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There are so many different protein shakes you can use. Premier Protein is one of the most popular because the ready made ones have 30G of protein in the small "juice box" Fairfield is another good brand and so on there are tons... As for pre surgery some people have to do a liquid diet for a week, 2 weeks, a month it all depends on what your surgeon says. after surgery you will be on a liquid diet for some time... Again it depends on what your surgeon says as they all do different things.

How do the nutrients fit in with your dietary plan? Not just calories but sugar, fat, carb content too. What are the serving portions like? Many smoothies are high in sugar & carbs from the fruit content alone with many containing more fruit than you’d eat in a single serve but without the fibre & nutrients left in the pulp they toss out. There’s nothing wrong with splitting a meal over a lunch & dinner. I’ve done it. Did it two weeks ago with a middle eastern halloumi salad bowl I had at lunch. Took the left overs home & had them for dinner. Just added chicken as I’d eaten most of the protein component at lunch. Do your homework & then make an informed decision. Whether you indulge or not ultimately is your decision.

Hiya everyone! I’m so excited to have got my date! April 11th! I was feeling pretty unsure and nervous, but I’ve got to the ‘bring it on’ mindset now! No easter eggs for me then! Re. the pre surgery diet I have to do 2 weeks on Optifast, I actually really like the shakes. I might start Optifast early to give myself a head start!

Yes, plans are different but there are similarities too. The plan for a staged return to eating solid food is given to you for a reason: to protect your poor healing tummy (remember all those internal sutures & staples holding your tummy together) & support your recovery. You don’t want to stress & strain your tummy & digestive system. It’s always best to follow your surgeon’s plan. They gave it to you for a reason: the surgery, any additional work that was done (hernia repair, etc.), your personal health history, their experiences, etc. I didn’t enjoy shakes either (grainy & gross) but I literally just sucked it up for the two weeks. I added more water to dilute them & warmed the chocolate flavoured one (tried to convince myself it was hot chocolate). I also found the bone broths unpleasant but cream soups were fine. Try the broths in pho or wonton soup - just strain them well to ensure you’re only getting the liquids. Or you can buy unflavoured protein powder & make your own like @MiniGastricBypassDude suggested. You can also add it to any soups you are able to tolerate. All the best.

My ekg was abnormal and I was able to have surgery. I did end up in the hospital for a week though.

So Lizzie, I’m picking that you have been accepted for surgery and have a date in April? Me too! Part of the process I have been through is seeing both a dietician and a psych, and will have this support after the surgery? Do you have this support? If not then you need to take steps to put it in place so that you can talk through your issues with a qualified psych and not have to roll with all the (undoubtedly well meaning) judgement on a public forum. I don’t think that you will ‘get turned round for BMI under 30’ at the surgery stage if you have been approved and accepted. That would be really unethical of the surgeon if that is really on the cards. Regarding the liver shrinking diet I don’t think that this is negotiable, (you say you’d ‘like’ to do it…I’m confused about the process you are following). If your surgeon has told you to do it, then do it as prescribed and the weight loss that goes with it is coincidental, you are doing it to make the surgery easier not actually for weight loss at this stage. I’m also picking from what you say that losing weight isn’t an issue but keeping the weight off is? Is that right? In which case yes surgery is absolutely the right approach for a chance at a permanent solution to get off the diet merry go round of yo yo weight loss and gain, if that is what you want. You say you feel that you need to indulge in unhealthy eating to keep your weight above 30 BMI? My advice would be that if you have been accepted for surgery, and you have talked to your support crew (psych and dietician) and surgeon about your dilemma, and got some constructive advice, then stop jumping on the scales for the next few weeks, eat healthily, like really healthily, include some healthy carbs, eat real food, then just stick to the liver shrinking diet for the amount of time your surgeon requires pre op and stop stressing. Focus on your health not your BMI at this stage. Keep doing healthy exercise, be as fit and active as you can be before surgery. Follow the plan from your surgeon and dietician exactly as they say, and know your own mind. I think that you need to be very sure of your reasons for doing this very permanent, crazy thing to your body. If when you have done all the research you can you feel that this is the best and only way forward to get to a healthy BMI for the rest of your life, then go you!! If however you still think that you can lose the weight….and more importantly keep it off through diet and exercise then maybe that would be the healthier option, both physically and mentally, for you.

