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I'm supposed to be starting my pre-op diet tomorrow. My nutritionist suggested Protein from Bariatric Advantage, but I lolligagged and am now down to the wire and need protein stuff. I ordered some samples and havent even sampled them yet.

I wanted suggestions from my VST family on what the best protein stuff from local shops like GNC and Vitamin Shoppe would be. I'm desperate people!

On another thread Wheybolic Extreme chocolate flavor got a thumbs up, so I'll start there. Oh yeah, I hate Peanut Butter and bananas! lol

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It's almost here!!! I know I've been watching ya and waiting... whoohooo!! :)

For me, on the clear liquid phase I drank Isopure. I bought them in the bottles and watered them down, the flavor can be over powering post surgery. My favorite flavors are the grape and orange. Not a big fan of the punch or pineapple. I also had some in the powder form and it was pretty gross, so I don't personally recommend that.

For me the best tasting RTD Protein drinks are the Atkins varieties. They are thick and satisfying for me and geesh I even drink them when I have a sweet tooth. It really hits the spot. Walmart sells the 4 packs for about 5 bucks in my area. If you look around for a good deal you might find them for less.

If you'd like something thinner, I also like the EAS Carb Advantage drinks too. I get the cases from Sams Club, they have chocolate and vanilla.

I'm sure you're going to get tons of suggestions. Good luck! It's sometimes hard to find something you'll like. Do your very best to get your Protein in during your healing phase. It will help alleviate the fatigue you might get.

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LMD, I KNEW I could count on you for some good info!

So all of the brands you mentioned are in store? Of course I've been researching everything for this sleeve except for Protein shakes. And a broad like me does not have a lot of pennies to be throwing around wastin on different Protein Shakes.

The great news is that my daughters who I just told about my decision to have WLS want to support me and do a 2 week liquid diet too! They are super supportive and I couldnt have been more touched when they told me. They'll be doing slimfast, and hope to lose a few pounds for a dance they'll be attending soon.

We'll be making our first trip to GNC and Vitamin Shoppe today, wish us luck!

It's almost here!!! I know I've been watching ya and waiting... whoohooo!! :)

For me, on the clear liquid phase I drank Isopure. I bought them in the bottles and watered them down, the flavor can be over powering post surgery. My favorite flavors are the grape and orange. Not a big fan of the punch or pineapple. I also had some in the powder form and it was pretty gross, so I don't personally recommend that.

For me the best tasting RTD Protein drinks are the Atkins varieties. They are thick and satisfying for me and geesh I even drink them when I have a sweet tooth. It really hits the spot. Walmart sells the 4 packs for about 5 bucks in my area. If you look around for a good deal you might find them for less.

If you'd like something thinner, I also like the EAS Carb Advantage drinks too. I get the cases from Sams Club, they have chocolate and vanilla.< /strong>

I'm sure you're going to get tons of suggestions. Good luck! It's sometimes hard to find something you'll like. Do your very best to get your Protein in during your healing phase. It will help alleviate the fatigue you might get.

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LMD, I KNEW I could count on you for some good info!

So all of the brands you mentioned are in store? Of course I've been researching everything for this sleeve except for Protein shakes. And a broad like me does not have a lot of pennies to be throwing around wastin on different Protein Shakes.

The great news is that my daughters who I just told about my decision to have WLS want to support me and do a 2 week liquid diet too! They are super supportive and I couldnt have been more touched when they told me. They'll be doing slimfast, and hope to lose a few pounds for a dance they'll be attending soon.

We'll be making our first trip to GNC and Vitamin Shoppe today, wish us luck!

Awww that is so sweet of your daughters! The support will be priceless, this is a tough journey. You will truly appreciate everyone who is there for you. :) Just my personal opinion but Vitamin Shoppe has WAY more varieties than GNC (though I'm not sure if they have the Atkins shakes, I get mine from Wally World). Talk to the clerks in the store and don't be shy to explain your situation. I did and the clerk didn't bat a lash. She helped me right away and gave lots of good suggestions.

I go there for all of my nutritional needs, except I do get some vitamins/minerals from GNC when they're having a sale and I'm needing something. Funny thing though, all the GNC's I've ever gone to never had the Calcium CITRATE. I get huge tubs of them from Vitamin Shoppe... but they are quite large and couldn't take them until about 3 months out. I had to take the lozenges from Bariatric Advantage, and yuck... those get old quick and I still have a ton of them left!!!

Vitamin Shoppe seems to have the Buy one Get one half off deals on their brand name vitamins/etc. quite often, and that's when I really stock up.

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LMD, you're my Sleeve Angel! :angel_smile: :heart:

You are too sweet!!! :)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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