Search the Community

I started using EAS carb control chocolate before surgery and post-op found Premier Protein chocolate. I've tried Muscle Milk chocolate, but Premier has been my favorite.

Hi John, That's a tough question because everyone's tastes are so different. I bought Swanson chicken Stock, and lots of premixed Protein drinks. Before surgery I loved Atkins shakes and had one every morning for Breakfast. After surgery they turned my stomach and were way too sweet. Everything disagreed with me. I had a week of nausea and the only thing that agreed with me was watered down mashed potatoes. Even they weren't in the liquid stage, I made them so thin I could drink them. Some people like the protein powders that you mix into your broth. There is also a high protein Water called Isopure zero carb you can buy at GNC. I didn't like it because it was really sweet. Don't buy too much before surgery because your taste will change after surgery. V8 settled very good in my tummy. Good luck and sorry I didn't have too many ideas.

My pre-op diet was simply to go without carbs for almost 2 months before surgery. THAT was really the hard part! I was a total carb addict - pasta and bread were my dearest friends! When the doc said no carbs, I thought it would kill me, and that I'd never be able to survive without them. But after a month or so without the carbs, I started not to miss them as much - I really got into the swing of eating without them! Trust me - the first month was toruture. But then it got much easier. I got the sleeve 2 weeks ago. NO urge whatsover to eat those carbs at this point! I am rarely hungry, and really, I am just focusing on getting in my fluids, proteins, and calories. Food is not what it used to be for me. There are still moments when I see people eating pizza or other things and I'd like to have a bite, but it is not NEARLY as tempting as it was - I am already feeling much better about things.

I'm proud of your weight loss. I too have struggled. I have gained back all the weight I lost after surgery. I am doing atkins for two weeks to jump start my weight loss. I have to drink Protein shakes before lunch and dinner or I will throw up. It sounds like neither of us have bodies that want to cooperate. Good luck to you.

I have not contributed or participated in a very long time, But I hope this may be of some help. I have made wonderful progress with my lap band but it has not been without significant issues. I lost most of my weight by November last year (9 mo). But starting mid May I started having more and more problems with eating. After a month of losing way more food than I was able to keep I finally talked with my nurses. I had to go in and have a couple of ccs taken out of my band. Which I did NOT want to do. But it turns out my sensitive stomach did not go away with lap band surgery. I have a limited capacity to take in the Protein shakes, so I have to use them judiciously. I can use Lactaid to help, but after a few days in a row of one or two, that's it. I tell you that because after a fill I have at least 2 full days when i really cannot eat. Most mornings I cannot eat, but I have to use something to get my Vitamin and meds down without me getting nauseated and I was using the shakes for that. That had to change. Once they got me past 4cc, I really had to work at what I could eat. Crackers worked but they are not what they want me to eat. I found that for Breakfast I need very little, but I have to go with whatever works. The rest of the meals I am able to stick to my plan pretty well. When my stomach is super irritated I have to revert to bland slider foods. if that does not calm things down my next step is to check with my GP to see if I have some kind of stomach virus or UTI going on. More times than not I do. If none of those work, then my final resort is to call my surgeons office and have a little taken out. I always put it back in 2 to4 weeks. I have found that texture is everything, and anything that is cooked dry or stringy is never going to stay down for me. But overall I can eat a wide variety, I focus on the protein, and try to keep it "chunky". I am to a point that I do use fruits for Snacks from time to time, but I don't eat a lot of snacks as a norm. On days when my band is tighter, I sometimes have to eat 4 or 5 very small meals to get enough to keep me going. After having several tests and a couple of upper GIs we can clearly see my pouch is pretty small. I often have symptoms of a slip, but it has been checked many times and I have had no slippage. Its just me. I admit it can be very aggravating, but it definitely beats the alternative. Though there are many struggles, they all seem minor in comparison to being able to achieve a pretty healthy weight. I know I will never be skinny, but I am so much better off than I was. I never thought I would wear mediums as a norm, but Here I am. So if you are having similar problems, just know it is a very manageable situation.

Hi, banded 11/30/2016. I don't know if this is the same thing, but a few months ago I had a similar problem after eating shrimp. I didn't chew well enough and was probably eating too fast (one of my main issues!). A restless night followed by the next day a feeling of an uncomfortable "lump" in my throat even when drinking sips of water. I got in to see my surgeon that day, he sent me for an upper gi. No blockage was seen by that time. He had me do liquid protein and soft foods for 2 days just to calm things down. I have been fine since then. He truly believes that it was a bit of shrimp temporarily stuck. I don't know what you ate before this happened. He told me shrimp is a problem for a lot of patients, but I can eat it if I chew thoroughly like we are supposed to. I hope this helped, best wishes for your journey!

