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So sorry to hear that! 😥 Protein shakes made me vomit, for real. I tried drinking them for a couple weeks post-op since I somewhat liked them before surgery. But then said no, and got protein through other sources. I now use unflavored protein powder for 45g a day, in addition to food sources, and have done well with weight loss. I would say you can definitely be successful without the shakes! And your weight loss sounds great!

How do you deal with holidays that involve food traditions that are not healthy? This will be my first Halloween without eating any candy. Thanksgiving and the December holidays will follow shortly. It feels like I am being left out when my family eats treats and other unhealthy foods, that are part of our traditional celebrations. I won’t give in, but the mental part is hard!

Agree — not usually in the mood for sweets. Just thinking ahead of time for when everyone else is eating candy. Nice to know there is a healthier option available should I desire it! 😀

Yes! The Hershey sugar-free candy does taste incredible. Yet it is high in fat, so one satisfied me. Thanks! Never noticed these.

Thanks! These and the other recipes on this site look great.

It was hard to find a Truvia vs. Stevia comparison chart, but here is one (scroll down): https://mealpreponfleek.com/stevia-vs-erythritol/

Thank you! I had never heard of swerve until this post. I only use Stevia, but had not baked with an artificial sweetener. It sounds like they are not interchangeable?

Thanks! I skimmed the food forum, I only saw one recipe for cookies in the last few years, but I may need to look more carefully. Online, it seems a lot of “bariatric friendly” cookie recipes actually have sugar, brown sugar, or syrup. I did find the one below, which looks promising! https://weighinradio.com/blog/recipie/bariatric-baking-hermit-cookies/ I think it is just the tradition of putting a recipe together with my daughter, and smelling it come out of the oven, which will be so appreciated if I can do it in a healthy way…less chance of straying.

Thank you, I will look for these sugar-free candies! Might be like the sugar-free frozen custard… I don’t necessarily crave it, but would feel left out if everyone else were having it at a special occasion. Does anyone have a cookie recipe that is bariatric-appropriate? My family always bakes holiday cookies, so I would love to continue this tradition, albeit with something healthy for me.

I like this philosophy for some foods. I will eat one of my children’s french fries when they bring home take out, and I’m pretty satisfied with just one. But sweets are a different story for me. My nutritionist and I talked about this before the surgery, how some people are only successful if they completely remove an item because it does not allow a chance for overindulgence. I think I am that way for chocolate and other added sugars. We did find a frozen custard stand over the summer that had sugar-free custard. I am wondering if there are sugar-free treats, that don’t have a lot of calories? So far I’ve only found a protein bar. Or high protein, low carb, low calorie, no added sugar cookies for the holidays?

Yes, I agree with all of this. I haven’t had much trouble for months, but it’s holiday traditions that are starting to get to me. It’s sort of like the first Mother’s Day without my mother. I miss her all the time, but it is especially apparent on that day.

I tried three different multivitamins, one capsule and two tablets. I keep vomiting. I figured out that I need to take Iron by itself because the slow-release version doesn’t make me sick. So I need an iron-free multivitamin. Surgeon suggested gummies. When I checked the labels of gummies, they all contain added sugars (2-3 grams). The nutritionist said no added sugars, though. Does anyone take a gummies multivitamin, with no added sugar, and no iron? If so, what brand, and how does it taste? Thanks!

https://www.swissmiss.com/sensible-sweets/no-sugar-added-hot-cocoa-mix Has anyone tried Swiss Miss, no sugar added hot cocoa mix? Is this a good product for WLS?

https://www.swissmiss.com/sensible-sweets/no-sugar-added-hot-cocoa-mix Has anyone tried Swiss Miss, no sugar added hot cocoa mix? Is this a good product for WLS?

Hang in there, I had a hard time initially, too. Different issues, but I even asked my surgeon at the Post-op visit if I made the right decision. I hear you with the strict schedule, and not feeling like there is enough time in a day to get in everything as far as protein and water. I will say that after a couple months, it became second nature, and I was able to drink a lot faster. Most days I meet my goals now. And although I really mourned the foods I could not eat at first, they have become less interesting as time has passed, and I have changed what I buy and cook for my family in order to help all of us. Stay the course, continue seeing the therapist for support, and know that it does get better!

Mine started the day before surgery. Received a pad and mesh underwear, but they were gone when I awoke. Laid atop a thick bed pad, but I didn’t really bleed much after surgery (I think it messed with my cycle).

