Alex Brecher

None of this is a really big deal. Poppy seeds are not going to cause you any major issues or discomforts. I ate food with poppy seeds in it right from the beginning. I didn't even know it was an issue. I would not even give it a second thought and would have some more right now.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up if it hasn’t been posted yet about a Protein Shake recall. Over 50 kinds listed
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lyons-magnus-voluntarily-recalls-53-nutritional-and-beverage-products-due-potential-microbial

Weight loss surgery patients need to focus on getting enough Protein, but that is not the only important nutrient. Carbohydrates have their place, too. Use them right, and you can benefit with more stable blood sugar, lower disease risk, They can even give you a better chance of keeping off the weight for good. In general, look for less processed, higher-nutrient, higher-fiber, lower-sugar carbs


1. oatmeal.< /strong> Despite its high carb count, oatmeal is one of the healthiest foods, even for weight loss surgery patients. It is a whole grain (gluten-free, if you are wondering), and is a source of soluble Fiber. People who eat whole grains instead of refined ones have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain.
Have oatmeal with nuts or Peanut Butter for a little extra healthy fat and protein, and add cinnamon for a sweet flavor without sugar. No law says oatmeal needs to be sweet. Turn it into a savory bowl with a poached or hard-boiled egg, some feta cheese, and sliced cooked mushrooms.
2. Pear. Pears have a lower glycemic index and glycemic load than many other fruits, so they do not spike your blood sugar as much. They have soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar. They also provide lignans, which are heart-healthy.

You can do way more with a pear than use it as a dessert or a side for cottage cheese, although those work, too! Try serving it with all-natural ham, or tossing it with mixed greens, walnuts, bell peppers, and cooked chicken breast. You can also turn it into a salsa to top fish or chicken along with diced onion, Tomato, and cucumber, plus chopped cilantro and lime juice.
3. Beans. Beans are a starch you can love since they pack in the fiber and protein along with Vitamins and minerals. They are linked to lower risk for certain cancers, as well. If they bother your stomach, try having small portions or using an enzyme product such as Bean-o.
Kidney, pinto, garbanzo, and black beans – they’re all good! Make hummus with garbanzos and olive oil, or try vegetarian chili with beans, tomatoes, other vegetables, and seasoning. Or, make a taco salad or naked burrito with fat-free refried beans.
4. pumpkin. Pumpkin has a medium glycemic index, but so few carbohydrates that your body will barely realize that it is there. Aside from the potassium and fiber in pumpkin, you will find amazing amounts of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene – and that can only be a good thing after weight loss surgery. Butternut and acorn squash have a few more carbohydrates but are also excellent choices.
Stir pumpkin and cinnamon into your oatmeal, or mix them into non-fat cream cheese for a flavorful, protein-packed spread or dip for apples. Add chunks of butternut squash to stew, or blend pumpkin into a Soup to make it creamy.
5. Peas. Peas may have a bad reputation, but it is undeserved. Choose snow peas or sugar snap peas in the pod for a dose of Vitamin C and fiber. Use them raw or lightly cooked to preserve their antioxidants and keep their glycemic load down.
Use them in salads along with lettuce, chicken, and chopped vegetables, or dip them into Greek yogurt-based dips. You can also use snow and sugar snap peas in stir fry – just be sure to keep them crunchy.

Check out netrition.com! They have thousands of low-carb Snacks and low-carb food options.

Fast food is a fact of life for so many of us, so is it really reasonable to expect it to disappear from the scene after bariatric surgery?
Note: This isn’t an article on “How soon after surgery can I eat pepperoni pizza and wings?” This is an article on making the best choices you can given your situation.


