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Ohhhhhhhhhh Thinoneday how do I get 1200 calories in without eating carbs, I'm trying so hard to keep my sugar levels down. If i eat anymore my sleeve is going to burst open. I don't know what to eat that has protein but low carbs...............

Hello All, I am new to this forum, I'm 4 weeks out and I believe I've hit a stall. I'm currently on the soft food Stage and I'm finding it easier to hit my Protein and Calorie goals, Water is so-so. I'm looking to get some work-out MOTIVATION and recipe ideas, as well as give any advise or answer any questions that I can. .. P.S. the reason I say I think I've hit a stall is due to the fact that I don't weigh myself at home at all. I'm waiting to get weighed at the DR. Office. I never weighed myself at home pre-op. I'm a little OCD... Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

I believe "good carbs" are necessary in limited quantities. You want to get them from whole grains, fruit, veggies, dairy. Glucose (what your body easily turns carbs into) is the only nutrient your brain can use. Personally, I walk a middle ground between very low carb and what my nut says (she says 130 carbs a day). I take in about 60 carbs a day and have pretty steadily been loosing 2-3 pounds a week. Find what works for you. I believe calories in and calories out is the main issue as far as weight loss. Best wishes on your journey!

Sounds like you need to see your PCP. If you are getting 60-70 g of protein, drinking 64 oz. of fluids. and keeping your calories at 500-600, then you should be losing weight. Good luck.

Hi: My husband and I own/operate a fine dining restaurant. He is the chef and I take care of the front of the house. I'm not sure what to tell you as far as what will work with your band (I was banded June 8th and so far have not had a problem). I can though tell you what to avoid. All sauces that say they are reductions of some sort.....they are very concentrated and do contain a lot of calories, most sauces........I have watched my husband make some of theses sauces and to reach the right consistency and flavour he uses tons of butter....I mean TONS of butter! If the menu item is beef, pork, etc and says that it is served in its own juices (au jus)...that may be okay however, be careful of fat rendered from the meat. Most professional Chefs today, with the exception of sauces, prefer to do all cooking, roasting, baking with extra virgin olive oil instead of butter. My husband tosses his vegetable medley in evoo and fresh herbs before plating to add flavour but when requested we don't coat them with anything. We have 5 Pasta dishes on our menu....one is angelhair which I have found not to cause a problem with my band....Al puts a little evoo in a saute pan, some garlic, tomato concasse (fresh cubed tomato), thinly sliced red onion and some s&p....he tosses the pasta in this saute pan and its a great dish...if I want protien I add a few shrimp or small pieces of chicken.......we sell loads of this dish and its my favourite. If you talk to your server they should be able to, and willing to, help you find a suitable meal. If you have questions just ask me...... woodys@sympatico.ca Carol

Do you ever find that when you scan the menus at restaurants, you start to become overwhelmed by all of the choices? That you might make the wrong decision? That you have the tendency to pick the same thing over and over again because it is 'safe'? I started noticing this about six months ago - and sometimes it becomes such an anxiety ridden ordeal that I order "the usual" when I would really like something different. But when I look at all of the different options and their descriptions - a gazillion questions go through my mind: will it get stuck, will it taste the same to me now, can I really eat that, how much Protein is in one oyster, how many calories are in a wine reduction sauce, etc. Sometimes it is just easier to stick to what you know....but I sure miss experimenting with a bunch of different cuisine options!!! Would love to hear your stories and coping mechanisms!!

The easy way and old fashioned way is to allow 10 calories per pound of desired body wt if you are a fairly inactive female. Mimi

Should I be adding some sort of protein supplement? I struggle to get to 60g a day. I just don't want to add calories. I average about 600-700 right now.

If you never really followed the rules then it would make sense that you're gaining. Weight loss is really basic math, if you burn more calories than you consume you lose. I would be willing to bet your calories have slowly crept up and now the weight is catching up with you again. I would start tracking your calories to see how much you're actually consuming. This way you will know for certain where you need to make changes. Best wishes!

according to this http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/understandingsmallgastricpouch.htm (written about RNY BP, but applies to the sleeve too), liquid calories are a Very Bad Idea. you are better off with 3 meals of 3-4 ounces of protein and 2 snacks one of which is also protein. its a technical article written by a doc for docs, but worth slogging through.

