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Oh yeah, I had terrible bloating during my pre-op diet. I couldn’t drink the number of protein shakes I was supposed to (3 shakes + small meal for the first week, and 4 shakes for the liquid-only second week). I used a lot of whey protein after surgery and didn’t have the same problems, though.

protein needs are higher for post-surgical bariatric patients than they are for "normal" people. Most of us eat higher protein/lower carb diets than do normal people. This is percentage-wise, not gram-wise. So yes, the dietitian will likely have you eating fewer calories, but a higher protein to carb ratio. So I don't find her recommended protein level that unusual. on my pre-op diet, the dietitian had me eating 2200 calories/day. As a 300+ lb person, I lost weight on that, because I'm sure I was eating 3000 or more cal/day to maintain my 300+ lb weight. On the flip side, many 170 lb people (well, women anyway) would gain weight if they averaged 2200 calories a day, unless they're very active. However, in addition to having me average 2200 cal/day, she also increased my protein to carb ratio, to more or less match what it would be after surgery. I lost weight like crazy (over 50 lbs before surgery) - and it was probably a healthy way to do, too. cutting your intake down to what a 170 lb person would normally eat might not be very sustainable at this point. That would likely be around 1700-cal (for women), give or take depending on your metabolism and how active you are. It was even hard for me to get used to 2200 (although I eventually did) - but I did lose a ton of weight on that.

I'd be curious to know why they are saying Miralax is not an option as many, many WLS patients use it with success at the recommendation of their surgeons. I've never heard of there being an absorption issue. Personally, I've found using Just Better Fiber works very well for me. I add a few tablespoons into my coffee/water/whatever and sip it all day long. On the very rare occasion I need something "stronger" I use Miralax.

I personally hate premier shakes. try a different brand. Or even a vegan protein.

Hi there! Oh, I'm really sorry to hear about your health concerns. I suggest you to consider checking out resources like the NHS or financial advisors who can help you with financial planning. Besides, they may give some insights regarding other options for medical procedures. Do your research and find a suitable specialist. Furthermore, reliable websites, such as humaninvesting.com, may provide helpful information on responsible finance and investment strategies. I hope you'll find my advice helpful!

Some protein may be hard at first, and some days one thing will work. But the next it won't. I was going to be referred to an endo for PCOS, but since I was going to go ahead with the surgery I ended up not going. Everyone is different and loses at different rates, try not to compare yourself to others. I know its hard but once you get past that you are able to see how else you are improving. It can be measurements, energy, regular cycles, better sleep etc. The weight will come off, just keep track of your protein amd water intake. Sent from my SM-G960U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

99 grams is what you are supposed to have at 300 lbs in order to lose weight. If you are an athlete then it would be more. So in other words no, you would not eat protein in an amount that supports an unhealthy weight when trying to lose weight, which makes sense because you do not eat anything else at that level (fats, carbs, sugars, calories) to support an unhealthy weight when trying to lose.

I will be seeing the dietician in the program when I finish my pre-surgery steps 12 dietician visits, 6 weigh-ins, and the goal weight that is set for me, I have to do it by a certain date, which is coming up pretty soon. Then I will start with the clinic that has a surgeon and its own dietician. As far as meal options I am happy with what I currently eat, I do not like to waste time and energy on making something new every meal. I was just concerned about why she would have me at a normal calorie level but then want to me eat a protein amount that is supportive of a heavier person. Especially since I have not complained about being hungry, because I haven't been hungry. She doesn't even want me to take any vitamins, because she says what I eat I get enough vitamins.

I have completely changed my eating habit, I have already lost 20 lbs since starting with the dietician. I my question is why would I eat a protein amount based on an unhealthy weight? I have made a huge effort to eat the 150 grams today and I feel beyond full and kind of nauseated. I also have not been feeling hungry at all, so I do not know why she would suddenly bring the protein thing up with me.

