Search the Community

Flavorless? Yes. Tasteless? Not really. The closest I've found is the ISOPure unflavored. It doesn't taste like anything specific, but you can taste it when mixed in to other things, if that makes sense. Its not bad or off putting, but vaguely there. I had better luck with it when mixed into savory foods (soups and purees) vs. sweet things (pudding or drinks). Have you tried bone broth? Its a good source of savory protein and hydration. You could also try the protein waters @Voogs mentioned- they are more like Gatorade; less sweet than the shakes and no chalky texture.

Isopure Whey Protein Isolate comes in an unflavored variety. I've mixed with water, milk and kool aid type drinks. Also protein water like Premier Protein clear or Protein2O are pretty good alternatives.

Hi All, I’m almost 2 weeks post op and struggling with hitting my protein goals! Mainly because I don’t like sweets and most shakes have sweeteners. I have tried pea protein with “natural” taste but tastes like raw flour added to the food! Is there no protein powder that is just tasteless and can be added to any food / drink without compromising the original taste? Thanks 😊

Many people don't realise how big a surgery this is. Our bodies demand a slower pace of life for a while until our calories increase. Rest and recover is the order of the day. I was only on 400 cals a day for so many months, no wonder I struggled to do anything around the home. It took me some months to increase my intake and I still have to bump my calories and protein with milk and yogurt. Now I am on about 1200 -1400 a day I feel like Superwoman again. Give it time and you will be the same too Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m also 2 months post op and struggling with this. I have always been very active and am struggling not being able to do all of the things I used to do. I would do back to back tennis sessions so 3 hours in total and now I can only do one and plan on doing nothing afterwards. I have to be very mindful when planning my activity now. One thing my dietitian encouraged me to do was continue drinking a protein supplement daily even though the generic plan doesn’t include one at my stage anymore. The generic meal plan doesn’t account for the 800 calories I burn in my 90 minute sessions, so I needed more calories. She also looked at my vitamin D and said although it isn’t “low,” it could be higher so I added a vitamin D supplement as well which she said could increase my energy levels.

You’ll only need to take the strong pain meds for a few days - I took my last one on day 4 but probably didn’t need it. Some find over the counter enough in a couple of days. We all handle pain differently. The shakes can taste disgusting after the surgery because our taste buds can temporarily change. Have a couple of different brands & flavours on hand. I forced myself to have a shake in the morning (doubled the water to dilute the flavour) & then had diluted soups (broths, consommés) the rest of the day. Ask your dietican for other protein rich fluids you can try. It’s really only for a short time. Water can be sort of hard to swallow - heavy. Try drinking other liquids as well. I drank green tea, thinned yoghurt drinks, electrolyte drinks as well as the diluted shakes & soups.. Warm drinks are often easier to drink - more soothing. As the months pass you will be able & encouraged to eat more. I was advised to start with 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purées slowly increasing to about a cup at goal (at 6 months for me). Check with your surgeon & dietician for their recommendations for portion size, maybe calories & any other nutrient goals like protein. Yours will be different to mine simply because you’re male. Same with when you progress through the restricted return to eating stages to support your healing. I was on 2 weeks cycles: liquids, purées, soft before solid which is pretty common. Having the surgery is not being a quitter. The truth is you will still be doing the work & it is hard work. You can’t rely on the surgery alone to be successful. People can & do eat around their surgery. The loss of appetite & hunger don’t last & some don’t lose them at all. I worked harder after my surgery than on any other diet simply because I wanted this to work & be as permanent as possible. The head work, understanding why you eat, your cravings, habits, etc. is probably the hardest aspect. I also did a lot of reading to work out a way of eating (not a diet - they’re temporary) that worked for me & could be sustainable. This was a huge difference. I could always lose weight (until the last gain I had) but I could also put it all back on again because I went straight back to what I did before. I was a quitter then because I didn’t stick to any exercise plan or change of eating style. I still watch my portions, monitor my protein & fluid intake, randomly check my calorie intake, & carefully read the nutrition panel on the few food stuffs I buy - I tend to cook most of my own food from scratch. All the best whatever you choose to do.

I don't dump, but I definitely react if I overeat sugar. I bloat (noticeably and my stomach gets really icky), get exhausted - like sit on the couch and pass out for 2 hours - and have bad gas. I do OK with fruit or if I eat protein before the sugar. I can also have a little bit, but I haven't tried to narrow down where the line is. Knowing it's a possibility helps me avoid overeating sugary food, especially if I'm out with others or traveling. It's easier to avoid than to try and deal with it.

