Alex Brecher

Same here. It was the only one I liked that was available at my local GNC. It mixes really nicely and doesn't clump.

The VETs forum has been opened up to everyone.

BariatricPal is launching our own PodCast. The first 12 episodes for season 1 have already been taped. Stay tuned for that announcement 😀

BariatricPal is excited to announce the sponsorship of Jay Casale's The Lighter Side Of Weight Loss - With Jay podcast! Listen to the latest episode for an interesting interview with yours truly! Make sure to subscribe and listen on your podcast app here." "Alex Brecher is the CEO and founder of BariatricPal, the world's largest weight loss surgery forum. He has also had bariatric surgery. Three times. Yep. He started BariatricPal because he didn't feel he had the support he needed online or off. Years later, the small forums he created have spawned a giant, AMAZING online store at store.bariatricpal.com, and a Hospital dedicated solely to Bariatric and Plastic Surgery. Also, he's just a cool guy with a great story."

Thanks for your feedback. We're going to make the VET forum more accessible over the next day or two.

When I had the Lap-Band I looked at Stretta due to acid reflux and Barretts Esophagus. Linx is a very interesting technology. I never realized that it limited your ability to vomit if necessary. I revised to a Gastric Bypass and that's cured my reflux 100%.

These are good suggestions! You can also use Flavored Stevia to add flavor. We started selling Devotion Nutrition packets which are really awesome and much easier to carry on the go than syrops.

Since you first started looking into weight loss surgery, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the importance of protein. You need at least 60 to 80 grams a day for the following reasons: It’s a filling nutrient that helps you lose weight by decreasing hunger. It’s an essential nutrient for healthy skin, hair, nails, hormones, and enzymes. It helps stop you from losing too much muscle while you lose body fat. Almost everyone needs protein supplements right after weight loss surgery. Protein shakes and powders give you the protein you need when you’re not allowed to eat solid foods. But which types should you choose? And should you keep using them when you’re eating solid foods and surgery is long behind you? Protein for the Liquid Phase of the Post Weight Loss Surgery Diet Progression After a day or two of sticking to clear liquids, you progress to a full liquid diet. You can be on this diet for a few days, if you’re a lap-band patient, or a couple of weeks, if you have the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Protein sources include the following. Non-fat milk, with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein per 8 ounces. Non-fat milk powder, with 100 calories and 10 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein powder, with 110 calories and 25 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein shakes, with 100 or more calories and 15 or more grams of protein per 8 ounces. Without supplementing your diet with protein shakes and powders, you’re not going to be able to hit your 60 to 80 grams of protein. Protein Powders and Shakes in the Pureed Foods Phase This phase is really a transition phase. You’re adding foods back into your diet, but aren’t yet ready to eat chewy, sticky, crunchy, or other solid foods. Protein foods include the following. Non-fat cottage cheese, with 12 grams of protein per half-cup. Non-fat ricotta cheese, with 5 grams of protein per half-cup. Egg whites, with 4 grams of protein per extra-large white. Non-fat Greek or regular yogurt, with 8 to 14 grams of protein per container. During this phase, your surgeon will probably have you start to decrease your use of protein shakes and powders, but will probably recommend keeping them in your diet to help you get to 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. You might need one or two shakes a day, plus powder in foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, or pureed potatoes. Be Wary of Protein Supplements in the Long-Term Protein shakes and powders can be