I had a week of liquids (we don't discern between clear and full here, because your stomach doesn't care what color things are) and hated the shakes. So I made them myself - with program approval - out of high-protein, sugar-free yoghurt (skýr), whey protein powder, banana and OJ. I know, I know, I had triple-digit calories and that's not how you're supposed to do it. You're apparently supposed to starve and be miserable so you can really think about how fat you are. After all, after 6 months pre-op on Optifast and standing on your head to prove you want it, what's a few more weeks? In Europe, however, you'd be able to have the above.

it could be that your stomach just isn't ready to progress in the diet, so you might have to stay with soft or pureed foods for an extra week or two and then try again. OR...yes - it could be a stricture, since you're in the right time frame for one. If it gets harder and harder to keep things down (and if it keeps progressing without intervention, at some point you won't even be able to keep fluids down), then it's probably a stricture. But the first one is probably more likely (i.e., your stomach isn't really to progress quite yet). If you're still having trouble in another week or two, then I'd contact the clinic again - they'll probably schedule you to have an upper endoscopy to see what's going on (and to "fix" the stricture if there's one there...)

I agree with almost everything he says. First of all, I was told by my clinic that only about 10-15% of people make it to a normal BMI - most end up "overweight' or "class I obese" (which is not very obese - we're talking about 20 or 30 lbs overweight). The research I did after I was told that seemed to back that up. My third and final goal was to make it to a normal BMI, and I was actively discouraged from doing that - but I actually did make it -and stayed there for quite a while (I'm now about 6 lbs overweight at almost seven years out). I was told - like he said - that someone who's formerly obese has heavier bones and muscles than a person of the same weight who's never been obese, because we needed that extra "infrastructure" to hold up our weight. Granted, you do lose a lot of that as you lose fat - but you don't lose all of it - so we can weigh 10 or 15 lbs more than a never-been-obese person who's the same height and build and look pretty much the same as they do. and as far as getting too thin - I got down to 138 at my lowest - I looked pretty ghastly at that weight, even though that is around the middle of a normal BMI for me. I could practically see every bone in my body. I look and feel much better in the 150s. the only thing he said that didn't apply in my situation is that you lose about half of what you'd be expected to lose by a year out by the time you were three months out (in other words, if you lost 50 lbs in the first three months, you'd be expected to lose twice that (100 lbs) by a year out. I'd only lost about 40 lbs by three months out - and I was down about 120 lbs by one year out. So I think that can vary a bit.. otherwise, I do agree with pretty much everything he said - and my experience reflects most of it.

Hello everyone I am a post op for lap band on Jan 20 of this year liquid diet 2 weeks then I was getting hungry more often and my portions were bigger I lost 19 lbs so far but I haven't lost anymore and haven't gained I had my first fill yesterday my doctor filled it up to 5cc then told me to drink water as I felt alot of pressure drinking it he kept taking some saline out till about 2.5cc I was ok. Now I could drink water like nothing I don't feel much restriction I am starving and could eat a horse however my Dr told me to go back to a liquid diet for 1 to 2 weeks? Uhhhhh like the eff? How long do I have to wait for yet another fill? Is there a certain time frame? I don't have any motivation so yet another clear stupid liquid diet for 2 weeks I've lost more hair then weight 😂 I need some advice oh and I've read many times the fills don't go in affect for couple of days? I'm confused

