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I eat a lot of prepackaged stuff out of convenience for portion control- individual beef jerky packs, tuna pouches, Greek yogurt with a small amount of frozen berries (I buy the big bags and portion them as I need them), prepackaged individual salads, precut veggies or veggie trays, cheese cubes or cracker cut cheese slices, 100 calorie packs of almonds, and cottage cheese are all staples for me.

I cant believe in yet another version of the diet. Have you tracked it calorie wise. Mine was 3 weeks and didnt get more than 800 cals a day If you have lost weight in this run up then you will already have lost your water weight. Some people dont loose weight and their liver has been reduced enough for surgery. You should have gone with bricks in your pockets to bump up your weight and gained a big loss when you needed it. It seems brutal that you are being asked to do the pre op before you need to put yourself through it for real

Hi there! I am feeling a little disappointed because I am 3 weeks after surgery and have only lost 3 pounds. I feel like I am doing everything right, walking 3-4 x/day and eating less than1000 calories. Disappointed. Has anyone else had slow weight loss in the first month?

I am not a big cook either so I cut down calories at breakfast and lunch so I have more options at dinner. I have a protein shake for breakfast and a P3 protein pack for lunch then I can have like 500 calorie dinner. Your will be less at 600 calories but you likely get full on smaller portions that I do. I have to measure my portions because I do not feel full unless I eat more than I should be able to. My protein shake is 160 cal and the P3 is 170 cal. I also have a couple 100 cal snacks and end up eating around 1000 cal but I may have to cut that as my weight loss has slow down to a crawl. I buy the quiche at Walmart and use the slicer to make sure I get exact portions and it is 300 calories if you like quiche. You have to heat it in the oven though or otherwise it’s soggy. I also buy the frozen fish fillets and have those. Otherwise my husband will cook like chicken kebabs or I will have frozen burritos. I honestly don’t have a huge variety right now trying to stay in the weight loss parameters so I am looking forward to all the advice that you receive as well.

Here's what I found on sugar-free Fudgsicles (not "no-sugar-added" Fudgsicles--watch out!). At 40 calories I might consider them for a rare treat, but I wouldn't eat them frequently.

The pre-op diet is super hard. And your sounds like the hardest I've heard of. Mine was 2 weeks of 600 calories a day - I ended up using low carb meal replacement shakes x 3 a day because at least I was getting some vitamins and all my protein that way. You're on zero calories zero everything - sounds awful. BUT - you've done it, you're doing it, and you only have a few days left. You've got this. 💪

I’m almost 4 months out now and aiming for 800. I’d like to get up to 1000 by 6 months, but some days I really struggle to get 800 calories in. Might have to switch my diet to incorporate some more calorie-dense foods.

Hi all, just checking in. Hope you're all doing OK. Have finally lost another pound so that's 4 in total in the 17 days since my op. Feel like it's gonna be slow but sure for me and I'm fine with that. I just got my 'A Pound of Cure' book this morning and it looks like good general advice so I'll be reading that cover to cover. Can already see that giving up dairy may be one of the hardest for me - I drink a lot of coffee with a lot of milk every day. Anyway it's for the long term, milk is helping with protein goals at present so as far as I'm concerned it's my best friend! Still on 2 protein shakes/mousses a day along with very soft/liquid foods like soups and smooth oatmeal made thin. Meeting my goals, getting my vitamins, eating around 600 calories a day. I'm still very hungry but hoping that will settle a bit when I eventually get onto more solid food. Pain is only when I bend over or try to lie on my side in bed - again getting better every day. Back to work on Monday so that will be my challenge for next weel! How is everybody else doing?

Generally the average daily recommended amount of sugar an adult woman should consume each day is 24g but we should be consuming a less while losing. Check with your nutritionalist as to what she requires as plans are different. I wasn’t given a specific maximum amount not to exceed. Some protein shakes have a lot of sugar so you’ll have to shop around to find the ones you like with the lowest sugar content. I only had to have shakes for the first two weeks post surgery. I wasn’t overly worried about sugar (or fat or carbs) those first two weeks but then I wasn’t eating much anyway -<300 calories. I only had one a day & a serve of soup/broth so not a big issue really. Once I stared purées I was very vigilant. But again check with your nutritionalist about this. While losing I only ate meat, dairy, vegetables & fruit so the only sugar I had was in yoghurt & the naturally occurring sugar in milk & fruit. I still keep my sugar low & continue to avoid things with added sugar, articulate sweeteners or sugar alternatives as much as I can. But that’s my choice now. You’ll discover that everyday you’ll decide what you’ll eat based upon the food’s nutrient value. Checking the sugar, fats, carbs, protein content & keeping a running total of how much you’re eating as the day progresses becomes a daily part of your life & will influence your food choices throughout the day. Reach your maximum sugar in the morning then avoid it for the rest of the day. Oh, and while dumping is uncommon with gastric sleeve it can happen & sugar is often the cause. So tread carefully. All the best.

