Kaze

Probably because my program accommodates the fact that you simply cannot get enough Protein through solid foods for quite some time, but you should be eating foods non-the-less? It suggests Protein shakes for well into the third and fourth months and from then on at your discretion. At this stage, especially for me because I find it a chore to eat, I think it's more about getting actual foodstuffs in. Obviously it suggests keeping all carbs in moderation, but my program does not suggest you eliminate anything unless your stomach just cannot handle it. It's a center of excellence, so obviously they're doing something right and/or know what they're doing. I don't think having the 2-3 crackers it suggests as a piece of my meal will really counter-act the fact that I'm consuming so few calories. I'm taking this directly from my handbook so they clearly have a different outlook. All I wanted to know was what constitutes a "fibrous, grainy" cracker, not a "for shame" from how all of your programs are structured versus my own. I don't mean this as an attack, but I did explicitly state this is coming from my guidelines, so it's not like I'm just making up stuff in order to eat things I want. At the risk of sounding like a complainer for getting criticisms, there's my gripe.

Heh, so I've noticed I have a habit of making posts where the title is literally just one food item and I just know this will garner a discussion on several foods that are related, but yeah, there's my little introspection for the moment. Anywho, my guidelines say at week three I can add in crackers, but it specifies non-seeded crackers and non-grains. It suggests saltines and melba toast as examples. What exactly constitutes a "grain" cracker? Would wheat thins fall into that? I'm not a huge fan of saltines but I would like to find some good crackers to have some guac and hummus with. I like wheat thins but I know they run rather salty and I'm not entirely sure if wheat is what they mean by grains. In my mind, I was imagining things like shredded wheat and really fibrous type crackers, but I'm not sure. Any thoughts? It also suggests corn/flour tortillas and baked tortilla chips so I might try those as well.

Haha it's OK! Gotta learn anyway what my stomach's new limits are anyway and it helped! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Edit: Did alright. Would definitely avoid the top cheese crust and just mix it in next time during this stage. I had a few good bites but the chewy golden brown cheese crust was noticeably more "solid" then my stomach felt comfortable, so it did ache for a few minutes but nothing horrible. Keeping it down fine, I'm just going to avoid fluids for a little longer than half an hour suggestion because it feels a little bloaty in there. Otherwise, not a bad food for two and a half weeks. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm trying it tonight. Maybe a few days sooner than I should (not entirely sure, I'm on pureed foods?) but I need something to actually make me eat. It's smelling yummy! Plus there's some decent Protein in it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Daisee68 How'd you do? I'm two weeks post op as of today. I haven't been eating much because I'm not hungry and broth, cream of chicken and greek yogurt can only be interesting so long. Need to "make" something.

You won't cause a leak with a carrot, especially if you chewed it up nice. Just avoid it for a few more weeks, definitely lower on the list of suggested foods for two weeks post.

What food phase can that bake be had? Soft foods (3 weeks)? Because I am SO making that. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You can eat some things if you're feeling super dizzy and hungry but I don't think bacon was a wise choice this early. But previous posters, you're being a lil' harsh. You appear to miss where OP said they were dizzy and felt malnourished. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm two weeks post today and I haven't particularly experienced any problem foods either but I've probably had a grand total of five things, all liquid. I hope to be like you during the more normal food phases. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I literally did as you said. I made a can of plain ol' chicken noodle soup and strained the innerds. Even added a touch of Kosher salt (I needed something SAAAAALTY because my personal cravings and it helps my headaches) and it was glorious. My program really stresses "low sodium, low fat, low everything" but that just seems like more of a way to encourage you towards healthier options. Regular ol' chicken noodle soup broth isn't gonna hurt (I've heard different temps can sensitize your sleeve and be uncomfortable so watch for that, I haven't experienced it). So there's my say. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