One of the things that contributed to my stress about this surgery was not knowing what was going to happen. (What can I say, I'm a control freak.) So here is the play-by-play as it pertains to me of my surgery. Your mileage may vary! I'll try to come back and update it. Hopefully it'll be of use to someone—"and knowing is half the battle." Day before surgery Liquid-only diet; two bowls of phở broth, some Protein2O, apple juice, and sugar-free lemon jello. Got about 830 calories in. Had to take a shower with a special CHG (chlorhexidine gluconate) anti-septic body wash. It made my skin a bit "slippery". Packed my bag with my CPAP hose, a book, a spare shirt, some chanclas for walking, my cell phone charger, and my reading glasses. Put out the two pills I was supposed to take (no losartan because it interferes with anesthesia). Day of surgery Took another shower with CHG as required. Reported to the hospital at 0630 as requested. Was checked in and taken to pre-surgery holding. My fiancé was allowed to go with me as an exception, because I'm hard of hearing and rely on lip-reading which is impossible with so many masks and partitions in the way. A surgical RN came and told me to wipe my abdomen with CHG wipes, then put on my surgical gown (which was HUGE on me—I understand I'm a bariatric patient but I literally couldn't keep it on my shoulders). Then he put an IV in the back of my hand, took my vitals (I lost 10 lbs in the two weeks between my surgeon's consultation and surgery day), went through all my medications, put an anti-nausea patch behind my ear, and gave me a blood thinner in my IV. My surgeon came in and asked if I was ready, went over a few things, then went to scrub up. My anesthesiologist came in and asked if I had had anesthesia before (yes), and if I had any questions. I asked him to give me a TAP block at the end of surgery, which is a localized nerve block, like an epidural for your abdomen. It lasts 12-18 hours. I was whisked away and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room, where I was given cognitive tests (what is your name, what hospital are you at, who's the president, etc.) and given ice chips. Once that all proved satisfactory, I was wheeled to my room. I don't remember it, because I fell asleep. Once in the room they put leg compression stockings on me and gave me water, Crystal Light made way too sweet, chicken broth that tasted like a salt lick, and a thicker vegetable purée soup. I couldn't get the vegetable soup down. I forced the chicken broth, Crystal Light, and water. I felt very, very hungry and it was frustrating not to be able to just eat something. I took 3 or 4 laps of the surgical unit floor in my fetching anti-slip socks, and kept falling asleep. The pain from the gas was pretty bad and I spent a good 30 minutes just burping, much to the chagrin of the man in the other bed in the room (though he was moaning so he doesn't get to say anything). Around 1730 the nurse came in, saw that I had drunk what I could and had peed sufficiently (you pee into a graduated container), and that I could walk. She asked my surgeon's permission to discharge me, and I was in the wheelchair going out the door at 1830, exactly 12 hours after I arrived. When we got home, I pretty much washed my hands and face and went straight to bed. I got up probably every 2 hours or so, would have a couple of sips of protein shake or water, along with Gas-X (simethicone) or, as needed, Tylenol. I did get about 7 hours of sleep, in various chunks. I was able to lie, carefully, on my side, which is how I prefer to sleep. My CPAP did increase the gas pressure inside a bit but it was tolerable. Day 1 post-op My first bout of the 'foamies'. I tried to drink a CorePower protein milk way too fast and spent an hour and a half wandering around whimpering. It was actively painful and it felt enough like I needed to vomit that I had a lined bucket at the ready. Eventually, though, it subsided. Gas pain is still here and very real, but better. We went for a walk which absolutely tired me out—and it was barely 500 meters! Right now I am using the timer on my cell phone to remind me to drink 1/3 oz. of fluid every 5 minutes, and I feel full but it's manageable. I am alternating full ounces of regular water and protein water. I also made some Jell-O with extra protein powder but the thought of eating it leaves me cold. If I can get these bottles down plus the shake I had earlier, I'll be pretty close to 48 oz. of fluid which is my surgeon's requirement for the first week (bumps up to 64 oz. after that) and 41 g of protein which will have to do for the first day unless I manage to get some of the Jell-O down me. I have been taking Tylenol, Gas-X, and my ondansetron—the nausea is there but it's in the background, like when you step off a ship onto land at the end of a cruise. I haven't had enough pain to necessitate anything stronger than Extra Strength Tylenol. My incisions are clean (I took a shower).

Are you allergic to peanuts? It has the same calories as Peanut Butter and the nutrition is very similar. I like the Kellogs Special K Protein cereal too for breakfast too. Sometimes, I make a yogurt parfait with greek yogurt, berries, and the Special K cereal on top. lynda

Water first, then Protein, veg and prescribed Vitamins and minerals. Bread has nothing you need in it. If you have a good look at what you are eating then check that you are moving enough to burn some calories, you can usually find the problem. If you post a normal day's eating plan here, someone will tell you where you are going right or wrong. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Agreed that small changes are key to continued success with habits surrounding food. But I would suggest starting with the vitamins first THEN the tracking. Since ensuring you are getting all the vitamins you need is more important than tracking calorie counts right now.

