Is the Carnation Breakfast Drink with no sugar considered a Protein drink for post-op? I sure hope so. I made my first chocolate one today and it taste so good to me. I will definitely be drinking this for my weekday breakfast until surgery. I'm going to time how long it takes for me to think I'm hungry. I wonder if the vanilla taste just as good? Maybe I can add fruit and ice milk chips to make it like a shake. I'm just trying to figure some things that will work post op because my surgeon does not require pre-op diet, and I don't want to figure out afterwards what I like and don't like. My sister had a different wls and had a horrible time switching to sugar free and the rest of the post op diet. She had VBG done and I really don't see a change in her diet...but she is losing weight. I just hope she doesn't gain it back.

Some doctors approve sugar free CIB made with fat free milk. The milk will add Protein but you will still only be at 13 g protein for 150 cal. Many doctors feel it does not have enough protein.

Considering CIB contains splendra (sucralose) to make is sweet, you might as well get whey Isolate powder and add enough splendra or other add ins (Sugar/fat free pudding powder, Davinchi sugar free syrups found in the coffee isle, sugar free chocolate syrup) to make it acceptable. Sorry for the run on sentance.

Gold Standard Whey Isolate (most doctors require Isolate as it is a "better" protein which your body can disgest more easily); has 120 cal, 1 g fat, 3 g carb, 24 g protein. Add milk and you add 80 cal, 10 g protein. So for 200 cal you get 34 g protein. CIB is 150 cal, 13 g protein. I buy my protein at Vitamin Shoppe prices are WAY better than GNC.

Do you have a costco near you? If so I highly recommend joining. They now carry both vanilla and chocolate ready to drink Premier Protein Shakes; 160 cal 30g Protein! They have powdered protein as well. They also carry a store brand version of Splendra which is much cheaper; and have carried Pacific Brand Sweet Red Pepper/Tomato Soup which is great for the full liquid stage (Half the price of the grocery store and since most people do a week of full liquids you will be drinking a lot of soup.)

Depending on your doctors post op diet you may not be allowed fruit during the first couple weeks! Even Blended! Most doctors require 1 week of broth and Protein shakes. No fruit allowed as they don't want you stomach churning to digest.

For mushie stage I had Chobani fat free greek yoghurt with fruit (add splendra because it is sour); that I mixed with a hand blender. Greek yoghurt is very high in protein 14 g for 6 oz. There are several brands but chobani is my favorite. Now that I am on solids I add 1/2 scoop of vanilla isolate, splendra, and 10 g of kashi Cereal for breakfast, 220 cal for 24 g of protein.