Consider Macros
That is, “macronutrients,” or carbohydrates, fat, and Protein. The news is bad on the surface since the average fast food meal has more carbs and less protein per calorie than the average home-cooked meal. You can work to turn this around, though.
Carbohydrates: Cut back on carbohydrates by skipping the starchy sides: French fries, potato chips, and hash browns, steamed, fried, or Mexican rice, and breadsticks. Try to go “green” (lettuce wrap) or “naked” (no wrap) with your burger, tortilla, or sandwich; if the fast food joint cannot honor your request, just eat the filling with a knife and fork, and throw away the bread, bun, tortilla, or taco shell (if you are feeling guilty because of starving children in third-world countries, make a donation. You’ll do more good than you would by adding starch to your hips).
Protein: How can you boost your protein intake at a fast food restaurant to be what you need? Skinless grilled or baked chicken, lean cold cuts, cheese, and Beans can all up your totals, and yogurt is an increasingly common side option. Even a small burger patty can give you 10 to 15 grams of protein, although it comes with a few extra grams of fat.
A good protein goal for a meal is about 20-30 grams. You can get that for 200-300 calories with any of the following.
Burger King Double Cheeseburger, no bun; Grilled Chicken Garden salad, no croutons; or Veggie Burger with cheese, no bun or mayo. McDonald’s Grilled Southwestern Chicken Salad, no cheese; or Grilled Chicken Sandwich, no bun or spread. Taco Bell 2 grilled or fresco steak soft tacos, no tortillas; chicken or steak Power Menu Bowl, no rice or cheese. KFC Grilled Chicken Drumstick plus green beans or side salad. Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki or Asian Chicken. Fats: Your first order of business is to avoid anything fried. You will be avoiding excess grease while also avoiding sneaky carbs in breading – did you know that the amounts of carbs in onion rings and fried chicken are comparable to the amounts in bread? Also, watch the fatty spreads – think Mayonnaise – salad dressings, and dips.
Find the Vegetables
Protein and vegetables…does this sound familiar? It should, since your goals when eating at a fast food restaurant should be the same as when you eat at home. Vegetables help fill you up without filling you out, and it is best to eat as many of them as you can handle with your pouch or sleeve. It may take a little more digging to find vegetables at fast food restaurants than at home, but you can usually do it. Here are a few leads.
Ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and any other available vegetables on burgers and sandwiches. Order a side salad or baby carrots with your meal. Check for salads with grilled chicken as an entrée. Pile salsa and diced vegetables onto your naked burrito. When “Value” Isn’t
Besides the convenience, the deals are among the most tempting things about fast food. For pennies more, you can often add fries and a drink, or you could get a second burger or taco for half the price. Don’t do it!
“Value” depends on what you want and need; why would you pay extra, even if it is “only pennies more,” for extra fat, sugar, starch, and calories? A healthier definition of “value” might be to pay the least you can for a meal that is convenient, delicious, and healthy. Why include “oversized” in your definition?
For those times when fast food simply makes sense, go for it – just keep yourself on track by reading the menu carefully and staying focused. You can do it, no matter where you end up. You might as well enjoy it!

The BariatricPal Store carries a huge selection of Bariatric friendly Protein Soups and Broths at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/soups-bouillons-broths.

collagen Protein is great for you but is not counted towards the daily amount of protein you're required.
Clean whey by BariatricPal is a whey protein isolate, which is optimal for bariatric patients https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein .
Protein One by BariatricPal has vitamins in them https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-protein-one-multivitamin-calcium-iron-fiber-meal-replacement .

collagen Protein is great for you but is not counted towards the daily amount of protein you're required.
Clean whey by BariatricPal is a whey protein isolate, which is optimal for bariatric patients https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein .
Protein One by BariatricPal has vitamins in them https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-protein-one-multivitamin-calcium-iron-fiber-meal-replacement .

collagen Protein is great for you but is not counted towards the daily amount of protein you're required.
Clean whey by BariatricPal is a whey protein isolate, which is optimal for bariatric patients https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein .
Protein One by BariatricPal has vitamins in them https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-protein-one-multivitamin-calcium-iron-fiber-meal-replacement .

You clicked on the unsubscribe link for all BariatricPal.com emails a while back. I corrected that and had your reset email resent.

Wow - What a week I've just had! Due to COVID, we haven't had our yearly work conference with customers since 2019. I've been with my company for 20+ years (and overweight the majority of that time) and haven't seen most of our customers post surgery. This past week was the first one and the reactions I had from co-workers (we work remotely so I haven't seen many of them since 2019 either) and customers was fantastic! I had folks who didn't recognize me at first and others who were just amazed at the transformation.
I haven't been shy about how I lost the weight. Hell, I'll tell anyone how and why. I'd like to see the stigma of it gone. I waited so many years because intially I also believed I simply needed will-power to lose weight and keep it off. Like most of us here, I'd lost weight and gained it back plus some for a good part of my life. I tried everything and yup, I was still fat. This week I had several folks who were overweight ask me REAL questions about the surgery and life afterwards. It felt great to be able to explain the pros and cons of it all. I used what I've learned from both my experiences and this site (THANK YOU ALL!) to explain what it's like and how it affects you. Here are some of my thoughts and talking points:

If you're an emotional eater, stress eater, or triggered eater, then this may not be the right answer for you. You definitely have to get that under control BEFORE surgery, Of 3 people that had surgery at about the same time, 2 of us have been successful (all sleevers). Another has only lost ~50 lbs. He simply wasn't ready for the changes and has managed to out eat the sleeve with junk food. If you're a social eater (that's ME) who has problems with primarily with Portion Control, you'll probably be more successful. You have to be prepared mentally for the changes (see bullet point 1). It's a roller coaster. The first few months are overwhelming. Hormones are out of control, you find you can do things you haven't done in ages as the weight loss, people are commenting, and sometimes you feel like your life will never be the same again. Many of us CAN eat anything we want after we heal- Just in smaller portions You will always need to be aware of this and try to make smart choices. I try to be smart about it. If I know I'm going to be tempted by junk food, I try and eat some heavy Protein (chicken, beef, fish) FIRST so I really don't have any room left over for the temptation. Other times I just say F-it and eat the chips, crackers, dips, etc. I don't make it a habit, nor do I feel guilty when I do. You CAN out eat the sleeve. Yep, I drink. Sometimes to excess. Most of the time I don't. It's a social thing and I enjoy it. If I were doing to escape, I'd be worried. I get on the scale often. As in daily if I have it with me. This keeps me in check. If I don't, I find myself being far less conscience of what I'm eating or drinking. I know me, and if I don't I'll simply convince myself that the dryer must of shrunk my clothes! I have a 5lb threshold that I adhere to. If I get near that, I go back to tracking immediately so I can't lie to myself. If you're mentally and physically prepared for the restrictions and the lifestyle changes then this really can be the "easy way out" (I am fully aware that for many it is NOT easy so please don't take offense if you're stuggling). I'm one of the lucky ones. This surgery is life-changing in so many ways and I'll stress again, you need to be mentally prepared for those changes. If you're married or in a relationship, be prepared for how this affects your significant other (mine has been very supportive). Be prepared to take a good hard look at yourself and what you want out of this. People treat you differently - even ones you've known forever. I did this 100% for me. Frankly, a lot of it was for vanity and comfort. I was tired of being uncomfortable on a plane and not being able to experience things that had weight limits. I wanted to wear clothes that didn't come from Omar's tent factory. I find myself to be more confident and outgoing. This can be a shock to those around you. People may feel that you've changed (you HAVE). Be aware if you're becoming toxic and critical. Surgery is the right thing for some people, and the wrong thing for others. Don't be judgemental.

Weighing yourself after weight loss surgery is a given, but your surgeon may not always tell you what you need to know about it. Do you know why you should weigh in, how often, and how to do it? What ups and downs should you expect to see, and how seriously should you take them? Whether you are prepping for surgery or are well into your weight loss journey, becoming an expert on weighing in can help you lose more weight.


