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I agree with the above posts! I have RTD Powerade Zero on hand for grab-b-go. Otherwise I have a nice stash of crystal light at work. My personal favorites are grape, lemonade and fruit punch. I also have used Mio's. The dollar tree in my area usually has some options too. I think I've seen the Crush flavors mentioned above.

I weighed in at 350 pounds at my pre-op appt. The surgeon recommended a liquid diet of 5 protein shakes and 1 lean and green meal which was a chicken,tuna, or turkey salad for the full 12 days leading up to my Surgery. To be honest i did cheat on my preop diet. I actually cheated more than once lol but I walked 2 miles everyday and worked out quite a bit. My weight the day of surgery (8/21) was 326 pounds. So even though I cheated i still managed to loose the goal weight for surgery. Im 2 days post op and I feel great.my advice to you is if you do cheat on the preop diet make it up by working out even harder

Thanks for the replies! I know you are both right about making sure I get my Protein in and just cutting sweets and white flour out completely and limiting other starches. It is so weird to me that it is relatively easy to not eat those things if I just stay completely away from them, but if I have one single bite I end up on a binge. I was using a food tracker before, so I started that up again today. I don't know why it didn't occur to me before to log my Water intake in the food tracker, but I'm doing that too, starting today. The other tough thing for me to cut out is alcohol. I know that it is considered empty calories, but it seems silly to quit drinking now when I don't even have a surgery date yet. Did any one else here decide to wait until you actually have surgery to quit drinking? I mean, I guess I would actually quit a week before, when I'm on the liquid diet. Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

It's part of your education process as the patient. She's basically letting you know that this only succeeds if you have your mind committed, and you're able to discipline yourself to follow a program, and modify your behavior. It's important to understand the level of change this surgery demands, because it's profound. So she's trying to prepare you for that...and of course, if you can't follow basic instructions, how are you going to succeed post-op? None of these surgeons' offices want to have failures on their stats. They want success stories. You are already limiting yourself by letting your "old mind" take control, even in your post. "We all know how that (dieting) will go..." or "I didn't get this way because I'm good at dieting!" That has to change, and yes...it takes time to get there. If you are thinking that *snip snip* and you're done, magic weight loss...you couldn't be more wrong. It takes a lot of discipline. The surgery helps by removing the insane hunger pangs and growling and mind-warp that causes for the first six months or so, it puts a limit on how much you can eat in one sitting...but you have to manage your intake to make sure you are meeting Protein goals, you have to track that and your Water intake, and long-term you need to have the skills and tools necessary to track your calorie intake, track how much you're burning, figure out how to maintain your weight, all of that. This surgery is only one component of a much larger process...and you need to be ready for it. If you're not, there's no point in getting an operation that will ultimately fail because you didn't get the mind part right. The mind part is 80% of it, because that's what will take you through the rest of your life. You gotta be ready and committed to change.

Are you allowed more Protein Drink? That's basically what I've been having, but I can have 4 Protein drinks a day. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I lost about 70 lbs in the year before surgery by going high protein/low carb and faithfully logging my food intake in myfitnesspal.

I am under the impression that you need to get your protein however you can: from food, supplements, or a combination thereof. You don't want your body burning your muscle for energy---do what it takes!

Good Luck to you firs of all on your surgery!! Take it slow and follow the rules and procedures that are given to you I actually went into a crying fit the night before surgery because of the hair thing...lol....I've been told to make sure that I take my Vitamins on a regular basis and work really hard on getting 60 grams or more of protein/day once you are allowed food again (pureed, soft, whatever) 2 Protein Shakes made with milk will almost get you there daily! keep positiive...and I'll be thinking about you! Congratulations on a NEW YOU tomorrow!!

I also suggest a high protein/low carb and that you track everything that goes into your body.

Friend's I need advise I am scheduled tomorrow morning for surgery VSG and ever since I started all clear diet yesterday morning I have had major bathroom problems. This morning it seems to be just achy stomach from yesterday and gasy. I did try a isotech 42 (Vitamin shoppe Protein drink) yesterday and it kept upsetting my stomach so I stopped that. Is this normal???? Please advise I'm nervous now that everything is a go and my husband is off for the week I will have to cancel. Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

It helped me a lot to focus on my preparations. Finding which protein shakes I liked, making a calendar showing my food stages, buying all the supplies I'd need, etc. It can definitely be emotionally overwhelming. This will be a HUGE life change and you will be giving up a lot of the things you have known for so long. Or at least THINK you are giving them up. Just try to focus on the day-to-day and not get too caught up in what-ifs.

MY surgeon suggest 1-3 Protein Drink with Water ONLY, & lean cuisine,healthy choice or smart ones for dinner. 64 ounces of water. Hope this helped. Good luck. I start it tomorrow!!!! Sent from my SM-T560NU using the BariatricPal App

My surgeon recommended starting a basic Multivitamin to make sure levels are optimal before surgery. He also suggested selecting my Protein powder so that I don't forget about it. He said any exercises I can do, including abdominal exercises, will help me in the long run. I have been trying to eat clean, drink plenty of Water, and stay healthy. I'm 20 days out from surgery. my liquid diet starts in about 2 weeks. Did your surgery center give you a binder or anything with tips and instructions? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I started my bariatric vitamins a month before surgery. Start walking or working out. The better shape your body is in the easier your surgery. Start "practicing" eating more protein and eating your protein first in your meals. Also, start practicing not drinking right before and during your meals. Practice eating tiny bites and chewing 25 times. Good luck to you!!!!!

