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I'm almost a year post op and still have a protein shake a day to keep the protein levels up. I was also told the shakes could be counted toward meeting the fluid intake as well. Now that you're moving onto more foods, have you checked out My Fitnesss Pal? It's great for tracking all your food, calories, fluids and even exercise to see where you stand each day. Good luck!

Be wise and see a doctor you can trust.....I do have lbp and my PCP told me to eat more salt. I also drink electrolyte drinks that are low calorie to zero....it does help....

maybe 10 weeks out or so? because I walk A LOT and sometimes need a little boost to calories/protein. I have only found one I like, and it is a treat for when I am extra active, not a daily thing. or when my hormones make me a stark raving lunatic, because the one I like is also chocolate.

Ladies, I volunteer! I don't know how good I'll be, but my surgery date was May 13, 2013 and I'm an email junkie I have lost 55 lbs since surgery. I have my weigh in numbers from the 2, 4, and 6 week check-ins at the doctor. But I want to tell you, like you'll hear until you want to scream, everyone is different. We had major surgery! They yanked out part of our body! You're healing! Follow your doctor's advice about your diet phases (they sound slightly different than mine), and put the scale away! Only weigh once a week. Remember that as you heal you're only getting in a minimum number of calories just because of swelling and stuff. So you lose a lot, and then your body starts hoarding everything, and then you adjust and start losing again. So it's a bit wonky at first. The weight will come off. It has to! Our surgeon's office had a In-Body body composition scale, and it could spit out what your resting metabolic rate is, which is how many calories it takes for your body to function. So, at my pre-op weight of 268 and 5'10" tall, my resting rate was 2100 calories. At my 3 month appointment (around 220 lbs, I think), It was still around 1800-2000 calories. (my numbers are at home) So since I'm only getting around 1000-1200 calories a day, I'm losing weight. It's not fast, but it's still losing. And I say it's not fast, but I'm apparantly still on "bypass rate" in terms of my average weight loss. I did lose a lot pre-op, which put me in good shape for post-op recovery and getting back to the gym. But don't rush going back to the gym. Walking and sipping are the initial things to do, until you're back at full calories (the new "full", about 1000 / day) so that you don't pass out (which I came close to doing until I remembered about the major surgery!). Keep hydrated. Keep getting your Protein. Because you want to lose fat and not muscle. Things will happen, but we didn't get overweight overnight, so we won't get thin overnight either. As I said, I volunteer to help. I'm on the board generally at lunch, but send me a private message if you want my email address for outside of here... Good luck!

I use Fitness Pal too! It really helps keep track of carbs, protein, and fat consumption for me. I've been reading books on VSG as well as potential Carb grams, Fat grams, and Protein grams essential for healthy VSG patients. I try to get between 60-100 grams of protein, <30 grams of fat, and roughly 40-100 grams of good carbs for energy. I've set my goals in the app for 27g fat, 60g carbs, and 80g protein daily for roughly 803 calories daily. I usually don't make the full 803 calories but try to make 40 plus grams of protein with the addition of an unflavored Protein powder to some foods. That's just what I'm doing. Everyone is different. Good luck! Michelle

Like others have said, try upping the calories. Ive run into the same issue and when I did I would up my calories (adding a handful of nuts here and there (good fats) or eating more protein). It worked every time for me.

