Hi!  I have survived 21 days of complete missery on this "optifast" diet.  I have only 1 day left on this diet -- then I switch to a clear liquid diet.  I don't mind -- it's only two days and I don't have to drink liquid meals. Yes, I would rather drink sodium free broth and tea and water for 48 hours.  I have managed to lose 20 pounds, however, I think I lost more in inches than in weight.  None of my pants fit me properly -- which is okay (as long as I have a belt to hold up my pants and a long tunic to hide my baggy butt...

I'm still really tired, and I still have no energy, but the headaches are completely gone--

  I can't take it.... I hate this liquid diet!  I have no energy, I'm too tired to care about anything! 
All I can say is that ::: "I can't wait for this part of the mess is over!" 

I'm off to take a nap for the next 6 days....

The urinary test revealed blood in my urine, however, it didn't seem to worry the surgeon -- so the operation is still scheduled for Oct 3rd.  Now, we just have to figure out why there's blood in the urine.  Followup test revealed that I don't have an infection. 

It's all good.  Just waiting to make apointment for cat scan on kidneys to find out what might be going on....

Day 12 on optifast diet  :::::     this diet sucks
Lost close to 20 pounds

Okay, so I was so pysched this week because my opertation date is soon approaching and it seems like smooth sailing...unil ..The last urin test.  The first urin test came back possitive for monocysts and a small amount of blood.  This last urin test revealed large amounts of blood and no monocysts.  So, now I have to go get a cat scan to find out if I have kidney stones.  I'm hoping that this won't interfere with the scheduled operation date.  But if it does-- I'll have to be patient.  Gotta deal with this first I suppose..."long face"...

I'm in day 8 of the optifast diet -- (clinically proven to help you lose weight).  Yeah...it works -- through STARVATION!
I think my husband is tired of me asking if he is hungry.   "Uhm...."are you hungry?....I'm hungry!  Are you sure you aren't hungry?"  I have a feeling that I'm enjoying food through my dogs too!  I've been over feeding everyone in the house!  I'm certain the dogs don't mind -- but I better stop, cause Augie is looking kinda round now....Ha!
Today all the banana's that I would have eatten this week began to turn brown and so instead of tossing them in the compost bin, I decided to make Vince banana bread.  I had everything under control...that is until I discovered that my oven is not working!  Why is my oven not working?  I haven't a clue...perhaps the universe is saving Vince from future obesity...
So, now I have to either find a way to bake this bread or toss it....it seems a shame to toss it'    Whatever...

I really am hungry....I really "hate" this diet...even the dogs don't beg for a taste of this stuff.  

13 days to go

I'm ready!  I'm psyched!  Yet--I'm living this “last day” before the diet with apprehension.   I’m not sure that this is normal…

I understand the all the procedures of pre-op preparedness, the proceedings of the operation and post –op dietary rules.  I have attended all the diet classes, post op hospital courses, support groups and have taken notes, and studied.  I can describe the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system (including accessory organs).  Yet, I still feel “unprepared”—like I’m missing something, “but what is it that I’m missing?”

This has to be normal; I’ve read it time and time again in other peoples blogs, why am I feeling like a nut?  I’m cleaning my house like crazy, organizing things that have nothing to do with the surgery or my body or even my health for that matter.  It’s like I’m “nesting!”    I’m not expecting a new born baby into my home….am I?  Maybe I am, maybe it’s me that’s being “reborn” into a new life style.  Ewww…. corny!

Sure I’ve had 2 years to mentally prepare for this event and I’ve been actively preparing for the last 6 months, but now it’s time – and I’m freaking out in my head! I’m throwing fits inside my noggin, but no one knows that I just want to run away, as far and as fast as I can.   It’s like having cold feet before a wedding.  I do want the surgery, I do …I do!  But, I’m scared—“of what?”

Although I’ve gone to the psychologist to get a psychological clearance for this operation, I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for the “new me”.  How does one prepare for this event?  This is life changing! – I should be happy—“I should be wearing a smile on my face – I’m not.    

I think if this “anxiety” becomes an issue, I might have to pay a visit with my psychologist ---maybe it’s normal 

After all that dieting and working out at the gym for the past 6ths months (only to weigh in at a heaveir weight-- than I began with), I find myself more determined to lose it all.  I was really hoping that I would lose enough weight in order to avoid the pre-op diet "optifast".  Liquid diets are not my favorite, no matter how good anything might taste.  I hate the head aches, the crankiness, and the hunger they trigger.  So okay, I'm done bitchin'  I weighed in at 304 and I need to get down to 271 pounds before the surgery date.  So instead of playing around with this I just decided to buy 3weeks of optifast and get it off.  However, I still think that 33 pounds is a lot to lose in 21 days. 

So far, every things from the beginning of this experience until present as gone pretty smoothly (with the execption of having to give up the coffee)  < That was so hard to give up!  For the first week I felt like I wanted to clawl out of my skin!  But, I'm almost back to "normal" -- not wanting to sleep all day, the head aches are subsiding and my muscle pain is beginning to get a bit better (the doctors placed me back no NSAIDS) with the instructions that I stop them 1 week out from the surgerical date.    

I have two cupboards in my kitchen dedicated to the different diet phases that are approaching.  I have a cupboard dedicated to pre-op diet "optifast".  I have a cupboard dedicated to the "second phase" (1-2 post op) liquid diet.  And another cupboard for the "mushy diet" or Phase three diet (2-8 weeks).  

Our dietician announced that because of some complications experienced by a few other prior patients that we are only allowed "clear liquids" and protein shakes, ice pops/sugar free/fat free and sugar free Jell-0 for the first two weeks. 

I don't mind this restriction -- it's only for 14 days.

I  figured that because this past friday was the last day I would ever have anything "bad" for me "higher sugar, high fats" I would say good bye to those food items that were a problem in my past.  I binged!  I haven't had these types of foods for the past 6 months.  So needless to say, soon after I ate tons of pepperoni sticks, beef jerky, soda pop...I got sick as a dog and ended up spending much of the night in pain.    Never again...."really, never again....."

I have 3 more appointments with bluepoint group this month and a couple of stops at the lab before I see the surgeon on the 22nd of Sept. 

I've been taken off of all my pain medications, antidepressants and now I have to give up my coffee.   I'm so bumbed about having to give up coffee.  I really enjoy that first cup in the morning.  I had my first cut of decaf today ::::  :)  not so good, but better than having nothing.  :)

Outside of being in a constant state of pain.  I'm doing alright.