Sure, if you dig down deep, you can loose weight. But can you keep it off? I know I couldn't. I'm less than 2 months post-op, so far, I can eat most foods (steak, shrimp, pasta). My portion sizes are so much smaller than what I ate before, yet I am full. I couldn't have done that without the band. I know I have to stay away from icecream and certain high calorie foods and drinks, but having a smaller pouch allows me to still enjoy them in small amounts.

Salads were HARD for me. I had a ton of trouble with fibrous veggies and lettuce was impossible until something closer to five or six months out. Everyone is different, though! I say start very small with veggies and also with Pasta, rice and tortillas...those are still my trouble foods, even at 21 months out. As for the post op diet, I had Dr. Aceves and spent weeks on liquids after surgery. I wasn't hungry at all but boy, I was MEAN and grouchy and tired all the time. At the end I just wanted to chew something despite having no appetite. It stinks but it's just a tiny bit of time before you'll be here complaining that you can't get enough calories because you can only fit in two or three bites of food at a time! Hang in there. Post op diets do vary but you trusted your doc to slice you open, so you should trust his judgement on what you should be eating afterward. ~Cheri

Vary what you are doing. Perhaps if you up your calories to 1200 for a few days that can be just the kick start you need. Changing the types of food that you eat also really helps. You just need to trick it into moving again. Don't worry too much. If you are doing the right things, it will definitely start moving again. Early in the process we all hit plateaus. Your body just needs a little time to adjust to changes.

You didn't say how long since your surgery, but all I ate the 1st 6 or 7 days all I ate was sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, and Crystal Light. So I ate virtually zero calories. After that I was eating a bit more, about 1 can of soup a day. I didn't feel any ill effects. Just take it one day at a time, it will get better.

I think that is just normal. I have learned to listen to my body first and foremost. Dr.'s can go by a guideline but everybody's body heals and changes at different rates. My doctor said to try things out. I would try a couple of bites of things a few weeks out from my surgery too. I felt it was better for me to try something a little more solid to keep my hunger at bay than to constantly raise my calorie count by eating mushies constantly througout the day. I'm 6 mths post op and I can even tell when I need to slow it down after fills. My doctor suggests being on liquids for two days after a fill and then 2 days of mushies. Some times that works fine and other times I am hungry the first day and can take a few bites of mashed potatoes or sugar free pudding. For me, the last thing that was of any good was to beat myself up any longer for not being perfect with it. That's what has led to my weight problem. I overeat one day and then I spend 5 days beating myself up for it and it was a continuious cycle that had to be stopped. That's why I got my band for the extra help and I may still mess up from time to time but I am down 53 lbs and IT's OK.

for those of you who might not have noticed, i have found a new love in salads. All sorts. and they are so filling with very little calories and such. share with me your favorite salad (including fruit) recipes. I really am looking for all sorts. I will catalogue them all. and you can bet i will try just about every one of them!! here is another salad that my kids just love!! 4 or 5 roma tomatoes, sliced 2 ounces of wet mozzarella cut into chunks 3 or 4 spoonfulls of olive oil 1 tablespoon basil fresh ground pepper You can add this to a green salad as well, but i prefer just the tomatoes and cheese. you can also add roasted garlic to it to really punch up the flavor. and sometimes my DH will saute the tomatoes breifly in the oil and garlic, then pour the whole lot onto the cheese on a large dish. hot or cold, this is a great salad!!

I'm in the same boat. I think it's because my water intake is low. I've been on a stall for two months and then started logging my calories. I got down to 199 in April then shot back up to 209, got stuck there for two months and then finally lost 5 pounds just recently. I've been stuck here for about 2 weeks. By logging my water intake I noticed I'm barely getting in about 32 ounces or less. Hopefully something changes in the next few weeks.

