Is it best to do a pre - pre -op diet?

[yorkiegal]

I've been reading sugga's thread (hope you're feeling better hun) about going onto the milk diet and wondered if it is best to start cutting out various foods a few weeks before it's time to start the pre-op diet or not? Perhaps to stop it being such a harsh adjustment? I've been doing the slimfast plan all week and had some trouble with an upset tummy, so I'm a bit worried I might have the same with any milk diet.

So all you post oppers. Did you cut back on fatty foods before the pre-op diet began or was it too much of a temptation to have some final splurges whilst you still could?

 

[Bev]

I did an extra fortnight of vigilance prior to the pre op... firstly for the purpose of getting my insulin lowered down, secondly to get my brain in gear, thirdly, to accept eating less for the pre op... and for me it paid off to cut back early and think ahead... it's also been of great benefit to my diabetes so far.

Love and hugs xxx

 

[goingtobehappy]

I also started cutting back earlier, just to get my mind and body partly prepared for what was coming. Also though I knew the more I had lost the better position I was for surgery.

 

[yorkiegal]

yes that's why i'm on the slimfast diet right now Andrea. I want to drop a couple of stone before the surgery. 3lbs down since monday so far according to my Wii.

 

[dottychic]

I was a terrible role model lol.......I had so many last meals before I started on the milk diet It didnt make the severe pre-op any easier and thats for sure ...dont follow my lead and you may find it easier post op too XX

 

[shelbell]

I commented on suggas thread to say this already, if you want to minimise the first few hellish days, slowly cut your carbs down to absolute minimum over 3-4 weeks beforehand.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[Grace]

I cut down on carbs and had a high protien, low fat, low carb diet for a month before my pre-op milk diet. I did have a 'last meal' of fish n chips, but just the one. All the other last meals' were high protein,low carb, low fat.

I also cut out sweets, chocolate, cake and such about 6 months pre-op - not completely, but almost. So I'd already weaned myself off a lot of stuff before my surgery.

I have to say I didn't struggle much on the milk diet at all. The worst thing was the lack of actual eating - but since I went to my brother's wedding and stayed in a posh hotel, + watched the rest of the family eat out for 4 days, I think I did very well!

So I'd say yes, it really helps and go for it.

Grace xxx

 

[phatmomma]

People have asked this question before about starting a pre op style diet early.. The answer has always been, we have to go without food on the pre op and to make your body cut down drastically over a longer period is not good. I would suggest trying to cut down your carbs as carb withdrawal is a *****... If you can cut out rubbish and start replacing 'nice treats' with healthier alternatives then that would be good.

Best advice i could give is start exercising, 30 minutes of walking a day will have you fitter for surgery xx

 

[Grace]

Just to clarify - I think no-one should do the milk diet or any other pre-op liver shrinking diet for any longer than their provider advises.

The liver shrinking diet is very specific and to continue longer than advised is medically dangerous - because it can leave you nutritionally deficient and therefore mess up certain blood levels, which need to be right for safe surgery.

BUT to cut down on unhealthy treats and follow a healthy diet, and to cut down on carbs, is perfectly fine and safe. And a good idea. But CUT DOWN, not completely cut out.

Grace xxx

 

[Big an Bouncy]

Glad I cut out sweet stuff and other baddies since xmas cos I have had no time to cut down before going pre op.Still missing the carbs though and only day two!Perhaps my headache was that!

 

[Grace]

It almost certainly was Maz. xxx

 

[Podgie]

Hi guys Iv just been reading this thread, Wat happens if you don't like dairy, like me, is there another pre op diet. I have just been put on the list at SRH. Just waiting for my endoscopy they said 4-6mths for op. I'm having a bypass xxxx

 

[angie790]

I put myself on quite a strict 'diet' before my pre-op diet, knowing my date was going to be coming through relatively soon. I have to say although I ended up on my pre-op diet for a month due to the provider cancelling my op last minute, I didn't sruggle too much at all with the diet in the end. So, yes, I would say cutting back & trying to eat as healthily as you can, will almost certainly be a help to you when the time comes for you to actually start your pre-op diet properly.....not so much of a shock to the system! xxx

 

[dottychic]

I actually didnt do too bad thinking about it.....I did have too many last meals but I had already cut out sweets, chocolate cakes etc and most carbs due to my Diabetes .......so thinking I was really bad I actually was quite angelic.....for me XX

 

[sugga]

Great thread. I started cutting down on carbs or so i thought a couple weeks before starting the milk diet, but i was still having lots of ww meals with pasta or spaghetti and crispbreads instead of bread. To late for me but i wish i have gone on a high protein, low fat eating plan.

