Lifestyle Change Preparation!

I actually got a personal vaporizer.  Kinda like an e cigarette.  This has helped tremendously to quit smoking. In my opinion it is no different than any other kind of nicotine replacement.  I have gotten to the lowest mg of nicotine available at my store before there is no liquid in the nicotine.  It is the closest thing to smoking and not be actually be smoking.  It has been nearly as painful as quitting all those other times before  I wish you all of the luck with that.  Quitting has been so worth it!

Your doctor will have a menu for what you can and can't eat. Everyone here will have something different, but you need to do what he/she suggests.

As for the protein drinks - go into the grocery stores, Whole Foods, the links someone gave above and try out any and every one you can find until you find what you like.  Then after surgery, if you're lucky, you will still continue to like these same flavors, but your taste buds might change too.

Hi Annie,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to pick up some samples this weekend. I hope that I really like the shakes and don't mind making them a part of my daily routine so that taking them become second nature and the process will be smother.

Don't spend a lot of money on shakes.  You may like something now and then not like it later.  My tastes changed drastically post Sleeve.  I used to drink the Premier Nutrition - 160 cal, 3 gms of fat, 5 gms of carbs and 30 gms of protein!  AFTER my Sleeve, I couldn't stand them!  I had drank them for almost 5 years previously!

ANYWAY, my surgeon requires NO shakes post operatively!  WE have to get all of our protein from our foods!  No bars and no shakes.  Each surgeon is different.  You never know what your surgeon will require.  I advise everyone following their own surgeon.  You trust them to alter  your body forever, you need to trust them to tell you how to eat!

Lastly, I think you should consider trying the Atkins diet.  IT's a liver shrinking diet and you will absolutely lose weight and lose it fast.  After being Sleeved you will eat mostly protein and very few carbs, this will be your new way of eating.  It's a good idea to start learning it now.  Yes, you will feel deprived, but I feel I was able and DID eat whatever I wanted for 15 years, it's time for me to feel a little deprivation.

Research all of the WLS, DS is a great one too!  Don't make a hasty decision - this is the rest of your life!

Good Luck!  I've lost the weight of two average sized humans!

Hi, I am pre-op as well.  i am not sure if you are from Canada or not but I went to a dietition before the surgery process and started to follow the Canadian Food Guide.  It includes all food groups.  i have lost 46 lbs now and continue to do so.  If you are in Canada and have access to the food guide it may help.  One thing to be aware of is that it does not emphasize protein which is sooo important post surgery. Hope all goes well with your surgery...good luck 

Thank you. I'm not in Canada (but I did drive there last summer. lol). Is there anyway you could send me a link of the guide. I'm actually in North America. Congrats on the 46 lb. weight loss! That's awesome. How much do they require you to loose before surgery? Best wishes to you on your journey as well!

the Canada Food Guide is geared to "normal" eaters.  As a DSer, it is totally inadequate for me.  It focuses on lots of whole grains and fruit - unnecessary carbs for any WLS patient.  And as  a DSer, I must eat high fat.

You could focus on an Atkins or Paleo based diet as part of your preparation.  High protein levels are important for surgical healing as well as weight loss post surgery

re protein shakes - you will likely find that your taste buds change drastically post surgery.  You may want to hold off on testing the samples until after your surgery is done and you can give them the real test.