Is the food cost after being banded expensive

Just wondering how expensive does it get after you have the band and have to buy all of the different protein powders and things like that. I am hoping to have surgery by sept or Oct. time frame i just don't want to rush into it if i am not financially ready. Thanks in advance for your input :)

You only need protein shakes for a short time, after that you eat normal food, but less of it. You may find yourself buying higher quality foods though. The costs can vary widely for protein shakes, but there are affordable options. Powdered mixes are generally less expensive than pre-made ones.

honestly is can be a bit expensive but I think of it in this way.  It is way cheaper to be with WLS because eating out, you are a cheap date... you could never finish your meal and or you end up sharing your meals with someone.  The protein powders last a while so even though it may run you up to $40 for a large container, it may last you a few months. Have you ever noticed that fast food is cheap... yes cheap on the wallet but not cheap on your health.  At least that's how I look at things. Fresh fruits and veggies can be expensive but if you can, grow your own or if you know people that do ask for some, I'm sure they'll have plenty. Lean meats are cheaper when you buy in bulk, as long as you have the freezer space!  And it's easier to portion out!

Hope that helps a bit!
Good luck and take care!
Janice

Hi there;

All I can give you is my personal experience - here it is:  Pre-op - I didn't have to do Medifast or OptiFast - all I had to do was eat lean fish, chicken and green vegetables, yogurt and egg whites  (low carb, low fat) - so I grocery shopping was cheap that week. . Post-op was 5 days clear liquids - dirt cheap - saved a ton of $,  I did buy some IsoPure protein water that was relatively expensive but it turned out to be cheaper than picking up bottles of diet coke at the convenience store! That was followed by 1 week full liquids. It was in this phase that I bought Atkins Protein shakes - I had one for breakfast every day, and sometimes lunch, but again, since the only other thing I was really eating was cream soup, there was no huge expense.  Now I am on purees and get my protein from pureed fish, eggs, refried beans etc (which is my Dr's preference) although I still have an Atkins shake for breakfast every day blended with frozen fruit.

As I move into regular food, I know I will be buying lots of fresh fruit and veg - if you choose organic they are slightly more expensive, but since you are eating less, I am guessing it all works out.  Since my partner and I both had surgery together i figure we will be splitting a steak instead of having one each same with other meats so i am anticipating food costs will go down. Add in some extra costs of multivitamins in case you are not getting any nutrients and I would guess that you are going to still spend less on food than pre-band.  Of course, the more pre-packaged specialty foods you buy, the more the cost goes up. The more you are prepared to put effort into using good ingredients to make healthy food at home the less you will spend.

 Another area for food saving is eating out. Personally, I rarely eat out anyway unless I am away on business but others have said that this cost decreases because it is easier to pack a lunch or eat dinner at home as restaurant portions are too big and you end up not eating most of it.  Resulting in much wasted food.

Hope this helps!

You can definitely find inexpensive protein shake powder. I used the Target brand "Markey Pantry" and it cost me $17.99 for a 2lb container. I liked it so much better than the stuff I got at GNC too. I just like plain old chocolate. I believe the Target brand only has Chocolate and Vanilla, so if you want variety, you won't find it there. The Target brand mixes so much better than the stuff I got from GNC too. The GNC stuff said it instantizes, so it dissolved instantly in liquid. Yeah, LIES! I could shake it for an hour and there'd still be little globs in there. Oh and best part, the Target stuff had 5 grams more protein than the stuff I paid $30 for at GNC for the same size container. 2lbs.

I don't spend more on food.  I don't drink protein powders, I get all my protein from food.  I do spend more on better quality food.  For instance instead of a cheap sugary ceral for breakfast.  I have an egg and fruit.  I buy organic fruit and eggs which costs.  I buy leaner organic meat, which costs more.  I don't eat frozen dinners or premade meals...which tend to be cheaper than when I make homemade.   My food bill at the grocery store is more.

BUT....  

I save money because I don't eat out that much anymore.  I used to eat out for lunch every day but now I bring my lunch.  I figure I spent about $40-$50 dollars a week on eating out for lunch.  Then I would eat out for dinner several times a week that was at least another $40.  I spent a lot of money eating out.  I will eat out maybe twice a month.  So all and all I actually save on food.   

Thanks everyone!! I am just trying to find out all the info that i can so i know what to expect. I am having a few financial issues so i didn't want to get this surgery done and then not be able to afford the upkeep so to speak of it and then of course cause the band to fail. I have already started trying to eat healthier so i have noticed that fruits and veggies cost more than anything that is precooked or loaded with preservatives. I just was unsure about how much and how long you have to stay on protein powders.

I didn't have a pre-op diet at all.. and afterwards, I didn't use protein powders either.   My doctor has us back on soft regular foods in 2 weeks..  I'm not going to keel over from lack of protein in that short a time.  ::grin::   I used condensed soups and bouillon and chicken broth, etc. etc.

I do keep a little bit of a protein mix on hand now.. but just for convenience on busy mornings or when I just don't want to eat..  but they're not necessary at all.  I could just as easily use skim milk or greek yogurt on busy mornings.

I do try to buy some organic and I rarely buy "convenience" foods any longer, but.. since I eat so much less, it evens out.

Yeah for you for starting to make changes in your diet!!   Check out local farmers markets, you might find better produce there (cheaper?  I'm not sure).  Our local Kroger marks the packaged fresh veggies down when they're one day away from the "suggested use by" date.  They often keep a day or two past.. so that helps. 

If finances are really tight for food, you might look into the angel food ministry.  I've not participated, but have heard good things about them.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the support!! Finances are not tight for food, I am just on a tight budget and don't want to add any excessive amounts to it right now.

The main expense that you have to prepare for are fills.  If you have insurance they should be covered and some surgeons include a years worth of fills in the surgery price but make sure you ask the question.  If you are paying out of pocket I've heard of fills running anywhere from $100-$300 per.  Most fills will happen every 6 weeks or so during the first year but after that there is still some maintenence that is requires so I'd budget for 3x a year.

Again, if you have insurance that covers fills then you'll be fine.

Best~
Lisa O.