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I had my surgery same day as you. I add protein powder to my shakes (55 grams protein) with a little water and just started adding a 1/4 of a banana - (for a different flavor). Then put it in my ninja mixer. I drink clear premier protein (20 grams protein) or Isopure, Infusions 100% Whey Protein Isolate, Mixed Berry, (20 grams) I tried to add protein to my soup but it was soooo gross. Maybe I purchased the wrong type of protein. Good luck to you! Scared but excited.

Thank you so much for the kindness. I ended up speaking waaaaayyy too soon. The last 12+ hours have been miserable. I was discharged from the hospital last night and I’ve dry heaved/vomited three times. The first one I can explain away because I took my pain med on a practically empty stomach without protein (which I didn’t know I shouldn’t do until after the fact), but the other two there’s no rhyme or reason to them. I’m not even taking any medications because I keep getting nauseous / dry heaving — except for the nausea patch behind my ear (which clearly isn’t doing anything for me), Zofran, and the Prilosec. I know for a fact I’m not drinking near enough between my fear of vomiting and then the fact I am (TMI) spitting up bile and some of my liquid the last two dry heaves. Worried I’m gonna end up back in the hospital at this rate. Also sucks that I’m heaving because I can’t take any pain meds to ease my pain — though most of my pain is when I get up and down or bend more than anything

Hi guys. Today I’m exactly 2 months out and wanted to give you all an update! I’ve lost 43lbs. Since my revision to sleeve. And 23 inches all around. This is so much faster than I ever lost with my lapband. I still have an aversion to certain flavors and I can only drink my protein shake if its in coffee. On its own it sends me running to the bathroom. Which is weird. My dr told me to stop drinking the protein shakes anyway and that I should start getting my proteins only from meals. I think I’ll be able to do that even though I can usually only fit about 4 ounces (we’ll see) the problem is that I’m not really a cook or kitchen person so I find myself eating the same things over and over and then making myself sick of them. This in turn means I’m quickly running out of choices. I weirdly can’t see the changes in my body but I know that they’re there because I’d definitely fit differently in my clothes and differently into seats and things like that. But the body dysmorphia is real y’all! I usually take pictures at every month anniversary and when I look back at what I looked like from the beginning to now, I still feel like I look the same—which again is weird because I thought that the pictures were supposed to show me that I actually am losing weight but oh well. Luckily I have a therapist, so I think I’m gonna bring this up at my therapy session tomorrow. I don’t come on here often, but I do read every single comment that gets posted so I really do appreciate people continuing to post here and talk about how they’re doing…it makes you feel a little less lonely, so thanks!

I had a banded gastric sleeve on 15th September so I'm just over 5 weeks post surgery. Things are very different over here in Australia I first saw my surgeon in July and a few weeks later booked a date that suited me based on what days the surgeon operates at my chosen hospital. I am not insured so I was able to withdraw the funds from my superannuation account. I had 2 weeks of pre op diet which consisted of 2 meal replacement shakes and then dinner of approx 100gms of protein and 2 cups veggies so found it quite easy to follow. I'm currently on a soft diet slowly reintroducing foods to see what I can and can't tolerate it's certainly a learning curve. I take 2 multivitamins a day which have everything in them that I need. So far I've lost just over 20kgs since I saw the surgeon and 11 kgs since surgery so 21kgs all up. I'm really happy with the changes so far and don't regret having the surgery at all. I journal most days and weigh myself once per week. I also take measurements. Everyone will cope differently. Some of you will lose tonnes of weight quickly others may be a bit slower. I'm going to try and not compare myself to others. Good luck to you all on your journey Sent from my SM-S906E using BariatricPal mobile app

They’re actually a kind of Greek cookie. As far as sweetener it’s not all interchangeable. Stevia and swerve need to use about half which can affect the baking ratios. When it comes to certain ratios there are better options like allulose or monk fruit blends.

