Freedom&Bliss

Hi there, I am about one month post-op. Surgery was 12.16.19. I am struggling with getting all my protein in and I do NOT consume sucralose. Almost all shakes, drinkable proteins, even oatmeals and etc that I have found on this site and others ALL have sucralose. But also after surgery I now can't tolerate shakes that are super sweet either. I am fine with stevia, monk fruit or real sugar (just not a lot of it) OR unflavored. The unflavored/raw one I found here even had sucralose! Any suggestions? I can't be the only one who chooses to not consume sucralose...Help! Thank you!

Hi JBronx, I was sleeved 2 days before you! My question would be, in addition to all the awesome stuff above you mentioned, is what is your activity? I too found a stall around the same time, it's hard when you lose so much at the beginning, then I stalled to like a pound a week. Getting active (I go to a crossfit gym) has helped me immensely, getting over the "stall!" Try not to get desperate, it gets slow at times!

Hi there! I have chosen to not make my surgery public to anyone but my husband, my counselor, and ONE friend. I am curious if anyone else out here has done that or similar and is farther our of surgery than me and what your experience has been (I'm only a month out). It's hard as I am normally a pretty open person, especially to my mom who I tell almost EVERYthing to! I struggle with it at times but made the choice to keep it to myself. I have yet to meet or hear of anyone else who has done the same!? Thanks!

Haha I get that for sure - the one friend I told, I told her because she also had the sleeve a year ago and I completely trust her, so I am not afraid of that, but it's so true! She's been a great source of support and me asking questions and whatnot - she made her surgery public to everyone, but I agree it's definitely a personal choice! 🙂

Hey Chris cool! Where in NH are you from/where was your surgery? You had yours about a month before me. Overall it's been a great experience, a bit of a mindf**k at times, giving up the food that you are used to "turning to" for whatever emotional reason, but it has been SO freeing for me, like a burden lifted! And yeah I don't feel like I will ever tell any more people. It's my choice and my business - I know a few ppl have commented that even telling one person, that makes the risk of ppl finding out more, etc - which may be true depending on who you tell! I know my husband will never say anything, and my one friend who knows won't either. I just can't wait until *I* can see the weight loss - I am down 26 lbs since the day of my surgery and I just don't feel it or see it yet, but I know I will soon, patience!! 🙂

Sienna this is AWESOME. Food truly is an addiction and unlike other addictions that we can give up and never have again, we have to face our food addiction several times a day. Amazing on being off those medications too - that alone is worth it! Try to focus on healthier foods, remember all the work you have done to get this far and if you can, move - even if it's just walking. It helps SO much! If you are on a budget and can't get more protein shakes, yogurt is a great source of protein and not expensive (I love the "Two Good" brand - no fake sugars like sucralose, super thick and tasty, and like 12g protein in 5.3 ounces!) Read labels - milk is a good source of protein - if you can afford a protein powder that is cheaper than the ready-to-drink shakes, even get unflavored so you can add it to anything. Most Vitamin Shoppes have inexpensive protein powders, even online (but stores sometimes have samples so you can try them first) an d if you're tolerating chicken, 1 chicken breast is 43g protein! I can't eat one whole one in one sitting but if you can eat one in one day that's great protein there! I hope this was helpful and best of luck!

Thanks Lisa for the info! Premier was one of the first I looked into but unfortunately has sucralose so I can't/won't consume it but I know it works for a lot of others!

Congrats! I got nauseous once in the hospital when they had me swallow a tylenol but that's it. I can't do the SF popsicles because they have sucralose - be careful of that! But yes KEEP sipping, slow and sure, every single day you will feel and be and get better - get up and move, it will be easy to want to lay and recover but once home, get up and move even if it's just walking around your coffee table over and over 🙂 Good luck and I agree this community is great!

I just had my one month w/my surgeon, and dietician. I am cleared to go to the gym and eat solids but I feel I’m not there yet, food-wise, just by listening to my body. I’m stilll doing protein shakes, yogurts and some Bariatric broths to be sure I get all my protein. I can still only eat a small amount in a sitting!! Bit feeling good 💪🏼💪🏼

Thank you so much Chris (GO NH!) and Foxbins!!

THANK you so much Lisa I’m going to try both!!! Those are the sweeteners I prefer!!

Thanks Plur that is good to know! For me it wasn't a toxic thing necessarily, I just know how judgmental some people I know can be (I guess that IS a form of toxicity, haha!) and I don't want a million nosy questions like "why can't you just lose it "naturally?" and "have you tried diets?" and stuff like that. I used to have some of the same thoughts before going through this journey myself, and see how it really is/the hard work, etc. When people comment on your weight loss, or ask how you're doing it, what do you tell them?Mmy plan is to just say something along the lines of "I stopped eating crap nonstop and started exercising more!" which is the truth anyway 🙂 Botton line is it's a personal choice and I get to choose who to tell and who not to, right?! 🙂

I am a month out but I can relate and what someone else said is SO TRUE - it will FLY. Do not let it get you down, the changes that will happen are so big and take this time to prepare - get used to sipping water all day, meditate, journal, I highly recommend at least a couple counseling appts (bring partner if you're married/involved, etc as this will affect them too!) before and after your surgery. Be talking to people in your life who are supportive of your journey! BEst of luck!

Thank you again - esp for the profile advice, I think I have it all added now THANK YOU so much! Thank you Uomograsso! I am ordering this to try now! You JUST had your surgery, how did you find this? I have been having a hard time finding one not only with no sucralose but also that's not too sweet for me now! Also, how does all your info show up under your profile? ( and the weight timeline in your signature?)? This site says my profile is complete...I just joined today and there is not much direction, it also said I can get points for reviewing my surgeon (which I want to do, he was amazing!) I found where to look him up and he's "unverified" and I could not do a review but others had? And had listed him as their surgeon but I can't see where to do that. Any help is appreciated! 🙂

Thank you Uomograsso! I am ordering this to try now! You JUST had your surgery, how did you find this? I have been having a hard time finding one not only with no sucralose but also that's not too sweet for me now! Also, how does all your info show up under your profile? ( and the weight timeline in your signature?)? This site says my profile is complete...I just joined today and there is not much direction, it also said I can get points for reviewing my surgeon (which I want to do, he was amazing!) I found where to look him up and he's "unverified" and I could not do a review but others had? And had listed him as their surgeon but I can't see where to do that. Any help is appreciated! 🙂

Thank you Alex for the speedy reply - however I looked at all the items in your link and they all have sucralose. Many are aspartame free (I also avoid aspartame) but EVERY item has sucralose except the "Diabetic Kitchen Gourmet Drinking Chocolate" but it has ONE gram of protein so that's pointless for me (and for most of us who want as much protein as possible!).