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Thanks for the advice! It is crazy cause foods like Soup, cottage cheese, eggs, canned chicken, anything with yellow cheese all make me sick. I can eat Cereal, yogurt, Protein shakes, applesauce, canned fruit, mashed potatoes, crab meat, shrimp and white rice with no problem. It gets to the point when I eat certain foods or try a new food that the pain is so intense I have to make myself get sick to feel any relief. I think I'm going to lean back on Phase 2 and still have the foods that I know work in phase 3 until I see my doctor August 11th. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using the BariatricPal App

I am with James on this one, you may be advancing sooner than your tummy will allow. I struggled terribly on pureed stage. I would gag and puke and I (now) I believe it was more of an aversion to pureed meats, eggs and fish. I still 22 months later have an aversion to eggs because of the pureed stage. I would still with Soups, cottage cheese, applesauce, cream of wheat, Protein shakes. Anything that will slip down vs. have to swallow. For me it took some time before my pouch even appreciated meats of any kind. I could eat fish fairly easily but even shrink was difficult. By 8 weeks post op, most if not all my swelling was down and then I was able to start eating ground beef, ground chicken, soft juicy chicken breast in a mushroom gravy, thinks like that.....another month down the road it got easier and easier. But my suggestion would be to go back to creamy Proteins like cottage cheese, yogurt, refried Beans, unsweetened applesauce, and definately protein shakes at this stage. Premier Protein for me were the best because they had a whopping 30 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar. I had to actually add lactose free milk to them in the beginning so it would take me almost a whole day to drink 1 shake. Best of luck to you and I promise it really does get better, if for some reason you can't get even softer foods down like I suggested then there is more going on and you might have a stricture. I would check with your doctor if that becomes a problem. Your tummy just needs a little longer to heal and honestly it will be better for you in the long run.

I was sleeved on 7.19.16 i lost 20 lbs prior to surgery. I started eating smaller portions 5x a day. Each meal was 15 carbs our less carb master yogurt, premier shakes 1-2x a day. And a shake is a meal. It really helps with the liquid diet prior to surgery. My starting weight was 283 at surgery day it was 263 and current weight is 235 Good luck! Sent from my LGLS775 using the BariatricPal App

Hi, First you gotta get the fluids in. That's probably the most important thing you could do right now. Dehydration is terrible and is difficult to recover from. Try different things, like Powerade Zeros or Mios anything. Decafe iced tea. I am not a big Water drinker either, but I get mine in. Being sick compounds the need for more fluids. Ya just gotta do it. Try some SF Popsicles. They work well when you are really dry. Try swishing when you drink. You can take a sip, swish then swallow. It gets more of the liquid moving through the mouth and makes it feel like you have had more to drink that you really have. Mushies can be anything that will go into a blender or can be mashed. I make egg salad alot, it went down fine. Cottage cheese works too. I put roasted chicken in the blender with some Italian salad dressing and a bit of balsamic. That was really good. Greek yogurt gets the Proteins in and is very soft. You can splash a little sugarfree syrup into it and its good. You got this, but you can't NOT do something, got to get it going.

I use them in ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, protein shakes , decaf coffee, and skinny cocktails.

@@Polarbearwifey I am trying to add it to things to beef up the Protein. For example, back then it was Egg Drop Soup. These days it is Wendy's Chili. That is working very effectively. But not yogurt. I eat that just by itself. I am supposed to get between 80-100 grams of protein in a day. 11/11/16: HW 380 11/28/16: Duodenal Switch Surgery 11/28/16: SW 374 lbs 12/19/16: CW 346 lbs

I've been eating the retried beans, been having chunkier soups like chili which I chew a lot. Have small pieces of grilled or baked chicken (1/3 of a thin cutlet) which I cut up and grind with my fork with veggies. Nonfat Greek yogurt with fruit mixed in since I can't do raw fruit well. Egg whites with cheese and baked white fish that flakes. I've had 1/4 of a crab cake though when going out with the FAM but stay away from breads and desserts. Hummus (2 tablespoons) is another staple and lite baby bel cheeses...sound about right? Haven't really had pastas, rices or potatoes unless the are mixed with something and that's pretty much only when eating out (1-2x/week). Drink glass of skim milk every morning and then again at night

I'm so happy hear im not the only one, I also had my surgery 4/8 and today I feel like im starving. I haven't tried to eat anything other than protein shakes, broth and water. I don't like sugar free jello and yogurt that are my list of foods. I can hear my stomach growl and so can everyone around me:(