So today is a mix of emotions... first let me say I am not a patient person and if this process has taught me something it's that I must be patient... but like I said that's difficult. Got a call from the surgeons office and I need a formal dietician visit for insurance review.. I finished my 6 month (7 visit) on March 15. i anticipated being banded in April... I am hoping it happens in May but am unsure...Now I am wondering if the dietician visit was required with the 6 month supervised, I was going to Weight Watchers the entire time.. but dang another bump in the road, but I shall persevere!! Where to start.. well let me bare the craziest thing about this whole journey... 4 years ago i attended a weight loss surgery seminar with a friend as her moral supprt... I was not judgemental but swore up and down that this was not for me, BECAUSE i love food.. well duh, I guess I am not the brightest bulb on the tree... Over the last 4 years I have lost and gained over 200 pounds.. the most being 80 pound loss. I wonder some days why I can't keep my weight under control. I remember saying at the time to myslef "I would never do this, I would feel deprived, I would hate to live without eating anything I want".... the irony is that now I can not wait to be limited... I love structure and am (I know this is weird but) am already following the pre-op diet because I can't wait anymore.... but it's a matter of being ready and knowing you have tried everything... I hadn't had enough failure then to concede that I needed a better tool to help me. It's not that I can't diet... I can and do, and have my whole life. I can spout fat, calories, carbs, protein and fiber of most any food you can name. I know what good nutrition is and I understand input/output. I can tell you how many calories I burn in 30 minutes of many exercises... I am not dumb... I am not lazy... I am not weak.... I AM ALWAYS HUNGRY!!! I know that sounds silly but that is really what it comes down to. I really feel that many of us are in the same boat. I have accomplished so much... and am a prefectionist in many ways, (OK, it may seem like I'm bragging here but I am making a point).. I have three fabulous, successful, athletic children who never get in trouble, they are respectful and kind, I have a great marriage, I graduated college with a great GPA, was great at my job when I worked, love staying at home now and caring for home/children, did the PTA president thing, always a homeroom mom, always volunterring at church.. and can do anything I set my mind to BUT keep a healthy weight. I find it embarrassing at times... that's a lie... I find it embarrassing most of the time. As unfair as it is we all know the fat discrimination... it sucks and it makes me feel "less than" in certain situations. I know that is more my problem than society.. but I also know how I am viewed compared to my size 4/6 friends... I hope I have not rambled too long... I feel myself purging all the negative and finally getting in touch with my feelings.... this process has been great for intraspective analysis, and I am getting there... and believe it or not, am already feeling much lighter!

I actually think you need to switch your calorie budget around. If you are having 1 cup of milk with your two cups of coffe that's 100 cal. right there. Your Protein shake depending on the powder could be about 400 calories (powder 250, milk 50, yoghurt. As for lunch two slices of cheese is about 200 cal and 16 g of fat. I would eat more chicken (3 oz) add veggies and skip the blue cheese dipping sauce. I really like laughing cow cheese only 35 cal maybe 5 g fat. Personally I don't keep dessert in my house. You mentioned not having it every day; but does that mean 1 day a week or 6? I would leave dessert for special occations or parties. I used to make No Pudge brownies but would eat the dough raw. My problem was I would make 2-3 servings worth one after the other so even though it was a healthier dessert it was more than I should be eating.

Honk - Thanks for your input. I should have clarified a few things. I only use 80 cal. light yogurt and my Protein powder is 120 cal./scoop, 1 gm fat, 3 gms carbs and 24 gms protein. The cheese I use it Jarlsberg Light (50 cal./slice, 2 gm fat, 9 gms protein) or sometimes I do use the Laughing Cow Light and spread some on each slice of turkey. Dessert is usually on a Friday and/or Saturday/Sunday night, because I tend to eat less and drink more on the weekends when I'm running errands. Never more than 2 nights a week though. I also eat VERY small portions if I do have dessert. My doctor requires that I focus on protein and carbs and not so much on calories. I do buy lighter varieties of products if their carb count is not severely compromised. I'm VERY diligent about eating healthy foods. My husand and son get mad at me because I refuse allow them to live on junk food and am always looking at the nutrition info. on the products that I don't buy on a regular basis. Luckily, I've always been a healthy cook and eater and I want them to both have healthy habits as well!! I'll try and do a calorie breakdown on Fit day or something and see what my calories look like. I don't think they're very high though. I could be wrong, but I will do some calculations. Thank you for your thoughts!! I truly appreciate your response :0)

Oh no I understand, im eating relatively high fat is what I mean for example my total daily caloric intake is around 800cal atm but im getting around 70-80g protein and im just wondering if anyone has percentages of how they split their carbs and fats thereafter. My first goal is to.acheive the protein target and goal 2 is to stick to my calorie target I just want to know how to split my carbs and fats. Im using myfitnesspal and.it asks you for your targets thats why im curious to hear what other people set.