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Im a realist and don't belief in telling people alot of fluff so I will give it to you straight. 1) Scared about missing food - You are what you eat - period. I will not lie to you - The sleeve gives you the tool lose the weight - but its up to you to not eat crap and gain all the weight back. On ocassion I will eat things like pizza and other junk, but its only on occasion. Its a slippery slope though, especially with the carbs. If you eat crappy quality carbs you wake up the carb cravings and can get yourself in trouble. Do I miss junk food - not as much as I thought I would - and if I absolutely HAVE to have something I eat it - just not a whole box. 2) drinking beers - Im not a drinker but I can tell you this - Beer is carbs and makes you fat. You also will get drunk quicker with less beer. If getting plastered with your friends is a must for you I do not reccomend you endulge in that behavior too often. I know alot of bariatric patients who gain LOTS back due to alcohol. Its empty useless fat promoting calories. The sleeve will not stop you from drinking 8 beers - remember liquid slides right on through. 3) Can you lose the weight on your own - I'll say this much. The odds are against you. For me it was IMPOSSIBLE. I was a quantity eater and I like to be full. Now that I have a tiny stomach I can be full with so much less food and now that my hunger hormones are reduced I get much less hungry. But if I eat crappy carbs my hunger does return with a vengence so refined carbs are the enemy. Without the surgery I would still be an obese 377 pound 36 year old with who know what kind of health issues. 4) its irreversible - so what. Do you want your big bowling ball size stomach back that takes forever to get full and releases all kinds of hunger hormones. I don't miss mine. I still have a fully functioning stomach - just smaller. Your not getting a gastric bypass. Your body will work just the way it always has worked - just better. 5)Your going to die - I can say this - If you do nothing you will die. Also death from the sleeve is really really really low. Bariatric surgery has really come a long way and is very safe now. Worry about how unhealthy you will be without taking control of your obesity. That is the real fear. Your absolutely normal to be fearful of the unknown. I can tell you that I have zero regrets! I have had no complications and have never even thrown up once. I just had a tummy tuck and feel for the first time in my life - happy in my own body. No more looking in the mirror and wanting to PUKE. ALL my health issues went away - no more cpap - no more high blood pressure - etc etc. Its a miracle surgery. Good luck with your journey - Shayne

I have logged my food since I started this journey. It works very well for me. Calorie intake is important but just as important is the make up of the calories. How much Protein, Fats and carbohydrates are you taking in. I am 5 months out and have been doing low carb, < 50 per day. In the last few weeks I have upped my carbs to 60-70 per day and it has made a big difference with energy levels. I am still losing weight steadily, but have the energy to exercise and I feel good about it.

awesome! mind sharing your food intake/diary?

Had Post Op appt with my Surgeon yesterday, weight was 318.0 he was very pleased with my progress, Going into Phase III Puree, in a few days. food intake, has been Un sweet applesauce, Snack Pack sugar free pudding, Premier Protein 120g per day, 70oz Water, and lots of walking!

Soo since my surgery pork just doesn't sit well with me. Had Bacon yesterday for breakfast and it gave me a headache and a gross tummy. Had kabasi (sp?) For dinner tonight and I feel the same way. Anyone else have a similar reaction with certain foods?

You can stir unflavored protein powder into lots of things: soup, broth, yogurt, and cottage cheese, for example. If you are allowed to eat things like mashed potatoes or oatmeal, you can use it there too. But keep the amounts small or it will taste funky. For example, I used a half of a scoop of the Syntrax Nectar in my chai tea (approx. 8 ounces of tea). Be careful mixing into anything hot -- you need to test it with a food thermometer and make sure it is under 140 degrees or the protein will denature and clump, which is truly nasty. I find it works best with things that have a pretty strong flavor of their own and which are more on the savory side than sweet.

I actually started trying to do this about a month before my surgery. It was a constant struggle at that point and even though I survived, I had a fear of not being able to keep it up after surgery. Since the surgery, it got much easier. It is still difficult, but I think more out of the habit from having a big glass of milk at every meal for so many years. As for the spicy thing - I think that is really up to your tolerance. I've always been a huge fan of spicy foods and still am. I don't go crazy with something I know will set my guts on fire, but I still put pepper either cayenne or black, homemade jalapeno salsa or tobasco on just about everything.

For me, it's HARD! But I am still new at this (Jan 2014). I have always drank a lot of Water (or wine) with dinner and if my water glass wasn't refilled during my meal and it was empty, I would feel like I was suffocating and couldn't eat anymore until I had more liquids. Now, I'm trying to use that as my signal that maybe I'm just full and don't need any more food if I start to feel like I'm suffocating and it is usually right! lol. But, mentally, it is still hard since I'm so used to it. I have to always make a conscious effort to try to drink ahead of time and after but not during. I don't always succeed and I have to be ok with that. I can't beat myself up for slipping on this occasionally. But I really am trying. And I do have spicy foods. Someone mentioned having something that is a bit watery (cucumbers come to mind--it's food but has some watery-ness to it). If you come up with some tips, let us know!