RNY 02/26/2020 HW: 440+ SW:400 Surgery Day: 373 Discharge Day: 379(Due To IV’s Im Pretty Sure) CW: 328 GW: 145 Height: 5’4 51lbs. Down in 3Weeks And 3 Days Is This Normal??? Still Not Hungry Or Thirsty No Desire To Eat The Thought Of Eating Makes Me Sick When I Force Myself To Eat, Drink A Protein Drink, Or Water It Takes A Hour Sometimes Longer. I’ve Been Dehydrated 4times Now To The Point Where I Felt Very Sick and Like I Was Gonna Faint. The Steam From The Shower Makes Me Dizzy And Lightheaded To The Point Where If I Dont Sit On The Tub For About 5Minutes I Feel Like I’ll Faint. I Tried 1 Medium Egg This Morning Scrambled Lightly To Where It Was Really Wet And Soft. It Didn’t Go Down Well And After A Few Bites It Came Right Back Up Now As I Write This Im Eating Yogurt That Ive Had For At Least 40 Minutes Now And I’ve Only Ate 3 Bites. This Is Harder Than I Thought, I’m Not Giving Up But When Will This Get Easier. I Thought I Was Prepared For This. I’ve Done So Much Research and Gathered As Much Info Over The Last Probably 6 Years Before I Made The Decision Last Year To Go Through With Surgery And Like I Said I Thought I Was Well Prepared. Has Anyone Else Went Through This In The Beginning? Im Happy With My Decision Its Just A Little Tough Right Now. Im Also Happy With The Weight Loss And 1 Non Scale Victory For Me Is How Mentally Strong I’ve Became. ⁉️CAN I SEE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED OVER 350lbs⁉️

I'm so sorry to hear that - that sounds awful. :-( Have you talked to your doctor and/or nutritionist? If not, you should do so right away - hopefully they will have some helpful advice. I honestly don't know if the stomach shrinks, but I can tell you that my fullness levels have changed over time. After the first few days of nausea, I was REALLY hungry for like a week, but I was afraid to eat too much (I didn't want to throw up again). Then I was fine for about a month - not hungry, not full. Now I am starting to feel fuller. So I don't know if the stomach actually shrinks, or if you body/brain just adjusts. But I definitely notice a difference. You might want to try Protein /meal replacement drinks and soft protein-rich foods (ex: Greek yogurt, eggs, etc.) to ensure that you're getting some decent nutrition until you talk to your doctor. That all might go down better than solid foods, and have an easier time working its way around the balloon. And maybe even things like Gatorade to help with hydration. Good luck - I hope you feel better soon!

Dumping occurs when you eat something with too much sugar or too much fat. You would have had much more severe symptoms such as racing heartbeat, sweating, diarrhea, etc. When I first started eating pureed and then soft foods, some foods would cause me to feel uncomfortable. Sometimes it happens if something isn't moist enough. When I started real food, chicken felt very uncomfortable and I learned to eat it with salsa, hummus or guacamole to moisten it up. I really didn't do well on the pureed phase. I don't like refried beans and couldn't stand the sight of pureed meat. I stuck to yogurt, shakes, unsweetened applesauce and SF pudding mixed with protein powder for the most part. Once on soft foods I did much better.

Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Independence Day from BariatricPal! It’s a chance to show off your national pride if you tend to be patriotic. Otherwise, it’s a chance for a three-day weekend, some relaxation, and hopefully some celebrations and family time. And, of course, a chance to keep chasing your weight loss surgery goals. As always, we hope to help, so here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter. Independence Day: Celebrate Your Freedom Taking a Look at Those Summer Goals Red, White, and Blue Bariatric food Ideas Hope you love the newsletter and then take advantage of the long weekend and a little down time to logon to the BariatricPal forums to catch up on all the discussions. Thanks for all of your support, and Happy Independence Day! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Independence Day: Celebrate Your Freedom July 4 celebrates the freedoms we all cherish. Each of us can do what we wish, and that’s not something to be taken lightly. So as you go through these next few days, why not pay a little extra attention to the choices you are making each and every minute, and remember to be grateful that those choices are in your hands? The Freedom to Eat What You Want It may not be what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they signed the Declaration of Independence, but being free includes being free to eat what you want. So what’ll it be for you? pizza, chips, and a soda? Or tuna, yogurt, and strawberries? Nobody but you has the right to decide, so make the decision that would make the Founding Fathers proud – the decision that will make you the strongest and healthiest citizen possible. Land of Opportunity…and Options What’s another great thing about the freedom we have in this country? How about seeing how easy it is to get your hands on delicious, high-Protein foods? At The BariatricPal Store, you can get high-protein, low-carb meals, Snacks, and beverages for every occasion and every time of day. Our low-carb cereals, pastas, protein bars and protein powders, and instant entrees can be yours with the click of a button. The store promises the lowest prices available online, and we back our products with a satisfaction guarantee. Taking a Look at Those Summer Goals Summer has a habit of slipping away. At the beginning, it seems like it will last forever, with the long days stretching out endlessly. Then all of a sudden, the nights get crisp and autumn arrives before you know it. Don’t let your summer goals slip away with the summer! July 4 is a great time to refocus on those goals – or set them, if you haven’t already. So, here are a few steps you can take to be sure you can look back at Summer 2016 as one that did wonders for your health and weight. Remind yourself – or set – your goals. Keep them realistic, measurable, and under your control. There’s no point in setting a goal that depends on factors outside of your control. Examples of possible goals include getting in five servings of fruits and vegetables a day by summer’s end, walking a September 5k, and getting WLS in the fall. Figure out what you need to do to hit your goals. For example, what kind of diet do you need to follow? Do you need to train a certain way if you have a fitness goal? Do you need more information if your goal is to get surgery? Get working! Make any necessary changes to your diet if your goals are related to weight or eating habits. Write out your workout schedule, and stick to it. Make any phone calls to potential surgeons to gather more information about getting weight loss surgery if that’s your end-of-summer goal. Slow and steady effort is one of the biggest tricks to hitting your goals. Be patient and persistent; love yourself, and be confident that you can do it. With renewed focus and daily commitment, your efforts will add up to big things by the end of summer. Red, White, and Blue Bariatric Food Ideas A festive July 4 picnic or cookout can spell trouble if it involves the usual barbecue fare (slaw, burgers, and baked Beans come to mind) along with berry cheesecake, Cookies and cake decorated like the American flag, and brownies (just because they’re American!). You may already know how to handle a traditional barbecue (chicken breast and veggies, anyone?), but as for the red, white, and blue? There must be a better way to celebrate Old Glory than with fat and sugar! Instead of the high-calorie culprits, you can find weight loss surgery-friendly red, white, and blue food options to stay in the holiday spirit and to stay within your calorie goals. When you choose naturally colored foods, you’re almost sure to end up with nutritious, satisfying, and diet-friendly choices that actually are as Starting the Day Red, White, and Blue Get in the mood from the get-go with a bowl of protein oatmeal, whitened up with a swirl of fat-free ricotta cheese or Greek yogurt. Stir in some sliced strawberries and blueberries, and you’re on your way to a fiber and protein-filled day. The amount of sugar and calories in your breakfast doesn’t even compare to the load you’d get from a stack of pancakes with whipped cream and blueberry and strawberry syrup. Red, White, and Blue Cheese Dip Blue cheese contributes both the blue and the white colors, and it’s easy to add the red. Whip up your favorite blue cheese dip and serve it with red bell pepper strips, or, for a bit of a fancy twist, some baked beet chips. For the non-WLS patients at the party, serve some blue corn chips for an even more festive presentation. Red, White, and Blue Skewers If you’re planning to do a little July 4 grilling, keep it healthy while making it patriotic with red, white, and blue skewers. Use cherry tomatoes or red bell peppers, and add blue from eggplant slices. Then take your pick of white options, from button mushrooms or, for some protein, chicken breast or tofu. Drizzle your kebabs with olive oil and seasonings of your choice. Patriotic Dessert to Live For Granted, it may not be as decadent as a frosted cupcake with a candy flag it in, but a fresh fruit salad can do just as much for your patriotism and far more for your longevity. Watermelon, white nectarines, and fresh blueberries can be just the beginning, with plenty more choices like strawberries, grated coconut, and blackberries waiting in the wings. With these ideas for treats and tricks, have a wonderful and safe Independence Day! Thanks for reading the newsletter and continuing to support BariatricPal. We couldn’t do it without you!

Correct. I usually put mine in my coffee or tea, or yogurt/cottage cheese. You can also add it to hot food and liquid but it needs to be no hotter than 140F degrees. You can see it, but in my opinion, you can't taste it. I tried other "unflavored" Proteins and it gave my drinks a vitamin/medicine after taste that I couldn't stand.

