Shanna NYC

So it looks like your question was added in as a tag. 'I am 3 weeks post op and it is really hard to get in protein I was reaching out to see if there is any type of hacks on how to get it down I have the powder kind also can someone explain to me what will happen if I’m not getting enough protein in There are a variety of ways to get it down. Make it as is and break it down to half a shake twice a day. Make it more liquidy and sip on it throughout the day. Use unflavored protein powder and sprinkle it into other foods, such as broth or applesauce. Try protein water which is thinner and comes in a many fruity flavors so it's not just the milky stuff. You can also boost the protein in yogurt with adding protein powder. If you don't get in enough protein, you run the risk of losing muscle and not just fat. Losing muscle can also slow down weight loss. Also leaves you with less energy. Even though hair shedding is par for the course, having enough protein can lessen the shed and support healthy regrowth. It can be difficult to meet the protein goals in the beginning, just try to focus on getting better day by day.

As @Sleeve_Me_Alone has stated it's absolutely completely normal. There really isn't anything that can be done to stop it. At this point those are already dead hairs and are going to shed out. Trust and believe I'm living this now. I had surgery 4/11 and the shed started at month 3. I still have shedding in month 5, but it's a lot less than when it first started. The collagen, biotin and keeping up with protein will just help support healthy new hair growth, but won't do much to against it.

Those are the ONLY shakes you can use??? I have tried to get down with them since they are popular and found all over the place including Costco, but I just can't get past the taste. Something about it makes me cringe even at it's coldest and even in coffee. I feel the same about the Ensure Max as well. I can somehow somewhat tolerate the Quest vanilla and just ordered some Pure Protein in chocolate to try it out.

I use Vital Proteins ( currently on sale in Costco ). I mainly add it to my morning coffee - typically a protein coffee as it is. I have used it for years prior to surgery and I continue to use it. As others have said, nothing can stop the hair shed - I am still shedding at 5 months, but a tiny bit less than when it started at 3 months. However I know the collagen will help new hair growth. I take a bit of extra biotin - more than just my bariatric multi - and keep up my protein intake. I use a Biotin & Collagen shampoo and conditioner - though I know that won't truly help, lol. It's a mental thing and it was on sale at Marshall's. At worst, my hair is still clean, lol. I take the collagen more so for joints and skin since as we get older our collagen depletes. It takes a few months to even really notice any differences so it is something you have to stay consistent with.

It's completely normal to see a stall at any point, but yes the notorious 3 week stall can strike anywhere at around that timeframe. It's not anything that you've actually done. At this point it's almost impossible any of us has the capacity to gain real weight. Your body is still healing. I also have some trouble still at 5 months post getting in my water goals. Remember that all other liquids can count towards that goal - soups, protein water etc. Just keep trying your best day by day. Remember the scale isn't the only measure of our successes (though it is the biggest tether we have). Forget the scale for a bit and keep working your program. The drop will happen.

Have you tried the Fairlife Core Power or even the Nutrition Plan shakes? I prefer them over most protein shakes because it has the least aftertaste and is mainly actual milk based. Taste to me like chocolate milk or a melted vanilla ice cream cone. I know many love the Isopure Unflavored Protein powder - i was unfortunately not a fan and obvi not for the sweetener as it does not have any - but the milk powder almost infant formula taste wasn't it for me. I think I'm in the minority lol, so you should be fine.

Congrats that's a solid loss in 4 weeks. Too bad about the nausea, but that should continue to dissipate with time. What stage are you currently on? I am still losing, though the numbers fluctuate from week to week, it's still in a downward trend. The restriction also varies on what I can eat or not eat. Today so far all I've managed are liquids and I'm feeling full. I'll try for something solid for dinner when I'm home if I'm up for it. All we can do is take it day by day, sometimes just meal by meal.