Jonathan! *laughs* I'm aiming for 800, but typically its more like 700. I talked to my doc last week and he said between 800 and 1,000 is fine as long as you are getting a minimum of 60 grams of Protein per day. If your caloric intake is this low and you're not keeping up with the protein, your body will begin to eat itself (muscles). Remember, the heart is a muscle. If you're eating 800 to 1,000 calories in carbs per day, you need to make some changes. Disclaimers: All occurrences of the word 'you' in the above paragraph were in the generic form of the word, otherwise known as 'gyou' and not intended to point at anyone in particular. The above is not to be considered medical advice. Check with your physician for guidelines pertaining to a healthy diet for your body.

My sister went to Mexico to have her plastics done. She paid about a quarter of the costs for a tummy tuck, breast lift and arms (no clue what that is called) She did a lot of research on the different options but found that this was the best choice for her. She had a great experience although I think the plane ride home after surgery was a little rough, but I know she doesn't regret it at all!! Just do your research..... I also have a friend who's mother went to Columbia for plastic surgery...she had an amazing surgeon. I looked that up too, there are articles online about how well the surgeons are trained there and how plastic surgery is just a way of life and many women have had something done before they turn 21.

Whatever you buy, try Amazon.com- that is where I find them the cheapest. I like the ISOPURE and WHEY PROTEIN - in chocolate- they really do taste like chocolate milk......good luck!

That is a rough diet when you are doing it for long.I did the same diet but only for 3 weeks. I found the protein shakes seemed to stay with me better if I made them with lots of ice and sipped them slowly. Can you have salad as well as the veggies or would a salad be your veggies? Good luck.

Get unflavored whey Protein, I add it to coffee or anything else I can throw in a blender!!!!

When I had my surgery I THOUGHT I would keep it to myself........BUT afterwards... I thought If I could help anyone in my shoes I would be happy to. Today almost 2 years later, I have had 2 people I work with come to me, and say,,,,,,,,,,, THANK YOU............ I have watched you.......... I went to your DR and am scheduled for the surgery...........it brought tears to my eyes.........I PROUDLY told them If I can help you please let me know, here is what to expect from the Dr's office, the NUT, the evaluation, they said I have watched you and you are amazing!!!!..............BEST compliment I could have had......... I am there to help ANYONE............and ALL........... if you do the same think how many people we can help! SHOUT it, that you had a life saving surgery!!!! I had a conversation with a man today, he said, you have lost a lot a weight since I seen you last, I said yes........ and we chatted about food,........ he said you look really good............I said thank you......and later in conversation I said...........I had weight loss surgery, he said SO WHAT......you DID It!!!!.......... you look wonderful.............we talked more Protein............ protein.........protein......... once again you look good, congrats.............now this was a 20 year old kid, telling me a 55+ women............ that I look good, and congrats!!!!! He made my day! So don't try to hide your surgery, unless for some reason you have to, you MAY help someone that you may not even know is watching you.................

My surgeon ordered a 2 week liquid protein diet for 2 weeks for all of his patients.....nothing else.......at least you get to eat one meal a day..........this is to shrink your liver so that it is easier to get to your stomach for the operation........I have never even fasted for a day or drank liquids for a day in my life...will be doing it 2 weeks....yikes.........liquid protein drink 3 times a day......oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was banded on the 26th and have had the same experiences. I will say I stopped taking my pain meds. The pain is very bearable. I have been walking. I find that the tightness in my stomach comes from the protein drinks. I am hungry and I wasn't expecting that. I did puree some carrots and add to my broth with some protein powder. That has helped me. I think I focused so much on the change to my eating habits that I didn't realize how much pain there was gonna be. Oh well...too late now and it's almost gone. Walking does seem to help. Still more fatigue then I was wanting. How about going to the bathroom....#1 yes....#2....NO...Here's hoping.

By Popular demand I bring to you: :hungry:My Cook Bookie!:hungry: This will come in Installments when I have time. I made this bookie for my life after banding and brought it to my dietitian and she was pretty impressed. The point of this bookie is to spice up the old standard of protein, some veg and then a small carb. The way I do this is with combinations of spices, rubs, and lowfat marinades that tenderize meat and make veggies savory and delicious. ~enjoy~

Hi Pollywogg - this is what I read about hair loss / Protein. I'm not putting you in any of the judgemental categories they identify ... but given that it's harder to eat Proteins now ... maybe the cause? ++++++++++++++++++++ Inadequate protein in diet. Some vegetarians, people who go on diets that exclude protein, and those with severely abnormal eating habits, may develop protein malnutrition. When this happens, a person's body will help to save protein by shifting growing hairs into the resting phase. Massive hair shedding can occur two to three months later. Hair can then be pulled out by the roots. This condition can be reversed by eating the proper amount of protein

Ok, so I am also on day 5 and it has been brutal. The only thing that saved me is I made up a couple of homeade "soups" (broths) that have saved me today. I was gagging on plain broth so these are my chicken noodle and corn tortilla "soup" recipes. You would be amazed how some simple seasoning combinations can drastically enhance broth or boullion. My recipes: 2 cups Water 1 chicken boullion Dash onion powder Dash garlic powder Dash white pepper Smidgen freeze dried chives Smidgen dried thyme Smidgen celery flakes Microwave for 2:30 Enjoy Option 2 2 cups water 1/2 chicken boullion Package Sazon seasoning Dash cumin Dash adobo seasoning White pepper Chives and celery flakes

I didn't do a lot of cream soups. I did some, but I also did keifir, some Protein shakes, yogurt and cottage cheese. I made oatmeal using the Protein Shakes, miso soup with bits of tofu and grits with a bit of cheese added in. Try out different things and see what you do like.

