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Doing good over here. I find it a bit hard to get all the protein in and all the fluids

Is bypass the only option if you have acid reflux? Sent from my SM-S908U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey there. If you're only a few days post-op like me, your body is probably still retaining fluid from when you were on an IV in the hospital - it will take several days for that to disappear. I was sleeved on 2/21/23 and have been struggling with the liquids too - but the system I'm using seems to be working well. I just have a timer going off on my phone every 15 minutes while I'm awake reminding me to drink. It is a very slow path, but it will get easier over time. I was lucky to get in 50 g of protein and 50 oz in one day for the first few days, but now that I am getting up and moving around more it seems to be easier. I promise it will get easier - just stick with it. It would be awful to be dehydrated and nauseous at the same time.

Where did you buy unjury protein mix? Never heard of it. Today I got creative and made a soup from the list of allowed items. I sautéed some mushrooms celery carrots and green onions with garlic and threw them in some chicken broth, simmered on stove for a few minutes. Honestly delicious and filling. I forgot I can have zucchini too so I’ll add that next time. had a protein shake for breakfast and then some baby carrots for snack. 2 16 oz bottles of water and then maybe for dinner lll do a tomato and cucumber salad with just some lemon juice squeezed on top It might not be so bad after all

I’m drinking premier shakes, caramel. Yes, a bit chalky. I also have premier protein water. I also have Unjury protein mix, chicken soup flavor. Pricey but very, very good. It is savory. pother than that…Deer Park water…64oz per day. Knowing that I would be drinking A LOT of water, I invested in a water cooler and have 5gal bottles delivered monthly. In the long run, it will be cheaper than slugging bottled water.

Hi i had mine on feb 9 2023 im so happy im finally feeling good ive lost 43 lbs so far .God is truly blessing me wow feels good to walk around i havnt needed to use my inhaler getting used to the protein drinks and as of friday i introduce my stomach to soft foods.no SUGAR AT ALL SUGAR FREE ONLY DOCTOR SAID I CAN USE STEVIA ONLY BUT IM DOING FINE WITHOUT IT .GOD BLESS YOU ALL THAT ARE IN RECOVERY OR GETTING NEAR TO Sent from my SM-A516U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for the encouragement! What are you drinking? All these protein shakes have such a nasty chalky aftertaste which makes it hard for me to want to drink even water afterward because of the gross taste in my mouth i Think I’ll ask my doctor if sugarfree mints or gum are allowed

No regularity issues recently. However, I add the Kirkland fiber to my Gatorade (Zero with protein 50/50 water dilute) when I'm at work. I've also been eating salad kits with cabbage lately. So, that'll work too.

make sure you're drinking lots of fluids - that can help flush things out. Even for those who aren't having potential kidney-related issues, lots of fluids are recommended if you're on a high-protein diet. I just read that being obese can also affect kidneys and their related values - so it could be that your urea level was high even before surgery (did they do a baseline on your blood values prior to surgery, including your urea levels?). I also read that having WLS normally improves all this. I agree with Arabesque - we sometimes have abnormal readings of certain values (high liver values seems to be a common one, for one) when we're in the rapid weight loss phase. They usually normalize after a few months, when weight loss slows way down. But your surgeon and/or dietitian should be aware of that. I hope someone gets back to you on this - if nothing else, for peace of mind.

Collagen peptides, you get about 15g of protein pre 8oz serving of water. I have some that are berry, berry lemonade, pineapple-orange. The clear protein drinks are also available, basically the same thing just pre-mixed and varies flavors. I also put unflavored collagen peptides in my jello when I made my own, I used 2 scoops to 2 cups of jello for a 10g pre 1/2 cup serving of jello. Even though it unflavored it does give the jello a bit of a flavor. Hope that helps.

I haven't heard this one before, and I've been hanging out here for eight years. People do lose muscle as they lose weight, but getting enough protein and regular exercise keeps will keep you from getting too weak. And you're right - you would think nutrient deficiencies would show up on your blood tests. I agree with toodlerue - this is kind of baffling.