The three week mark was my turning point. My body was lighter, I was completely detoxed of chemical laden food, artificial colors, excess fatty mess... Plus the pure excitement of being post op and diet free!!

Ok... So wow this has been such a transformation for me so far very happy with results so far and are seeing numbers on the scale I have NEVER seen that's great AWESOME actually never experienced such a thing before feels great but my BIGGEST upset is this nauseous feeling I get every morning... I take my acid blockers at night that helps with the burning but I feel empty like no food in my tummy at all I hate eating at this hour very early 5am/6am because all I want to do is go back to sleep and enjoy my morning easing into my Breakfast, it's like I have to eat something to feel better and if I pick the wrong (soft food) to consume like sweets (Protein drink, apple sauce, yogurt I get so nauseous and tummy starts going crazy wanting to vomit. So yes I am trying to stay away from the sweets as a coat for my tummy but choose more warm foods but wow I have to actually cook the food (not a fan of microwave food, would rather bake it taste better/boil/sear) and the microwave food I can handle cant eat right now at this stage. So Im like really now I have to have bfast when I don't even want to cook/eat ahhhhh just wanna sleep pls help thx. PREOP-357 SURGERY DAY 1/14 ----- 341 MONTH 1/20/14 ----- 323 2/24-----309

How long post surgery are you? What are you eating? Liquids/soft foods tend to sit much more comfortably in the sleeve than the firmer foods later down the track. I didn't experience any pain at all, nor any sense of restriction until I started on the firmer foods. Once I was on those, it quickly became apparent that my ability to eat large amounts had become greatly reduced. Of course, this is simply my experience... Others will have a different reply.. Ultimately, if you;re concerned, talk to your surgeon/support people... They generally know their stuff.. Kinda...

I do feel for you and know that it is hard to resist food at times. My girls gave me hell the other day and I wanted to eat something really bad, however not having it in the house it was easier to not eat anything at all. If I could have found something chocolate or a hot cheeseburger at midnight in the oven I would have gobbled it down without a thought. Maybe if you make the food not as available and you have to go out of the way to get it you will have time to tink twice or at least calm down before you indulge. Everything I have read about the band says that vomiting is the worst thing you can do for your body and your band. best wishes to you,

Hi Sleeve Friends! I was sleeved in Sept. 2012. I just passed my 7 month date. All of a sudden last week it was as if a switch was flipped and my hunger returned in full force. Here's the worst part: when I eat, it doesn't really go away. It feels like the food isn't getting to where it needs to go to quell the hunger - if that makes sense. The good news of course is that I can't continue to eat, but I'm left feeling still hungry. Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas/suggestions?

More than likely you are experiencing head hunger. As for not feeling full that is due to your nerve endings healing. It will take a few months for your nerve endings to completely heal. It is important that you measure and only eat what your doctor says you can. That goes for the type of food and the quantity.

I liked my own mixture of Taco seasoning, turkey hamburger and refried beans. http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31168-my-favorite-mexican-food/

I'm 5 weeks post op and barely eat half that stuff. I was pure liquid only 2 weeks out and now I'm puréed food. Things should be very runny still. Your insides are healing.

I'm feeling more pain than fullness upon consuming the clear liquid diet. The Dr. says the pain is because things are tight which is causing the pain towards the upper chest area. I'm still having cravings for my favorite foods and thought they would go away.

i am 3 weeks post gastric sleeve and have been following my diet to a T. I added chicken and rice to my plate. I am still supplementing Protein with PREMIER Protein drinks x 2/per day (30gm) protein per shake. I am still eating baby food pears/peaches at lunch. When can I advance to whole fruit? Lettuce? Thanks.

