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I don't think Premier Protein ready-made shakes have significant soy in them. I checked them carefully before I started my pre-op diet, because soy makes my body's thermostat crazy - I feel hot all the time when I consume it.

Yesterday I made gluten free banana protein pancakes. They were delicious and high in protein. Used coconut flour, coconut milk, and coconut oil so I guess you would have to like coconut lol

I had my first one today as well, It was a breeze. No pain, I was in at 1:00 and out at 1:26. I got a 1.5cc for my first fill. I came back to work and had a protein shake and some water. My doctor orders are 2 days liquid, 2 mushy and back to solids. Whew hew!!!!!!!!!!!!! We did it.

Not knowing more about you (Do you eat alone or with family? Are you diabetic, so you control sugar? Do you have high blood pressure? Do you have something you are being treated for? Etc?) If my questions are not a factor and you are cooking for others I would eat with the rest of the family and just cut the quantity in 1/2. If you are alone I suggest boiling a doz eggs & chopping fresh veg & a variety of fruit, etc. to have in the refrigerator. Think of skim milk, chicken breasts, unsweetened apple sauce, and then look at some low cal recipes for baking something you like. I just tried to think ahead to have things on hand. Sometimes I opened a can of beans & rinsed them for my protein. Beans go down good and add flavour to a salad too. Onions, carrots, celery, broccoli are good, but I found I felt better if I blanched them or put them in microwave a little bit to ease my tummy. If I ate them raw they didn't digest well or else I wasn't chewing long enough. Maybe this is more than you ever wanted to know, but you will do great, just listen to you pouch it will tune you in to it's likes & dislikes! :wub:

My hair is falling out like crazy! Even more than it did before I had the surgery. I get about 60 grams of Protein a day. I also take Biotin and a prenatal Vitamin. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

mine started coming out in 2 1/2 months in i noticed in the tub (talk about a reality awakening) hard to think as i have baby fine hair to begin with i have heard its gets better i do keep my Protein high daily to help with that (if it does) have a great day

Hi Missdixie- I had surgery on 2/18 and have the exact same stats as you. I went up two lbs yesterday but back down 1 today. I think I have to stop weighing myself- although in the back of my head I just want reassurance that this is working. I don't feel a difference in my clothes either- but I think I'm still somewhat swollen. ...it's very frustrating but it's gotta work- we are hardly eating anything!!! What are you eating for protein? I'm so sick of shakes and starting to think about "real food". Lol. Good luck to you!!

Llamalover17 Hi hon, I'm 3 years out from my RNY. I have been successful in losing 132#'s in 6 months. I did have a 8# gain. So I now weigh 125#'s and have maintained my loss for 2 and 1/2 years. You are not a failure and you can do this!! A 90# loss is nothing to sneeze at. That is 30#'s a month. That is more than I even lost in a month. I lost 20#'s a month. Keep your eyes on the prize. Keep trying that is all any of us can do!! Give up the carbs or at least keep them at a minimum. My Team told me from the beginning that in time there are no forbidden foods!! We just have to do them in MODERATION. Now that doesn't mean you can eat junk all of the time. Our bodies work best with getting lots of Protein in and you can eat veggies to fill up. The ideal program would be to not do carbs until you reach your goal. It won't be long until you are there. If you don't have time to go to the gym for your exercise try to walk. It is a great exercise and it is free and gives you the chance to clear your mind also. I try to keep my hands busy with going on Facebook, support groups on here I color I read In write in a journal. Another thing maybe you can talk to someone about everything going on. This is a BIG ADJUSTMENT our body is kind of in shock. Please feel free to chat with me at any time. You can get ahold of me at scharbroughsherrie@gmail.com. Like I said I'm not sure if I can be much help but I am a great listener and I have gone thru WLS and kind of been there done that!!