1. I am a smoker, and as much as I would like to not be, it is hard to quit. My surgery is coming up soon and I am quitting cold turkey. Any ideas to keep away from that post-op? I'm not a smoker so I have no first hand advice to offer. I have friends who have had good results with chantix and e-cigs. How soon after surgery can I start working out? The dr.'s orders that I have seen most frequently are to walk, and only walk, for the first four weeks. After that, gradually add in more intense exercise but stop immediately if you feel like you are hurting your abdomen. Go back to walking for a few weeks and try again. Loose skin: should this be a worry of mine? 200-205 lbs currently, 23 years old. How can I really minimize that? There are no guarantees but common wisdom is that the younger you are, and the less you have to lose, the less you'll have to worry about loose skin. Based on your stats I would say you probably have less to worry about than most people. Some people try to minimize it with various moisturizers, toning, etc. but the standard medical advice is that if you get it, the only way to minimize it is with surgery. At least after waiting a year or so to see if it springs back on its own. Honestly, though, odds are you won't have much. Personally if I were in your shoes I would not worry about it. Best Protein shake suppliments? What to mix with to lessen the nasty taste? Completely a matter of opinion! I like unjury chocolate Splendor mixed with Hood Calorie Countdown nonfat milk and some additions such as PB2, a few drops of peppermint, or a small handful of frozen raspberries. I also like a lot of the Syntrax nectar flavors just mixed with Water. Be sure you get protein powders that are low in calories, low in carbs, and high in protein. It's hard to find ready-to-drink Protein shakes that have good numbers, but Premier Protein is good. Isopure ready to drink has good numbers but a lot of people hate the taste, or need to mix it with something else to make it drinkable. what can I expect post-op the day of my surgery, and day after. Pain scales, nausea? Again, everyone is different. For most people the gas pain is worse than incisional/abdominal pain. The gas pain was not great and made me very uncomfortable, but I wouldn't have rated it more than 4 or 5 out of 10. Once you get up and get walking it gets better. I didn't need any pain killers during the day -- not even over the counter ones -- starting the day after surgery. I did take some lortab to help me sleep at night. I had some tenderness around my drain site for a couple of weeks when turning or standing up but nothing major. Frankly I've had worse menstrual cramps than what I experienced a day after surgery. Even the day of surgery really wasn't that bad. I spent most of that day post-surgery either sitting up or walking. I was having normal conversations and doing normal things, not lying around crying with pain or anything. Good luck to you!

Hey, I'm at 6 mos. also and I'm only down 52 lbs. I really don't care about the speed of loss, just that I'm losing. But, could it be that you're not getting in enough calories for what you're doing each day? I had to up things to get things moving again when I had a stall. I've got about 25-30 lbs to go and I'm trying to find a balance with calories in & calories out to maintain the loss w/no stalls. We've done well so don't beat yourself up. We're in this together. :-)

Are you tracking and logging your food? How many calories, carbs and fat grams are you taking in daily? That might help you determine why you are not losing. Also, how much Water are you taking in? Are you exercising at all? Your experiences are VERY much like mine at your stage in the game. I had a slight stricture and had to take an anti nausea pill as well as a pill that made my stomach seize and cramp every time I ate for about 3-4 months. I stayed on the full liquids stage for 2 weeks, and then pureed for about 3 more. I moved very slowly with food progression and was not able to tolerate more than a tablespoon at a time. I was almost a full year out before I could eat more than 600-800 calories a day or meet my Protein and Fluid goals. I would encourage you to STOP eating popcorn, chips and definitely candy. You are wasting a lot of valuable real estate when you put junk in your teeny tummy. Concentrate on Protein shakes and in one really soft protein at a time until you catch your rhythm. I loved chicken salad with extra mayo, crab cakes made with no bread, finely diced shrimp salad, guacamole and hummus on a spoon, refried Beans, soft scrambled eggs... Good luck to you. Wait. Is that a typo? You had surgery in 2014??

Yeah, you're about where I am. And yes, I've been struggling with my weight loss since about 5 months post surgery. I lose a pound, gain 2. Lose 1, gain 1. Stall for weeks, lose 2. Repeat. This is my life right now. And I am a stickler with the program, and also exercise 3-4 days a week. I try to shake things up by upping my calories and Protein, Water, exercise less, exercise more, but the pattern seems to stay the same. I just think our bodies are constantly adjusting and the weight loss will be slow going the less you have to lose. But maybe try changing things up a bit, or as someone suggested, make an appointment with your NUT and see if they can suggest anything? Good Luck!

If you haven't already, you might wanna check out MFP. There is a thread here for user names. You can search for: official my fitness pal friend add thread I'm mobile so I can't get thd link for you...there most members allow you to see their daily food logs/calories/etc. life is a journey, not a destination; so, stop running -H.D. THEROUX