I originally had an ESG, it wasn't painful as such but I did have rolling stomach cramps, you can get over the counter medication for that (buscopan). You need time to allow the suture / anchor sites to heal, so I would think most doctors would give you at least a week or two of fluids (shakes), I did see one plan when someone had to do shakes for about eight weeks. It really does depend on your doctor's guidelines (I would have thought you would have been provided with guidelines by now). I am not sure why you think having a weight loss procedure makes you (or anyone else) a quitter. I imagine you have had many attempts at losing weight and haven't been successful? If this helps you lose the weight and maintain the lost, that's a good thing. ESG is a lot different than the surgical options, the reduction in stomach size is not as great as those options, you mostly certainly eat more than a few bites at a time (as is the case with the surgical options once healed from those procedures). This is from an Australian perspective but you may find it useful https://bmiclinic.com.au/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty-faq/

I was self-pay so I went with the Sleeve because it was cheaper and came with a lower complication risk. Being self-pay, any issues that arise due to the surgery also aren't covered under insurance so I wanted to make sure to go with the option that carried the lowest complication rate. In my experience it seems that bypass is the more dominant option for those that are severely overweight (think BMI 60+) and want the best chance at being able to lose most/all of their excess weight and maintain the loss.

"high protein, calorie deficit & I workout 4x a week" because it's still true!

Bypass was once the gold standard of weight loss surgeries up until a few years ago, when sleeve took over. It's easier for surgeons to perform, it's cheaper, and a lot of people are afraid of the bypass. Thus, sleeve is currently the most popular weight loss surgery. I went with bypass because I had GERD prior to surgery. Bypass usually improves if not outright cures GERD, whereas sleeve can make it worse (doesn't happen to everyone - and some people say their GERD even improved after getting sleeved, but the risk of having it get worse was too high for my comfort, so I chose bypass). bypass is the stronger of the two surgeries, but sleeve is close. And yes, you have more options for revision after sleeve, but then, very few people who have bypass get theirs revised. honestly, they both have their pros and cons. There are some health conditions (like GERD) that would make one surgery more appropriate for you than the other, but barring that, it really comes down to personal preference. They're both good surgeries and you'll find many examples on here of people who've been very successful with both. I love my bypass and would choose it again if I had to make the choice today.

My doctor also said that if you go with Sleeve, if you need a revision, you have more options.

I can tell you my experience as someone who had bypass. My weight as of January 2022 was 245; on surgery day (May 13th, 2022) my weight was down to 223. As of today it's at 134. My height is 5'2. The surgery itself went fine, but I had some issues with pain management (don't let that freak you out, it's very individualistic on how people experience pain). I was in the hospital for 3 days and released when I was able to keep a bit of broth down. I found that walking around and heating pad helped with the gas, but it took quite a while for that feeling to go away. A week out from my surgery I had to go to the ER because I couldn't keep more than an ounce of fluid down and was dehydrated. 3 bags of fluids and a GI study later, they found there was still some internal swelling that was making it hard for me to meet any fluid/protein goals. I followed the nutritionist advice and start the mornings with a warm drink, which does help. Now, all of these months later, I'm not able to eat much (once again, this is more the exception than the norm), but clearly the amount of food I've been able to consume is providing energy to get me through the day. My sister also had bypass without complications and she lost 85 pounds in a year. She's been able to eat most things, though she's learned the hard way about dumping syndrome. I have no regrets about my surgery and feel much healthier than I've felt. I've gone from a size 22 to a size 8. Something I never thought would happen. Good luck on your surgery.

Hi everyone!! I am so curious I am dying for bypass info videos chats all the things, but it seems like so many sleeves. Why is that? I think Bypass is my best option and I just got my surgery date for 2/20. I do worry I have regrets about sleeve vs bypass. Can anyone tell me why you chose it and how it went? What was your weight loss like? n All I see is sleeve!

@summerseeker explained them pretty well. High processed, simple carbs, high sugar, low nutritional value, ‘snack’ foods tend to be sliders. Not just for us but for everyone. They go through your digestive system quickly & therefore don’t fill you/satisfy you so you eat way more than you should. They can also cause dumping in some people. Chips (corn, potato, tortilla), popcorn, chocolate, chewable sweets, milkshakes, ice cream, pretzels, cakes, crackers, etc., should be avoided. If you do choose to eat them in the future it is important to carefully watch how much you eat. Portioning out an appropriate serve is better than straight from a bag or packet which easily becomes mindkess eating. If you’re looking for a snack type food try cheese, jerky, nuts, hard boiled eggs, celery or carrot straws, or make your own protein balls or mini egg muffins.

We regularly have a “build your own salad” night. I also might keep fruit cups, fruits, and veggies out in plain sight so they’re more accessible than the chips, sugary stuff, or other less nutrient dense foods. Your kids can only follow example and eat what you provide (for the most part), so healthy options, intuitive eating, and food modeling are great ways to keep kids having a healthier relationship with food.