I had my surgery about five years ago and maintained a loss of about 50 pounds after that, far short of my goal. I'm also diabetic, so was put on Ozempic for that about six or seven months ago and have experienced the appetite suppressant effects of that, very useful. So I started losing quite slowly with that, and then, on the advice of the psychologist my diabetes doctor recommended, I signed up for Noom about a month ago. I was very skeptical but I am kind of a convert now, as I've lost another ten pounds or so with it. It's on my phone and while there are psychologically-based lessons and support groups to post to, what I find most useful are the daily weigh-ins and food tracking (on some phones it will also track your steps, but my knees are shot and walking is not my thing--I swim for exercise, just not enough). You enter what you eat and the program keeps track of the (estimated) calories; I have a 1200-calorie daily limit. The program is very supportive and recognizes that this isn't a straight-line process. We do better some days than others. But I'll admit that I think twice about eating something caloric when I'm at or near (or over!) my daily limit. I'll add that a side effect of the Ozempic I'm on is that on the day I take it and the day after (it's a once-a-week shot), I've learned to be very, very careful about what I eat. The side effects if I have something carby are not pleasant, let me just say without further details!

I found my nutritionist’s pre-op notes and read the following unflavored powders: 1) Designer Whey Isolate (contains 1g added sugar…deal breaker?) 2) Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard (1g added sugar) 3) Inspire Bariatric: 24g scoop, 92 calories, 20g protein, at $2.10 per serving (expensive) 4) Syntrax Nectar Unflavored Whey Protein Isolate: Calculated to compare to others, 22g scoop, 20g protein, at $1.02 per serving (reasonable) Has anyone tried Syntrax Nectar Unflavored? Taste, smell, texture? Thanks!

The pre-op diet is difficult not only due to fewer calories, but because you are going through withdrawal from carbs. Every time you stray from the food plan, you with struggle more because withdrawal starts all over again. Consider the possibility that you are a sugar/food addict. Trigger foods are often sugar, flour, rice, potatoes, bread, pasta, processed foods. If you abstain from these things the food plan gets easier every day. If you doubt it, look at my pre-surgery losses in the chart below. I confess that I have strayed and the setbacks were painful, but I now know that this is what I must do for life. Any of these books may be helpful.

I felt what I thought was hunger too, like my stomach was screaming for food! I think it might have actually just been thirst...? My surgeon acted like I was crazy when I told her I felt hunger all the time, she was no help. I found that if I drank some warm tea or bone broth, the feeling went away. And boy oh boy, the head hunger! For the first few months after surgery, all I did was fantasize about food, watch cooking videos, scroll through recipes on My Fitness Pal. I'm a little over 3 months out now, and that has stopped (thank goodness!). I think it's all a learning process. Also, over Thanksgiving week, I was eating over 1,000 calories a day, and my body loved it - I had been at a plateau for a couple of weeks and dropped 5 lbs in a couple of days when I was eating more. Maybe just experiment with yourself and see what works/helps. Try different things, switch it up a little. Good luck and be kind to yourself! Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

Anyone try those Beatboxes yet? They have zero sugar and low calories. I tried them but it was right after surgery and my husband bought a few different flavors so I took a sip of each one. I don't remember which flavors I liked exactly but none of them were too bad. I may eventually try them again since I only had a sip of the ones I tried. https://beatboxbeverages.com/collections/zero-sugar

it's very common to have a 10-20 lb regain in year 3 without much effort. I was convinced it would never happen to me - BUT...it did. That said, since you're dealing with too much muscle loss, then yes -it'd be good to stop the weight loss since you need to maintain your health. I started gradually adding calories when I got down into the 130s (too low for me) ("gradually adding" since it would have been too hard to suddenly add 500 or so calories a day to my diet - it took a few weeks to get up there).