What exactly are your program guidelines? Do you meet with a dietician as part of your program? Can you reach out for some additional assistance? I know for my program, I am in the range of at least 70-80g of protein and soon enough 80-100g. There is no specific guide to carbs and fats allotment, only that protein is the priority and to limit carbs and fats. More so complex carbs and healthy fats. Sugar free as much as possible. It can feel weird at first, but it gets better with time. I mostly stick to a protein and a veg. I do happen to eat burgers with no bun. I can only really manage a whole chicken patty, but only half a turkey burger or beef burger. If i feel like I want to have more traditional way of eating it, I'll put the half on a Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat street taco tortilla. I do use sugar free bbq sauce, maybe some pickle slices and tomatoes with a reduced fat slice of cheese. It's all I can manage and I am satisfied. I also make cottage cheese bowls - taco bowls are my fave. About 3oz of ground turkey or chicken taco meat and a couple tablespoons of cottage cheese. Toppings as you like - i can do a couple cherry tomatoes, some shredded lettuce, a sprinkle of light cheese and a little salsa. Sometimes I can eat it all, sometimes I have some left which I may or may not be able to eat a little later. I would also say, instead of thinking of doing all the work for just 3ozs, meal prep. Make several portions to have on hand. Freeze extras if you tire easily. One pound of ground meat can easily last me a week's worth of meals, but I freeze to not waste if i don't realistically think I can eat any one thing. (I'm only cooking for myself a majority of the time). I also follow on IG your.onderland which provides a lot of helpful reminders, tips and recipes for the bariatric journey. Hope this helps.

Hello all. I am nearly 13 weeks post RNY. I am eating all kinds of modified regular foods, so overall I don’t have a problem meeting my protein goals. I still have a protein shake daily - however it is because it’s the easiest way to get a huge dose of protein in with my morning coffee. I’ve never been one to eat solid foods so early in the morning. I make proffees and while it was a bit of an adjustment to my regular cup of coffee, I am so used to it now. My preferred protein shake of choice to use is the Fairlife Core Power Vanilla shake as I can use it both cold and heated depending on whether I want hot or iced coffee. I mix it up a bit and also have the Fairlife Nutrition plan chocolate shake as well for a mocha. I much prefer the vanilla, but they are so hard to come by these days. I either cannot find them anywhere locally and/or the online retailers and nearby stores have them at insane prices. I do not like the taste of Premier Protein shakes at all. They taste much to chemical and box like. I have tried the Quest shakes and it’s ok in a pinch, but the aftertaste is more pronounced. Shakes are so expensive so the trial and error is a bit daunting. I have tried Ensure Max in their coffee flavor and again the chemical and box taste is just like premier. My second favorite has been the Chike Protein Coffee powder, but I only have these iced and they have a bit less protein so I mix them with Fairlife Skim milk and a scoop of collagen. I have tried isopure unflavored protein powder and tried to incorporate it, but for something unflavored it reminds me of infant formula and is not pleasant. I am considering trying the Unjury ready made vanilla shakes, but unsure if I’ll like them and because it’s only sold in larger packs, I’m stuck with it if I don’t like it. What are protein shakes people are liking?

Congrats that’s great! Quest Protein Chips are great for me. I personally love the tortilla style ones. For 140 cals and 19g Protein it’s a pretty great snack. The fats and carbs are also quite low. I like to keep them around for occasions such as going to the movies or hanging out with friends and they have their high cal/fat chips. I have even subbed them for a lunch when I just could not eat anything heavy, but needed to get my protein in. The Spicy Sweet Chili is my top flavor, followed by Nacho Cheese and Loaded Taco. The cookies I tried ages ago, well before surgery and wasn’t a fan as the fake sugar taste was quite prominent. I have not tried them again to see if it’s the same. I don’t think the stats on those are quite as good as the chips so beware. I will just caution, though the chips do have great stats, I would be sure to have them on occasion and not rely on them. As others have said, they can be a slider food or even a trigger food for some. I personally don’t have that trigger. I tend to just have a bag around as a just in case. They are portion sized bags so that it also helpful.

I'm glad you are meeting your goals so early on. I definitely struggled with that for the first couple weeks. I started out straight out of the hospital on pureed. I made it to soft foods after 2 weeks. It was still difficult to eat much but it was around week 3 I had a bit more energy. Definitely need food, vitamins and hydration to get back that energy. For some it still takes awhile. Get in some electrolytes when you get in that exercise. Add 5 minutes or a few extra steps day by day. Just work up gradually and don't push too hard. Remember your body is healing and will also take up some of that energy to repair itself. Keep at it as you seem to be doing well.