Why Weigh Yourself?
Yes, you weigh yourself to know how much you weigh. But what is the point if you are on your weight program and your doctor will weigh you at your next appointment? Weighing yourself can have some benefits.
It can help you lose more weight by keeping you accountable. Just like logging your food can make you think twice before taking that extra bite, knowing that you will face the scale can keep you from serving yourself another portion.
It can be motivating. When you see the number of the scale go down, you might be more eager to wake up early for your workout, or order a salad instead of a sandwich.
It can be empowering. Knowing your weight gives you another piece of information about your body, and embracing rather than avoiding yourself can empower you to do your best for yourself.
How Often?
You can weigh yourself as often as you like, but it does not make sense to take too many weigh-ins too seriously. For many people, a good rule of thumb is to do a weekly weigh-in. You can take this weight as your “official current weight.” Some people like to stay off of the scale between their weekly “official” weigh-ins, while others like to weigh themselves daily, or even more than once a day, just to see what is going on. That is fine, as long as you do not take each weigh-in too seriously and do not let it bother you.
How to Weigh Yourself
You may be a 10, 20, or 40-year veteran of weighing yourself, but there are better and, well, worse ways to do so. It may be worth reviewing or revising your weigh-in practices to get better results. Here are some guidelines for accurate weigh-ins.
Weigh yourself at the same time of the day for your weigh-in, usually first thing in the morning.
Choose the same day each week to weigh yourself.
Wear minimal or no clothing.
Use the same scale, and a trustworthy one, each time.
Mistakes to Avoid
In theory, weighing yourself is as simple as stepping on the scale. Not! Your weight can be deceptively high or low if you find yourself making any of these mistakes.
Weighing yourself after a heavy meal. While 1 lb. of lettuce has only 50 calories, it weighs…1 lb. If it is in your stomach, you will weigh an extra pound. Weighing yourself in the morning before you eat anything can help avoid the problem of extra weight inside your stomach.
Weighing yourself wearing shoes or clothes. Heavy shoes and a full set of clothes can weigh 5 or more lb. That is a big chunk of weight that is not yours!
Weighing yourself with too much salt in your system. With salty foods comes sodium, with sodium comes thirst, and with thirst comes extra Water. Water is heavy. It can still be in your system the next morning, and show up on the scale.
Weighing yourself right after exercising. Exercise does help you lose body fat, but it also helps you lose body water through sweat. You can lose a few lb. of water in one workout, and your body weight might be artificially low right after.
Weighing in Monday morning. If your weekdays are picture-perfect in terms of eating, and your weekends progress from Friday night at the bar to Sunday afternoon in front of the TV, your Monday morning weight can be variable, and possibly high. Friday morning may be a better time for you to weigh in.
Getting inaccurate numbers can be bad in many ways.
You might get discouraged for no reason if your weight shows up as higher than it really is.
You could become confused about how what you eat affects your weight if there seems to be no correlation.
You might have trouble detecting regain, and not modify your diet until you have gained more than you wanted.
Choosing a Scale
On top of making sure you are ready for a good weigh-in, you need to make sure that your scale is also ready. Using a cheap scale can drive you crazy because it may not be accurate. It could be difficult to read, or it could vary within a few pounds even if you are the same weight.
There are many affordable Body Scales that are highly accurate. You can find features that help you read the scale easily, track your weight, and see other information. These are some features to consider.
Digital read-outs.
Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone.
Memory of your recent weights.
Measurements such as body fat and lean muscle mass.
Use the scale to help you on your weight loss journey, and you can consider it another weapon in your weight loss arsenal. The more tools you have, the better your weight loss success can be!

You need a total of 1200-1500mg of calcium citrate spread out 3 times per day.
The BariatricPal Store carries a huge selection of Bariatric-friendly Calcium at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium.
Check out the newly released BariatricPal sugar-free Calcium Citrate Soft Chews 500mg with Probiotics at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/brand_bariatricpal+vitamin-form_soft-chews . They come in 6 AMAZING flavors: French vanilla Caramel, chocolate Mint, Belgian Chocolate Caramel, Orange Creamsicle, strawberry Watermelon Twist and Wild Grape.
You can get Calcium in many different forms:
Soft Chews: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_soft-chews
Chewable: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_chewable
Powder: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_powder
Liquid: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_liquid
Tablets: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_tablets
Patches: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium/vitamin-form_vitamin-patch

Happy Independence Day – and happy weight loss noshing! There is no question that a July 4 celebration can be filled with diet disasters, but it can also be filled with delicious weight loss-friendly fare, too. Here are some ideas that can help you enjoy the cookout while you stay on your low-carb, high-protein diet. Bonus if you can get some red, white, and blue foods while you are at it!