convenient, but they’re not your best bet for long-term weight loss. As you progress from pureed foods to semi-solid and then solid foods, your surgeon will probably recommend that you stop drinking shakes and focus instead on solid sources of protein. They’re more substantial and satisfying than liquid shakes. They take longer to eat than drinking shakes. They’re easier to fit into a real-life eating plan. You won’t be “drinking your calories.” They have more natural nutrients than processed shakes and powders. Most weight loss surgery patients can get enough protein just by choosing one or two high-protein foods for each meal. You’ll get 60 to 80 grams with the following foods. Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg whites with ½ light English muffin and some fruit. Lunch: ½ cup fat-free cottage cheese and a green salad with 3 ounces of canned light tuna. Dinner: 3 ounces of chicken breast and steamed spinach. Snack 1: 1 low-fat cheese stick. Snack 2: 1 6-ounce container of plain low-fat yogurt and ½ cup carrot sticks. When Protein Supplements Are Okay Still, some weight loss surgery patients may still need protein shakes and powders in the long term. That’s often the case for vertical sleeve patients if your sleeve fills up too quickly to allow you to eat enough solid protein throughout the day. Talk to your surgeon to find out whether you should still use shakes and powders. Your surgeon might suggest that you include one or two protein shakes a day as snacks or mix protein powder into your yogurt, cereal or other foods. Protein supplements can still come in handy even if you’re able to meet your protein requirements on your daily weight loss surgery diet. If your routine gets interrupted, you might come up short. Consider the protein you can miss if you need to change your regular plans for a meal or snack. 10 grams of protein if you run out the door without grabbing your yogurt in the morning. 22 grams of protein if you forget to pack your tuna for lunch. 26 grams of protein if you’re stuck in a meeting instead of cooking your chicken dinner at home. When you’re stuck in the car or too busy to plan ahead, protein shakes can be lifesavers. On vacation, you can take protein powder with you so you’re always sure to have a source when you need it. You could also try Unjury Protein’d Cheese Sauce on steamed vegetables for an extra 21 grams of protein. Read the Nutrition Facts Panel to Find Protein Content The Food and Drug Administration lets food manufacturers call a food “a good source of” protein if it has at least 5 grams of protein. If a serving has at least 10 grams of protein, a food can be labeled “high,” “rich in,” or “an excellent source of” protein. That doesn’t do you much good if you’re trying to find a shake or powder with at least 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving. Don’t rely on a claim on the front of the label when you’re looking for a protein supplement. You could end up with a “high-protein” shake with only 10 grams of protein! Instead, check the nutrition facts panel to see how many grams of protein the food or shake has per serving. Check the Label for Calories and Sugar Protein shakes and powders can be high in calories and sugar. A bottle of Special K Protein has only 10 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 18 grams of sugar. A Pure Protein Frosty Chocolate Shake has 15 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 25 grams of sugar. A can of Boost High Protein drink has 15 grams of protein, 240 calories and 27 grams of sugars. No matter which stage of your weight loss surgery diet you’re on, you can’t afford to eat too many calories or too much sugar. The only way to protect yourself is to read the labels. Protein supplements can be great choices for boosting your intake to 60 to 80 grams a day. Shakes and powders can get you through the liquid and pureed foods stages of the post-surgery diet progression, and they can have a place in your diet even when you reach your long-term weight loss surgery diet plan. Just make sure not to overuse them if your surgeon is concerned, and to choose low-sugar options.