Hello everyone I am a post op for lap band on Jan 20 of this year liquid diet 2 weeks then I was getting hungry more often and my portions were bigger I lost 19 lbs so far but I haven't lost anymore and haven't gained I had my first fill yesterday my doctor filled it up to 5cc then told me to drink water as I felt alot of pressure drinking it he kept taking some saline out till about 2.5cc I was ok. Now I could drink water like nothing I don't feel much restriction I am starving and could eat a horse however my Dr told me to go back to a liquid diet for 1 to 2 weeks? Uhhhhh like the eff? How long do I have to wait for yet another fill? Is there a certain time frame? I don't have any motivation so yet another clear stupid liquid diet for 2 weeks I've lost more hair then weight 😂 I need some advice oh and I've read many times the fills don't go in affect for couple of days? I'm confused

So pre-op diet for me was 11 days of 4 shakes a day and 4, 1 cup servings of non starchy veggies. Then of course the day before was just clear liquids. That was it. Then AFTER surgery it was 2 weeks Full Liquid then 1 week Puree then 2 weeks Soft Foods and then finally, regular foods after that. As more people post you will see some of our plans vary greatly and some are very similar. Strange how that is. LOL

I had RNY on Tuesday, five days ago. Knock on wood, I’m doing well. But, I am starving today. I cannot bear the protein shakes and broth. It makes me sick to even look at them now. My doctor prescribes the same diet to everyone. Day 1 - 14 clear liquids and protein shakes; day 14 - 21 add plain yogurt, liquified cream of wheat, low-fat milk; day 22 start puréed food. I’m not going to make it that long without food. Why are there so many discrepancies among how doctors determine post-op guidelines?? I’ve seen people on purée by week two. Can I start something else now? Ugh. Having temporary buyer’s remorse.

Last day or two I've had some issues keeping food down comfortably. I'm not talking about a t-bone, two crisps this morning and I felt like dying and had to induce vomiting. However I just had two tablespoons of hummus and it's sitting ok. I spoke to my surgeon and he said people heal at different rates and possibly solid food is too much for me at the moment or I have a stricture. But they specifically said to me: eat what you want just chew well. 6 weeks out. What do you think?

I was the last day of May, so I’m just over 9 months out. I’m down 74.4. Only 1.8 away from the elusive “healthy” BMI. I would probably already be there, but I was in Florida for 22 days - I didn’t gain, but only lost 0.4 during that time (which is actually a huge win - since 2 weeks of that trip was at WDW)

KAP123, Nichole37: I can't thank you enough for your comprehensive reviews. You probably saved me from making one of the biggest mistakes of my life. After looking at multiple places in Miami, the D.R., and my hometown (St. Louis), I decided to choose Top Plastic Surgeons for a BBL and liposuction for several reasons: 1) the inclusiveness of their services -- 7 nights at a hotel, pick-up from the airport, transport to and from the surgery center, and a doctor checking on me 5 days a week. Since I was going to be traveling alone, this was a big consideration; 2) I speak Spanish, and have been to Mexico City 4 times in the past year. Therefore I felt comfortable having surgery in a familiar environment; 3) the surgery is performed in a hospital (which is apparently not true, despite the hospitals pictured on their website), and 3) the low cost, less than $5000 USD There were, however, a few red flags: 1) The names of the doctors do not appear on their website, supposedly because it is unethical in Mexico to do so. Yet plenty of Mexican doctors have websites, so this sounded bogus 2) The before-and-after pictures on their website looked almost too good to be true. Plus you don't know which surgeon performed which procedures; some are presumably better at performing BBL's and lipo than others 3) Their payments are cash only, no credit cards 4) No compression garment included. Almost every surgeon includes this. In fact, the patient wakes up in the recovery room wearing it. How is a patient supposed to know what size faja to buy beforehand since you don't know how much swelling you will have? 5) The included hotel does not have a kitchenette, so no fridge, microwave, or stove. How are patients supposed to prepare and store the healthy foods they need during the first week of recovery? 6) The hotel is not centrally located, so except for the hotel restaurant, no nearby restaurants, mercados, supermarkets, or even street food, which is needed since you can't prepare food in your hotel; and 7) it is extremely rare for doctors to help a patient with personal care such as changing bandages, etc., so I was skeptical of this claim (which according to you two posted, is not true). Despite these red flags, I was going to book anyway, even though I had several nagging doubts. I should know by now to always listen to my gut instinct. You both saved me a lot of pain, money, and possible disfigurement. Thank you again.