So Diane from True Results calls me today to follow up on how I'm doing. I tell her I think I'm doing great and seem to be doing better than most. We go over incisions, etc... she agrees. Then she says do you have any questions. So I say well yes actually I do, why is it I'm supposed to be be on liquids when I can eat things like chicken salad as long as I chew it up. Her normally friendly up beat voice changes into this motherly tone "Now Yvette, we went over this, you don't want anything to get stuck, you're still swollen and you don't know what will happen." "Ok ok, but I was reading on lapbandtalk.com and other people..." she stops me short - "This isn't about other people it's about YOU so you need to do what your doctor told YOU to do. If you want to be on full liquids fine, but don't go eating any meat or vegetables" she says sternly. "So you're saying I probably shouldn't be eating cream of chicken and mushroom soup together?" - Silence on the phone. "Hello".... "Yvette we've been over this, no meat, no vegetables and NO chicken salad!" Sigh.... Mmmm yogurt!

Well, it has been 24 days since I had LAP-BAND surgery, and I am doing great so far! I am down 30 pounds and I just had my first fill yesterday. I can definitely feel a difference already with the fill. I have been on shakes and yogurts all day and tomorrow can go back on mushies, but have been pretty full since the fill. Before the fill I was HUNGRY and definitely not satisfied with only 4 ounces. Hopefully when I start eating again I will continue to feel restriction and continue to lose weight! I am so excited to be on this journey. I only hope that I am strong enough to see it through. I have tried so many diets and programs in the past that it is difficult for me to really see the future on this one. Although, I must say that I am motivated and cannot wait to see where 2010 will put me weight wise!

I had my surgery yesterday (4/28) and I guess I am doing well so far. I do have some soreness around the port and some neck pain from laying on that hard or table but other than that I am doing ok. I do notice some gurgling in my throat but as I am still on clear liquids I am just taking that as a time to slow down a bit. Tomorrow I get to start mushy foods. I bought some bananas, cottage cheese and yogurt today. I dont think I feel the band at all but like I said it is sore around the port. I am itchy today too but I think that is a post anesthesia thing. Hope everyone is doing well.:blushing:

I read few blogs today of folks that are in the proverbial Bandster Hell. Some are eating and frustrated, some are using Weight Watchers to fill the void and others are just hungry. I do think that LapBand medical community needs to be a little more effective in helping people through this phase of the process. My take on things is they do a great job upfront with the sales pitch and the pre-op prep. I think most doctors do a good job with the operation day and the basic post-op recovery. However, there seems to be a decided gap between the operation and the restriction phase of the band process. Which as we all know has been labeled Bandster Hell or BH for this blog. So for those of you in, or approaching BH, here is a check list to think about: 1. Avoid Consumption as Usual – it seems fairly common that once you are basically healed, many people can eat all they want and some like to test the limits of what you can eat. Needless to say this is not what we want to do. Just, assume that you can eat like the old you, but don’t do it.  2. Prepare a BH Menu – Knowing the BH is coming, plan a special menu that is healthy and helps you keep the right habits until you have restriction. I would plan it just like you were at restriction just don’t beat yourself up if the portions are bigger during this time. One person was doing Weight Watcher, some do South Beach, but whatever it is knowledge and planning are power here. 3. Focus on 5-6 Meals a Day – For me the best way to manage BH is to get some 8oz dishes with lids (I got mine at Smart and Final) then plan on eating every 3-4 hours. This keeps me focused on small meals, but allows me to have some extra healthy food. 4. Get Your Protein – Use Whey Protein to help you get enough protein. I mix mine with yogurt and blueberries, oatmeal and other foods to load up on it. 5. Focus on Exercise – This is a great time to get your exercise program going and that will help you interim weight management, and make the time when you do have restriction more productive. 6. You Are Not Failing – BH is part of winning in the long term. You are supposed to go through this part of the journey. Don’t beat yourself up. This time is available to you to prepare for the restriction phase of the process 7. You Did Not Do This For Nothing – Reading hundreds of these threads from folks who have walked through the valley of BH, all agree when you get to the other side it will be worth it for you. You did not deal with Pre-Op, spend the money, or go through surgery for nothing. 8. Embrace the Process – This is one of the stages of BH, don’t fight it, make it work for you. Focus on picking good foods, get your body in better shape with exercise and focus on the positive. Like many of you I am trudging my way through BH. I am staying focused getting to the other side and finding the promised land of restriction.

