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hi all! i am a week behind you guys as my surgery was the 27th! i am also struggling with getting in liquids and Protein. I've been putting some unflavored powder in just about everything i can and i also ordered the GENEPRO this week as the scoop is much smaller. luckily my plan allows me to start soft foods on tueday so hopefully that helps! I'm SO ready.

Unfortunately there is no exercise, cream, or lotion that will tighten loose skin. No matter how much a marketing department claims otherwise, it just isn't possible. The only thing that would come close would be a vasoconstrictor that temporarily tightens tissue (Preperation H). The only thing that weight training can do is enlarge muscles to back fill the loss of fat. And even then, it's unlikely most of us can build that much mass. Your best bet to enlarge muscle is to do comfortable weights at a higher rep. When I say comfortable, I don't mean 5 - 10lb curls either, I mean a weight that you can finish 8-10 reps with. It still needs to be work. If strength is your goal, it is the heaviest weight you can handle safely for about 5 reps for 3 sets after warm up sets. Compound lifts like barbell squats and overhead press are ideal. If size is your goal, total volume is what you want and targeted lifts make sense. (Arm day, chest day...) Either route you take, quality protein is paramount. And that means whey concentrate or isolate. Go with your palate because the only supplement worth buying is the one you will use. Just make sure it is whey. Not casein, not pea, not soy... good old fashion whey. And not that genepro crap.

Hmmm my bariatric office sells Genepro. I've heard nothing but good things about it

i second the recommendation for Genepro. I also get it on amazon.

you won't be sorry with the Genepro

In my case, I firmly believe the Omeprazole therapy, in my case it IS NOT GASTROPROTECTIVE! Told them so before surgery , did they listen? Nope, just like spitting into the wind, not a satisfying conclusion! Both my Grandfather and my late husband's Grandfather had the same motto, 2 different languages, but exactly same meaning THEM WHO DON'T LISTEN, GOT TO FEEL! The difference- they didn't listen, I was the one having to feel the pain. And , oh yes, it does hurt! Spasms and when not actively spasming , an abiding ache, internally where you cannot rub it to make it better! Soups, vary the broth , vary the tastes if you can, season it a little if your tummy tolerates. Can't find. a taste you enjoy in commercial soups, construct and blend your own. Had 3 months of TPN myself, November 2018 through February 2019. Never been able to turn my back on Protein shakes, find a taste you like, I do Strawberry Ensure High Protein, the one with only 160 calories. Go back to plain broths if necessary, found after 9 months of Monkey- doodling I am beginning to loathe chick broths, so I do need or Wal-Mart Vegetable , not that expensive. I enrich all things not protein high with Genepro powder, not necessarily the best but I got a very good deal on it, had a coupon for it and Body Fortress both. And I'm almost always around here, 9 and 1/2months, lost 120+ pounds since surgery, story still being told, not sure what next chapters are going to be like, but I hold out optimism!

Lesley-vsg, try the protein powder Genepro fro Amazon. It is 30gm protein in 1 tablespoon. I put it in my morning milk, cream of wheat, yogurt almost anything. It has no taste. I mix 1c chocolate lactaid, 1/2 banana and 2T. Powder. I drink 1/2 in the morning 34gm protein. If I don't get in enough protein thru-out the day, I drink the rest before bed. I get 68 gm protein every day. Having a backup plan is key.

I'm starting my liquid diet today. My surgery is on March 26th 2015 so I'm starting my two week liquid diet today. Can't believe I will be having surgery in two weeks. I'm excited and scared st the same time. Been trying not to think about it too much cause I was having trouble sleeping. Drinking premier protein shakes,chicken broth with genepro mixed in, sugar free jello, zero calorie poweraid,and water. Yum yum Hope it goes by quickly and smoothly.

