of the diet is to shrink your liver. Sugar and starches are exactly what you have to avoid.

Instead of focusing on what you can't have, work with your NUT to determine what you CAN have.

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

NUTs first month's goal was one cup of coffee a day. Three meals a day with Protein and one serving of fruit a day.

I understand sugar is to be avoided but can just a bit in my tea or coffee be OK? I'm talking 2 tsp here....

Edited February 7, 2016 by Lucrezaborgia

[2goldengirl 2,076]

Yes, sugar is a dealbreaker. Here's why: the way your liver "shrinks" is largely by using the glycogen stored in the liver. To do that you need to severly restrict carbs. That means you could likely have your one cup of coffee with the real thing in the morning (counting on one tsp or less of sugar), but you're relly going to have to kiss the fruit goodbye for a while.

You will be able to enjoy fruit again, but in much smaller amounts than you're used do, just like everything else. As far as your Vitamin deficiencies go, you will have to rely on supplements, at least during the weight loss phase, you can't eat enough to get all your nutrients from food alone.

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

Tho I qualified for surgery because of apnea, I'm mostly having it because the weight is medication induced...which led to apnea, psudotumor cerebri, and a bunch of other fun issues. I don't understand why insurance refuses to recognize the health risks of medication induced weight gain. My surgeon hopes that I'll be able to significantly cut down on my medications. I'll gladly trade them for supplements!

[denniemiddlegirl 18]

I'm 3 days b4 surgery liver reducation has been rough without sugar!! Look at the Bigger pic!! Weight loss and better health. Wish you the best

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

I live for the day that I'm off topamax and can taste carbonation again but I'm told that's a big no no after surgery. I wasn't a huge soda drinker but I did enjoy a raspberry ginger ale or a Mexican coke every so often

Edited February 8, 2016 by Lucrezaborgia

[jess9395 5,449]

You need to make sure you're ready for this lifestyle change. Most plans include low sugar and refined carbs for the entire weight loss period and some forever. Ditto carbonation which many (myself included) cannot tolerate post sleeve.

The good part? Sugar is very much like an addiction. After two weeks low/no sugar I stopped craving it. And post sleeve especially for the first year I didn't crave it at all. Now I can have it once in a while, but it's not a live or die thing like it used to be.

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

I haven't had more than a sip of soda for 9 months (to see if the medication effect went away) so I think I'll survive without if soda causes that much of an issue.

I just would like a little sugar in my morning coffee or herbal tea. With all the other things I'm cutting out that tiny bit shouldn't have a huge affect.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I don't add sugar or sweetener to my tea so it's not that big of a deal for me.

If you like tea, try Harney & Sons hot cinnamon spice tea. There is a Decaf version and you might be surprised by how good it tastes without any sweetener. It is my go to hot tea for when I want a treat.

[jess9395 5,449]

I haven't had more than a sip of soda for 9 months (to see if the medication effect went away) so I think I'll survive without if soda causes that much of an issue.

I just would like a little sugar in my morning coffee or herbal tea. With all the other things I'm cutting out that tiny bit shouldn't have a huge affect.

Post op no. But you were also talking about missing Pasta and lots of fruit. I was just reminding you that that continues post op.

Personally I put vanilla Protein shake in my coffee for Creamer and sweetener in one.

If you don't tolerate artificial sweeteners and don't like stevia etc you will have to search to find a Protein supplement you can tolerate as well. Good luck!

[because 63]

Okay, so let us talk about coffee. I went off coffee almost a week before my liquid diet and the caffeine withdraws were hell and I wish I had stopped sooner. Keep that in mind. Mostly the headaches were bad! The liquid diet has been awesome. I'm taking Quest Protein Shakes (Hy-Vee ) and they are delish! No sugar but still sweet tasting, high Protein and low carb. The truth, There will not be any coffee after. At least during the healing, it is an irritant. I like mine with cream and sugar too but I am going to move to stevia and maybe almond milk. It might just be something You need to give up for better health. I know this is not what you want to hear and a lot to take in but sometimes a little time is what we need to make the permanent changes to make this work and wrap our heads around them. Good luck! ????

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

My nut's plan is to switch to Decaf next month.

I don't think there is a plan for a liquid diet other than right before surgery.

Edited February 8, 2016 by Lucrezaborgia

[Lucrezaborgia 6]

I guess I'm confused about the difference between things that are not to be eaten permanently and things that are not to be eaten temporarily. My nut basically said carbs like pastas and breads were probably never going to be on my menu again but everyone is different.

[jess9395 5,449]

Everyone's surgeon has a different plan, but most require a liquid diet immediately following surgery while your stomach heals from being cut apart and stitched back together. For most it's a week or two of Clear liquids followed by a week or two of full liquids followed by a week or two of puréed or mushy food.

Check with your doctor or nutritionist to see what they require.

They all also have different permanent post op plans. But no carbonation is common. Protein first is almost universal with high Protein requirements that are hard to meet without supplementation through shakes at first. Avoiding refined carbs and sugars is quite common. No coffee is common for a while post op, but usually not permanent, though some doctors feel the risk of stomach acid with coffee is too high with our limited surface area (you don't want to get ulcers) and ask you give it up completely.

Check with your doctor.