I went through that stage. Man, the week before I started my pre-op liquid diet i probably gained 10 pounds just on my "goodbye food" tour. I had no idea what i would or wouldn't be able to eat. I remember sitting in McDonalds a year ago, eating a bacon egg and cheese McGriddle with tears streaming down my face as I mentally said goodbye to bacon egg and cheese McGriddles FOREVER. well, almost a year has passed, about 11 months actually, since my surgery and I am down about 90 pounds with NO FILLS and I can eat any type of food that I want to eat. the thing that has changed is the head hunger. I just don't feel it the way I did before surgery. before, food consumed pretty much every waking moment of my day. what will i eat next? what will i eat after that? what is the next meal? when is the next meal? i can honestly say i do not think that way any more. it's like a switch was turned off in my head and it really quieted that voice. sometimes i don't even think about food until my stomach makes a noise and i realize that i haven't eaten and i need to eat! can you imagine??? i certainly couldn't have imagined that *gasp* i wouldn't want to eat unless i was actually feeling hunger. so, although i can eat any type of food i want to eat, including bacon, egg, and cheese McGriddles, i rarely eat things that aren't serving a purpose. that means, i eat proteins first, as they fill me up, then veggies, then if i have it whatever starches there are. i can eat bread, but i don't eat a lot of it. every once in a while i will have a mcdonald's (or wendy's or burger king) hamburger with the bun...the difference is, I don't have the whopper or the big mac, i just have the regular size and it really is enough. i get the taste of whatever i am craving and then i move on with my day. if i have fries, i order the small instead of the super size. i also wait the 20 minutes after eating a meal to take a drink (like my doctor suggested) i still eat chocolate and cookies and cakes and sweets and things that aren't super duper healthy, but i don't have them every day. i usually have a cheat day or a special event that i save those things for. really, i don't think about sweets and starch and stuff like that in the way that i used to anyway. Holidays are really the only time where i indulge in sweets. can you say Cadbury eggs??? I'm so glad Easter is over and they have stopped selling these little eggs of evil anywho, i said all of that to say that what you are feeling is perfectly normal, at least it was for me. do what you need to do to mourn, but also know that if you chew long enough you can eat pretty much anything. the good thing about chewing is that once something spends a lot of time in your mouth and you really taste it for the first time, you realize that it wasn't a fantastic taste in the first place and you don't really want to eat it again. really, things don't taste the same to me anymore and i've lost the desire to have a lot of things that i once thought i loved. do i miss taking huge bites of delicious huge burgers? yes i do. sometimes, usually when it's that time of the month, but for the most part, i have competely changed my eating habits. i don't count calories or weigh foods or do any of that stuff. i think that now i eat like a normal person would eat. I have been watching my co-workers (who are all thin) and their eating habits this past year and i have discovered that we tend to now get hungry at the same time of day and eat roughly the same amount of foods and be full with the same serving size. this has given me joy to know that for the first time in my life there is something normal about me. i am eating like a normal person. not vacuuming the food down, not eating until i feel pain, not stuffing myself silly with supersized portions, but really eating and enjoying the tastes of food, all kinds of food. this band has actually opened up a world of food choices for me. i have discovered new flavors that i never knew existed or never paid attention to because i used to just bypass the chew stage. in the mouth and down the throat it went. no longer. now i spend time with food and since i'm spending time with food in my mouth, i want only delicious tasting things to go into my mouth. anyway, i could go on and on and on and on, but i will stop there and just say good luck to you and maybe give you hope that this isn't the end. you will be able to eat foods you like and love and you will be able to enjoy eating. just take it one day at a time and don't be discouraged. you will be just fine.

I will definitely try the gasX as the next option , I really hope it works. Thank you all

There are many naysayers about the band, but also many of us who credit the band with changing our lives! Please trust the process and follow the protein. Water. And exercise as best as you can. You can reevaluate in a couple of months, but don't let the horror stories scare you . I, like many others, have had little to no problems with my band. For years. !!! I credit it with totally changing my life. And living for years without the burden of 90 extra lbs!!! Best of luck and please keep posting⭐️

Had lap and done August 25. Lost 20 lbs quickly prep week before surgery and after surgery once the swelling went down but for a week nothing and I have a appetite again I am hungry but not like before but I can eat 1-2 cups of food now I called Drs office they said to eat 3 protein meals a day and two shake a day. Finally going to bathroom almost everyday after not going for 8 days . I am getting a first fill in 2.5 weeks but lot soon enough tree terrified cause I am not losing weight for a 9 days now but I am shrinking physically Help!! Any advice

Hey everyone :purplebananna: I've currently been on a liquid diet for 11 days (Surgery on Friday!) and I have some questions. The liquid diet hasn't been too difficult for me.. but the last couple of days it seems to be wearing me out. I know that this liquid thing (before and after the band) is the hardest part of the process.. and I can understand that. I guess I'm just getting a little "blah" about it all. Everything is so sweet. The Protein drink is sweet, Jello is sweet, popsicles are sweet... and I hate broth. Is there ANYTHING that I can have that isn't so sweet? I know I just need to get through the next two and half to three weeks.. but goodness, it's going to be long. I'm not even craving bad food at all. What I wouldn't give to have some vegies, fruit.. or anything remotely close to solid! Oh well.. Hope everyone is doing well :biggrin2:

Hi, Im from Texas as well. North Houston to be a little more exact. I was banded in June and had mexican food for the first time last week. I had 2 tacos, a few chips, a couple bites of Beans, no rice and 2 beers. The beer was first of course and sipped very slowly. Way less then before the band. It felt so good to eat and I did not feel bad about it either. Because I normally drink slimfast carb control, and salads with lean Protein.

