My pre-op diet

Hi everyone...This is going to be a pretty basic question.  I am overwhelmed by the Protein products that I have seen out there.  Do any of you have a suggestion as to which drinks/powder are better than others for the pre-op 2 weeks of liquids that I have to start very soon ,......I'm sure I'll be asking for help post-operatively as well....LOL but one step at time!! Thank you all for all the encouragement so far!  This week has been a worldwind of information and meeting and talking to so many great people.  I am looking forward to hearing what worked best for yall...Thanks!

Hi Christine..... I'm not sure what your pre-op diet involves, but, here goes....... If you have a Vitamin Shoppe your way, I would swing by there.  They have many products and will allow you return if you do not like it (just save your receipt).  The ones they have there that are good for us are: Matrix - Chocolate (my staple), Cookies and Cream, Vanilla and Orange Cream Syntrax Nectar - Tes w/ lemon, Carribean Cooler, Strawberry, Fuzzy Naval IDS: Chocolate Dutch, Vanilla, Orange/Pineapple IDS: Premade in Bottle.  Fruit flavors, like punch Elite: Chocolate Mint some on the shelves): Protein Delite (recently out of production, but some places still have Chocolate Coconut, Strawberry White Chocolate, Chocolate Almond AnyWhey - Flavorless protein powder so you can add to broth, yogurt, etc. Bariatriceating.com carries seveal protein drinks.  She even sells samples for you to try, and quick delivery. Stay away from anything that is high in carbs, or contains sugar or caffine as they aren't good for us and can actaully cause more problems than what they are worth (such as malabsorption of calcium and other nutrients). Be mindful that after your surgery, your tastes will likely change.  So, what you like today may not be what you like tomorrow. Good Luck!!!!!

Good am! A subject that creates much debate! :) In a nutshell, don't go purchasing tons of product right now. I highly suggest you get samples of things and protein wise since our taste buds tend to change post-op. I enjoy drinking a variety of protein. AchievOnes are good (Mocha Java for me), I also like my old standby of Carnation Instant Breakfast (sugar free) with skim milk and non-fat dry milk added. I'm not the biggest shake maker as I take issue with grainy, powdery substances. Other folks will add more to this as. Oh and another in Unjury which I just cannot come around to liking but it comes in Unflavored which in my opinion really isn't, chocolate and I think vanilla. All best!

MCV Obesity Surgery Center should be sending you a pre-op surgery packet which has a list of the approved protein drinks.  You need to have 5 per day.  I found the first choice at Walmart and just sucked those down for the two weeks.  I pulled out my packet and it reads: Approved Protein Drinks: Slim Fast Meals Low Carb Diet Designer Protein @ GNC Equate Brand Powder (Walmart Brand) Unjury www.unjury.com Weigh****chers Smoothie Powder Low carb, high protein shake of your choosing (suggestion www.bariatriceating.com) BUT PLEASE check your sheet against this when you recieve it to be sure they haven't changed anything.  :)  Good luck!

OT (off Topic)  I love your avatar.  You look like Olivia on Law & Order SVU (Mariska Hargitay).  I love her as an actress.  :)

For pre-op I'm drinking EASadvantedge...all flavors. I stick them in the freezer for about 15 minutes before I drink them to get them nice and cold.You can buy them at WalMart and Krogers and I do like the taste of these, but not the drinks you have to mix (yucky to me).There is no sugar and only 110 calories.The down side to these are they only have 17 grams of protein, so for after surgery I don't think that is enough protein. After surgery, I plan to use profect or liquid whey which can give up to 42 grams of protein in 3 ounces and taste pretty good.  I don't know what your preop diet is like. Most doctors are different. My diet consist of 2 protein shakes per day (breakfast and lunch), 1 Pur protein bar, and 1 weigh****chers type meal for dinner.  Best wishes, Penny

Christine, everyone has such different tastes and some tastes change after surgery.  What worked best for me was to get lots of samples and just keep trying them til I found one I liked.  I ended up with the Isopure Zero Carb Dutch Chocolate.  Lots of websites sell sample packs and that is so much easier than buying a big jug, not liking it and wasting it.  Hope this helps some.

This really has a lot to do with personal tastes and what works for you may not work for someone else... I had a real hard time with getting a protein that I like and so I use the bullets. You had some good advice - you look for something low or no sugar, low or no carbs and not too high in calories. Your nutritionist will give you advice but will probably tell you make sure you have the above and probably no caffeine in the beginning.  There are many places you can get samples  - GNC, Bariatric Eating, Vitalady.com etc and my advice is to try the samples and see what you like - but do not buy a huge supply  of protein because after surgery your tasts may change and sometimes the protein you really like now tastes really awful to you afterwards.  It is a lot to take in right now but eventually it becomes second nature - I promise lol!! Jackie

Hey Christine, my pre op is fairly easy, even though I think it's the devil at times.  I am allowed to have 2 shakes and 1 small normal meal every day with unlimited no starch vegetables and between 64 & 100 ounces of fluid a day.  I can do what ever meal I want, and drink the shakes when ever.  I was allowes to choose between a bunch of shakes, Slim Fast High Protein, Slim Fast Optima, Carnation Instant Breakfast No Sugar Added.  The Carnation Instant Breakfast Chocolate is what I use.  I use fat free milk and add an extra 3/4 cup to it to make it not so thick.  I have no problem getting them down.  After surgery, I have Muscle Milk, from GNC, to drink.  So far, I can stomach them with out gagging as I have a horrible problem of smelling food or drink before I consume it.  I am not sure if my taste buds will still like it post op as all the post op pros say sometimes you dont like what you once did.  Hope you find what you are looking for.  Good luck. Hugs, Theresa