Skinny Starters
There is sure to be food out from the second you arrive at the party. Munch on chips and dip for the minutes or hours as soon as you get there, and you will probably down more carbs and calories than you should have in a day. Instead, try munching on Protein Chips, Cheese Crisps, or any kind of cut, raw vegetables. You can up the gourmet factor by making open-faced bruschetta-like appetizers with tomatoes and feta or mozzarella on Protein Rusk Bread.
Skinnier Side: Purple Cabbage Salad
Try making a red, white, and blue salad using shredded purple cabbage as your “blue” base. The red can come from strawberries, and you can dot it with white pieces of tofu. Dress your coleslaw with lite Asian vinaigrette, and each serving will have over 100 calories less than regular coleslaw.
High-Protein Semi-Soft Foods Side: Egg Salad WLS-Style
If cabbage is a little beyond where you are after WLS, opt instead for a low-calorie version of egg salad. Use hard-boiled eggs or egg whites and the usual seasonings such as paprika, lemon juice, pepper, hot sauce, or mustard. Then, save over 100 calories per portion by using Calorie-Free Mayo instead of regular. It even comes in flavors such as Chipotle, Honey Mustard, and Ranch.
Protein Centerpiece: sugar-free Barbeque
A barbecue has the potential to yield the ideal WLS-friendly main course if you get a lean Protein, but a grilling occasion can go terribly wrong, too. Consider barbecue ribs with nearly 1,000 calories, or beef patties with over half their calories from fat. Instead, try chicken breast, shrimp, or fish with calorie-free, sugar-free BBQ Sauce for a punch that is nearly pure protein. Of course, skip the bun to save more calories and carbs.
Instead of buttery grilled corn, almost any grilled vegetable makes a better choice. Try eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, asparagus tips, or mushrooms. If you want to marinate them first, use a low-fat, sugar-free option, such as balsamic vinegar or Cajun seasoning.
Red, White, and Blue Dessert
Aren’t those July 4 cakes decorated to look like an American flag beautiful? Here’s an idea: keep the cake intact and get your red, white, and blue dessert from a more healthful source. Try strawberries or raspberries and blueberries in creamy Vanilla Protein Pudding to get a satisfying dose of antioxidants, Fiber, and protein without any added sugar.
Your Independence Day barbecue can be just as celebratory as ever, but a lot healthier this year with some planning. Look for the high-protein, low-carb choices, but make sure they have the flavors you love, because loving life is part of being healthy!

Fast food is a fact of life for so many of us, so is it really reasonable to expect it to disappear from the scene after bariatric surgery?
Note: This isn’t an article on “How soon after surgery can I eat pepperoni pizza and wings?” This is an article on making the best choices you can given your situation.


Consider Macros
That is, “macronutrients,” or carbohydrates, fat, and Protein. The news is bad on the surface since the average fast food meal has more carbs and less protein per calorie than the average home-cooked meal. You can work to turn this around, though.
Carbohydrates: Cut back on carbohydrates by skipping the starchy sides: French fries, potato chips, and hash browns, steamed, fried, or Mexican rice, and breadsticks. Try to go “green” (lettuce wrap) or “naked” (no wrap) with your burger, tortilla, or sandwich; if the fast food joint cannot honor your request, just eat the filling with a knife and fork, and throw away the bread, bun, tortilla, or taco shell (if you are feeling guilty because of starving children in third-world countries, make a donation. You’ll do more good than you would by adding starch to your hips).
Protein: How can you boost your protein intake at a fast food restaurant to be what you need? Skinless grilled or baked chicken, lean cold cuts, cheese, and Beans can all up your totals, and yogurt is an increasingly common side option. Even a small burger patty can give you 10 to 15 grams of protein, although it comes with a few extra grams of fat.
A good protein goal for a meal is about 20-30 grams. You can get that for 200-300 calories with any of the following.
Burger King Double Cheeseburger, no bun; Grilled Chicken Garden salad, no croutons; or Veggie Burger with cheese, no bun or mayo. McDonald’s Grilled Southwestern Chicken Salad, no cheese; or Grilled Chicken Sandwich, no bun or spread. Taco Bell 2 grilled or fresco steak soft tacos, no tortillas; chicken or steak Power Menu Bowl, no rice or cheese. KFC Grilled Chicken Drumstick plus green beans or side salad. Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki or Asian Chicken. Fats: Your first order of business is to avoid anything fried. You will be avoiding excess grease while also avoiding sneaky carbs in breading – did you know that the amounts of carbs in onion rings and fried chicken are comparable to the amounts in bread? Also, watch the fatty spreads – think Mayonnaise – salad dressings, and dips.
Find the Vegetables
Protein and vegetables…does this sound familiar? It should, since your goals when eating at a fast food restaurant should be the same as when you eat at home. Vegetables help fill you up without filling you out, and it is best to eat as many of them as you can handle with your pouch or sleeve. It may take a little more digging to find vegetables at fast food restaurants than at home, but you can usually do it. Here are a few leads.
Ask for extra lettuce, tomatoes, and any other available vegetables on burgers and sandwiches. Order a side salad or baby carrots with your meal. Check for salads with grilled chicken as an entrée. Pile salsa and diced vegetables onto your naked burrito. When “Value” Isn’t
Besides the convenience, the deals are among the most tempting things about fast food. For pennies more, you can often add fries and a drink, or you could get a second burger or taco for half the price. Don’t do it!
“Value” depends on what you want and need; why would you pay extra, even if it is “only pennies more,” for extra fat, sugar, starch, and calories? A healthier definition of “value” might be to pay the least you can for a meal that is convenient, delicious, and healthy. Why include “oversized” in your definition?
For those times when fast food simply makes sense, go for it – just keep yourself on track by reading the menu carefully and staying focused. You can do it, no matter where you end up. You might as well enjoy it!

