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Thank you so much for that information! I've been looking for a good protein shake for a while so this is super helpful 🙂 I hope your revision went well!

I can relate. I had my MGB 18 months ago and I've been and still struggling with head hunger too. I also felt the restriction has eased a lot after 1 year. Up to 12 months, I was not able to finish 1 hard boiled egg and half a toast. Now I can finish that and have a cup of coffee with it for breakfast. Sometimes, when I'm not too busy at work I find myself always wanting to snack on something. I've stated packing some salad from home to snack on whenever I feel like eating something. Chickpeas are another good option because it is high in protein and fiber and makes me full for a long time. Getting up and walking around the office, drinking some water / coffee also helps when I get the "urge" to eat. I hope this helps.

I would ask if they have any set nutrition goals for which they want you to aim (calories, protein, carbs, fiber). I would also ask if you're taking your vitamins correctly, or if they would have you make any changes. Make sure to let them know how much water you're drinking, they'll tell if you if it's enough or not. Take any vitamins and medications you're using with you, so they can know exactly what you're taking.

I had my revision June 21st, original R N Y in 2005. Just remind yourself it is to make sure your liver is smaller to make the surgery less complicated for you! If you haven't tried them yet, bariatric pal has awesome protein shots available. I love the orange. It's like conentrated Tang! 100 calories, 15 grams of protein. Other really good protein shakes that got me through it, Redcon1 Protein shakes are 0 grams of sugar 250 calories and 40 grams of protein. Also KaChava is a good powder shake with alot of protein and super foods in it. I still incorporate these in my diet post surgery and it definately helps. Hope your surgery goes well with no issues!

Don't be concerned. Everyone's different. I am only liquids 2 days before surgery and in the hospital. When discharged I can move to cream soups and protein shakes.

I’m trying to find the best protein powder. Right now I’m using Premier Protein pre made bottles-cake batter, coffee, chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream and banana are my favorites. What are protein powders that are being used everyone? Thank you.

I agree with you!! I am so paranoid about eating too many calories and so i under eat! I am 3.5 months out of sleeve surgery and I think my body is in starvation mode. I'm going to try to up my calories to 600 and see if that breaks my somewhat stall. i was drinking a protein shake at night but i figured its like 160 calories before bed.....not sure if that is good for me. I drink it in the morning now as breakfast. Then i will have no fat cottage cheese or greek yogurt as a snack a couple hours after dinner.

Stock up with lots of low carb, sugar free, high protein snacks. That way you are still sticking to the plan. My surgeon explained that the sugar intake is the biggest thing, because it allows your liver to shrink and reduces risk during surgery. I did portioned out mini containers of t good foods, and it really helped. Some favorites were - Cottage cheese cups, sugar free jello, triple zero yogurt, cooked chicken, moon cheese, healthier popcorn, P3 Protein snacks. All easy and fulfilling.

I make 3 months on the 15th. I am currently down 83 pounds since pre opp diet and 73 down since surgery. I am doing everything possible to hit my protein goal each day working out 4-5 days a week at a gym. Just sign up for a personal trainer to meet once a week. I have started to allow my self a chip or two when my family eats Mexican food at home after I had my dinner. I am craving crunch and pickles have been my friend. I hope all is going well for y’all as well.

I make 3 months on the 15th. I am currently down 83 pounds since pre opp diet and 73 down since surgery. I am doing everything possible to hit my protein goal each day working out 4-5 days a week at a gym. Just sign up for a personal trainer to meet once a week. I have started to allow my self a chip or two when my family eats Mexican food at home after I had my dinner. I am craving crunch and pickles have been my friend. I hope all is going well for y’all as well.

The good news is that for many people, hair does grow back to its pre-op glory over time! It's different for everyone, but typically, this hair loss phase lasts for a few months. So hang in there, and you'll likely start seeing improvements soon! As for something other than Biotin to help you out, there are definitely options to consider. You might want to look into hair supplements with essential vitamins and minerals like zinc, iron, and Vitamin D, which can play a role in supporting healthy hair growth. On a separate note, if you've been using a lot of protein-based hair products, it's essential to check for protein overload, which can sometimes contribute to hair issues. If that's the case, finding ways on how to fix protein overload might help improve the overall health of your hair.

Ugh! I feel your pain. That was me during the pandemic shut down of schools. I taught for 1.5 years from home. What I did this summer (because I was home all day) was pick a different room each day to "spring clean" while I waited for my surgery on June 19th. I literally went through boxes and bags and closets. I rearranged rooms, threw away things that were no longer of any use, got out of the house to visit with family more often than usual. You might consider some DIY projects at home to keep your mind busy. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money. They could be Dollar Tree DIY projects. Try to think of what things you want to take care of before your surgery that you won't be able to do for the first 2 months afterwards. I cleared the way back to my treadmill that was in the extra bedroom by moving boxes and furniture. I rearranged the kitchen so that things were easily accessible for me after my surgery without having to reach up too high or bend too low. I also made sure all the laundry was done, and that I had all the things I'd need in my immediate vicinity handy. I researched protein shakes, vitamins, supplements, and found this forum. I really do understand how hard it is to not focus on food when food has been our main focus for so long. You're not alone. Everyone finds different ways to distract themselves at first, but it really does become easier as the days go by, especially if you stop carb intake. I hope you find something in which you can immerse yourself that will help you, my friend.