This is a good suggestion. I’ll see what we can do to implement.

I was thinking he might be a little stoned lol. My heart is actually pained to see him like this.

Are you suffering from caffeine withdrawal after surgery? Are you wondering whether a sip of coffee would make all your efforts go to waste? For some, the threat of giving up caffeine can be enough to cause hesitation about weight loss surgery, or even decide against it. Is that necessary? There is great news: probably not! Your surgeon and nutritionist should have the last words, of course, but some experts and many weight loss surgery patients agree that caffeine is okay, with caution. Arguments against Caffeine First of all, why wouldn’t caffeine be okay after weight loss surgery? There are a few concerns. Caffeine is a known trigger for heartburn and acid reflux, which is already a concern for bariatric patients. Caffeine interacts with nutrients and can reduce your body’s absorption of calcium and iron – two nutrients that you are already at risk for deficiency. Caffeine may increase your risk for ulcers and/or delay their healing if you get one. Official Guidelines The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is a leading organization for weight loss surgery. It suggests avoiding caffeine for the first 30 days after weight loss surgery because your stomach or surgery area is still sensitive. After that, be mindful of getting enough fluids and be sure to avoid high-calorie, sugary sources of caffeine. Benefits of Caffeine and Coffee Caffeine does not just energize you and wake you up. It improves mental focus and increases metabolism to burn more calories. It might also improve insulin sensitivity to help lower blood sugar. Long-term, caffeine consumption is linked to: Lower risk for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Lower risk for strokes. Lower risk of heart disease. Coffee itself appears to have additional health benefits, beyond those of caffeine. The Risk of Acid The main trouble with caffeine is its acidity. The acid can irritate your stomach, particularly at your surgery site when it is trying to heal in the early post-op weeks. The trouble is not just caffeine; coffee itself, as well as cola, is acidic. You can go risk-free with a decaffeinated version of Acid-Free Coffee so you never have to miss your favorite morning brew. Myth: Caffeinated Beverages Are Dehydrating The word on the street is that caffeine dehydrates you. Even health professionals often believe this and tell their patients this. The fact is that it simply is not true, at least, not at normal levels of caffeine consumption, such as 250 to 300 mg at a time, or 2 to 3 cups of coffee. Yes, you will lose a little extra water shortly after drinking your caffeine (who isn’t familiar with the extra trip to the bathroom after a cup of coffee?), but your body will compensate by conserving more over the next several hours. Dehydration is a strong threat to bariatric patients. In fact, ASMBS says it is the most common reason for post-op patients to be readmitted to the hospital. People who mistakenly think caffeine is dehydrating might avoid caffeinated beverages, and make the serious mistake of forgetting to make up for the missed fluid. Don’t make this mistake! Non-caffeinated may be best for hydration, but caffeinated is a close second, and it is a far better choice than hospitalization! Warning Signs If your surgeon and nutritionist agree that caffeine is okay, and you do choose to indulge, keep an eye out for some warning signs that you are taking more than is safe. Anxiety, restlessness, or jitters. Trouble sleeping. Headaches. Upset stomach. Rapid heartbeat. Heartburn. Also, ask your doctor about caffeine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Watch the Sugar! Sugar does not always come to mind when thinking about caffeine, but it is something to be careful of. There is no sugar in coffee, and no sugar in tea. There is even no sugar in unsweetened chocolate, such as 100% dark chocolate or baking cocoa. However, there is absolutely a lot of sugar in many foods and beverages with caffeine, as you can see from the following list (keep in mind that the general goal for sugar is to stay under 25 grams a day, and WLS patients may be aiming for less): 26-66 grams: Caramel Mocha 9-22 grams: Caffe latte 20-50 grams: Hot chocolate 22 grams: Iced tea 10 grams: 65% dark chocolate 27 grams: energy drink Smart Caffeine Consumption If you do choose to drink coffee or take caffeine in other forms, such as through tea or energy drinks, you can take steps to stay safe with it. Limit caffeine consumption to 250-300 milligrams per day, or the amount in about 3 cups of coffee or 6 cups of tea. Do not take caffeine within 6 hours of going to bed. Take your calcium, iron, and supplements containing calcium or iron separately from when you consume caffeine. Do not use caffeine as a substitute for sleeping enough. Sleep will help you lose more weight not only by promoting energy naturally but also by normalizing hormone levels to reduce hunger and cravings. Other Cautions with Caffeine If you depend on caffeine from soft drinks, you might need to find another source. It is not just a question of switching from regular to diet soda to avoid sugar. Carbonated beverages can make you overfull. Taking them regularly can make you less able to feel the effects of your surgery, and you could begin to overeat. If you are a regular caffeine drinker, do be aware that you will need to at least take a break for about 30 days after surgery. You can wait until your surgery date to give up caffeine, but there’s a caveat. If you are dependent on caffeine, you can suffer withdrawal headaches for a few days when you stop taking caffeine. You might want to quit caffeine before your surgery, instead of waiting until afterward, so you can get over your headaches. That way, you will not have to deal with headaches while dealing with any post-op pain.

Oy Vey! A former Bariatric surgeon pushing HGH. What has this world come to?! I am not sure why someone would take his advice....

We tried releasing a line of pea based protein powders but they tasted horrible and we just couldn't get it to taste awesome. I haven't given up on that project but it's not at the top of our list at the moment.

We don't have many vegan options. I suggest doing a quick search like https://store.bariatricpal.com/pages/search-results-page?q=vegan to see our Vegan options.

We just started carrying the entire line of Sparta Nutrition protein in the BariatricPal Store ! Some flavors are already sold out and will be back in stock tomorrow.

Zollipops , Zolli Drops , and Zaffi Taffy are now available at the BariatricPal Store! Born from the imagination of Kidpreneur Alina Morse, Zollipops, Zolli Drops, and Zaffi Taffy are delicious organic treats supercharged with Xylitol, Erythritol, Stevia and other smile friendly natural ingredients that are actually good for your teeth! Zollipops treats are a favorite among dentists, teachers, families and weight loss surgery patients and perfect for lunches, parties and as healthy rewards or prizes.

I know Dr. Vuong for over a decade. He is a very nice and entertaining guy who IMHO gives out so-so medical and surgical advice. He bounced around from practice to practice and has never been able to make it as a bariatric surgeon.

