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I've had the Quaker "weight control" flavored oatmeals which are low sugar, low carb, with higher Protein.

Me too, I find them to be quite tasty ...especially the banana one, yum!

I stopped eating cream of wheat because I cannot find anything to put in it that I like to add flavor. Pre-surgery, I would do sugar and milk. Post surgery I've tried cinnamon, a smidge of vanilla...and even splenda and nothing tastes right.

If you like, and can tolerate ,oatmeal, I definitely would suggest trying the Quaker "Weight Control" Instant Oatmeal... There's a variety box that has Cinnamon, Maple & Brown Sugar and banana Nut bread and all three of them are delicious and as @@nnv said..very low in sugar and carbs and have decent amounts of Protein

Good Luck!

My last meal was garlic fries and a bottle of Water at a concert! The next day was my pre-op visit and she started me on the pre-op liquid diet earlier than most to be proactive with pre-op weight loss and liver shrinkage.

Had I known that the meal I had the night before was going to be my last, I would've definitely had way more to eat at the concert than Garlic Fries! LOL

But, absolutely no regrets here

You look amazing! Keep up the good work - you're truly an inspriation!! xo

You look fantastic @@Karlnjax!! Keep up the good work!

@@OutsideMatchInside I also take the BariActiv chewables but cannot stand the Calcium pills AT ALL. Are you able to chew them ok or are you doing anything special with them?

My NUT recommended letting them dissolve in Water and then taking them (and even suggested adding a Crystal Light in with the Water to mask the flavor) but even the thought of that makes me nauseous.

@@DONNK hahaha thanks!! I'm pleased with the penis for now, until I move on to the next accomplishment!

Congrats to everyone for their fantastic progress thus far! =)

LOL I am an elephant's penis. OH MY!!

The only thing that stops me from picking these up at my local store is the sugar is 13g, which is higher than what I was recommended.

Unfortunately I don't see a place where they can be ordered online, but I do see that you can submit a request to your local store or Amazon.com and ask that they stock these items. Worth a shot maybe!? :/

If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone..I'm having a hard time getting my Protein in myself. I can't stomach most Protein drinks because they make me nauseous. Good luck and hang in there!

@@Sajijoma Congrats on making it this far! All the hoops and hurdles you've jumped will be well worth it! Good luck and keep us posted on the progress! xo

I am just starting week 4 and am still extremely tired all the time. On top of that, I still have some discomfort in my left side that makes sitting up or standing up for long periods of time painful. I try to nap at least once a day, if not more if I can squeeze it in between family and working.

@@rnwrny noted that week 5 is when she started feeling better and several of my close friends who have had this surgery also noted that week 5 they started to feel back to normal and pain free. I hope that they're all right

Keep your head up though, things will get better!! xo

@@Anxious2beme CONGRATULATIONS!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! XOXOXO

@@kmc0812 I have cried more these past 3 post-op weeks than I think I ever have in my life. Aside from starting my period literally two days after I got home from the hospital, I've been in left-side-pain HELL since I got home. While my pain is getting better, it still hurts like nobody's business!!

Because of this pain, I have been frustrated and I have been down and at times, regretful and all I've done is cried because of it. There is nothing I hate more than feeling like I'm not putting in my share around the house, or able to help my kids get dressed for school (I try!)..I hate feeling helpless!!

But in the grand scheme of things, this is just a bump in my road to a new life. As soon as this pain is gone and I'm able to excercise and be myself, IT'S ON!!!

I have said it before, and I know it can be hard to believe, but all of this will be worth it in the end!! I promise!!

I'm happy for you! Good luck and well wishes for a speedy recovery! See you on the loser's bench! Keep us posted on how you're doing when you can! xo

@@Djmohr Thank You!!!

@@Djmohr can you talk a little more about the Biotin you're taking? I have some here, in a pill format. Can I just cut the pill in half and swallow it or do you take it in another form? Thanks in advance for the information!

@@SAD HATTER My skin has been dry my whole life due to rosacea and after surgery it got a lot worse. I'm only three weeks post-op and still dealing with it. I'm hoping that once I get my fluids up, like others have said, that it will slowly get better. I hope that you find a solution soon!