Do Soups.. My husband makes me soups and chops veggies and chicken in it. And fills it with broth. Of course I can only drink the liquid but it taste so yummy like I'm drinking rotisserie chickenI also add GENEPRO for Protein. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think those 30g premium bars have 290 cal. The 15g ones are 190. That's a lot of calories and carbs so be careful. I have been adding GENEPRO unflavored Protein powder to a Water bottle I drink a few ounces out of and add Mio drops for flavor and shake it up. One tbsp is is 39g of protein. Water and protein...can't beat that. 98 calories. An omelet for Breakfast with the Protein Powder mixed into the beaten eggs gives me a jumpstart on the protein too. Today I added mushrooms and one oz of chopped deli ham and 1/4 grated cheese it was 228 calories and delish! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I think those 30g premium bars have 290 cal. The 15g ones are 190. That's a lot of calories and carbs so be careful. I have been adding Genepro unflavored protein powder to a water bottle I drink a few ounces out of and add Mio drops for flavor and shake it up. One tbsp is is 39g of protein. Water and protein...can't beat that. 98 calories. An omelet for breakfast with the protein powder mixed into the beaten eggs gives me a jumpstart on the protein too. Today I added mushrooms and one oz of chopped deli ham and 1/4 grated cheese it was 228 calories and delish! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My dr also said to focus on hydration not shakes. There are some protein shakes that are not meal replacements. They are much lighter and easier to get down. And some powers that mix into anything (I did genepro in wonton soup broth). My dr actually told me to stop trying. Take a total break for 2 days. Everything was much easier when I tried again. (Struggled the first week, took a 3 day break, and was much better day 10.)

I'm on day 16 and I read my grocery list to my dietitian and she was pretty okay with it. Mix it up. I try to buy things I can easy mix in my Genepro. I bought Wholly Guacamole, Applesauce, Yogurt, Deli Meat. I also agree, baby spoon is something I want to buy. The only time I felt stomach pain was with my diet lemonade, stay away from citrus. Sorry to hear you are going through this.

Now that the new Genepro changed their product, I am looking for a new brand. I tried BiPro Bold and Isopure, both unflavored. Both tasted and smelled like mold and had to be discarded. Does anyone use a protein powder that is unflavored, and truly tastes and smells like nothing?

I have used Genepro and Root Vitality Collagen powder. I bought the Collagen powder for my skin and nails (before I even considered WLS) but it does have 10 grams of protein and stirs EASILY into my hot coffee. I use Genepro (30 grams of protein) with things like protein bites, protein jello shots (not as much fun as the ones I had in college) and stirred into refried beans and other cooked items that are not boiling.

I mix genepro in my yurgurt and premier protein shakes Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I remember this phase so well. I couldn’t stomach most protein drinks after surgery and still can’t drink premier protein without having instant bloating and cramps. I use a scoop of genepro unflavored powder in my crystal light/ diet tea/ coffee. Hang in there! I promise it gets better. It took me at least a month to start getting anywhere near my fluid and protein goals. Your body needs time to heal.

I lived on soups. I had already bought a Vitamix and got good use out of it. Vitamix has TONS of recipes on their website that are smooth soups and would work great for the pureed stage. You don't need a Vitamix to make them. I'd just recommend listening to your blender and chopping things smaller if needed. Also, you will need to warm the soup in a pot after blended (Vitamix warms it for you). The butternut squash soup was my favorite. I used GenePro unflavored protein powder and it was delicious. I also suggest using bone broth instead of water to add additional protein and flavor. I recommend checking out their soups, they will make your week so much easier. https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Recipes/Butternut-Pumpkin-Soup?referer_st=&sc=recipe

Genepro is an awesome unflavored protein powder. My RD recommended it. I stir it into yogurts and I’ll blend it into my Premier Protein shakes (brings the total protein up to 45 grams). I will blend it into my soups as well but I make sure the soup isn’t too hot. Genepro is only 1 tablespoon vs. some protein powders require 1/4 cup. It’s pricey but so worth it!

I can taste the genepro a little. I put it in one ounce of OJ and 3 ounces of water and chase it with decaf tea sweetened with splenda. I got to a point where all I could eat was tuna and never enjoyed it. So, the genepro has been a real help. It can cause constipation. I got off of it for a few days due to that but immediately went downhill with weakness. My friend who suggested the genepro puts it in a smotthie with a vanilla protien shake but I'm still averse to the shakes. Can't stand them.

Congrats on your success! I'm about 7 weeks from surgery. I bought a bunch of foods I thought I wood want, and I just don't enjoy them. Maybe they will still be good when my taste for them returns. My favorite thing to eat now is cottage cheese with canned pineapple. I eat it every day. Is the Genepro unflavored really tasteless? I tried adding a vanilla flavored one (another brand) to my Cream of Wheat, and I couldn't stomach that either.