I am averaging about 80g protein per day and I am as of today 19 weeks post-op. I still have a protein shake most days, but it's in the form of a Proffee. I will either use a Core Power or Nutrition Plan shake as my milk mixed with espresso or have a Chike iced protein coffee packet and mix with part water, part Fairlife skim milk. I also like to add a scoop of collagen. So it's 30g+ of protein to start the day. Midday there is usually some version of eggs and/or cheese somewhere in the 12g of protein range or an Oikos Triple Zero or Oikos Pro yogurt which is 15-20g. Lately I have been adding some blueberries and Catalina Crunch cereal in yogurt for texture which adds another few grams of protein. Dinner is almost always some form of protein and veggie. Grilled chicken, ground turkey/chicken/extra lean ground beef, tuna pouch, chicken burger. I like to make cottage cheese bowls, so maybe some turkey taco meat and mix w cottage cheese and some low fat mexican cheese blend, lettuce, tomatoes and some salsa. I even mix my tuna with cottage cheese and have it with sliced cucumber and tomatoes. The portion of meat can range depending on the way it's cooked and what else I'm mixing in, but I can manage 3.5 ozs or up to 4oz of a protein. I can't seem to manage 5 small meals so it usually lands around 3-4 small meals/snacks. Depending on the day my restriction doesn't leave me wanting to have a lot of solid food. If I'm coming up a little short and don't want to eat more, I will drink some Protein2O protein water. I do also love the Quest Protein Chips - my #1 is now the Spicy Sweet Chili flavor. I keep them around for days I either don't want to eat something heavier or when I'm with friends and they are having the regular chips. They pack 19g protein a bag.

I don't know if there is a proper answer since your doctor didn't seem to care either way. I did the bypass, I did not have to wear any compression anything, and was advised to keep clothing loose for at least 2 weeks including no abdominal binders. As long as you keep walking around to get the air moving out and are not just sitting or laying down all day and getting in your liquids as best as you can - it will help your recovery. I am not sure if your concern is for swelling or just overall keep things pumping - for me almost immediately after surgery my ankle swelling disappeared and had lessened knee pain. Now I have owned compression leg sleeves as I work a desk job and was having trouble with excess swelling in the legs and ankles mostly during the pandemic and just bought some on Amazon. I don't think you'd have to worry about a prescription since it isn't anything mandatory to wear. Just measure your calves to get the right size. Regardless of when I felt like they were fairly comfortable, it was impossible for me to withstand them for more than a few hours. I don't know how much walking you will be able to do in the week immediately following surgery as it's more of a hunched over stroll, but it's great to aim to get in as much as you can when your body allows. I would say as long as you have water and enough electrolytes you should be good.

Congratulations!

I feel the same way. Drinking water just before eating doesn't really bother me. I'm not knocking back a bottle, but regular drinking. I still wait the 30 minutes after and so far all has been good.

Great to hear! 🎈

I'm a bit over 4 months post op and still can't always get that in. It's extremely hard in the beginning so don't fret over that just work on progressing one day at a time. Also keep in mind broth and other liquids also count towards that goal. I would kill 2 birds with one stone and drink protein water like Protein2O when protein and drinking goals were harder to reach. My dietician also told me a protein shake can be thinned out with water and you can keep drinking that for awhile. Basically from the time you wake up just keep sipping water, it does get easier. And yeah I tote around my Stanley or other water bottle everywhere I go. I am good with just water, but there are so many sugar free options that can be added to water to switch it up if you get bored. I can definitely drink far more than a sip now so with time you will find that it should improve.

Yes as everyone has said it depends on your insurance and how quickly you get the checklist completed. I have Cigna which has no requirements by way of having to lose X amount beforehand or having to meet with a nutritionist X times or anything. The only thing for them to cover is to have a BMI of 35 and up along with a co-morbidity or over 40 no co-morbidities required. For my checklist that I received at consult, I had to do bloodwork (which i did same day as consult), meet with dietician -which I did via Zoom, do psych eval - which i also did via Zoom and get a letter of recommendation from my PCP. I was able to get appointments for psych and dietician in January and meet with my PCP in February. My consult was January 9th, 2023 and my surgery was done April 11. I was even offered a date of March 21, but I needed the time to clear work and get myself together for the pre-op diet etc.

I started out with Celebrate Chewable vitamins. Seems the numbers cover most of what your doctor recommends. No multi I've come across will include that much Biotin - I take a separate pill for that additional boost. And of course the Calcium chews 3xs a day.

***sending positive vibes from the east coast*** 🙌💪

I started day 2 post op- first full day home after the overnight hospital stay. I was advised to do chewable for at least the first 30 days. I started with Celebrate chewable one a day and the calcium chews 3xs a day. I was to not introduce iron until after the first 30 days. I got so sick of the giant chewable vitamin so I now take the Bariatric Pal one a day capsule w 45 iron and still do 3 calcium chews. I considered calcium pills but they are like 6 giant pills a day to equal the 3 tasty chews. I have since added an additional biotin pill, though the multi provides a fair amount as is. Between the multi and chews I am good on Vitamin D, but have contemplated adding a B complex. So far my first run of labs since surgery looks good. Please keep posted on the liquid form once you get them.

