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I would follow what your clinic says. Stalls are a normal part of weight loss, and as long as you're compliant with your program, they WILL break. No need to do anything other than to make sure you're following. your clinic's program to a "T". 100 grams of protein isn't too high. Most of us are told to shoot for the 60-80 range, and even that can be a challenge at first, so It'd be a huge challenge to get up to 100 so soon after surgery (which is probably why he recommended drinking two protein shakes a day). Although that said, 100 grams of protein is not too high. I have to average at least 100 grams a day because we discovered early on after my surgery (nine years ago) that I malabsorb it. If I don't get that much, my pre albumin level tanks. also, you are not going to gain weight, given what you said you're eating. You would not be gaining weight on 100 grams of protein, either, given the amount of calories you're taking in.

How long has it been since you had the sleeve surgery? How much weight have you lost and how rapidly? How much food/calories are you able to consume daily, and also how much water? Are you improving slowly or getting worse?I think these details might help people with offering some advice, especially if anyone else on here has been through a similar situation.

I have tried the quest protein chips, and the Atkins protein chips, the bags are the same calories, carbs and protein in comparison. I like the Atkins chips much more than the Quest.

It seems okay but it might be best to sit down with your dietician. Were you given any targets? I wasn’t given any other targets than 60g protein & 2L fluids & a nebulous low fat, low sugar, low carbs & given no calorie guidance. Others are given very detailed macros they’re to meet & there are differences in those too. But then we are different & have different needs & our surgeon & dieticians have different requirements. Oh & don’t worry you won’t gain weight eating less than 700 calories.

I wasn’t required to track. I sort of did initially on random days for own curiosity. I did keep to the portion sizes I was given. I still do random checks to keep me on track & ensure I haven’t let things slide especially with new foods or recipes. I check protein, sugars, calories but don’t keep a formal record. I keep a mental tally of my daily protein intake but only because I have a protein malabsorption issue. It works for me & that is the key: finding out what works for you. If that’s tracking great. If it’s random tracking/monitoring or it’s none at all that’s great too. As long as it allows you to maintain, is manageable & not consuming you, all is good. I put on a good 2kgs/5lbs at the two year mark but didn’t know why. We worked out I wasn’t absorbing my HRT after my gall removal (why I don’t absorb protein too). Was put on a HRT patch & I slowly lost half of it over about 6 months again without changing what I ate or my activity. I’ve pretty much lost another kilo and now, nearing my 5 year mark, am pretty much what I weighed at my initial stabilised weight depending on the day. I should add I am very careful with what I eat & how much I eat. Still eat slowly. Still take small bites. Still eat to a routine most of the time around what & when I eat (I’m a clock watcher for my meals & snacks). Still very conscious of whether I am really hungry or just head hungry. Still very conscious of eating what I need not just how much or what I want to eat.

It was a while ago now but I remember I still wasn’t hitting my protein goal. I wanted to do real food only too & plus I found the shakes disgusting & never touched one after liquids. For breakfast I scrambled eggs with extra milk & took three days to eat them or ate rolled oats again made totally on milk & took three days to eat a serve. Lunch & dinner were often just protein (maybe 2 ozs) & nothing else or with just a green bean or two or a small cauliflower floret with dinner. And yes I’d take a while to eat that - 45 mins +/-. After a week or two on soft food I added a high protein yoghurt or yoghurt drink as an afternoon snack to burst my protein. I wasn’t hungry or really interested in eating. I simply couldn’t eat more than I was but I was following my surgeon’s portion size recommendation of 1/4 - 1/3 cup from purée slowly increasing to a cup by 6 months If you are worried by getting your protein in try protein water. You’ll get about 16oz liquid, 15g protein & about 70 calories. So fewer calories (if you count calories) than a shake (which is really a meal) but not as many nutrients. Just watch those with added sugar or sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners.

