My surgery is scheduled for Valentine's Day. I start my pre-op, Clear liquids and Protein shakes diet on February 1st. My surgeon's office says it's mandatory that I purchase Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacements. I've heard they are icky. Besides, how does he know what I have?

I'm wondering if your surgeon suggested or required any specific brand. What brand did you use? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My diet will be as follows:

3 Protein Shakes + 1 bar

Water

Clear fruit juices

Gatorade

broth

sugar free Jell-O

Sugar Free Popsicles

I'm currently on day 4 of liquids. I also have a calorie limit so I want as few calories and as much protein as possible for post op. I like Premier shakes.. 30g protein plus easy for me to grab at Costco. I also have added two clear drinks. Cytosport.. I got the tangerine. It has 32g protein, 2 carbs and 120 calories. And the very tastiest one I've found is Designer Whey Blast.. love the grape.. It has 120 cal, 1 carb and 30 protein. The drinks seem to work for me while at my job. I drink the shakes down quickly, but I kind of nurse the drinks along more like sipping a soda now and then. I am fighting the hungry feeling today.. first 3 days went easily. I think the drinks stick longer and I don't think about needing to eat while I sip along on them. In addition to these, I'm doing broth..I found miso broth at Whole Foods, along with beef, chicken and veggie from anywhere. That hot flavorful broth for dinner is really working.. kind of a calm down time and I feel nourished without the extra calories... that's all in my head, but it's working for now. Other than the above, I do lots of herb teas... chamomile, white, green, etc..and I have a big water bottle in my hand and in my car at all times. I think I'm more afraid of getting hungry and blowing it than really being hungry. I am a bit worried about the upcoming weekend. I think work keeps me busy so I don't think about.. am I hungry, is it time to drink some protein so I won't get hungry...yada yada... I also have Isopure (those here call it Isopuke) but I can drink any drink and any shake with no complaints right now. That may change after surgery. I also have Unjury and Nectars but am going saving on them for post op. So that's my current plan... who knows how I'll change it up by the time I get through 2 weeks of this! Best of luck to you.

I won't be starting until March 2 (surgery is March 12 and I only have to do it for 10 days). I am SO NERVOUS about sticking to this for 10 days. I know its absolutely necessary for surgery though so the liver won't be harmed. I think I will picture myself getting sent back home with no surgery whenever I get so ravenous I can't stand it...that image should take away the hunger

Mine is for 13 days. I am very worried about it too. I teach high school and worry about being terrible to my students!

I keep thinking that I don't want to do something that will cause me harm. What if I don't follow the diet and something happens during surgery because of what I failed to do? I've failed at my relationship with food. I don't want to screw up my only chance to rectify that.

Keep in touch and we can update one another!

Beth

Advocare meal replacement powder chocolate flavor.

It was great!

After surgery you won't need meal replacement just protein so I just bought 2 weeks worth

Mine is for 13 days. I am very worried about it too. I teach high school and worry about being terrible to my students! <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I keep thinking that I don't want to do something that will cause me harm. What if I don't follow the diet and something happens during surgery because of what I failed to do? I've failed at my relationship with food. I don't want to screw up my only chance to rectify that.

Keep in touch and we can update one another!

Beth

I am also a high school teacher and am hoping I won't become a dragon lady on the pre op diet!!

Thanks for the tips everyone. My surgeon's office told me that Bariatric Advantage was mandatory, but I'm not sure how they will know what I have. I'm going to GNC tomorrow to check out what samples I can pick up. I've heard that there's a brand at costco that I should really check out.

Thanks again and I just realized I have only TEN more days until the liquid diet so I need to get on the ball and figure out what I'm going to do!

I start my pre diet on Monday. I'm to have 3 protein shakes and then supper is lean protein, 3 ounces and a leafy green salad. Then the day before just 4 shakes. Feb 11 is my date. Nervous!

Are you required to buy the shakes through your surgeon's office? If so, you're not going to have much of a choice. They may be getting some kind of kickback from the company but hopefully the product is mandatory because they feel it works best for their patients.

My surgeon gave me a pre-op plan that offered three options for my Protein shakes. I chose the Premier shakes that are available at Sam's and costco. I don't like pre-mixed shakes but I was able to do it for a week. I had five shakes a day plus broth and unlimited sugar free drinks and popsicles. It was actually very freeing to not have to choose what I was going to eat.

Post-op, I relied on About Time Protein Powder. It has 31 grams of protein plus 10-11 grams in the milk so I got plenty of protein in. Just don't buy huge quantities of any protein drink/powder. Your tastes will most likely change and what you love now you could despise after surgery.

Good luck!

No I can use whatever I like, just has to be a protein shake. We don't meet our surgeon until the day of surgery. We go through a company and they set it all up for us. We are just told to drink shakes for 10-14 days prior. I'm thinking your doctors must be getting some kind of kickback.