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I went home on full liquids which included yogurt and YES protein shakes!

My doctor is not an advocate of all liquid...I can have cottage cheese,yogurt and one serving of softened proteins and steamed spinach.2 to 3 shakes and I feel fine...isopure liquid protein is my new friend.

WOW! That IS restrictive!!! In my program, they wouldn't even let you leave the hospital until you could tolerate mushies... oatmeal, to be exact. When you get home, for three weeks you eat mushies, which include pureed food... cottage cheese, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, soft boiled egg, pureed tuna salad OR chicken salad, anything mushy. However, they specify really TINY quantities... like 1/8-C pureed tuna salad and 1/4 Cup chicken broth is lunch. Liquids DO feel best, however... lol. Maybe I'll dial it back a bit and cleve to the power shakes for the rest of the week. Thanks for the good advice!

I use Pure Protein Vanilla Creme & mix it with s/f jello, puddings and/or flavorings...25 g of protein per scoop..sometimes add a Greek Yogurt 14 g & 1/3 cup of dry milk 8 g...A good start in your daily protein.

I was sleeved on April 29th. I am on purée for 3 more weeks. I've pretty much been living on plain greek yogurt with a tsp of sf syrup mixed in, cottage cheese and shakes. Yesterday I tried part skim ricotta mixed with a little tomato sauce. On Monday I made some chicken salad and puréed it....then I was in horrible pain after eating it. Lesson learned! Good news today from my post op appointment. I have lost 17lbs since my surgery date.

I am on my second bag of genepro protein powder. It is my safety net when I can't get all my protein from food, which is often since I am still learning to balance food and water. I made beans and ham after Christmas and I was adding it to that. I also still have lite and fit yogurt on hand to add it to either in the morning to Jumpstart my protein for the day or at night if I don't hit my protein that day.

Portion your chips or crackers and only eat them after Protein. If you eat your protein first, there will be less room. If you start with the slider, such as chips and crackers, you will fit a lot more in before you get full. Your breakfast should have more protein. One egg is 7 grams. Mix in some lowfat protein and have a glass of fatfree milk or soy milk during the morning. For easy to eat meals, here are some of my favs: For veggies, which I have with lunch and dinner: Can of V8 if I'm too busy to eat veggies Handful of raw veggies such as snap peas, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes. I also buy romaine and clean it by cutting it at the base, rinsing and drying. I put the leaves in a baggie and then use them as needed for salads, sandwiches, and lettuce wraps. I also like zuchinni, brussel sprouts, brocolli heads, frozen green Beans, and frozen mixed vegtables. It's easy to just cook at little of them and to buy a small amount. For fruit, which I have with breakfast and as a snack: I cut up a small watermelon or cantelope Wash grapes I buy a little of pretty much whatever is in season - I love fruit. but I couldn't eat anything except melons till I was about 6 months out. At first, fruit was too acidic. For protein: Fat free plain greek yogurt made into a shake with a couple of strawbberries, some splenda, a splash of OJ and some Water. Pair with whole wheat toast or oatmeal (couldn't eat oatmeal till about 6 months out) Lowfat string cheese with lowfat lunchmeat wrapped around it. Special K Crackers. Sandwich: 1 slice whole wheat bread with lowfat mayo and honey mustard, Rotissiere chicken: I use it salads, in stir fries, and mixed into canned Soup to up the protein. Sometimes I buy the premade salad bowls and then add chicken. Ground beef: I portion up a pound putting each portion in a baggie. Then I squish the baggie flat and freeze. It thaws in 30 minutes. Pork chops: I portion them into one chop per baggie and freeze. I fry stuff in a little fry pan, tossing in some veggies at the end, or I grill it on a little countertop grill and grill veggies with the meat. I love good food and I was used to cooking small amounts for myself because my husband's tastes have always been different than mine. Lynda

My diet is also restrictive, first day after surgery was only clear liquids. Then 14 days of liquid-protein drinks, yogurt, jello, low fat cream soups-strained. After 2 weeks I can move to mushies but no meat until week 4. then very gradually. My doctor's office has never had anyone with a leak with following this diet. I am looking forward to having some mashed potatoes but I am more than willing to wait for it. The thought of mushies scare me right now. I am just focusing on liquids and getting my proteins in.

