Sunnyway

Water down the Protein Shakes. Try adding 2 oz (1/4 c) water to an 11 oz Protein Drink. Continue diluting until you can tolerate them. You will probably only sip 2-4 oz per meal, or snack between meals.

You could also try Isopure fruit-flavored powder. It looks like clear lemonade when mixed. There are also Protein waters available. In Walmart I found some bottles of "Protein 2O", mixed berry flavor with 15 g protein, 70 cal, to use as a substitute for a Protein Shake.

Several brands sell soup-flavored protein powders: Bariatric Advantage, ProtiDiet. They are not sweet and resemble creamy Soups.

I have found that I prefer plant-based shakes and powders over the whey-based. Examples, Pure Protein, Orgain.

Remember to take a TINY SIP, wait, then take another TINY SIP... At this stage you cannot just "drink" shakes and water.

13 hours ago, AmandaMae80 said:

My own instincts here are to do only liquids tomorrow, only Clear Liquids after 5pm, then post surgery liquids up through at LEAST day 7....I don't know about going outside of what's recommended tho...

My surgery is on December 21 and today (the 19th) I started the "clear-liquids only" prescribed. I can have clear-liquids only tomorrow and then nothing after midnight with surgery the following morning.

Fortunately, my clinic is pretty liberal about what is a clear liquid. I can have coffee and tea (no milk or cream), low-cal Fruit Drinks like Ocean Spray Diet 5, broth, sugar-free fruit-flavored drinks and sugar-free sports drinks, plus sugar-free Popsicles and sugar-free Jello. I made up three batches of the Jello to have on hand. I'm drinking a cup of one of these clear liquids every hour and so far am not hungry.

I will have one day of clear liquids in the hospital post-surgery, then start full liquids the second day in hospital, continuing at home through day 7. Full liquids will include strained cream Soup, milk, greek yogurt, vegetable juice, Cream of Wheat, broth. Mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and evening, I'm supposed to add 4 oz of high Protein Drink.

Good luck to you, Surgery Buddy. See you on the Losers' Side!

Do you see a psychiatrist for your antidepressant medication? Finding the right medication is a trial and error process. Since you are still depressed (sad), the one you are on may not be the best one for you, especially if it is interfering with your desired weight loss. Psychiatrists know far more about psychotropic medication than general practitioners.

Here is the food plan that I have been on pre-surgery. I'm just three days away from my scheduled revision surgery. When I can eat regular food again I intend to go back on it. It's been very successful for me. Part of the success has been my recognition of trigger foods. I have cut out all sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, and processed foods and have lost 67 lbs to date. If I indulge in these things, I have to go through withdrawal all over again. Then, if I avoid my trigger foods, I do not have cravings.

A Pound of Cure by Matthew Weiner, MD, a bariatric surgeon.

He's written two other books, has a website and YouTube videos.

No, but they may be more difficult to digest in that form. If you want flax seeds (I love them in oatmeal), whiz them with your blender or food processor to turn the into meal before adding them to your food.

I don't give up all carbs. I do give up sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, and processed foods. I get my carbs from fruit and sweet potatoes. But then, I am a sugar/food addict and all of those on the list are trigger foods for me.

Fortunately, my December 21 RNY to RNY Revision is still on. I have had my prep calls from the hospital and am getting my COVID test this afternoon, after which I'll self-quarantine until going to the hospital.

Tiny, tiny sips of everything. Pause between. If something isn't agreeable yet, back off and return to the prior step, then try again in a few days.

I find Water is more palatable if I add flavoring, such as sachets of sugar-free Crush, Hawaiian Punch, Wylers, Snapple, etc. You can use an electrolyte drink like Gatorade Zero or Propel instead of water. Again, stick to tiny sips until you can comfortably take bigger sips. Do the best you can and keep trying. If you can get at least 32 oz, you can build on that. If getting less, talk to your dietitian or surgeon's office.

On 10/24/2021 at 9:43 AM, lizonaplane said:

within half an hour after eating my stomach is growling (different from the noises it makes during/immediately after eating).

I hope you have figured out by now that stomach growling is not a sign of hunger (they are just bowel sounds), and that you have learned true signs of of hunger post WLS. <Hugs>

40 minutes ago, SummerTimeGirl said:

I used to wear the skirted kind of suit that comes in two separate pieces. Now who knows what I'll wear cause there's really nothing to help hide the flabby arms.

I wear suits that look like bicycle shorts with tops with sleeves. You can find them on JunoActive and Swimsuits for All. I feel all covered up. No one is ever going to see my upper arms unless I can someday get plastic surgery. The top covers my belly and hanging apron.

Do you need a doctor's referral? I just called the clinic on my own and made an appointment. I told my primary after I'd already been in the program a few months. He was totally in favor of getting a revision and has been very supportive.

Pre-surgery, I am down 3-4 sizes on bottoms (size 26-28 from size 32). I'm wearing big baggy tops for now. I've stitched up the size seams of all of my underpants and bras and swimwear so I won't have to buy new during the immediate transitional period. Surgery is just a week away, so I will have to buy more soon and also take a trip to Goodwill to buy pants and tops. I think can get by with my winter sweaters and coats.

Best NSV of all, I went out to lunch last weekend and sat in a booth, with room to spare between my belly and the table. That hasn't happened in years.

My clinic allows coffee and tea from the first day after surgery. They haven't said it must be Decaf, but I can't have milk in it until I'm on full liquids so I may just pass.