March 10 started 2 week liquid diet today. Only allowed sugar free drinks, water, protein shakes and for snack a few choices of vegetables its been really rough so far/ how bad would it be if you cheat? i just want a boiled egg or some tuna salad. I’m so not a sweet person I need something savory. Even plain Greek yogurt will do

Need help-on clear liquids but broth makes me nauseous. Feeling week and know I need protein-suggestions?

Hi , I just got my 6 months bloods and my serum urea level is above range 8.6mmo/L - it's above the higher reference limit .I know we're all devouring a lot of protein , but I'm concerned about my kidneys and this high urea reading .Does anyone know anything about this ? I've tried to look it up and it just says too much protein can cause high urea levels and kidney problems .Worried now, thanks .

Regardless of which procedure you decide on, this is a lifestyle change. If you don't already have one I suggest talking to a mental health professional before scheduling your big day. I was leaning towards a bypass, but my doctors shared with me that the bypass comes with a lot more risk, and that for the types of medications I take, a sleeve would be best. I am now 3 days post-op and while I used to have a severe sweet tooth, I can honestly say that it's been difficult to choke down some of these protein shakes because they're simply TOO sweet. This is a big change, and I hope that you can find a comfortable place emotionally/mentally to pick a date. Good luck!

Yeah, I don’t know how people hit their protein goals without protein shakes. I’m lucky that I can tolerate clear whey protein pretty well, so can just have a few of those a day and I’ve hit my target. The meal plans my dietician has sent through just seem so unrealistic. The portions are DEFINITELY too large to finish and would still come under target. And then in my last meeting she lectured me for eating 1/3 cup instead of 1/4 cup portions, when in some instances the meals on the meal plan would be more like a full cup! Hard eye roll. At the moment, I’m relying on protein water and vitamin supplements, and trying to eat a good mix of fish, yoghurt, soy, veggies, and complex carbs. I have to say while the pre op and hospital care was pretty great, the post surgery care leaves something to be desired. But still skinnier than I’ve been in 15 years, and no major health complaints that I’ve identified.

I have not had surgery yet, but from what I am learning, the focus for long term success should be protein first. If eating four slices of pizza was something you did once it’s probably isn’t the end of the world, but it is also not going to provide you with the nutrients you need. Is it a slippery slope for you? If you pull the meat off two chicken thighs, it doesn’t seem like it would be to much. That may be a better option. What plan did your surgeon give you? If the surgery is a tool, the work lies in sticking to the plan. Eating whatever I want has ultimately got me thinking about having surgery. if you are eating what you want, are you tracking calories? What do you need to be eating to maintain?

My dietician stressed to me that protein was the most important. So for my “meals” most of the time I only eat my protein source (chicken, fish, etc.) with no side so I can eat more of it. I add veggies and fruit more as snacks throughout the day as I’m able. Certain fruits are harder for me. Bananas (even though I usually only finish half) and grapes seem to work the best. My dietician also told me that to break your plate into 3 categories, protein, veggie and carb or starch and eat in that order. My protein size she recommended 3-4 ounces. I can tell you even now once I finish that much protein (and that’s IF I can finish it all) I’m full. I may have a spoonful of mashed potatoes just because I want a taste, but that’s about it. It’s way too much food for me still. By 8 weeks post op they wanted me at 60 grams of protein a day without relying on shakes. That was a really daunting number that I still struggle with. Even if I eat nothing but protein each day some days I don’t hit that. I do still add in shakes on workout days but not as part of my normal diet. So I see the 60 grams a day as a goal I’m working up towards instead of something I must hit every day. I can’t physically eat more than my stomach comfortably can handle. But I can choose items higher in protein when deciding what to eat. Tuna packets are small enough (3 ounces) and have a lot of protein (12-15 grams). I prefer the deli style tuna salad one by Starkist. I take that to work for my lunch most nights. I can eat the entire packet if I don’t eat anything else with it. Exercise was hard in the beginning. I started off just walking a couple times a week. I was eating so little that just carrying laundry upstairs made me light headed and fatigued. That has gotten better though and I’m slowly increasing the intensity of my workouts. So just take it slow, eat protein first and just listen to your body. Everyone is different on what we can handle when.

