Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone,

This journey began 7 years ago for me. I've struggled with my weight all my life and I finally decided to make an appointment with the surgeon. He is wonderful and one of the absolute best in Michigan. For one reason or another the timing was never right until this year. So, with the help of my doctors and family things moved along quickly and I had a VSG last Monday. Everything has gone smoothly so far. I had two nights in the hospital and have been home 5 nights now. I've been on the liquid only Protein diet and need some help. They are just tasting terrible these days. Do any of you have any helpful tips? Also, when did start eating small bites of solid food? I'm still making regular meals for my family and it is getting harder to not try a bite :-/ Thanks!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Have you tried other brands of Protein Shakes, check out Bariatric Choice.com, they have drinks, puddings, Fruit Drinks, Soups all with about 15 grams of Protein each, at this site you can purchase single servings to "try " them out before you spend the money on a larger size.the ones I've tried are pretty darn good. Also try some Ready to drink shakes-cold. Premier Protein at costco, EAS strawberry or fudge-available at many stores and online. Sometimes the RTD shakes are more acceptable for some people. Unjury makes a shake mix with 21 grams of protein comes in strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, unflavored, and chicken Soup. Use the unflavored in regular soups or puddings. Try mixing crystal lite with Water and adding some vanilla protein powder. Also check out GNC, you can return products even if opened, if they don't go over so well. Good luck. I am 1 month out and am starting to try small (fingernail size) bits of foods or finely chopped items. Eating on chicken and fish, no beef yet. I put tune, a stalk of celery and a bit of mayo in the food processor and it works very well, blend more for puree, less for later. Check out "The world according to Egg face.com. Lots of ideas and recipes."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for all the good tips & ideas. Good luck to you!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi! New here, and am also from MI. I am awaiting a surgery date, got ins approval on Friday. Who was your surgeon? Congrats & good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From mi here too..kalamazoo..last nut and psyc appt Friday.. Hoping for a Dec date as i am a teacher ... Freaking out about pre op diet.. Any advice?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

From mi here too..kalamazoo..last nut and psyc appt Friday.. Hoping for a Dec date as i am a teacher ... Freaking out about pre op diet.. Any advice?

What pre op diet do you have to follow? I only had to be on a clear liquid diet with 40 to 60 g of Protein per day for the two days prior to surgery. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones but it wasn't that difficult. What I'm finding is the post op diet is very difficult! I can barely choke down a Protein Drink as the after taste makes me gag. I can't wait for puréed foods/soups! As far as advice for pre op dieting, I would buy lots of small amounts of Protein supplements and try a lot of them so you can have the ones you like for post op. Drink lots of Water, have chicken broth for dinner and eat sugar free popsicles. Just keep reminding yourself that you can do it! Good luck and keep in touch!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi! New here' date=' and am also from MI. I am awaiting a surgery date, got ins approval on Friday. Who was your surgeon? Congrats & good luck![/quote']

Hi, thank you. My doc is Dr. Jon Schram. He is with Spectrum Health Medical Group. Who is yours? Your date will be here before you know it. Sometimes I can't believe my surgery is done and over. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, thank you. My doc is Dr. Jon Schram. He is with Spectrum Health Medical Group. Who is yours? Your date will be here before you know it. Sometimes I can't believe my surgery is done and over. Good luck!

My surgeon will be Dr. Poplawski out of Ypsilanti, through Forest Health/Barix. It's scary and exciting all at the same time. I just keep waiting for the phone call! How was your overall experience? Any advice? Thanks! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am also from Mi. I wait for my date and also hope for Dec. go Tigers;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am also from Mi. I wait for my date and also hope for Dec. go Tigers;)

Good for you! I had a couple rough days but I'm doing better this evening. Yes, Go Tigers!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, thank you. My doc is Dr. Jon Schram. He is with Spectrum Health Medical Group. Who is yours? Your date will be here before you know it. Sometimes I can't believe my surgery is done and over. Good luck!

My surgeon will be Dr. Poplawski out of Ypsilanti, through Forest Health/Barix. It's scary and exciting all at the same time. I just keep waiting for the phone call! How was your overall experience? Any advice? Thanks! :)

Overall experience has been great. My surgery went as good as possible and the doctor, nurses and staff at the hospital were great. One thing I do know is my doctor use to work at Forest Health/Barix for many years and he is awesome. I bet your doctor is too :-)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome! I went to his seminar and liked him from the start, I feel really comfortable with him. Which is definitely important! My doc was a transplant surgeon before he began specializing in bariatrics. (Been doing bariatrics for the last 15 years). It's so good to see fellow Michiganders - and hear your experience. It makes me excited! I wish you continued success and hope to keep in touch!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am seeing Dr. Verse man @ Borgess in kzoo... Any one else used him?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Shout Out Michigan. :D My doctor is Dr. Finks at University of Michigan. I am in month 3 of my 6 month diet so I will probably be sleeved in February.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×