Starting my 2 week pre-op diet - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes

Teneasa · 11-29-2007, 09:07 PM

My surgery is December 17th, 2007 and I have been on the Optifast liquid

drinks? This is my 5th day and I am really having a hard time... I have begun to lose weight so thats a plus... but it is hard.

Anyone else on this plan? How are you doing on it? What has your weight loss been?

SCHIPPERS · 11-29-2007, 09:25 PM

You know how we all have said are new years ressolutions will be to loose weight, well finally after all these years I can really stick to that, my pre opp diet starts january 2nd, and mine is for three weeks, I am in Norway, so I can choose from three kind's of shakes, or what they call here knakerbrod diet, which amounts to 2 wheat crackers at breakfast with some kind of seafood spread, or cottage cheese,
same for lunch .
for dinner 2 oz of chicken breast, or seafood, and a small potatoe or 2 tablespoons of cooked rice, or pasta.
no juices allowed, just coffee and tea without sugar, surger free saft,
so im not sure which one I will go for, I have tryed the shakes and I like them if they are with alot of ice in a blender as well, also I tryed heating my water up and putting it in hot water kinda like a hot choclate, that was ok, my problem is I will fast get board and tired of eaither of these, Im thinking to combine them, will call and see first, like monday shakes, teausday crackers, wen- shakes, ecttt.... we will see, good luck to all , can not waite to hear how it goes.Gog be with us all.
Connie.

Hello Katie · 11-30-2007, 10:25 AM

Goodluck Teneasa and Connie!

Today is day 2 and it's going much better than yesterday. I had some chicken noodle soup broth this morning (it's so sad pushing all the noodles and chicken down the garbage disposal) and then after staring at the protein shake container for 5 minutes I decided to give it another shot. It's a strawberry flavored one and I mixed it with as little water as possible so I wouldn't have to drink much and added a little white grape juice to it which made the taste a lot more tolerable. It felt a little heavy in my tummy for a bit but I didn't get sick like yesterday and I feel fine now! I'm soo relieved.

Hello Katie · 12-07-2007, 02:24 PM

A little update... I haven't been doing well with getting my protein in. I actually have had 2 days (not in a row) where I didn't eat any protein at all. I gag and it makes me almost throw up as I'm trying to drink it and it also just feels so gross in my stomach.

I'm so focused on not cheating that I figured a few days with low protein wouldn't be that bad. I decided to call the Nutritionist to see if she had any ideas or encouraging words (ha, yeah right) and I also wanted to explain how I was confused about what exactly "clear liquids" are because the strained chicken noodle soup broth isn't clear and neither are the protein shakes.

After a week of "salty water", what I call soup broth, I got the idea of egg drop soup or other soup broths instead of the same thing every day. She said egg drop was fine as long as I strained out the egg. Which is confusing because the broth in it is egg based right? I mean eggs aren't a clear liquid so why would that soup be ok? But I was just happy that she said it was fine so I didn't say anything.

Then I thought about tomato soup. The Campbells version is made with a cup of water so I figured it would fine too but I wanted to call and double check. I know after surgery it's a no-no because of the acid and the new pouch thing but her response about it was "it's not clear so you can't eat it". To which I responded, very politely, "neither is the egg drop soup which has eggs and neither is the chicken noodle soup broth so I'm just a little confused" Then she says "well you can't drink milk bc it's not clear, you have to have clear liquids" I just let it go at this point because she doesn't seem to be explaining to me why and how this diet works and what I should be eating.

So I bring up the protein subject about having a hard time getting it in and how they're not clear so it confuses me. I asked her how imperative it is before surgery and she just says something about my hair falling out

I'm aware of that side effect but I was hoping for more of a.. "it won't effect the actual surgery or endanger you in that way but you need it not lose muscle mass and to help your hair from falling out"

Then she asked what proteins I've tried and I listed the bunch of things including New Whey vials, Nectar, Designer Whey, Isopure and 2 other powders.. and all she says is that there are a lot of different things to try (duh)
Then a couple minutes later she tells me to eat the PUDDING protein! PUDDING?! On a liquid diet!! Forget about it being clear, it's not even a liquid! I'm so confused and feel like nobody is listening or trying to help. It's not imperative that I eat tomato soup, it's just the responses I'm getting that are making me mad and discouraging me. I'm fine doing other soups I was just curious but everyone I talk to seems to know nothing about the pre-op diet

Tracie · 12-08-2007, 11:05 AM

My understanding of clear is anything you can see through...which would eliminate all milk based products except fruity proteins (ie nectar, pure whey vials, etc.) I don't get the protein pudding thing either. So sorry this has been such a nightmare for you. Good luck!

Hopus · 12-08-2007, 07:45 PM

I'm not up on your diet but maybe could you sugar free jello and put the tasteless protein powder in that?or have you tried the New Whey Liquid protein it has 42 g of protein it in like a test tub looking thing it is really thick i thought about putting it over ice chips like a snow cone
I don't know if I helped I'm all new to this too,sorry your having a hard time keep your chinn up!

Hello Katie · 12-08-2007, 09:24 PM

Thanks guys. Still doing my best. I haven't cheated but every day I plan out how and what I'm going to cheat with, of course I never actually do it though. I'm not going to try the pudding thing, I don't think that's right but I did have some Campbell's vegetable soup broth which has beef broth but also a little tomato paste. I only did it once because I couldn't stomach the thought of more chicken broth. I had a day where I didn't eat anything until 5pm. It seems like not eat ANYTHING is easier than trying to eat broth and protein shakes *sigh*
I wish I had a different diet plan. I read about other doctors having way more lenient pre-op diets. But 4 days to go.. I know I'll make it. It's just the post-op 2 weeks I'm really worried about

RobinC · 12-10-2007, 11:27 AM

I was on a high protein diet a while back and after 3 months found a good way to get my powdered protein down.

I would melt a whole box of cherry sugar free pop cicles into a bowl. Mix the powered plain protein with water and mix with pop cicle liquid. Then put into paper dixie cups with pop cicle sticks and refreeze. Because it was cold, it was like it froze my taste buds, and made it not as heavy on my stomach. Maybe this will help you. Good luck with your surgery!