I read many posts here from day to day...and every so often I feel I need to get my story out there...if anything, a declaration for my own edification... Before this WLS, I literally had one foot in the grave, there were so many medical issues and my prognosis was very bad...I'll not get ino it now, but I have in the past...in the 3-5 years prior, I had to bury my Sister, and my Brother...both who died too young from complications from being Obese...and I was walking right in their footsteps... My PCP seriously talked to me, more as a friend, to be sure I had some funeral plans in the way of expenses, and also asked me if my family would be Ok and taken care of.... ANY type of WLS, (in my case it was Lap band), was a LAST RESORT....DO OR DIE (maybe that explains my aggressiveness...no fooling around, dam the torpedoes) That was 3 years ago, I am now 100% successful with my body determining what my weight should be....very low body fat %, in the "Athletic" range...I simply have no more excess weight of fat to loose...any more would be unhealthy...a true starvation mode not unlike the psuedo one everyone talks about. ALL my medical conditions have completely reversed, (other than the permanent damage to my heart muscle from a heart attack), no more Med's, all bloodwork #'s perfect right down the middle.... I am a Poster Child at my Bariatric center, often asked to talk at support and first time introduction meetings...(I'm careful to explain ALL people are different and choose their different weight loss paths) I'm 61 soon to be 62, run 5 miles a day...go to the gym 5 days a week...I feel like I am 30 years younger... I have NEVER had a single complication....I DO NOT consider this a "TOOL"...I consider this corrective surgery...I cannot over eat no matter how hard I may try...I am never hungry 24 hrs a day with no cravings and actually, have very little interest in food altogether....It's a mental thing for me because of the placement of the band.... A "TOOL" is something I can control...I cannot control this, it has complete control of me....If I was in control, and can "Use" this as a tool, I would surely screw it up and fail.... I DO NOT count calories, measure portions, keep logs, etc...in other words, I have been set free from DIETS!! I now live a Normal LIfestyle, I eat, work and play the way a person is supposed to do, not the abnormal gluttonous lifestyle I once used to live that made me sick and fat... But now, I find this the easiest thing there is..absolutely No work or struggle.... of course, during the first post-op phase, which took me 4-6 months of adjusting, was pure hell and frustrating to say the least...but I did not back down, and fought through it...it was that important to me......it has now become day to day, a way of life I do not think about that much anymore...as if I had my gall Bladder taken out 3 years ago... Of course there are things I need to know and certain rules I must follow...but they are new habits...no longer a list....I don't have to think about what foods I can or cannot eat...I just know...I don't have to remind myself how to chew and take my time...I just know..and if I should forget, the band is there to immediately warn and remind me... IF I should ever encounter any complications, I will deal with them when and if they come.....better than being dead! One thing I have noticed to be a truth...the lap band is adjustable, and it seems all people have different levels as to where they want to be with this...for me, nothing less than maximum "Green Zone" life will do...and my Dr. understands....IMO that does not mean one person is right or wrong...as long as you're successful in your path, that's all that matters....I HATE IT when someone says the way they are doing it is the ONLY WAY, then goes and instructs people just starting out...doing more harm than good...no matter there are so many confused people....all anyone should ever do is give their own personal experience in any given situation...if they have none, then keep quiet and let someone who has experience speak...I love it when someone who has been banded for 6 weeks is going to tell me how I should be doing things... Anyway, It's 5am, I'm off to the gym soon when they open at 6 on Saturdays. ALL THIS because I chose to have the Lap Band Surgery....it could have been one of the other procedures, I don't know...this is he only one I have any experience with....so this is the only procedure I can talk about....

This is my surgeons guidance for food progression. It seems should be 4-5 meals per day 1/4 to 1/2 cups per meal as tolerated. Right now I am tolerating 1/4 cup (I am on. Full liquids), sometimes I measure 1/2 just in case but ending not finishing because I stop and think if I feel satisfied or not.

I'm 6 weeks out and I'm released to eat normals. However over the last couple of days when I think about food I get nauseated, I don't want to eat anything. Please help with suggestions. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congratulations! So happy for you. My only advice is that it's nice to have a journal to look back on later -- all the things you are looking forward to, the reasons for having the surgery, etc. I also watched every movie in my queue and walked around our driving circle hundreds of time in that first week. Best wishes for the exciting times ahead. I am six months out and can't really recall the incisional pain now -- and I had no idea I'd be feeling this happy. I was happy before but this joy and elation are new factors in my life. I'm out of food jail!

Sometimes, I don't measure my food. I just throw it in a bowl and let the chips fall where they may. And if I'm feeling really frisky, I'll only chew 22 times, and not the prescribed 25.

I have some problems swallowing food. It's been happening for about 3-4 years now. I have to dirnk a lot at every meal. Meat and bread are really difficult for me. I worry that if i get the band, I will have to drink at meals to get food down but you aren't supposed to drink with meals! Anyone have any advice?

I had vsg 17 days ago. I am feeling great and have been since a few days after my surgery, which scares me a little. I didn't experience much pain other than discomfort when getting up from sitting. I hit or surpassed my liquid and protein goals every day from day 1. Also, I have been hungry (not emotionally hungry). I'm on my 3rd week post op diet of pureed foods. I'm logging everything on My Fitness Pal. I am scared I'm eating too many calories. Approx how many calories/ macro % should be my goal at this stage? FYI, I'm 5' 3.5" and currently 276 lbs (313 lbs start). TIA for your help!