I agree with the others about it likely being the shakes. Check the artificial sweetener they use in the shakes & the yoghurt. The sugar alcohols are renown for causing bloating, discomfort, diarrhoea, etc. Wouldn't hurt to try the plant protein shakes & dairy equivalents to ensure it’s not a lactose issue but if you didn’t have issues with dairy before you shouldn’t now. (After surgery some people do develop a lactose intolerance but it usually is temporary.)

What you need to do eating wise before surgery & after surgery is different. Before surgery is to show you can commit to a changed way of eating, introduce you to healthier food options, make you more aware of the nutritional value of what you eat & to lose weight & fat around your liver to make your surgery safer & easier. So a non bariatric dietician should be fine. After surgery, other considerations come into play such as during the staged return to eating solid foods, importance of macros & knowledge of the usually temporary effects of the surgery around food intolerances, nutritional needs, etc. May be consider seeing the bariatric dietician after your surgery. I know the distance can be prohibitive but you can always have zoom or phone appointments & only travel to see the dietician every month or two. Something to consider. No scale is the same plus you’re not the same. I tend to weigh myself first thing in the morning before food or drink & usually after pooping. But when I go to my doctor, it’s later in the day, I’m dressed, I’ve eaten & been drinking, etc. Scales on carpet will weigh differently than those on wood or tiles (uneven surfaces). The age of the scales, age if batteries, moisture in a bathroom, dust, etc can affect the accuracy. I didn’t care so much what my doctors scales read as I knew what mine did. They had their records of my weight loss & now maintenance & I have mine. Your weight loss should be the basically the same - if you lose 5 lbs it will show on everyone’s scales regardless what the numbers actually say. I’m going to presume you don’t have access to a stove & oven which limits your ability to cook your meals. What about a microwave or toaster oven? They don’t take up a lot of room & just need a power point & will give you more meal options.

150 grams of protein is only 600 calories. You need to eat the correct amount of protein so the weight you do loose is mostly fat and not muscle. Also protein keeps you satisfied longer so you shouldn't be hungry quickly after eating. My biggest suggestion is not to second guess your dietician, surgeon, etc. Not to be harsh but what you have been doing apparently hasn't worked or you would not need WLS. In order for WLS to be successful, you will have to stop making excuses and follow the plan. WLS is not easy or a quick fix. It is just a tool. You and only you will still have to work hard. Whoever says it is easy hasn't done it! You CAN be successful just like so many others on this site.

I can't tolerate whey or any other kind of milk protein, and I discovered this in pre-op. Try switching to a different protein source like soy protein, pea protein, etc.

It absolutely could be the shakes or the artificial sweeteners in them or the other zero calorie drinks. Try other shakes - maybe Fairlife or one made with pea protein? Also try different drinks - maybe tea or lemon water? I like Body Armor Lyte, they are made with erythritol, which I seem to do just fine with. Some people do better with savor drinks like bone broth. I felt like trash on my LRD as well (2 weeks, liquids only). You are definitely NOT alone. hang in there though, it doesn't last forever but it is an important part of the process!

Hi everybody, I started my 2 week, pre-op LRD today and am really struggling…not with hunger, but with massive stomach pain/bloating and gas. My stomach can be sensitive to some foods (for example, I can’t eat fermented foods, aspartame, etc.), but I didn’t think I consumed anything “bad” today. My diet is supposed to be a protein shake for B, L & D with one yogurt and one egg per day (and unlimited zero sugar drinks). I had a Premier Protein shake (chocolate) for breakfast, one hard boiled egg for a snack, and 1/2 a Premier Protein shake for lunch a few hours later. Started getting really nauseous about midday, and my stomach now is just…pain. Also, I had a Gatorade Zero during the day. I have had small amounts of protein shakes leading up to this, and everything was fine, but this is most definitely some kind of bad reaction (maybe I’m a little lactose intolerant? I don’t drink much milk usually). I honestly don’t know how I’m going to survive this if I can even have protein shakes… Has anybody else gone through this?