Hello! I think researching is smart. For one thing, the lap band isn't designed to be removed and in fact, most who have it removed gain their weight back unless they have some other type of weight loss surgery. Further I don't know how tall you are and how much you weigh but it's possible just being 80 pounds overweight that you would have to pay for the surgery yourself; most insurance companies have BMI's and weights you must meet or exceed before they'll pay. The surgery can be pricey. Respectfully, because all most all of us here are unhappy with our weight and I'm sure you too are unhappy, I would suggest you try losing weight by more traditional methods. Something caused you to gain; that won't magically go away. And most of us bandsters can still eat "one more candy bar" without trouble. That's what's called a slider food and many calorie and fat laden foods are sliders. (Cookies, cake, ice cream, fries all come to mind). If you don't feel overweight and don't feel motivated to try to lose, at 60 the last thing you should do is have a surgery that you aren't prepared to embrace and work at. If you don't have health issues, nor problems with your weight, then surgery is likely not for you. If you did get the band, odds are you'd be very unhappy without some serious rethinking. If you are just an 80-pound overweight otherwise happy and healthy person, then something like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers might give you the motivation you need to lose those pounds. The lap band is a miracle, but it is just a tool. It's for life, it's a lifestyle. I don't think you mentally are in the right spot for that. I don't know you and it's possible I'm wrong, but from what you've posted, other options would be better and safer and more productive for you!

Hi Angie, Congrats on your surgery! I have slowed in my weightloss with the mushies phase also. I am finding it to be one of the hardest phases because it's just difficult to know what to eat that is healthy and suited for weightloss. To me the suggestions my surgeon gave for this phase just feel so completely opposite of everything I was doing before the mushy phase. But even still I have continued to lose with losing 5.6 lbs this last week. One key is drinking lots of Water and another of course is getting out and walking every day. One thing that we have to remember is as we increase the calories consumption we need to increase the exercise to continue to burn off more then we consume. I hope this helps. Best of luck!

ask your surgeon what he recommends. I think you will find the surgeons recommendations on alcohol as varied as they are on caffeine/coffee! I think I had my first social drink at maybe 12 weeks post op, but I tend to avoid alcohol altogether now because it really is just excess calories. If we are out with friends I will get a "token drink" and sip at it, but that's about it. I'm all about not throwing the calories and carbs away for drinks. :-)

1500-1600 calories is a lot! Is that what your Dr recommended?

Don't worry about gaining. You won't be getting enough calories to gain.

Okay, I am a little over 6 months out. So far so good. I'm eating better, working out and making steady progress. I'm now healed up and I can physically handle any type of food. Also, my capacity has stabilized at about 8 oz or so. I am targeting 1,500 to 1,600 calories a day with 100g or less of carbs. My sense is that the surgery did most of its work in the first couple months and it is now on me. I still get full much faster than I used to pre-surgery, but I think that if I eat the wrong things I could gain weight at this point. So, my question is, how do you maintain the momentum? In the past I have always slipped into bad habits an put weight back on. The underlying food addiction is still there. It is lessened. I don't crave so hard. Also the restriction should keep helping. However, I am worried that I could slip back. What are the keys? How do you maintain the new lifestyle? I have a vague idea that once I hit a good healthy weight I will dial in a calorie target and then adhere pretty much forever. Maybe I won't log everything every day like I do now, but then again maybe I will have to. I don't know. I could use some insight.

I've been told I lost faster than "normal" since the first week. Was told not to expect to keep losing that fast, but I did. Was told to raise my calories and I did...some...as much as I could without being uncomfortable or eating too many carbs/sugar. Some people are slow losers, some faster. I really don't think there's a whole lot you can do about it if you are following your dr's instructions.

I am a couple weeks further along than you. I eat pretty much what I want (as low fat as possible) Two weeks ago I was in a terrible stall. It was my third one but this lasted over a week. I eat what I want. I had to add a protein powder back into my diet. I got sick on a grilled piece of chicken and just can't seem to eat solid meats tonight I had about 1/2 of a tamale with 2 tlb spoon beanless chilli and 1 tlb spoon fat free sour cream. Lunch was 1 baked salmon patty with ketchup, breakfast a 80 calorie light and fit yogurt with 1 tlb spoon genepro protein powder.