I have to eat every 2-3 hours and have since I was post op, so I eat 5-6 small meals a day. I prefer this because it keeps me from mindless snacking, provides a rhythm to my day, and allows me to get in a variety of flavors and textures. I'm only 3 months post op, there is no way I'd get my daily macros in with just 3 meals a day. My stomach doesn't have that capacity and if I go past 3 hours without eating my energy crashes, I feel light headed, nauseous, shaky, and irritable. Each person's body is different, but by necessity I ascribe to the "eat less more often" method and I'm not alone in that need. My target macros are 120 grams of protein, 100 grams of fat, 40 grams of total carbs, calories don't matter because I malabsorb a good percentage of fat and a moderate percentage of protein. 8:00 am Premier Protein Vanilla Shake 9:30 am 3 tablespoons hashbrowns, 4 cherry tomatoes, 1 1/2 scrambled eggs 12:00 Ratio Coconut Keto Yogurt and 2 tablespoons Diabetic Kitchen Granola 3:00 pm Espresso with 1/2 cup Fairlife Whole Milk, Quest Spicy Sweet Chili Protein Chips 6:00 pm 1 grilled chicken thigh, no skin, 3 tablespoons green beans 9:00 pm 14 Wasabi Soy Roasted Almonds, 1 Choxo Dark Chocolate Coconut Cup Total Macros: 116 grams of Protein, 40 total grams of carbs, 78 grams of fat, 1305 calories. This is pretty typical for me. I don't always eat the protein chips, I was just in a hurry and they are one of my go-to snacks when I can't have something perishable. Normally they'd be a protein and veggie.

Tracking is a thing that can be polarizing for sure. It's almost like weighing in daily - it's not necessarily a good thing for all people. Some it helps, some it hinders. I, like many here, have been on a weight loss journey long before choosing surgery. When I was ready to be serious back in 2014 I tracked daily on MyFitnessPal. I only had a calorie goal and macros wasn't even on the mind. It for sure helped me in my journey to lose 100lbs and maintain that loss for a few years. I was definitely more consistent with it Monday through Friday, but not overly "religious" with it on weekends. Sometimes you guess a serving or a recipe that's close to one you use - but at least you have a close enough snapshot. Then came 2020, tracking, activity and all that jazz all of it went out the window and by 2022 I gained all my weight back. Then was the serious contemplation of surgery. Now I track via the Baritastic app (which i like, but do not love) and it's honestly more about protein and fiber tracking and reminders for vitamins throughout the day. I've never been overly anxious about writing down every last bite and morsel or if the calories were more one day over the next. However it can help to provide insight if you feel like maybe you stalled and try to lower or raise carbs to help it budge. Or that it can help track activity along with intake. The numbers might help the big picture and to reflect back. Some track for a period of time and then step back when there's a good grasp of macro counts by reflex and it becomes second nature. But once I think it starts getting obsessive or causes anxiety or to villainize foods, then maybe tracking in that manner is not for you.

I've done both. When I first started going to a nutritionist 7 years ago, I tracked religiously for calories as well as daily steps and lost about 40lbs. The problem I found was when I stopped tracking, I didn't have enough of a routine to keep eating the right way. When I was tracking calories with a 1500 limit, I would eat whatever and then stop when I hit the limit. Sometimes I was still hungry, other times I would have a glass of wine because I had "extra" calories at the end of the day. So it was effective for losing but not for maintenance. I also got really anxious having to track it all online for some reason. This summer, I started changing the basics of how I ate and forming a routine of the same foods almost every day. I would do a smoothie for breakfast, a big salad at lunch, and then a reasonable dinner, while minimizing the snacks and eliminating processed foods, added sugars, etc. I lost about 15lbs without tracking by keeping to this routine about 28 days out of every 30. The consistency worked for me and I didn't worry about the couple of times per month when I broke the routine and went out to eat or had a treat because it wasn't enough to outweigh the good stuff I was doing. Today, I've started my pre-op liquid diet and I am tracking again, but this time I decided on a notebook instead of an online tracker. I plan to track for several months because I think it's information I will need for my doctor and nutritionist if I encounter anything unusual during my recovery. I bought a Legend Planner Food Journal (pocket edition). It's not too big and it doesn't give me the anxiety tracking apps do. It has 6 months worth of pages, so I plan to track until the book is full and then reevaluate. I feel like if I can establish good habits and continue to track my weight weekly, I can stop tracking food. But if my labs come back bad or my weight starts going up, I will reassess.

