Hi,

I will be having surgery in Utica on April 6 and have a few pounds to lose before that - 8lbs actually.  In your opinion, should I search for some Optifast here in Ottawa or can I simply use the Costco Premier shakes for breakfast and lunch?  My plan is to have a real low cal dinner.  Utica does not require me to Optifast before surgery - just 3 days of clear fluids before.  Any thoughts?

Thanks,

i am allergic to optifast so I have been told to use carnation instant breakfast.  they are on sale right now at zehrs for $7 and change for a box of 10.  I have been told 4 a day, clear fluids, broth, tea & coffee.

since Feb 3rd i have lost 15 lbs.

I was told I needed to do this fast for 3 weeks prior to surgery which is on March 10th.

hope this helps

Hi Ruby, I'm not doing Opticrap either. Dr.Fitzer doesn't require it and he is not requiring me to lose any weight (and the Weight Management Clinic can't make you do it if your surgeon doesn't require it). What I am doing is drinking a meal replacement shake for breakfast right now and a sensible lunch and dinner, to help prepare me for the liquid diet right before and after surgery (I've lost 22 lbs since my consult). The shakes I got are Life brand from Shopper's but I'm sure the Premier ones from Costco are just as good, if not better. About 2 weeks before my surgery I think I'll start taking a shake for lunch as well and just eat dinner.

(Note on the Carnation Instant Breakfast - I don't know if this is the same as before surgery, but on Dr.Fitzer's "green sheet" it says not to drink Carnation Instant Breakfast as your protein shake.)

~ Karen

On February 24, 2010 at 9:43 AM Pacific Time, Karen M #2 wrote: Hi Ruby, I'm not doing Opticrap either. Dr.Fitzer doesn't require it and he is not requiring me to lose any weight (and the Weight Management Clinic can't make you do it if your surgeon doesn't require it). What I�am doing is drinking a meal replacement shake for breakfast right now and a sensible lunch and dinner, to help prepare me for the liquid diet right before and after surgery (I've lost 22 lbs since my consult). The shakes I�got are Life brand from Shopper's but I'm sure the Premier ones from Costco are just as good, if not better. About 2 weeks before my surgery I�think I'll start taking a shake for lunch as well and just eat dinner.

(Note on the Carnation Instant Breakfast - I don't know if this is the same as before surgery, but on Dr.Fitzer's "green sheet" it says not to drink Carnation Instant Breakfast as your protein shake.)

~ Karen


Do you know if the Carnation is considered poor because of the amount of sugar in it or the� quality of protein?

I think it may be both. CIB has milk protein in it. Dr.Graber/Fitzer's guideline is to use whey isolate and/or soy isolate as the protein sources in shakes. I just looked up the nutritional information of the regular ready-to-drink chocolate CIB and there is 38g of sugar in it (I know there are no sugar added ones, but they still don't have soy or whey isolate protein in it).

Two kinds that  I remember off the top of my head that they recommend specifically on the "green sheet" are Atkins Advantage Ready-To-Drink Shakes and EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control Ready-to-Drink Shakes.

That said... the shakes I am using right now have milk protein in them... hmmm... I think I'll switch to Atkins or EAS.

Edited to add: Home from work now... picked up Atkins shakes on the way home. LOL

Hi  I didn't have to do the optifast either  but I was lucky and was able to purchase 2 weeks worth from diffrent people here on OH for way cheaper.  I did it because I thought it would make it easier transfering into the three days of clear liquids.   On the clear liquids before surgery on the second day had a slight headache and felt sick but it passed quickly I believe it was just hunger passing though....all the luck and see you on the losers bench...