Opti-Fast

So, I started the Opti-fast on Monday. I was given these juice box sized pre-mixed shakes (which are awesome, because I can take them with me and don’t have to mix up shit). So far, I’ve had the chocolate and the French vanilla. I’ve also got strawberry, but I haven’t tried it yet. The chocolate is decent, it tastes like pretty much any other chocolate diet shake I’ve had, and I’ve tried ‘em all. The French vanilla is meh, but do able. We’ll see how the strawberry is soon.

I’ve got to drink two of them a day, for two meals. While they aren’t the best tasting things ever, they are quite filling.

Then, they’ve given me a bunch of different types of bars, for a snack. I get to have one of these a day. I had the caramel delight so far, and its pretty tasty and crunchy. Not amazing, but ok.

I also get to eat food – a dinner (or whatever meal, I did breakfast the first day) where I can eat 4-6oz of protein and 2-3 servings of raw or cooked vegetables.

I’m also allowed to have one yogurt or one piece of fruit.

As a bonus (oh, what a bonus!) I can eat all the sugar free jello and clear broth I want! I’ll be making up a batch of jello at my place when I get back from this week’s appointments.

I did ok the first day – I did cheat at C.V. I couldn’t help it – I was SO HUNGRY! I had some sun chips (yum) and a small cup of grapes. Breakfast (which was actual food!) was 2 eggs, 2 servings of baby carrots, and a plum.

From what I can tell, this is a 1000 calorie a day diet. The three optifast products (2 shakes and a bar) are each 160 calories – 480 total. I know yogurt or a piece of fruit are about 100 calories each, so that brings it to maybe 600. I’m sure the meal makes up another 400 or so calories; meat and veggies.

But goddamn was I hungry yesterday, even with all the water I was drinking too.

They say the hunger subsides after a week, which is good.

So, the second stage of pre-surgery has started. (The first, which I’ll write about tomorrow, is all the doctors and pre-testing). I officially have to do this for three week before the surgery, I’ll be doing it for about five. I think that’s enough time to lose 20-30 pre-surgery pounds.

Starting now is also good, because I’ll be used to it when it comes time to do it after surgery. They say it takes four weeks to form a habit, so I’ve got time. (Surgery is tentatively for December 12th, possibly earlier since I’ve gotten all these doctors appointments booked – the psych-eval should be booked for next week, and then after the stress test, I’ll just have to make one follow up. These should be done about two weeks before my follow up. Once done, I can move the follow up and surgery.)

Directly after surgery, I’ll be on jello, water, and clear broth again, and then back on this optifast while my stomach gets used to its new conflagration, and I start slowly adding in softer ‘real’ food. From the people I’ve talked to who’ve had this surgery, it seems that lots of them continue to use optifast shakes here and there along with real food, so yeah, good to get used to it. Shit, if I crush it up with ice and a banana, it might taste like a smoothie!

It will also get me accustomed to having less to eat at a time, and to allow me to stop craving stuff – last night at the bus stop, the deli was cooking up fried onion rings…oh man, it was good that I had no cash. Because I wanted them. Hopefully, in five weeks, I’ll have the cravings under control.

I’m doing ok for my first two days.

Monday I had 2 eggs, 2 servings of carrots and a plum for breakfast, a shake for lunch, a shake for dinner, the Caramel Crunch. I was a little bad at CV – I had some Sunchips and grapes…but I was SO hungry.

Today was better – A shake for breakfast, six oz of pork for lunch, with 2 servings of beans and carrots, and the optifast bar. Dinner was a shake and an apple. However, I did put some cheese on the apple – one of those “Laughing Cow” wedges, and a slice and a half of American cheese. I also had some clear chicken broth.

Neither lapse is HORRIBLE. It is my first couple of days…and I am still eating aprox. 1000 calories. And I have time to adjust.

I went to my first support group meeting this evening. I’ll write that up tomorrow. It was very nice! I’ll also be writing about the appointments I’ve got set up soon, and I’ll write about each appointment as it happens.