Had gastric bypass 10/3. Down 77 pounds total. 19 of that was before surgery. Anyway, I am barely getting in 600 calories a day at this point and can only handle about an ounce and a half of protein with a couple bites of veggies at meals. I have a very clear full signal and don’t eat past it. I haven’t had sugar or carbs since surgery and I intend to stick with that. I cannot tolerate cheese, nuts, butter, basically anything but lean proteins and some vegetables. I even struggle with fruit. I don’t have a dietician so I have no idea if I am on track or not with my eating so I just take each day as it comes. I am happy with my weight loss. As most everyone I wish it was faster. But I have only stalled once and that was at the 3 week mark. I am exercising some but with the low amount of calories I am eating it is hard to have a lot of stamina. If anyone has any pointers let me know. I also still rely on 1-2 protein shakes a day to get protein up to around 80 grams.

Hi, yes it helps tremendously! I’m just back from my appointment with the dietitian. She spent an hour with me going through everything I have in a day (so little). She said she was worried about not only my protein intake but also my fibre intake. She’s a different dietician than the one I saw before surgery who had given me a default 4 week diet plan. I will list the tips she gave (which I might post in another thread as well to help others): *my old diet plan listed a soft cracker and cream cheese for breakfast, followed by a plain yoghurt and then runny vegetable soup for lunch. Second snack was homemade applesauce with no sugar and dinner was soup with cracker. All of that during 4 weeks! The only changed were week two pureed veggies with minced meat. Third week same diet except breakfast with hard cheese instead of cream cheese and more meat. Fourth week was same diet but introduction of some harder foods … this was not exciting to say the least. The puréed stage literally killed me and guess what… it was neither dumping nor dehydration. I was severely constipated! The minute I had a proper bowel movement (I had had 2 very small ones before) the relief to cramping and nausea disappeared into thin air. I can’t explain it. so this new dietician is like: 1) Don’t worry about water. Keep drinking hot drinks like teas and coffee, just dilute them a bit more 2) cut a banana in three and have one piece as a snack instead of plain yoghurt 3) change the yoghurt into soy, almond or coconut in case you turn intolerant to lactose which can happen after surgery 4) adding meat to your puréed veggies too challenging? Add a slice of smoked salmon even in week 2. 5) have a yokult to keep your flora alive 6) drink a couple of protein shakes instead of a meal if too challenging… anyway, the flexibility was eye opening. She said don’t try to follow rules too blindly. As long as you keep eating pretty soft foods you are fine eating toasted bread with peanutbutter (creamy)! to say that I was in a shock is an understatement… cant wait to have breakfast tomorrow!

Love protein2O!! I’ve always used the liquids version but have wanted to try the powders. I’ll definitely bring trying this. Protein 2O has been an integral part of my success so far and I know it will continue to be an important part of my routine.

Checking in on how everyone is doing 2 - 2.5 months out. I’m finally getting my energy back. I had bloodwork done last week ahead of my 3 month checkin with my surgeon and just got the results back. All my blood panel and nutritional numbers are in the optimal range! In such a short time period I went from: - 6.2 A1C (prediabetic) to 5.1 (non-diabetic) -194 to 75 mg/dL triglycerides -134 to 96 LDL Cholesterol - 214 to 158 mg/dL overall cholesterol My protein, calcium, and all other nutrients are where they should beAnd I’m honestly just so grateful I’ve followed the advisement of my team and hadthe support of the folks here. Since my December 5 surgery I’ve dropped 2-3 sizes (3 top, 2 bottom) and 38lbs! Since I started this process on August 6 (my first consult) I’ve dropped 60lbs. Really excited for my appointment with my surgeon next week to use the InBody machine and see how that translates to body fat percentage across various regions of my body. A month into 2x/week personal training I am seeing huge gains in my strength and pulmonary capacity for HIIT. My one a day swims are back to my pre-surgery speed when I was swimming twice a day 5x week. I’m still tired most evening after 6pm and only halfway to my goal. I get frustrated with stalls and am not always perfect, but overall my only regret is not taking this step sooner. Hope everyone is doing well and sending some December surgery love.