Try add crushed ice,in blender,makes it thicker and then I use suger free flavoring ( like for coffee). vanilla, carmel, whatever you like. Greek yogurt can thinken it and add protein too, but wil cut the sweetness and may be too sour for that favor. good luck

I pureed egg with Greek yogurt ......horrible can't even look at an egg. But tuna pureed with Mayo and dill relish was awesome I did it 1 week post op.

Yes, yogurt more than likely. I called gnc and they do have a powder that you can mix with gatorade or juice. thanks for the info on anywhere!,

I have a question about acid re flux and vomiting. I had my sleeve on June 17 and my doctor had me trying to introduce food by the end of my 2nd week. I have been trying to introduce food ever since however no matter how small I cut my food or even if I eat yogurt or pudding it pushes it's way back up I cannot eat or drink or anything without it coming back up. Is this normal? I have emailed my surgeon and he just says it will work itself out but I am beginning to wonder...I take a pepicid regimen and the acid re flux is still horrible. Please help.

I have not tried it in a protein shake but I bet it would be good. I have been eating frozen yogurt YES the kind with "how dare I" sugar since about 2 months out. Some of them have a fair amount of protein in them and is a better choice than ice cream.....

I currently use sugar-free pudding and want to try unsweetened cocoa powder and stevia drops, but can't think of anything else! I see some use Torani, too. Anybody have other ideas?

I am hungry too. I was banded on Monday, the 16th. I am living off of tomato bisque, yogurt, popsicles, Jello, and Water. I tasted the inside of my daughter's burrito (stuck my finger inside it) and it was delish! The meat and cheese was of mush constitancy...I sucked on it for a long time and then spit it out. So, I totally understand. I can't wait until I get to chew something again. Hopefully the next few weeks of healing will go fast. Starting weight 254 lbs Current weight 238 lbs Goal weight 145 lbs Weight lost 16lbs

Hey I am right there with you. I am on day three of my two week liquid pre-op diet and yes I cheated as well. I had a broiled fish and salad (italian dressing) from Captain D's. At first I felt guilty, but I feel sooo much better and I have been continuing my sugar free drinks and yogurt. I feel I can now do it! I know you can as well! Good Luck!

I love ice cream so I've been having fat free no sugar added frozen yogurt.

I just had my surgery on 3/27 and had to do a pre-op liquid diet as well. I had to do it for 10 days. Each surgeon seems to do it a little different. Mine allowed 3-4 high protein low carb shakes (Atkins Advantage) for meals and then I could pick 2 protein choices a day (fat free yogurt, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 2 oz deli turkey breast, hard boiled egg or 8 oz skim milk). Also allowed 1 cup steamed veg or 2 cup raw veg (non-starches). I found the shakes surprisingly do fill you up more than I expected and had one at each meal and one before bed, I spaced the yogurt and other proteins mid morning and dinner and filled the veggies in between. Also had unlimited sugar free jello, crystal light, sugar free popsicles and fat free broth as well. It's tough at first but doable, it seems to get easier after the first few days. I lost 14 pounds during my 10 days and my surgeon said my liver was shrunk which helps them perform the surgery more safely. Good luck!

Saw my Dr yesterday and he was happy with my weight loss so far, even though it is only a week. He allowed me to have more than clear liquids and protein drinks. So I can now have smooth soups, yogurts etc. A victory!:biggrin:

hmmm... I guess I am a creature of habit and eat a lot of the same things every day and do not get bored. Your menu looks pretty much like mine. But I do believe your taste will return, it takes time. You are very early out. Looks like you are getting plenty of protein...don't forget your Water. Your weight loss is great. Does your plan allow some fruit yet? How about half an apple or banana with some Peanut Butter as a snack instead of a yogurt. i would peel the skin off the apple. I find I really enjoy these "treats" but only eat them sparingly because of the carb content. Tuna salad on cucumber slices? have you tried making your meat with some type of sauce or gravy? Chicken marsla, lemon chicken, meatloaf, meatballs with either brown gravy or spaghetti sauce....so you are not eating plain meat? One of my favorite and easy ways to cook chicken is to cut up boneless breast into cubes, season with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, brown it in a little oil and then add a can of cream of chicken soup(and the water or milk as directed)and let simmer until done. I add dumplings for the rest of my family but the chicken is moist and tasty from the Soup. Google some crock pot recipes...makes meat moist and juicy and the cooking liquid/gravy adds flavor. You'll get there!

