BLERDgirl

Truvia is no better than any other artificial sweetener. It's not 100% stevia. It's processed to make it white and mixed with erythritol and "natural flavors".

It depends on the person. I don't do any artificial sugars. I am allergic to them and stevia. I use Isopure Naked whey as my Protein powder. I use FAGE 0% Greek plain and add my own fruit. I do occasionally use real sugar, but my main sweetener of choice is raw honey. However I do not use it often. I might have honey 2 or 3 times a month. I cannot speak for anyone but myself. Processed foods and artificial sugars trigger my allergies and make me severely ill. You can eat a bariatric diet and not eat those products but it will be challenging. It is working for me. I have shown a loss everytime I go to the doctor.

I don't have a typical day. It varies depending on my activities. Today is a light day because I didn't go to the gym. On non gym days I eat lighter and really watch my carbs. Breakfast was a scrambled egg with cheese and hot chocolate with a scoop of Protein powder. lunch was a scrambled egg with cheese and grits dinner will be a cup of soup and I'll probably add a scoop of Isopure naked to it. I may have an orange as a snack if I get hungry. On gym days I have a pre-gym Protein Drink with Fage 0% Greek yogurt, Protein Powder mixed with Water. Add in vary as to how I am feeling. Sometimes fruit, sometime a bit of cacao powder, sometimes almond butter, etc.... Lunch , then dinner. I try to have a salad with protein for dinner or a protein and a spinach for dinner. Afternoon snack are always optional if I am hungry. I am vegetarian so my Proteins are typically Beans, tofu, TVP and occasionally a non meat product like Beyond Meat or Gardein. I average 70 - 80gms of protein and day and try to keep carbs below 50.

@ - Why was drinking chocolate a no - no?

My doctor did not, but I already wear one. I'm planning to upgrade to include VSG info as soon as I finish figuring out how to fit everything on it!

@@VonJuke - It depends on the person. I was fortunate enough to have a pain free, gas free, nausea free recovery. My abs felt like I had done a really strenuous workout the day before but that was it.

Check with your nutritionist. I had macadamia nuts at one month with no problem, but I used almond butter in my protein drinks from day 1. I rarely eat PB.

@@p3aCH3s - ask questions that are important to you. I specifically asked about plant based diets since I am a vegetarian. I also made them aware of my many food and medicine allergies to make sure that they could work around that. I also informed them that I preferred no blood transfusion in case of emergencies. My surgeon was able to ensure that none of these things would be an issue and developed plans to ensure that. I also stated my preferences not to eat heavily processed on imitation foods such as artificial sugars to both my surgeon and my nutritionist. Their willingness to work with me concerning these issues assured me that this was the right team for me.

Are you still losing? Is your nutritionist aware of your schedule. Don't worry about sleep. I only get 5 hours a night. I would speak with your nutritionist and focus on not so much how many calories you are eating, but what you are eating. I agree you need may need more fuel for such a busy life but there may be a better way to get there. I think with some tweaking you could probably get between 900 -1000 calories and not feel hungry.

Not a whole lot. Personally I find the Cheesecake factory a bit too much. I rarely go there. However since it s a tradition for you, I have found that the lunch portions are smaller than dinner portions. You could get a soup & salad entree. I order all salads with dressing on the side, hold the bred/croutons. Depending on location I may order off the child's menu. (Some place will allow that, some won't).

You have to build up to it. Getting in both my Protein and fluids was a challenge fore me at first until I figured out how to do both. I was most successful starting the day with a high Protein shake. One scoop of either CVS whey protein + a half to a whole cup of Fage 0% greek yogurt using ¼ cup of Water and lots of ice gets me 30 - 40gms of protein. Using the ice and water works towards my fluids and keeps the shake from being too thick. The yogurt and water keep it from being sickly sweet. Even in the very beginning I could drink this in under 2 hours. This means I had the rest of the day to get in the rest of my protein and time to drink some water without feeling like I'm drinking all day.

