I wasn't allowed any chewable food on my liquid diet like fruit, eggs, or chicken. I was allowed "full" liquids of all sorts like blended vegetable soups or other puréed liquified foods. If you are burnt out on protein shakes it is always nice to find other types. There is an abundance out there. I was allowed Nectar and they had really good ones, some of which worked for my clears liquids phase. The importance of shrinking the liver pre op through liquids is crucial to the success of the surgery because it allows the surgery better access to the areas he/she needs to access. Juicing with fruits and vegetables is also a great way to detox your body and liver. Juicing nourishes your body as well as detoxes. Jason Vale has great juicing detox app programs. We need nutrients to maintain healthy body functions. Stick with liquids and you will be fine.

My doctors did not say anything about a liquid diet before my surgery. I'm 11 days until my RNY. Is a liquid diet optional?

Some doctors require it and some don't. Mine requires a general liquid diet two weeks prior to surgery. It's been rough but I'm pushing through it.

Wow Becky! Did your team give you a guide book? The pre op liquid is important to reduce the amount of fat around the liver and spleen. An enlarged liver adds risks and could prevents your surgeon from seeing critical anatomy during the surgery. If the liver is too large, it can be unsafe. It is nearly unheard of that a Bariatric Center of Excellence doesn't require a liquid diet.

This is the manual my program gives people.
http://barkerbariatriccenter.com/resources/Bariatric-Surgery-Guide.pdf

Depending on a persons size we had to go either 14 OR 21 DAYS on nothing but diabetic boost... 5 bottles a day.... just ask yourself... do you want to start this in the winning mindset or set yourself up for failure because my girl..this is just the start of very VERY life changing things to come for you..... the first thing the doctor asked me when i met her on my surgery day was if i ate ANYTHING but my boost... and i was proud and glad to say no... because when i woke up i felt like a million dollars and i was up and outta there the next day and i have not stopped since.... i was even back in the gym one week after surgery.... it is all connected.... STOP right now with the solids or they might now do it..... you chose to have this done you have to understand this is not a magic pill it is only a tool, if you cant stick to the 2 week pre op...best of luck post op and all the years to come...

Becky, I wasn't required to go on a liquid diet before my surgery, either. However, I had been eating 3 mindful meals a day with no snacking for 3 months and had lost 30 lbs - so, I'd already been shrinking my liver. I was only required to do liquids the day before surgery.

shae0124, Even though there are a lot of different programs, I think it is important to stick to the program your surgeon's office recommends - programs of excellence make sure all the "moving parts" of their particular program work together. My concern is that if you pick and choose parts of different programs, they won't work together to get the results you need. For example: Although Lcat is correct in saying that juicing with fruits and vegetables can be a great way to detox your body and liver, adding fruits to your protein shakes during a high-protein pre-op liquid diet (0r to your post-op diet) will slow your weight loss because your body will use the energy from the fruit before it is forced to burn the excess stored fuel (fat).

Rather than going off the liquid diet your surgeon recommends, it would be wiser to just change up the protein shakes - different flavors, mix them with ice, etc. Even then - I believe one of the best things you can do for yourself psychologically is to re-frame what food needs to do for you. We don't need food to be interesting, varied, enjoyable etc. Food is fuel so we can lives that are interesting, varied, enjoyable, etc.

Nothing you can eat or drink is worth being morbidly obese. One day at a time. It is worth it!! I promise!!

JJ