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Thanks guys for the advice! Taking it all in one day at a time. Today I have a slight headache..I just took some ibuprofen. I can't have any yogurt. Only shakes, Jello, crystal light, broth, popsicles. .straight liquid..like no short cuts LOL...these popsicles will be a meal LOL.. Sent from my SM-G360P using the BariatricPal App We all are gonna do great! We got this! Sent from my SM-G360P using the BariatricPal App

Yeah! My secret weapon in the exercise war is do it before I wake up all the way and make an excuse. I get up, get dressed for exercise, brush my teeth and hair, wash my face and head out. I don't even drink coffee first. I also clean out the house of trigger foods, which change as time goes by. And I stock up on low cal, filling favorites: Greek Yogurt Lowfat string cheese Lowfat lunchmeat costco Roast chicken Lettuces, spinach, or baby greens, rinsed and ready to go Frozen veggies (latest favs are Trader Joes fire roasted peppers and onions, whole green Beans, and cubed butternut squash) Canned veggie Soups Whole grain bread Fresh fruit and veggies (whatever's in season) Soy milk (still got a little lactose problem post-op) oatmeal And I track what I eat using a white board on the fridge door. I write it BEFORE I bite it. Lynda

My first week I didn't want anything. Lol the second week I struggled bc I was so head hungry. I just started the puree diet. Bariatric advantage has a vegetable soup powder and it's great I added some seasoning to it but you mix it with water and that's how I survived the last week before puréed foods. I couldn't do yogurt and was so sick of jello and pudding. My doctor told me it's almost impossible To get down the 60 g of protein the first couple weeks. I am now doing better. Also bariatric advantage has protein shakes. The orange taste like an orange cream sickle the iced latte taste like a real coffee. I didn't find these until my 2nd week and wish I knew from the start. Also vitamin shoppe and GNC has isopure. Flavored liquid protein. I add crystal light packet to it but it's not bad at all.

I'm following my plan, I was just curious if anyone felt the same way. I can have yogurt on Monday, which is only 2 more days away. I'm just getting sick of this clear protein drink. And I'll be happier once I can have some milk and my chocolate protein shake. I'm not pushing it. I've made such a drastic decision to better my life, I'm not going to mess it up. It's just hard to make a full dinner for my family and not participate. I know it's only a few days. But it's a thought that has run through my head.

Thanks a lot for the spirited discussion - this seems to be an issue for many. First, a little misunderstanding - they didn't tell me to follow a < 400 cal diet. It just comes out like that with the supplements I picked. I am not sure, maybe there were some with more calories and I just happened to pick the lo cal options (and seriously, that would be the first time, LOL) My real goals are 64 oz. of water/beverages and 60 g of Protein - and I don't have a problem with either goal. These supplements are the ones I have to use in the first two weeks after surgery for the healing period. And the healing aspect is the only reason why I am not straying away right now. I once had a wisedom tooth poking through my gums leaving a very small hole which happened to catch a little bit of food and leaving me with a bad infection. I envision a similar scenario for my stomach staple line if I eat anything but my shakes and broths. I played phone tag with my NUT today which was really annoying and I sent her an email now asking for advise. I am not sure what she'll say, I wasn't very happy with the last few times where she advised me to use a potassium supplement instead of drinking natural coconut Water becasue of the calories (Zico coconut water has 60 calories for a bottle). I thought that was absolutely ridiculous. My follow up appointment is on 11/18 and my 2 weeks post-op are over on the 15th but I am at a point right now where I am looking at the damn supplements and rather eat nothing than that stuff because I just can't stand it anymore. From what I understand, other people start full liquids already during the second week - is my surgeon overly cautious? I had bought a few Soups before surgery, these http://www.pacificfoods.com/our-foods/carton-soups (Chipotle Sweet Potato, Roasted Garlic Mushroom Lentil, Poblano Pepper with Corn) I was wondering if I could blend and eat them? How about some yogurt? I could mix some Greek yogurt with herbs and spices as a heart option? How about mashed potatoes - thinned with more milk than normal maybe? I am just a few days away from "full liquids" I need some hearty flavor or I'll go absolutely crazy!!!

I was having a stall (5weeks out) and my surgeon told me to make sure I was only eating solid protein. I had become too dependent on soft foods like yogurt and refried beans. And was going to the gym everyday. Anyway, I followed his advice and lost five pounds this week. I can only eat 1 or 2 oz of solid proteins. I was eating 3 or more oz of the soft foods. Hope you start losing again soon!!

I can't get in my required protein without a protein rich snack. cheese lowfat plain Greek yogurt

I started sliming this last weekend and it seemed to be a result of consuming a very small portion of non fat frozen yogurt (it was literally a spoonful). It happened again today when I ate a piece of a banana. I'm thinking my kryptonite for the time being might be sugar since other diary products have not bothered me. I'm glad to hear that it is not always permanent although an aversion to sugar could be a positive thing!

