HR Pro

Before 324 lbs
Surgery Feb 25, 2014
Current weight 277

As I'm approaching my revision surgery, I found this page fascinating to read because these are my fears - the future years with the sleeve since I failed with the band. I do have a question though - what is the 5:2 that you all keep talking about? Your stories have been inspiring and I hope I can be as successful as you. Lori

I woke up this morning and I am now fat and not obese. I have never been happier to be called a fat chick!

I was at 275. I wanted to get down to 200. At 52, it was not easy. I got down to 185-190. I have maintained that loss. I am still hovering around 188.
I still take in a ton of Protein, a ton of Water and next to zero carbs.
And I walk 5 miles every day.
It CAN be done.......I am 54 and my medical lab work has me as healthy as I was at 30.
 

I'm so close to 50 lbs I can taste it! My highest weight was 259.6. I was 246.6 when I started the pre-op diet. I was 229.5 on the day of surgery (12/18/14). 213 today when this pic was taken. 16.5 down in 4 weeks since surgery. Total of 46.6 down. I'm 40 years old and 5'3".

I didn't realize I had an issue with the shakes till I was on my pre op diet. I did a lot of different things until I found what worked for me. The trick for me was to only take in 15 grams of Protein in the am and then I could handle a higher Protein Shake in the evening. Figure out what works best for you. I am having to do four weeks of Protein Shakes (pre op and post op). I can't wait to get done with them. I figure when I only have to do one a day it will be a lot better. Best of luck!

You will not have to live on the Protein drinks forever, but it will be a couple months with the pre-op and post-op diets. My surgeons plan advanced me to soft foods at 14 days. Now, I just have to supplement my diet with Protein Drinks rather than live off them.
I really struggle with the Protein Drinks. The taste is one thing. It's the smell that about does me in. Blech!!

i`ve never had Protein Shakes. doctors in greece don`t prescribe them and yet we survive. you can get all the Protein you need from normal food. ask your nut to help you with this but generally if you eat lots of chicken, fish and yougurt you should be covered

I was not able to do Protein Shakes either. I was able to get them down for about a week after surgery and hey started making me nauseated. My dr was more concerned with me not getting dehydrated than getting in Protein at that point. When I was able to eat, I was able to get in my protein that way- supplementing with Protein Bars. I am 4 months out now and must eat every 2 hours or so to get in all the protein and calories but all is well.

I do the Pure Protein Shakes by worldwide sports. They taste great, 35 grams Protein, 1-3 grams of carbs. Cheapest I found them was online www.Vitacost.com they have vanilla cream, strawberry cream, banana cream, Cookies and cream, chocolate, chocolate mint. Free shipping over $25 and no tax!

When I went to my last doctors meeting, he was telling us that he did surgery on his daughter 6 weeks before. All she did was cry due to mourning the loss off food. The death of her friend, comforter, companion. In a way its the lost of a bad friend. They were around you for all the wrong reasons.
At week one, I could not deprive myself of something I loved, so indulged. I bought instant mashed potatoes... put a teaspoon of mushroom Soup on it and I was happy. I ate one bite, thats all that made me feel better. It IS hard not having it there. After a day or 2, it went in the garbage. My head hunger was satisfied and I could move on. I have to every now and then let myself feel normal. I Eat something everyone else has. We went on a short road trip 2 weeks ago. I made Terry stop and get me a happy meal lol. It was just the thought, I coudln't eat but one fry but I was happy I had it in my hand. Silly I know.
I think its about allowing yourself to work the food and head hunger out of the way. I am just over 4 weeks and I had a big appetite for the first few weeks. but its going away. It must take some time to get out of your system. I get hungry but it only last till that first bite.
Tonite Im having something I call savory...tomato Soup. I have a unsalted saltine with it, just one.. nibble away but gives me that incredible sense of normalcy.
Its kinda funny, I look at what I eat now and realize just how much food I was consuming before. I don't know if any of you have had this, but I am having floods of old memories of me thin come back, old feelings and thoughts. Its like I am becoming the old version of me again and I like that much much better than a big bowl of potatoes and gravy and the misery of all that fat. I am more social and I notice the way others talk to me differently... more positive.
Its the little things in life that make it worth living. Im thankful I will have a tomorrow, Im thankful i don't have the ball and chain of food around my body. I CAN eat what I want. I just choose not to and you will too. Sometimes the strict diet can pull you down. Too much routine, too much of the same foods. Find ways around it. Get a food you love and "taste" it, you don't have to eat it or even much of it. Sometimes just knowing the taste will get you by. My first week I ate some mac and cheese. Just chewed it and out it went, just for the flavor. I was struggling too. But that passed and so even thinking of that doesn't appeal to me. But I needed it that first week or so. I needed to know I can eat eventually. I know I can now so its not such a big deal but try telling me that the first week lol
Good luck with your weight loss. I know you will pull through this time and look back and say boy, glad that parts over lol look at all the weight I have lost.... Food? Eat??? maybe later lol