The split green pea soup he buys me has 39 g of protein. I have been blending it and eating small cups throughout the day. Will refried beans give me gas? I use unflavored protein powder in most things. I think its gross, but I still use it. I don't miss cheese, so I would be ok without cheese. I will look for more high protein soups. I am happy I posted that. I needed to hear that I need to be more gentle. I think I am experiencing head hunger and I dont like feeling out of energy. I can feel when my body needs nourishment. I am happy I read to take it easy and not rush. Those two bites of scrambled eggs hurt. So far, I have been following my plan. I miss eating food and I need to not swallow so fast and take smaller bites. I am learning and trying.

Hi Blossom, really sorry to hear you’re struggling. Have you tried hummus? I heard many vegans talk about having hummus at this stage to get their protein. Refried beans are another option. Instead of going all out with dairy, I wonder if you could ease into it (sprinkle some cheese on refried beans, for example). Unflavored protein powder is something you could add to split pea soup or other vegan friendly soups to kick up the protein content. Just some ideas because I know it can be hard. Be sure to blend up larger chunks and sauce up things like eggs. I learned how to make “runny eggs” which are fully cooked scrambled eggs with cheese and cream. If you can’t do the cream, I wonder if you could add cashew milk? Anyways, I hope you’re able to find a good balance for yourself.

I understand that it is not too much for a 300lb person, but should I really be eating to support a 300lb person? I also am not hungry with the way I have been eating. So I do not know why she started in with the protein thing. I also do not know how I can possibly fit that amount of protein in, especially since I am supposed to be listening to hunger cues and stopping eating right before I am full.

No, the Dietician is not the one the surgeon uses. I will be having my surgery at a place called the Rockwood Clinic, they have their whole own program with their own dietician. My insurance wants me to complete 12 dietician visits before surgery, and they told me to go to one near me. (Rockwood is 3 hours away). I did ask my insurance about going to the dietician at the clinic and I told them I would rather see a dietician who specializes in bariatric (especially since I have noticed bariatric dieticians take a totally different approach than this lady). My insurance said that it did not matter and that it would be best to see a dietician in my town so that travel would not be so inconvenient. I will be seeing the dietician that the surgeon uses after I get the surgery. I actually already feel very full the way I am eating now, and the dietician knows this. I did not go in complaining of being hungry, infact, I have eaten when I was not hungry because she wants me to eat every 4 hours 3 times a day and then have 2 snacks, I do not have the snacks, I do not need them. I would be happy eating twice a day to be honest, but the dietician does not advise that. I do not have any restrictions on carbs, sugar, fats, or anything. I am just not supposed to eat fast food, this dietician wants me to cook everything (I have explained I hate to cook and my current situation does not allow for me to have a normal kitchen). Currently, I eat tomatoes, sprouts, cucumbers, feta, hummus, avocado, Daves killer bread (thin slice) turkey bacon, ( I usually turn all of that into a sandwich) fage yogurt and strawberries, mushrooms stuffed with cheese spinach, tomato, onions, cilantro. might have chicken in tomato/basil/cilantro sauce or cauliflower pasta with clams. blueberries and apples. I used to drink a protein shake in the morning (mixed with soy milk) but she told me I needed to eat something with it (again I did not complain about hunger) so I added a slice of toast and an apple, and she liked that until a different visit when she said that eating a protein shake for breakfast and having yogurt at lunch was the same as having two giant glasses of milk and I need to stop with the yogurt. Well, I still have the yogurt at lunch and I eat the sandwich at lunch and breakfast and sometimes dinner too. The yogurt has 12-15 grams of protein depending on which one I choose. I also have at least 96 oz of plain water a day. I should add when I eat chicken (which is always either breast or tender never breaded, always cooked in the air fryer) I get so hungry about 20 minutes later it's weird, but chicken has that effect on me and that is why I do not really care for it.

150 grams of protein for a 300 lb person is not too much - and in fact, skewing toward eating more protein vis-a-vis fat and carbs will help you lose weight. Protein takes longer (and more calories) to burn off than do the other two macronutrients, and it can also keep you satisfied longer.

Hey everyone- quick update: I’m starting purées today and doing good. Applesauce and puréed Cuban black beans going down without issue. Happy to focus on moving into food proteins this week. Anybody else on purées or similar yet? How are you doing? What are you eating?

