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I am a newbie to this, and just started stage 2. How much unflavored protein powder and skim milk do I need to add, and do I have to add it or can I just eat it plain?

I'm home from the hospital now! Pain and nausea are present but manageable. The doctor gave me a medication to calm the stomach spasms I was having every time I drank something! I haven't started drinking protein yet. Jello feels like a rock in my tummy so they said to hold off on the protein until the nausea has eased and I feel ready to try something denser than water. The best thing by far has been popsicles!!

I’m on my full day at home pos op doing OK trying to get down some liquids, and protein in my soups. Other than that things are going well. I’m not having any nausea. It’s been a manageable process so far.

I’m almost done with week three of preop diet and it has gotten better. I got stuck at the hospital yesterday with my son having a procedure and made it 6 hours without thinking too much about food. Halloween was a bit rough with all of the candy around. However I’ve been sticking to it knowing that changes are necessary. Down about 20 pounds so that helps too. Constipation is still an issue and I’m also getting a sweet taste in my mouth from what I’m assuming is all of the protein shakes. I can definitely see why on the long haul people look for unsweetened protein powders.

My surgery was Sept 1. I am still learning thru trial and error but what seems to work is the time you start and the choices. So I start at 8am with either a 30g protein shake. I snack on anything with high protein. Ex: tuna packs, nuts, protein Quest cheddar crackers, a cup of decaf coffee and add protein powder too it or even grab another protein shake. That's 60g protein and your midway for those times where you may not want nothing for the moment. I also realized for much protein is in chicken, salmon, ground beef, etc. Also recently I just purchased some lactaid protein milk that comes in handy when you just don't feel like chewing on anything. 80z cup is 13g protein. I am literally still learning but I am realizing protein is essential, especially with hair loss[emoji4]. At times too I will grab some electrolytes, sugar free Gatorade or Propel. You got this and groups like this and other pages help me Alot as well. Ps. Vitamins are key as well. My legs were cramping so I would grab a Gatorade and made sure I was staying in top of my vitamins Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgery was Sept 1. I am still learning thru trial and error but what seems to work is the time you start and the choices. So I start at 8am with either a 30g protein shake. I snack on anything with high protein. Ex: tuna packs, nuts, protein Quest cheddar crackers, a cup of decaf coffee and add protein powder too it or even grab another protein shake. That's 60g protein and your midway for those times where you may not want nothing for the moment. I also realized for much protein is in chicken, salmon, ground beef, etc. Also recently I just purchased some lactaid protein milk that comes in handy when you just don't feel like chewing on anything. 80z cup is 13g protein. I am literally still learning but I am realizing protein is essential, especially with hair loss[emoji4]. At times too I will grab some electrolytes, sugar free Gatorade or Propel. You got this and groups like this and other pages help me Alot as well. Ps. Vitamins are key as well. My legs were cramping so I would grab a Gatorade and made sure I was staying in top of my vitamins Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you. A very interesting article. My heart breaks for children who are dealing with obesity related health & emotional issues we didn’t have to until we were adults & had them had some knowledge & strategies to manage aspects of these issues ourselves. The toll of obesity on one’s physical, psychological & emotional health & well being is almost immeasurable. It is known that high & ultra processed foods increase production of our hunger hormones & reduces the production of satiety hormone. But companies won’t stop producing these foods & the convenience & lower prices make them very attractive to families. The comment ‘trying to limit meals to one plate’ is also endemic of the excessive portion sizes people accept as being appropriate & ‘normal’. If children aren’t introduced to healthier & better food choices & cooking methods, like vegetables, home cooked meals, etc., they will never develop a taste or appreciation for them. I am horrified by children & adults who don’t know what some fruits & vegetables are let alone know how to cook or eat them. Same with other foods. Education about better & more nutritional eating is fighting a losing battle against multinational companies, convenience, price, advertising, etc. It is more & more becoming a wide spread generational problem. Many strong opinions on whether children should or shouldn’t have surgery or be placed on medication. The decision to go down either of these routes or not is truely one of life (or quality of) & death. Nor is it easy. The child & family must be well educated about their options, the impacts & the lifestyle changes necessary for success so they can make the most informed decision to best benefit the child whatever route they decide to follow. Well that’s my opinion (& rant for today).

