Here is my Pre Op Diet Plan (for Newbies)

 

Help your surgeon out, and yourself- put yourself on a diet if the surgeon didn't.  Losing weight will help to shrink the liver, and thus make your surgery and recovery go smoother.  And, it is a great jumpstart to your weight loss, kind of like free pounds off since your honeymoon period does not start until post op.  I lost 26 or more pounds pre op.  It didn't feel like I lost a thing, nobody could tell, etc.  But once I piled on my 2 months loss post up with it, then I really could tell and it was rejuvenating as all get out.   Now my eating habits were at rock bottom when I started the process, so I actually started trying to lose weight and clean up my eating habits 3 months prior to surgery.  Didn't loose squat that first month, but for the first time in a long time I didn't gain either.  I am so grateful I spent the 3 months working on it because I was ready for the drastic change post op as a result.  It would have been so much harder otherwise.  Here is the plan they had me on, and I use Premier Protein shakes (Sams or Costco).  Please note that this should not supersede what your team is recommending for you.

They called it a 3+1, but amended it for me to a 4+1, cause the amazon chick was hungry.   Super simple- for the three meals a day, replace 2 of them with the shake.  They recommended breakfast and lunch, but I eventually figured out I did much better if I did breakfast and dinner, otherwise I felt like I didn't eat hardly at all during the day.  The other meal is high protein and includes a lot of low starch veggies.  Skip the side of carbs.  Stick to your lean protein.  I also had snacks built in, and the NUT tailored it around my natural eating times.  For me this is what it looked like pre op:

6 a.m. Shake

9 a.m. Shake

12:40  Lunch, my one "regular" meal of the day

3:45 Snack, usually a protein bar or the "4th" shake

6:30  Shake

8 Sometimes a snack, very light in calories like fresh fruit or veggies

At the end of the day the goal was to stay under 1200 calories.  Fruit was used to satiate my devilish sweet tooth.  The NUT conceded I am a total crack head when it comes to my coffee with cream, so that was worked into the plan.  After a while I switched out the 4th shake for fresh fruit and veggies to help lower the calories, and by then the smaller portions were easier to deal with.

Usually they use a 3+1 plan (3 shakes and 1 regular meal), but I ate so early in the morning that it was too long to go until lunch, thus the Nut put in the 9 a.m. shake.  The first 4 days was really hard, but after that it got easier and easier.  I was diabetic and after a few days I could really feel a positive difference on how I felt too.  I was insulin resistant too, so the weight came off very, very slowly in those days.  I also started exercising, albeit very light compared to what I do now.  I just tried to walk a mile a day, or 20 minutes.  Back then I was super fat so that was a lot.  Best thing I ever did was to force myself to do the pre op diet and start forming the exercise habit.  it went a long, long way to getting me to goal.  I wasn't perfect.  During those three months I quit and restarted several times, but I did stick with it.  

Help yourself out, you won't regret it!

Wow. I didn't get half that for 9 days. I got 3 shakes and broth/jello/popsicles and that was totally it. 

Thank you for posting this . I have been on a pre op diet for the past month but it has been a real struggle for me. Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks until i have my surgery - Jan 21 . I have lost a few pounds . This post is just what i needed to buckle down and  keep going on my pre op diet for the next 2 week .

 

Thanks again !

Christine

 

Hi happyteacher!  I'm also a teacher and have viewed several of your posts over the course of my journey.  I'm so excited to see how well you have done and it's inspiring to me. 

When I reached my rock bottom this last June 2012, I started to change my eating habits as well.  I knew that even if I couldn't get the surgery I would HAVE to do something.  My own pre-pre op diet looked a little different from yours in that I didn't incorporate protein shakes until the pre-op diet, but I put my focus on protein, small meals throughout the day, and counting calories.  I lost 30 lbs. before the pre-op diet my surgeon put me on.  It would have been SO much harder going from eating the way I was to a pre-op liquid diet.  Definitely helped out in the long run!

Newly sleeved I see... You will do great!   If you are an elementary teacher come up with a plan to deal with all of the birthday treats the kids give you.  My class last year suggested raffling them off- worked brilliantly.  They knew to be respectful with a student dropped one off, and loved the raffle of the treat.   Good luck on your journey!

Great idea. I teach high school, but I still have students who like to bring in birthday and holiday treats. They would love a raffle!

My pre-op starts 10 days before surgery, although surgery isn't until Feb. I started Jan. 2. just on a low carb diet right now. My husband is on the diet with me so it is helping out a lot!

Breakfast// Lunch/Dinner: low calorie protein shake or non fat yogurt or cottage cheese.

The rest of the day (or if your still hungry at meal time), you can have clear liquids.

Clear Liquids are beef and chicken broth, apple, cranberry and grape juice, skim milk and sugar free jello.

Drink at least 8 glasses of water or more a day.

Maybe this will help someone out my Dr. plans are not that specific they are kinda read between the lines after surgery so I plan on going by Elina's diet.

I would minimize the juice- the sugars can spike your insulin levels.  The broth and sf jello are good!  I also really like flax milk (25 calories, but skim milk works) with hot chai tea.  Wonderful and only 25 calories overall :0)