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Donna, Did they send you home with a menu plan and list of foods, etc? I just copied the menu in the above post from the sheets they gave me after surgery. Yesterday I substituted oatmeal for the liquid yogurt, so probably had a few more calories than that, but it still isn't much. It sounds to me like I just need to add in a few more small meals, and pitch the menu. After next week, they have more foods on the menu, but I'm concerned about the pain from just trying rice, and thinking I might need a little more time to reduce the swelling first. I really like Dr. Zapata. He was so kind. I had a rough go in the hospital, vomiting everything, including ice chips for the first 24 hours. He was very involved, trying hard to figure out a solution. (The solution came when they stopped putting meds that made me sick in the IV -- lol) I would recommend him to anyone. Kristine

Had Surgery 5.22.12 & very happy to report that I feel great! Traveled 2.5 hours to Washington DC was able to walk 3.5 miles to visit the MLK, Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln Memorials. Did all of that walking in 95 degree weather on a Greek yogurt and a bottle of Dasani Water! Just made it back to NJ and had my dinner, Sabras Garlic Hummus, and Solid White Tuna, no mayo but made with french's honey mustard (10 calories) I encourage all of my co recent bandsters to get moving, allow the band to restrict your intake, and allow your excercise to burn off the pounds!

Hi "C" What's your name ? First I am also 57 and was banded on Sept 3rd of this year. I have lost 26lbs as of today and it's been difficult getting the fills. I just had my third and I still don't feel restriction. I am eating the right things but my portions are to much... I need to eat less at each meal. I'm not a Protein person so that did'n't satisfy me... I have been as of late having an egg scrambled with Salsa on top for Breakfast. Sometimes I add Weight Watchers cheese.. I often have sliced deli turkey wrapped around string cheess.. I like that for a quick fix.. it's quit filling. Lot's of Soup and yogurt with fruit also is a good quick fix.. Hope this helps don't get down on yourself. Just get back on track and TRY and walk at least 3 times a week. That was hard for me too but I'm in Calif so the weather is like 95 right now so no excuse right... Keep me posted and we'll share ideas Sincerely, MartiXLardy

so what is everyone eating daily for breakast post op.im 6 months out.i just dont like breakfast.i have tried plenty of things such as oatmeal,protein shakes,breakfast shakes,boiled egg,scrambled egg,yogurt...nothing appeals to me..id rather drink a cup of black coffee..just wanted some suggestions on this. and please for people who are as far out as i am of further.thank you.

I had my surgery 5/23 I've also been doing well .my Dr office said puréed food only and eat slow and have 6small meals a day high in protein and drink drink drink water but don't gulp I would have been starving if I only had yogurt and water . That's awesome your doing so well !

I can't eat scribble eggs. I get really nauseous. I can eat greek yogurt , sugar free popsicles vegetable broth chicken broth. Tuna I having a problem with that also. It seems that everything I eat it doesn't agree with my stomach. I try eating only on thing new at a time. My son and faincè are getting worried.

I started my pre op diet yesterday. My surgeon has me on two slim fast shakes a day and one protein veggie meal a day. A small snack of yogurt or fruit is allowed. Yesterday wasn't so bad, but today I'm starving!!! I'm trying to drink a lot of water to help curtail this. I'm in the diet for two weeks prior to surgery. I hope it goes by quick. Good luck to you.

