I have been feeling like crap the last few days.  Tomorrow makes a full week of the liquid diet, and I don't know if I can take another day.  The first few days I got used to the shakes, but now they just make me sick.  Yesterday I didn't get nearly the calories I needed....I had 2 shakes and 1/2 a chicken breast with broth.  I called the drs office and they haven't called me back yet.  I am so hungry and nauseated at the same time.  And just thinking about eating or drinking anything, I feel like throwing up.  I can't imagine going through another week like this and then 2 weeks after surgery.  The thing that sucks is that they changed the 'protocol' for pre and post op.  DH was on a liquid diet for 1 week and was on a soft diet immediately after.  I don't know if I can do it.

A well stockedbariatric kitchenhas the proper toolsat hand:

• Measuring spoons andcups
• Food scale
• Individual foodstorage containersof various smallsizes
• Ice cube trays forfreezing smallportions
• Snack size zipperlock bags
• Plastic eatingutensils fortravel/work

A well stockedpantry has:

• Canned tuna (orpouches) in water,canned lump crabmeat
• Canned chicken
• Seasoning blends(i.e. Mrs. Dash)
• Apple cider and/orbalsamic vinegar
• Artificial sweetener(i.e. Splenda,Equal, Stevia, Sweetn’ Low)
• Light or low-fatmayo, mustard
• Low calorie, low-fatsalad dressings forseasoning andmarinating
• Individual sizes ofpackaged fruitpacked in juice
• Canned vegetables
• Canned dicedtomatoes, jarredtomato sauce, salsa
• Canned beans/legumes(garbanzo, kidney,black, red, fat-freerefried)
• Low sodium brothsand soup bases(chicken, beef,vegetable, seafood)
• Whole grain, highfiber, high proteinpasta
• High fiber, proteinrich hot cerealpackets (i.e.oatmeal, multigrain,farina, oat bran,etc.)
• High fiber, highprotein cold cereal
• Whole grain crackers(such as WASA,Ry-Vita, Kashi,low-fat Triscuits)
• Crystal Light, DietSnapple and otherlow caloriebeverages or powdermixes
• Carnation InstantBreakfast, no sugaradded
• Pre-made dietgelatin cups, dietpudding cups

A well stockedbariatric freezerhas:

• Individually frozenshrimp in a bag
• Skinless chickenbreasts ortenderloins
• Lean chopped meatfrozen in smallsnack size zippertop bags
• Sugar-free ice pops,sugar-free fudgepops
• Bags of frozen fruitpieces (no sugaradded) for smoothiesand snacking, eitherbought alreadyfrozen, or freezeyour own slicedbanana, berries orgrapes to add toyogurt or cereal

A well stockedbariatricrefrigerator has:

• Pre-washed and cutfruits andvegetables (try thesupermarket saladbar for variety)
• Yogurt and yogurtsmoothies (smallcontainers, low-fat,artificiallysweetened)
• Part-skim ricottacheese
• Low-fat or fat-freecottage cheese(small containers)
• Low-fat cheesewedges/mozzarella“stringcheese” sticks(i.e. Laughing Cowbrand, Polly-Obrand)
• Pre-shredded low-fatcheese blends toboost flavor andprotein of foods
• Deli sliced turkey,ham or chickenbreast
• Fresh eggs, hardboiled eggs and eggsubstitutes
• Pre-cooked grilledchicken or turkeystrips
• Skim and 1% milk
• Assorted pre-washedand cut salad greenblends
• Low-calorie saladdressing/spraydressings
• Imitation Butter inspray form (such asI Can’tBelieve it’sNot Butter)

Be creative…

Need some creative,healthy easycombinations formeals or snacks? Thechallenge is to keepfood choicescreative andflavorful; inspiringyour taste buds iscrucial in order tokeep you interestedin healthier foodchoices.

• Romaine lettuce leafwrapped around 2slices deli turkeywith mustard orlow-fat saladdressing
• 4 oz. fat-freeyogurt with 2 oz.fresh berries and 1Tbsp. fiber richcereal
• Part skim mozzarellastick wrapped insun-dried tomatoslice or roasted redpepper (not packedin oil)
• 2 oz. seared tunasteak with low-fatdill sauce (fat-freeyogurt, capers, dilland lemon juice)
• Laughing Cow low-fatcheese wedge spreadon multigrain WASAcracker
• 2 oz. fat-free milk,2 oz. fat-freeyogurt, 2 oz. fruitof choice a few icecubes, sprinklesweetener to desiredtaste and pulse inblender.
• Freeze half of smallbanana or 10 frozengrapes
• Hot cereal (onepacket) mixed withwater or skim milk,artificial sweetenerand fresh fruit. Ortry hot cereal addvanilla extract,artificial sweetenerand cinnamon.
• 3 oz. grilledchicken over saladgreens and

#1 Do for 10 days to break plateau

#2 Drink 2 quarts of water a day

#3 You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamin & mineral supplements each day.

#4 You may consume up to 3 oz. of the following high-protein foods, 5 times a day:
a.  beef,
b.  pork,
c.  chicken,
d.  turkey,
e.  lamb,
f.  fish,
g.  eggs,
h.  low-fat cheese,
i.  cottage cheese,
j.  plain yogurt (or artificially sweetened),
k.  peanut butter,
l.  beans/legumes.

#5 You may also have:
a.  sugar-free popsicles (avoid juice popsicles),
b.  tea or coffee,
c.  sugar-free sodas,
d.  sugar-free Jello,
e.  broths & bouillons,
f.  Crystal Lite drinks.

#6 IF IT IS NOT ON THE LIST YOU MAY NOT HAVE IT!

#7 Keep a food diary and try to get 30 minutes of exercise daily.

So this is day 4 of the 2 week liquid diet....and I'm hungry.  I did so well over the weekend but I guess since I was at work I kept busy.  My hubby asked me last night if he could make some cheese dip....REALLY???  I told him to make it when I went back to work so I don't have top smell it, because I definately would cave in and have some.  He had lap band too, but he hasn't been strict because I've been getting ready for my surgery.  So before I started my diet, I ate what I wanted to....within reason of course.  I started the diet on friday, and I was suprised that I wasn't hungry.....until now.  I haven't been following it exactly, but for the most part.  I was supposed to just have the slimfast low carb drinks.  But I got my samples of the syntha 6 and lean dessert protein shakes in, so I've tried one a day.  And I've also had a chicken breast in the evening.  DH had lap band done in October and he only had to do a week of the liquid diet, and he could have a chicken breast.  So I figured it was okay since it's the same dr.  This is really hard....but it will be over soon!

I am so excited!!!  I got a letter in the mail this last wednesday and I called th office and asked if the letter meant what I thought it did.  I had to leave a message for someone to call me back, and she called back at about 5:45pm.  She said to call back the next day to schedule.  I called and I had to leave another message, and I couldn't wait for her to call me back since today was a holiday.  So I called until I got to talk to her, and I am tenatively scheduled for August 8th.  I asked if that was the next available, then I realized it wasn't that far away!  I have a month to enjoy the things I can't have after surgery, without going overboard of course.

I'm still nervous about the whole thing.  I want it done, but I'm scared the first couple of days I'm going to wonder what I did to myself.  I know it's not going to cure my weight problem, it's just a tool.  I don't think I'm taking the easy way out.  But if I don't have it done, I'm going to keep getting heavier and be so unhappy with myself.  But now it's not just about me, it's about being healthy and living for my son and showing him good eating habits.  I'm not ashamed of this decision, I'm proud of both Stephen and I for making this change.