If your surgery wasn't working, you would be eating far more calories, similar to what got you to consider WLS in the first place. If you are truly eating 800 calories a day, then get a physical and find out if you have any serious medical issues that is preventing your body from losing weight. Maybe it is a thyroid issue or serious water weight due to kidneys... etc. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

It can be a challenge to increase your calories to stop losing & maintain. It took me about 11 months after I reached goal to stop losing. I understand just not being able to eat any more. I slowly added more snacks as I was able. I also noticed over the months my portion sizes for meals started getting larger. By the time I stabilised I was eating 4 or 5 snacks a day plus 3 about recommended portion sized meals. My snacks were combinations of whole & multi grain crackers, hummus, fruit, liverwurst, string cheese, nuts, protein bar, chia pudding & yoghurt. I used full fat salad dressings & added a seed mix to my rolled oats. So I upped carbs (no over processed carbs) & fats but still ensured everything I ate was nutritious (liverwurst & salad dressing aren’t good but yummy) & included 5-10g protein (except no protein in fruit). My dietician suggested I add powdered milk to my milk to make it richer but I found it too sweet. Honestly, I did feel like I was eating all day long. My lowest weight was 48.2kg & I’ve been maintaining at 49 (48.5-49.5) for 14 months now. My BMI is around 18.7 so on the low end too but I’ve got a smaller frame so it’s ok. Initially my surgeon & doctor wanted me to put on a couple of kg too. I said I didn’t want too because of the possibility of 5kg bounce back in the future. Now they’re fine with my weight & tell me I look great & have done well (& I’m actually a couple of kgs less then when they wanted me to gain). I eat about 1300 calories a day & only 3 or 4 snacks to maintain my weight. I’m not very active. I still have days or times when I don’t feel hungry but I always try to meet or be close to my protein goal. So if I don’t feel hungry say for lunch or dinner I’ll graze on a high protein yoghurt. I was a little worried I wouldn’t stop losing &/or I’d get too thin & I had some ‘well intentioned’ family & friends saying it too. But I really like how I look now. Yep, I still get surprIsed when I see my skinny legs & thigh gap or buy size 4 (US 0) clothing but it’s a good feeling. It does take a while for your body to resettle too. I initially thought I’d got so slim I’d lost my hourglass shape but it came back (still don’t have much of a butt though 😉). I should mention I haven’t had any plastic surgery. Have a chat with your surgeon & medical team & tell them honestly about how you feel about your current weight, the possibility of a reversal, etc. Do you still have access to a therapist to talk through how you’re feeling. I hope you can reach a point soon that your weight settles so you can fully embrace what you’ve achieved. All the best.

I was on an insulin pump, metformin and ozempic when I started my pre-op diet. I was glad that I had my Dexcom because it helped me quickly adjust my insulin. I had 2 severe lows then after talking with my endo, stopped all insulin while on < 600 calories. I’m 1 week post op and while my numbers aren’t perfect they aren’t high enough to warrant correcting. When I am eating again, I’ll have to test and figure out how much I need.

Yes everything went completely fine no pain no nausea tolerated all liquids on phase 3 of diet and have hit a stall worried I’m doing to many calories but nevertheless in good spirits ! Feel better soon

Let’s talk about some things that play an important factor in this- You’re a 6ft tall, 52yr old man who started out on the lower end of obesity before surgery and have a current BMI of about 32.5 BMI doesn’t take into consideration your build, lean body mass (especially if you do a lot of physical activity) or genetics. All of those things along with others like metabolic issues, your BMR basal metabolic rate (the calories needed to do nothing but exist) play a factor into how you will lose or maintain weight. Based on just a generic BMR calculator (no specifics like lean body mass, etc.) your body burns about 2100 at absolute rest. Eating only 800 calories a day leaves your body in starvation mode and will hang onto every calorie for what it’s worth and not let you continue losing weight. Try adding 2-300 calories a day and see if that helps along with tracking calories. Try something along these lines for a few days and see if it helps- Breakfast (eggs and turkey bacon) 2 eggs, scrambled with 2 cups fresh spinach, 2 slices turkey bacon and 1oz cheddar cheese- 330 calories and 24g protein Lunch (stir fry) 3oz chicken breast, 1/2 cup sliced zucchini, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes, and 1/4 cup onion cooked in 1tsp olive oil with spices (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, cumin, etc.)- 225 calories and 29g protein Snack 100 calorie pack of almonds (100 calories and 3g protein) OR 2 stalks celery with 1tbsp peanut butter (105 calories and 5g protein) Dinner (tortilla pizza) 1-8” flour tortilla topped with 1/4 cup marinara sauce, 1oz cooked Italian sausage, and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese- 365 calories and 15g protein Total for the day- 1025 calories and 73g protein and that’s with the celery and peanut butter. If you need more meal ideas to get you (back) on track then message me. I have a notebook full of them!