You may need to eat out after WLS, because Americans eat out a lot. Some estimates put one-quarter of Americans eating fast food on a given day, before counting food from casual and upscale restaurants. A total of about 1 in 3 calories come from foods that are eaten away from home, such as prepared foods and restaurant foods.


With restaurants, fast food, and other prepared foods being such a big part of our culture, you may not be able to, or even want to, stop eating out. That is okay, even after WLS. You will just need to be a savvy customer to be sure that wherever you are, you get a meal that fits into your meal plan. Take heart: it is almost always possible.
The Trouble with Eating Out
Research has been clear on the differences between eating out and preparing food at home. Restaurant meals tend to be bigger and higher in calories. Beyond that, they are higher in sodium and saturated fat, and lower in Fiber.
That does not bode well for weight loss, but you are not doomed. Most restaurants are willing and able to accommodate you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the choices.
Do Your Homework (Or Procrastinate)
Most restaurants have their menus posted online. Many have their nutritional facts online. Check before you go to the restaurant, and decide on your meal before you get there. When it comes time to order, you need not browse the menu for temptations.
Or Procrastinate
It is not always possible to check beforehand, and that is okay. Just keep your goal in mind:
Some lean Protein, such as eggs, chicken, or fish.
A vegetable.
A small amount of a healthy starch and/or healthy fat.
Build that meal from the items you see on the menu.
The Customer Is Always Right
If you need another expression to drive home the point, what about, “He who pays the piper calls the tune?” You are perfectly entitled to ask for no sauce, dressing on the side, or no bun.
A surprising number of joints allow substitutions or modifications for no extra cost, although some may charge. The cost is usually minimal, and worth it. Examples include getting grilled instead of fried chicken or fish, or swapping a side salad or steamed vegetables for a side of rice, Pasta, or potatoes.
Best Bets for Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
You can go to a restaurant with some ideas of what they might have for each meal, and search for those.
Breakfast
Eggs: in an omelet or scrambled. Look for egg whites if you can, and choose vegetable toppings. cheese and turkey can also be good additions. Skip bacon and other fatty meats in your eggs.
Oatmeal: plain, regular or steel-cut, without add-ons such as dried fruit or brown sugar. Nuts are okay. Steer clear of granola.
Breakfast sandwich: English muffin (you can eat half) with egg and/or cheese and/or ham – no bacon, sausage, croissant, or biscuit.
Create a meal from sides or add-ons, such as cottage cheese, an egg, fresh fruit, or turkey sausage.
Lunch
Green salad with any of grilled chicken, cheese, nuts, vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and light dressing. Skip regular dressing (or order it on the side), croutons and chow mein noodles, and dried fruit.
Chicken, fish, turkey breast, a veggie burger patty, a hamburger patty, or taco beef. Skip the bread, tortilla, bun, or taco shell, and steer away from breaded and fried.
Side salad, carrot sticks, yogurt, or sliced apples.
Dinner
Shrimp cocktail or broth-based Soup for starters. Avoid dips, chips, bread and breadsticks, and fried starters.
Grilled, baked, or roasted plain chicken or fish. Avoid fried choices, fatty meats, and creamy or buttery sauces.
Steamed vegetables or a side salad. Avoid fries, pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes.
The Final Filter: You
No matter what lands on your plate or your to-go box, the ultimate decision about what goes into your mouth is made by…you. You can turn a potentially disastrous order into a not-so-bad or even good meal with some smart choices.
Decide how much you will eat and pack away the rest before you take your first bite.
Scoop out the filling from sandwiches and burritos, while leaving the bread and tortillas.
Eat the Proteins and vegetables from your plate, while leaving the fries and fatty sauces.
Scrape off any breading and eat only the chicken or fish inside.
Weight loss surgery is to help you lose weight, but it is also to help you live a better life. If the good life for you includes eating out, you can do it. Just be careful. Keep your weight loss surgery diet plan in mind as you order and eat, and you can lose weight as you live your normal life.