I can't believe it has been a year already since I had my surgery. Time really flies. This past year was filled with lots of major milestones, NSVs and overall positive things. I decided to write this post to hopefully inspire others who are on the fence or those who are already on their weight loss journey. I had my surgery (MGB) in Egypt on 30 January 2022. My sister had hers earlier that month and it didn't take her long to convince me to do it as well. I flew to Egypt on 28th, admitted to hospital on 29th and had the surgery 30th morning. I stayed in the hospital for two days and rested for a week in Cairo before flying back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The whole process went smooth and the recovery was quick with no major issues. Just a bit of discomfort which is normal for any surgery. I was not given any specific diet to follow except for some guidelines - one week of clear liquids, 1 week of pureed food followed by gradual introduction of solid food in week 3. I will start with the positives and the current stats. The negatives / issues are listed below My starting weight was 149 kg. I was 85 kg yesterday. That means I’ve lost a total of 64 kg or 43% of my starting weight. I still have like 15 kg to go. The weight loss was quick at first then started to become slower but I’m more than happy with where I’m at right now. I didn’t follow a strict diet but rather reduced my food intake and ate healthier. I always start with my proteins vegetables and end with carbs. It helps that I cook myself so I know what goes into my food and can control the portions. I now enjoy food better than before because I really take my time to eat. There are some foods that I can’t tolerate like pasta, scrambled eggs etc. Not sure why but I’m not too concerned by that. Here are some of the major achievements and NSVs I’ve experienced the past year (a part from the weight loss): I went from size 52” pant to size 34-36 inches pants depending on the cutting. Here is a comparison between the pants I wore on surgery day and the current ones. Custom-made shirt on surgery day vs the one I wore yesterday (Size M) Here is me in December 2021 and yesterday morning (left to right) I got myself a mountain bike when I went below 100 Kg and that helped a lot. I try to go on a ride around the town whenever time and weather allow. I’m planning to do this more often after the rainy season. I feel more fit and energetic overall. I was able to join my family in a lot of fun activities which was impossible last year. I took the kids to the water park last weekend and we all had a great time. My son told me that he is so happy I could go on the water slide with him and that made the whole journey worth it. I’m planning to join the gym and start rebuilding muscles and tone my body. I’ve some loose skin here and there but it doesn’t bother me. I might end up having it removed but it is too early to decide now. There were also some negatives (as with everything in life) which I consider to be minor : - The 6 months blood work showed that I had Vitamin B12 and D deficiency. The doctor asked me to take high doses of Vitamin D and daily Vitamin B12 tabs which I’ve been doing over the last 6 months. I’m planning to redo the test soon. - I struggled with heartburn and indigestion early on but I learned how to control it. I don’t add a lot of spices to my food now and will stop eating if I feel any discomfort. I still get it every now and then but OTC heartburn medicines really help. - Loose skin specially on my arms and thighs (but that was expected) Overall I’m very happy with my decision and what I’ve achieved over the past year. I’m really looking forward to this coming year.

I found the elite 42g shake, which is a life saver when I'm sick and do not want to eat or drink much. I also got the quest protein chips to munch when pms'ing and the Gatorade zero which has 10g of protein. Protein I have stuck with premier but have tried all flavors mainly from Sam's, since Costco seems to be out of them a lot.

I have just said to those that have mentioned my weight loss that I have a nutritionist, I'm exercising 5x a week, I'm eating high protein/low carb and I'm eating small portions and not drinking, all of which are true. So really you can say you adopted a healthy lifestyle which you did.

Slider foods are things that are yummy but have no food value or any real protein quality. For some after bariatric surgery you only have a tiny pouch for a stomach and we get full very quickly on high protein foods and stay fuller because they take longer to digest. Slider foods go to mush and we can eat masses of them or they just slide right through our pouches. So ice-cream is a good example, biscuits, crisps(chips) cake, chocolate and popcorn are my slider foods. I love them but try hard not to have them Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

Does anyone try or use protein shots? Recommendations

I did and still do at times struggle with this. I worry my husband will think I look gross, and even though he tries to assure me that won't happen, who really knows? I was used to my bigger body and how to hide and deal with it... it will just be a new learning curve, but worth it to have more options in the future.

Yeah, I have a Bjs card, but I actually checked at Same and Costco this weekend and only found caramel. I was ordering them on Amazon, but stopped because they are almost twice a much as they should be. I am just so frustrated with it all and just need to figure out something else for breakfast. But, I really like the protein boost of the shakes too. UHG!! I have friends who have memberships keeping an eye out for me too.

Most protein drinks don’t agree with my stomach and didn’t before surgery either. Fair life is one of the few that I digest easily and tastes delicious. My Costco has had them regularly, I’ve also seen them at BJs, and my area’s grocery stores - Wegmans. You can order them on Amazon but they’re much more expensive that way. At Costco it’s $28.49 for 18 bottles which is the best price I have found.

I recently found out that I have to have a revision from sleeve to bypass because of gastritis and GERD. I'm no longer on my blood pressure med or all 3 of my diabetes meds, but I do take meds for my MS. They are extended release, I take them twice per day, they cannot be crushed or broken, and they are not interchangeable with any other MS meds (specific meds are for specific stages of MS and there aren't things to swap them out with). I specifically didn't choose the bypass when I was given the option for sleeve or bypass because of the MS meds, and now I'm told I don't have the choice. It's freaking me out because my MS meds are non-negotiable, but the GERD and gastritis are causing different types of polyps to form all over the inside of my stomach, making things even worse. I was told by my GI specialist that a revision is now non-negotiable. So...I'm worried.