Im 6 week post Op Im currently experiencing muscle cramps supposedly is due to low protein intake. If anyone has gone thru this tell me how you ate 90g of protein during a day. I need help.

I made my own broth. I put 2 whole chickens in a large pan with water and a few carrots and onions and any herbs I had. I let it simmer for 4 hours. I strained it and froze it in bags. Also, I used packet chicken noodle soup and strained the noodles out of it. We also have dried beef cubes called OXO that we stir into boiling water. My favourite is Bovril, its very beefy. My team were not big on protein before and early after surgery. So these drinks were ok for me. You can add protein

Real protein like chicken, steak, turkey, pork, eggs, cheese, pepperoni, sausage, yogurt etc. I can't stomach yogurt still and I'm starting to get sick of eggs. I dont get enough protein. I probably don't even get half of what I'm supposed to be getting. Today I only got around 42 grams of protein. It's hard to eat healthy too. It sucks when all the healthy food is so expensive, so we get the junk stuff because it is cheaper and lasts a little long. I want to focus on getting protein and greens and fruits starting this month.

Hi Shanna. Great idea to add some protein powder to bone broth. I have been using Isopure vanilla protein powder since beginning of this year. I decided to get Pacific Foods Organic Bone Broth Chicken unsalted. $6, from WalMart. It has less sodium than K&F, a little less protein by a couple grams than K&F, has less sugar then K&F too. And waaaay cheaper. I'm going to give it a try.

It sounds like you're on a journey of exploration to find what works best for you. That's totally understandable, especially when it comes to medical marijuana edibles and their potential benefits. If you're looking to learn more, have you ever thought about checking out delta 8 gummies near you? They might offer a different option to consider.

Pre-op and post-op I wasn't really on a liquid only diet. I had to do a 12 day pre-op diet - 10 days of 2 protein shakes, 1 for breakfast, 1 for lunch and a dinner of a lean protein and non starchy veg. The 2 days prior was liquids including protein shakes and the last day was clear liquids only. I had broth and protein water mostly. I am not a jello fan so that didn't make my list personally lol. I tried to do Crystal Light, but I don't care for the aftertaste and just stuck with protein water. I also was able to drink sugar free Gatorade. After surgery, I was discharged on the pureed diet. So again shakes and broth or blended soups. The sugar free popsicles do help with a bit of a texture difference. Since you have bone broth you can add some unflavored protein powder to up the protein content. An easier to find on is the Isopure Unflavored. Personally it wasn't a favorite for me, but many many people like it.

Yeah, it's expensive. That's why we often make our own. Honestly you may be better off just getting the protein soup from Unjury! They have chicken broth, beef and vegetable, and french onion. I ordered them all because I know me and I know they will be a good way to get a nice hit of protein in during the day when I'm wanting something savory. You can order sample packets from them to test them out before buying the big containers... Most people seem to like the chicken one!

Well I had my surgery on the 27th at 10:30 am. I was told it went well with no complications. I was pretty tired afterward. The only pain I had was from laying flat on my back unable to move during the operation and my period started the day before, ugh. I spent one night in the hospital with the option to stay another, but I was really only struggling with nausea and wanted to the 130 mile drive back home over with. today is day 4 feel great, I was feeling pretty good on day 3 (only one nap that day) but I feel even better today. I have not been hungry at all, but I have been following the diet schedule the clinic gave me for the next two weeks.

I went to Safeway and there was no Kettle & Fire at all. Not sure how I saw that on Safeway online but when I went there yesterday, right around the corner from me, they had none listed on their shelves. I'll have to look into that more. So, since I was at Safeway, I did buy Pacific Foods Organic Bone Broth Chicken. But it does not have nearly the amount of protein that Kettle & Fire has in their Chicken Bone Broth. So frustrating. It only has 9g of Protein where K/F has double the amount of protein I believe.

