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Hi everybody (^;^) my husband is 1 week post op today, and down 15 lbs in 1 week and 30 pre op. He has a giant smile on his face this morning to see he is under the 400 mark, now a 398lbs and dropping!! he is now having a protein shake for breakfast (about 1 hr), yogurt for lunch (30-45 min), homemade broths for dinner (1hr) and water, water, water all day!! Have a great day!!!

I had a fat free strawberry yogurt yesterday and a raspberry fat free one the day before. I am in a panic cause I just saw someone post you can't have berries. I don't recall my nutritionist or surgeon ever mentioning it to me. Did I screw up royally? I am 11 days post op and was instructed I could have yogurt. Please help!

I am on the full liquid diet now. My dietician gave me a list of 5 things I can have. Most before surgery were great, but with the change in my stomach I can't eat them all now. Her list is skim milk, strained soups made with skim milk, sugar and fat free pudding or yogurt, protein supplements, and no ice cream. So wait.....that's really only 3 things. Please help me!!!! What was or is your favorite thing to eat on the full liquid diet???? I'm going crazy!

Ive always found a solid 45 minutes to an hour of hard exercise (think running, spinning, bootcamp rather than walking, zumba, recumbent bike) is necessary for wright loss. - and now maintenance. And i did find i lost weight totally unfilled. But thats nothing to do with starvation mode. Its because a diet made up of fruit, vegies and wholegrains has less calorues than one full of sliders like shakes, yogurt, Cookies ( the ultimate slider for me). But i could only keep it up for a few months, the temptation to eat up grew over time.

Try kefir, it's a fermented milk drink. You should be able to find it at a health foods store, and possibly your grocery store, as well. I grew up on it, but I understand it's a bit of an acquired taste, so I'd start with a flavored one. I'm having a peach one right now, it's like yogurt with a tangy kick. If you like the fruit-flavored ones, you can progress to unflavored kefir, which has fewer carbs. It's a drink that's rich in bacterial cultures, too, so it's good for your gut flora.

My 1 yr anniversary is in Jan. I have lost 30 pounds (all in the first 5 months) gained zero and lost inches. I can't eat in the AM and with my last fill, I really can't eat anything until 3-4pm. I drink tea when I get up in the AM and have a Protein drink for late breakfast/early lunch. I am getting sick of eating/drinking the same exact stuff day after day after day! Any suggestions? My band is tight but I am not losing weight so I feel like it needs to be this tight but I am getting frustrated that I can't eat anything! I have 1 meal/day and my guess, I am getting under 900 calories/day. How can I possibly not be losing weight?? My nutritionist says I need to eat like a normal person-3 meals a day. The only way I can do that is with my band loosened which I wasn't sucessful in losing weight. My family says they can't believe I am not losing with the little that I am eating. I think I need to introduce other foods but I can't find any that don't get stuck. Greek Yogurt cheese Protein Drink Soup (some get stuck, depending upon the time I eat it and what is in it)

Are you already on pureed food? If so, I was able to do very well mashed carrots (mash till they are mush), same with any other soft veggie that can be mashed. But about the only veggie I had on pureed were carrots, trying to keep carbs low. I also had very well mashed canned chicken on the pureed stage.... just mashed it with a fork and added a little mayo or yogurt to it, to make it a little like chicken salad. There are also some ricotta bake recipes out there for the pureed stage... the one I tried (and it was great) can be found at theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com. She also has some other recipes for the different stages including pureed. If you are eating cottage cheese on the pureed stage, you don't need to mash it. So my opinion is that you don't really need the blender on the pureed stage, unless you are eating veggies or other foods that can't be mashed to a smooth consistency.

in the beginning (until I learned how big 3-4 oz looks) I used toddler plates and utensils. also, as someone else mentioned, the small gladware containers are 4oz. they're perfect for measuring 4 oz or for using them for pudding, yogurt, etc. you will very quickly learn to eyeball what 4 oz looks like. I still use my scale for every single meal just to be sure, but definitely invest in a food scale also

