Hello! I am being sleeved in less than a month and I am going to have to start a liquid diet soon, the doctor recommends that we use BariEssentials or Optifast, both of which are $200 in his office. I wanted to know a couple of things

Is Bariatric Advantage the same as BariEssentials? and

Why would the shakes be so expensive at the Dr.'s office and almost like $100 less on the company's website.

Has anyone tried either one of these products?

Will the Dr.'s office be upset if I do not buy the products through them?

Thanks for the advice!!

Buy it where you get the best deal, never mind the doctor getting upset! I bought the BariEssentials Vanilla and Orange flavor and really don't like them too much because they have artificial sweeteners which I cannot stand. If you blend them with a banana and milk they taste better though. I'm going to try the Unjury products, they are apparently very popular and a lot of people use them..

My doctor recommended Bariatric Advantage. But I did not have to buy it thru his office. You can buy it online. The chocolate and banana protein powders are good as long as you add a little extra milk for richness. If you just use water they don't taste so good. I hate the strawberry flavor.

I used Opti-fast when I got the lap band and I bought it online. Are you from So. Cal? I wonder if we have the same doctor? Dr. Paya? I remember Opti-fast being available through him...Anyway, this time I bought my own whey protein and made my own shakes. I buy most of my vitamins at walmart or the vitamin shoppe but I do get my calcium citrate chews from bariatric advantage because I haven't been able to find the chewy ones (chocolate, caramel, etc.) in citrate form anywhere else.