Liver Shrinking Diet

I am up tonight with a little bit of anxiety about my liver shrinking diet, so when I have anxiety, I plan (I also eat, but that IS going to change). I am a planner and somehow my planning helps me feel calm and in control about things. So I am going to plan my first week of the diet right here on my blog. I have to start my liver shrinking diet on August 5th, which is 2 weeks prior to my August 19th surgery. The purpose of this diet is to starve my liver thus shrinking it so that it is not damaged in the surgery, putting the Lap Band in. I thought I would plan my activity as well.

From now on and forever I must.....

1. Take a liquid or chewable  multi-vitamin with 100% daily value's worth of vitamins.

2. Take a chewable calcium supplement with 1000 mg of calcium in it.

3. Take a protein supplement with 20-30 grams of protein per serving and less than 10-15 of carbohydrates.

4. Eat "dry" meals. I have to stop drinking 15-30 minutes before eating and not drink anything for 45 minutes after I eat. 

5. Completly eliminate carbonated beverages from my diet. 

6. Drink 120 oz of non calorie, non-carbonated beverages each day. 

7. Exercise 5 days a week

My feelings: I started the multi-vitamin and calcium supplements about 6 weeks ago and eliminated carbonated beverages. I just need to be more consistent with taking the supplements and get them into my morning routine and add the protein drink into that routine as well. It hasn't been as difficult cutting out soda as I thought it would.  I think the challenge there will be eliminating juice, which doesn't have to be completely eliminated forever, but I am not supposed to drink my calories - so, crystal light it is. I think my biggest challenge will be getting used to eating dry meals. For me, eating and drinking has always gone hand in hand and it will definitely be a challenge to change that 30 year built in habit. I plan on filling up a large jug of water and trying to drink on it at the appropriate time during the day.It is going to be. Another big challenge for me will be getting in the habit of exercising 5 days a week. It isn't that I don't like exercise. I like it okay, it is that I can always think of about 25 other things to be doing at the time and I just simply put it off to do other things. It is time to make my health a priority and I am just going to have to work it into my schedule. 

For the next two weeks

1st Meal - 1 protein, 1 fruit, 1 dairy

2nd Meal - 1 protein, 2 vegetables

3rd meal - 1 protein, 2 vegetables

My feelings: I don't know if it is normal or not to be a little sad that I won't be eating pasta, bread, rice, cookies, chips, crackers, mayonnaise, or ranch dressing,  etc, but I am. In fact I am drinking a glass of milk and eating a chocolate chip cookie as I type this, knowing that at midnight it's over. When I am feeling too restricted or deprived, I am just going to tell my self "being healthy is much better than ... (whatever I am craving)". It's not going to be easy. I CAN DO IT I CAN TRY.

An example of a Liver Shrinking Day

Breakfast 

2 scrambled eggs

1 cup raspberries

6 oz Greek lite yogurt

Lunch 

6 oz protein shake

1 cup broccoli

1 cup carrots

with 1 tsp. light vinaigrette & Mrs. Dash

Dinner

3 oz. Chicken

2 cups salad with 1tsp light vinaigrette

Feelings: I am a bit nervous that I will not be able to eat meals with my family. There are so many good things associated with family dinner time, it is going to be hard for me to always prepare and eat different things than my family. I am hoping I can incorporate some of my healthy eating into the family meals.