Don’t panic. Wherever you are, you can find a healthy meal that has some protein and won’t make you gain weight. Just stay calm so you can make a good choice. Here are some suggestions for the top six fast food restaurants in the U.S. 1. McDonald’s Some people may blame it for America’s obesity epidemic, but the country’s top hamburger restaurant actually offers some choices you can live with. Skip bacon, fries, sauces and dressings, anything with double or triple the meat, and anything labeled “crispy.” You can always get away with ordering a burger or sandwich without the bun or bread, or eating just the filling from a snack wrap. The following are good bets. An egg white delight muffin, with or without the English muffin, for breakfast. A Fruit ‘n’ Yogurt Parfait without the granola topping or oatmeal with apples and without cream, for breakfast. A grilled sweet chicken chili or Southwest chicken snack wrap without ranch sauce and without the tortilla. A grilled chicken sandwich, hamburger, or cheeseburger without the bun or bread. A salad with grilled chicken. Apple slices or a tangerine on the side. 2. Subway Subway can live up to its reputation of being a weight loss-friendly restaurant, but not all menu items are good choices for your weight loss surgery diet. Watch out for their breads – none are whole grain – and skip the pizza. Also, beware of fatty fillings like seafood and tuna salad and meatballs. Of course, stay away from sides and desserts like chips and cookies. The following are good bets. Egg white and ham on flatbread (or just eat the filling without the bread) for breakfast. Salads with lean proteins like black forest ham, oven roasted chicken breast, turkey breast, a veggie patty, steak, or ham. Apple slices and water to go with your meal. Tons veggies to make your sandwich more filling and nutritious but still low-calorie. Mustard, balsamic vinaigrette, or a fat-free sauce. 3. Starbucks Don’t blow your diet on beverages. If you’re not careful, you could get 600 calories and 80 grams of carbohydrates from a single drink at Starbucks. And the baked goods? Best not to even look at them, unless you want to risk dumping syndrome. Still, you can get away with a Starbucks drink or meal that you don’t need to be embarrassed to tell your surgeon about. The following are good bets. Decaffeinated coffee or tea without milk or whipped cream. Use almond milk and sugar-free syrup if you want to jazz up your beverage. Spinach and feta breakfast wrap, egg and cheddar breakfast sandwich, or reduced-fat turkey bacon breakfast sandwich without the tortilla or bread. Fresh fruit. Chicken and hummus bistro box. 4. Wendys Like McDonald’s, Wendy’s is another hamburger restaurant that can really do some damage if you’re not careful – but you can get away with a high-protein, low-calorie meal if you do your homework first. Stick to “Jr.” sized burgers and skip the fries, chicken nuggets, fried chicken, and bacon. The following are good bets. Salads with grilled chicken and without high-calorie dressings or toppings. Jr. burgers and cheeseburgers and grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps without the bun or bread and with mustard instead of a fatty or sugary sauce or dressing. A side salad and apple slices. Unsweetened iced tea. 5. Burger King What can we say? Americans like their hamburgers. Burger King is the third hamburger restaurant that ranks in the top five fast food chains in the U.S. You know the drill. Skip the bacon, fries, onion rings, double and triple burgers, and crispy chicken, and don’t even think about sundaes, shakes or pies – unless you want to feel sick from the sugar. There are plenty of options for high-protein meals as long as you skip the bun. The following are good bets. Maple flavored oatmeal with apple slices for breakfast. Ham, egg, and cheese biscuit without the biscuit for breakfast. Yumbo hot ham and cheese sandwich without the hoagie bun and with mustard instead of mayo. Tendergrill chicken sandwich, veggie burger, or Whopper Jr. without a bun or mayo. Side salad. Chicken, apple, and cranberry salad without the cranberries, or chicken Caesar salad without the croutons. 6. Taco Bell As with the other restaurants, you can get in big trouble at Taco Bell, or you can get a good meal. Stick to the smaller menu items and choose from the Fresco menu to get items under 350 calories. Taco Bell offers plenty of high-protein menu items, but you’re better off skipping the tortillas, taco shells, and tortilla chips. The following are good bets. A.M. Grilled Taco or Crunchwrap without the burrito or taco shell, if you must get breakfast at Taco Bell. Chicken taco or burrito without the tortilla or taco shell. Salsa, pico de gallo, hot sauce, red sauce, or pizza sauce. Fresco grilled steak or chicken soft taco. Fiesta taco salad with chicken or steak and without rice – don’t eat the shell.

13 months out -- and 86 pounds down.. but the last few months have been a nightmare, gained 6 lb, went and got a fill, lost 6 in 3 weeks,, not the scale wont move at all, I really dont think i need another fill - at times i feel pressure now and feel that a fill would make me too tight.. i have been doing a low carb way of eating for the last week,, greek yogurt for breakfast , salad with some cheese for lunch and a protien for dinner,, so why wont the damn scale more.. I want/need to lose another 40lb. any ideas?

