T - 13 Days to Optifast - Saying Goodbye to Favourite Foods

Am I the only one who is saying goodbye to my favourite foods? I wasn't required to lose weight before my surgery, the main focus was to keep my blood pressure/asthma/diabetes under control, unfortunately I'm managing to keep my blood sugar numbers good but with the insulin I've actually gained 10 pounds, not what I was planning.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been eating some things "for the last time", I'm sure I will eventually be able to enjoy some but not all of the places my husband and I have enjoyed dining at, but I know it won't be the same.

I keep joking that we'll be able to go out for dinner and I'll just have a couple of nibbles off his plate. I'm trying to use up the groceries in the house as I know I won't feel like cooking a roast or pasta after my surgery, my husband figures he'll lose weight too, as he doesn't normally cook much. But he is fully supportive of my decision as he has been increasingly concerned about my health.

My main worry is getting back to work as soon as possible, my husband is semi-retired so we really depend on my income, as I have a desk job, the plan is to go back after 2 weeks. I can be off longer if necessary, but I'm hoping not to use up all of my sick days and holiday before the end of March.

Nobody seems to talk about when they're able to get back to work, I'm going off what the few people I know who've had the surgery have been able to do.

I am in the beginning process, but am already having these thoughts lol. Am sure it's a world wind being so close to surgery. You got this. From what I read, after the first year or so you can have small amounts to f certain things. I see you have 3 weeks of optifast. Can you eat anything else?

Not really when I do optifast I can only have sugar free jello or Popsicles, limited amounts of beef or chicken broth (less than 10 calories per serving and only 2 a day), and all the sugar free liquids I can drink. I've been weaning myself off pop as I won't be able to drink afterwards. But I think I'll miss coffee most, as I just can't do black. Have bought a selection of herbal teas for the Keurig machine so I can try different ones without getting stuck with a box of bags I don't like.

That is not bad at all. I read other people' story where they couldn't even have broth. You can do it ?. You got this! Awww it's so hard weaning yourself from the bad foods. I am trying to give up coffee from now but Lord know a medium double double is amazing and makes all feel good. Where do you get the chicken broth because I would be so afraid to make it myself lol just in case I put too much flavoring lol.

You will be able to have milk/cream in your coffee for after surgery... so no worries there.. trust me.. you aren't going to be wanting any sugar at all.

I have a desk job too.. and I ended up taking 4 weeks off work so I could get a handle on my "new" way of life... I was very tired alot of the time before the 4 weeks.. so if your desk job is stressful... then it might make it harder for you to go back after 2 weeks.

not sure if it's an option and you can do part days for a week or so when you come back from surgery..but might be something to look into..

Thanks, my job can be stressful at times but I'm not sure how well my staff would do if I took off longer than 2 weeks, I can shorten my days, or take extra time if I need it. I'm also somewhat concerned as I have a 1 hour commute driving but no traffic just distance so no stress for the drive. Thanks for the input.

Instead of buying a whole box, you could buy individual tea bags from a bulk store. Not that they have a huge variety of flavours, but some.

Hi there, sounds like you are having some food "funerals"...I have been told that no foods are off limits forever. Please be careful doing this, you want to go into surgery healthy and ready for the procedure. I know all centres are different...My surgeon told me that if I gain any weight on the day of surgery that my surgery would be cancelled! Give yourself the best start that you can even, if your centre doesn't require you to lose weight. Remember that one of the goals of this surgery is indeed weight loss. Take care.

I'm 11.5 years out and there's not really anything that I have said goodby to forever.

No goodbyes necessary

What if you get dumping syndrome though?