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What brand of protein shakes are you all using? I’ve got ones called Premier Nutrition. They are pre-mixed and have 30g protein and come in vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. I wouldn’t say they are ‘yummy’ or ‘tasty’, but IMO they are sooo much better than optifast was (which I gagged down every day for 2 weeks).

I had gastric bypass in Canada almost 2 weeks ago. RNY was suggested as opposed to sleeve in part because I already had reflux. I was referred a year and only told 4 people: my husband, and 3 people that are part of my life that I thought would be most supportive. Two were, and one wasn’t at all. I just stopped about the surgery to the one that wasn’t supportive and still haven’t told her that I’ve had it, even though I see her every day (she’s my next door neighbour). I waited until about a week before I started my pre-surgery optifast diet to tell anyone else, and even then I only told people that I felt would need to make changes to support me (my parents, my brother, my boss, a colleague I was travelling with during the optifast phase). I really wanted the decision to be mine and based on all the research I had taken the time to do. I really didn’t want ANYONE influencing my decision as to whether to go ahead with the surgery or not, so I was careful about who I told, how I told them, and what I told them about the support I wanted/needed from each. I also had cold feet the days leading up to the surgery but I was also so committed to the optifast diet and I also knew I made the best decision for me and my health and future. I trusted myself and knew that I could count on knowing I had made a wise, informed, thoughtful decision, and that I didn’t need to give in to some natural and to-be-expected pre-surgery anxiety.

Hi all, I survived my 2 weeks of optifast, managing to get in at least 3 and sometimes 4 shakes each day. Those two weeks included a business trip out of town (flights, hotel, conference, etc), 2 birthday parties (one of them was mine!) and Father’s Day. I was really proud of myself for sticking to the plan. Then came the two water and sf jello days. Then June 21 was surgery day. Was at the hospital at 6 am and gastric bypass was on schedule at 8 am. I vaguely recall waking up in the PACU, asking for more pain meds, and that was it. Then I was in my semi-private room in the hospital for two nights. I got myself a Fitbit for my bday and made it my goal to get 250 steps every hour in the hospital, so I was that patient wheeling my IV pole around the hospital halls, starting at 1 pm on the day of my surgery and going every hour until 11 pm and starting again in the mornings. That first day was the most uncomfortable in terms of gas pains and very dry mouth. I wasn’t allowed to drink anything that first day. I could just swish water around and spit it out. Saturday I was allowed water, sf jello, sickly sweet juices, and tea and had to record every tablespoon I drank every hour. Sunday, I started passing gas (apparently a big milestone!!), was taken off IV, and was discharged. The pain was very manageable and I was told this is because I was so determined to walk a little bit so frequently. I’ve been home now for a week and a half. I’ve been on ‘full liquids’ (protein shakes, milk, sf yogurt, sf pudding, cream soups, broth soups, and runny oatmeal), and been doing great. I’ve been getting all my protein and my water in without any issues. I’ve also been getting out for walks and getting 8000+ steps in each day. I’m planning on going back to work tomorrow. My plan has me starting soft solids on Saturday so we’ll see how that goes! I have to say that my recovery has gone very smoothly so far. I’m sending all my June surgery siblings positive vibes and wishing you all the smoothest recovery possible.

Hi grl499, i too expected more of a weight loss on the optifast than what I’ve seen and I was worried about what they’d say at my pre-op appointment. They weighed me at one of my first appointments back in January, and I fluctuated in weight up and down about 3-4 pounds throughout the intake process. When I started the optifast, I was actually 4 pounds heavier than my first weigh in. I’ve been on optifast now for 10 days. Days 1 and 2 were rough as I couldn’t swallow them without gagging and it took me almost a week before I could consistently get 4 shakes down in a day. I’ve never had a day with more than 1000 calories (sf jello, cucumbers, and broth make up my only other foods I’ve eaten), and some of those early days I couldn’t even get in or keep down 750 calories. I’ve not cheated at all. And I’ve walked at least 20 minutes a day. And I’m drinking water like never before When I went for my pre-op appointment today, I was only down 3 pounds (from my Jan weigh in), but 7 pounds from the day I started optifast (though they never weighed me when I started They didn’t say a word about it though. Not one comment about my weight loss or progress. Still, I felt disappointed as I was expecting more of a loss on these shakes. Was that an unrealistic expectation of me? How did your pre-op appointment go? When is your surgery? Mine is on June 21. 4 more days of optifast, then 2 days of clear fluids.

Yep. I was prescribed 14 days of optifast. 3.5 days down. 10.5 left to go. Then it will be 2 days of clear liquids. Then surgery on June 21. Today is day 4 of optifast and I feel like I’ve mastered the optifast gulp. I can get those suckers down without a gag now! Small wins but I’ll take ‘em! But on this 4th day, omg am I ever irritable! I don’t feel hungry, but I’m grumpy and crusty and short and snappy... and I have lost all patience with everything. Please let this be a day 4 thing and let it pass soon! Anyone else out there experience this on the pre-op diet plan?

Hi June bypassers! I just created an account after lurking quietly while I was waiting to be cleared for surgery. Last week, I got the go ahead. I was scheduled for gastric bypass on June 21 in Ontario after just over a year since my family doctor referred me (and that was after a year of me thinking about it). I started the Optifast liquid shake diet and have so far made it to day 3. I gagged my way through the vanilla shakes on day 1, and have been experimenting to make them more swallowable. Ice cold water blended with ice, a squirt of sf raspberry flavouring, and gulped down quickly leads to the least gagging for me. On Day 1 and 2 I could only stomach 3 shakes but today I finally managed to get the fourth prescribed shake down. It’s going to be a long 2 weeks, but so worth it. They may taste awful but thankfully they are curbing any hunger, and I’m not craving anything. I even made a dinner for husband and son (solid foods, all food groups!!) this evening and then baked a cake for my nephew’s birthday tomorrow. And not an urge to cheat at all. It’s going to be a liquid diet for me while I travel out-of-province to a conference for work, celebrate my nephew’s 5th birthday, celebrate my 42nd birthday, and celebrate Father’s Day. Lots of challenges to face in the next two weeks! I’m ready for it though. I’m both very excited for and very nervous about the actual surgery day! And lots of questions swirl around: Have I made the right choice? Will this really work? How difficult will the recovery be? I’m thrilled to know I’m not alone and that many of you are going through the similar emotions, questions, and challenges.