Game changer!

I have seen it, heard it, and most likely even practiced it...playing games with a diet.  You know when you are a program diet and points are assigned and you try to get as much food as you can for as little points. The quest in a diet to be satisfied with volume and flavor in order to stay focused and successful if only for a temporary weight loss. I shared last post my disdain for a lightly sweetened protein shake with fruit to eaten 3-4 times a day. I want savory. In my need or desire for more savory, I consumed 1 protein shake or none in the past 5 days. Those choices were less healthy. I was up and down in weight gain these past 5 days. I hadn't considered that the liquid diet was assigned not only to shrink my liver for an easier, more successful surgery but also the diet is very important for me to utilize the high protein to be able to better heal after surgery. Today my diet will take a more healthy, organized, and timely approach.

I love using Pinterest for recipes, tips, and ideas. It also has many blogs and posts about the pre-op liquid diet.  Some but very few shared my doctor's and weight management program guidelines. I soon discovered that most of the sites I found were non-professional, yet very real, candid gastric bypass patients sharing their journeys and ideas. Unfortunately, I could see that some, not all, were playing the game of how to adjust the requirements (like me) to get more satisfying intake. Truth is this phase of the 2 week pre-op liquid diet has nothing to do with my lifelong way of eating. This phase has a specific purpose. It requires sacrifice, knowledge, and consistent adherence.  It is not designed to be a visually, aromatic, or luxurious taste on my palate. It is a temporary medical assignment to shrink my liver, and utilize high protein for post op surgical healing - that's it! The post op liquid diet phase will enable me to keep up my nutrition while allowing my stomach to heal and process nutrition slowly in small liquid doses. Again, a medical assignment to accommodate successful healing in a gentle manner. 

Today, I found a great timeline to use daily to accommodate 3-4 high protein meal replacements as approved by my weight management program, plus a scheduled time for water, broth, and a low-fat, low sugar snack like a Popsicle or sugar free Jello snack cup.  This time line will break up my intake that I will be having something almost every hour - if only water. I will stay hydrated, healthy, and shrink the liver and as a plus lose some weight!  I can still go to a restaurant on rare occasion and have a thin, blended soup like tomato basil, butternut squash, and other yummy choices. I am excited and recharged to consume a concise and consistent diet to accommodate a great outcome for surgery.

Yesterday, I went to my pre-op surgery appointment with my surgeon.  We discussed all my questions, and they delivered necessary information and advised me what I can expect during the stay at hospital and home. I left feeling confident, excited, and a wee bit scared as well. The fear wasn't of anything going wrong but it this really going to happen. Are we going to have a freak snow storm? What if I get sick? I wouldn't label myself as a pessimist.  However, in my excitement, I fear of a let down. Nonsense! My faith is keeping me on journey. November 7, 2019 is the big event!

I want to say something re: picking your surgeon. I worked in for an internist for several years. He was a true gentleman, mannerly, and extremely intelligent and knowledgeable. He was open to both medical and natural treatments for health issues. I had a patient one time tell me she found our doctor to be quite distracted and not a friendly man. I explained to her that our doctor was listening to every word she said and her specificc responses to his questions were being put into his laptop, ultimately in her medical chart. He was not going to let a symptom, feeling, or thought of hers go without merit in his course of treatment. I proceeded to tell her that he is very professional and doesn't not go into any personal conversation outside of medical necessity to stay in proper manner and to keep his appointments to task in order to stay on schedule for her benefit and the benefit of those waiting.  She left reassured that his focus was on  her health needs and successful treatment. Today this doctor has a very large private practice that is thriving due to his quality care and improved health of his patients. When I chose my surgeon, I checked all the reviews I could find, and as many career facts that I found and understood. I was prepared to deal with whatever bedside manner he possessed as long as I had a surgeon who was well experienced, had a high success rate, and had verifiable high reviews. I almost, as well as he, walked out of my initial visit with him because he was so rude and even said some unprofessional words in mine and my husband's presence. However, in the end he and I were able to come to an agreement that was most important. Do I trust this surgeon?  I fully did and still do.  So what happened at yesterday's pre-op? It was with his Physician's Assistant. It was a positive and encouraging appointment...and my surgeon met me in the hall and was kind, polite, and re-assured me that he was going to take good care of me.  If you are considering a surgeon, please go for the important stuff. Does he have a successful history of his practice and are you confident with his credentials, and experience?

Today's Tip:  Take a look at food differently. There are no BAD foods.  Yes NO bad foods.  There are healthy and less healthy.  What will you choose on your next meal?  Choose a less healthy? Oh well, if your are choosing 4 items to put on your plate, maybe tell yourself,  1 less  healthy and 3 more healthy.  My husband is a diabetic with high cholesterol.  He is thin and looks in great shape. He will often choose his weakness French Fries, but eat his sandwich without the bun, and have unsweetened tea or water instead of a sugary soda.  It's time we pull some of the negatives out of our minds.