Liquid diet is highlighting my food addiction...

Wow. This has been a really hard day. Who knew that starting on my liquid diet would be so challenging. I guess I never really thought about how obsessed with food I was until I took a day off from it. It's sort of amazing how much of my time and thoughts normally go to food. I keep trying to remember that I'm more than a mouth! I'm more than the next bite. I'm trying to imagine a life not ruled by my hunger and taste buds. I'm trying to imagine a new life where food is only fuel and not comfort, pleasure, stress reduction, and a million other things I eat for. Also, today I can really feel my body and I don't like it. I can feel my weight and I hurt all over. No distraction from food to forget about the physical prison of fat I have made for myself. *deep breath*

This is intense. Is this a preview of what you feel after surgery or does it get easier? I feel like an alcoholic on the first day off the drink. Food...I had no idea how addicted I was until now!

I love myself enough to change. I want to feel comfortable in my body. I can feel my feelings instead of eat them. I can do other hobbies aside from cooking/eating/food network, etc. I am more than a mouth! I'm a whole person who has eaten herself into two people. I don't want to be this way any longer. I don't want to just lose weight...I want to get my life back.

I will get my life back. Today is the first day of many where I put myself first and the food last. I'm changing with every breath. I'm enough.

(sorry for the rant...I just had to scream out or risk going out to the drive through. God, please help me move through this...and all of you who are reading...please, know that I couldn't do this without knowing I could be myself here and find acceptance and support through this. Thanks.)

  It gets much easier after surgery.  Unfortunately, it will most likely get much harder around day three of the liquid diet. I likened it to a heroin addict going cold turkey when I told my NUT and surgeon how much I was suffering.  But it does get much easier around day five, and it is not a problem at all after surgery.  You won't even want to eat.

It is like some crazy drug addiction, isn't it? I have read that it will get worse before it gets better. I'm having a hard time imagining that now. *sigh* I'm going to keep my chin up, my mouth closed, and just do what all of you have already done and just made it through! Thanks for the reply...it's nice to know I'm not alone. :)

You'll make it. By day five you sort of get into this routine with the liquids and you start to have less cravings for food.  At the end of the two weeks, the only thing I missed was chewing and warm stuff.  My liquid diet was protein shakes and water only, so no broth or jello. In the end, you'll be better for having gone through it because you'll greatly reduce the chances of complications and make the surgeons job easier.  And if there was ever a person whose job you wanted to make easier, it's your surgeons. :)

 It gets sooo much easier. I think the first week of the pre surgery diet is definitely the hardest.  I'm not a veteran, I'm 4 weeks post op, but so much has changed already.  For me, the online blogs etc. have been a huge help. Figuring out that the surgery is truly a wonderful tool, but that without dealing with the "head stuff" it is possible to regain.  Hang in there.  "This too will pass".  

I am a week and half post op and also with Blue Point.  I struggled with the liquid diet so I understand.  Just stay strong!  After surgery I was not even hungry and now even crystal light is o to sweet so I have to water it down.

 I never thought in my life I would be senstivie to sweets.  I could eat icing out of the container with no problem!

You will be suprized how your body will adjust to new eating habits after surgery.  Foods you once thought you could  never live without you no longer desire in the same addictive fashion.   My surgeon is Halmi and Courtney the NUT said I could add two protein shakes in between the Opti Fast. 

Athough I am still a bit sore and healing I feel, lighter, and healthier allready. 

Remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  You can do it!

 i wish this could kick in for me sooner than later. i am post op but i hate this liquid diet thing they have me on....i want real food, i want to chew something, i want to feel something in my tummy arrrggghhhhhhh boy this is gonna be a tough road.....

I am a week and a day post op.  I had one heck of a time with the optifast, they allow us over here in Canada to have beef,chicken or vegetable broth in between the shakes and lots and lots of water of course.  By week two it gets easier, I kept super, super busy, cleaning and doing things to get my apartment ready before the surgery, that helped a lot. Its well worth it to stick to the diet because my surgeon told my husband he could tell I followed his instructions to the T.  He says it makes his job much easier when you do what they ask you to and they can tell if you have slipped up.  Hang in there, its well worth it in the end. xoxo

Thanks for posting that. I understand where you are coming from. I am also a new post-op (surgery was 6/21). I agree with the other posters that it does get easier. During my liquid diet I had physical hunger not just head hunger. But after surgery you will not be hungry. I am now dealing with head hunger. Hang in there. You can do this and this is a wonderful and safe place to post your feelings, ask questions and get advice. One thing that really helped me get through the liquid diet was sf Popsicles and sf gum. There are a lot of flavors to choose from. I also ate sf Italian ices which were very good. Good luck.

The liquid pre-op diet for me was TORTURE! I am the type of person who wouldn't eat all day and then binge at night. So I really didn't think it was going to bother me. Day 3 I was bawling like a baby (I had PMS too) it was awful. Then all of a sudden it was fine. I was freaking out though thinking "how am I going to do the whole liquid thing after surgery" Well, I had my surgery on Friday and I in no way have any desire to eat. If I feel the need to chew, I chew on a sugar free Popsicle. I am not hungry at all and it is really difficult to get all the liquid in.

YOU CAN DO THIS!! It's hard, but you WILL get through it. (((hugs)))