WendyJane

I personally do not like the protein powders, they just don't mix well enough for me to enjoy them, they are gritty and not smooth, but that may be me because I can't shake them well enough I do have Unjury protein powder and clear isoprotein to add to my soft foods. I will use them now and again, but mostly I use the Premier Protein shakes, they have a variety of flavors and 30 grams of protein. I also have Protein20 which is a clear protein and the flavors are not great but I use them to take my meds since they must be crushed or opened capsules, they taste nasty, the Protein water has 15 grams of protein, and I mix my Benefiber in there, and take my meds with them, and count it as being part of my medication regimen. Maybe others have ideas? My urge to you is to try whatever you can, I did. It is expensive to do all the tries but everyone's taste is different, and sometimes you just have to "suffer through it" until the stuff is used up. I only bought 4 shakes at a time, and my drinks, it was hit and miss, and I hit on the protein tea, but missed on the protein 02 that I use for my meds. I have tried my Unjury Chocolate with water and with Fairlife milk and both ways tastes gritty to me. I prefer the pre-made protein shakes over the powders. Good luck, when is your surgery day?

Thank you for your inspiration. I just had my surgery on 5/12/25 and I now have your words of wisdom to think about as I begin my journey. Congratulations to you, and to all of us who are searching for a better life a healthier life.

I use Quest brand Milk Shake Protein replacements with 45 grams of protein. I also get 30 grams of protein from various flavors of Premier Protein, these are both meal replacements. Be careful with anything bought in a store, make sure it has 3g or less of fat and 3 g or less of sugar, and make sure that they have NO added sugars. Gotta read the labels. I agree with SpartanMaker, you need to be very careful when looking for what you need in the guidelines you shared. That's page 19, I wonder if there are other dietary guidelines within your packet. Wishing you the best.

My surgery is on Monday the 12th, I am excited and nervous as well, but I have a huge community to help me. You will be going through grief of loss or the grief of having to follow a regimen diet. I attend a group every day, just to grab nuggets of information and knowledge. I am a member of Barination, and they have certified licensed and professional mental health care providers, dieticians and nutrition specialists and lots of discussions with physicians and groups or teams from around the country. I would strongly urge you to visit them and see what they are all about. You can find lots of YouTube videos from Barination that are free for all to view. They have one that is on what to expect as a pre-op and immediate post-op patient. Once a Bariatric patient, always a bariatric patient. I wish you well on your surgery on the 9th. Keep us up to date how you are doing and we can provide you with knowledge and understanding of the feelings you are feeling. Start that feelings journal now and write anything that is in your mind, and re-read them for learning and keep them to look back a year out to see where you were before, and where you are a year out. I started that 2 weeks ago and I have come to realize that I still have that head hunger. I'm not hungry but bored, so I think about food to fill the void. That is head hunger. It is a real thing, so as you begin the liquid diet, remember that the #1 problem or complication you will have is dehydration so sip, sip, sip!! If you have protein water, that will help you feel more full than just drinking water. Hope I helped a little bit, hang in there, this is a life-long journey.

You keep that positive outlook you are doing great. Be proud of how much you have lost and how well you are metabolically. That is something to celebrate. I applaud you for keeping the faith as you slowly lost the weight and became healthier and healthier. That is the most important thing, you are healthier. Congratulations!!

You said that you stopped eating meat, are you taking Protein supplements like shakes? You should be having a high protein diet and not so much in carbs, and some veggies are carbs, like peas for example. Fruit has natural sugar in them, you should be focusing on protein. I strongly urge you to talk to your dietician with your surgical team, and make a better diet plan than what you are on. Something you can do in the meantime is to look at the bariatric bowls and plates available on Amazon, and look at the portion sizes of fruits and veggies, then look at the size of the plate for protein. It may not be what you are eating, but could be your portion size. But based on your initial post, you are eating fruits and salads, you are not focused on protein. I say again, check with your nutrition specialist with your surgical team. I will say what others have, 60 pounds is a good amount of weight to lose. Remember that your surgery is a tool, and not a cure. It takes time to gain the weight, it will take time to lose it, when you are eating correctly and as your nutritionist says, contact your surgical team. Congratulations on your journey, you are doing great so far!!

