I'm not due to have my surgery until sometime in March, but I have Kaiser insurance, so we have to do the classes first. They require us to start our vitamin supplements and protein supplements so they're a habit by the time our surgery gets here, but they also expect us to lose at least 10% of our body weight before we have surgery. I have started a new birth control pill, so I'm grateful I haven't gained anything, but I'm wondering how I'm supposed to lose almost 30# by march...any tips or advice? I am on a 1400 cal diet, I'm just not losing more than 1/2 a lb. a week.

Also, they require us to take the protein supplements, but I seem to have trouble digesting the whey protein, any recommendations?

Go soy! Spiritein is yummy and there are a ton of different flavors.

Sorry - it is Spirutein.

Thank you, I'll go try some. Can I ask how was the surgery?

It was a breeze for me. Didn't need any pain meds since the day after surgery. No gas pains. I was able to sleep on my tummy on Day 2. I read a lot on these forums about the surgery and knew what to expect. I think positivity an preparedness played a huge role in making this easy for me. Also, my surgeon is in a Bariatric Center of Excellence and is very skilled.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Im down 17 pounds in 11 days.

Ny insurance and doctor had similar requirements. They said 10% and 10 pounds so I was always unclear about which one to follow. I actually lost 17 pounds two weeks before surgery (more than 10 pounds but less than 10%). I drank Gladiator Smoothie shakes twice a day and one meal which was usually green salad and baked fish or some other type of lean protein. This shake has 45 grams of protein so it is an outstanding supplement. You can use them post surgery and henceforth after the band so you can be sure to get the required protein in daily. I made my shakes with ice cubes and frozen fruit. My doctor didn't allow any dairy products or sugar. It was pretty strenuous but well worth it. Little to no carb consumption. Good luck.

I had to lose 5% but was down 10% by the time of surgery because of all the life changing steps u take. You see it here all the time, but walking really does help shed the pouunds and drinking the 64oz water really helped me...one your so full of water you don't feel like eating a lot and 2 it gets rid of the toxins in ur system so u start to lose them too. Also preparing for post band with the food scale and weighing it all out really made a difference. Do they weigh u before they will send in the paperwork or just before surgery because the week of clears only I had to do added onto the wt loss by almost double. As for different they whey, people talk about this isopure stuff in drink containers...idk if its whey or soy but I had one once that had a crystal light package mixed into it and I couldn't tell the difference, just slightly thicker crystal light, hope that helps