Puja

YES! I have gone on an all-natural food craze since having surgery. My body and mind feel so much better when I don't eat all that processed food. Of course, I do have some weaknesses and indulgences, but I try to avoid that stuff for the most part. I quit protein powders, too, after I saw the long list of ingredients that were just chemicals. Now, I sometimes give in to the temptation of snacks and chips, but immediately feel my body go low on energy. It's amazing. I whole-heartedly wish you all the best on your non-processed foods journey!

You may be eating too fast, causing an increased level of reflux. Take time to chew your food really well, and try to keep your meals smaller and more frequent. Good luck!

There are loads of threads in the forum with ideas for a vegetarian diet! Hopefully a search will give you some good tips. In the meantime, here is a list of my go to food items: All cheeses (low fat), PB2 Peanut Butter powder, Wasa and Kavli crackers, Greek and regular yogurt (low fat), eggs, milk, veggie patties, tofu, lentils, Beans, and fruits or veggies in between. Like MegInNOLA, I have several small meals, and eat my Protein first. Protein Bars and shakes do help a lot, as well. I don't cook much, so these foods are really fast and simple.

It gets better than sipping, but it definitely doesn't reach the level of chugging. I'm at 8 months postop, and I still might have some discomfort or pain on a really big gulp. Also, once you regulate your diet and meals, it'll be easier to get liquid in at a regular interval, so you won't be feeling that desperate thirst. Totally worth this small inconvenience!

I'm a veggie! I was originally having a Protein shake every day to help make up my protein intake, but no longer do that. My calories have increased since stopping the shakes, but my diet is much more "normal". I am a big cheese fan, so usually have 2 to 3 ounces of low fat cheese a day. I enjoy Fage 0% Greek yogurt, PB2 Peanut Butter powders, milk, tofu, paneer (an Indian style cottage cheese), lentils, and a veggie patty every so often. I only get in about 2 servings of fruits or vegetables a day, which I need to work on. Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with my veggie diet post op!

Have you tried "slim fits"? I know banana Republic carries them, and I believe the Gap does, as well. You could also try Abercrombie and Fitch, though I'm not sure if they have slim fits, or their shirts are just tailored smaller. If you can go to a Van Heusen or Louise Phillipe type of store, the employees will measure you and find shirts that suit your body type.

I've found myself falling into this trap when I'm at home and bored, or around lots of yummy foods. So, I only keep healthy Snacks in the house, I try my best to stay busy or entertained. There are always yummy junky things at my mum's house, which I find myself grabbing for every 10 to 15 minutes. In those situations, I put the food onto a higher shelf that requires a stepping stool. That way, getting to the food takes effort, and I usually give up.

Hamany, I'm a doctor and still took all of my surgeon's advice, and did all the research possible. You cannot use your being a medical student as an excuse for not taking care of your health. You, of all people, should understand that orange juice does not give you a well balanced diet with Proteins, and will not sustain you. If you can drink liquids, focus on Protein drinks instead. Crisps and crunchy Snacks are easy for all sleeve patients to eat, because they do not expand in the stomach and slide right through. The sleeve is a TOOL to help us make better food choices, not a quick fix to our obesity. We still have to maintain discipline and be careful with your nutrition. All the best to you and continue to use this forum to educate yourself about your new sleeve.

Don't to Ibuprofen. It's much harsher on your stomach lining than acetaminophen (tylenol). Definitely don't take it at only 2 weeks post op! I'd wait a few months to start ibuprofen. Perhaps you should ask your doctor about when it's safe to start it.

Ohmigoodnes, I find this phenomenon so weird! I have a girlfriend who is a huge foodie but tends to eat a little bit at frequent intervals. However, when I eat with her now (post surgery) she somehow aims to make sure she eats less than me, so even less than what she was eating before. I don't get it! This isn't a competition, and the damn girl is already skinny! Why starve yourself just to be the one at the table eating the least?

I would imagine that your body metabolism had already slowed down a tad with the band. To me, 17 pounds sounds wonderful! I never had problems with any foods. eggs were a tad difficult early on, but now I eat them almost every day. Each one of us adapts differently. Are you keeping a calorie and Protein count? What ranges are you usually in on a daily basis?

Thinoneday, how interesting! It seems I could drink endless amounts of Water at any given time. Not very fast, but endless. I've only had the slimes once, and it was from drinking a Protein shake mixed in milk rather than water. It was one of those times where I didn't want to drink after I finished half of it, and saved the other half to drink 30 min later. It was a very very bad idea.

Shellyac, it's good to know that what I'm feeling is restriction! I don't often keep eating because I want to. Rather I eat even if I don't want to, to get in my full Proteins. Not in the sense that I will over stuff myself, but in the case where it is time for a meal, even though I may not be hungry. Ducker, you and I are from the same surgeon! I was on the 31st of August, however. Interesting that we are in a similar position! Fitforlife, I understand exactly what you're saying. I usually have about 3 to 4 meals a day, of which one is a Protein shake. I don't snack. I have seen how easy it is to snack, though, when I'm out at a bar and have a bowl of peanuts in front of me. It's scary and dangerous! I don't keep Snacks in the house. I love tofu and tofu products, but am in India currently, where those items are not easily available. There are a few restaurants here that serve tofu, so I eat it maybe once a week. I look forward to coming back to California, where I have endless food options!

Oops, I forgot to mention that I am 5 months out! Thank you for reminding me. I'm so glad that the egg plus cheese sounds like a normal meal for you! I've read that people on here 6 months out can eat about half an egg with some cheese. I've always wondered about it. So just to be correct, you stop eating because you feel satisfied rather than you feel pukey or some sort of pain? If so, that helps me feel more normal! I don't eat much junk, other than a little bit of chocolate here and there. I get a lot of carbs in, though, because I'm a vegetarian. So, most of my Proteins come from dairy products and lentils. I have seen how easy it is to keep snacking throughout the evening without feeling the satisfaction or fullness, though. It's very dangerous! Even worse if there is whiskey involved.