All of these methods are great. I find it’s more of a head game for me, and I need to keep trying new activities to surprise my body into shirking pounds. The “game” is tricking my body. I also don’t expect perfection, Sundays are my relax day. I started 75 Hard. I modified it for real life, but the idea is to stick to eating plans, journal and do two planned exercise moments on top of the basic activities you normally do. I also found I burn more calories walking and weightlifting. I bought a rowing machine to mix things up even more. I just keep changing up my activities. Last fall I was very into yoga, now I go only once a week. I’m looking into a weighted hoola hoop, biking, and swimming for the summer. Stick to your eating plan and keep mixing up your activities. It’s even better when you include a social element like a friend or family member on a walk!

I think I discovered part of my problem, based on what I read from other postes and what others go through at my stage. FOOD DOESN'T BOTHER ME. How can this be??? I guess everyone is different? I don't get pain, I don't feel sick, I don't get nauseous, so I can just eat. It might sound like a dream, but really, it's not. Because if I can eat, I can, well-- eat. and eat whatever I want. And obviously I don't want THAT! It means my control has to come COMPLETELY from my mind, because my body won't stop me. Interestingly, it does protest when I drink a lot, and I do wish it was the reverse. I want to drink! I wish my body protested from food, not liquid. I have a friend who told me before my surgery, "You'll see, you won't even be able to LOOK at the things you liked before. You'll have no inclination to eat them, or graze on things." I was looking forward to that, but it's not the case with me. If I allowed myself to, I could graze on anything all day. These responses were very helpful in giving me a framework, which I am beginning TODAY. (in case you're wondering, my team doesn't really work with this. The nutritionist didn't sit with me and map out a meal plan or anything. Basically she said, you're body will tell you what you can and can't eat. So seeing what others have been eating through the day is helping me form my own meal plan, and hopefully the numbers will start coming down. Because FYI... I haven't been losing weight! I lost 20 lbs between my pre op and the week after, and I've been the same since then, one month out. Not sure how that can be, but the scale don't lie. So thanks for the responses, hopefully this will help me jumpstart.

You're in the best place for this, with the surgeon who knows you and knows what they're doing so you'll be well taken care of and they'll figure this out and have you home promptly and in a week this will all be a memory. Keep us updated, and wishing you good humour through this tough time.

Hello I had band January 20 2022 and I was on liquid diet 2 weeks lost weight then it started slowing down as I became more hungry and had no restriction I had my first fill today of 2.5 cc and my doctor said I have to go back on a 2 week clear liquid diet? I cannot do that again I am so hungry I feel no restriction at all ....will I feel any from just a liquid diet? I can gulp water down it doesn't feel tight at all how long do I have to wait to get another fill? What's the ristriction feel like am I getting it messed up from when food gets stuck sometimes and I feel tightness in chest and have to vomit it out

My BMI was 35 on the dot. But what BMI doesn't tell you is trend. In the last two years it had gone from 30, and in two years time it would have been at 40. A lifetime of somewhat successful weight loss and control had ended and I found I was simply unable to do it anymore. For whatever reason - I still couldn't tell you but I kept starting diets and periods of control that lasted 4 days at the most. My BMI has dropped under 30 now, 5 weeks post op. I'd also say two further things: 1. There's little in life more unhealthy than obesity. 2. The surgery is, on average, hugely less serious if you have a lower BMI, are younger and in better health/no comorbidities. That's me basically and I recovered very well with no issues at all, no food intolerances or anything. Wait 10 years, wait until your BMI is 10 points higher and you have diabetes, sleep apnea and hypertension and WLS is no longer a joke.

it can take a week for the first BM. I'm glad to hear you're taking Colace and Miralax, though - because that first one can be a doozy!

