Hi Everyone!

My surgery date is July 2nd and I'm looking for suggestions for the best tasting protein drinks for pre and post-op surgery. My doctors office recommends Medifast but I heard from some people that they weren't that good tasting. I know nothing will be "gourmet" but it will be nice to have something a little tasty.

Lisa :rolleyes2:

I personally prefer and still use the EAS brand pre mixed shakes. I get them at Walmart or Sams. They come in powder too, but I prefer the pre-mixed. Tastes better to me.

I just got my medifast shakes in the mail yesterday, and I just had to try one....considering I ordered 100. They are what my Dr wants me to take, so I decided to go with them. It was not bad. It kinda tasted like a sugar free version of slim fast. I'm sure post op, when I am drinking 4 a day, I wont feel the same way though!

I have read good things here on the forum about the Isopure Protein drinks. I have not had my surgery yet, so I cannot give my opinion but they seem to have interesting flavors- not just chocolate or vanilla. I found some here GNC - Nature's Best

I like that they are premixed and I can take them to work without have to mix them.

I am reading this stuff about protein shakes...I have been trying to get use to drinking these pre surgery. I am scheduled to have the band placed in MX June 5th. I have been drinking the Wal Mart brand Slim Fast shakes and wondering if this is what they were talking about. I know it is a meal replacer, but I was wondering if it had enough protein and if it was okay. HELP. I know nothing about this stuff and trying to decifier it all.

Thanks

I drink the Medifast shakes and they taste good to me. I like the chocolate, vanilla and orange the best. I also drink the Low Carb Slim Fast shakes, but they do take a day or two to get used to because they don't have as much sugar in them as others. If you don't care about the carb and protein count then Walmart's version of Slimfast is really good. DH and I also feel full with those longer than with the SF shakes.

My doctor recommends us using the shakes from Unjury.com. They are medical quality protein shakes. I got a chocolate and a vanilla, and they are both good. Honestly, I have tried my husbands GNC Gold Standard whey isolate protein shakes, and they taste just as good, and would be cheaper in the long run. I just wanted to have what my doctor wanted me to have for immediately after surgery, and in the future, will just use The GNC brand. Be sure whatever you get that it has WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, the purest form of dry protein you can buy. Good luck! :biggrin:

I'm doing the Pre-Op diet, and followed the Drs advice about unjury. I can honestly say, I haven't had that shakey or weak feeling, AT ALL. Not had one headache either from not having having enough Protein.

I prefer the Unjury Vanilla, have mixed it with Soy milk, and sometimes even put it in my SF pudding. The week has gone MUCH better than expected.

I personally love Herbalife shakes. They have a huge variety, but they taste awsome. I love the chocolate and the Cafe Latte. Tastes just like a Starbucks! YUMMY!

carnation instant breakfast mixed with a "magic bullet" realitively inexpensive, and very tasty.

Joyce

I am reading this stuff about protein shakes...I have been trying to get use to drinking these pre surgery. I am scheduled to have the band placed in MX June 5th. I have been drinking the Wal Mart brand Slim Fast shakes and wondering if this is what they were talking about. I know it is a meal replacer, but I was wondering if it had enough protein and if it was okay. HELP. I know nothing about this stuff and trying to decifier it all.

Thanks

I would check with your dr, most want you to be on a low carb type diet to shrink your liver before surgery. Not sure if what your are drinking is low carb.

:thumbup:I have a great little trick to help those shakes go down. I use the walmart brand slimfast-"weight loss shakes." I slice up some bananas and put them in snack size baggies in the freezier. I do a whole bunch at a time so that I can just grab and go when I am ready to make my shake. At any rate I add into a small personal blender (found it at Wal Mart and it's a life saver. It is by Hamilton Beach) the can of weight loss shake aka slimfast and into that I put one teaspoon of vanilla and the forzen banana's. If it isn't frothy enough I add a little ice and blend that baby up. It tastes just like a banana milkshake...I could drink them all day. I have also added frozen strawberries and raspberries (no sugar added of course) but I didn't like those as much...there is something about the banana that goes so well with it. My husband is on the CINCH plan and this was a recipe that they use on their powder stuff. I like mine much better I must say...lets hope that is what I can drink, because his is to chalky type tasting....if anyone of you knows let me know please.

Have a great weekend.

Kelly

Okay I pulled out a can and here is the stats on this thing. Serving size is 1 can 11 oz. 45 Calories from fat

Calories 170

Carbs 24g

Fat 5g

Sugar 17g

Sodium 210mg

Potassium 650 mg

Dietary Fiber 5g

Sugar 17g

It is the WalMart brand Ultra weight loss shake.

I have read good things here on the forum about the Isopure Protein drinks. I have not had my surgery yet, so I cannot give my opinion but they seem to have interesting flavors- not just chocolate or vanilla. I found some here GNC - Nature's Best

I like that they are premixed and I can take them to work without have to mix them.