Ok maybe it's not a stall but given that I was losing a point or so a day the first to weeks, to not have the scale move for 6 days is unsettling. Surgery 5/2. Lost 21lbs in the preop diet and 16lbs post op so far. I'm eating between 600-800cals per day. On on purees. My meals are like this: Breakfast: premier protein shake Snack: Greek yogurt Lunch: soup- like a chicken broth with veg Dinner: 1/3 cup puréed meat, 1/4 cup each of puréed veg and potatoes I'm getting about 80 oz of water. Protein is about 60g so yesterday I also added another shake to get to 90. I'm nervous to go on regular foods soon and gain if I'm not losing now. Any other suggestions? Or just calm the F down[emoji52]

Oh I am so with you right now. I've been teatering between 250 and 246 for, it seems like, forever. I just got a fill (.5cc) yesterday and I feel restriction. I've heard that the 5 day pouch test works. There is also a Protein Train that is suppose to work. Drink lots of Water - that I've heard help. Good Luck! 5 Day Pouch Test Days 1 & 2: liquid Protein Low-carb Protein shakes, broth, clear or cream Soups, sugar-free Gelatin and pudding. The first two days are all liquids. You can have as many low-carb protein shakes as you like to satisfy hunger or cravings. In addition drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of water each day. The purpose of all liquids is to break any snacking, grazing or processed carbohydrate habits. In addition the liquids will work to cleanse your system and prepare you for the following three days. Try to reduce your caffeine intake as well, but do not stop caffeine cold turkey or you will feel sick and frustrated potentially losing the desire to continue with the pouch test. It is very important to drink a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day. This will prevent dehydration, will help curb cravings and will flush your body of toxins and fat. Sufficient water intake improves kidney function and cell processes. If you notice symptoms of carbohydrate withdrawal you can eat a small piece of melon or an orange. You can also try a dose of Emergen-C which should reduce headache, dizziness or cramping from carbohydrate withdrawal. Feed the Carb Monster: recipes for Days 1 & 2 Feeling nauseated? Try sipping some freshly brewed warm green tea. You can add fresh ginger juice to further ease the symptoms of stomach distress and nausea. The nauesea may be the result of a switch from carbohydrate slider foods to richer Proteins and the ingredients in the protein shakes. When we fought to get the surgery we were personally empowered. We had to be, there aren't many advocates out there fighting on the behalf of the morbidly obese. Yet somehow, if we get to comfortable in our post weight loss surgery life there is a tendency to lose that hell-bent determination. Perhaps we take it for granted. Maybe we just get bored or distracted. Maybe we get discouraged because life after surgery has not been without struggle. Any of these things can cause us to lose hope or feel like failures. I have gone through periods of sadness and suffered feelings of failure since my weight loss surgery. Don't we all? This despair only festers if we regain some weight or sit on a plateau for an extended length of time. But just like we can work a plan to test the pouch and get back on track, we can mentally train our mind to get back to being hell-bent determined to take personal control of our health. LivingAfterWLS is here to champion you in the cause, we are advocates who believe you deserve to be healthy, you deserve to be kind to yourself and you deserve to achieve the greatest level of success with weight loss surgery when you harness your inner resources. Day 3: Soft Proteins The next three days you get to eat as much as you want as often as you want! Ahhh, but there's a catch: it has to be solid protein and you only get 15 minutes each time you sit down to eat. No drinking 30 minutes before or after meals and no drinking with your food. A dry pouch will hold your soft protein longer helping your to feel full and fed longer. Protein Recommendations: canned fish (tuna or salmon) mixed with lemon and seasoned with salt and pepper, eggs cooked as desired seasoned with salt pepper and/or salsa, fresh soft fish (tilapia, sole, orange roughy), baked or grilled, and lightly seasoned. This starts your program with "soft" protein. Measure your portion (1 cup volume or 4-6 ounces weight) and eat only until you feel full, not overfull. Remember, no water for 30 minutes before or after you meal, and no fluids with your meal. We are going back to the beginning and fluids will prevent you from feeling the pouch. If you need to add a moist condiment ( Miracle Whip or mayonnaise) to the canned fish I understand, but keep it to a minimum so the meat is not too moist. One reason we lose the sense of tightness in our pouch is that we eat "slider foods" - foods that are too moist and do not stay in the pouch very long, they slide right through the stoma. Cottage cheese is a good protein to include on Day 3. It sometimes is considered a slider food, but to firm it up a bit add a chopped hard cooked egg. Slider foods are foods that slide right through the pouch. Popular slider foods are graham crackers, pretzels, popcorn, milk shakes, cheese nips, mashed potatoes, ice cream/yogurt, etc. Day 4: Firm Protein Protein Recommendations: ground meat (beef, turkey, lamb) cooked dry and lightly seasoned, shellfish, scallops, lobster steamed and seasoned only with lemon, salmon or halibut steaks, grilled and lightly seasoned. By now you should be experiencing that familiar tightness that will reassure you that your pouch is working. Remember to drink plenty of water between meals. Take some time to meditate and rediscover the wonder of your pouch. Often we don't like that uncomfortable tightness of the pouch, which is why we gradually move toward slider foods that don't make us uncomfortable. It is always my preference to eat moist protein so I don't get uncomfortable, but doing so allows me to consume more than I should. Rediscovering the pouch with this 5-day plan reminds me of how the tool really works. I hope by now you are rediscovering your tool and enjoying the hope and excitement because your pouch still works. There are two things I know about human nature. First, nobody ever wakes up and declares, "Today is the day I will relax my enthusiasm and get off track." Second, nobody ever wakes up and gets back on track without first saying, "Today is the day I get back on track and I have a plan." Falling off track happens without a plan or script. Getting back on track requires a conscious decision, a carefully designed plan and the determination to make it happen. Why do we fall off track? There are hundreds of reasons: stress, complacency, happiness, grief, celebrations, devastations, distractions and reactions. Nobody wants to fall of track, but life is full of twists and turns that disrupt our focus. It makes me sad when people talk about shame and failure when they have left the weight loss surgery track for a myriad of reasons. This is not a cause for shame or failure, this is a fact of humanity and indeed of living. But human nature is also resilient and powerful. We have the ability to recover from set backs time and time again. While you are doing the 5 Day Pouch Test I encourage you to create an inner storm of enthusiasm and hope and energy. Go back to those pre-op and early post-op days and live that moment over again. Read motivational articles and visit the Neighborhood forum. Talk to pre-ops and newbies. Look at your before and after pictures. You can go back and you can use this surgical tool to lose weight, become healthier and feel good about yourself. Day 5: Solid Protein Protein Recommendations: white meat poultry cooked dry and lightly seasoned, beef steak (if tolerated) grilled or broiled. Remember to chew chew chew. Measure your portion (4-6 ounces) and eat only until you feel your pouch tighten. Remember, only 15 minutes per meal, so you'll have to work fast to chew your food completely. By now you should be out of any carb cycle you were in and perhaps you have lost a pound or two. You will have new confidence in your pouch and your ability to work the tool for your health and emotional well being. Don't go hungry! Remember, you can eat as often as you want as long as it is solid protein, consumed without liquids and measured in 4-6 ounce portions.

