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My advise is focus on changing your overall eating lifestyle. Don't just focus on the "pre-op diet" focus on how you are going to eat for the rest of your life. Protein first, then veggies, then carbs.... and portion sizes 3-4oz of protien, 1/4 cup veggies, 1/4 cup of carbs. This will put you steps ahead in the game. Good luck to you.

The goal is to stop eating when satisfed, not full. I too want just one more bite, but from the 2 times I did that I felt so uncomfortable and miserable. I stop before I finish my serving and wait at least 5 to 10 minutes before I really know that I am done. Count the number of bites if you have to and eat one less to keep from getting sick. This is a learning process for all of us and while we are early out, things change. That seems like a lot of food for your stage. I had surgery 4 days before you and I have 1-2 shakes a day with 2 meals of 1/4 to 1/3 cup of food each. Protein first. I know as my capacity increases I will be able to add more veggies and fruit.

My manual says no need to empty the bowel before surgery. I can have two protein shakes the day before, but nothing after midnight.

I did look in the frequently asked questions and other topics to see if these questions have been discussed and I didn't see them.. I have questions on the protein intake and the sugar free eating items. First-I am very leery of protein powders because of GMO's, metals in protein powders, etc. What is the reasoning for using protein powder and not eating the proteins in foods instead? Second question is about the sugar free options...are they in the "plan" to eat sweet foods without the calories? I am just wondering if I can skip them completely.

Personally, I was sleeved in MX so I didn't ahve any post op follow up. I had surgery and flew back home less than a week later. My loss was really slow at first, then accelerated, then stopped, then slow, then stopped....I'm just getting off another plateau now. I'm 15 and a half months out, and I think this final 40 lbs is kicking my a**, but I know that slow and steady will win the race. It's easy to get discouraged and to look at the tickers of other who had surgery the same time as you and wish you had their results already, but the most honest and best advice I can give is: Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Compare yourself to you. When was the last time you lost 10 lbs before surgery, how long did it take? Did it take longer and was it more difficult than the current 10 lbs you're lamenting over? The answers are probably yes and yes. Another thing to remember about your loss now, is that, you're not losing weight, you're GETTING RID of it!! That is 10 lbs you will probably never ever ever EVER see again!! How great is that!?! One day at a time, if you do the right things, Protein first, exercise, you WILL see results, you WILL lose the weight, and you WILL look hot and feel great!! Welcome to the losers bench!!

It all depends upon the Protein drink......I had a problem with unjury strawberry, and while on the phone with those folks, they said their shakes can be made up a day in advance and put in the fridge (they aren't typically thick shakes anyway) I would imagine the Syntrax nectars can be made up a day ahead (lemonade, iced tea, and the like).

I'm glad to have found this site, so much good info. I've been to the Weight loss seminar offered by the surgical group and have decided to go forward with VGS. RNY and the malabsorption, has always scared me and not too thrilled with the idea of lap band either so was happy to hear of this alternative. I have Med Cost and they have been really quick to approve coworkers some with much less weight to lose. At 5'6 and 240 lbs I'm pretty disgusted with myself for letting this get so out of control, but as a lifelong yo yo dieter am grateful to have this option to finally get healthy once and for all. It's been inspiring to see the success of friends and read everyone's stories here. Even with the relatively easy approval with my insurance there still are a lot of hoops to jump through. I'm hoping for a January surgery date. Is that realistic? Have to see primary care to document weight and do labs, scheduled for tomorrow, Surgical consult on Wednesday But will still have psych eval, NUT, physical fitness eval, , EGD and at least one support group visit. Seems like an overwhelming list, especially for someone who avoids the doctor like the plague. Yeah, I know odd for a nurse.

Hello, Im new to this website. i actually just kinda came across it tryna find some lap band stories and i must say u guys seemed pretty supportive.im scheduled for surgery on May 10th and I started my clear liquid diet today. Ive had a protein shake this morning and water. Im terried that i might get hungry later this is almost the scariest part to me. To go from eating bad to eating nothing...Im goin to get thru it tho with some supporters. I need this surgery bad i have a severe case of sleep apnea which has gotten worse wit the weight increase. I also broke my ankle last year and i gained weight just sitting around wit my leg proped up. The doctors said my leg healed fine but wit all the weight it sometimes bothers me. I have a 18month old son that i cant run and play with because i really cant breathe. So i knew i had to do something, Being only 29 and having to sleep wit a breathing machine was not attractive at all to me. So here i go on my new journey trying to stay positive and look at the brighter side of things. i must say tho im am gettin a lil nervous the closer the date gets.. But i think ill do ok..

