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How many struggle with eating after gastric bypass surgery? I've followed all the instructions (ie chewing well, waiting between bites, etc), but can't hardly stand the taste of most foods I eat. I've particularly had problems with protein shakes, protein water and protein powders. Some days I feel like I don't even want to eat. I'm concerned because I never reach the amount of protein and water recommended. Will this ever end? Good news is I've lost 48 lbs since November 23, 2022. Sent from my SM-A205U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I am taking Biote but since I started this switch in HRT I seem to have stopped my weight loss progress - I am giving it two more months and then start looking at other options. I switched to this form because they are better about testing but there are more supplements and I was actually trying to get away from more pills - I have enough of those to take already

I have only told my family and close friends about my surgery, and if anyone explicitly asks if I did I tell them. For general diet questions I say prioritizing protein, avoiding added sugar, and small frequent meals. When I went out for dinner with a large group I told them I was avoiding gluten for digestive reasons. I’m still in the soft food stage so all of these things are true without sharing I’ve had surgery.

I’m 21 days post op and have lost 16-18 lbs (depends on the day) but I’ve been kinda hanging at that weight for about 5 days. My doc said they was normal but I’m wondering as this is a revision if I’ll keep losing or is that it? I’m down 36-38 lbs from before I started the 2 week pre-op Optifast diet. Never intended this for more weight loss just to stop the GERD but now that I’ve had some I want more. I’m at about 750 calories a day now on the purée phase. Just short walks around the neighborhood. I get pretty tired during the day and nap at least once a day. Water and protein are on target. Thanks for any insight?

It's normal to experience fatigue after bariatric surgery, especially in the first few months as your body adjusts to the changes. The amount of rest and sleep you need may change, and you may feel more tired than usual. However, it's important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. It's possible that your energy levels may improve as you continue to heal and recover from surgery. It's also important to make sure you are getting enough protein and other essential nutrients, and to stay hydrated. Talk to your doctor or dietitian if you have concerns about your energy levels or nutrition.

The BariatricPal Store carries a huge amount of bariatric friendly Unflavored protein options at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/flavor_unflavored Some popular options are: GENEPRO Gen3 Medical Grade Unflavored Protein Powder - 3rd Generation! at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/genepro/products/genepro-medical-grade-unflavored-protein-powder-3rd-generation You can get samples of GENEPRO at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/genepro/products/genepro-gen3-unflavored-protein-powder-single-serving-sample-packs Bariatric Advantage HPMR High Protein Meal Replacement Unflavored at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatric-advantage-high-protein-meal-replacement?variant=17894360065 Isopure Unflavored Zero Carb Protein Powder: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/natures-best at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/isopure-protein-page?variant=41747900203190 Syntrax Nectar 1lb Protein Powder Bottle - Medical Unflavored at https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/syntrax-nectar-1lb-protein-powder-bottle-medical-unflavored ProCel Whey Protein at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/procel-whey-protein-flavors Super Collagen Unflavored Protein Powder by Obvi at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/super-collagen-protein-powder-by-obvi-unflavored OvaEasy Egg White Protein - Unflavored (24g Protein, 0 Carbs & 0 Fat) at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/ovaeasy-egg-white-protein-unflavored-24-g-protein-0-carbs-0-fat

I bought a big tub of ‘flavourless’ pea protein powder & it was awful. All I could taste was a stale pea flavour. It was probably linked to the temporary change in my taste buds because I love peas but I couldn’t stomach that. I never had another protein shake after those first two weeks. I discovered a high protein drinking yoghurt (make your own by blending yoghurt & milk) & I could eat yoghurt from purée. Got another 15 - 30g of protein depending which I had.

I am also a guy. I was about 43 when I had surgery, about 64 now. I needed to lose a few more pounds than you, but it's not a competition. I'm honestly shocked that you are allowed surgery with 40 pounds to lose. Generally it's a minimum of 100 (give or take) pounds to qualify for surgery. I'm not sure if your lucky or un, but I guess time will tell. The current paradigm is 2 weeks of liquid diet pre-op, then 2 to 6 weeks post-op, then about 2 to 6 weeks of puree, then on to solid foods. Difficulty at any of the steps is very individual, but you will find a way to manage it. My plan was 6 weeks of pureed from day of surgery. I never had to do a liquid diet. Not being a quitter are fighten' words around here. You are apparently at 40 excess pounds. If this is the worst case situation then if you think you can lose weight via diet and exercise it may be worthwhile for you to try. Surgery is a harsh solution. If you are down to 40 pounds overweight after having been 100 or more overweight then surgery may be your best long term solution. You know your situation better than us. Most people do manage to eat what would be considered a normal meal size after a few months. Your current view of 'normal' may not measure up. Further, most post-ops can eat just about anything eventually, which can bring with it the hazard of falling into old habits that caused you to gain weight in the first place. With a little bit of restraint most people will be fine. Personally, since you asked, I eat more than a few bites more often than not. My typical meal size is still 4oz protein, 1 or so ounces of veggies. I can finish this meal 4 of 7 times, the other times my stomach says to take a break. I enjoy good food. You must have considered all these things previously. Just review why you made your decision in the first place and you will be solid. Good luck, Tek