Almost everyone needs protein supplements right after weight loss surgery. Protein shakes and powders give you the protein you need when you’re not allowed to eat solid foods. But which types should you choose? And should you keep using them when you’re eating solid foods and surgery is long behind you? Protein for the Liquid Phase of the Post Weight Loss Surgery Diet Progression After a day or two of sticking to clear liquids, you progress to a full liquid diet. You can be on this diet for a few days, if you’re a lap-band patient, or a couple of weeks, if you have the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Protein sources include the following. Non-fat milk, with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein per 8 ounces. Non-fat milk powder, with 100 calories and 10 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein powder, with 110 calories and 25 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein shakes, with 100 or more calories and 15 or more grams of protein per 8 ounces. Without supplementing your diet with protein shakes and powders, you’re not going to be able to hit your 60 to 80 grams of protein. Protein Powders and Shakes in the Pureed Foods Phase This phase is really a transition phase. You’re adding foods back into your diet, but aren’t yet ready to eat chewy, sticky, crunchy, or other solid foods. Protein foods include the following. Non-fat cottage cheese, with 12 grams of protein per half-cup. Non-fat ricotta cheese, with 5 grams of protein per half-cup. Egg whites, with 4 grams of protein per extra-large white. Non-fat Greek or regular yogurt, with 8 to 14 grams of protein per container. During this phase, your surgeon will probably have you start to decrease your use of protein shakes and powders, but will probably recommend keeping them in your diet to help you get to 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. You might need one or two shakes a day, plus powder in foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, or pureed potatoes. Be Wary of Protein Supplements in the Long-Term Protein shakes and powders can be convenient, but they’re not your best bet for long-term weight loss. As you progress from pureed foods to semi-solid and then solid foods, your surgeon will probably recommend that you stop drinking shakes and focus instead on solid sources of protein. They’re more substantial and satisfying than liquid shakes. They take longer to eat than drinking shakes. They’re easier to fit into a real-life eating plan. You won’t be “drinking your calories.” They have more natural nutrients than processed shakes and powders. Most weight loss surgery patients can get enough protein just by choosing one or two high-protein foods for each meal. You’ll get 60 to 80 grams with the following foods. Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg whites with ½ light English muffin and some fruit. Lunch: ½ cup fat-free cottage cheese and a green salad with 3 ounces of canned light tuna. Dinner: 3 ounces of chicken breast and steamed spinach. Snack 1: 1 low-fat cheese stick. Snack 2: 1 6-ounce container of plain low-fat yogurt and ½ cup carrot sticks. When Protein Supplements Are Okay Still, some weight loss surgery patients may still need protein shakes and powders in the long term. That’s often the case for vertical sleeve patients if your sleeve fills up too quickly to allow you to eat enough solid protein throughout the day. Talk to your surgeon to find out whether you should still use shakes and powders. Your surgeon might suggest that you include one or two protein shakes a day as snacks or mix protein powder into your yogurt, cereal or other foods. Protein supplements can still come in handy even if you’re able to meet your protein requirements on your daily weight loss surgery diet. If your routine gets interrupted, you might come up short. Consider the protein you can miss if you need to change your regular plans for a meal or snack. 10 grams of protein if you run out the door without grabbing your yogurt in the morning. 22 grams of protein if you forget to pack your tuna for lunch. 26 grams of protein if you’re stuck in a meeting instead of cooking your chicken dinner at home. When you’re stuck in the car or too busy to plan ahead, protein shakes can be lifesavers. On vacation, you can take protein powder with you so you’re always sure to have a source when you need it. You could also try Unjury Protein’d Cheese Sauce on steamed vegetables for an extra 21 grams of protein. Read the Nutrition Facts Panel to Find Protein Content The Food and Drug Administration lets food manufacturers call a food “a good source of” protein if it has at least 5 grams of protein. If a serving has at least 10 grams of protein, a food can be labeled “high,” “rich in,” or “an excellent source of” protein. That doesn’t do you much good if you’re trying to find a shake or powder with at least 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving. Don’t rely on a claim on the front of the label when you’re looking for a protein supplement. You could end up with a “high-protein” shake with only 10 grams of protein! Instead, check the nutrition facts panel to see how many grams of protein the food or shake has per serving. Check the Label for Calories and Sugar Protein shakes and powders can be high in calories and sugar. A bottle of Special K Protein has only 10 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 18 grams of sugar. A Pure Protein Frosty Chocolate Shake has 15 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 25 grams of sugar. A can of Boost High Protein drink has 15 grams of protein, 240 calories and 27 grams of sugars. No matter which stage of your weight loss surgery diet you’re on, you can’t afford to eat too many calories or too much sugar. The only way to protect yourself is to read the labels. Protein supplements can be great choices for boosting your intake to 60 to 80 grams a day. Shakes and powders can get you through the liquid and pureed foods stages of the post-surgery diet progression, and they can have a place in your diet even when you reach your long-term weight loss surgery diet plan. Just make sure not to overuse them if your surgeon is concerned, and to choose low-sugar options.