Hi, I wanted to share my shopping/preparation list, because I feel I was very well prepared and never felt I didn't have everything I needed after surgery. It might overlap some with the other lists posted on here, but here it is: Tools of the trade: Heating pad Blender or food processor (for mushy phase) Pill cutter/crusher A Recliner (slept in it the first two weeks!) Cordless phone Medicines/supplements: Adult strength liquid Tylenol Adult strength liquid Tylenol PM Benefiber Anti-nausea medicine (prescription) Sedative like xanax or antivan (prescription) Prescription pain medicine chewable Vitamins Food: Split pea Soup Butternut squash soup Potato and leek soup Sweet potato bisque Carrot bisque Vegetable juice Jello sugar free popsicles Low sugar grape/cranberry juice Water sensations Crystal Light on the go packets unjury Protein powder in different flavors Cream of Wheat "Stomach Ease" tea chicken broth Decaf teas in assorted flavors Soy milk (I advise cutting out dairy completely for the first few weeks) Regular apple juice (helps with low blood sugar when you can't get much down) Mushy phase foods Soups like lentil, black bean, chicken noodle, etc, blended in blender Hummus Baba ganoush Yogurt Chili blended down Tuna salad Chicken croquettes mashed up Mashed potatoes Indian foods blended (saag paneer, potatoes with chutney, mixed vegetables with curry... all so flavorful) Cottage cheese Rice cereal/cream of wheat/oatmeal Refried Beans Crabcakes mushed up To prepare: Clean house thoroughly Do laundry Rent movies Buy magazines and books Pay bills Start eating small portions and not drinking before and after meals Give up carbonated beverages No drinking with a straw Msc: Thank-you notes for all the people who send flowers/cards, visit, or call I think that's everything! A recliner (I slept in this for two weeks and don't know what I would have done if I hadn't bought it)

Thanks everyone!! Boy, I thought I was filled before, but not really. I'm not PB'ing, but I feel even yogurt and pudding going down, unlike before. I'm going to have to be REALLY careful, when I go back to solids.

Sleeved May 16, 2011. Maintaining at goal (135 lbs. , 5'6" for 14 months) Breakfast: 1 cup Fage 0 Greek Yogurt with 2 T. Whipped Cream cheese and splenda, topped with 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, thawed and mixed with Splenda to make them syrupy. Snack mid-morning: 1 slice whole wheat bread, 2 oz. low fat ham Lunch: Southwest salad (1/2 cup loosely packed mixed greens, 1/3 cup black Beans, 1/4 cup corn, 2 oz. chicken mixed with 2 T. BBQ sauce, 1/4 small avocado, 1/2 oz. low fat shredded cheddar cheese, 6 cherry tomatoes, 1/8 cup celery, topped with 2 T. lowfat ranch dressing Afternoon snack: 1 oz. pretzels, 1/2 apple Dinner: 1/2 cup brown rice, 3 oz. shrimp, 1/4-1/2 cup mixed veggies After dinner snack: Hot chocolate

I don't cook either. I like things that I can grab and eat like Greek yogurt. Seems like there's a million at the store so I just look for the lowest calories. I make smoothies and sip them all morning long. I mix Protein powder into all kinds of stuff- pudding, oatmeal, etc. All basic stuff that doesn't require an oven or stove just a microwave sometimes. I blend cottage cheese with powdered ranch for a high protein dip. I take shredded chicken and make chicken salad. Some days I scramble an egg or two in a mug for breakfast. I take 2 Flintstones complete Vitamins a day. They taste ok. Not awesome but definitely tolerable. I love Peanut Butter but try to avoid it as I can't stick to one serving. Based on what you can cook, you can eat healthier if that is what you want. I don't weigh or measure my food but I do use my fitness pal, it gives me an idea of where I am for the day. For exercise, I have found that I am a slug on my own so group exercise helps me. I do classes or workout with friends or a trainer. Left to my own devices, I would just sit on the couch. I think trying to change everything at once is overwhelming. I focused on one issue at a time. I started with the whole no caffeine. I stopped drinking coffee about 2 months before surgery. After that about 2 weeks before surgery, I added the whole "no eat & drinking" thing. Then came the protein first rule, etc. There are a lot of rules but by easing into them, I found it easier to stick with. Lastly, I set mini goals along the way. Goal for hitting weight loss benchmarks, exercise goals, clothing size goals. I found those things very motivating in the beginning. You can turn this around and I think it is great that you are here and asking for help. If you need ideas, recipes or just to vent message me. Erica

