Gastric Sleeve

A friend of mine had the surgery... She had a bucket list of her favorite foods that she wouldn't be eating after the surgery that she wanted before it was done. Also she tried all the shake choices to know which ones she liked.

I had the sleeve Nov 20, 2013. My highest weight was 367. I was 344 at my surgery. I weigh 213 today and I am still losing. This is what I recommend to have prepared for the first month:

1. Buy some small 2 oz containers. (I bought containers designed for people making and freezing their own baby food - they were freezer and microwave safe.) On my plan the "meals" were 1/4 cup for the first several months. Our meals the first month included things like refried beans with cheese, oatmeal, and various soups. Every can you open is going to have about 7 servings - so it is nice to be able to portion them out and freeze the excess.

2. Buy the vitamins that your program recommends. If they have a recommended pre-op vitamin regimen you should start it.

3. Buy a dozen or more single serving size protein drinks. Don't buy a tub of anything. The things I thought I liked before surgery I found too thick and cloyingly sweet after surgery. After much trial and error post-surgery I eventually settled on Syntrax Nectar drinks mixed with water (they have about 20 different flavors and you can get single packets of them to try). Unjury also has single serving packets of their protein powders. GNC sells several ready made protein drinks that you can buy individually or at most in 4 packs. Get a variety of different types. In our support group the most common post-surgery problem is finding a protein shake you like and meeting your daily protein minimums. Consider protein drinks that you can drink warm - my first several months post surgery were cold weather, and I much preferred and had an easier time drinking hot beverages. (Generally none of them can be heated above 120 degrees however or the proteins denature and they clump - so invest in a food thermometer.)

4. Taper back and work on giving up caffeine and carbonated beverages if your program requires it. You don't want to be quitting cold turkey the day before your surgery.

5, My program didn't have a specific pre-op diet. After seeing what other people on line went through with 12 days of liquid diet, or other such thing, ultimately I was grateful. You don't need to practice eating pre-surgery the way you are going to have to eat immediately post-surgery. Your body is going to respond to food so differently after surgery. You are not going to be hungry. 1/4 cup is going to fill you up. You will struggle to sip and drink they 64 oz of fluid they request every day. So pre-surgery, just try to focus on reasonable, mindful eating.

6. I recommend joining your local YMCA. As with any gym, our Y has all of the weight and cardio equipment you could possibly need, but also a huge variety of classes. It is much easier to develop and stick with an exercise program if you find things you actually enjoy doing (rather than just force yourself to do because you know your supposed to). I love the pool, so for me aquaerobics and swimming have been things I have been able to stick with. For others it might be zumba, spin classes (biking), kick boxing, basketball, yoga or whatever.

I didn't do the bucket list of foods - one of the great things about the sleeve is that no foods are going to be restricted forever. There are things you won't be able to eat for several months, but the sleeve is really a portion control device. I suppose you could visit your favorite buffets one last time, because buffets are a serious waste of money post-sleeve. However, keep in mind, many programs will refuse surgery if you gain more weight before surgery. So keep your "bucket list" eating in moderation.

Good luck. It is an amazing adventure. I have had no complications, and my life has improved exponentially with this weight loss.

I'm having the sleeve done on 10/21/14 Good luck. Feel free to add me.

I am scheduled for surgery Nov 12th. I'm nervously excited! I didn't know MFP had message boards, let alone a group dedicated to the sleeve. I was just doing research on protein drinks and this thread came up. Lucky me!!

Hi I am due to get my sleeve on 20th November which is exciting! I have been doing the pre-op diet for 13 days now but it is getting easier. Feel free to add me, I would love to hear how others are getting on post op!