Try the Greek Yogurt in a smoothie. It hides the taste a bit. I like to use 1`/2 C. yogurt, 1/8 C. OJ, 2 strawberries, and a couple of tablespoons of Splenda. Blend it up and try it. It's 10 grams of Protein. I prefer Fage 0 brand. Here are some of my fav high protein foods that are not meat: Low fat cheese sticks. They have 8 grams of protein in 1 stick and 60 calories. Baby Bell Lite cheese, which has 6 grams of protein. Anderson's Split Pea Soup with bacon has 10 grams of protein per cup. I ate 1/2 cup for lunch for 5 grams of protein. Dennison's 99% fat free chili has 20 grams of protein per cup. I eat 1/2 cup for 10 grams of protein. unjury chicken Protein powder. It's 20 grams of protein per scoop. I don't care for eggs, but they are a good source of protein: 6.3 grams in a large egg. I am lactose intolerant, but if you are not, non-fat milk has 8 grams. I use Plain Soy Milk, which has 7 grams. I don't like adding unflavored protein to my food. I can taste it and I don't like that. But if you can tolerate it, it's an easy way to up protein in many foods. Lynda

You probably have thrush. All you have to do is call your, MD office and tell them you had surgery and they gave you antibiotics and now you may have thrush in your mouth. They will prescribe you a swish and swallow liquid. All you have to do is swish it around in you mouth and spit it out. But it will get rid of it. Until then you can eat yogurt and that will replace a lot of the good bacteria back in your mouth. But beware... if it is the thrush, you will eventually have a vajayjay yeast infection soon.

Like most, the few days to a week after my surgery on 4/9/08 I could only drink half of a slim fast shake, now my stomach limit feels limitless- Im still drinking slim fasts and imprivising and mixing yogurt in, and eating some mashed potatoes every once in a while but still hungry- my fill isnt until May 20th and Im not sure what to do- and the thought of mushy overcooked vegetables and blended meats gives me dry heaves. Ugh. I have lost 26 pounds and am continuing to lose and REALLY do ont want to gain yet still have almost 4 weeks until my fist fill and freaking. Any tips?? T:eek:hx!

well i love tuna salad, atkins Fiber bars, greek yogurt made by dannon-vanilla, bought some kashi Cereal to put in the yogurt just for some added crunch. grilled chicken with veggies-i can eat just about any veggie. just try a small amount of them. you should be fine to eat some veggies. the hardest thing for me to do is slow down eating. that has been the most difficult for me and my husband to learn. we still have problems with that. wish there was something i could do to stop this horrible habit. if anyone has any suggestions please help me.

what about adding some protein powder to your soup, or pudding? Or, trying Chobani yogurt - it has 13g protein a container! You will have to navigate around the chunks, but still a nicer option than constant protein shakes.

I am sorry you are going through all this. Could you just eat out one time per day? Does your hotel room have a mini fridge? If so, you could get some yogurt or single serving cottage cheeses, or single servings of cheese. Even without a mini fridge you could get some fruit and some Protein bars. I've lived in places where ice storms knock out the power. That is certainly no fun at all!

I too am three weeks out and my weightloss has come to a complete stop. This week I had a follow up with my surgeon and he advised me to watch my calories. Its very easy during the full liquid and mushy phase to consume too many calories with yogurt and creamy soups. He advised me to try more protein in the way of ground turkey and fish. I have to admit that the idea of pureed food made me gag but Im being creative and making ground turkey with pinto beans and a touch of salsa. I blend it just enough so that its not too chunky. The best thing is that this meal kept me feeling full for a long time. I drink two protein shakes a day. The chewable vitamins gag me, any suggestions for making them more appealing? All this and still trying to drink 64 oz of water. Im excited and feel like I am back on track!

I was sleeved 2 days before you and I'm also at a stall. I've actually put back on about 2-3 lbs. I'm a little discouraged because now i find myself able to eat a lot more than i used to, and if i choose to eat something that is really easy to go down, like protein shakes, yogurt, or pudding, it doesn't stay with me at all and i end up eating large portions and then eating again shortly later, and my calorie intake ends up being too high at the end of the day. I've ended up with days with my calories as high as 1500-1600. I don't know if this means i should be moving to solids now, or what, as i get hungry easily :thumbup1: I wish i could have my filling veggies back, they always stuck with me on few calories!! I hate not being able to eat them!!