Medical Groups Replace Outdated Consensus Statement that Overly Restricts Access to Modern-Day Weight-Loss Surgery NEWBERRY, FL – Oct. 21, 2022 – Two of the world’s leading authorities on bariatric and metabolic surgery have issued new evidence-based clinical guidelines that among a slew of recommendations expand patient eligibility for weight-loss surgery and endorse metabolic surgery for patients with type 2 diabetes beginning at a body mass index (BMI) of 30, a measure of body fat based on a person’s height and weight and one of several important screening criteria for surgery. The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines on Indications for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery – 2022, published online today in the journals, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD) and Obesity Surgery, are meant to replace a consensus statement developed by National Institutes of Health (NIH) more than 30 years ago that set standards most insurers and doctors still rely upon to make decisions about who should get weight-loss surgery, what kind they should get, and when they should get it. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is the largest group of bariatric surgeons and integrated health professionals in the United States and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) represents 72 national associations and societies throughout the world. "The 1991 NIH Consensus Statement on Bariatric Surgery served a valuable purpose for a time, but after more than three decades and hundreds of high-quality studies, including randomized clinical trials, it no longer reflects best practices and lacks relevance to today’s modern-day procedures and population of patients," said Teresa LaMasters, MD, President, ASMBS. “It’s time for a change in thinking and in practice for the sake of patients. It is long overdue.” In the 1991 consensus statement, bariatric surgery was confined to patients with a BMI of at least 40 or a BMI of 35 or more and at least one obesity-related condition such as hypertension or heart disease. There were no references to metabolic surgery for diabetes or references to the emerging laparoscopic techniques and procedures that would become mainstay and make weight-loss surgery as safe or safer than common operations including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy, and knee replacement. The statement also recommended against surgery in children and adolescents even with BMIs over 40 because it had not been sufficiently studied. New Patient Selection Standards — Times Have Changed The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines now recommend metabolic and bariatric surgery for individuals with a BMI of 35 or more “regardless of presence, absence, or severity of obesity-related conditions” and that it be considered for people with a BMI 30-34.9 and metabolic disease and in “appropriately selected children and adolescents.” But even without metabolic disease, the guidelines say weight-loss surgery should be considered starting at BMI 30 for people who do not achieve substantial or durable weight loss or obesity disease-related improvement using nonsurgical methods. It was also recommended that obesity definitions using standard BMI thresholds be adjusted by population and that Asian individuals consider weight-loss surgery beginning at BMI 27.5. Higher Levels of Safety and Effectiveness for Modern-Day Weight-Loss Surgery The new guidelines further state “metabolic and bariatric surgery is currently the most effective evidence-based treatment for obesity across all BMI classes” and that “studies with long-term follow up, published in the decades following the 1991 NIH Consensus Statement, have consistently demonstrated that metabolic and bariatric surgery produces superior weight loss outcomes compared with non-operative treatments.” It is also noted that multiple studies have shown significant improvement of metabolic disease and a decrease in overall mortality after surgery and that “older surgical operations have been replaced with safer and more effective operations.” Two laparoscopic procedures, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), now account for about 90% of all operations performed worldwide. Roughly 1 to 2% of the world’s eligible patient population get weight-loss surgery in any given year. Experts say the overly restrictive consensus statement from 1991 has contributed to the limited use of such a proven safe and effective treatment. Globally, more than 650 million adults had obesity in 2016, which is about 13% of the world’s adult population. CDC reports over 42% of Americans have obesity, the highest rate ever in the U.S. “The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines provide an important reset when it comes to the treatment of obesity,” said Scott Shikora, MD, President, IFSO. “Insurers, policy makers, healthcare providers, and patients should pay close attention and work to remove the barriers and outdated thinking that prevent access to one of the safest, effective and most studied operations in medicine.” The ASMBS/IFSO Guidelines are just the latest in a series of new recommendations from medical groups calling for expanded use of metabolic surgery. In 2016, 45 professional societies, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), issued a joint statement that metabolic surgery should be considered for patients with type 2 diabetes and a BMI 30.0–34.9 if hyperglycemia is inadequately controlled despite optimal treatment with either oral or injectable medications. This recommendation is also included in the ADA’s “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2022.” About IFSO The International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) is a Federation composed of national associations of bariatric surgeons and Integrated Health professionals. Currently, there are 72 official member societies of IFSO, as well as individual members from countries that thus far have not formed a national association. IFSO is a scientific organization that brings together surgeons and integrated health professionals, such as nurse, practitioners, dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists, internists and anesthesiologists, involved in the treatment of patients with obesity. About ASMBS The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the United States. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.

If so I suspect that refocussing on protein first, veg second, fruit third and carbs last might be a good place to start. You should still be able to use your restriction to your advantage or at the very least fill up on protein and veg to kick start another loss. I really hope you can get back on top of this. 😍

I guess the easiest for me was the new eating plan. My favorite part of every meal is the protein, so "protein first" was easy. The food volume change was also quite easy as I filled up ridiculously quick, still do. Even dumping, which is devastating to some post-ops taught me rather quickly that sugar and fats were not safe as "every so often" foods. Good luck, Tek

Thank you. This is very helpful. I don't eat a ton of "bad" food, but I eat one of those small kids chip snap bags several days/week. I pick at food as I prepare dinner. I have a glass (or 2) of wine with dinner, and then night eating puts me over the top. Not bad food, but too much food. I have to get this situation under control. I have to increase the vegetables and go back to protein shakes to cut back on calories. I already go to the gym twice per week and get very respectable workouts in. My goal has never been to be skinny. I'm ecstatic at size 8 and very satisfied at a size 10. I'm at least a 14 at this point and I'm beside myself!