Something else to consider, I became nauseous and vomited so much that I began to detest certain foods and liquids, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy. If allowed, perhaps try some apple juice, or salty chicken broth? The juice was something I was accustomed to throughout my life, so it did not feel disgusting like artificial sugars did postop. (Now Crystal Light is tolerable again.). The chicken broth was savory and felt like I was eating a gourmet meal. (and even though the salt can dehydrate, the dietitian told me to do what works for me because I was getting some liquid) Glad to hear you contacted the surgeons office. Hope it gets easier, especially when you can move to puréed and feel like you are filling your pouch!

Sorry to hear that. I experienced something similar. my pouch made very weird burping noises, too. The surgeon’s nurse said that can happen and is not bad. However, within a few days, I vomited every time I drank a protein shake, and could hardly get down any fluids. I had a swallow study to rule out a stricture. Then, the surgeon said that some people have a very sensitive pouch, and it can take two weeks to two months to go away. I continued vomiting many times a day, even while taking anti-nausea medicines. I took it very slowly, planning my entire day around drinking. I prioritized that over protein, just to avoid being readmitted for dehydration. eventually, the vomiting decreased, and then stopped. Now that I am a few months out, I can eat almost anything. So, perhaps contact your surgeon to make sure there is no stricture? Ask if you can alternate between more than one anti-nausea medicine. Talk with your dietitian to see if you could be doing something different to make it easier. Write down everything you eat and drink, times, including how long it takes to drink a certain number of ounces of whatever liquid. This may help you decipher any triggers. For me, it was pills and protein shakes. GL! This is probably just a small bump in the road in the overall scheme of things. I was wondering whether I had made the right choice and if the nausea/vomiting would be permanent. It wasn’t. Hang in there!

I know there are some controversies with Genepro, but considering everything else I have tried makes me nauseous, I figure I am getting at least something from it. I do taste Genepro in certain situations, but with the right proportions, do not. for example, I do not taste it in 3 cups of Crystal light. I did taste it in oatmeal, so only do half a scoop now.

Bariatric Pal 1-a-day capsules are great! I do iron-free, then take a separate slow-release iron for less pouch upset.

I haven’t ever tried the Premier protein bars, but I do like Protein One bars. Not as much protein as Premier, but otherwise healthy. https://proteinone.fiberone.com/products/peanut-butter-chocolate/

I struggled to drink water for about two months. After that, I can drink a cup in about five minutes. No problem. I am one of the few people who struggled with nausea and vomiting until about seven weeks. At one point, I was vomiting eight times a day, even while on anti-nausea medicines around the clock. But I don’t vomit anymore, and rarely get nauseous. I have been able to swallow pills since the day after surgery. I did get nauseous from them and vomited, but I had no problem swallowing them and getting them down. yes, very tired after surgery. I was not able to work until eight weeks. But again, I had issues with vomiting. No dumping, was able to get off acid reflux medicine after six weeks, no GERD.

You are smart to be considering the surgery. When I was your age, the thought never crossed my mind. I thought it was for people 500 pounds, not for people in the 200s like me. If you are close to having children, I would wait. If they are still a few years away, then it might be a good time to act. There are quite a few changes that will be necessary, with increased protein, supplements, smaller portion sizes, no added sugar, etc. I admit that these sounded daunting to me before surgery, but things are so different now. The hunger and cravings are minimal, if any. I don’t obsess about when I next get to eat. And I don’t count calories, which made me crazy on diets. It’s like I have a secret tool inside my body that allows me to lose weight easier than people who have not had the surgery. Not that life is perfectly easy, but it is easier than before. As previous posters wrote, even if you are in good health now, the comorbidities will catch up to most people eventually. If it is a good time in your life, go for it!

Such thoughtful insights from previous posters! I am a cautious person, so even though my doctors were recommending the surgery, the overall pros had to be more than the overall cons. I chose a surgeon who may be the most highly respected in my city. I trusted that the results would be as good as they could be. The prospect of getting acid reflux was the only hangup, and I figured that taking acid reflux meds the rest of my life possibly, was better than being obese forever. I trusted the research that weight loss surgery is the only intervention that stands the test of time for most people. I am only a few months out, but I have lost when I consider to be an incredible amount of weight. I did have complications with nausea and vomiting for the first two months, but was able to get through it, and then almost back to normal now. The pain was excruciating for the first few days, but it would have been better if I actually received medicine (short-staffed hospital… talk with your hospital ahead of time to find out what to do if no one is answering the call button). Nowadays, I am rarely hungry as long as I eat on time. The few times I have found myself emotionally eating, the restriction kicks in, and it is a physical reminder to stop eating. No GERD. I think this will work long-term. I would do it again. Good luck in whatever you decide!

Have you tried an alternate protein source? Shakes made me nauseous, but Genepro is tasteless in Crystal Light and doesn’t bother me.