I'm on my second week post op, in my puree stage right now. It's just that I,m buying groceries and I'M trying to keep an eye on the calories, proteins, sugar and fat but i'm not about the limits. I'm kind of confused at this point. Also, i'm not really counting my macros, i just want to be able to have an idea about what I eat while learning to eat healthy and in a balanced way again.

As @ChunkCat said you should be fine in any city which is likely where you’ll be while studying. These surgeries are performed just about everywhere these days. Find a good general practitioner (PCP) & then they should be able to refer you if you need/want. The PCP will be able to request & monitor your blood work & ensure you’re not missing out on any thing or your levels aren’t dropping too low or getting too high. They could refer you to a good dietician as well. Actual follow ups with your surgeon differ. I saw mine for the first few months & then his colleague took over & I still see her almost 5 years later. I saw him again two years later when he took my fall out though. Some never see their surgeon again unless there is an issue or a concern. You don’t need special bariatric food or vitamins after surgery. Just good, healthy, nutrient dense food the more natural & low processed the better. Some surgeons recommend specific brands for the pre & post surgery liquid stages but generally any high protein shake (pre made or powder) will work. (My cynical side says they likely have a marketing deal with that shake company.) I only had shakes for 2 weeks post surgery & I bought Atkins cause it was easily accessible at my grocery store - lol! Just check the sugar content (real & artificial) & protein content & calories. Same with vitamins, look for quality brands & check how much of each vitamin they contain so you’re not double dosing. Your blood work will help inform what vitamin supplements you actually need. All the best.

I had the Duodenal Switch, which is different than the most common two surgeries being discussed here. I picked it because I had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, sleep apnea, etc... I also picked it because I knew a purely restrictive surgery wouldn't work for me. Portion has never been my issue. Pre-op I was eating about 1000-1200 calories a day, for about 10 years, and did nothing but steadily gain weight. My surgeon said it was obvious I have a metabolic disorder, so I needed a metabolically strong surgery. I also didn't want to risk gaining weight back and the DS has the lowest rate of regain. But as a trade off it can cause more vitamin and protein deficiencies if not managed well and the diet is a bit different than the others post op because of our malabsorption. However, diabetes was my biggest concern and the DS puts about 95% of T2 cases in remission, and most stay that way. Post op my blood sugar dropped to 82 within 24 hours of surgery and my high blood pressure normalized, so they took me off of my diabetes meds and blood pressure meds. I'm 3 months out and my a1c is 4.8 without medication!! My blood pressure continues to be normal without meds. My cholesterol and triglycerides are also normal without medication, which hasn't happened in decades! All this to say---consult with a surgeon who offers ALL the surgeries if you can find one in your area. Talk to them about your reasons for wanting bariatric surgery and consider your options carefully. The sleeve surgery is amazing for a number of people, but it isn't right for everyone. The bypass is a fantastic surgery for certain patients, but again, it isn't for everyone. And the DS is a powerful surgery, but it definitely has a specific patient profile. All are great surgeries, but not all of them will be the best surgery for you. Only you and your surgeon can decide that. And don't be afraid to get a second opinion. I went to two surgeons before deciding on one (though both recommended the same surgery). I needed that extra reassurance I was picking the right surgeon and the right surgery. I'm so glad I did this surgery, I just wish it had been an option available to me when I was younger.❤️

it really depends on what ur goals are... rapid weight loss? sustained weight loss? maintenance? muscle building? fat loss? carb reduction? fats loading? anyway...i used the following calculator to determine my optimal macros based on a modified keto diet (kinda like Atkins II, sorta). it worked for me until it didn't...the macros i was aiming to maintain was really not sustainable (for me) in the long run. im 5+years post op now and don't look at macros anymore (haven't done so since year 2)...now i just keep an eye on total calories (no matter how they are comprised). i've been able to maintain below goal weight this entire time just on maintaining a caloric limit alone....but thats just me...ymmv. but anyway, here is the calculator: https://www.ruled.me/keto-calculator/ good luck! ❤️

if you're on full liquids, then no. Once you're on soft foods, it depends on your surgeon. I didn't eat it the first few months. It's pretty high in calories.