Give yourself a bit of time before you decide if you are lactose intolerant. I thought I was too and then realized my symptoms (cramping, mostly) were just the symptoms one feels with alot of foods immediately post-surgery. I bought vanilla-flavored whey isolate powder and mixed it with fruit (mostly strawberries, canned peaches, etc.). You can also buy your favorite Soup and puree that. I bought hummus and discovered that was pretty good at this stage. I liked adding yogurt, ricotta and/or milk to my shakes, but you should go slow, obviously, until you can confirm that you are truly lactose intolerant. If you are, you can ask you doctor or nutritionist for advice about drops, additives or alternative milk-like products. Take heart, I am nearly two months post-op and am really enjoying the journey!

I weigh and measure my food and count calories. I log it all on a web site. Here is the plan I used when I was losing. 4 oz of meat (by weight). Depends on density, if its steak, I usually have 2 oz but if its fish I have 4. 1/2 of a measuring cup of veggies 1/4 of a measuring cup of starch Plus I break it down further by these maximum calorie counts Breakfast 250 Snack 150 lunch 250 Snack 150 dinner 250 For a snack to qualify for the list it should have 1g of Protein for every 10 calories, ie. Greek Yogurt 140 calories, 14 g protein.

Hi Everyone, I have been asked so many times on this board about what Protein drinks are good and some sample meals that I used during the first month and things I did after the 1st month. These are very valid questions and I know when I first started out I had all the same questions. Again this is long so please print this out if you would like. Protein Drinks. My all-time favorite is: Premier Protein Drink. It comes in 11 oz. drink boxes already mixed. There are 30 grams of protein in each box, 160 calories per box, 1 gram of sugar and 5 grams of carbs. The flavor I buy is Chocolate—that is all I can find at costco. I get mine at Costco and I understand that you can get them at Sam’s Club too. You can order these on line at Costco and Sam’s club. They are also available at this Web Site. http://www.premiernutrition.com/product.html I pay about $25.00 for a carton of 18 drink boxes at Costco in the city where I live. I drink one of these every morning for my Breakfast and nothing else and it has been almost 3 years since my “sleeve surgery.” The next Protein Drink that I have tried is called: Matrix 2.0 Mint Cookies made by Syntrax. You can check this out on this Web Site. http://www26.netrition.com/syntrax_matrix_page.html The cost for 2.16 lbs. is $22.99 plus postage. Item # 39-0963 My next Protein Drink that I have tried and like is: nectar, variety pack, you get 13 single servings in a variety pack. The cost is $22.95. This is the Web Site and they are made by Syntrax also. http://www6.netrition.com/syntrax_nectar_page.html There is one other Protein Drink that I found on Obesity Help.com that was rated really high by 188 people. I have never had it, but you might want to check it out. The name of the protein drink is: Carb Solution High Protein Power—it comes in more than one flavor. They also have cans of it already mixed. The Protein Powers cost $12.99. It has 110 calories, 1 gram of sugar, 4 carbs, and 20 grams of protein. This is the Web Site for Carb Solution at Wal-Mart. http://www.buycheapr.com/us/result.jsp?q=Carb+Solution&qs=ti&ga=us7&ts=go On www.ObesityHelp.com they have a lot of different information about Protein Drinks and they list so many different brands and people have rated the ones they really like check this site out. It has a lot of information about almost all the protein drinks that we find out there. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/nutrition/a,prodsearch/searchtype,1/criteria,11/ I hate Isopure. It does NOT taste good to me—I know that some people like it. I call it Isopuke, and it reminds me of pond scum. I have been told if you buy it at a GNC and don’t like it and still have your receipt they will refund your money if it hasn’t been more than 30 days since you purchased it from them. I guess they will do that with protein powers too—ask before you buy what their policy is about returning something if you don’t like it. So if you want to try it remember this. There always seems to be a GNC in most Malls. This 1st month after weight loss surgery is going to be the hardest one to do. You just get tired of what they want you to do. It is for a reason—the doctors know what they are doing. You need to let your new stomach heal from a major surgery, so that is why you have to do these things the 1st month. You should try to keep your calories at 800 per day and no more than 20 carbs a day if you want to lose weight. The 1st month you really don’t eat a lot. So in the following months keep track of everything you are putting in your mouth. You can track what you eat on this site. I found it to be very helpful to write down EVERYTHING I was putting into my body. If I didn’t write it down I was going over 800 calories per day and would not know I was. It does take time to keep track of it—you are worth the effort, but once you get the hang of it you will know what 800 calories really are. When you exercise this site helps you figure out the number of calories you have burned and that allows you to eat more than 800 calories. It is an easy site to use and it if FREE. http://www.livestrong.com/ The 1st 10 days for me had to be clear liquids—you had to be able to see through them. 1. broth. I used and love “Better Than Bouillon.” It comes in a jar and it is like a paste. I like it because it tastes great and you can make single servings. It is located with bouillon cubes and Soups in the grocery store. I had chicken and beef. I also made some home chicken Soup and strained everything out of it and just had the chicken broth. I would try to have ¼ of a cup of it for part of my meal, but sometimes it was just too much for me. Remember you have a new smaller stomach and it is swollen and can only hold about as much as the size of your thumb. 