Choose any one scale, if its at home put it in exactly the same space every time. If I move mine to the other side of my bathroom I gain 7lbs. Is the dietician the one your surgeon uses ? and is this the surgeons advice to you ? 150 grams of protein is not a lot pre surgery. Eating protein will make you feel fuller while keeping calories low. I imagine you need to keep the Carbs low. Can you add what you protein count is usually like, it will help us help you Are you vegetarian or vegan? There are so many protein options out there now. Find some protein yogurts that you can eat or add extra protein to your milk and yogurt. Dhal is great for protein, add extra yogurt and seeds to top it.

I had my first follow up with my surgeon last night as this week makes it 6 weeks. I told him all my concerns that I shared in this thread and he basically told me to stop comparing myself to everyone else, as people lose weight at different speeds. He also told me that I don't need to be juggling down the 50g protein shakes I have been doing as it's all liquid calories, and that now I can eat solid foods again, to concentrate more on food protein than liquid protein. He said he's very happy with my progress, although I don't know if I believe him? I've stalled for the last three weeks and put on a pound this week, but he seems to be happy that I've lost a stone since 31st January. Personally, I think it's very slow. But I guess that's part of the comparison stuff isn't it? I'm moving house so I've packed my scales away and am going to try and weigh myself once every two weeks.

tl;dr at the bottom I could use some advice. I went to see my dietician today (not a bariatric surgery dietician, I can explain why I am seeing her if you want to know). She knows I am going to have weight loss surgery as long as I hit the goal weight my insurance told me I need to be at. I have to be at the goal weight by June 24, 2023, in order for my insurance to pay for my surgery. I had a weigh in the doctor's office a couple of days ago and weighed 301, my scale at home said 302. However, on the same day, the scale at a friend's house said 313. I knew I had this Dietician appointment two days later and I knew she would weigh me. I continued to weigh myself at home (after getting new batteries) and I was at 302 then 299 and today at home I weighed 303, right before my appointment, when I got to her office I was weighed and it said 313. I am concerned about what to believe since the doctor's office and my scale show similar numbers. I also bought a new scale today and it said 313. The Dietician told me I needed to eat more protein, which honestly I struggle with. she said I needed 150 grams!! I said are you kidding? that seems like a lot. She used my weight to come up with this number. Should I really be trying to eat enough protein for a 300-lb person or should I be eating protein for a goal-weight person (mine is 170)? also, my clothing is loose like I lost the 20 lbs mine and the doctor's scale shows, and not 10 lbs like everyone else's scale shows. Also, I have always naturally been more muscular even when I was 120 lbs and did not eat any protein aside from what is in plants. tl:dr- should I be eating enough protein to support a 300lb person or should I be eating protein for a "normal" sized person? AND should I trust the Doctors scale more so than the Dietician's scale?

Not everyone experiences dumping & fewer do with sleeve than bypass. You may never experience it. Dumping occurs from eating high fat or sugar. Can occur with high processed simple carbs & dairy but less common again. If your shakes are too thick add more water or milk. I used to double the water to my shakes. I cannot stress enough to follow your plan & your staged returned to eating diet. It is in place to protect & support your healing tummy & digestive system. Remember all those sutures & staples holding your tummy together. All because you drank or ate something without an issue doesn’t mean you should. You could have just been lucky. There are several vegans on this forum who successfully lost weight & maintain their lower weight. You just have to be careful to meet your protein & other nutrient goals. There are so many plant based protein alternatives you can choose from. Your dietician should be able to guide you about your options if you have concerns. If eating meat & dairy upset you before surgery they still will after surgery. Are you experiencing real hunger or head hunger? Wanting to eat a specific food or texture or flavour is head hunger. A lot of the area in your tummy that produces the hunger hormone Ghrelin was removed plus because of the nerves that were cut during surgery, the message to say you’re hungry doesn’t get through to your brain or if they do they are often different. And they won’t until you are fully healed. Head hunger is very powerful & is usually what drove us to eating in the past so we think that feeling is real hunger.