Ooh that’s a good one. I used to drink a 12 pack of Coke Zero a day!! I gave it up two months before surgery and have not looked back. Now I do have a protein shake with caffeine in the morning but that’s it, nothing else unless I splurge with an iced coffee (coffee, milk and Splenda) which I don’t have too often.

Well I’m guessing your maintenance diet is a little different than your weight loss phase of the diet. I’m thinking you just have to go back to the weight loss phase. I have gained too and that’s my plan. I am going back and forth as to whether I should start with a week of my liver shrink diet which was basically two shakes and a lean protein and veggie dinner.

As you note, the scales and calculators are mostly a "best guess", as they are highly algorithmic. The more direct measures like the vox tests and the like are better, but still have some population algorithms in there that can go astray of one is far outside normal population standards, as WLS patients often are. Similar for body composition checks - the scales are OK if you know how to correct them, but the more direct measures such as bodpod, water displacement and even dexascan are trying to solve for more variables than they can measure, so they are comparing to norms. Getting into BMRs and the like, of course there is the judgement as to burn rates and exertion levels above resting, but then with our WLS of different flavors, that impacts the intake caloric level that we consuming and absorbing, and how the body adjusts to the insult of surgery over time, what the surgery that you had does to the absorption of different foods (fats absorbed differently from carbohydrates which are different from proteins, simple carbs different from complex carbs.) In short, you may get a number from some lab testing as to what calories are appropriate for you, but the ultimate test is whether your weight is stable at that point, or gaining or losing so that you need to make adjustments.

I thought so. I will use what we have now and I found an u flavored protein and was thinking about just adding some berries/fruit and a dash of cinnamon. Thank you. Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

Great suggestion. Dr Weiner just made an instagram post about the GLP-1 the other day for weight loss. It’s hard to get insurance to cover it though if your not diabetic but since you are this may be a really good option for you, OP. Also his book, a pound of cure was really informative.

That is a lot of sugar for oatmeal! I use Pampered Chef Cinnamon Plus in my oatmeal. It doesn’t have any sugar & I’m only getting sugar from the fruit I’m adding. I would put 1/4C of sugar on my Rice Krispy cereal so I am shocked that I don’t want it on my oatmeal! There are copy cat PC Cinnamon Plus recipes on Pinterest So I just make my own. You also can buy unflavored protein from a nutrition store & add it to your food during the 1st couple of months. Good luck with your surgery !

Agree with others that surgery options may be limited. Have you talked to your PCP about the GLP-1 medications? Mounjaro is newest to market, specifically for diabetics, and has pretty significant results. Wegovy/Ozempic are similar but a little older and easier to get insurance approved.

I was due for surgery last September, but due to rise in COVID number jt was canceled and then we moved. I finally got back in the process and it is now scheduled for December 13th! I just bought some protein oatmeal, and noticed it has 12g sugar, so thinking I will have to make my own after surgery? I definitely want tk avoid dumping, and originally thought I could add this as a puree option and soft food. Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

If I were you I would consider trying the nutritionist and bariatric therapist first. Those two things are often a huge part of why the surgery is successful and they very well could just be enough to get you there without surgery. I understand that you have tried everything and can’t lose and I get it that you need to do something. I was lower BMI as well (35). But, I had the sleeve a year and a half ago and I still didn’t get to my dream weight. This surgery is a great option for many people but it is still major surgery. Post surgery you cannot take NSAIDS for pain and you may struggle with constipation plus have to take vitamins all for the rest of your life. These are all things that you can live with and of course if you still can’t lose the weight they may be things you have to live with but I wish someone had told me to give it one last try with the nutritionist and therapy before I committed to all this. I may still be exactly where I am by now but at least I wouldn’t have to wonder if I could’ve done it on my own. Having said that, ask your doctors of course because you do have medical issues that I did not have and maybe losing the weight asap is really important and the surgery is definitely a faster way to lose it. Also, IF your insurance will cover you can kill two birds with one stone if you get the process started while trying to lose. For many insurance companies you have to do 6 months of physician managed weight loss attempt anyways so you can do all that while you see if the nutritionist can help and maybe even talk to a bariatric therapist to see if you have any disordered eating behaviors that they can help you with. In terms of getting the surgery if that’s what you choose you may have to wait until you get to a BMI of 30 to qualify, BUT. If you haven’t been measured in a while your height may be shorter than you think because we shrink as we age and your BMI will be higher than you think. (BMI goes up almost an entire point just because of one inch). Also, I would still call around because I believe anything under 35 you will have to be self pay so maybe with your medical issues they would consider doing it just under 30. I’m pretty sure it’s up to the doctor.