So I'm kind of freaking out over the pre op diet, as a diabetic...I'm worried that by not getting as many calories, my blood sugars are going to be too low. Anyone know how to manage that? My doctor said we will dial back my insulin a lot but I'm still worried. I'm on insulin, Ozempic, Gliclizide and Jardiance for diabetes and my sugars are on the high normal side of things but I am worried about lows. They terrify me. Sent from my SM-N986W using BariatricPal mobile app

My nutritionist b----ed me out for overeating, too. I was eating a whopping 800 calories and stalling hard. She told me that I needed to be eating 400-500 calories a day and that's why I wasn't losing weight. I told her that the week I tracked my food before starting on this journey, I was maintaining my old weight on 3800 calories a day and there's no freaking way I was bumping out of a caloric deficit with an intake of 800 calories. So she said I was non-compliant and then huffed, "I guess if you want to gain it all back, it's up to you." I fired her. Loudly. I posted about it elsewhere on this site. And I went and found a nutrition group that focuses on flexible nutrition and who have nutritionists and RDs who are familiar with bariatric patients. My nutritionist put me on 1200 cal a day to start and has been encouraging me to eat more—this week has been more like 1400. I am very active, though, and burn calories both working and working out (I'm not a "walker"... I run, I do CrossFit, I do ranch work.) I'm twelve weeks out and still losing 3-4 pounds a week. I do track everything I eat and self-discipline is hard but necessary. I figure this surgery gave me 6-12 months to re-evaluate my relationship with food, and that's plenty of time to develop new habits that are just second nature.

The healthy choice power bowls look like they might be a good choice. About 200 calories for whole thing but you'd probably only eat half, decent protein, carbs aren't too bad. I'm a big fan of the P3 packs with meat, cheese and nuts. Precooked chicken is an easy go to. Cooked frozen shrimp you could just microwave and toss in a premade sauce with a microwaved veggie. Jerky meats are typically a good option. They make keto cereals now that are decent macros if you just wanted a bowl of cereal with milk.

I was a model child the first two weeks after surgery. I had no appetite and anything I put in my mouth was strictly out of medical necessity but I was dogged and made sure to meet my protein and water requirements every day. Lost 12 lbs. The second two weeks, I’m not sure if I was “hungry” but I found I could enjoy food again and things became more tempting. With the Doctor’s approval, and I asked many specifics of her, such as flax, vinegar, and protein bars with nuts, she reassured me “I couldn’t hurt my stomach”, I moved forward and, while eating 75% on target, I also incorporated small amounts of things from my old life – a bite of bread roll, a 1” square of brownie, half a flour tortilla, a piece of corn dog. All while keeping my calories between 700-900 a day. Nothing seemed to bother my stomach and my capacity, while certainly limited, was more than I expected. At my four week appt, the nutritionist was a bit horrified and pretty much wrote me up as non-compliant. Said that most people were eating about 500 calories a day at that point. After sulking (and stalling) for another week, I started adding a protein shake back for breakfast, upped my water by 16 ounces and focusing more on the basics: using a scale, focusing on protein and vegetables, walking. I learned taking the tiny bites was not to help my stomach, but my head: it sucks when your meal is over in 3 or 4 bites. I claimed I could not walk because I have grade 4 arthritis in my knee and I’m really busy, but if I get up early, I can get a mile in before I go to work. And I added ankle weights to up the effectiveness. As of now, the scale is moving again after the stall from hell but I’ve also, grudgingly, learned the rules are there for a reason. I’m not here to be austere, at age 59, my only reason for loss is health, and I don’t feel the drive to be thin/attractive, so I still have my little treat: a 70 calorie square of baking chocolate. My calories these days still fall closer to 750 but I’ve lived a life of self-indulgence and self-discipline is hard to come by now.

Green apple, carrots, cucumbers, cheddar, pepperette and roasted red pepper cream cheese: 348 calories, Mr and I ate it all while watching a pvr’d episode of Home Economics. I’m guessing I ate bout 1/3 or less? Hard to say. I logged the entire thing anyway.