I worried about it in the beginning. I make a point to not overeat often because of it. My habit is to stop at about 80% full. I can eat 2 cups at one sitting, on a hungry day and depending upon what it is. But as some say, just because I can doesn't mean I should or will lol. I have to rely on filling with fruits/vegetables, healthy low calorie foods, on those super hungry days or I would gain weight.

I had to do 2 weeks of low calorie intake and now I'm on 2 days of liquid. Are you nervous at all?? I'm kinda freaking out haha but not enough to back out. I'm just a really anxious person..

Oh at 6 days out I was still on liquids OP! Didn't get to puree until 2 weeks after my sleeve. Honestly - get as close as you can to your protein goal and don't worry too much about that. At this stage what matters most is not getting dehydrated, so focus on your fluids! Hair loss will happen because that's what our bodies do when we cut calories. Not sure what, if anything, stops that. It's not nice but it does stop eventually.

What about CICO? = Calories In Calories Out.

I highly recommend Arrowroot. Its has anti-inflammatory properties, Antiseptic/antibacterial properties and; It doesn't have the same starch that yeast thrives on and absorbs sweat great. Its also low in calories, high in fiber, may also help with constipation and diarrhea and clear out cholesterol! https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/arrowroot.html Its what I use and it works great! I hope this helps!

I'm so jealous. I also had surgery 1/24 and have lost 7 pounds. One of the reasons I did the VSG was because when I would try to lose weight, it would come off so slowly---like it would take maybe 6 weeks to lose 5 pounds. It took me 8 months to lose 30 lbs and that was with Qsymia and eating about 1000 calories a day. I would get so frustrated and just give up, I'd go back to my regular diet (which wasn't crazy--usually 1500 - 1800 calories a day) and everything I'd lost would come back. Now, given my usual speed of weight loss, 7 pounds in 9 days is great. But on this liquid diet where I'm getting 300 400 calories a day max, I thought I'd lose more quickly. I was hoping for at least 10-12 lbs by now. Still, I'm happy that I've done this; it's going well and I know that I will succeed. I was just hoping for it to be quicker!

I had to do 2 weeks of a very low calorie high protein diet. Its actually going ok, but I do miss eating cereal more than anything else haha. 2 days before my surgery I start liquid only, then the day before I have to stop the protein drinks at 6PM, and NPO after midnight. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30AM for a surgery time of 8:30AM!!! Im getting more excited than nervous for now. Im sure that will change once the date gets even closer.

Hello and congratulations, you are smack in the middle of what I would have called a crisis. Pre surgery, I would have turned to food for comfort. So big applause and back slapping for coping with life's ups and downs so well. I have GERD in a big way so have to tailor my diet to the bland side or I know about it. I am also done with protein products. Except the protein bars I forgot about. At times I don't want food and at times I am super hungry. If I was a lifelong thin person, I would eat when I was hungry and skip meals when I wasn't. Its just that I was so used to eating every meal that its a hard change now. So on average this is my daily menu. On a hungry day I might get in 1600 calories but level that out with a day of 800 calories Breakfast - A latte, yoghurt and berries Lunch - Home made soup or a picky plate of cucumber, celery, beets etc [ hell I don't know why this tastes so good ] cashew nuts or deli meat, apple, grapes or orange, cheese. This plate will often go back in the fridge and finished later. My restriction is fierce. Dinner/supper - A homemade family meal. I adapt a portion for myself. Typically made from a meat, veg and potatoes/ rice. Pasta is off my menu and my fam are not fans. This may also go back in the fridge and I will eat it later. Evening - A latte, A popsicle, watermelon etc I always carry a protein bar because when I am out and about, if I am hungry its not always easy to find my foods in a café or restaurant. A small adult plate is only just becoming a thing here.

