GSORob

I have tried the Isopure Plus clear drinks (Fruit Punch and Grape Frost). By itself the taste wasn't bad. I like it much better after dropping in some Crystal Light.

I have a Vitamix, and it is phenomenal. It is pretty expensive, but it makes tremendous smoothies and protein shakes. There are no leftover lumps from any powders either. I can't wait to use it when I blend soups.

You probably need to talk first with your primary care or endocrinologist. Mine was pushing this for a couple years before I decided to take the plunge. Ask to see if your local hospital has a bariatric surgery seminar that might be affiliated with a surgeon who does bariatric surgery in your area. Again, that is how I got started. I attended the seminar in late August, and had all my tests and other appointments done by the end of December.

Well, tomorrow morning @ 7:15, my new life begins. Right now, I'm really not all that nervous. I think having already been thru 2 lower back surgeries and a colonoscopy has kept me from having any surgical or anesthesia anxieties. I did throw up after the 2nd back surgery in 1998, so I'll remind everyone of that again tomorrow. I'm already almost 20% of the way to my goal of losing 100 pounds. I'm going to have to look around on the net the week I'm off from work for some new clothes. I'm also a Type 1 diabetic. I'm looking forward to not having to change my pump cartridge everyday now. My daily dosage should drop dramatically. I'm not excited about the 2 week liquid diet post-op..The only thing I'm nervous about is having a low blood sugar and trying to counter it with just liquid.

My 4/5 update: Not so great news My type 1 diabetes decided to throw a monkey wrench into the situation overnight. I had a low blood sugar at 1:30 AM. I did my best to raise it without eating or drinking anything. Unfortunately, it spiked upwards. I left home at 4:30 am at 253..At 6:15 am at the hospital I was over 400. We tried to get it back down, but just not quickly enough. My surgery was canceled, and I probably will be rescheduled in a month or so. I guess the only bright thing about today is that I reached 20 lbs lost after my 2 week pre-op diet.

I might have been one of the lucky ones in that my pre-op diet was not all liquids. For lunch and dinner, I could have greens, 1/2 cup veggies, and 3 oz lean Protein or I could have a frozen meal like lean cuisine or healthy choice. I could snack on freebies like celery or radishes. 2 weeks of broths instead for lunch and dinner doesn't have quite the same appeal. LOL

I'm a diabetic, and have had swelling in my lower legs for a long time. My endocrinologist has had me on a 20 mg prescription for Furosemide for a # of years now. It has worked. And like clockwork, about 3 or 4 hours after taking a daily pill, I'm off to the bathroom a couple of times to get rid of excess water weight.

Surgery day is tomorrow morning 4/5 for me. After weighing myself this morning, I'm down just over 18 pounds since I started my 2-wk pre-op diet on 3/22.

After 10 days on my pre-op diet (thankfully not entirely liquids), I have lost 13.6 lbs. My surgery is on 4/5

Does anyone have or know where I can find on the web some protein shake recipes that are high in protein, but have 5 or less grams of carbohydrates? I'm just not a big fan of the pre-mixed shakes out there on the market.

I am a Type 1 diabetic and wear a pump. I did go out and buy some glucose tablets. My dietician advised that I drink milk to raise my lows. I have adjusted my basal rate and my bolus amounts per meal. My diet is pretty strict, but thankfully not all liquids. I have to have 3 Protein shakes a day. Breakfast, mid-afternoon, bedtime. lunch and dinner can either be salad greens, 1/2 cup veggies, + 3 oz protein or I can have 1 frozen meal like lean cuisine, just less than 300 cals and 14 g protein or more. Freebie Snacks include celery, radishes, SF Jello, SF popsicle. After those first 2 lows, I haven't had any since. It is just going to be a trial and error as to what the magic level will be. I'm sure I'll have to adjust even more after the surgery on April 5th, since I'll just be on liquids for 2 weeks.

I tried the Syntrax nectar Chocolate Truffle last night mixed in some skim milk. It was great. Just like the old chocolate milk I had as a kid using Nestle's Quick. Again, no lumps or particles floating after blending in my Vitamix.

This is the doctor and nutritionist designed diet I must have for the next 2 weeks. It probably won't be that bad considering I can still eat some actual food Breakfast: 1 Protein shake Lunch/Dinner: 3 oz lean protein, 2 cups salad Greens, 1/2 cup vegetables, 2 tablespoons Fat-Free/Lite dressing or Balsamic Vinegar OR 1 Lean Frozen meal with 14 or more grams protein and 300 cals or less. Snack after lunch: 1 Protein Shake Snack after dinner: 1 Protein Shake Also drink 64 to 100 oz Fluid Freebies: 2 cups SF Jell-O, 5 sticks sugarless gum, Limit of 2 SF Popsicles, cucumbers, celery, mushrooms, radishes.

Yeah, I'm not sure I could handle all Protein shakes. I would need some kind of variety in the type of protein. At least I am allowed to change things up. I am going to go to the grocery store after work and take advantage of my freebies, especially the celery. That will be my hunger snack going forward. Celery with 1 TBSP of fat-free ranch dressing sounds pretty good mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Good luck to you.

I lost 3.4 lbs after day 1, but I'm feeling somewhat weak and lightheaded this morning at work. How long before that passes?

I like Syntrax Nectar (I've only tried roadside lemonade and Crystal Sky thus far). They blend great in my Vitamix blender. unjury chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry sorbet are also good.

I nearly gagged on Muscle Milk light. And I thought there was a metallic aftertaste to the EAS shakes. I like the Adkins Advantage and Pure Protein shakes. The Premier shakes at costco are also good. I also like the Syntrax nectar powders for drinks and/or shakes (depending on the flavor you get).

I bought a cheap one from Walmart over the weekend until a slightly more expensive one I bought from QVC.com arrives.

April 5th for me.

I'm not sure how people get it put into the signature of their posts, but I'm pretty sure they are built then imported somehow from www.tickerfactory.com

I'm a Type 1 diabetic. I haven't been scheduled yet for my lap-band surgery, but the major concern I have is what do I do now to counter a low-blood sugar particularly in the middle of the night. Usually when this happens for me, I feel hungy as well as feeling weak and having the "shakes". I would normally have to have a can of soda and either a chocolate bar or handful of M&Ms to feel right again. Obviously after the surgery I won't be able to take that approach. What do some of you out there do for lows? I know they have those chewable glucose tablets, but they only have 4g of sugar I think. The way I sometimes panic for a 2am low, I'd be having to eat a ton of those little things.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I will be seeing my primary care doc who is also an endocrinologist in February, and we will discuss what approach I should take. I know when I was on the Nutrisystem diet 18 months ago I reduced my daily insulin by almost 50%. I'm sure it will be reduced quite a bit more before and after the surgery. It will be nice not having to change my pump cartridge every night for a change.