Well, the detox from carbs really helps curb the hunger. I'm a teacher, and I'd have a protein shake for breakfast, another for lunch, then at home, eat a really good solid meal (no bread, tortillas, pastas, or sides but enough protein to fill me up) and then another shake as a snack after dinner. Also, it's extremely important to DRINK WATER ALL DAY. At first, yes, I wanted to snack and graze, but after the first week it was much easier. Being in the classroom from 7AM-5PM also really helped a lot too. I'm literally in front of my kids all day working, so it's not like I can walk away to eat, Lol! But it does get easier after a REAL detox from carbs. Your moods don't swing and your mind gets clear. It's like a brain fog lifts.

I detoxed from carbs and alcohol. It was difficult for only about the first 3 or 4 days. The less you eat carbs the less you crave them. I did 3 protein shakes and one solid, super low carb meal a day. Lost about 30 lbs in 30 days before I even started my 2-week pre-op liquid diet.

Aww, great job! Look at that protein count! Celebrating the daily wins is wise, it helps reinforce what is going right!

From what I've read, creatine can have a positive impact on muscle mass by about 5%. But of course that varies greatly from person to person, being influenced by diet, workout routine, age, genetics, etc. Its considered relatively safe, though there is some concern about kidney function impact. Overall, there are very few thorough, peer reviewed, long term studies, so its really mostly anecdotal. Ultimately, having a solid, protein rich diet and lifting weights consistently is what is going to make the biggest difference. But if you're looking to supplement, talk to your doctor/dietitian before starting anything.

oopsies...forgot the recipe. WARNING for bacon lovers: these are addictive and you wont be able to stop at just one. best to not have it sitting at arms reach at parties lol. BACON WRAPPED CREAM CHEESE BITES INGREDIENTS 1 - bacon 2 - soft white bread (no crusts, rolled out for easier use)...when im especially lazy i just buy pre-packaged tramezzini bread, no prep required) 3 - 8oz cream cheese (or garlic & herbed or chive flavoured if u wanna things easier and skip item 4 below) 4 - some chopped chives, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (skip if u want, see item 3 above) PREPARATION - pre-heat oven to 400 - (optional) mix the paprika w/ the cream cheese - spread cream cheese onto the bread - roll bread like a jelly roll - cut the roll into bite-sized pieces - cut the bacon into pieces big enough to wrap around a single bread bite (make sure the ends AT LEAST overlap) - place each wrapped bite bacon seam side down - bake for 20-25 mins or until bacon is crisp (u usually flip em over 1/2 way, but its fine if u don't) best served warm! now place on table and back away lest u get mauled by the bacon-crazed crowds 😂

@Synlee how are you faring? I think of you often. @LindsayT I'm doing really well. I'm still losing weekly, with only one stall at 2 weeks out. Last month I lost 5 kilos, I'd be delighted to lose that each month. If I did I would reach my major goal around a year out. I'm having to remind myself to celebrate the entire journey and the accomplishments along the way. Because if I focus on the end goal it feels so far away and can become quite a depressing thought. Do any of you have a Ninja Creami? It's been a game changer for me, making it so much easier to meet my protein goals. I make high protein frozen yoghurt, so dang delicious! The batch I have at the moment is 23.6 grams of protein per half cup, low carb and low fat. Definitely noticing changes in clothing sizes too which is wonderful. I'd love to know how everyone else is going, please check in.

I was having problems with dairy at that point too...I ate a lot of refried beans and spoonfuls of hummus and peanut butter, and there are non-dairy yogurts out there but please look at the labels, a lot of them don't have much protein compared to their dairy counterparts.

In my 7th week post-op and I finally felt like everything came together today. I felt good, I had a great workout, my nutrition was on point and I only have 8oz of water left to drink for the day. I have to celebrate this win today - there were days of struggle and hating the protein drinks, and craving crunchy carbs, but I got through it and that lets me know I can get through hard times and cravings! it’s been so hard to get to 700-800 calories and get all my water in - but I did it today! make sure to celebrate those wins!!