I do Protein Shakes on gym days when I'm burning more calories. My doctor is okay with it because this was my routine pre WLS.

That's a lot of food. If you are eating food why do you need 2 shakes a day? You could cut one out and easily drop calories and carbs. I still can't eat more than one egg at a time. I'm 5 months and I eat between 700 -850 calories a day and I am typically stuffed.

Use common sense. Protein first then veg. Depending on the situation I either do not order a beverage or just ask for Water and set it aside. Eating out has not been an issue for me.

Half a sub sounds like a lot of food. I'm 5 mths and doubt I could eat that. That said, everyone is right, you have to go easy with bread. I was allowed it after 6 weeks but the nutritionist advises either the thins or toasting the bread. I personally avoid bread 99% it's a carb I'm really not interested in.

I am the one oddball. I hate GS cookies. They taste plastic and fake to me so GS season comes and goes and I never bat a lash.

Not everyone has a difficult time. Perhaps stop reading the horror stories and do what you can to stay positive. I had and continue to have a very easy time of it. I had an easy surgery. Woke up in recovery having to pee and was able to sit up in bed by myself. I was surprised to realize I didn't really have any pain. It felt like I had done a really vigorous workout the day before and my abs were sore, but nothing I would call pain. I was given the option of the bed pan or bathroom and once they wheeled me to the bathroom door I could walk and go in myself. The nurse's laughed at me because they said I practically ran to the toilet! I didn't need any pain meds in the hospital even though they offered the morphine pump. I was given ice chips in recovery and once in my room I was started on liquid Protein and fluids. I was able to slowly sip from the tiny medicine cup. After that things were a breeze. I walked on the floor. In fact I was peeing so much they disconnected the IV once they realized I didn't need to morphine. They left it in until discharge, but at least I didn't have to drag that stupid pole around everywhere. My doctor keeps his patients for 2 days but I was asking to go home after 1. I had no gas pains, nausea, spasms or anything. Zero pain. I didn't even bother to fill the prescription for pain meds when I got discharged. So stay positive and believe you will have a successful surgery. If I could make it with an extremely high BMI , you can too.

Nope. I did and still do a LOT of Greek yogurt both because I like it and because its a good protein source.

Probably not until you can eat and keep food down. I'm not sure. I didn't have these issues. I was back to normal fairly quickly.

I am vegetarian and never once had an issue with constipation. Maybe the red meat is the culprit.

Didn't like Premier Protein at all. Far too sweet! I like Prosource no carb liquid Protein CVS whey Protein powder CVS whey protein sunfiber (great for preventing constipation) Isopure naked. (Unflavored and mixes well with hot or cold beverages. Very helpful when you hit that "I can't take another sweet drink" wall.) Orgain Organics

Maybe it's because I don't weight myself daily, but every single time I have gotten weighed I have shown a loss. Sometimes a big number, others times as low as 6lbs, but always a loss. @@skinnymom - I can never eat more than 1 egg at a time, but I can eat anywhere from 6 -8 ounces of yogurt. A cup of soup fills me up.

@@blissfulbeing - For me that didn't happen until I moved onto purees. I needed something to chew. Once I could have a soft scrambled egg, I was good to go.

@@Kiwwi1991 brings up some good points. What your husband said was cruel. I would be more concerned with sabotage rather than support. He may not agree or support your decision to have this surgery but is he going to actively sabotage it? Will he eat your specialty foods? Will he try to tempt or tease you with foods you shouldn't have? Sit down and have that conversation with him. You need to know where you stand before you have this surgery so you can prepare yourself for how you are going to deal with this.

I wasn't scared. I did everything I could do ensure that things went well. I did my research in choosing a doctor, I was compliant in my pre-op testing. I ate properly pre-op to make sure my body could be in as good a shape for surgery as possible. After that I just took a deep breath, said a prayer and was fine. No freaking out for me. I took comfort in know I did all that I could for a positive outcome.