Agree with SpartanMaker, you need to contact your team. Do not hesitate and get help now!! That is what your surgical team is for, to call upon in such situations.

To make your immediate post surgery a little more comfortable..... Bring that chap stick or other lip balm of your liking Bring flavored powders for your water if your physician allows it, mine does Bring an extra long power cord for your phone, you know you'll have that with you Bring your oral hygiene stuff, the hospital stuff is gross Bring with you a book or iPad/Chromebook or a laptop for those non-walking moments You don't want those glamorous yellow socks that are non-skid, bring skid proof slippers with you for the hall walking you ought to be doing. Remember you will be tired, your body was just manipulated, let it heal. I agree with all of the above notations about being kind to yourself, drink and have the laxative of your physicians liking so you have a poop.

Just to chime in to the original question posed by BrandiBird, yes, sometimes we hit a plateau and we must deal with that. If it goes on for a while, you may want to talk to your provider, and/or their dietician that you talked with prior to surgery. Plateau's happen now and again and you might not be doing anything wrong. Your body is adjusting to the new you that the surgery created. Try not to be down on yourself, and celebrate the little wins that you have every week, no matter how small or large it might be. And if you truly are depressed please seek some therapy, it is worth the cost to get someone who understands bariatrics. Wishing you well!!!

To everyone who has responded....thanks, lets keep in touch and get a good start to our journey. I look at this surgery as a new volume in my book, not a new chapter. I'm not looking back and I will be able to not only lose weight to feel better, but I will be able to get the much needed hip replacement. I'm due to have surgery on the 12th of May, signed my consents today, got my pre-op class done and met with the surgeon and he was quite pleased with my weight loss and my A1c both have gone down. I'm just as eager to get rolling on this new journey. What is next is the clear liquid diet a few days before surgery as they found I do not need to be on a liver reduction diet. I have my supplements as instructed, I have protein water for after surgery. We have 4 days of clear liquids only, then we can go on a soft diet, we don't have a puree, which is a blessing, I can't imagine eating chicken in a puree form, can't have meet until day 11. I'm taking this seriously, and will follow all the rules. I think I am more excited than anything for the 12th of May to come. Ealbers, you are right on track, let's get on with the journey. CJPom, you are first on the list being May 7th, let us know how you are doing post surgery. Jena, we will do this as a team, let's keep each other motivated!!! Congratulations to everyone! Every week, find a win other than is on the scale. Don't check your weight every day, it will fluctuate as your body adjusts and changes. Find other wins to celebrate, but don't stop celebrating. This is not just weight loss, but it is a metabolic shift in our bodies. Movement is important so let's keep walking. WendyJane

I would suggest you contact your surgeon for advice or the surgeon's team. They know your medical history best.

Well, I would like to say, you do you! This is your journey, your body and your body image that you need to take care of. If you feel you need to rid yourself of bat-wings, then you do what you and your physician decide. I'm tired of insurance companies telling patients and doctors how to doctor and care for patients, I'm not going to let others tell you what their opinion is about your surgery that will hopefully make you happier with your body. Remember this is your journey, enjoy it for as long as you are able to! Do what you think is best. I'm still pre-op, so I have no opinion about doing the plastic surgery or know about recovery, I just felt the need to share my thoughts. I think you look pretty darn good, you have lost a lot apparently and have a good figure. I hope you are happy with the rest of yourself. God Bless!

We were told no capsules and no tablets, sublingual or chewable only, at least for the first year, according to my team. I would strongly urge you to talk to your team and find out what their recommendations are, or what their "rules" are for taking vitamins and minerals. Try to work with your nutritionist first, and your physician so you are doing everything right. Good luck on your journey!

If you are having surgery in May of 2025, join here and tell us how you are preparing.

