Day 4 of Opti and struggling

I'm on day 4 of Opti and I'm struggling today more than I have. I'm really really hungry. I've just had my 3rd shake and some veggies but I'm ravenous. I'm exhausted and grumpy.

Please tell me this gets easier? My family are fending for themselves food wise (hubby and 2 girls age 9 and 3) because I just don't trust myself to prepare their food and not eat any of it. I had a tbsp of peanut butter on day 1 and felt so guilty that I've avoided touching anything I'm not allowed.

I know this is the "easy" part and preparing me for after surgery but I didn't expect it to be so hard.

It's definitely hard! I really struggled the first few days. And the level of exhaustion is hard core. Can you have broth or sugar free jello? I found I had to space the shakes out the first few days at every three hours and then if hungry in between I had a cup of broth and then a cup of jello at the next in between. Also drink lots of water. The first five or six days are the hardest and then t becomes more routine. The other thing is if it's just the head saying you're hungry rather than actual physical hunger make sure you have stuff to occupy you this weekend, not being busy was hard on the weekend because it didn't keep my brain off the fact that I wanted food.

I found the Opti stage to be the hardest as you're still hungry now but you likely won't be hungry at all for a long time after surgery. It's totally worth the struggle though so be strong!

I did my two shakes morning and noon. Then had a third around 4:00 pm. I made a dinner of steamed vegetables and actually sat down and ate them as meal. My final shake was at 9:00.

In between I had jello, broth, herbal teas, water, flavoured water.

By the end I was just in a groove and it was OK. Try getting more fluid in to fill you up in between.

Keep at it...you can do it!

This is not the easy part. Opti is the hard part. You are doing everything on will power alone. It does get better but don't be hard on yurself.

Hang in there. You got this. Also. I outlawed peanut butter in my house. I could not stop are the right amount.

I'm allowed 2 cups of green veggies per day and broth so I made a little broth and stir fried the rest of my veggies putting in chilli powder and it really made me feel like I was having a meal. I think that'll be the key for me. Even though it was one cup worth.

My shakes are spaced out 9,1,5,9. I'm drinking 2.5-3lts of water on top of the shakes.

Tonight I felt really ashamed of myself in that I went to pick my daughter up from daycare and left my wallet at home because I didn't trust myself not to cheat and call in somewhere on the way back. I really wish I had more will power. Trying to be positive and tell myself at least I done something proactive when I knew I might waiver.

I honestly didn't anticipate this being so tough and I know a lot of people breeze through this and say they wi**** was as easy post op.

However my mini stir fry has really helped. Now if the bloody headache would do one that'd be great.

Proud of you for realizing your weakness and doing something to prevent a slip up. You recognize that this is a chance of a lifetime, take a deep breath and take one minute at a time. You can do this!!

Can't wait to hear about the next leg of your journey.

Ooh lucky you with the green veggies, what I wouldn't give for some snap peas and asparagus. Brilliant idea with the stir fry!

And I say all the power to you re: your wallet, I call that a little planning and forethought when you might be triggered to making a bad choice...it's a skill you'll need on an ongoing basis after surgery so you just got a head start. You can choose to frame it with shame or with feelings of empowerment in making a good choice. You got this!!

We're almost there :) just over a week to go for us.