Oh and I cook everyday, but never for myself, I eat sandwich meat, yogurt , string cheeses, and shrimp. Just go walk around Bilo, ingles, whatever you have there, look at dif foods, non cooking foods, bet you will find something you will love

I am doing for 10 days just Protein with a little bit of non fat greek yogurt in the morning with tbsp and half of oat bran, then having steamed fish or canned chicken, turkey, salmon with 1 tbsp half fat mayo and bit of chopped onion and pickle, or 2 poached eggs. this is the Dr. Dukan diet. I thought I would try it to get my weight moving again and it has started moving again. I am not bored with the food I'm eating as i spice up the food well. I will probably change to Dr. Atkins in a few weeks. I like to switch up my diet when the scale stops moving. I am using my fitpal to monitor exactly what i eat and how much Water i drink which is about 10 - 12 glasses a day. I am eating approx 850-950 cals a day. I'm not hungry. It is only a suggestion. I have included a link just in case you would like to take a look. I am doing the attack phase and have taken off 8 pounds since saturday. I take a tbsp liquid Multivitamin Centrum and a dose of Vitamin b complex also in liquid form. I had only lost 25 pounds as of about a month ago in a year. Now i'm doing anything to shake up things to get the rest of the weight off. I'm on the treadmill for 20 minutes per day doing a brisk walk (approx 2.8 - 3.0 mph) as still cold outside here in Canada. http://thedukandiet.info/

I have been meaning to do just this! I used a baby spoon right after surgery for my yogurts and puddings and it really helped. I have been using a salad plate for my dinner plate and that also helps, but I'm heading to walmart after work for baby silverware!

I've tried other Greek yogurts, but I must say Chobani is my favorite. It's a much smoother texture than others I've tried (which I've discovered to be gritty feeling).

Greek yogurt, sugar-free pudding, Jolly Roger popsicles (they're AWESOME), and some V-8 or V-8 Fusion Light (to get your veggies in!). Tea and chicken broth taste really good after your surgery - the warmth makes your tummy feel good.

I'm so happy, I just had to give an update. I am 5 weeks post op as of tomorrow and up until Saturday I was really starting to question whether or not this surgery was a good thing for me. I can now happily say it is. I woke up on Saturday feeling great! The pains, the nausea, the overall YUK feeling seemed to of vanished overnight. I was feeling so bad the week prior that I went in to see my doctor and they rushed me in for a CT scan. Turns out everything was good with the sleeve, I was taking longer to heal and that last stitch, the big one they talk about was giving me all the pain. Every time I moved, stretched, sat, stood or did anything it hurt like hell. It would literally stop me in my tracks. Turns out I also had a kidney infection so a round of antibiotics knocked that out. I kept reading peoples posts here about having patience and that everyone is different and most were feeling great by week 3. I was confused, I just seemed to be feeling worse as the weeks went on. Well I can say now, just listen to your own body! I have felt great these past 3 days, no pain, full of energy, able to get all my pills, potions and liquids in and I am starting to lose weight again. I was so happy I jumped on the scale this morning and I am down 53.5lbs from the start of my journey. I am also so happy to be off the Clear Liquids. i did that for 3 weeks pre surgery and for 4 weeks post surgery. i have completely indulged in creamy Soups, yogurt and Jello this week! Just remember if you hit a wall, slow down, listen to your own body and just be patient ...... this is a great thing we are all doing.

I don't do artificial sugar, I think it tastes like chemicals. I am okay with the taste of Stevia in my coffee but I use very little. I like the liquid Stevia drops from Trader Joe's because I can use about half the regular amount. A bottle is going to last me years. I can't do dairy since my WLS so I don't consume sugar in yogurt or pudding. When I want something sweet I eat something with real sugar, just a really small serving, like a fun size candy bar. It doesn't bother me at all.