As an alternative, my plan never included protein drinks. My team was about new and appropriate meals that included 3-4 oz of protein (chicken, beef, pork, seafood, lentils, etc.) and 1oz veggies. Such provides appropriate levels of protein in a diet while counting on... now get this... food! Think about it. Good luck, Tek

Flavorless? Yes. Tasteless? Not really. The closest I've found is the ISOPure unflavored. It doesn't taste like anything specific, but you can taste it when mixed in to other things, if that makes sense. Its not bad or off putting, but vaguely there. I had better luck with it when mixed into savory foods (soups and purees) vs. sweet things (pudding or drinks). Have you tried bone broth? Its a good source of savory protein and hydration. You could also try the protein waters @Voogs mentioned- they are more like Gatorade; less sweet than the shakes and no chalky texture.

Isopure Whey Protein Isolate comes in an unflavored variety. I've mixed with water, milk and kool aid type drinks. Also protein water like Premier Protein clear or Protein2O are pretty good alternatives.

Hi All, I’m almost 2 weeks post op and struggling with hitting my protein goals! Mainly because I don’t like sweets and most shakes have sweeteners. I have tried pea protein with “natural” taste but tastes like raw flour added to the food! Is there no protein powder that is just tasteless and can be added to any food / drink without compromising the original taste? Thanks 😊

Many people don't realise how big a surgery this is. Our bodies demand a slower pace of life for a while until our calories increase. Rest and recover is the order of the day. I was only on 400 cals a day for so many months, no wonder I struggled to do anything around the home. It took me some months to increase my intake and I still have to bump my calories and protein with milk and yogurt. Now I am on about 1200 -1400 a day I feel like Superwoman again. Give it time and you will be the same too Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m also 2 months post op and struggling with this. I have always been very active and am struggling not being able to do all of the things I used to do. I would do back to back tennis sessions so 3 hours in total and now I can only do one and plan on doing nothing afterwards. I have to be very mindful when planning my activity now. One thing my dietitian encouraged me to do was continue drinking a protein supplement daily even though the generic plan doesn’t include one at my stage anymore. The generic meal plan doesn’t account for the 800 calories I burn in my 90 minute sessions, so I needed more calories. She also looked at my vitamin D and said although it isn’t “low,” it could be higher so I added a vitamin D supplement as well which she said could increase my energy levels.

You’ll only need to take the strong pain meds for a few days - I took my last one on day 4 but probably didn’t need it. Some find over the counter enough in a couple of days. We all handle pain differently. The shakes can taste disgusting after the surgery because our taste buds can temporarily change. Have a couple of different brands & flavours on hand. I forced myself to have a shake in the morning (doubled the water to dilute the flavour) & then had diluted soups (broths, consommés) the rest of the day. Ask your dietican for other protein rich fluids you can try. It’s really only for a short time. Water can be sort of hard to swallow - heavy. Try drinking other liquids as well. I drank green tea, thinned yoghurt drinks, electrolyte drinks as well as the diluted shakes & soups.. Warm drinks are often easier to drink - more soothing. As the months pass you will be able & encouraged to eat more. I was advised to start with 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purées slowly increasing to about a cup at goal (at 6 months for me). Check with your surgeon & dietician for their recommendations for portion size, maybe calories & any other nutrient goals like protein. Yours will be different to mine simply because you’re male. Same with when you progress through the restricted return to eating stages to support your healing. I was on 2 weeks cycles: liquids, purées, soft before solid which is pretty common. Having the surgery is not being a quitter. The truth is you will still be doing the work & it is hard work. You can’t rely on the surgery alone to be successful. People can & do eat around their surgery. The loss of appetite & hunger don’t last & some don’t lose them at all. I worked harder after my surgery than on any other diet simply because I wanted this to work & be as permanent as possible. The head work, understanding why you eat, your cravings, habits, etc. is probably the hardest aspect. I also did a lot of reading to work out a way of eating (not a diet - they’re temporary) that worked for me & could be sustainable. This was a huge difference. I could always lose weight (until the last gain I had) but I could also put it all back on again because I went straight back to what I did before. I was a quitter then because I didn’t stick to any exercise plan or change of eating style. I still watch my portions, monitor my protein & fluid intake, randomly check my calorie intake, & carefully read the nutrition panel on the few food stuffs I buy - I tend to cook most of my own food from scratch. All the best whatever you choose to do.

I don't dump, but I definitely react if I overeat sugar. I bloat (noticeably and my stomach gets really icky), get exhausted - like sit on the couch and pass out for 2 hours - and have bad gas. I do OK with fruit or if I eat protein before the sugar. I can also have a little bit, but I haven't tried to narrow down where the line is. Knowing it's a possibility helps me avoid overeating sugary food, especially if I'm out with others or traveling. It's easier to avoid than to try and deal with it.

