question?

when is the best time to start trying to loose weight before surgery? my dr never said I had to but I wanna try for my own. and what would be the best protein drinks and liquids? I am not sure so someone please help me out

hi rebecca some surgeons ask that you lose weight and others don't -- but if you lose weight beforehand it is good for the liver -- as for liquids, anything sugar free -- walmart sf drink mixes, ocean spray DIET (NOT light) -- we buy the little tubes for individual waters so that we have a choice instead of a gallon of something protien -- avant edge, low carb slim fast, isopure, whey protien that you can mix with milk or water -- try to find sample packs online so that your not spending a fortune on something you don't like -- everyone likes different flavors and such good luck Roberta ************************************************************* Ross - Open RNY 5/22/06 - 373/329 - BCBS NJ Horizon Roberta - Open RNY 10/9/06 - Aetna QPOS

Hi Rebecca Protein drinks vary, most mix best with water or milk (most people I know use milk but it depends.). Whey protein drinks are made from a milk by product.. and I prefer whey products. There is also SOY protein drinks, but personally my opinion is they taste like doody. :P Both are a granulated powder, usually about 17-22 grams of protein per scoop. The one I buy and use as a suppliment is.... AdvantEdge ....they sell it at Walmart.. I buy the whey protein chocolate flavor and mix it with nonfat or skim milk, normally a couple scoops to 2 quarts of milk (like a two liter bottle) then keep it in the fridge.. normally I will use a 2 liter bottle in a couple hours.. sipping. Thats about .. 40 grams or so.. any more than 30 grams of protein at a time you really dont absorb that well. Basically there are alot of brands.. and flavors. AdvantEdge is in a purple label, whey protein mix, it comes in natural (no flavor) vanilla, Chocolate and strawberry( but I havent found strawberry that often). Another brand sometimes at Walmart is Triple XXX brand.. it is similar to AdvantEdge. Yet another I have tried that is similar to these two is the " Designer" brand label, its sold at GNC vitamin stores. Some people prefer other brands that you mix with water....or that come in other flavors like bananna, and such. As a bachelor, 18 months ago... I LIVED on protein drinks for about 4 months after surgery because I didnt know better : ) After moving to New Jersey, and marrying my wife (who also had the RNY surgery) I learned to get most of my protein from FOOD (eggs, cheese, yogurt, lean coldcuts, peanut butter, other meat, beef jerky, beans, refried beans, chili, and other food) But I still normally drink a protein drink with a scoop or two of protein mix in the morning. Basically.... look for protein mix drinks with at least 15-25 grams of protein, and find one that you can tolerate at least, or best case, one that you enjoy the taste? After surgery, you should get the amount of protein your doctor recommends (normally 80-90 grams a day of protein). After surgery its... protein first, vitamins, lots of water drinking each day... and exercise. Thats the big four things to remember, but make sure you talk to your surgeon and get his instructions first and foremost : _ LOSING Weight: your surgery is in less than a month.. so I would get gentle exercise starting now... slowly increasing. Consider a liquid diet (IF YOUR surgeon approves) a week before surgery but ONLY if your surgeon says its okay.. it may be not something he/she approves of? Good luck, Godspeed : ) Timmy Ray