@@Susan909 and of course I don't eat the cream soup straight out of the can I do dilute it with water plus I add some unflavored protein powder to it. It's too strong to eat just straight.

Hi! You're doing great! My operation is tomorrow so I'll be on my five Protein shakes today! I am going to enjoy a bowl of chicken broth today so I can eat at the table with the family! Katy W- Louisburg, NC DS scheduled for 12/26

I feel your pain jennigan! For me two days after surgery was the worst. By the fourth day I was getting Protein down and felt a bizillion times better. From there it has been easier each day. I am at my eighth day out I and I am feeling human again. I am experiencing very little pain only a couple of twinges here and there. Yesterday I went grocery shopping and it wasn't bad, I only moved a bit slower than everyone else. I hope you continue to feel better each day as well. :car::waytogo::car::eek::car::car::car::car:

Hello, My name is Raynae' and I just got my surgery date and am so excited and a little nervous. I am going to Dr. Cywes & Dr. Baptista in Jacksonville, FL. I was fortunate to go to the seminar with Kaliah Ali and hear her story and receive a autographed copy of her book! A close friend of mine had the lap band done in Dec 2006 and has had great results. Well, tomorrow I go get the blood work/EKG/x-rays, I live 2 hrs from my surgeon so I am doing all of that at my doctors. I am self pay. I was told that if I opted to have the surgery at the Doctors out patient center that I would save $5,000 The only thing is I have to lose some weight prior to surgery. Good news is, if I don't get off what they want then I can reschedule for Dec. Ok, I have a BMI of 55 and they have to have a BMI of 50 in order for me to have it at the out patient center and not the hospital. Which is a great option b/c remember I will be saving 5K!!! Also, I want to shrink my liver. Any suggestions on how to drop the weight? I have been drinking my Water so well that I am floating away!! The doctor suggested no more than 30 carbs a day. Thanks!! Raynae'

Your experience sounds like mine. Suggestion on protein powder. Go to Bariatriceating.com. They have a lot to choose from and so far I haven't found one I don't like. Some are vanilla, chocolate and fruity plus lots of other selections. Keep up the good work.

I was banded on June 8 in Acuna by Dr. Rodriguez. It was absolutely a wonderful experience. All of the staff in Mexico were wonderful. All of the females were playing with our 11-month-old son the whole time. The friendliness of everyone there really made it an easy experience. I cannot remember much before surgery. I just remember waking up asking my wife stupid questions. I wasn't in much pain. I knew I had the surgery, because I could feel a little tightness in my stomach. But other than that, it really went by fast. My doctor told me that out of all of his patients that week, I was by far the easiest one. Don't know if it had to do with the pre-op diet or not. I only did about 8 days, not the 2 weeks I was supposed to do. Maybe the fact that I don't drink helped? I have no idea. Either way, he said I was VERY easy. The night before, we were told we can eat whatever we want. You better believe I got my groove on. I took the wife to the Cheesecake Factory in San Antonio. I don't know HOW much bread I had. I do know I had a lot of it. I ordered a double cheeseburger with fries. I also ordered 2 different Desserts to go. It was so so good I can taste it to this day. lol Anyway, here I am, 9 days post-op. I have lost about 15 lbs. since surgery. I have been doing pretty well. I wanted to kick myself the other day because I had some sugar free pudding and I'm still on liquids. I haven't been having as much Protein as I should be though. I have to step it up. This low card Protein Drink is just so disgusting that it is making me sick. I guess I'll order powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury or something. I haven't felt much pain whatsoever. My incisions are still healing, but other than that, I wouldn't even know the band is there if I didn't know I have it. In the beginning, I'd get full off of 4 oz. of Water and protein. Now, there is MUCH less restriction. But I still can't see myself eating NEARLY as much as I used to when I am out of the post-op diet phase. I haven't even been really tempted by any junk food yet. If anything, the band has taught me to be discipline. Actually, the pre-op phase did that. Now, I don't know if I don't eat bad foods because I am strong or because I don't want to lose my investment. Anyway, good luck to anyone else who HAS taken this journey or who PLANS to take this journey.

Thanks Pmmegm! I am glad you are feeling well! I am feeling almost human myself. I was able to go out and do some shopping, and today is the first day I have been able to take care of my little one on my own. The protein definitely helps...thanks to the isopure clear protein drink, I have been taking protein since right after the surgery. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!