I don't know what determines this, but I never had any leak tests done. I was drinking fluids by morning and was brought 3 different trays of food in a 4/5 hour window just before discharge.

I have to say I had a great hospital experience overall and we all know that isn't always the case. My surgery was scheduled for 10am so I was expected to arrive at 8am to check in. Filled in paperwork and all that jazz. Was in the waiting room not terribly long before calling me in. Got the all the vitals checked - weight, BP, Oxygen, if I'm not mistaken I did have blood drawn (and pee test for pregnancy which won't apply to you, lol). I then was instructed to how everything was going to go, made sure all my backups were secured ie emergency contact and discharge expectations. I was given a few pills to swallow - I believe a tylenol and toradol? and a small bottle of water to drink it down. I got to change into my gown and all and was then wheeled in to the pre-op room. A bazillion nurses and staff will be sure to keep asking you the same questions just to be sure you know why your there. The hard part for me was getting my IV in as they always have trouble locating good veins. It took about 3-4 tries before they got it. My surgery was slightly delayed since the person prior to me had a delay, but not by a terribly long time. I think I was rolled into the OR about 1 hour later. I don't fully recall when I woke up in PACU, but I think I was in my overnight room by at least 5pm ish. I spent only 1 overnight and was discharged by noon the following day. I wouldn't go too crazy packing too much. Especially for the time you are going, you can leave in the same clothes you go to the hospital with. Just be sure it's something comfy and not too tight in the belly. Phone and charger (possibly a tablet if you're so inclined) and lip balm as you will get dry lips. Nearly everything else is provided to you that you'd need. I took a few more things and needed none of it. I was so tired that I couldn't concentrate on much except to nap when i could between the nurse and doctor check ins and the trips to the bathroom - for someone who couldn't drink anything for the rest of that night, that IV did it's job. Feel free to ask away anything else. You definitely got this!

I have to say I had a great hospital experience overall and we all know that isn't always the case. My surgery was scheduled for 10am so I was expected to arrive at 8am to check in. Filled in paperwork and all that jazz. Was in the waiting room not terribly long before calling me in. Got the all the vitals checked - weight, BP, Oxygen, if I'm not mistaken I did have blood drawn (and pee test for pregnancy which won't apply to you, lol). I then was instructed to how everything was going to go, made sure all my backups were secured ie emergency contact and discharge expectations. I was given a few pills to swallow - I believe a tylenol and toradol? and a small bottle of water to drink it down. I got to change into my gown and all and was then wheeled in to the pre-op room. A bazillion nurses and staff will be sure to keep asking you the same questions just to be sure you know why your there. The hard part for me was getting my IV in as they always have trouble locating good veins. It took about 3-4 tries before they got it. My surgery was slightly delayed since the person prior to me had a delay, but not by a terribly long time. I think I was rolled into the OR about 1 hour later. I don't fully recall when I woke up in PACU, but I think I was in my overnight room by at least 5pm ish. I spent only 1 overnight and was discharged by noon the following day. I wouldn't go too crazy packing too much. Especially for the time you are going, you can leave in the same clothes you go to the hospital with. Just be sure it's something comfy and not too tight in the belly. Phone and charger (possibly a tablet if you're so inclined) and lip balm as you will get dry lips. Nearly everything else is provided to you that you'd need. I took a few more things and needed none of it. I was so tired that I couldn't concentrate on much except to nap when i could between the nurse and doctor check ins and the trips to the bathroom - for someone who couldn't drink anything for the rest of that night, that IV did it's job. Feel free to ask away anything else. You definitely got this!

Yay! Just 2 days away. I’m excited for you. I was out of work for about 3 weeks. Surgery was 4/11, first day back to work was 5/1. I am an admin assistant just doing clerical work so the actual physical part of work wasn’t so much an issue, but the commuting was more the concern. (NYC subway stairs and a mile walk from subway to office plus w laptop and all hydration/protein essentials). When I did return to work, I did so remotely for another couple weeks and then slowly went back to commuting in 1 day, 2 days, then ultimately back to my 3 days in office. I think if I drove to work, then the 3 weeks would have been pretty sufficient time off as it was. I already work hybrid, but I was grateful to have the remote work option available for that extended time.