There are many brands of Protein Shakes and powders and each of them offer many flavors. Just do a google search to see what is out there. The prices varies from reasonable to ridiculously expensive, so shop around. Many can be found at Walmart or ordered online from the manufacturers or Amazon.

My clinic recommends these brands (but I've tried many others):
Premier Protein
Ensure Max
Equate High Performance
Atkins Plus
Musle Milke Genuine, Muscle Milk Light
Boost Max
Fair Life Core Power

There are even high Protein Soup powders from ProtiDiet and Bariatric Advantage, and others.

The variety is vast. Some you will like, some you won't. If you don't like something today, try it again in a week.

You can also make your own high protein shakes. There are lots of recipes online, using unflavored whey Protein Powder mixed with milk or Water, like GENEPRO I prefer plant-based unflavored powder, Like Orgain or Pure Protein. You can add protein powder to just about any liquid, even your coffee or tea or bullion.

3 hours ago, LouLouM said:

does anyone know if the steel cut or rolled oat form is better for those of us with the sleeve?

Oat bran is better for you than steel cut, which is better for you than rolled oats (which are "processed". Don't use "instant" or "quick" oats. All of these can be cooked in the microwave in 2-3 minutes. Bob's Red Mill produces all of these. I had never tried oat bran before, but its great. I eat my oatmeal with 1/4 to 1/2 c of unsweetened almond milk or fat-free lactose-free milk.
1/3 c oat bran to 1 c Water, dash of salt = 120 cal
1/4 c steel cut to 1 c water, dash of salt = 150 cal
1/2 c rolled oats to 1 c water, dash of salt = 150 cal

If you can't eat the whole amount you can store it in the refrigerator for reheating. You can also make uncooked oatmeal in the refrigerator overnight. Look for various recipes online, but pared down you can use just the oats and a cup of milk.

4 hours ago, Lisa LoVuolo said:

You can make your own with Sugar Free Chocolate pudding and Protein powder

How do you make a frozen dessert with s-f chocolate pudding and Protein Powder. When I mixed the two and put the in the freezer it just crystalized. Is there a trick to making it work?

Continue seeing the therapist after surgery, too.

8 hours ago, Sabsab said:

Please can someone recommend a good app available on App Store to track food and Fluid intake? Weight loss progress? Maybe give tips, recommend Vitamins etc? Something other than baristatic cause that’s not available where I live

The Baritastic app is great. There is another thread about apps.

All of the Vitamins can be ordered online. The BariatricPal One-a-Day is only $99 for a whole year. You will still need chewable calcium citrate, 1500 mg/day. Shop around for the best prices. I got Bariatric Advantage chewable on Amazon cheaper than on their own site,

I also found a two-week Liquid Protein doable. The hard part was the withdrawal from sugar and carbs. Once the withdrawal faded away, the second week was fine.

Don't lie. Don't say things you think he would want you to say. You can finesse this next meeting by asking him questions and challenging his misconceptions--bring the guidelines with you.

Unless you have an eating disorder or a drinking problem, he will pass you. Instead of feeling like you are on the hot seat, use him--ask him questions and ask for guidance for things like the vacation challenge.

Baritastic. It tracks everything from exercise to the number of times a day you poop. I use the journaling part extensively, recording my mood, what I feel after I've eaten something I shouldn't have, non-scale victories, gratitude comments, etc. The Baritastic app also includes recipes and allows you to add your own and gives you the nutrition data. You can set goals, track your Vitamins, time your chewing, etc.

50 minutes ago, lizonaplane said:

I do drink enough most days, but since I don't like plain Water any more, it's harder.

Try adding flavor packets to your Water. They make water much more tolerable. Alkaline water might be easier to tolerate, too. Hydration is of key importance. Keep drinking water!

6 hours ago, DaisyAndSunshine said:

Do the above foods not cause dumping anymore? Or tolerable at small amounts?

30 years post RNY, I still (rarely) get dumping syndrome from too much sugar. My upcoming revision will probably make that more likely, although I'm pretty committed to abstaining from sugar for life. If I go off the rails, I have to expect retribution!

Dumping is so unpleasant that it is "good" because it teaches you what NOT to eat.

Walk, walk, walk. It helps get the gas out of your abdomen, which is causing much of the pain, The incisions will continue to hurt, but it will get better day by day. Don't be shy about asking for pain medication. Get up and walk even when you don't want to...especially when you don't want to. The more you walk the better it will be

What you are feeling in your stomach is not hunger. You will need to relearn the true signs of hunger. In the meantime, SIP your Water, SIP your Protein Shakes. Tiny sips until you can tolerate more. If you sip too fast or too much it will hurt in the area of your sternum. Follow the instructions and it will all be fine.

Your doctor may suspect that you are a sugar addict. If so, that's why he's barring sugar and carbohydrates. Of course, there are carbs in starchy vegetables (like sweet potatoes) and fruit, but your body processes them differently than bread and sweets.

I've been on a high protein/low carb diet pre-surgery, and have eliminated sugar, flour, potatoes, rice, and processed foods. It's been very successful.

I've learned a lot reading about sugar/food addiction and have come to the conclusion that I have this addiction. Once I've broken through the withdrawal period I don't crave these things. I have gone off the rails a few times and paid the price. It takes me about two weeks to get through withdrawal all over again.

I've been working on this food plan, A Pound of Cure by Matthew Weiner, a bariatric surgeon. I intend to follow it post-surgery, possibly for life.

To find out more about sugar/food addiction, all of these books are helpful.