Hello, Everyone:

I have found that the GNC Total Lean shakes in vanilla and strawberry only are pretty good. The powders and chocolate shake are not. The powders are sickly sweet, and chemical tasting...bananna tastes like dentist cleaning toothpaste. The raspberry powder was better, but all the powder flavors were sort of metamucil like...which I don't like. The Chocolate premade--which is like the vanilla and strawberry--tasted just like Slimfast shakes or one of those kinds that are very soy-tasting...which I do not like. The Vanilla Vitamin Powder is disgusting...absolutely not vanilla-y at all! Don't buy it. The workers said the powders were all tasty...but twas untrue. When I returned the powders and the chocolate premade Protein shake, the other worker said they are not good at all...and that the vitamin powder protein mix is meant to be mixed with other powders. I don't know what they are thinking...but those are all gross! The two that are the best are the GNC premade Vanilla and Strawberry shakes. I think you will like those if you give them a try. At 25 Proteins, 3 fibers, and 2 sugars...it is a winning situation.

Next, the Carnation sugar-free Instant Breakfast in Chocolate works well when mixed with skim or 1% milk...and for me, a little Water to thin it out. It is only 60 calories for the powder with 5 grams protein, no sugar and I think a little Fiber. Add milk, and protein goes up....I use that in between the other shakes.

Finally, the surgeon said I could us the sugar free puddings that are out there. The tapioca and rice ones are pretty decent if you put a teeny sprinkle of stevia in them. The Active Culture Jello Puddings are sugar free and don't need any stevia. I especially like the one that is light chocolate on top and bottom, with the darker one in the middle.

If anyone has tried these or has any ideas on variations or what I could add to the mix...reply below.

I am 5 days out and having sugar free carnation instant breakfast, sugar free jello and puddings, cream soups (strained if needed), plain yougurt with strained fruit (or natural no sugar added peach sauce, apple sauce, etc) I can have small curd cottage cheese too. For protien drinks I really like the designer whey brand powder and Akins.

I was told that the little bits do not matter, and not to worry about them at all. I think they want us to be used to having all liquid and no food after the procedures, but even then, they won't matter, as they are so teeny.

I've been living off the strawberry and cream shakes from GNC not bad at all!