I know this doesn't sound too exciting, but when I get this weight off I'm going to take a ton of pictures with my son, I only have a few due to obviously not liking to take pictures. Amongst other things I really do look forward to this.

what kind of noises? My mom had gastric bypass and her stomach makes noises like she is REALLY hungry and her stomach is growling into a bullhorn. Are your noises like that?

My husband told me years ago that if I ever lost all my weight he would take me on a trip to anywhere I wanted in the world....I think deep down inside he thought there was a very slim chance that would have happened..But not anymore................
My plan is a trip to Holland during the Tulip festival.........Wanted to do that since I was a small girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know. Probably go for a long hike and have a good cry.
I've been big my whole life, I have no idea what to expect when I am not an overweight person.

Hi, I'm new here and considering the sleeve gastrectomy. I am cross-posting from another thread I found by googling the topic, but I'm not sure anyone follows that thread any more.


Introduction: My name is Michelle and I'm 37 and live near Houston, TX. I have a BMI of 40 with no other comorbidities except metabolic syndrome. My doctor has suggested medical weight loss surgery and recommends the sleeve because I do not want the side effects my mom had after gastric bypass and the band has not proven as succesful for long term weight loss. I have also tried nutra system, weight watchers, south beach diet, and other methods to try to lose weight but I can never stick with one and gain the weight back and more.

Regarding the surgery: I'm afraid of making a permanent decision and not being able to get enough nutrition because of an inability to drink Protein Shakes my whole life. A couple of years ago, when my BMI reached 37 I tried the liquid diet program and could not make it a full 2 months, even with 3 shakes and 1 small meal, because I could not tolerate the shakes. I got to where I threw up every shake except chocolate and then after a week of 3 chocolate shakes a day and one small meal, I was angry and resented the chocolate and couldn't bring myself to drink it. I was also exhausted and nauseated much of the time, due to being in ketosis. So I quit the program. I had lost 17 lbs in 6 weeks but have gained it all back and then some. I have averaged a weight increase of 10 lbs per year for the last 7 years but have no evidence of thyroid problems - much of it is Portion Control, bad choices, and a sedentary life due to a very busy job where I sit in front of the computer all day (and evening).

The sleeve seems like a good solution - I need the tool that the sleeve offers which is portion control. I love healthy food - I eat fish and vegetables for lunch on a regular basis. I already cook with 94% lean hamburger when I cook meals, prefer chicken to red meat - I just don't stay full long so I eat more. And more. And more. Unless my taste changes where I no longer like Mediterranean food, I expect I will be able to eat a diet of lean meats and vegetables with only an occasional bite of Desserts during special occasions without feeling like I'm missing out on anything (I have read that happens on this board when reading as a lurker).

But I'm worried about getting enough Protein because of not being able to stand the shakes.

Has anyone else been in this same situation with the shakes/drinks and do you have a recommendation? Do you get to a point where you can get protein without having to do the shakes/drinks? That doesn't seem possible but maybe someone at 18 months post surgery or later might be able to weigh in?
Thanks for your advice!