Honestly I didn't stick to using SF anything. Prior to surgery I knew it made me sick. I was able to do the protien shakes shakes for a little bit but when I went to post op I couldn't tolerate it. I use Genepro for protien boosts but I try to get the protien through Foods (unprocessed or minimally processed)

Starting week four! One more week and I will be one month post-op. Incisions have shed most of their scabs and are healing up nicely now and the fur's growing back When I received the instructions for weeks 3-5 I was told to gradually advance from ground meat consistency Protein, to shredded, and finally to whole pieces. This week, it's shredded meat! I bought some very good pulled chicken in the refrigerator case at Trader Joe's, and I've had it several times. Chews to paste consistency easily, and I've had no ill effects. Stomach seems like it's healing up pretty well, the ache of eating is decreasing gradually every day. I still find that it aches a bit more first thing in the morning, with Breakfast...but every meal thereafter is okay. I am up to 1.5oz of meat at a meal, so it's going well. That only works out to 5 grams of protein though, which is so frustrating. I do wish I could meet more of my protein goals with actual meat, but for quite some time I expect I'll be relying on supplements. The GENEPRO works well though, mixed it in with some chili and didn't even notice it. Having trouble reaching 64oz of Water every day, which was my target...but eating 3x a day takes away about 4 1/2 hours from drinking, since I have to stop 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. The window the nutritionist said was 48oz to 64oz, and I'm getting in that window...but to get 64oz would require drinking just about every other minute, it's really hard to achieve. I'm not hitting 90 grams of protein either, I'm settling in there somewhere between 70 and 90 which is again the window they wanted me to shoot for, but I wanted to do the maximum. I'll get there, it'll just take time. My stomach has to heal up and be able to handle a little more meat. They say after three months I should be able to do 2oz of meat or more per meal. So we'll see how it goes. Interesting how much my priorities in eating have already changed. I am very protein-centric. Not to say that I don't still like having a little bit of carbs in there, but my focus in eating is protein and that's what I enjoy. I don't crave the breads anymore, pastas and things of that nature. Sugar is also not a craving, I think I pretty much detoxed from that after the month long liquid diet. So far, so good...but man, have I grown to hate the Vitamins I bought. The Bariatric Advantage chewable Multivitamin now tastes heinous to me, I cringe and almost gag when I have to chew that thing up and swallow it. Then I have to chase that with the also awful "chocolate raspberry" Iron chew. It's a brutal way to start the day. I can't wait until I can just swallow normal Multivitamins and not taste them, again.

I'm needing Flavored protein powder chocolate and vanilla to make protein balls. I use Genepro unflavored for extra protein right now.

The Protein requirement is to promote weight loss and to support your body as it heals and functions in a severe calorie deficit. You're going to HAVE to figure something out and at less than a month post-op, it will be some kind of supplementation. If the RTD shakes like Premier Protein are too thick/rich, try blending them with ice. They end up being more like a shaved ice than a Protein shake, which made them easier to get down. I tried virtually every unflavored protein out there and by far, GENEPRO had the least smell/taste/texture. You probably need to try adding it to something very savory and flavorful, to mask whatever taste you're detecting. I personally like it in my morning coffee, and I like it mixed with refried Beans. There are some good Protein Bars out there: Atkins and Quest are my favorites, and there's a Caramel Nut bar sold on this site under the Bariatric Pal brand that are reallyreallyreally good...almost too good! Bottom line: you HAVE to get protein in, period. Figure out something, even ONE thing, that works and do it every day. As time passes, I've gotten less sensitive to things that made me sick to my stomach early on, so it does get easier

I put GENEPRO into my decaf coffee. I know it mixes well in Soups. I have put Genepro in my hummus, yogurt. it mixes pretty well. I'm still in the soft stage food, but really need to keep my Protein in. Can you mix it into recipes that you cook? I know it says never to microwave. I had made these ricotta puffs in muffin tins and while I reheated one, After reheating i did mix maybe half a serving of genepro into the center. So far I'm not sure on the whole cooking with it. Would love to hear other ideas.