What i went through on tues and wed was so bad that i had to ring the specialist nurse on 2 occasions as i was worried.

I cant believe the contrast to how im feeling now and im not hungry at all and just tiring easily but hey oh i dont care. I have suffered though and like i have commented on another thread if my wls is cancelled next thurs then i shall stay on this diet and just up certain foods as advised by my team, im not prepared to go through that again and im not joking. xxxx

 

[yorkiegal]

sounds very much like the reaction i had to the lighter life plan. Day 3 and 4 I felt like death warmed up and could barely walk from the bus stop to my midweek weigh in. then I went into ketosis and got a massive energy burst.

 

[Podgie]

Gosh guys, so where do you start. Iv got to lose 5kg before my endoscopy (6-8wks) then they will put me on the list. I'm still hoping for 1st week in June (positive mental attitude).
I obviously eat all the wrong foods sweets diet coke, pastries and of course carbs you name any unhealthy food I consume it.
Now I know Iv got to stop eating these food types, but to actually chose one at a time to give up is hard. I dont want to reduce/give up to many at once and fail and feel disheartened. But I would rather do it now than be really struggling after surgery.
Does anyone understand me xxxx

 

[angie790]

Gosh guys, so where do you start. Iv got to lose 5kg before my endoscopy (6-8wks) then they will put me on the list. I'm still hoping for 1st week in June (positive mental attitude).
I obviously eat all the wrong foods sweets diet coke, pastries and of course carbs you name any unhealthy food I consume it.
Now I know Iv got to stop eating these food types, but to actually chose one at a time to give up is hard. I dont want to reduce/give up to many at once and fail and feel disheartened. But I would rather do it now than be really struggling after surgery.
Does anyone understand me xxxx

Totally understand hon, it is hard, but without meaning to sound harsh, how badly do you want the surgery? How badly do you want to lose weight? How badly do you want this surgery to change your life and be successful? Simply put, if you are having WLS to turn your life around, something has to change. You can't expect to have it and one day in a few weeks time you'll wake up thin....if this forum does nothing else, it surely shows you how hard many of us still need to work after the op to keep the weight coming off. If you don't cut out all this rubbish food now, and try to embrace a new eating & exercise regime to complement the surgery, then quite simply, you are doomed to failure before you even start, as long term, sticking to a poor high fat, high carb diet will ultimately mean you weight loss will stop...and then it will slowly creep back on again.

It is difficult, but take one day at a time. Take the time to really consider everything that you eat & see what you can do to swap to healthier options...semi-skimmed or skimmed milk instead of full fat milk, WW bread instead of normal bread, low-fat spread instead of butter, half-fat cheese instead of full-fat, NAS squashes instead of fizzy-sugar laden drinks, cutting out take-aways & real junk food & stop buying in crap so you feel compelled to eat it. Also, experiment with cooking nice meals for yourself, including a nice sweet dish or low-fat cake or muffin etc, so that way you don't feel deprived, but that you have something naughty & just for you alone to have. Try to starting exercising more too, even if all you can manage is a walk a day. By slowly making changes now, it really is worth it I promise, especially when it comes to doing to pre-op diet & immediately after surgery, when it really can be a shock to your system if you go 'cold-turkey'.

 

[yorkiegal]

Gosh guys, so where do you start. Iv got to lose 5kg before my endoscopy (6-8wks) then they will put me on the list. I'm still hoping for 1st week in June (positive mental attitude).
I obviously eat all the wrong foods sweets diet coke, pastries and of course carbs you name any unhealthy food I consume it.
Now I know Iv got to stop eating these food types, but to actually chose one at a time to give up is hard. I dont want to reduce/give up to many at once and fail and feel disheartened. But I would rather do it now than be really struggling after surgery.
Does anyone understand me xxxx

It's really hard isn't it? I've found that keeping a food diary helps quite a lot. Also making sure I have a proper breakfast. The two times I've skipped breakfast have both been the days i've ended up going out to the shop in the evening to stock up on chocolate again.
Also, be prepared. I'm doing the slimfast plan. I have plenty of milk in the house and also healthy meals for the next few days.
I'm also keeping a mood diary , writing down whats going on for me each day and seeing if there is any link between my mood and wanting to overeat.

 

[Podgie]

Thanks yorkiegal and angie. It all seems to be down to preparation eh and planing meals and shopping lists. Thanks for yr advice. I am due to go shopping on Monday so I will plan my meals on Sunday. Im a taxi driver working wed to Sunday nites, so I generally sleep most of the day. So hense I always grab quick food. But like you said keeping it a day at a time, I should succeed.

So where are you two on Yr journeys? Xxxxxx