Is it just me, or is anyone else thinking, "what kind of people care if someone is or is not eating?"
Unless it is the host/hostess who slaved over a hot stove all day making special dishes and wants to know what you think of them, what business is it of anyone else's if you eat or don't eat?
I go to a cookie party every year before Christmas. Sometimes I even bake and enter the cookie contest. And I don't eat sugar! So I usually just walk around with a wine glass (sometimes just filled with water). If someone asks if I tried a particular cookie, I tell them I don't eat sugar and that usually stops that conversation. I always have a great time at the party talking with friends, meeting new people and seeing what everyone has made.

I think that hormones are being released; problem compounded by reduced access to your favorite comfort - food. I was overly emotional for weeks if not months. I tend to sort of shut down when I get in that headspace and i recall the world seeming kinda gray and muted. I like to tell people I didn't start feeling human until about 12 weeks out, so I am guessing that is when my mood started to stabilize too. I have gone through ups and downs since then too - don't get me wrong - haha, but that hormal triggered mood change was the first few months.
Once you are cleared for activity - start doing it. Walking - whatever you are cleared for. Regular activity is the best mood enhancer I know. And like I always say "keep your eye on the prize" - remind yourself it is temporary and necessary step to get you to your ultimate dreams and goals. I promise it gets better.

I live by the Isopure drinks (just got a case of the green tea in today) You have to try them for yourself. There are so many flavors to choose from I started with the variety pack and now I have tried just about every flavor out (except the elusive black tea. I offer a reward to anyone who actually finds a bottle out there) I have a big 20 oz cup and i fill it with ice and i drink on 1 bottle all through out the day. I've tried just about everything out there in terms of Protein drinks and this is by far for me the best. My favorite flavors are apple melon and grape. But coming in a close second was syntax nectar again multiple fruit flavors available but i just did not like the artificial sweetness. Hope this helps