Southern Missy, you are absolutely correct in positive thinking of just taking it one day at a time. I have talked myself into just taking it one day at a time too. The liquids I spoke of in my earlier post is the only thing I can have until the mussie stage. There are no full liquids with my diet. In another 8 days I can look forward to running mashed potatoes(can't wait!!!!),apple sauce, soups(cream,egg drop), sugar free puddings, sugar free yogurt, milk, baby food and purreed fish, tuna, chicken, protein shakes, etc as long as it is pureed. I am so proud of myself because I have not cheated not even once. I am committed to this band because I chose it and I researched the process of loosing this weight and the ups and downs of it. Thanks for the encouragement and this too shall pass and one day I will be on this forum and I can help someone who is going through the same thing I am right now. You guys keep up the good work and lets do this!!!! Hugs to all:)

I cannot explain why the reset works, it could be part physiological, part psychological. Returning to the strict healthy habits of post-op can trigger (in a good way) post-op behaviors and mind set. Not being a scientist or medical doctor I cannot authentically speak about how the stomach reacts to Protein or carbs but in my personal experience, I have discovered that "hunger" is "felt" by me the more carbs I eat on a regular basis. No carbs, no ravenous I MUST EAT IT ALL hunger cues. But that's me, not science. I have also noticed that if I start my morning off with warm liquids (herbal tea) I can go alot longer without eating. I've also noticed that if I eat dense/thick foods like greek yogurt, soft scrambled eggs, Peanut Butter, they keep me full a lot longer. I am in the process of a genuine reset, my first. Over the last year I went through a lot and let my food go to pieces, eating anything I felt like. On the 22nd I started tracking again exactly like a post-op. I can report that I am exhausted and going through carb withdrawal but that, if I really really examine how I'm feeling physically, am not actually hungry. A little frantic but that's the head hunger. Today I am having: Breakfast - egg white scramble with turkey sausage, shredded cheese, diced ham lunch - Protein shake dinner - steak snack - tea with milk, grapefruit Total will be about 675 cals, 24g carbs, 70g protein and I will go dancing tonight for my cardio. This is an experiment, I've never done a reset before or as some like to call it "5 day pouch test", but there are plenty of folks here who do it all the time and there are whole threads devoted to this topic to serve as a resource. Hope this helps!!

We did our classes pre-op, but our phases were about 2 weeks. Discharged on full liquids (yogurt, protein drinks, cream soups, etc.) Two weeks later, puree. Two weeks after that soft, two weeks after that full diet. (I was never so happy to see a scrambled egg as I was in week five.) Do the people who do the nutrition classes work with your bariatric team? My nutrition classes were taught by RDs who were in my surgeon's office so the program was continuous. In fact, they went through the stages with us during a 4 hour pre-op special class right after we got our surgery date talking about the pre-op and post-op diets.

I'm doing high Protein... triple zero yogurt, eggs, 2% cheese sticks, 2% cottage cheese with barely any complex carbs ..... it has helped me lose 6.5 lbs over the past 2 weeks

Hi there, I got sleeved in Manhattan on 8/5. Exactly 3 weeks ago. I have recovered so quickly, it is almost ridiculous. I have been able to eat everything, love the sensation of getting full and leaving food in my plate. This had never happened before in my entire life. But I am having 2 major issues, number one is insomnia (despite keeping active during the day--I go for long walks or cycle in the afternoons), My insomnia leads to late night eating. I have eaten nuts and yogurt, feeling very guilty. As a result my weight loss has slowed down. I have only lost 10 lb since my surgery (I'm 5.8" and weighed 258.5 on day of surgery. BMI 38). I had an appointment with my surgeon 2 days ago. She said my weight loss was on target and there was nothing to worry about. She advised me to eat 4 smaller meals to make room for my late night cravings. But she did advise me to seek help for my sleep issues with my primary care physician. My second issue is that Soup and pureed foods, like pureed bananas do not make me full. Few nights ago I had 14 oz of lentil soup and was still hungry. I had another 6 oz afterwards. So total of 20 oz of soup! My surgeon said this was most unusual and that I should stick to solid Proteins instead as they DO infact make me feel really full. She also advised me to have my Protein shake late at night. Love to have your feedback!