I like: Greek yogurt, milk, and ranch mix (same as previous post) Light mayonnaise mixed with lemon juice (great with a mild lettuce or spinach and tomatoes) Newman's Own Lite Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing (I like it in a salad with mandarin oranges and chicken) Ken's Steak House Light Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette (Good with a salad with apples or pears and dried cranberries) Honey mustard, thinned with Water or orange juice (Good on spinach) Lynda

One great idea I got from another post many weeks ago was 1/2c canned pumpkin (not pie filling but pure pumpkin) 1c almond milk, 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder, a dash of pumpkin pie spice , 1 tsp sugar free caramel davinci syrup. I blend all together the night before and it "sets" in the fridge and can eat with a spoon. Delish!! Nutritional value - 28 grams protein, 3 grams fat, 13 grams carbs - 210 calories. Keeps me satisfied for easily 5 hours. Another thing I'll try is 1/2c yogurt or fat free cottage with 1 scoop unflavored soy protein mixed in. Also very satisfying. 20gms protein in soy powder and additional protein in cottage cheese but not so much in yogurt. I have a hard time finding the greek hi protein yogurt that everyone seems to love. You could even mix in a 1/8th or 1/4 cup of Kashi Go Lean Cereal for a bit more protein but additional carbs. These are usually quick and convenient for leaving the house by 6:30 am, and are options for something other than just having a shake everyday. I like to mix things up. Good luck!!

Try mixing ranch dressing mix with Greek yogurt and a bit of milk. Tastes remarkably like the real deal!

Mine was triggered by fat and sugar. Follow your diet religiously. I thought hummus was ok I was 10 days out. Hubby went to an Arabic restaurant and got hummus and falafel. I had a bit if falafel (deep fried) and two tablespoons of hummus. It had oil all over top. Didn't make it more than 15 minutes and it was all out of me. The second time I went for frozen yogurt that it was assured was fat free sugar free. Took 3 bites and it was nasty and about an hour later. Repeat of the dumping.

Instincts exist for a reason. I would say this doctor's "plan" is unorthodox compared to mine, and from what I've read, many others. For what it's worth, I was on Clear liquids first week, started incorporating more full liquids the second week. Third week, slowly bringing in the mushies (greek yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce). I wasn't even comfortable with solid foods until four weeks out, and even then it was another 1-2 weeks before I was more solid than mushy or liquid. As for lifting, my doctor said nothing over 25 pounds the first two weeks, then take it down by 5 pounds each week. He said it takes the stomach and the internal stiches about 6 weeks to FULLY heal. I would agree. As for soda, this is your chance to break any bad habits, so I would. I wasn't much of a soda drinker before surgery, but I did enjoy a good bubbly Water. Haven't touched the stuff since a week or so before surgery. Don't miss it at all! Well, I did have a tiny sip of an Orangina soda at dinner the other night (my husband loves to get it at our favorite Italian place). Granted, by the time I took a sip, it was a little flat. It really didn't do anything for me, didn't want more, just seemed like sweet empty calories. Take some time to browse these forums, you'll start to get an idea of what most doctors are saying and be able to form your own opinions. The important thing is to listen to your body, measure what you eat, pay attention to ingredients and how you prepare food, eat slowly, follow the no drinking before/after meal rule (10-20 min before, 30-45 after), take small bites, and the rest will happen naturally. The first two weeks are really about keeping your hydration up, taking your Vitamins and meds, and working up to the protein/calorie count that will help you best.

"I didn't grow up eating broccoli, cauliflower, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, etc...so why would I start eating that stuff now? It's bad enough that I can't stomach plain chicken, but if I tried to force down some broccoli....oh Lord!" Since you asked for advice, here's a thought: If you only plan to try eating what you grew up eating you might be in for a little disappointment. If you're like me, childhood foods are some of the foods that made me fat after decades of eating them. I know you're having issues eating some foods now. But going forward, consider trying some new recipes for veggies and other foods that you didn't grow up eating. For example, lots of veggies can be made quite delicious with a little creativity. Tonight, for instance, I made "fried" green Beans in a wok using just a little olive oil, garlic salt, dried onion powder, salt and pepper. They were delicious with the skinless chicken breast I served with a little basil pesto. Ummm mmm! I also had a few bites of baked sweet potato, which was something I grew up eating -- but as a kid I ate it slathered in butter, marshmallows, and canned, sugared pineapple. Eaten just by itself, sweet potato is delicious. BTW, I didn't grow up eating any kind of basil, pesto or fried green beans. And a wok was not a word I'd ever heard as a kid. It's time to try some new things.

7 days post-op and also hungry. This isn't head hunger, I know the difference. Head hunger I can actually ignore, real hunger drags me out of bed at 3am for a yogurt just to stop the pain so I can sleep. I mentioned the hunger to the bariatric nurse when she called to check on me. She said the liquid phase is the worst and once I move to pureed foods, I will start feeling more satisfied. Maybe true but doesn't alleviate the disappointment we feel from being hungry after this operation when we are told that we won't be. On the plus side I have already dropped 6.5 pounds on top of the 10 pounds(!) of Water weight I gained in the hospital. I have never seen the scale drop so fast. Now to survive another week of liquids....

Sometimes I will have a yogurt or a cheese stick.