The BariatricPal Store carries a nice selection of Bariatric friendly collagen at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/collagen

^^ HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
I’ve seen the work and it’s good.

^^^^ I was just going to say that! A lot of bariatric patients from the NYC area have used him and been very happy with the results.

Dr. Joseph Capella comes highly recommended and specializes in body contouring after weight loss surgery. He has offices in NYC and NJ. Please let me know if you come across any other great surgeons in the NYC area. I get asked this question often and would love to offer other alternative suggestions.

Dr. Joseph Capella comes highly recommended and specializes in body contouring after weight loss surgery. He has offices in NYC and NJ. Please let me know if you come across any other great surgeons in the NYC area. I get asked this question often and would love to offer other alternative suggestions.

Bathroom scales aren't precision devices.

Let me give you the advice my nutrition coach gave me. Weigh as often as you want, but pick ONE day a week and average the last week's worth. Then track your average. Because maybe you slid your scale and it's balanced differently. Maybe you ate something salty or drank a little wine and you're bloated. Maybe it's almost time for Aunt Flo to visit, or you overdid it at the gym, and are retaining Water.

But the average won't lie to you. And so, on days like yesterday where I had a bunch of salty food for NYE and then weighed in heavy, it averages out over the week, and I see I am losing about 2 lbs. a week.

You knew losing weight after would require WLS work. Your surgeon almost certainly gave you your post-op diet progression menus and long-term meal plans for weight loss and maintenance. Still, there may be a few things that nobody told you before WLS about food, hunger, and diets.


You’re Starving, or Not
For some WLS patients, hunger goes away. For others, hunger is reduced enough so that you can keep it in check, even if you were constantly hungry before WLS. Some patients, though, still need to fight hunger. It is still a struggle to pass up certain foods and to keep portions small.
Your Head Gets Hungry
“Head hunger” is when you think you are hungry, but you are really just bored, the food looks good, or you feel like eating for some other reason. It is important to learn to recognize head hunger so that you know when it is not time to eat, but it is also important to realize that it may not be time to eat every time you are physically hungry. That is because you are losing weight, which means you are eating less than you burn, which means…your body is hungry.
Pizza and Ice Cream Taste Great
Often, your sense of taste changes after weight loss surgery. You may be one of the lucky patients who stops loving junk food. pizza and French fries may be too greasy and salty for your new taste buds, and ice cream and muffins may be too sweet.
On the other hand, your taste buds may be just as enamored with the food groups of sweet, salty, starchy, and greasy. You may need to work just as hard as you did pre-op to keep pizza, ice cream, fried chicken, and Bagels from overwhelming your diet.
Salads May Not Work
Your game plan for weight loss may include a huge salad once or twice a day. It is filling, healthy, and low-calorie – the perfect weight loss combo. The problem is that many weight loss surgery patients can no longer stomach salads for months or longer after surgery. Instead of lettuce, a Protein, and some dressing, consider building your meals with cooked vegetables, a protein, and a small amount of healthy fat such as avocado or Peanut Butter.
Creativity Is the Name of the Game
Many other healthy foods may be off-limits because your tastes change or they are too stringy or they make you sick. You will have to be flexible to find healthy substitutes for them. Here are some common trouble foods and some alternatives.
Popcorn: try Protein Cereal as a quick snack.
Celery: opt for Bean Crisps
Lean beef and poultry: try fish, veggie burgers and other soy and bean products, and lentils.
Cheese: try peanut butter or hummus.
The good news is that most WLS patients tend not to develop aversions to vegetables, so pile your plate high!
What Happened to Water?
Water is the one calorie-free and free from cost food that is actually a nutrient…and it may have tasted great before surgery. Afterwards, not so much. Some patients have trouble drinking plain water after surgery. It just does not taste good anymore. Now that diet soft drinks and carbonated flavored water are off limits, you have fewer choices for hydration – but they are there.
Flavored water without bubbles.
Decaffeinated low-acid coffee and tea.
Ice water with lemon or lime.
Malnutrition Happens
Malnourishment may be far from your mind when your goal is weight loss, but it happens quite often. It can be a deficiency of protein, but also of Vitamins and minerals. You will have to get enough protein every day and take your nutritional supplements every day, probably for life.
Sit Near the Bathroom
You just never know when you may need one when you sit down to eat a meal. Dumping syndrome strikes fast and without warning. By the way, you also cannot predict how full you will get and when you will be able to finish your entire plate.
You can make your weight loss surgery journey a tad easier by aware of what to expect, and there may be a few things your doctor does not tell you about.