Something that struck me reading your post (aside from the level of sodium), is your menu has a lot of slider foods in it which will not make you feel full and you may nibble more calories here and there. For example: v8, yogurt, fruit cup. milk for a late night snack Just something to evaluate. also, it takes 3500 calories to make up 1 pound (apx) so if you nail down a more solid food menu and are feeling full you could reduce your calories by 500 a day wich would be 1 pound a week wtloss. There has got to be other calories your eating somewhere..or maybe you aren't eating enough?? which could put your bod in starvation mode. did you tell us your fill level? are you happy with that?

Oikos make greek yogurt dips that have good flavors. I used the cucumber dill in chicken salad. This way you could add more yogurt without that "yougurt-y" taste. http://www.oikosyogurt.com/greek-yogurt/oikos-greek-yogurt-dips.aspx

I saw my surgeon today and mentioned that yesterday (first day of purees) I had cottage cheese. She winced a little and I said, "But it was on the nutritionist's list!" Surgeon said I know, I know, I just prefer the purees to be thinner. I had made an egg salad with one tablespoon of low-fat Hellmann's mayo and 2 tablespoons of nonfat Greek yogurt but now I'm worried it's not thin enough. What can I use to thin it out in the Vitamix? Water seems do-able but not very appetizing, and I don't really want a super-strong yogurt tang, but I also don't want to add more mayo. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I weighed in for week two and I'm at 288. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little let down since its only a pound, but I'm also not surprised. I've been having a hard time adjusting to eating on a schedule and eating consistently. It seems like my metabolism has completely shut down, which makes sense. The other thing is that I haven't been active at all. Between school through the week and work all weekend I've been giving myself an awful lot of excuses to not work out. I have a treadmill so at the very least I can be doing that. Hopefully I can settle into some sort of routine. No pain or discomfort at all this week. I have noticed I keep feeling my port. I don't know if its just a nervous habit to run my hand over it or the sheer fascination of being able to feel this strange object in my body but I do it a lot haha. My appetite is back, but still in a strange way. I'm having a really hard time trying to tell if I'm hungry or if I have the urge to eat. The urge to eat (and overeat) is in my head. Other than knowing its 'time' to eat, or knowing that i need to eat something I'm not sure if I'm feeling hunger. But when I do eat, I want to eat a lot. I've been trying to limit myself and have been doing a decent job but I definitely need to drinking my shakes more. I've ventured into new territory with my soft foods, I've been making chicken salad and chicken with bbq sauce. Does anyone else feel like by the time they add all the stuff to make it 'soft' they've added a ton of calories? I've been using miracle whip instead of mayo (which kills me lol), and substituting Greek yogurt in anything I can get away with (because it still tastes like sour cream), but still- it adds up. Any tips? I haven't really pursued vegetables except for potatoes (again-super starchy! help!), but thats on the to-do list for this week. In other fun news, I just booked my first real vacation ever! I'm going to North Carolina in May when school lets out to visit my best friend. I'm so excited because I feel like that's enough time to make a big difference. Since she doesn't see me everyday, it'll also be interesting to see her reaction. Plus ya know, beach ocean swimsuit blah blah blah. Should be quite an adventure!