I've noticed shipping is usually outrageous for these, I'm guessing because its heavy liquid weight. If you have a BJ's Wholesale nearby, they should have it too, but check online. Walmart and some grocery stores will sometimes sell individual bottles, but wholesale stores would be cheaper. My local Sam's Club has a 12pk for $21 ($1.75 each), but Kroger sells them individually for around $3.50 per bottle. When I was on the liquid stage, another thing I had to do to keep away some of the cravings was chew up a bite of something and spit it out, just to get the flavor and distract from the shakes. Others have mentioned this too and it seemed to help them somewhat. Also if you're dealing with constipation, try a tablespoon or so of olive oil 2-3x a day to get things back to normal again. It usually takes about 8 hours after the first one to kick in. It is somewhat higher calorie, but it can become an emergency if things back up too much, so it is a little more drastic than over the counter laxatives.

I don't say this alot, because it seems its not the "norm" among bariatric patients...but i consider myself one of the "lucky ones", who can seem to eat whatever i feel like and am still able to maintain my weight with little to no effort (my food log is packed with "non-diet" foods...which i need to do because my restriction is still very much in effect). i too was concerned about continually losing weight to the point of death, but it turned out all right in the end (so far). not having to worry about calorie intake (based on my natural eating habits) is something i will forever be grateful for...even if it doesn't last forever. you will find yourself hard pressed to find someone who lost too much weight to the point of medical concern around here. i can think of exactly 1 member on here who self-identified as going below healthy BMI for an extended period of time (dont know what her status is now, as she has since dropped off the forums...and at the time she was at 18 or so BMI...which was at the "top-level" of underweight...) anyway, this is my long winded way of saying enjoy the ride and try not to worry (unless of course your team is worried?)...more often than not, your worry will become a non-issue when things are all said and done. if u continue to be one of the "lucky ones" who put little effort in maintaining weight and health in the long term, yay it really is a blessing and not a curse, years out. good luck! ❤️

Congrats on the surgery! Expect the first month to be a roller coaster of emotions, hunger, anger, and a day or two of regret. That's a rite of passage for us, where I think everyone second guesses their decision. By week 5, I finally started getting a better handle on things and I'm still very happy with my decision. 10 weeks out and I'm in better shape than I've been in decades! As others have said, you feel hungry because you are hungry. Your body is used to the previous amount of eating, and panics when it realizes you're not eating what you used to. Since you were a candidate for surgery, then your body has enough fat cell reserves to live off of that for a few weeks, which is why they have you focus only on water the first two weeks, while working in more protein to prevent you from burning muscle. However, our bodies don't understand that logic and kicks into survival mode. It only understands "food" or "no food". The first six months is critical to the process because that's when we have the best opportunity to retrain our mind and bodies to adapt. In a sense it is traumatic to our bodies, and it will fight until it understands that this new normal is safe, because that's its job, to keep you alive! Once you're back to solid foods, that's when recognizing head hunger becomes more important. Around that time (somewhere around weeks 4-6), you'll have worked up to eating enough calories to be sustaining metabolism, while still running enough of a deficit to burn fat. At that point, your body will try to tell you "hey, we're close to the old normal again, go ahead and eat more!". As my therapist reminds me, remember to listen specifically to your stomach, and not your mouth. Practice eating enough to where your stomach feels full, and not pressured from too much, but at the same time, study your habits to see if you're eating to stay busy, to deflect stress (I'm guilty of this), or just because your body thinks you should keep your stomach topped off. During that period, if you feel like your stomach is craving more, double check what nutrients you are getting. If you're deficient in vitamins or minerals, you will develop insatiable cravings, but your body can't tell you exactly what its missing. It just yells "I'm Hungry!". Check with your doctor on which supplements to add or remove, and also branch out with different styles of food as long as they fit your calories/macros. I felt like I was starving for most of last week, then I got some Korean food (sort of a bibimbap inspired kale and cabbage salad with beef) on Friday, and the cravings stopped. I'm still trying to figure out what itch that scratched, but obviously I was missing something in that! Also, be very careful with sugar, starches, breads, rice, etc. That can send you into a craving spiral that lasts 2-3 days. Some sugar alcohols like Sorbitol and Xylitol also trigger that for me, while Monk Fruit, Stevia, and Splenda don't. Everyone is different, but pay attention to those ingredients, because that can make the hunger feel worse!