I am 2 1/2 weeks pre-op and trying to get a head start on my 2 wk liquid diet. I spent 100 bucks on a variety of Protein Drinks, including a huge jug of GNC's Isopure powder.... strawberry flavored. It mixed up pretty well, dissolving and turning into the lovliest shade of public restroom handsoap-pink. I mixed one scoop (about 20g of protein) with 9 ounces of Water and stirred. The first sip made me gag, so I thought of a way to get myself to drink it. I imagined that I had just met my Mother In Law (will meet her in 3 weeks) and that she had made me a popular beverage from her country. I imagined the disappointment/anger she would feel if I were to gag and/or spit it out as I really wanted to... That worked for me. I alternated between imagining my MIL and holding my nose and taking huge gulps until it was allllll gone. Not really as bad as I expected for a GNC powder though. Also felt like a buffalo shopping at GNC. :biggrin:

:frown:I found my email and have attached it...it appears those lovely wal mart type slim fast shakes that I like so much isn't good for the pre op phase...not enough Protein and to much carbs and sugar...rats that figures.:biggrin:

PRE-OP DIET - for Dr. Rodriguez

Dr. Rodriguez now requests that all patients with a BMI over 40 do a pre-op diet for two weeks before surgery.

IMPORTANT: The key is to try to keep your carb intake less than 50 grams a day.

The pre-op diet is designed to help you be internally healthier for surgery. The effects are not immediate. It takes about 10 consecutive days before results show up internally. The goal is to have the liver let go of some stored fat. Some people also call it a liver shrinking diet. This will mean an easier recovery for you post-op.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In the obese, the liver is a huge, fatty organ. It is “in the way” of the surgical area during band surgery, and must be held back with surgical instruments. An enlarged liver is very fragile and bleeds quite easily when touched or manipulated during surgery. This bleeding can be difficult to control, and the extra care required with an enlarged liver increases surgical risk, as well as surgical time. Longer surgical time and extended time under general anesthesia can make both immediate and longer-term recovery much more difficult for you. An especially large and fragile liver has even caused some band surgeries to be cancelled, for the safety of the patient.

Following this Pre-Op Diet is extremely important. The goal is not to lose weight, necessarily, but to enter a temporary period of dietary ketosis, which is not harmful to you at all. However, many do lose a good amount of weight, which will jump-start your Band weight loss as you begin to regain and improve your health. It is this dietary ketosis that results in liver-shrinking and the normalizing of your metabolism so that you can do well with banding.

Pre-Op Diet:

THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A LIQUID ONLY DIET. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, KIDNEY OR HEART DISEASE; PLEASE CONSULT YOUR LOCAL PHYSICIAN BEFORE ALTERING YOUR CURRENT DIET.

Start with proper protein sources (no less than 20 grams of protein per serving with 6 total grams of carbohydrates or less and 6 grams of saturated fats or less per serving), keep a close eye on the fat intake (don’t over do it). Some choices are lean chicken, turkey, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, sugar free jell-o, pudding, Beans. Please include fresh fruit at least 2 times a day.

PLEASE eat *only* solid protein! Choose only a piece of chicken, a lean steak, a hard-boiled egg, or some low-fat cheese. PLEASE: NO mayo, BBQ sauce, ketchup, sweets, junk food, cereals, or anything else. Even the smallest amount of non-protein, carb-laden food can take you out of ketosis and easily negate many day’s worth of the low carbs that are so greatly decreasing your surgical risk.

Those that choose to use a Protein shake, please read the labels. You should try to choose a protein shake with between 20-30 grams of Protein, less than 6 grams of total Carbohydrates, and less than 6 grams of saturated fat per serving.

Count only the NET CARBS that are on the label, not the “total” carbs. Please eat and drink NOTHING that is not clearly labeled as to net carb content. With some products, the “Net Carbs” are called “Impact Carbs” or “Effective Carbs”.

Protein Shakes are NOT required, but are very convenient. These are just some of the brands that have the correct protein/carb/sat fat ratio:

Iso Pure, Slim Fast LOW CARB, Designer whey, www.unjury.com.

Your local GNC or other nutrition store will have a variety of drinks and bars to try. We suggest getting one each of several kinds to try before you buy a larger quantity, so you can find some you really like.

Many find that the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury brand of Protein Drink is the best tasting and among the least expensive. It is available only online, but ships very quickly. www.unjury.com

Do a web search for “low-carb protein bars” and compare costs, grams of protein, and grams of Net carbs. Online sources are often much less expensive than those found in local stores, and the shipping is often free.

We feel that the Atkins ADVANTAGE and ENDULGE Protein Bars are excellent, with about 3-4 grams of Net Carbs per bar, but there are several other brands that are fine.

Watch out for things that you would normally not consider food! You must also have NONE of the following things that are full of sugar:

· chewing gum with sugar or carb sweetener

· breath mints

· cough syrup

· hard candy and cough drops.

NOTE: Increasing your Water intake for 2 weeks prior to surgery greatly reduces difficulty in starting the IV. Your goal should be to drink enough plain water to keep your urine out-put pale to clear each time you void. Of course, nothing can beat a positive attitude. Deciding that you are "worth it" & willing to learn a new way of life is key.

Thank you for following this very important first step toward a successful Banding and great Band weight loss.

My favorite is the HMR 800 Chocolate Shake. I get them on-line from Health Management Resources. Each shake has 160 calories and 16 g. of protein. I think they are delicious. My doctor's office carries the Unjury. It is not bad, but the HMR is so much better to me.