Hi all, It has been a bit since I have been on. I got my band on june 10th. I am scared because I think I am at a stand still. I am having problems eating only 1/2 a cup at a time. I try to keep my portions small, but I have to admit with the holidays I have eaten more than I should. My doctor felt I had enough fill about a month and a half ago. At first I felt the fill but now I feel like I did before the band. Except I can feel the restiction when I each dry type foods. Such as bread or a bit of cake. I don't eat cake often at all. I had a couple bday parties and had a small slice. What scares me is what if I don't need another fill? I am still battling with my love for food. I also feel I am losing so slow. Now I love my band. Wouldn't change a thing. I also knew it would be a challenge. I have lost 34lbs in 6months. I really thought I would atleast be down 50lbs by now. I work out 5 or six times a week. I should eat more protein though. I know my band is in good shape. What I was wondering is if anyone else feels this struggle? Also does it sound like I can use another fill? I think I should. Although I know I will struggle with dryer foods. I have no problem with almost all foods. In fact other than a quick feeling of pressure for a second as the bread goes down I feel no restriction. I am not at all trying to put the band down I just need some friends. If you made it this far through this thanks for reading my book.lol

I discovered Lean Shakes from GNC on my pre-op diet... I like them the best... plus they often have a sale on them.. I think I paid 7.99 for 4 the last time I bought them.. I don't drink them as much now but I use them for a on the go protein boost... Swiss Chocolate is my favorite and then the Strawberry... Musle milk is good too but the Lean Shakes have more protein and they are 16 oz...

I buy the Quest bars, at gnc all the time, by 2 get one free, I like the coconut cashew and the strawberry cheesecake...we are never going to find a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar, it's just not going to happen with the amount of protein in them, but I like the Quest bars and eat them frequently

I have bought quest bars individually at gnc.. the cookie dough one is the one I like the best.. other flavors are not great...and they are quite chewy... however they have the lowest amount of sugar of all the protein bars.. walmart does have a great selection I have bought muscle milk bars that I keep in my purse in case I get stuck somewhere that I can't eat....

I am 29 years old. I am ready to get the gastric sleeve journey started. I am doing research on which weight loss option would be best. Can anyone tell me why they chose the sleeve?

I look forward to my protein shakes!!!! However, If I had been a a liquid only pre-op I know they wouldn't be so appealing. Day 5 for me..... and 3 pounds gone since Saturday. Been fairly easy so far and I haven't gave into temptation. Even when a co-worker order pizza and offered up a slice. Pizza has always been one of my quantity foods. One thing I like about my pre-op is that it's about portion control and better food choices, which I hope will set me up for healthier eating post surgery. Congrats on begining your journey!!!! John

Okay Y'all, I'm on day two of my pre-op. I guess I am a little lucky, because my doctor on me doing, protein shakes, lean meats and starchless carbs. Feelin' a lack of energy... but overall feeling good. Made a awesome protein drink today. 1 scoop protein powder, 8 ounces of almond milk, and 1 teaspoon of whipped peanut butter, then blend till smooth. It's about 22g of protein and 185 calories John

Thank you for all of the replies! :scared2: I narrowed it down to two doctors, but I haven't met either of them! First I made a list of all the doctors offering WLS in my city and visited their sites. I was able to narrow it down to 3-4 and then I gave them a ring. Based on the information that I was given, I was able to narrow it down to my first and second choices. I've scheduled a meeting with my first choice and my second choice. I'm quite confidant that one of these two doctors will do my operation. They also have good comments on this board, so it helps me feel better. The price difference between the two doctors is maybe a $1000 difference but I can't really tell which package would be best for me, maybe y'all can help me out.... First Doctor includes: Pre-Op Appointment Dietitian Evaluation Pre-Op Lab Surgeon’s Fee Facility Fee Anesthesiologist The LAP-BAND® Device 1 Year of Monthly Follow-Up Appointments 1 Year of Adjustments The Behavioral Assessment is not included. It's an additional $150. Also, fills are a flat rate of $100. And I would have to pay out of pocket for any additional lab tests, if needed. Second doctor includes: Nutritional and exercise counseling by our counselor. Surgeon's fee. Hospital's fee. Anesthesiologist fee. Post-operative visits at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 18 months, and annually for 5 years. Attendance to Support Group meetings. For Adjustable Gastric Banding Patients, 4 band fills within 12 months after the operation. Does not include Pre-operative labs and necessary exams to qualify for surgery (your insurance may cover these). Psychologist fee for psychological evaluation. Protein drinks and nutritional supplements. Any thoughts???

If you had your surgery on 9/2 you're only about 5.5 weeks out, right? So you have only lost a total of 6 lbs since your surgery? If thats the case something is definitely not right, you should have lost more than that before you even left the hospital. What diet have you been on, are you walking/exercising? Are you getting enough Protein & calories (if not your body will go into starvation mode & it will be nearly impossible to lose weight)?

Another option is OA online. They have great resources and then a sort of chat room that people join and then the meeting is conducted online in that format. I live on the booneys so the nearest meeting was over an hour away. That was a nice option.

Wow.. Some of the people that answer are kind of "pissy". sheesh. I would say talk to you doctor. I had 2 weeks of liquid prescribed. After one week I was in the office getting my final bloodwork done and without even asking they told me I was fine to have a small meal every day for the final week along with the protein shakes. That was great as it was Christmas week and it would have sucked to sitdown to a beef tenderloin dinner with the whole extended family while I sipped on a protein shake and chicken broth. The 3 ozs of rare tenderloin rocked. They may very well tell you not to have anything. If so well at least you asked. And I sure don't think baked chicken and lettuce leaves is setting up for failure.. By the way, congratulations and what a nice Valentines present you are giving yourself. If I was there I would give you a heart shaped red jello servering for your first Valentine's Day meal. -- If the doc said it was OK Good Luck.