I am post op x6 days. Still on the full liquid diet. I cannot seem to get very many calories in or am I just silly. I am averaging 40 to 60 on the protein. but with a calorie counter my numbers are like 800 for the day. I am supposed to have low cal juices and such, thin full liquids. Is this unusual?? Just asking. thanks

My husband and I both had the sleeve done in 2013. I've lost roughly 90lbs along with having a baby as well. I've been sticking to Protein shakes and lean meats/vegetables while trying to stay under 1200 calories. It's still hard to lose the baby weight and I'm currently 181. My husband on the other hand has lost about 200lbs. He is 6'1 and now 180ish. His calorie goal is 1600, but most times he is getting 1200-1500 according to his food log. He is almost too skinny now and is still losing. He doesn't work out and gets most of his calories from beer and chips after a healthy dinner. I'm afraid he is going to keep losing and sacrifice his health. I know he never meets his protein goal and overstates his intake. Vitamins just sit in the cabinet unmoved. Guys, I'm looking for advice to relay and I would like to know your calories/protein goals. I've explained to him he needs more protein and at least 1800 calories. Am I over reacting or should I be worried? I've even asked him to see a nutritionist, but he declines. Not sure what else to tell him.

I guess I'm more concerned with how many calories, carbs, protien that kind of thing. I've heard some people that do 6 small meals, some people that do 3 meals with Snacks, 3 meals only (no snacks). What is your daily intake like?

Made a yummy new low carb recipe today...Buffalo Chicken Dip. Very simple too. Just throw a bag of frozen chicken into the crockpot, throw one bottle of your favorite wing sauce over that, then sprinkle one package of Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix over that. Cook until chicken is tender, then shred the chicken, mix in two 8 oz packages of cream cheese and stir well. You can serve it hot or cold, and could eat it with a fork instead of as a dip if you wanted to cuz its just that good! Anyway, here's the accountability log of food for the day: B: 1 cup ricotta cheese mixed with sugar free lemon flavor jello pudding mix (320 cal / 24 protein) topped with 1/4 cup blue berries (10 cal / 0 protein) L: Lean Cuisine Meatloaf (no potatoes) (200 cal / 20 protein) D: 1 cup Buffalo Chicken Dip with celery sticks for dipping ( 380 cals / 36 Protein ) S: 1 cup ricotta cheese mixed with sugar free lemon flavor jello pudding mix (320 cal / 24 protein) topped with 1/4 cup blue berries (10 cal / 0 protein) That makes the grand total for today 1240 calories and 104 gms protein!

I think losing 39 pounds in that time period is fantastic progress. Focus on what you've accomplished, and take pride in it instead of diminishing it by comparing yourself to others. We're all at different ages, and have different starting BMIs, frame sizes, metabolisms, and activity levels, and we have unique goals. Some people have lost more weight in eight weeks than I have in my eight months since surgery, but this isn't like some race where everyone starts off at the same place, runs the same course, and there's a prize for being the fastest. You are the only one leading your life, and the only person you should compare yourself to is who you were in the past. I know that I'm much happier, healthier and more confident than I was this time last year. For me, losing weight at a slower pace has actually had benefits. I haven't lost much hair, and my skin has become firmer as I've toned, and isn't loose at all. My eating habits are sustainable for me long-term instead of being so restrictive I feel deprived. I feel confident this weight loss is for good instead of weight that will yoyo right back onto me. Hopefully you'll have similar benefits. I've also stalled for lonnnng stretches of time. Upping my calories actually helped me to break it. If you're not already tracking your meals and Snacks on something like MyFitnessPal, then start recording them. Try experimenting with variating your calories and your carb intake, and see if that makes a differences. If you're not very active, try adding in more activity. You don't have to join a gym. One of my best investments was a good bike that I now use to get to and from work, and to run errands. Instead of buying our groceries for the whole week, I bike up to the farmer's market or the grocery store and get a day or two's worth. It was an easy, enjoyable change that has helped. I also enjoy classes I follow along to on Daily Burn. Best wishes to you.

Welcome to your 3 week stall. It happens to many many people. It's not at all about what you're eating, it's about your body adjusting and catching up. It sounds like you are doing AWESOME with what you are eating/drinking and with your tracking! Tracking is a great tool, especially when starting out. As far as nutrition, I don't worry too much about my fat, because I know it's healthy fat (Olive oil, avocado, almonds etc.). I try to keep carbs less than Protein now that I am this far out (8 months), but if I want a glass of OJ or a banana in my smoothie, I have it. I won't deprive myself of the things I want, HOWEVER, protein always comes first to me and I pay attention to my total calories.