2. Jello-- sugar free. I might have 2 tablespoons of Jello. That was something I had fixed and ready when I got home from the hospital. 3. I tried to drink 64 oz. of Water and sometimes I could get it in and sometimes I couldn’t. Do the best you can, and just sip it all day long. I would add Crystal Light to the water—it made water taste a whole lot better. 4. Apple juice, white grape juice, sugar free sports drinks, decaf hot tea, also decaf ice tea. 5. Veggie broth or the broth from French Onion soup. 6. Sugar Free Popsicles if my stomach was upset this really seemed to help. The 2nd 10 days. This was much easier to do. If I didn’t mention it, it was difficult for me to swallow my medication so I would crush the medication up and mix it with about 1 tablespoon of applesauce and some Equal and mix my meds in the applesauce and take my medication that way. You will have creamy foods the next 10 days 1. I loved so many of the creamy soups. I used regular Campbell’s creamy soups that they had. I was only having about ¼ cup or maybe a few tablespoons of soup. 2. Jello was still good for me. 3. Sugar Free pudding, maybe 2 tablespoons full. 4. Yogurt a few tablespoons of it. 5. Frozen yogurt. 6. Applesauce a couple tablespoons. 7. A little cream cheese. 8. Sugar Free Fudge Cycles. 9. Premier Protein chocolate Drink mixed in blender with about 4 ice cubes and 1 cap full of Miralax. When you have a lot of protein you get constipated and Miralax works for that. It is tasteless and blends really great in the blender with the protein drink. I use the Miralx daily and it is NOT habit forming. 10. Soft boiled eggs or soft scrambled eggs—eggs didn’t work that well for me. 11. Low fat Chocolate milk. 12. Cottage Cheese. 13. Sugar Free Popsicles 14. Creamy Peanut Butter. The 3rd 10 days and final part of the first month. Yeah the 1st month is almost over. I could eat mushy food. This was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. 1. Mashed sweet potato or mashed yams with a small amount of butter on it. 2. Mashed up chicken noodle soup. 3. Mashed up homemade veggie soup. 4. Eggs that were soft boiled or soft scrambled. 5. Applesauce. 6. Cottage cheese. 7. Premier Protein Drink with miralax blended in the blender with 4 ice cubes. 8. Mashed up steamed carrots 9. Mashed up and blended a little tuna with a small amount of mayo. 10. Blended chicken breast with no skin on it. 11. Ham blended with a small amount of mayo. 12. Water with Crystal Light 13. Jello with fat free cool whip. 14. Yogurt and frozen yogurt. 15. Sugar free pudding. 16. Protein Bars chewed up really well—I could never eat a whole one—just a few bites. 17. Mashed potatoes and cream cheese mixed in with them. 18. Mashed black Beans they have a lot of protein in them. I would have about 1/4 the a cup and that is about 9 grams of protein 19. Sugar Free Popsicles 20. Hard Boiled eggs made into egg salad. If I went out to eat I found that a cup of soup was about the best thing I found that I could eat. I also felt like I was on display sometimes because family and friends would watch me eat. It used to bother me, but not anymore. I watched them eat and I thought to myself. “Oh my gosh they inhale their food and they hardly chew it.” I was always the last one to finish eating. That is OK too. At first I actually mourned the loss of food. Later on I was thrilled that I had the restriction of a sleeve because I was losing weight. I found that chicken and fish were easier to chew and I liked them a lot more than red meat. I said that chicken was one of the main sources of protein for me. I found Kirkland (Costco brand) grilled Chicken breast strips. It is already cooked and I would put one bag (1 pound) in the freezer and use the other (1 pound bag later.) It is really handy to have around and a quick meal to fix if the chicken is already cooked. We also ate more fish. I would buy Halibut or Sole—a mild fish. I would marinate it in OJ or crushed strawberries or blueberries all day. I would also marinate it in law calories Italian Salad Dressing all day. I would cook it in a pan with Pam spray and put garlic or rosemary in the pan when I was cooking it. I don’t eat a lot of red meat and I used to be a real red meat lover. For me it took too much chewing and it just didn’t taste as good as it used to. I will now have a small hamburger and only eat 1/3 to ½ because it just is too much food for me. Ham was something that worked well for me too. I found I could get a large think slice of from the grocery story deli and I would have it for a protein—I would slice off about 2 oz. of the ham. I also enjoy a Taco Salad and I make mine with chicken instead of beef. I love Shrimp and lobster too, so those are my treats that I reward myself with. A typical meal I ate starting the 2nd month after WLS. Breakfast: Premier Protein Drink with Miralax and 4 ice cubes in the blender. Lunch: 2 oz. of chicken or ham with a small amount of cheese melted over it. I would have a bean salad—it has 4 different beans in it. Snack: I would have about 10 dry roasted almonds and maybe 10 dried cherries Dinner: 2 oz. of Chicken or Fish, steamed veggies of some kind. Sometimes my husband