So protein tricks that help me.. I start almost every morning with a protein shake mixed with half a cup of coffee and some ice (most of them are way too sweet for me to drink on their own) this knocks out 30grams of protein right off the bat. I usually also have either a light and fit Greek yogurt or Oikos Zero (both around 100 ish calories and 15 grams of protein) once a day. As other mentioned I also enjoy hummus which obviously isn’t as high protein as other things but it is low in fat/calories comparatively. I usually enjoy it with either sliced cucumbers or carrots (one thing a lot of people forget about is the importance of fiber that doesn’t come from grains/starch) I know you enjoy your English muffin and I’m ALL for enjoying the things that work for you but perhaps you could amp up the proteins and cut some carbs calories by only eating a half of an English muffin with cream cheese and then layer a little deli meat on top for extra protein? (Sliced turkey or ham would both be good with a little cream cheese or even smoked salmon/lox) When I’m working (super active Job as a bartender) I do drink a Fairlife chocolate protein shake at some point in the evening so that’s another 30 grams of protein. I do usually meal prep one actually cooked meal, this week I’m having 2.5 oz taco seasoned catfish, 2 tablespoons sautéed mixed veggies, and 2 tablespoons refried beans- I think that meals comes in at around 150 calories. If you need more protein snacks a lot of people like Quest products I think their chips are …okay… I don’t love them. I did find a brand on Amazon called IWON that is made out of brown rice, quionoa, and pea protein- they have a bunch of flavors and I like them better but they are a touch pricier and 180 calories a bag so I use those as a meal slot- but sometimes it’s good for on the go. Anyway I hope some of this is useful but either way I wish you the best of luck!

RMAP has a pretty lenient diet protocol IMO, from what I've been reading on here. It's only half a day clear liquid before surgery (starting at 3pm) and by day 4 after they have you on stuff like light yogurt, cottage cheese, strained Soup, etc. By day 15 you can have soft moist foods. So yeah, it's gotta be the most "liberal" of the diets I've seen! (Including the 10 day preop diet. That's just a 1000 calorie diet with a Protein shake for Breakfast, lunch, and a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice meal for dinner. So not bad at all!)

Hi Guys! What is Pbing? Ouch getting food stuck sounds horrible! But so does overchewing food. . . I laugh because if I chew food so much that it liquifies, I throw up. . .can you imagin after I'm banded? I'll either have too much pain all the time, or throw up all the time. . . hahaha. . . what a scene that brings to mind! Hello Yop Yogurt drinks!

Everyone's body is different. Stay away from carbs completely. The noodles probably got stuck in your stomach. Also chicken has fibers in it that break down in your stomach weird. Try tomato soup with u flavored protein powder, sugar free pudding, yogurt with less than 10 grams of sugar. Stay as far away as possible from carbs. They will make you sick and you won't loose as much weight.

Johnnycakes, I don't eat those but have attempted to eat them once maybe twice just to get any food down due to the achalasia. We have days we can't get water down. I was merely using those as examples that me and someone else on this site suffer with on top of the bariatric surgery. low cal yogurt, water, protein shakes, watermelon, are terribly difficult. I was using it as consistency examples. but thanks for the sarcasm.

It will be an adjustment pre and post-op, that is for sure. But with time, you will adapt. It might seem impossible now, but you will find a new "normal" post-op and you WILL be able to do it. Putting Protein first has been much easier for me than I thought it would be. I thought I would miss all the carbs, but I rarely do. It's crazy to me to think that pizza used to be my favorite food and now I wouldn't bother with it. If/when I eat pizza, I have to just eat the toppings and skip the crust. It just doesn't satisfy me the way it used to. There's nothing fulfilling about eating the cheese and toppings off of about two slices of pizza then feeling full and gross. I do occasionally still sometimes have some chips or a muffin or something, but it's sooooo rare and it never satisfies me they way I'd want it to anyway. So it's pretty easy for me to stick to my protein-first diet. It will be hard to get your protein in in the early days, just because getting ANY food in will be challenging. But once you are back on solid foods and fully recovered, it's not too hard to reach your protein goals. Here's a sample day for me so you can get an idea of how I get my 100 grams of protein in (some surgeons/nutritionists only want 60 or 65, but my nutritionist wanted me up to 100 as soon as I was able): Breakfast: Protein Bar (21g) Morning Snack: String Cheese (8g) Lunch: Leftover meat from previous dinner (12-20g) Afternoon Snack: Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt w/ 1/2 oz. of kashi Cereal or granola (15g) Dinner: The meat from whatever meal my husband cooks for himself (12-20g) Evening Snack: Protein Bar (21g) Obviously I'm eating a lot more 9 months out than you will be able to handle for the first couple of months, but you can see that by eating protein-heavy meals and snack, six times a day, I get in about 90-100 grams of protein a day.

I'm at five and a half weeks and I don't manage to eat very much, but I can eat pretty much anything (healthy, that is!). A yogurt would probably fill me up, or not much more than one, and you just might be filling yourself up on that. What kind of foods have you been trying to eat that feel stuck?