Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Hi Everyone,
Today is my first day of my pre-op, liquid diet. I'm two weeks away from surgery.
I'm incredibly anxious about it. It was weird saying goodbye to solid food last night.
There is a tremendous amount of grief involved. I'm a psychotherapist, so it may sound dramatic, but it is like saying goodbye to a close friend, whether they were a good influence or bad.
I just keep having these repeat thoughts of eating through my sleeve and gaining back my weight, like I've done so many times.
I keep thinking of my doctor saying, "The surgery stops working within a year and then it's up to you". Well, that's failed every time...
Is ketosis required to maintain weight loss? I keep getting mixed opinions on this.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Welcome, best of luck to you. I will answer no on the ketosis question. What is required so far in my limited experience of two months is drinking enough, eating enough protein, and adding vegetables and carbs after if there is room. As time goes on, I have seen and heard that some people are able to eat more carbs, some can't or choose not to. But eating they way that your MD and dietitian instruct, along with hydration and exercise will produce results.
I understand what you mean about saying goodbye to a friend - especially if food was a comfort source which I am sure in your line of work you deal with plenty. But after surgery, after the clears, the fulls, soft - you can eventually add back in whatever types of food you tolerate. My surgeon was very realistic - he said that eventually I might want pizza, and if I could handle mentally only eating maybe a small slice or half of a slice, I would be fine. The thing is, I don't really have the same types of cravings I did before. Again, I am only two months in and waiting for my appetite to return. But I have been fine with eating with family or going out - I don't really want the things I used to.
This is a great group and those who have been at this a long time will give you great insight.
Also - not sure about the surgery not working after a year? Your stomach stays small - forever. What may change is the motivation to stick with the healthy lifestyle.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Day one of the pre-op diet was the hardest day for me through my entire process (I just reached 3 months post-op) Keep your head up it will be tough to get used to not eating your normal foods. The reward will soon follow when you get the surgery and you see your health improve and you see the pounds melt away.
Follow your medical teams instructions and you will sail right through the process and be a happy man. Best of luck to you!!
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
You are not really saying goodbye to food - just au revoir (until we meet again). Hopefully you and food will have a much better relationship post surgery. I know that my relationship has certainly changed. Food I craved pre surgery now has no attraction. I now look for fresh healthy delicious food which I enjoy very much.
The pre surgery diet was the worst part for me....and really it wasn't that bad. I knew that unlike any other diet I had been on it was for a finite time and that the reward at the end was a tool that was going to help me become a healthy energetic and happy person :-)
Good luck. I'm sure all will be good.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
I'm a week from starting my pre-op diet and I totally understand the saying goodbye to food thing. The 10 weeks between surgery approval and surgery day have been a long goodbye for me to my most comforting foods. I don't know if I'll ever enjoy my favorites again- considering tastes change. I just know that the almost 40 years of my life I've enjoyed the stuff. I previously described it as watching a terminal friend die. You're glad they'll no longer be in pain but saddened to not have them around anymore. Overall I'm excited to get on a healthy track and take my life back. Best of luck to you!
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jesse
Hi Everyone,
Today is my first day of my pre-op, liquid diet. I'm two weeks away from surgery.
I'm incredibly anxious about it. It was weird saying goodbye to solid food last night.
There is a tremendous amount of grief involved. I'm a psychotherapist, so it may sound dramatic, but it is like saying goodbye to a close friend, whether they were a good influence or bad.
I just keep having these repeat thoughts of eating through my sleeve and gaining back my weight, like I've done so many times.
I keep thinking of my doctor saying, "The surgery stops working within a year and then it's up to you". Well, that's failed every time...
Is ketosis required to maintain weight loss? I keep getting mixed opinions on this.
No on ketosis. No on it stops working.
Welcome! New friends will replace the old food ones. Activity and fun...good health. And you can eventually still eat favs. But a taste not a box, in my case, lol
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
I'm on day 8 of pre-op diet. It's been a much better experience than I expected. I don't like it by any means, but I've lost 12 pounds on this diet so far. I'm focused on the end result.
So yeah, this part is not fun, but it'll be worth it.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AnnieG
And you can eventually still eat favs. But a taste not a box, in my case, lol
that's one of the things that's helped me since I first met with my Surgeon 5 months ago. I've been on doctor's orders to lose weight along this journey, and I didn't want to disappoint and even worse, get denied for surgery. So I've lost 56 pounds so far. I've still had my favs but just bites of it instead of huge servings. And, for the most part, that's been sufficient. I haven't (until the liquid diet started) felt depraved.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Thanks for the responses.
I'm just really overwhelmed and nauseated by the liquid diet. The shakes start to get really gross. I'm only supposed to be getting about 800 calories per day.
This is day 2 and I just feel very very low.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Could you try a different brand of shake? I know that some are way better than others.
Are you allowed anything else? Soup, protein water?
Just remember the end goal. Hang in there.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
I've tried them all. I'm tired of sweet creamy drinks 4 times a day. Bouillon cube in hot water.
What bothers me is that I'm a fringe candidate. I'm probably 6 ft 260 right now. Maybe a little less. I can go on a diet and just be overweight rather than obese. So I'm starting myself so my stomach can be removed and I can feel ravenous all the time for 35 more pounds. I feel like shit. I'm weak. Just further highlights feeling like a freak lol.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
I've maintained my loss or 4 years now and have no idea what ketosis is, so no. And the surgery doesn't stop working after a year, you still have restriction when you eat how you should. Add exercise and you're good to go!
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Day 4 in the books for pre op diet. Day 1 and 2 were rough. But as my dr said “there’s light at the end of the tunnel”. I am on full liquid for 10 days staying under 800 calories. Sugar is a drug. Caffeine is a drug. Food is a drug. Stay strong! We’ve got this!!! You’ve got this ... you are stronger than you think
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Well. Apparently I'm not that strong. I ate an avocado today. And it was great. Plain. I couldn't eat another sweet thing. So far I've cheated twice. Organic, natural peanut butter (two tablespoons) and an avocado.
Re: Well - today was day one of my pre-op - liquid diet
Same here. Today is day 3 on the pre-op diet. I've had a bad taste in my mouth for 2 days with the chewable MV and quick dissolve B-12. So I'm definitely changing to the pill form of both vitamins. On top of the bad taste in my mouth, I hate the protein shake that I bought. I can't say it's super disgusting but it smells like medicine and I don't like the thickness of it. I'm not even going to waste my money changing shakes because it's just something I don't like so I'm going to power through so I can get in my protein.