@@LizBeth82 I am so sorry to hear you are having problems with your back. I have been through hell with mine and am still going through it. In June I had to have a 3 level cervical fusion. When I found out I was terrified that I would screw up my goals. I knew what to expect from a recovery standpoint. Back problems are long and honestly never go away once you have them. I have had a total of 6 back surgeries, 2 since June. In June I was at 210lbs with a goal of 165. I knew I would have to rely 100% on my diet if I wanted to hit my goals because exercise was very limited. I can walk but very short walks and I can do small basic exercises for my arms and legs. Some days I cannot do anything. For me, I have to focus on a diet that delivers 70 grams of Protein, under 90 grams of carbs and less than 1200 calories if I want to continue to lose. I have done it with diet. I am currently at 163lbs. I am not sure where you are at with diet but that is what you likely need to change up. I would be happy to help if you want to pm me?

@momof2littleones hi there you are all set to start your journey!! popscicles, protein shake, measuring cups, two more special things you need - PATIENCE and DETERMINATION !!! ready for a great ride -few bumps ahead, mostly smooth sailing, sorry you will be on your own going to the hospital. hopefully one or more of your friends can be more available to help you PO - you can lean on them for support- find a support group PO (your doc's office should be able to help you) finding a group, you will meet OP that are at your stage as a NEWBIE - you can grow up together. meeting people that are further out with WLS is also good (hear their experiences, get info) good luck bud speedy recovery kathy

I was banned on Veteran's Day and I was/am so excited. The doctor's never told me that "GAS" could be so painful. I stayed overnight in Virginia Hospital Center and then was released from the hospital the next evening. I was in so much pain. Needless to say, I was readmitted on the 13th for serve "GAS" pains. I stayed in the hospital until this Monday. I'm now back at work and the protein shakes and soup is just not doing it for me. So, I decided to have two spoonfuls of mashed sweet potatoes tonight. I'm not feeling any discomfort. Am I rushing it to fast? I'm soooo HUNGRY! Any suggestions/help is so needed right now! :blushing:

...I'm starting to get a little nervous. I took a lot of time and weighed all my options before finally deciding to undergo the sleeve. I know this is the right choice for me. I'm not worried about the surgery. This is more about how I will deal with how quickly I will (or won't) lose the weight, how obsessed I have always been with the scale (I weigh myself no fewer than three times a day), and whether I'll be satisfied with my progress. I have every reason to believe this is the very best thing for me. And I'm excited. I just hope I don't let my head interfere. I've been quietly reading the forums for several months now. Seems like a supportive group of people, I look forward to this journey...and will look her for wisdom along the way.

Hi Everyone, I have been reading posts and doing lots and lots of research. My journey started in March when my lung specialist suggested I have bariatric surgery done. I am a state employee and just this year, the legislature voted to allow 100 bariatric surgeries to be paid for by insurance. When I booked the appt and saw the doctor, there were still openings in my area. I didn't have to go through all of the other required procedures because I had already had them. So getting to the actual appt day was very fast. Once all paperwork was submitted to insurance co. I get a call from the BCBS nurse telling me I was qualified to have the surgery, but I wasn't qualified for the state program because of a small glitch. (15 year state employee, switched for 2 years to Blue Choice and I just switched back to state standard 18 months ago. The requirement is two years as state standard policy holder.) She also said had I been qualified, I was number 18 on the waiting list for my area and that is would probably be at least another year. The one good thing that came out of my visit with the Dr. was the fact that I was leaning toward the lap band and he mentioned the sleeve and I didn't really know much about it, so hadn't considered it. He told me, that if they had to choose just one surgery to perform for bariatric patients, it would be the gastric sleeve. He said it is the one that has the least amount of complications and if most successful. THAT 10 minute conversation cost me $485! We are still fighting to get back part of that money because they should have prequalified me before scheduling me for an appt. Finding this information out, set me on the path for other options. Unfortunately, when I checked into cash pay with that doctor, I was told the cash pay price was 20,000. I also have to have a hiatal hernia repaired, which insurance does cover. The BCBS nurse, suggested I talked to him to see about doing the hiatal hernia surgery with the sleeve surgery on the side to reduce the cash pay amount since insurance would be paying for everything else. So, I called to find that out and was told it would still be 20,000 for the sleeve surgery and they would bill my insurance company for the additional hernia surgery and I would still be responsibly any additional costs with that like my 20% that insurance does not pay. Lets talk greedy! My research led me to Mexico. I have done a lot of research and I decided to go with Dr. Ortiz with Obesity Control Center. I must say, I am having my doubts after seeing so much being said about Dr. Aceves. (not that there is anything bad about Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Aceves just has a big following.) I even called them after I booked with Dr. Ortiz, but something keeps telling me to stay with Dr. Ortiz. There doesn't seem to be too many patients on here that have had Dr. Ortiz ao I think that is where my doubts are coming in to play with my mind. I have been on the pre-op diet of liquid Protein shakes and a lean cuisine meal a day. I have lost 9 pounds in spite of having to attend a family reunion and 2 birthday parties without cheating, so that is pretty exciting but I must say it isn't how I want to eat the rest of my life. My surgery is the 27th, and we will be flying out of SC on the 25th so we will have a couple of days to do other things before the surgery. I think I am starting to get a little anxious, but I am hoping that is normal no matter where you have it done.

