Phase 1- Full Liquid 1 Diet

This is my Bariatric Solutions Phase 1- Full Liquid 1 Diet:

Liquids Allowed:

• Water
• Sugar Free Flavored Water (Propel, Fruit 20)
• Decaffeinated/Unsweetened Tea
• Decaffeinated Coffee
• Crystal Light
• Minute Maid Light
• Tropicana Sugar Free Drink
• Sugar Free Kook-Aid
• Sugar Free Jell-o
• Sugar Free Popsicles (<20 calories)
• Clear Bouillon or broth
• Milk: Fat Free, Skim, 1%, Lactaid or plain Soy Milk

1. Drink 4 ounces of liquids every hour your awake (1 ounce every 15 minutes)
2. Measure all of your liquids (1 oz = 1/8 cup, 30 mil or a coffee scoop)
3. Rinse your mouth with Listerine (astringent mouthwash) 2-3 times daily for 2 weeks
4. Sip slowly. Do not use straws, sports bottle with a sports cap or sippy cups.
5. Your total fluid intake should be 48-64 oz. daily to avoid dehydration. If not able to consume at least 48 oz. of fluid for more than 2 days call the office to be evaluated for dehydration.
6. Limit coffee and tea to no more than 2 cups daily.
7. 1 cup milk = 8g protein, limit milk to no more than 2 cups daily.
8. Avoid carbonated beverages - even sodas
9. Avoid Gatorade, Powerade, Fruit Juice and any other sugary beverages.
10. Avoid gum
11. Supplement with 80-90 grams of protein daily. Women should supplement with 80 grams of protein. Men should supplement with close to 90 grams of protein. Protein supplements are necessary to avoid medical and nutritional problems. Protein supplements count toward your fluid intake.

That'll be a week of that. I'm thinking that I'll do okay with it although I'm sure I'll be tired of liquids so it may be harder than what I'm thinking.

I'll also have to monitor my heart rate because an elevated heart rate is a sign of dehydration. If it's over 110 bpm with palpitations then I need to call the office to be evaluated for dehydration.

I honestly don't understand how people can say this is the easy way out. It's going to be pretty darn hard for a while.

Optifast Day 21, April 22 2015

I'm not going to go over day 20 because it's been the same as the other days.

I got my results for the H. Pylori and thankfully it's negative but now I wonder where the gastritis and polyps are coming from. I don't know how long it'll take to get the results for that but I'm anxious to know it. 

April 21'st was my second nutrition class and it was a lot of information to take in. It was about the day before surgery and the day after. I also got weighed and I'm on track for next weeks weigh-in!! That was pretty awesome. 

Okay here's some information about what my bariatric program requires for surgery: 

I'm keeping a food diary now but I'll continue to keep one after the surgery and bring it with me to all post-op appointments

Week 1: Full Liquid 1 Diet
Week 2-3: Full Liquid 2 Diet
Week 4: Pureed Diet
Week 5-6: Solid Food 1 Diet (soft solid food)
Week 7: Solid Food 2 Diet (regular solid food)

Wow! 7 weeks until I can have regular food! That seems like a long time. The dietitian said that I'll be craving salads so get them in now. Honestly, I think there will be other things that I'll be craving.

The day before surgery is:

• No Food and stop taking Optifast or any protein supplements
• Follow a clear liquid diet only
• Drink at least 100 ounces of fluids but it's things that I can drink now so I don't think it'll be that bad regarding what I can drink.
• Exercise Goal: At least 30-45 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity to prepare you for minimal exercise to come in the next few days.

The 100 ounces of fluid is going to be a bit hard, but I told my mother that I'll probably have a hard time sleeping so it won't matter if I'm up and down going to the restroom through the night. 

I'm now able to walk 45 minutes but I can't do it moderate to vigorously because of my asthma. They'll just have to accept that. I think it's awesome that I can walk 45 minutes now!

Optifast Day 2 April 12, 2015

Today is day 2 of my optifast diet. I messed up and drank a shake for my noon meal instead of a real meal but I made up for it at my 3:00 meal. I'll have the optifast tomato soup at 6:00 and then the rest will be shakes.

For my real meal I had tuna with low fat mayo, green beans and a small apple. I also put some marinated chicken breasts in the crock-pot so I can do something different than the tuna. It's really hard doing the protein, veggie, fruit and a fat all at the same meal because I would love to have an apple for a snack. 

I went to walmart today and got some more SF jello and some pickles for when I need something for cravings. I also got some Watkins flavor extracts to put in the shakes because I really don't like the chocolate one! I got mint, banana, caramel and lemon. 

Honestly, it's hard fighting the head hunger! I'm so glad that I can have the sugar free jello and popsicles and pickles. 

I woke up with a stabbing headache that I know is coming from my body detoxing. Hopefully, my system will be clean in a couple days. Good news is I lost 1.4 lbs. I also walked for 20 minutes this morning and hopefully will walk it again this evening. I made sure to use my inhaler before walking which made it so much easier. 

Can't say I'm looking forward to tomorrow but at least it'll be one more day closer to surgery.

Optifast Diet Day 1 April 11, 2015

The day has finally come!! I had my packet meeting on Friday and bought my Optifast foods. I started the diet today and it's been okay. I got the shakes and soups plan and got vanilla and chocolate shakes and tomato soup. They really aren't bad at all, it's just going to be hard to be around tempting food until my body gets used to the diet. I have to use the Optifast products for 5 meals and can have a meal of a protein, veggie, fruit and a fat. It's very strict on what I can and can't have. They also have to be eaten as a meal, not added to the Optifast food. That part I don't like. To get everything in, I've ended up eating every 3 hours which is a lot for me. I have to do this for 4 weeks! I keep telling myself that it'll pass fast.