Hello. I had my gastric sleeve surgery done on July 10th. I am in the USA, so I am a bit jealous of the folks overseas in the UK and Europe with lax restrictions. My team also seems to have some of the strictest restrictions from what I've researched online. I was on clear liquids for 7 days following surgery. After that, I was on a full liquid diet for 13 more days. During this time I've only been consuming protein shakes, sugar free gelatin and sugar free pudding, low sodium beef and chicken broth, and strained healthy request campbell's cream soups(cream of chicken, celery, mushroom, tomato). I've only been getting 300-400 calories a day. Its a struggle for me to get enough protein and my 64oz of clear liquids a day. It isn't that my body won't tolerate what I am putting in, but I am trying to do everything exactly as dictated by my treatment team. I can eat more than 2oz of yogurt at once, but they say to limit portions to that. I can put 6oz of soup in my stomach without any pain or discomfort, but they say only 1/4 to 1/2 cup at once. As for liquids, I am a gulper. I am used to drinking in excess of 1-1.5 gallons of clear sugar free liquids a day.(mostly crystal light iced tea mix). I am finding it so hard to take a sip and remember to keep taking sips. I usually just drink down 16oz and move on. Like others have mentioned, I too am able to drink more than I am supposed to without any discomfort. I am not doing it on a regular basis however, because I am terrified of complications. Also, I know I will have a much easier time of mastering my new lifestyle and diet changes moving forward if I learn and practice moderation early on. So for that reason I have been following my teams' advice verbatim. Until today that is. I decided to move on to the pureed food stage a day early. I went back to work last Tuesday, having taken roughly 2 weeks off for my recovery. My first two days were good. I had more energy than normal and enjoyed being back in the grind of things(pun intended, I am a butcher. :P) Yesterday and today, however, I've been dizzy, light headed, and my balance has been off. Also I've had a lot of muscular pains, more than before surgery, in my back and neck and sides. my blood pressure during one of these episodes was 88/41. I self diagnosed myself as having hypotension brought on by dehydration and possible lack of protein in my diet. So I left work early today with two bags of groceries to fuel my pureed stage of my diet, and set off to make up some egg salad, pureeing the eggs with nonfat greek yogurt and light mayonaise. I ate 2oz of that to test my stomach's reaction, and I didn't have any discomfort at all. This evening I made some adult baby food from 1 pound of skinless boneless chicken thighs, which I boiled, drained, chopped, seasoned, then pureed with a cup of low sodium chicken broth. I added 2oz of my chicken paste to 4oz of my creamy cheddar and mushroom(strained) soup, and that was dinner. At the moment it was the greatest thing I've ever eaten. As a Carnivoire pre-surgery, I really missed eating meat. I feel better tonight after getting more protein, and having gotten my 64oz+ of clear liquids in me. I am a bit concerned though, aside from my stomach gurgling and being a little gassy and occasionally bloated, I've had absolutely no adverse reactions like vomiting, nausea, trouble swallowing, or feeling really full. Maybe it is because I've adhered to what my treatment team told me to do, or maybe it is the slow pace of their rules. Here's the full list: Week 1 - Clear liquids. Weeks 2 & 3 - Full liquid diet. Weeks 4 & 5 - Pureed foods. Weeks 6 & 7 - Soft foods. Week 8 - Slowly start to introduce regular healthy low fat foods. The saving grace to all this is the fact I have no physical hunger, so it is easier for me to stick to this restrictive, slow pace. I think I am going to stick with it instead of trying to eat something 'normal' too early, risking injury. My total nutritional info for today: 588 calories, 29g fat, 63g protein, 18g carbs, 1,679mg sodium. Today I've eaten the most calories in a single day post-op.

Is your stage 3 pureed or soft foods? I actually bought a baby food maker. It was a life saver. But you don't need one, a blender works just fine! If it's pureed and you're craving something savory, you can put boiled or baked chicken in the blender, then mix it into 1/3 cup of the 98% fat-free cream of chicken. Two ounces of well-drained tuna with 2 tbsps of light mayo tastes really good, just be sure to over mix it so all the little chunks work themselves out. You can try canned chili and blend it even more than it already is. Canned beans can be mashed up and seasoned any way you like if you need to add fiber to your diet. For sweet foods, there's of course SF pudding, SF rice pudding, SF tapioca, low cal/low carb yogurt (Greek is the healthiest), and oatmeal sweetened with Stevia and cinnamon. I would make the oatmeal with water then add 3 tbsps of caramel-flavored whey protein shake (Premier Protein brand taste the best to me) that way, I was getting fiber and protein to make up for the high carb count. If your stage 3 is soft foods, you can try salmon or baked fish. For me the difference between pureed and soft foods was minimal because of what I liked to eat. Tuna is a staple for me. Except now I can eat it with some Quest cheddar crackers.

Hello, I just joined! My surgery was July 27th! The first night I was in a ton of pain, but it's getting better every day. I'm trying to walk a lot but I get very dizzy after around ten minutes. I've been drinking all my protein shakes, but I'm struggling with my water. I feel like I'm constantly drinking and still not getting enough!

I can't have yogurts or juices, or skim milk until after my surgery. I think they do the "lean and green" as an option because it helps clean you out. 😉 I started drastically decreasing my actual food intake to once day 30 days ago. So that has helped. I've lost 13 lbs since beginning of June. I'm hoping I can lose at least 10 the next 2 weeks of doing this. My hardest part now that I'm not actually eating is drinking enough water. I just don't get as thirsty and I have to make myself drink.

Wow! That seems like a lot of calories so soon. I think I didn’t have more than 800 for the 1st 6 months. I was told to concentrate more on protein. To have 60-90 grams a day. Good luck to you.