I would say Holy smokes yes. It's fine. You still in full liquids. Just sip sip sip and have a Couple protein shakes or isopures. Don't worry about the meals yet. You are eating less than 300 calories

I don't think ensure high protein has enough protein. I would by a ready to drink protein shake if that's what you prefer. Try to stay less than 160 cal for 25-30 g protein. Premier brand from Costco is very good.

I have read that after Water, Protein is the most plentiful substance in your body. It does in fact keep you full and help you heal in the early days after surgery, but your metabolism is also regulated by protein. Protein regulates cell division and replenished damaged cells with healthy cells. Proteins are abundant to hair, skin, muscle and other organs and tissues, strengthening them and they also help turn food into fuel/energy which is how they help keep you full, so basically you cannot function without protein. I am nine months post-op and still drink a Protein shake every morning. I don't know if you have GNC in Australia, but could always order online. I drink their chocolate Wheybolic Extreme 60 with a cup of skim Fairlife milk for a total of 33 grams of protein. It's a learning/trying process, so I wish you the best of luck. I think I tried 6-7 different kinds before I found one I enjoyed.

I saw those too, but went with a cheaper option. I bought a $1.50 pure Vitamin E stick. I think it is working. I am now 4 weeks out & my incision sites are beginning to take on a lighter tone. (I started using twice a day as soon as sites were healed over) Keep me posted about the strips, I am wondering how they work. Best of luck to you!

You would have to take sooo many of them to get up to any appreciable level...I think it would be a lot worse than just adding some protein powder to your food (have you tried it in Greek yogurt?) or drinking a shake (I like Premiere protein, 30 g of protein and 160 cals mixed with coffee over ice; I actually look forward to it).

I was wondering if anyone has tried or currently takes protein capsules/tablets completely or to assist with their proteins requirements. Just thinking of quick ways to get it in if u get "shaked out".

I was sleeved on oct 4. Ive only lost 11 lbs so far. I had gained 10 lbs during hospital stay so that was gone plus 11 lbs. I dont eat much. I get my protein in. Water is difficult to drink im trying but its hard. Why am I losing so slowly. I developped sciatica my worst episode ever and was bedridden for 8 days as walking painful. Will I be relegated to slow loserville. I had a bmi of 47 going in, and have 140 to lose. Im terrified I am failing. I try and usually eat under 800 calories. Help please im discouraged

hair loss happens to most of us. The severity is definitely different with each person. I am a mild case because I am getting in all my Protein and probably just lucky. I also take Biotin daily and use Revita shampoo and conditioner. This shampoo does not stop hair loss but is a follicle stimulator which helps the hair to begin growing quicker. It has helped me a lot and can be bought on Amazon. Another thing you can do is take zinc. You might start the biotin and zinc now to get your hair in a healthier state. Good luck to you.

I don't always have a blender with me to make Protein shakes, so I bought a few blender cups with the wire ball in them to mix better, and dare I say it, they work almost as well as my blender and the clean-up is a breeze since they are dishwasher safe... Well I was on my daily site called slickdeals and I noticed they have the exact same one's I bought for a pretty decent deal. I think they are a must have for all weight-loss surgery patients, and I swear by them so I thought I'd share the link with you. I hope it's not against the rules to share links, and if so, then I'm sorry, but here it is. And there's a code to get $5 off as well. iHerb.com has 28 oz. Blender Bottle with Blender Ball for $8.99 - $5 with code ULO176 = $3.99. Shipping is $2. Note: You may need to create a new acct to use the code. http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=blender%20bottle

I have been using body fortress whey protein, 30g per scoop and easily enhanced with sugar free coffee flavorings.

Question. I know you can't eat for an hour after you eat with the Lapband. I get that. But what about in the liquid phase. I am on full liquids. I just had a Protein shake for Breakfast. It obviously slides right down and I am quite full. So do I have to wait after an hour with this as well to get Water in or can I drink water after having a liquid meal?

I had the same feelings of hunger all the time! I was taking protonix and my stomach would still grumble. I would eat every few hours, all Protein to try to fill me up and last longer. I have to say now at 10 weeks out the hunger pains have lessened quite a bit. In the last few weeks I eat and I'm not even hungry. I know lots of ppl didnt feel hunger for the first few months, but I was the opposite. I know they make other proton inhibitors, maybe trying a different one would help? I'm not sure but for me it was just a waiting thing and it got better over time.