Day 5 and Still Alive

Somebody at some point will inevitably say to me that having this surgery was the "easy way out".  My sincere hope is that I don't punch them in the face.  I've been at the clear liquid diet since first-thing Tuesday morning.  It's been humbling -- humbling because of how hard this has been, humbling because I know the process will inevitably get harder.  I chose this path with my eyes wide open, fully aware that this wasn't a two-week or six-week commitment, but one that will forever change my life.  And quite honestly, I pray it does.  In my vocational role I have been privileged to counsel countless folks prior to their elective surgeries, and despite myriad differences, one thing remains common to most all of us:  we opt for surgery when the negative aspects of the operation pale with the status quo.  I am no different.

Truth be told, I've wondered why the two weeks of liquid diet beforehand.  Sure, the paperwork and the nurses and the doctor all say the same thing, that the pre-surgical diet is to minimize surgical risk.  I suppose that makes sense:  the heavier one is the greater the surgical risk, generally.  Also, the no-fat diet causes the body to rely upon the fat stored in the liver thereby making the liver smaller at time of surgery.  But there's also a part of me that wonders if at least some of the reason for the liquid diet isn't somehow psychological -- make it these two weeks, big guy, and you can surely make it the rest of the way.

So, this is day five of fourteen days of living only on a clear liquid diet and liquid protein supplements.  They say to maintain energy and health I must have at least 80mg of protein a day.  So far I've been able to keep at that threshold.  I get most of my protein from a pre-made drink that GNC sells called Isopure, along with usually one shake I blend a day from powdered whey protein isolate and skim milk.  I've also found low-carb SlimFast and sugar-free Carnation Instant Breakfast to be decent (although much more expensive than their standard, forbidden versions).  Additionally, I eat a fair bit of sugar-free jello and chicken broth.  My greatest luxury includes no-sugar-added fudge bars.  Our kids are helping me eat the fudge bars but flatly refuse to get within five feet of the chicken broth for fear that I'll try and feed it to them.

I think I learned what they mean by "water weight".  The first day I lost seven pounds, and have lost about a pound each day since.  I suppose I could forgo the surgery at that rate and just opt for the liquid diet for the rest of my life, but then I'm sure I really would end up punching someone in the face.