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

Things I didn't need to buy



Recommended Posts

During my wait I enjoyed preparing and acquiring things. Most of what I bought I used only briefly. Some not at all.

I am very glad I got an AltaHR Fitbit and Aria scale. Those plus logging my food and Water in Myfitnesspal are my fabulous accountability tools.

I bought too many kinds and too much Protein powders. I used only the Syntrax (because it didn't significantly change texture or flavor). I gave away 3 other kinds of Protein Powder and PB2--quite a bit of money. I never used Protein Bars, and only used powders through the purée stage.

I bought lots of gasX strips and only used about 4.

I bought cute little spoons and forks and briefly had fun with them, now they are put away.

I bought a covered ice tray, popsicle forms and 2oz containers and haven't used any of them. My portions aren't that small, and I didn't use popsicles.

I bought protein fortified instant Soup from BariatricPal and they aren't clear enough for liquid stage and aren't tasty enough for purée stage.

I bought a year of Patch MD Vitamins I am using and was happy to have at first, but I could easily have switched to oral 2 months in.

An over the shoulder cape-style heating pad was briefly useful, but I stopped being freezing a month in.

I had lots of smaller clothes, so didn't have to shop, but I was surprised how fast I went through sizes, and less than 5 months in I've found I will be needing smaller sizes than I've ever worn, even at what I thought was a healthy weight for me.

Basic message, try to curb the impulse to shop. What you have will work, and you won't need a lot of anything new for a long time.

I love my results. I make excellent healthy food choices, exercise daily, and just went out in a body hugging tank dress and felt good.

I was low BMI to start, slower weight loss than some, faster than others.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Love this.
I bought Patch MD Vitamins my NUT wouldn't let me use. I was gifted tiny bowls, plates, cutlery that I have used but know I won't long term (the dishes are so cute I'll display them). Gas x I only used one. chicken Protein Powder Soup that tasted good before surgery and is nasty to me now. New slippers (totally happy about them, so cute). Small mixer mates by Rubbermaid which are invaluable for shakes. A good cup that keeps liquids cold. Can't do warm shakes and can't drink them fast enough to stay cold. I bought a good food scale that I know I'll use when I progress.
6 days post op


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Love this.
I bought Patch MD Vitamins my NUT wouldn't let me use. I was gifted tiny bowls, plates, cutlery that I have used but know I won't long term (the dishes are so cute I'll display them). Gas x I only used one. chicken Protein powder Soup that tasted good before surgery and is nasty to me now. New slippers (totally happy about them, so cute). Small mixer mates by Rubbermaid which are invaluable for shakes. A good cup that keeps liquids cold. Can't do warm shakes and can't drink them fast enough to stay cold. I bought a good food scale that I know I'll use when I progress.
6 days post op




Yes that protein chicken soup is horrible tasting now to me too.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites


Yes that Protein chicken Soup is horrible tasting now to me too.



Any broth. I just can't. I did eat a few tablespoons of Tomato Soup and I felt like I was eating prime rib. It was amazing.
The things that are keeping me from being too miserable are yogurt, halo top, Unjury shakes, and sips of Tomato soup (I'm scared of the acid so this is just for a warm treat). I can't believe how good I feel!


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome what is your weight now?

Sent from my LG-K373 using BariatricPal mobile app



I weighed 208 going in and I'm 168 now. Just over 4 months. All the weight lost was fat--between healthy food choices and daily exercise I haven't lost lean mass. This isn't magic. I've lost a little faster and with less hunger than with previous efforts, but it is still all about quality nutrition and fitness. I didn't get the sleeve to lose weight. I got the sleeve to maintain a healthy body weight, which I've never done for any significant time.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I kind of hoarded and bought way too many small containers,water bottles, and shakers. Also a hand blender and a countertop small blender

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Love this.
A good cup that keeps liquids cold. Can't do warm shakes and can't drink them fast enough to stay cold.


What cup keeps your liquids cold? Would love to know!


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites



What cup keeps your liquids cold? Would love to know!



Something like a yeti tumbler keeps stuff hot or cold almost all day. Walmart brand tested better than the brand name and is about 1/3 the cost. They work great!

Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I guess I'm confused why people would ditch their tiny dishes and flatware. I love mine so much! And at what point should I be eating more than 4-8 ounces of anything? (The answer is never! Except bulky salad). I'll add a second or third dish (protein, veg, starch), but no reason to go back to big plates and bowls.

The thing I want extra big are cups. I got rid of all the little mugs. Only kept those 14oz and larger. 16 or 18oz would be better. Bigger cups help meet fluid goals. (I like hot herbal tea and 1 cup of coffee).

I'm still looking at a couple partial tubs of Protein powder.. will probably use them eventually.

I use my kitchen scale every day.

I didn't buy much before surgery, or after. You're right that you don't need much.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites



What cup keeps your liquids cold? Would love to know!



Yeti cups work great. Walmart sells a similar version (can't remember the name but the logo is mountains) that cup works just as well and less money. They both keep my drinks cold for hours!

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

    • 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.

    • CaseyP1011

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

    ×