Last night I was FINALLY able to lay on my right side only and I fell asleep for maybe about an hour then I woke up with back pain. I felt like all of my belly was just "falling" to the right side, which made my back hurt. I was even using a pillow under my belly.

So I tried adding more pillows..to my back, between my legs, a puffier one under my belly and nothing helped sooooo I defaulted to my back and didn't get a good night's sleep.

The good news is, my pain is starting to subside and it gets better with every passing day so I'm hoping by the weekend I'll be side sleeping! If not, my family should be scared... LOL

@@LadyReyven I hope sleeping is getting easier for you!!

Good Luck today!! Please let us know how you're doing as soon as you can! xo

@@Knitchic Thank you for the update! i am glad to hear that surgery was successful! Try to get some rest and welcome to the loser's bench!! xo

GOOD LUCK!!!! Let us know how you're doing as soon as you can! xo

Hi All! My Nut called me and told me since I am doing so well on the diet plan and haven't had any problems, I should be ok to start the Protein bars at 4 weeks as long as they're tolerated and no nuts (Peanut Butter doesn't count!). I let her know the sugar in the bars was 6 grams, which is 1 gram higher than what my sugar goal is every day and she told me if I eat half at a time (which I had planned on doing anyways), I should be fine. She said I can try them this week (start of my 3rd week) if I want to, but to be careful and listen to my pouch.

Even though I am tolerating pretty much everything I'm taking in, I think I'll wait until the start of week 4 before I try these just to be safe.

Again, thank you all for your valuable input!! I appreciate you all taking the time out to share your stories, thoughts and opinions!! xo

@@ccdomaika I am still dealing with this sort of pain and I'll be three weeks out tomorrow. The severity of it comes and goes, and it has gone from a pulling/tugging/ripping feeling to a burning/achy feeling. My surgeon tells me that this is completely normal, as the left incision is where all the work was done, and where the internal sutures are. They cut through muscle and nerves and it takes time for those things to heal. He assured me that it will subside and to try to walk as much as possible to help strengthen the muscles and to help with recovery.

It is easier said than done!

Some people don't experience this pain, some people do. If you have some pain meds, they will help or even some OTC Tylenol will take the edge off for a little bit.

I hope you feel better soon. Just know what you're experiencing is common and you're not alone!

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the feedback and the knowledge provided by all of you. I haven't heard back from my NUT yet, but I'm pretty sure she'll tell me the same thing that you are all telling me so I will hold off for a while!

LOL, isn't everything chewed very very well???

Thanks girl! xoxo

@@Cervidae So Protein Bars are part of your soft foods diet? I can't start that diet until Week 4 and bars are nowhere in the menu plan. I'm just starting Week 3 this week. Thanks for the heads up, its something to ask my NUT about when/if she calls back! I don't want to start too early

@@kradtke5 I think you and I have talked about these pains and aches before and even at almost three weeks post op, I'm still in a lot of pain and discomfort. My left side pain went from tugging and pulling to burning and aching and of course I freaked out! New feeling, new worry. I called my Bariatric RN and just like I knew she would, she told me it was normal and to keep moving as much as possible (which is barely possible )

I personally think that it's absolutely normal to have these fears and worries that we do; some of us have NEVER done this before and had no idea what to expect! I also agree with @@esskay77 that just the sheer worry and anxiety of ensuring I get enough Protein, Vitamins, liquid, etc. is enough to knock me down for an hour or two with tears! This is a whole new lifestyle change for us newbies and we're getting used to it. It can be overwhelming, for sure.

When I find myself about to freak out about pain or forgetting a dose of my Vitamins, I literally just close my eyes and take a few deep breaths and tell myself "I Got This. I'm learning one day at a time" and I get myself together and move forward. It works nine times out of ten!

I know it's easier said than done but try to relax..it will help your body, it will help your mind and it will help your spirits. You're only 9 days out - it's going to take some time, so be good to you!

I think Winnie the Pooh (or Christopher Robin?) said it best: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. xoxo