What if I can't even get through pre-op diet???

I was fortunate that my doc's preop was not liquid only.  Not only did I get to choose between protein shakes and bars, but I got to have one meal a day (5 oz lean protein and some nonstarchy veg).

And yet, it still took some adjustment and wasn't easy.

But I was just excited about the surgery to come, the changes to come, and just... stuck to it.

Good luck Melody!! I'm right here with you!!! I just ordered all my protein drinks for the pre opt diet today. I start on June 26th, boo! :)

I'm worried too, but we GOT THIS :)

I had completed a 17 week WW at work program before attending the education session and had lost 5% of my total weight, and was able to maintain that weight loss almost until my surgery date.  Right before surgery I gained about 5 lbs. back.  I only had one day of a liquid diet, the day before my surgery.  It was tough but I managed.  The first couple weeks out are proving a *****allenging, but again, knowing I will be able to eat "real" food again within a week is motivating.  As others have replied here, it is a mind/body thing.  You have to be commited in your head to make the changes in order for the tool (surgery) to be successful for you.  Don't beat yourself up and take it one day at a time.  If you fall, get up and move on.  And embrace new food choices, focusing on protein first.  Good luck to you!!

It is hard, but is it impossible? NO! I am currently on day 13 of my 2 week preop diet. First week was full liquids plus light yogurt and sugar free pudding but other than that cream soups (without pieces - had to be strained out) and anything you could drink. The unflavored Unjury protein works great in soups and broth. This 2nd week is clear liquids only with sf jello as the most substance. I get my protein in with coffee (vanilla) and with chicken and beef broth. I use the Unjury chicken in with chicken boullion and Unjury unflavored in with beef boullion broth. I use Vanilla Unjury with my coffee and voila - 60 gms of protein in 3 cups. Lots of crystal light and crangrape in between. I also like the Premiere vanilla, strawberry and chocolate premade shakes for on the go last week and for lunch at work. IT IS HARD - BUT YOU CAN DO IT!! Take it one day at a time. Go for a walk if you want to open your fridge or pantry. I won't lie, I cheated. I had tomato soup a few days ago when I was supposed to be on clear liquids. Did I beat myself up? NO. I will succeed and be on the road to recovery in a couple of days. You will be there soon too!!

Chicken or beef broth wasn't worth me opening the container! I just strained chicken noodle soup or veggie beef or whatever--the flavor is so much more convincing! LOL!

 I honestly did not believe that I would even survive the pre-op diet.  Up to that point I ws an unconscience eater.  If I saw it, I ate it.  That is the truth pure and simple.  I managed the liquid diet with the support of everyone here, and through the thought that it would make surgery easier.  I had my surgery on Friday, and because I had stuck to the pre-op diet so diligently, they were able to do four small cuts instead of five, and did not have to use a liver retractor to move the liver out of the way.  I fully believe that is why I am doing so well right now.  I just came in form a short walk, and feel pretty good considering.  I am not going to tell you I don;t have discomfort, because I do, but think it is easier due to my early committment.  You can do this!  Find flavors of shakes you like, and enjoy the sugar free jello and popcicles if permitted.  Hang in there, you have come to the right place for support. 

Syntrax nectars... were a god send... u can add extra water and Mio to even out the taste :-) and they give plenty of variety... http://si03.com/medical/med_index.htm  They have a 14 flavor sample pack for $14, free shipping :-)

Also, I add the PB2 to my chocolate shake... takes it from OK to actually enjoyable!

GOOD LUCK

Hi guys -

Thank you so much for your support!  I know if ya'll can do it, then I can too.  I'm sorry to sound like a whiny baby...I'm drinking it up!!

Melody

I don't think you're a whiney baby at all, just normal and a bit freaked out about the changes you're facing.
I found it really helpful to shop for all the stuff I'm allowed during my pre-op diet and organize it in "my" corner of the kitchen.
If you have to cook for other people while you're doing it make a point of not cooking your favourites and of having your shake before you start cooking.
Remember - this is very short term - keep your eyes on the prize.

Maybe I'd have to go back and read all my posts from the very first one pre-op but as I sit here right now I don't remember any of the protein shakes or bars being 'horrible'. I agree with the other poster, that the "suck it up" component is there.

I kept trying to come up with psychological things that would get/keep me inspired and at the time (3 years ago) of course the war was still raging. I kept thinking how whiney and ridiculous it was for me to ***** and moan about not being able to have "this' or 'that' and how horrible water was (course I've always loved water) was and blah blah blah BECAUSE I knew that every minute I was *****ing there was someone in Iraq or Afghanistan fighting for me and what THEY would have done and been grateful for a bottle of warm water and a stick of gum, a shower, no blisters on my feet, a safe place to sleep. How does that make you feel?

So yeah, it is what you make it. The brain is a powerful thing. That's why it's imperative to be positive, be upbeat, be aware of the choices you make (it's soooo easy to revert back to reaching for the wrong things out of complete habit--then the whole "what the hell am I doing?" thing hits you) and although your thought process doesn't happen overnight, it does get better.

We made years of wrong choices quite often by talking ourselves (easily) out of doing the right thing and NOT grabbing the twinkie or the donut or the extra scoop of mashed potatoes....you see my point? Now, every time you put food on your plate you're forced to make decisions. Wouldn't you rather fill your tiny new belly with stuff that will BURN your fat than with something that tastes good briefly, and does absolutely nothing for you? THAT'S the new way you have to live. It damn sure isn't prison, it's truly how most 'normal' people eat, absolutely how thin people eat. Slowly, deliberatly, and by making the right choice.

Does it mean you can never have a bite of this or that? No, not at all. It's just going to be awhile. But by making consistently right choices for at least the first 6 months, perhaps the bad choices will be a bad memory. I know for sure that there are things that damn sure were good, sinful even, but were they really worth being fat for? No way. It is so easy to give in to moods or bad days or whims.......with the wrong food. We think healthy is yucky, when it's just the opposite. We've never made ourselves do anything we didn't want to do. Now we have to, and you'll find new ways to cook, new spices to use, new ways to create things you never would have bothered to do in the past. You simply won't believe how SIMPLE it is.

I'll never go back. Yes, I creeped back up a few lbs from my lowest, but honest to god, I never deny myself something like a bite of pasta salad or a forkfull of hashbrown, but basically pasta, all bread, potatoes, are off the table permamently. Once you get it in your mind that what it does against you, not for you, is NOT worth the momentary taste on your lips. It really isn't.

We grill a lot. My favorite thing is sliced zucchini or peppers with a little cajun spices skewered with shrimp, beef or chicken. Even after three years I can't eat a whole dinner salad--so I choose a protein based salad and do the best I can while still getting in some good carbs. When you're full, you're full and you'll know soon enough if you took one bite too many. Please get to know yourself and avoid the 'foamies' and puking that comes with it. Remember how much you could eat and be sickening full? You thought you were happy, "Ha ha ha, I'm so full I could puke" and the gas and the heartburn and the feeling you just wanted to let it out somewhere? Well, when your stomach is so small and right at the end of the esophagus instead of curving down away from it, you really have food still in your esophagus and it wants out. Now. So avoid that last bite whenever possible.

So yeah, I've gone way beyond my rant, but the bottom line is that yes, you'll have to make some changes, and they WON'T kill you, rather they'll make you live.

Cowgirl up!