OTR Sleever your 100% right about the types of Protein, I'm sure you already knew that, and I found an article that really explains it in detail. I thought I would share it with everyone. Thanks for setting me straight and helping me get started on the right foot.
Protein supplements & Weight-loss Surgery
by Kimberly Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN
To view a PDF version of this article, click here.
When you step into a health food store or a Vitamin shop, there is often an abundance of protein supplements to choose from and sales people claiming they are “nutritionists” trying to sell you the best liquid or powder protein products on the market. There is a large assortment of protein supplementation available to consumers; however, it is essential to recognize that some supplements are of higher quality than others. For weight-loss surgery (WLS) patients, it can be very confusing if you are not aware of what to look for when it comes to protein supplementation.
Why is protein important?
Proteins are a part of every cell, tissue and organ in our bodies. These body Proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The body does not store protein for later use, therefore consuming adequate high quality protein is necessary, otherwise the body will inevitably suffer. When protein intake is not adequate, the body will break down lean body mass to compensate for poor oral intake. Loss of lean body mass is inevitable for WLS patients or individuals following a very low calorie diet. To minimize that loss, sufficient high-quality protein must be consumed.
When should liquid or powder protein supplements be used?
Most WLS patients rely strictly on liquids during the early post-operative phase, and the majority of their calories consumed during that time are often from protein supplements. Liquid or powder protein supplements may also be used post-operatively when patients are unable to consume adequate protein from food alone. This may be due to volume restrictions or food intolerances to protein rich foods.
Is there a risk of developing protein deficiency?
WLS patients, who have undergone the BPD/DS, are often at a higher risk of developing protein malnutrition. However, all WLS patients, despite the procedure, who do not comply with the recommended dietary guidelines are at risk.
What is the best quality liquid or powder protein supplement?
Commercial protein supplements are available in many flavors, textures, tastes, mix-ability and price; however, the product’s amino acid composition is of the most importance when choosing protein supplements. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are nine indispensable (essential) amino acids (IAA) and 11 dispensable (nonessential) amino acids (DAA). The IAA must come from dietary intake because the body is incapable of producing these compounds.
During rapid weight-loss, when protein supplements are the main source of dietary protein intake, it is essential to choose products that contain all of the IAA. Also, it is important when choosing protein supplements that they have a score of 100 on the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). This is a system that was developed as a method to evaluate protein quality. PDCAAS scores of as close to 100 as possible are desired to indicate that it contains the appropriate amount of IAA that the body needs.
Protein supplements that are made from whey, casein, soy and egg whites have a PDCAA score of 100. It is important to recognize that many of these protein sources are sold as either concentrates or isolates.
Isolates
In general, isolates tend to have a higher concentration of protein than concentrate forms. For whey protein isolates, the filtration process removes a lot of the lactose, minerals and fat in the product; therefore, these products have very little or no lactose and often provide more protein in smaller volumes. These products may be beneficial to those patients who have lactose intolerance. Also, isolates tend to have a better mix ability and cleaner taste, therefore compliance is often better with these products.
Concentrates
Whey protein concentrates have a lower concentration of protein and higher concentration of lactose. Although the protein is of good quality, the percentage of protein will vary. Consumers can always view the nutrition label as well for accurate quantities of protein.
How much protein does the WLS patient need?
Many surgical weight-loss programs recommend between 60-80 grams of protein per day for the adjustable gastric band (AGB), vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) requires approximately 90 grams of protein per-day to accommodate for the malabsorption associated with this procedure.
These recommendations are for individuals without complications (malabsorptive procedures alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed). Those with complications will have different protein needs. The exact requirements for postoperative WLS patients with complications are not defined. It is recommended to follow-up with your surgeon and dietitian to assess protein requirements and adequate protein intake.
Protein supplements and Meal Replacement shakes – they are different
It is important to also recognize that there is a difference between protein supplements and Meal Replacement shakes (i.e. Unjury® vs. SlimFast®). Many meal replacement supplements often have a blend of soy, casein or whey protein to enhance the texture or taste of the product. Meal replacement shakes also have higher amounts of Vitamin and minerals and varying amounts of carbohydrates and Fiber.
One thing to consider is that meal replacement shakes are often designed to supplement a diet that includes animal and plant sources of protein. These should not be used as the sole source of protein or calories in the diet for an extended period of time.
What protein supplements should be avoided?
Collagen-based protein supplements are not a good source of high-quality protein and should not be used as the sole source of protein intake in WLS patients. Collagen-based protein supplements do not contain all of the indispensable amino acids that the body needs. When consuming collagen-based products as your sole source of protein, the loss of lean body mass can occur despite meeting your daily protein goals.
Do WLS patients need liquid or powder protein supplements for life?
As you begin to consume more food after surgery, the need for protein supplementation often declines or ceases. Relying solely on protein supplements to meet your protein needs is not recommended after the early post-operative liquid stage. Foods of high biological value are encouraged (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, etc.). WLS patients who cannot meet their protein needs from food alone may benefit from supplementation of high quality protein.
What are the dangers of excessive protein intake?
If you are not well hydrated, excessive protein intake may contribute to dehydration. It is also important to remember that additional protein intake, above the recommended amount, may inhibit the consumption of other important nutrients.
Conclusion
WLS patients are going to get the best bang for their buck when they choose supplements made from whey or soy isolate and avoid whey concentrate and collagen-based products. It is also important to remember that the use of protein supplements are typically decreased or cease throughout time as the WLS patient is able to meet daily protein goals from food of high biological value.
About the Author:
Kimberly Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN, is a bariatric dietitian at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago and has been working with weight-loss surgery patients for the past five years. She is currently the chair of the Bariatric Subunit of the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group through the American Dietetic Association.

I felt the same way. I couldn't keep any of those disgusting Protein shakes down. Until a few days ago I found this Protein shake it has 20grams of Protein. Its by Sunkist natural and very delicious they can be found at Winn Dixie by the vegetables and at Albertsons grocery store no sure exactly where. But give it a shot.

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Also there are Ready To Drink Isopure Protein Drinks they have 40 grams of Protein. Are a clear ( a little thick) drink. There are various flavors I preferred alpine punch. Available at GNC, Vitamin warehouse needs to be very cold to drink