I originally had an ESG, it wasn't painful as such but I did have rolling stomach cramps, you can get over the counter medication for that (buscopan). You need time to allow the suture / anchor sites to heal, so I would think most doctors would give you at least a week or two of fluids (shakes), I did see one plan when someone had to do shakes for about eight weeks. It really does depend on your doctor's guidelines (I would have thought you would have been provided with guidelines by now). I am not sure why you think having a weight loss procedure makes you (or anyone else) a quitter. I imagine you have had many attempts at losing weight and haven't been successful? If this helps you lose the weight and maintain the lost, that's a good thing. ESG is a lot different than the surgical options, the reduction in stomach size is not as great as those options, you mostly certainly eat more than a few bites at a time (as is the case with the surgical options once healed from those procedures). This is from an Australian perspective but you may find it useful https://bmiclinic.com.au/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty-faq/

I was self-pay so I went with the Sleeve because it was cheaper and came with a lower complication risk. Being self-pay, any issues that arise due to the surgery also aren't covered under insurance so I wanted to make sure to go with the option that carried the lowest complication rate. In my experience it seems that bypass is the more dominant option for those that are severely overweight (think BMI 60+) and want the best chance at being able to lose most/all of their excess weight and maintain the loss.

"high protein, calorie deficit & I workout 4x a week" because it's still true!

Bypass was once the gold standard of weight loss surgeries up until a few years ago, when sleeve took over. It's easier for surgeons to perform, it's cheaper, and a lot of people are afraid of the bypass. Thus, sleeve is currently the most popular weight loss surgery. I went with bypass because I had GERD prior to surgery. Bypass usually improves if not outright cures GERD, whereas sleeve can make it worse (doesn't happen to everyone - and some people say their GERD even improved after getting sleeved, but the risk of having it get worse was too high for my comfort, so I chose bypass). bypass is the stronger of the two surgeries, but sleeve is close. And yes, you have more options for revision after sleeve, but then, very few people who have bypass get theirs revised. honestly, they both have their pros and cons. There are some health conditions (like GERD) that would make one surgery more appropriate for you than the other, but barring that, it really comes down to personal preference. They're both good surgeries and you'll find many examples on here of people who've been very successful with both. I love my bypass and would choose it again if I had to make the choice today.

My doctor also said that if you go with Sleeve, if you need a revision, you have more options.

I can tell you my experience as someone who had bypass. My weight as of January 2022 was 245; on surgery day (May 13th, 2022) my weight was down to 223. As of today it's at 134. My height is 5'2. The surgery itself went fine, but I had some issues with pain management (don't let that freak you out, it's very individualistic on how people experience pain). I was in the hospital for 3 days and released when I was able to keep a bit of broth down. I found that walking around and heating pad helped with the gas, but it took quite a while for that feeling to go away. A week out from my surgery I had to go to the ER because I couldn't keep more than an ounce of fluid down and was dehydrated. 3 bags of fluids and a GI study later, they found there was still some internal swelling that was making it hard for me to meet any fluid/protein goals. I followed the nutritionist advice and start the mornings with a warm drink, which does help. Now, all of these months later, I'm not able to eat much (once again, this is more the exception than the norm), but clearly the amount of food I've been able to consume is providing energy to get me through the day. My sister also had bypass without complications and she lost 85 pounds in a year. She's been able to eat most things, though she's learned the hard way about dumping syndrome. I have no regrets about my surgery and feel much healthier than I've felt. I've gone from a size 22 to a size 8. Something I never thought would happen. Good luck on your surgery.

Hi everyone!! I am so curious I am dying for bypass info videos chats all the things, but it seems like so many sleeves. Why is that? I think Bypass is my best option and I just got my surgery date for 2/20. I do worry I have regrets about sleeve vs bypass. Can anyone tell me why you chose it and how it went? What was your weight loss like? n All I see is sleeve!

@summerseeker explained them pretty well. High processed, simple carbs, high sugar, low nutritional value, ‘snack’ foods tend to be sliders. Not just for us but for everyone. They go through your digestive system quickly & therefore don’t fill you/satisfy you so you eat way more than you should. They can also cause dumping in some people. Chips (corn, potato, tortilla), popcorn, chocolate, chewable sweets, milkshakes, ice cream, pretzels, cakes, crackers, etc., should be avoided. If you do choose to eat them in the future it is important to carefully watch how much you eat. Portioning out an appropriate serve is better than straight from a bag or packet which easily becomes mindkess eating. If you’re looking for a snack type food try cheese, jerky, nuts, hard boiled eggs, celery or carrot straws, or make your own protein balls or mini egg muffins.

We regularly have a “build your own salad” night. I also might keep fruit cups, fruits, and veggies out in plain sight so they’re more accessible than the chips, sugary stuff, or other less nutrient dense foods. Your kids can only follow example and eat what you provide (for the most part), so healthy options, intuitive eating, and food modeling are great ways to keep kids having a healthier relationship with food.