Welcome back @rking. Go back to the basics. 60g protein, 64oz fluids. Watch portion size. Reduce your carbs, sugar & fat intake. Measure, weigh, track. You can start of slowly & make one change (swap a food to a more nutritious or lower calorie choice , drop a food choice, increase a food type like protein or vegetables, etc.) each week & see how you go. You can always get back in contact with your dietician & get them to review your current diet & make suggestions too. All the best.

I had gastric bypass in July 2020 and I constantly worry about slipping back into my old ways. I feel like I can eat way more (volume-wise) than I should be able to. I see people posting on the Food Before & After Pictures thread and saying, "I ate two bites and was full for the rest of the week," or "I merely looked at this salad and was stuffed," but I can eat a "normal" size meal at this point. However, I think back to what I used to eat and realize I am still eating far less than I used to, and I'm eating foods that are much healthier and lower in calories than what I used to eat. A few things that have helped me: I shop almost exclusively online - grocery pickup or delivery. This makes it easy to avoid impulse purchases because I order in advance and don't actually go into the store. I start with my favorites list, and search for anything I need that's not on my list. My point is that I'm not browsing all of the products in the store, but targeting what I want to buy, so I don't even see or look at junk food, and I don't bring it into my house. I eat a lot of vegetables. Every week, I buy and prep carrots, celery, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and sweet peppers. I prepare a container for each day and I pre-add a saved meal in My FItness Pal each day, so I snack on the veggies any time I want during the day (I use Walden Farms zero-calorie ranch dressing as a dip). It's a lot of food for very few calories (not to mention healthy and full of vitamins), and it helps me avoid snacking on other things. I almost look at it as an assignment to eat the veggies -- I have to eat them, so I better not fill up on other stuff first. I find healthy and delicious recipes on Pinterest. I've found so many great recipes that I don't even want things like pizza and fast food. I eat healthy(ish) treats every day. My favorite thing is sugar-free meringue (whipped pasteurized egg whites with 0-calorie sweetener), which I eat raw as a whipped cream substitute, frozen as an ice cream substitute, or baked as a cookie substitute. 25 calories worth of egg whites makes about 1 cup of meringue or 20 small cookies. Other favorites include protein bars (Built Bars are my favorites, and they're lower in calories than most protein bars), sugar-free Jello, protein mug cake, and plain rice cakes sprayed with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and sprinkled with brown sugar Swerve and cinnamon. I think these treats help me stay on track and not get tempted by real ice cream and high-calorie cookies.

👋🏼 Everyone! My first solo post haha. Long time Lurker. Had Sleeve surgery w/HH repair on 2/28. Definitely went through buyers remorse the first 2 days. Mostly due to gas and incision pain. Today I am moving around much better still not quite getting all my protein in but I know it will come. Preop I lost 42lbs, not sure how much post yet. My issue is I have bad gas or bloat in my abdominal area. I didn’t have chest, shoulder, back gas pains it’s only been in my stomach area. I’ve been walking, walking, I pass some gas but not a ton. It’s like the gas is just floating around in there and my bottom part is sealed it up in there like a tomb if that makes sense. I don’t have Heartburn, nausea, or any vomiting, or pain in my chest area at all so I don’t think it’s Gerd. Could I still have surgical gas in my abdomen this far out? And does water help expel it if I continuously drink? No Bowel movement yet either. I take my Omeprazole, Colace as well as some Miralax sometimes with my water. I’m still on Clear/Full Liquids until 3/16 and I had a 1 week liquid diet the week before surgery. any help is appreciated!