I too am just about two weeks out and am starving. I have introduced cottage cheese, humus and yogurt and at no point do I feel satisfied or 'full'. My stomach is always growling and I too was wondering if a fill is possible before the 6 week mark.

Yes I got a booklet. Days 3-7 it says to have 3 protein shakes a day along with 2 other items which there was a list for like sf pudding and jello applesauce and yogurt smoothies. I figured liquid was liquid. Just didn't want to screw anything up! I can start creamy soups with no chunks on day 8. Just wasn't sure what exactly was meant. Maybe I will call to clarify. Thanks!!!

My pureed phase started yesterday, Day 18. I am now allowed purees, greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, pudding, chicken/tuna salad, and soft oatmeal. Prior to that it was: Day 2-4: Clear liquids (Water, gatorade, crystal lite, broth, strained clear soups) Day 4: Added drinkable yogurt Day 7: Added Protein shakes Day 10: Added strained cream Soups On Day 28 I can start soft foods, including ground meats, legumes, canned veggies, canned fruits, and soft whole grains.

Weird I haven't had any problems with junk food. A first for me. I also don't have any problems with chicken if not really dry. Sliders for me are things like shakes, yogurt and cottage cheese because the don't keep me satisfied and I am hungry an hour later. I will say some crackers seem to be sliders too.

Would it be too much to e as t at the mushy stage a yogurt and a mini egg omelette? ? Please advise

yes, i count my shakes as a meal - especially b/c of the calorie count. I also blend in 4-5 ice cubes, a small yogurt and some times a banana. then i pour it into my tallest reusable coffe mug w/lid from DDs and leave it in the freezer until i'm walking out the door. That way, i can drink it "like coffee" in the morning...in the car or at my desk at work. Works like a charm!!

I've noticed something and I can't quite figure it out. Every AM (usually around 7) for breakfast I have a protein shake (Syntrax Nectar) in which I add - Greek yogurt, 1 c. almond milk, 1 Del-Monte fruit cup. I blend and then sip (yes still this is a challenge). This keeps me full all AM (even through my commute where I walk and stand a lot). Usually by the time I feel hungry it is between 12:15 - 12:30 PM. However, I've tried having the same thing for lunch and it is a no go. If I have the shake for lunch (12:30 PM) I am literally starving by 3 PM. I'm not sure why this doesn't keep me full in the afternoon. I'd like to get to the point where I can do 2 shakes and a small dinner. I like the feeling after the shake (feel satisfied but not weighed down) but it is such a no go twice in one day. Anyone experience this? Any suggestions? I'm not trying to do this every day, but on my busy days I just don't always have time for a full sit down lunch.

How many carbs are in the shake after you add the fruit, yogurt etc...Maybe that particular mixture has a little to much sugar? I know I'm that way as far as if I eat anything early in the day that has too much sugar, I'm starving by 1 or 2.

guacamole. applesauce. Refried black beans with fat free sour cream. Egg drop soup. Fish (tilapia) poached in seasoned chicken broth with summer squash. (YUM) whipped sweet potatoes. Baked butternut squash. mashed banana. Cauliflower cooked in broth and mashed. yogurt. creamed spinach. cheese souffle. egg custard. cream of wheat. red beans and rice mashed. smooth peanut butter. These were my favorites during "mushies". May not be your preferences, but they're suggestions.

I had a half day of appts at my surgeons office on Wednesday also. Got my spirometor too and they explained nearly every step of the surgery. There were three of us, all getting banded on Monday, July 20. I learned that I don't have to stay overnight, which I originally thought, so I'm really happy about that. Got my liquid diet instructions and was quite pleased to see more than pure liquids on there. I can have applesauce, yogurt, grits and broths. It is for 2 weeks and I'm planning on sticking strictly to it. Good luck, and can't wait to see how your surgery goes.

No i havent tried that, i have only had Atkins and EAS i bought unjury but i have to mix that with skim milk and i am only allowed 3 servings of a dairy that would wipe out my cottage cheese and or yogurt