and I would split a small baked potato I put a teaspoon of butter and sour cream on it. Snack: Some type of fresh fruit or a Protein Bar. Carbs and what to eat and what NOT to eat About the 3rd month after WLS I would add a little bread in my diet—I could only eat about ½ a slice of bread or ½ of a hamburger bun and they are the “thin” buns that they have out now. They also make a thin bagel. You just have to look when you are shopping in your local grocery store for these things. Try to find Whole Grain carb products and if you can’t the do the whole wheat. Try to stay away from WHITE carbs. They are white refined carbs and that is how we got fat eating a lot of them. Rice should be brown rice and only a small amount—NO white rice. Pasta comes is Spinach or Whole Wheat and you can have only small amounts of it. banana – Medium size has 27 Grams of carbs—I stay away from the banana, and I love them, but I just don’t want to spend all my carbs for the day on a banana. I use a Mexican soft flour shell made of spinach or sun dried tomatoes for making a small sandwich too—you know they call them wraps. Beverage: They do not want you to drink something when you eat—you need the room for the food so that you can get your protein in firsts. During the day I would have water or decaf tea for my liquid after I ate or all during the day. As I said the Crystal Light Individual packs and different flavors worked well in a bottle of water. It seems like it took me forever to eat and drink all the things I was supposed to be eating and drinking. I was always sipping on the protein drink and water. supplements you should take. It is important that you take a multi-Vitamin. I had a difficult time trying to swallowing large pills. Look for an Adult Chewable multi-vitamin. I also have the Chocolate Chewable Calcium that I buy at Costco. As time goes on it will get easier to swallow larger pills. Do NOT take the multi-vitamin on an empty stomach, it may make you sick. My Primary Care doctor was very helpful and after I had been home 2 weeks from WLS, she had me come into for an office visit. She ran a full blood panel and made sure all my levels were ok. I knew my potassium was low when I left Dr. Aceves in Mexicali—they ran my blood test before I left and gave me a very detailed report about my surgery to give to my doctor here in the US. Dr. Aceves told me to have it watched when I got home. I now take a potassium tablet prescribed by my doctor and work on eating food high in potassium. Starting the 3rd month I started to eat more salads about here. I had a favorite and still eat it. It is Fresh Spinach, with slices of almonds, feta cheese, dried cherries, or fresh strawberries, a tablespoon of bacon and Paul Newman’s Light Raspberry & Walnut dressing on it. I sometimes add some of my Kirkland (Costco) Grilled Chicken breast strips to it and then it is an entire meal in one bowl. Chef’s Salad is a great one meal in a bowl thing to have and I just use any kind of dressing I want on it. This salad has lettuce, tomatoes, olives, sliced hard boiled eggs, turkey or chicken, and some ham sliced on it with some cheese. REMEMBER make this in a much smaller bowl than the normal Chef’s salad comes in. Sometimes I will add a small amount of Whole Grain dinner roll or some bread with it. Stir Fry is a great way to get meat and veggies all in one meal too. I have a pan that works great on the BBQ grill and I do a stir fry on the BBQ in the summer time. Have a sense of adventure and take some of your old recipes and see if you can convert them into a healthier recipe. Use veggies that you have never tried. Try some “rubs” on you meat located in the spice section or the grocery store and try to marinate some of your meats all day before cooking them—it really changes the taste of them. Desert I don’t want you to feel deprived. I learned that sometime just a bite or two of a desert really satisfied my need for it. Instead of the WHOLE piece of cake or pie, just a sliver of it worked for me to satisfy my need for it. When you want a cookie have just one small cookie and not the entire bag OK. Sugar free pudding with a small amount of Fat Free Cool Whip is good too. Use Splendia to make a desert that you like. So everything in moderation works. Exercise I was never a fan of exercise until I started to walk and I found out how much I benefited from it. Now I try to exercise 5 days a week. Find some form of exercise that works for you and do it. Start slow and then add more until you are comfortable with it. I am sure I have missed a few things, and I will write those down as I think of them and make a Vol. 2 if I needed too. These are just my suggestions, spice them up and make your food interesting and don’t get in a rut. This is not a diet, you will learn to adapt it and find things that work for you and that you like eating. This is a LIFESTYLE change. Make it work for you. You have the tool of restriction now use your new tool to your advantage. The fat doesn’t just melt off of you. It does require work and effort on your part. Stalls—No weight loss for a period of days. Be prepared you may have periods where you lose NO weight. We call those “Stalls.” You will panic and think for sure that you are the “one person this is NOT going to work on.” I know I was sure that was me. NOT true at all. Our bodies just do this. Mine lasted for 9 days—no weight loss at all. Just keep doing what you are doing and the weight will start coming off again I promise you. I can tell you not to panic but most of you will anyway—that is pretty normal too. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds.

