I'm over the first of my two weeks of liquid diet pre-op, and I'm SO DONE with chocolate and vanilla. I'm picky, don't even really like milk at all to begin with and I don't like chocolate, so this has been the hardest hurdle to jump over. I drink them as fast as I can as I don't like the taste, but there's obviously no getting past that issue post-op.

That being said, I've been trying to get creative and see what I can dream up that I like. So far, I really like carbsmart milk (11g Protein in 8oz) with vanilla Pure Protein (25g protein) with a few splashes of blueberry lemonade Mio. Tastes kinda like a blueberry muffin!

What things have you tried or found that worked for you?

Nothing. I had two weeks of the pre-op diet to go through. I was weighed five days before my surgery to ensure I had lost enough additional weight to ensure compliance with the diet. After that I kinda stuck to the diet. I did not go hog wild, but I did eat on occasion. Actually just knowing that I could made things a lot better.

But as for help, I cannot offer any, there were no combinations of things on that accursed diet that made it suck any less.

Sorry

My dietician suggested adding flavoring to the shakes, like add coconut essence to a chocolate shake and you have coconut rough or a tsp of instant coffee and you have mochacino. Maybe try experimenting with texture too, blend your powder with ice and it'll be a frappe

Edited October 20, 201510 yr by NaomiAus

Some people like adding PB2 to there chocolate shakes.

@Mogwaicat I had surgery at Mayo and they provided the liquid Optifast shakes. My shakes were 8 oz. and I was to drink 5 per day for 2 weeks prior to my surgery. At 800 calories per day, I knew I was going to have to pump up the volume in order to be full. Also I didn't want to be depressed by just drinking the little boxes, so I got creative. I bought a Nutribullet and would add ice and liquid flavored Stevia. Pour them in pretty glasses, sip slowly and enjoy them. I'm a Starbucks girl, so with the vanilla I added ice and pumpkin spice Stevia then blended for a frappuccino. Added the English toffee to cold coffee for a delicious iced coffee. Used chocolate, more ice and didn't blend it as long which made an ice milk consistency which I could eat with a spoon. I added the chocolate Stevia to hot coffee and it tasted like a delicious hot chocolate. Added vanilla to Tazo chai tea for a chai tea latte. So you get the idea. SweetLeaf has several flavors to choose from and I love and use them every day, even now at 6 months post-op!

@Mogwaicat I had surgery at Mayo and they provided the liquid Optifast shakes. My shakes were 8 oz. and I was to drink 5 per day for 2 weeks prior to my surgery. At 800 calories per day, I knew I was going to have to pump up the volume in order to be full. Also I didn't want to be depressed by just drinking the little boxes, so I got creative. I bought a Nutribullet and would add ice and liquid flavored Stevia. Pour them in pretty glasses, sip slowly and enjoy them. I'm a Starbucks girl, so with the vanilla I added ice and pumpkin spice Stevia then blended for a frappuccino. Added the English toffee to cold coffee for a delicious iced coffee. Used chocolate, more ice and didn't blend it as long which made an ice milk consistency which I could eat with a spoon. I added the chocolate Stevia to hot coffee and it tasted like a delicious hot chocolate. Added vanilla to Tazo chai tea for a chai tea latte. So you get the idea. SweetLeaf has several flavors to choose from and I love and use them every day, even now at 6 months post-op!

Which Optifast shakes were they? I looked at the Optifast 800 shake and Sugar is one of the first 2 ingriedients.

I am going to be starting my pre-op diet on Nov 2nd and want something to try.

@@GadgetMan Optifast 800 shakes are a well balanced Meal Replacement. When you drink 5 per day, that's your 800 calories. You need the sugar content pre-op vs. post-op. Even though my insurance covered my shakes for the 2 week pre-op diet, I purchased a box of the French vanilla shakes, some packs of the powdered shakes and Soups on eBay. I wanted to try them to see which ones I liked best. I researched so many things pre-op it was crazy but for me being prepared has been key to my success! I much preferred the ready to drink shakes and like I said, I came up with ways to "pump up the volume" because it's hard to go from eating to just drinking for 2 weeks and feeling full. Of course post-op, because of the sugar content, you CAN NOT drink them so I just sold my extras on eBay (pic)! I didn't care for the soups at all. Also know that I'd been diabetic for 10+ years and my Endocrinologist was completely on board with these shakes. In Mayo's Bariatric department they also have a supervised weight loss program. The Optifast 800 shakes, soups and bars are what they use!

OPTIFAST 800^® Ready to Drink Shakes

Chill and enjoy! Available in three flavors - French Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry - OPTIFAST 800^® Ready to Drink formula is a full meal replacement product.

Nutritional Information

• Calories 160
• Protein (g) 14
• Carbohydrate (g) 20
• Fat (g) 3
• Sodium (mg) 220
• Potassium (mg) 470
• Fiber (g) 0
• Vitamins & Minerals 10-30% of RDI
• Lactose (g) <1

Ingredients (French Vanilla): Water, Sugar, Sodium Caseinate (Milk), Calcium Caseinate, Corn Syrup Solids, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Phosphate Tribasic, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gel, Carrageenan, Potassium Hydroxide, Mono and Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Ascorbic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Choline Chloride, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Gluconate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin, Chromium Chloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Phytonadione (Vitamin K1), Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).

Edited October 26, 201510 yr by beachgal2935

I hear ya! LOL

I've been on a full-liquid diet since last Wednesday, my surgery is this Thursday the 29th(!) and I have been living off of soups and my latest favorite is muscle milk ( either chocolate or vanilla crème) with 2 scoops of PB2 thrown in...delicious!

I'm praying that I still like it post surgery!

I was on the liquid diet5 weeks prior to surgery. I use I so pure vanilla and add 1-2 spoonfuls of sugar free jello mix or so pudding mix. Lemon pudding makes it taste like cake batter!

Sugar free pudding (dry powder, ) can be added to shakes...yummy!

The white chocolate tastes like wedding cake when added to a vanilla shake.

Sugar free Torani syrups, extracts, crystal light. PB2 chocolate and regular

Have you considered adding unflavored protein powder to soups, Gatorade, or flavored water?

Tomato juice or V8 juice - I like spicy things so I'd toss a squirt of Siracha or a few drops of BBQ sauce or burger seasoning in there to make it taste more like food. I also loved the Swanson's Hot and Sour broth.

This is good

Both have 15 g Protein just add Water

Definitely include some broths. I loved Swanson's Mexican Tortilla Soup broth. A little spicy so needs to be watered down a little.

For shakes, one of my favorites was Orange Crush powder (like the sticks of Crystal Light) mixed with vanilla Protein powder (I LOVE Precision Engineered whey Protein Isolate vanilla) and 2 oz of fat free milk with 4 to 6 oz of Water and few ice cubes (or you can skip the milk and just use water). Tastes a bit like Orange Julius. After about 6 weeks post-op, I added in a very small bit of banana (like 1 oz or about 1/4th of medium banana).

My other favorite shake is PB2 and chocolate powder. Also, once you can have pudding or yogurt, boost their protein with 1/2 scoop of Protein Powder (vanilla powder with Dannon Light & Fit Greek strawberry Cheesecake is really good).

You can also use sugar free syrups (by Torani for example). Or mix in small bit of pudding mix. Here is a link to some good ones - recipes.html" rel="external nofollow">http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-favorite-protein-shake-recipes.html

Finally some people like the Isopure and nectar fruit flavored drinks. I hated them both but that's just me. Just remember that the first few weeks post-op are tough but you have to keep your eye on the prize and just power through it.