I'm doing okay, lost another 10 pounds and still waiting for my surgery day to come. One more nutrition consult. Today is my birthday and went out to a restaurant for lunch with my husband. I had Lamb, it was s o good, and enjoyed them so very much, good source of protein. Otherwise I'm just hanging out, doing as many support groups as possible, and I am learning to love me for who I am. I look forward to the saggy baggy skin, and the removal thereof. Tomorrow, heading out to the pool for a couple of hours of a workout, and hopefully work off some of that lamb I had today. LOL

Your body is still swollen from the surgery, it is in recovery, be patient. Your weight will come off, you need to let your body heal, it has only been about 1 week, once it heals, it will be easier for your body to adjust if you did not obsess and keep weighing yourself. This surgery is a tool, not an easy way out. Walking is good, keep it up. If you keep going and pushing yourself, you'll go farther. Think about joining a support group like Barination or Unjury, to learn about the new you and what to expect. Don't be so frustrated yet, you will lose eventually. You want to lose weight for good, and healthy lifestyle habits are important to learn if you haven't learned them yet.

Looking good!!

Thank you for your input, it helps me think in a different direction. I really appreciate your observations from afar, it means a lot. Wendy Jane

Hello everyone.... So my husband is supportive of my going through with a Rou-en-Y Gastric Bypass, and I'm so close to getting a date; after April 2nd I should be good to go. He happens to be a chef and lately he has been telling me that "they are selling this surgery to me", which is not okay. I think he is really telling me that he fears that I will change so much and my diet is changing so drastically already that when he cooks, he cooks out of love, and always wants to make me happy. Food has always made me happy. I tell him that I can still eat whatever he makes, I just won't be able to eat a huge plate of his lasagna, maybe 1/4th of what a "serving" would be. This of course is causing me to question my decision to go through with something that I have been researching for the last 4 years. I finally decided to have it to lose the weight that my orthopedic surgeon said I had to lose so that I could actually get a new hip, which I need desperately. So, this is not to look like Barbie for me, it is so that I can have hip surgery, a health related situation, and may cure my diabetes as well, two-for-one perhaps? Bottom line, am I right by thinking that he equates food with love, and therefore fears my changes and his inability to show his love for me? Looking forward to answers, questions, thoughts, anything.....

Sharp pressure is something I would be worried about. Call your team. Especially if it is unrelenting pain and there is nothing you can do to resolve or reduce it. Something may be wrong.

If you are not comfortable with the team that is supposed to be supporting you and guiding you through the process, I would do more research and find a group of people that show compassion and care. It took me 4 years and I found a place down in Tidewater, Virginia and they have been so very helpful, supportive and live support groups. Unjury.Com has support groups live and I'm a paying member of BariNation.com and I get so much support it is crazy. I talk to my pals I have made, and compare with what my team tells me and they are always spot on. Sounds like your program is very impersonal, that's sad, find a caring place to get what you are seeking. Wendy

Hello Chadomac, Welcome to the group. Congratulations on your weight loss too! 6 months to surgery, and in 5 months you have lost so much already. Keep going, stay strong and keep up with what's going on in the forum and you will be cheered with every step you take!

Hi Kelly, Yep, I think all of us were in the same boat of some kind. I've been have been heavy all my life, since birth, I was a big baby. I never lost my baby fat, I just added more and more. I'm finally going through a RNY soon, I have done everything except one more nutrition consult after Monday's consult. I think I am doing pretty good. I have tried all kinds of protein shakes, clear liquid drinks with protein, and doing exercise daily for 30 minutes, either strength or aerobic. So...just want that date, and get that date as soon as possible. A 2-week "vacation" from work, and the support of my dear husband, I got this! I might be 60 years old, but I have to lose so I can have my left hip replaced. That's what started it all. My ortho won't do the surgery unless I lose 40 pounds. Having tried everything from diets, to pills, shots and the like, I finally gave in what I had started to research 4 years ago. I'm almost there. So Kelly, welcome to the group and ask whatever questions that you may have, we are a group of people who care about other people. Wendy

I chose the RNY because of the high rate of getting GERD from the VSG, so I don't know why your physician said that it was weight related. While some of it might be, usually it isn't, and with a smaller stomach, the acid can easily go up into the esophagus. If you are able, I would change that VSG and revise to an RNY if you are able, RNY you can't take NSAIDs but the possibility of GERD decreases about 80% of patients. Hope things go well for you, or went well with your EGD, please update us. Wishing you well.