I have been creeping around here for months and finally decided to create an account and share. First though, I have to give great credit to my wife and family. My wife has been so supportive and flexible through the whole process. She has always been by my side, but during this process she read and learned about the changes, as much or more than I did. She has gone above and beyond with her support and care for me, all while still running a busy household. My kids are a constant reminder of why I did this -- so that I would be around for a long time. I wanted to be able to participate in life with my family. I also have to thank my surgical team and the care they provide. It has been great and truly lifesaving. I weighed 514-lbs on 9/12/22. I was a big boy to say the least. Shockingly, I was not in horrible medical condition. I did not take any medicine. Did not have diabetes or high blood pressure. I did have swelling in my legs, constantly sore/bad knees, and was very quick to be out of breath. I lived a very sedimentary live and limited my physical activity. I wanted to be able to be more active and be around with my family for a long time. I finally got up the nerve to discuss with my wife and she immediately got on board. I went through the program without an issue. Checked all boxes and completed all steps. Surgery was on 2/28/23 and it went well. I was up and moving that night, because that was one of the biggest hurdles to clear in order to leave. I was able to sip and keep liquid down. Discharged after one night! Incisions were sore, as expected. Gas was the worst, and not the good kind of gas that can clear the room when expelled (yeah, I am a guy), but the awful painful surgical gas, which took almost a week to fully go away. I was basically fully cleared by the doctor and back to work (in a nonphysical job) one week after surgery. My process was textbook, none of the complications that many have experienced, and I am lucky for it! This process has not been easy but has not been impossible. I have followed my plan, with the support at home, and it is working. I feel physically so much better. I am so much more mobile and active. I have never been happier. I have made changes to my daily life to support the process. My diet has changed but not radically. I eat a lot less and that is the biggest driver of my weight loss. I walk and am active in live, but I do not have a detailed exercise plan. I am still learning exactly what works for me, but most importantly I want others to know there are many routes to get to the same place. I try to get the big stuff right and not sweat the tiniest of details. My blood work at my six-month checkup was solid. Protein was on the low end in the range, but still acceptable. I was encouraged to keep on keeping on (shout out to Joe Dirt). They were comfortable enough to set my next follow up appointment out to one year. I was scared and nervous. I have had good days and bad days (constipation is AWFUL)! Most importantly, I wanted to share my story and I hope it can help others in some way. I never wanted to be skinny. I could care less what my BMI is. I wanted to feel better. I wanted to be able to participate in life with my family. And I am! I am no expert and I still have a long way to go, but I am happy and glad I had this surgery. As I have seen here, over and over again, we are all different, so what works for me may not for others, but I still wanted to share, and I hope it might be of some benefit to someone else. The non-scale wins are just the best! When I started this process, I was so huge that home scales couldn't hold me, so I would go months without weighing, but I knew good things were happening because of all the non-scale wins. Cherish those! This is a long (probably too long) post, so I will wrap. I recently weighed on my home scale (yeah, that's right, it now holds me) and I was at 288-lbs. If anyone has questions or wants more details about my journey, please let me know. I would be happy to share more.

My surgeon gave me up to a week before, asking just to make sure I was comfortable with my choice. The surgeon gets prior authorization for WSL ...and can change options mid surgery if they feel its a better option for you. So, I don't foresee it being an issue for you to change.

The sugar free popsicles that are pretty low calorie have saved me a few days in my liquid diet. I also like the water flavoring packets (especially the jolly rancher ones because they are sour sweet) because I get tired of drinking plain water. I like to add coffee to some of my protein shakes to cut the sweetness, we aren't supposed to have caffeine on my plan so I've gotten decaf, still does the job flavor wise. Tea helps too. And some people's plans allow for strained soups, so you may want to check yours! I get tired of sugary tastes even if it is fake sugar. Oh and I ordered my Kettle & Fire broth from Thrive Market (and turned off the autoship) because I could get them one at a time to see what I like. But in person at the store is probably easiest!