I have weird stomach rumbles when I drink certain Protein drinks but not others. For instance: carnation instant Breakfast (sugar free chocolate) makes my stomach so noisy. It doesn't hurt or anything, mild discomfort but no physical pain. Mostly, my issue with them is that my stomach really gurgles really loud out of nowhere sometimes lol..so I've tried others and some I've found don't do that at all. I think it might be partly bc of soluble Fiber and maybe partly because of the sugar free sweetener. Sometimes I used to get diahreah (tmi sorry) when I would eat my grammas Sugar Free Chocolates. Maybe something similar?

Preop dr monitored diet. I've trashed 40 pounds in 3 months and then this past month has been one long issue. I know it's a stall and I know it's only the first one - preop none the less. It doesn't stop the frustration. I went on vacation and stalled due to lack of exercise and not the best diet choices (not the worst, just not as strict as normal). Came back and went on a week long protein drink diet just to break the stall. It did break a bit and then, my period hit in such an odd way. A week and a half of another stall and now I'm just sad. I'm 2 pounds up this morning from the last time I weighed myself. This too shall pass. For now I'm just frustrated, slightly defeated, and worried I'll disappoint my PCP. Just wanted to vent. I know I just need to focus on staying on track and getting back in the gym more than 2-3 times a week. I just feel like I'm working so diligently for such minor results. Typical stall emotions. HW: 328 (02/22/17) SW: TBD CW: 288 Pounds disowned to date: 40

Here's what I'm using for shakes. This makes two 16oz Protein Shakes with around 200 cal 30 g of Protein and 15 g or less carbs. Add ice or Water until just over 32oz & blend. Two scoops of each powder, & 2 cups of most fruit blends keep you in the right range for carbs. Check first so you don't go over. Garden Of Life also has many nutients & 50 fruit and vegetable super foods. Drink one & save one for later.

Today is day 1 of my pre-op diet and I'm so excited to be finally counting down to surgery on April 12th! I'm traveling internationally for work next week and trying to figure out how to pack all my protein shakes lol but I'm hoping the traveling makes the time go faster. I'm super nervous, but very excited to start the rest of my life!

Yes. Started drinking a Protein shake daily as instructed. I try to drink it for Breakfast everyday. I struggle with still being hungry after a couple of hours so I snack. And the holidays didn't help. Just not sure what to do now. Sent from my SM-T230NU using the BariatricPal App

Lots of tuna. 2.5 ounces has 16 grams. Turkey sausage and ground turkey and chili without Beans. Oh and cheese. It's been easier because everything was pureed. Now that I've started trying regular foods...I can't eat nearly as much. I try anything possible to keep from drinking Protein shakes. If I absolutely have to...I drink the pre-mixed EAS shakes.

Nope! Still waiting and insurance is still saying pending. I was told today I can call Monday and speak to the pre certification staff because they are not there on the weekends. Wish I knew that was an option I would have done that yesterday.

I have a question. I currently live in NC but my insurance BCBS is not and in the beginning my Dr. office wasn't sure of the requirements. I met with the Nutritionist twice and they sent the info to my insurance but I received a message that Medi-Weight loss is not considered part of my 6 month requirements. I called bsbc and the nurse didn't state medi is not considered weight management. My question is has anyone else used them because I was under a physician assistant and my insurance considered them part of weight management. My options are to have 4 more visits with the Nutritionists or take my chances and they send to the insurance for a possible denial. If denied I would have to wait 6 months before I can apply again. I really stressed because I thought it would be part of my weight management requirements. Please any advise would be appreciated.

Hi everyone! I'm going thru the process to get GBS so I'm wondering I've been following a lady who has had gastric bypass and after she was released to eat regular foods she is eating a keto diet which is high in fat high in protein low in cards... which I think is another term for Atkins diet?? But won't all the high fats upset your pouch and put you through dumping? Any thoughts?

Dlcoggin posted the following to one of my posts whey was once considered a waste product from the process used for making cheese. It is a highly digestible, complete Protein made from cow's milk. Whey concentrate is about 80% protein with relatively low levels of fat, carbohydrates, and cholesterol (but still higher than whey isolate). So whey concentrate not only has a high percentage of protein but also provides healthy fats that boost the immune system. But if you're lactose intolerant, whey isolate may be easier to digest. Whey isolate goes through an additional micro filtering process that is not used in producing whey concentrate. As a result, whey isolate is about 90% protein. Micro filtering removes the lactose and fat but also destroys many of the immune system boosting properties of whey. Whey isolate can also be significantly more expensive than concentrate because of the additional processing required. The digestibility of various Proteins is published in the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS). The PDCAAS has been adopted by the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. food and Drug Administration, and the World Health Organization. Proteins are ranked on a scale of 0 (least digestible) to 1 (most digestible). Whey, Soy, Milk, and Casein proteins all have a PDCAAS score of 1.0. The bottom line is that with whey isolate you get more protein per gram (but not necessarily any better) and it may be better handled by those who are lactose intolerant. With whey concentrate you get slightly less protein per gram but added benefits from the higher fat content. As several folks have noted, the first test that any protein you're going to drink or eat has to pass is - taste. If you are not lactose intolerant and you find a protein that you like, the difference in protein content for whey isolate vs. whey concentrate vs. milk concentrate should likely be a minor consideration. One word of caution - stay away from the protein "bullets" and "shots" that you will see in stores and read about online. If you look closely at their ingredient list, you will see that they are made with collagen protein. These products are attractive to bypass patients because they contain very large amounts of protein in very small volumes - usually 3 to 4 ounces. The problem is that collagen protein is an incomplete protein (meaning that it is missing one or more of the nine essential amino acids that your body requires and cannot manufacture) and more importantly, collagen has a PDCAAS digestibility score of 0.08. All the protein in the world is useless if your body cannot digest it.

I heard the collagen protein is worthless to us postop.