I wrote the article.

I’m sorry but I don’t have a copy of the entire case. You can get it on Pacer. See https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/22176786/Gregorio_v_Premier_Nutrition_Corporation .

Spartan Whey is unlike any whey protein you've ever tasted. Why limit yourself to a boring or watery shake when you can enjoy a truly delicious milkshake experience with Spartan Whey ? Not only is the overall taste unrivaled, but Spartan Whey includes micro-granulated inclusions of cookies, cereal and other delicious treats to add even more flair to an already-insane flavor explosion!

Dear Lap-Band, I did not expect to be saying this, but the time has come to part ways. At the end of 15 years of partnership, I am thrilled with what you have given me, but our time together is nearly over. You are going to leave me, and I am going to get RNY Gastric bypass surgery. Love at First Sight I was enthusiastic about the promise of the lap-band from the moment I first heard about you. Could you be the tool that could end my struggles with weight? Could it be possible that there could be an end to my unhealthy relationship with food? Could I say goodbye to the liquid diets, the low-carb diets, the fat-free diets, and all the other fad diets I had tried? You had worked for my friend; could you work magic for me, too? I dared to hope. I got surgery in July of 2003. Honeymoon and Beyond Surgery went as expected, and you lived up to your promise. I lost weight – nearly 100 lbs. – and hit a healthy BMI. I felt better than I ever had. Sure, you made me work hard for every pound, but each victory was so sweet that there was no question that I would not follow your guidance. In so many ways, the honeymoon period did not seem to end. Life has gotten better and better as I have gained confidence that I can maintain goal weight and prevent regain. Not once did I look back with regret. A Helping Hand for a New Lease on Life With the lap-band, I was able to gain control of myself and my life. I enjoy life’s events for themselves, and not for the food that comes with or after them. I am able to keep up with my children, who are my greatest joys. I have energy and confidence. You have made my relationship with food better, and that is liberating. I eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full. I give in to my cravings and become satisfied with only a reasonable amount of the food I craved. There have been bumps along the way, but you have been my dependable gauge and silent cheerleader throughout. My Life and My Livelihood Along with my health, you also gave me my career. Out of necessity, I started LapBandTalk.com as soon as I came home from the hospital after surgery because I needed the help of other patients. Not in my wildest dreams did I think that impromptu discussion forum would become my career. To LapBandTalk, I added other boards for the other weight loss surgery types, and they eventually became BariatricPal to recognize that we are all in this together. I am now honored and grateful to be able to call my life’s work my true passion – helping people through weight loss surgery. Nearly 15 years after I started a discussion board to help myself, BariatricPal now includes the forums, the store with protein products and bariatric vitamins, and even a full-service program for weight loss surgery in Mexico – at BariatricPal’s own hospital. I have gotten to meet and work with all kinds of wonderful patients, surgeons, and others in the weight loss surgery community. Time to Part Ways It is on a bittersweet note that I bid you, my lap-band, farewell. I have no real choice; multiple medical professionals agree that the safest decision is for us to part ways. I have been struggling with acid reflux (GERD) for a few years, and symptoms are getting worse, especially after my Lap-Band slipped. I also have been diagnosed with pre-Barrett’s esophagus and severe erosive gastritis, most likely caused by my lap-band. I will get my lap-band removed and opt for gastric bypass to help me maintain my goal weight. The lap-band may not last forever, as it was meant to. I know the I will succeed with the Gastric Bypass because I already have the skills I need to eat right. Of course, I am a little worried. How could I not be, after having been so successful with you as my partner for 15 years? But as is necessary with anything in life, I will do my best. I will take what I have gained from you, my lap-band, and carry it forward. Thank you, and farewell.

Please do more research. You’re very mistaken. See http://bariatrictimes.com/protein-and-the-bariatric-patient-supplemental-protein-or-amino-acids/ . Google a little and you’ll find MANY studies showing that WPI is definitely the way to go for patients that have malabsorptive procedures.

Casein might be OK for gastric sleeve patients after the post op liquid phase. It’s most definitely NOT ok for gastric bypass or DS patients. See Dr. Rollers post above.

My personal fave is strawberries and fresh mint leaves.