You may need to eat out after WLS, because Americans eat out a lot. Some estimates put one-quarter of Americans eating fast food on a given day, before counting food from casual and upscale restaurants. A total of about 1 in 3 calories come from foods that are eaten away from home, such as prepared foods and restaurant foods.


With restaurants, fast food, and other prepared foods being such a big part of our culture, you may not be able to, or even want to, stop eating out. That is okay, even after WLS. You will just need to be a savvy customer to be sure that wherever you are, you get a meal that fits into your meal plan. Take heart: it is almost always possible.
The Trouble with Eating Out
Research has been clear on the differences between eating out and preparing food at home. Restaurant meals tend to be bigger and higher in calories. Beyond that, they are higher in sodium and saturated fat, and lower in Fiber.
That does not bode well for weight loss, but you are not doomed. Most restaurants are willing and able to accommodate you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the choices.
Do Your Homework (Or Procrastinate)
Most restaurants have their menus posted online. Many have their nutritional facts online. Check before you go to the restaurant, and decide on your meal before you get there. When it comes time to order, you need not browse the menu for temptations.
Or Procrastinate
It is not always possible to check beforehand, and that is okay. Just keep your goal in mind:
Some lean Protein, such as eggs, chicken, or fish.
A vegetable.
A small amount of a healthy starch and/or healthy fat.
Build that meal from the items you see on the menu.
The Customer Is Always Right
If you need another expression to drive home the point, what about, “He who pays the piper calls the tune?” You are perfectly entitled to ask for no sauce, dressing on the side, or no bun.
A surprising number of joints allow substitutions or modifications for no extra cost, although some may charge. The cost is usually minimal, and worth it. Examples include getting grilled instead of fried chicken or fish, or swapping a side salad or steamed vegetables for a side of rice, Pasta, or potatoes.
Best Bets for Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
You can go to a restaurant with some ideas of what they might have for each meal, and search for those.
Breakfast
Eggs: in an omelet or scrambled. Look for egg whites if you can, and choose vegetable toppings. cheese and turkey can also be good additions. Skip bacon and other fatty meats in your eggs.
Oatmeal: plain, regular or steel-cut, without add-ons such as dried fruit or brown sugar. Nuts are okay. Steer clear of granola.
Breakfast sandwich: English muffin (you can eat half) with egg and/or cheese and/or ham – no bacon, sausage, croissant, or biscuit.
Create a meal from sides or add-ons, such as cottage cheese, an egg, fresh fruit, or turkey sausage.
Lunch
Green salad with any of grilled chicken, cheese, nuts, vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and light dressing. Skip regular dressing (or order it on the side), croutons and chow mein noodles, and dried fruit.
Chicken, fish, turkey breast, a veggie burger patty, a hamburger patty, or taco beef. Skip the bread, tortilla, bun, or taco shell, and steer away from breaded and fried.
Side salad, carrot sticks, yogurt, or sliced apples.
Dinner
Shrimp cocktail or broth-based Soup for starters. Avoid dips, chips, bread and breadsticks, and fried starters.
Grilled, baked, or roasted plain chicken or fish. Avoid fried choices, fatty meats, and creamy or buttery sauces.
Steamed vegetables or a side salad. Avoid fries, pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes.
The Final Filter: You
No matter what lands on your plate or your to-go box, the ultimate decision about what goes into your mouth is made by…you. You can turn a potentially disastrous order into a not-so-bad or even good meal with some smart choices.
Decide how much you will eat and pack away the rest before you take your first bite.
Scoop out the filling from sandwiches and burritos, while leaving the bread and tortillas.
Eat the Proteins and vegetables from your plate, while leaving the fries and fatty sauces.
Scrape off any breading and eat only the chicken or fish inside.
Weight loss surgery is to help you lose weight, but it is also to help you live a better life. If the good life for you includes eating out, you can do it. Just be careful. Keep your weight loss surgery diet plan in mind as you order and eat, and you can lose weight as you live your normal life.

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