In most circumstances, the things your doc tells you not to have post-op is, in fact, because it's just not good for you. That doesn't mean, if you can tolerate it, you can't have a brewski once in a while but limit it like everything else. Especially boozie-booze as it can be addicting and you will likely overindulge. But I refuse to believe the "you can't have that" mentality. It impedes on quality of life which makes it super hard to find joy in pursuing a life long change towards better choices, ESPECIALLY if you're a younger patient like myself. As long as you/we understand we should adhere to limitations far closer than our peers, then indulging in the no-nos once in a while is not going to doom us. HOWEVER, I will say the legit concern in the first few months with carbonation and other things to that degree is ulcers. Please avoid these things for AT LEAST 3 months, 6 months is safer. The tissues and your stomach really need to fully heal before the risk of ulceration is lowered. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm about a week and a half post op and I can definitely tell my levels of hunger now and whether they are superficial or not. I'm grateful the surgery has done so much to stifle my appetite. However, I'd definitely warn fellow "new" post ops: avoid social eating interactions. You will not really "crave" the food physically, or at least I don't, but you will feel kind of awkward not being able to eat. I "miss" eating normally but I also know this is just temporary. Just figured I'd lay my experience out there! If you can avoid social interactions until you're 6 weeks (when you can try normal foods), I would! I couldn't dodge this one! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I can attest that that the nausea is seriously bad for the first two days, but after that it's almost funny how nonexistent it became for me. Water will become far more natural to you probably by tomorrow or Saturday. It hits you pretty quickly and there's a noticeable gap between "I can't drink that much" to "I feel like I can drink almost like a normal person". I didn't have the gas pain, or at least I don't think I did, but I did buy Gas-X strips just in case and as KristenLe said, walk around as much as possible! Good luck!

The two aren't mutually exclusive but if you are following your pre-op diet well enough, odds are you will lose a little weight and shrink your liver.

It is ultimately up to you. We can't sugar coat it for you and say it's going to be easy. I'm just a week out so I'm going through the grunt work of the progressive diet and I'm still on 'mush'. If you have seriously tried and tried and you feel you NEED to lose the weight to really advanced your health, then the sleeve is a good option but you do have to work with your troubled relationship with food if you have one. If you feel making the necessary dietary adjustments will be doable, the surgery is no huge detriment in the grand scheme. Do you know exactly what has you scared? The diet? Pain? Recovery? If you can pin point or give us a little more direct issue to work with, that could help. At the end of the day, don't feel pressured by either side. This decision has to be yours. I think either way you'll be happy but if you go with the surgery maybe you can be a "little more happy" or maybe not. It all depends. I hope someone can come in with some better advice. Good luck!

I want the rainbow line!!!! BAD. Shoot me a message and I'll send the link to you as soon as I'm back to my computer. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@VSGAnn2014 It's a song lyric that spoke to me about my ex-best friend, lol. It's "Save My Soul" by JoJo.

@@OutsideMatchInside Bleh, fish. I'm one of those people that hates all types of seafood, lol. Thanks for the info though!

The statistic I saw was the mortality rate was like, 0.01% for sleeve. A little less for band and a little more for bypass.

Very few weight loss medications are actually safe and effective from what I've heard, nor are appetite suppressants. You'd be best off asking your doctor. But as far as your age, there are some older people who have had sleeve or bypass, so you're not necessarily alone in that venture. Hope you can find the answers you're looking for!

My pre-op diet consisted of restricted meals. But my last "splurge" meal was at a restaurant called Fogo de Chao which my friends had planned to take me to at some point. It's a Brazilian steakhouse and they literally bring meat on skewers continuously while you have your little "chip" flipped to the green side. Flip it to the red side and they stop. It was sooooo good. I tried hard to avoid anything that wasn't Protein just because it was technically my first day of the pre-op diet.

Which food stage is cheese considered a part of? That's about the only thing I've been "craving". xD

@ Yeah, I'm living at home. My mom and I both cook sometimes here and there. I figured beyond just the consistency of hot dogs that them being processed would be a little "hefty" on the sleeve so thanks for the input! I definitely want to get some hummus, I looooove it. Lentils are suggested in my book, I'll try and get some of them and for sure eggs. I'm not a huge fan of greek yogurt though, especially not savory ones, but maybe my taste has changed. I'll have to try it. I do like this one yogurt I get at Aldi's that's salted caramel and honey greek yogurt but they don't always have it. I'm going to go see if they do.

I know this is kind of a weird question, but I figure it's worth asking. Would hot dogs be considered a soft food? I am going between seeing how it could be and then going "No, not sure about that". Never hurts to ask! If not, what foods did you find really satisfying and Protein rich in the soft foods phase? I'll be there next week so I'd love to kind of gather a list. I haven't been getting in as much protein as I'd like or should so I need to try and get in as much through food as I can. I'm focusing primarily on Water because (as I've said on numerous threads) I'm a kidney transplant patient and it's super important that I get more than the 64oz recommended (closer to 136oz) and that is nicely doable (not as in I'm doing it, but I know I can if I keep trying) at a week post. Thanks!