At that stage I was very swollen still and I was eating 2 tablespoons at a time for something like refried beans. I could do a little more of a thinner yogurt.

You and I are at the same phase. Each dr usually has a totally different program for you to follow. But since yours didn't seem to give you much directions maybe the following will help you so your not so freaked out. My Dr has me on 1 Bariatric multi Vitamin, B-12 tablets under the tongue, and Prilosec every day. More Vitamins will be introduced at 1 month and 3 months. I have to have labwork done at 1 month post op. Then 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. My Dr all ready gave me all the forms at to what is to be done each time for the labwork. These forums are freaking me out. I feel like nobody has gone through what I'm going through. Not helping my anxiety. I have had no word on any labs or vitamins. He just looked at me and said ok you're clear to start solids. I'm almost a month out and am still eating liquids and mush. The most solid food I can stomach is refried Beans with a little avocado and the occasional ritz cracker that's chewed to death. I get horrible stomach cramps and pain if I eat anything more than that. So I'm freaking out about starting back at work and I don't have any control of my food. I don't sit at all at work and generally log in 10k steps a day. I work retail and I cannot be off the floor to eat every hour.. My boss would flip and send me back out on leave. I have a sheet of paper with some food items on it and a diet plan of what to eat and when. Nothing very detailed. Sent from my iPhone using BariatricPal This week I was told I can begin to eat cottage cheese, string cheese and other shredded like cheeses, sliced deli turkey, tuna and other light white fishes, soups like miso, bean, lentil, yogurt, egg, old fashion not instant oatmeal, Pam spray and light mayo plus at least 1 shake. I am averaging about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or an egg, or 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal for Breakfast, 2 oz of turkey or fish, and 1/4 cup of refried beans for lunch and maybe an oz or 2 of turkey or fish and a cheese stick or maybe 1/4 cup of soup for dinner. A yogurt or premade shake or Protein powder with milk as a snack. So I am getting in the 60 Protein and calories are around 400 to 600. Tracking what you eat on myfitnesspal or some other website that has food and exercise trackers would be a good idea. I get that same pain you are experiencing and when I do I stop eating as it is the signal that the tummy is full. You may not realize it but the tummy is only able to accept about 1/2 a cup at a meal. At this stage of the recovery protein should be about the only thing going in that tiny tummy. No drinking a half an hour before and after a meal. chicken, Calves Liver and non raw Vegetables and non pulp Fruit are to start at 6 weeks outs. Beef, Pork, Lamb, Ham etc can be tried at about 5 to 6 months out. Crackers, Pasta, potato, breads, rice etc is not to be eaten until 6 months out and then it is the last item on the plate and the smallest amount. I am to drink 64 ounces of Water, crystal light, powerade zero a day. coffee and Tea is not allowed until 2 months post op. As for your not being allowed to eat or drink on the store floor, I find that to be extremely harsh. I don't know if you told your bosses at work about the surgery but it might be a good idea to get some kind of notice from your PCP that states you must stay hydrated and need to have your bottle of water with you on the floor otherwise you will be out of work again and back in the hospital because of dehydration. Dhrguru gave you some good advise. You have to be an advocate for yourself if your surgeon dropped the ball. Get your PCP to order the lab work and provide you with a Bariatric Nutritionist. Order the Big Sleeve Book from this site. It is filled with lots of wonderful info that may reduce your stress and make this time of recovery a bit more pleasant for you. The offer to support and encourage each other through email is still available to you. Hopefully you will start feeling better as you increase your protein and water. Good luck!