5.5 Years Out Hi all - I used to be very active on these forums, but as I continue on my journey I have found myself relying less and less on this platform. I do like to check in occasionally to provide insight, encouragement, perspective, and more to those who are about to begin their journey or in the first few chapters. A little about me- I had VSG surgery in May of 2018. My highest weight was about 260 and I was put out on my body and my weight affected all aspects of my life. I lost a total of 140 pounds and have maintained (most) of that weight loss. I am up about 10 pounds in the last year or so, but mostly muscle as I have begun weightlifting so I am not too concerned. I had two plastic surgeries after my VSG to help with loose skin and such. My favorite non-scale victories over the past few years: Being able to walk into any store and find something that works for me Having my boyfriend be able to pick me up as if I weigh nothing Being able to cross my legs when I sit! Feeling cute in my clothes My quality of life is exponentially better My most unexpected experiences: I am ALWAYS cold I quickly pass out if I stand for too long I struggle with iron intake Vitamins can make me feel super sick! I get an upset stomach very easily I suffer from acid reflux (something I never experienced before) My unsolicited advice: Listen to your doctors Get active Drink your water! Eat your protein Having one bad or off day is not an excuse to have a bad week You can still enjoy things in moderation

Do they require you to go through the hospital system associated with your bariatric program to get the sleep apnea screening? I ask this, because if they DON'T require it to be through that hospital system, there are companies that do at-home sleep studies these days! I haven't used one myself, but a number of people in my program did because they didn't want to wait for availability through our hospital system. I think Lofta is one place that offers them, but definitely look into other places, if it's an option for you. I know sometimes waiting to get scheduled for all these clearances causes the longest delay. Also, keep in mind that, if you DO end up needing a CPAP machine, you'll want to call around to different DME providers (durable medical equipment) to see who has an actual machine in stock. There was a recall of Phillips' machines a couple of years ago and sometimes a machine is hard to come by. I ended up buying mine out-of-pocket from an online retailer because I didn't want to deal with the insurance company's compliance rules (which it turns out wouldn't have been an issue for me - I hardly ever go a night without my machine!), which might be another option for you. It all depends on what your insurance will allow! Good luck - I'm so sorry they sprung this on you right at the end of your pre-op journey!

Best advice is stick to your plan. (Have to admit I’m surprised by the peanut butter. I know some use peanut butter powder to add as a flavour to their shakes but not actual eat peanut butter until maintenance but then plans are different.) You said candy is a trigger for you. This is a head hunger not a real hunger. Have you spoken to your therapist about this? They’ll help you identify why you crave candy, what situations, what emotions, habits, etc. trigger it & will help you work out strategies to manage your craving. This is part of the head work we do to change our relationship with food & our eating. Remember the surgery changes your body not your head. Sure, once your weight stabilises, you’ll work out how much & how often you can have some of your old favourite things, if you even still want them. I didn’t really crave sweet things as such but certainly enjoyed eating something sweet every night after dinner. Now I rarely eat sweet foods - a couple of times a year & don’t miss it. I have about 5g of added sugar a day. I do very little artificial sweeteners (in yoghurt & protein bar but they don’t taste sweet at all) or sugar substitutes either as I’m pretty sensitive & foods can easily taste excessively sweet. Who would have thought food can be too sweet! If I want sweet now I have some fruit. The sugar alcohols can cause bloating & diarrhoea in many which is why your plan likely says to avoid it. All the best.

Listen to your body. If you feel tired, rest/nap. If your tummy says nope don’t like that don’t eat or drink it for a week or so & then try it again (your tummy can behave like a petulant tantrum throwing 2 year old for a little while). Don’t push yourself to do more physically than you are able. You may experience random muscle twinges & discomfort at odd times for a couple of weeks - part of your healing. We all heal differently. We all lose at different rates. We all experiences stalls at times while we lose ( they’re a vital part of your weight loss & do break when your body is ready). We all lose some of our hair (it doesn’t last & it grows back.) Don’t compare yourself with others & beat yourself up if you’re not doing the same. Use other people’s experiences as examples of what you might experience & might achieve not should be doing or experiencing. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t hit your protein & fluid goals right from surgery or everyday. As long as you’re making an effort, are pretty close & eventually you have more days you do than you don’t you’ll be okay. Follow your plan as closely as you can. If you’re struggling with aspects contact your team for alternatives or strategies to help. All the best.

It’s ketosis. It’s renown for the accompanying unpleasant body odours: breath, skin, sweat, genital secretions, urine & caused by our high protein low carb diet. We want to be in ketosis (fat burning) & we all experience the side effects in some form. Good thing is the odour doesn’t last forever. I used to carry a small toiletries bag with toothbrush & paste, mouth wash, deodorant & body wipes for a refresh during the day. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketosis-safety-and-side-effects#The-low-carb/keto-flu