At this point...you are probably not getting enough protein...so it would be a good idea for you to eat something like that or a protein drink....Later when your eating improves you can move to a 1/4 c of nuts or fruit, cheese or yogurt.....things like that!

I lost over 80 lbs doing low gi, but then I kinda blew it when my dad's heart went out of sync and then he broke his hip and then he was in rehab and I was going back and forth for months and he almost died twice. I put all the weight back on and a little more. It works if you stick to it, but I dont think you can get the nuances from the south beach book is why I suggested also reading low gi diet books. For instance, potatoes are a no no, but if you really really crave one, boil a new red potato. Baked potatoes have more starch, only boiled and the newer and smaller the less starch, the lower the gi. Rice, pick a whole grain chewy rice and boil and boil and pour off water and keep boiling at least 20 minutes. If its a chewy type brown rice it will still be good. Instant rice is totally out. pasta, again, small small portions if at all, then the opposite is true, dont overcook, its gets more starchy and again whole grains only. Whole grain cereal no sugar, everything you can you need to switch to whole grains, and its a side dish not the main dish, like you dont have a whole plate of spagetti, its a side to your protein. One of the books breaks foods into red light, green light and yellow light foods, red always no, yellow are maybes, watch them and green you can have all you want. unsweetened yogurt or yogurt with artificial sweeterns is the lowest gi food on the charts. good for snacks or breakfast (except I hate it). the books on low gi to me helped me understand what I could eat a whole lot better than telling me to eat so much of which foods and a bunch of receipes.