I agree about adding some milk to thin out the shakes. I do that. I also add a pinch of salt sometimes. I can do about 4 oz of protein drink at a time. I also have a good broth that I generally have for "lunch" and "dinner" and I put a non-flavored protein in the dinner one, so that helps me a lot. I'm just dipping my toes in puree, so I'm not really eating enough of that where it is worth putting protein in it - there's just not enough food. So, for now, I'm stuck with the shakes, clear protein, and broth. There are a ton of unflavored proteins out there, though, that maybe you could put in a warm drink? I am supposed to do 2 multis a day and I do 1 chewable and 1 capsule. I tried taking apart the capsule and it was worse than the chewable!

I live in Florida so its typically still very hot this time of year but the last few days its been in the 40-60's so its nice. as for protein i probably get around 80-100 grams a day. I still have the fairlife protein shakes too. I am going to buy a lab test tomorrow to add to my doctors blood test that i have to take on Monday. Its called PREALBUMIN BLOOD TEST which test for protein malnutrition https://www.walkinlab.com/products/view/prealbumin-blood-test

I hit my 1 month today. I’m down 8.7 lbs since surgery, almost 27 from sept 5 when I started my preop diet. I started at 220 and I’m at 193.3. Last week I hit the stall and it was starting to be discouraging and then boom more drop. I was cleared to work out so I have been back in my peloton. I want to go biking outside while the weather is still nice but I’m still afraid of getting hurt. My incisions have healed and I started using a scar remover to try to lighten the scar. My family has noticed my weight loss as have my coworkers. My clothes are starting to actually fit me, instead of being so tight. I also took my kid to an amusement park and was able to walk the whole day- 15,000 steps and while I was exhausted, my knees didn’t swell up and my feet didn’t give out as they would have 27 lbs ago.  I’m having challenges in learning what satisfied feels like. I’ve been basically either hungry or just stuffed. The only thing I’ve been asked not to eat is a salad so I have been prioritizing eating the protein in my plate. My partner made my favorite- rice and lentils with chicken- and I couldn’t even get a bite of the lentils in- the chicken was the priority and it kept me full for hours. My biggest struggle right now is eating slowly. I eat on the go- I’m working consistently and eat at my desk (im a lawyer) so it is hard to find the time to eat a meal for 30 minutes 3 times a day. I think once I get to do this, then maybr I’ll learn the difference and learning when I am satisfied. I’m still struggling with Water intake- it’s hard to take small sips and get through 64 ounces bc I’m busy. And big gulps are just a no no. Getting there though. Today my therapist asked if I had made the right decision. I told her yes. I believe the surgery saved my life and quality of life. I was down a spiral and would have easily found myself heavier, more depressed and with pain everywhere. My chest pains are gone; my joint pain is gone, and while I am exhausted (more due to long days and I think less due to surgery), I know that my quality of life is improving. All in all, not bad for a month ;)

The hat is a great idea and really cute. It's a good thing it's a cooler time of year! Any idea how many grams of protein you generally average per day? I'm curious because I'm right at 3 months post op and I haven't noticed any hair loss... yet, and I'm getting between 100 and 120 gms per day and I'm hoping that will be enough to stave it off. 🤞

Most insurance won't pay since typically they use a BMI of 35 with comorbidities, or 40 with no comorbidities as their cut-off. If you're self pay, there should be more options open to you. I do think a lot of those tend to use a BMI of 30 as their cut off, but I'm no expert there. Your best option might be to talk to a few different clinics about what they can do for you.

Don't beat yourself up for one bad day! Thats also not too bad of a day compared to where we were before the surgery. I know I've come close to 1000 a couple of times because I'm trying to find foods that I like that have a ton of protein and sometimes those are also high calorie. I also can pretty much eat anything and have no nausea so its harder to keep on track when our tool is a little more lenient than others. Its a long journey, so don't stress too much about the bumps, we'll get there!

I’m finally feeling “normal”?? I started a stall at 3 weeks and this week (my 5th week) it FINALLY broke. Thanks to helpful advice here especially the post from @SpartanMaker describing the why’s of stalls. It was water retention...and how do I know this? Because it started at 3 weeks and also this week the volume of pee vs consumption just went to a whole new level! I should have realized something was way off with that because I was drinking the recommended amounts but not peeing nearly as much as I would prior to surgery. I also upped my protein just because 40g wasn’t cutting it so I’m really really trying for 60 now. Also, started a MiraLax every couple of days and Benefiber daily program....big help there also. All of these things have made a huge difference and I feel so much better. I, too, am making an effort to get walks in every day. I’m working on weights twice a week but I need to get with my team on that. I was told no more than lifting 5 lb weights but that seems insanely ridiculous. Also, not sure when I can resume any ab work (not that I’m begging to do planks and sit-ups....) I hear you all on the fluid intake when we can only hold so much AND there are hours around meals when we can’t drink...it’s really hard. The mathematics that it takes to keep all the timing, portions, tracking and vitamin regimens is something else! 😂😂 We all need a pat on the back for determination and perseverance - good job everyone!