Hey everyone, surgery was 10/24 and I’m down from 215 to 167. The last 4 weekly weigh ins the scale has bounced between 168-171 so I may be in a stall. I was in one after the first 4 weeks for almost 6 weeks. It’s annoying but I’m happy with my progress as I’m officially the smallest I have been in 20 years with all my yo yo dieting. I also know that I may be getting closer to my new size my body wants to be so the weight loss may stop. I’ve been trying to focus more on working out now. Before my surgery I lifted weights regularly. I know I’ve lost a lot of muscle these last couple months and I feel much weaker. So I’m trying to get back into that. Clothing wise I’m down from a size 18 to a 10. I haven’t really had to buy new clothes yet as I kept clothes from all my previous lose and regain episodes. I also wear uniforms to work every day which are provided so being that it’s winter my non-work clothes is mostly hoodies and sweat pants anyway 😁 Food wise it’s hit or miss. I have started to feel hunger signals again but my portions are still pretty small. My doctor never told me to track my food intake which I’m grateful for because I don’t want to feel like I’m on a diet. But I would rough guess my intake to be about 1000 calories a day. I still try to prioritize protein first which doesn’t leave much room for anything else. But I do try to snack on fruit or veggies throughout the day to get my nutrients in. Sugar free sweets and cookies have helped with any sweet tooth cravings I get. I have ate plenty of things with sugar at this point as I really don’t restrict anything, but I do try to limit it to just occasionally. I also struggle with feeling like I have to clean my plate, even when I start to feel full. So I try to start with a small amount to begin with. Then wait a couple minutes before deciding if I want more, and usually I don’t. I still eat really fast so pausing for a few minutes helps my stomach to catch up. I’ve been out to eat several times. Usually I just split a meal with my wife and it works out great. She’s not going to eat the entire dish and I only need a few bites. The weirdest part with food for me is that my tastes have changed. Foods I used to enjoy don’t sit well or taste as good. I used to drink black coffee every day, now it hurts my stomach so I’ve just quit it. I thought the lack of caffeine would be an issue but it really hasn’t been. I do occasionally drink instant sugar free cappuccino but not daily. Also hot wings used to be a favorite of mine and now they taste off. Same thing with a lot of spicy food actually. So while I wouldn’t say I restrict food, at least for weight loss purposes, I’m trying to learn how different things make me feel and structure my eating like that. Just like with overeating I tell myself while something might sound appealing, is it worth me feeling kinda crappy for the next 30-45 minutes? That helps to think of it like that. I have definitely overdone portions and regretted it. Hence why I try to start smaller to begin with. It’s hard when you have one bite left not to just eat it, but that one bite will cost you and it’s just not worth the discomfort for me. All in all I would say I’m feeling good and I’m happy. I’m starting to see myself as smaller for the first time. I’ll catch my reflection in a window or something and be like damn, is that how skinny I am? It’s a crazy feeling I’ve never felt before. I knew I was getting smaller because my clothes sizes were going down. But I’m just now really seeing it. I have more work to do, more so in the gym now than the scale, but I’m feeling accomplished and motivated.

Hi - water puts me in hell .Even a sip .I told my Dietitian and she said it's pretty common .She pointed me to Vieve Protein water , it goes down very softly .They sell it on Amazon and I'd be utterly lost without it .You're not just getting fluids in , you are getting protein .I also suffer from trapped gas/wind - I could burp for Britain ! It lasts for a few hours and then goes off .It only happens about twice a month but it's horrible isn't it ? I'm six months in and still find solid food very uncomfortable to digest ,I tend to stick with soft foods . Hope this helps !

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