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I am obsessed with Built Bats. They are lower in calories than most other protein bars (130 to 180 depending on flavor) and DELICIOUS. They have three types: bars (which have a caramel-like texture), puffs (marshmallow filling), and granola (like caramel with granola mixed in; different from traditional granola bars), with several flavors of each, and an ever-changing selection of limited release flavors. It’s a matter or personal preference, but granola bars are my favorites, followed by regular bars, and the puffs taste good but are not as filling. Others I like include Fit Crunch, Verb, and Fulfil. I have seen Walmart and Trader Joe’s selling singles of various brands of protein bars, which is nice if you want to try one before you buy a whole box.

Does anyone have recommendations on a good protein bar? I generally have a premier shake for breakfast but I am traveling and am looking for something I can bring with. I'd love something with similar nutrition (30g protein, <200 calories, low carb) and of course, tastes good

I found that going on walks helped me get to my next meal/“feel” hunger again (in whatever way we feel hunger now) - and so I go out on walks 2x/day now and have really enjoyed it. Also going on a routine where I wake up and after getting ready for the day, I start with my protein drink, then my next meal is a stage-appropriate meal like Greek yogurt with cinnamon, Kefir, or refried beans, etc. etc. Then protein drink again, then ending the day with food. And as I progress, a snack if needed. But the routine of it has helped me get more than enough protein, following my diet plan.

Last week (4th week post-Op) I developed a rash on one of my ankles/feet that has now spread to both my feet/ankles, calves, upper thigh, and as of today now both my forearms. Last week I switched from Premiere protein to Fairlife protein, I was in the sun, I had a pedicure after shaving, someone else used my shower, and I started eating soft foods. SO much changed last week that I’m stressing out about what’s caused my rash. It’s not anywhere near my surgery site - nothing on my stomach. Through Kaiser I was able to get a steroid cream prescribed that I’ll pick up and meanwhile using a hydrocortisone cream, but I want to know the cause so I can make it go away or keep an eye on this. Super frustrated as my surgeon’s P.A. responded back to me saying, “This isn’t related to surgery” and yet so many people report rashes after the surgery. Any motivational words or advice would be greatly appreciated. Everything with eating and weight loss has been going so well - so this is just so out of left field and I wasn’t prepared or expecting this.

Go back to eating as you did at maintenance. Thar was that caloric intake that allowed you to maintain that lower weight so you’ll lose. You were still focussed on protein, portion sizes, making better food choices (nutrient dense), fluids, etc, I don’t really exercise in the traditional sense but I do stretches & use resistance bands (& sit ups - I hate them but I do them) to help with my back & oozy discs. I do what they call exercise snacking. Several short bursts of activity through out the day. They say this is just as effective as a single longer session. I do mine over four sessions lasting for 3 to 10 mins depending on what activity I’m doing. You may find this easier than running/walking miles or hitting the gym. I also changed my every day activity. I have stairs so I make multiple trips a day - why carry things in one trip when you can do two or three. I park further away from where I’m going. Today at a shopping centre I deliberately circled the centre twice when I could have done my chores in one circle.

To add to the great advice above: It takes time for your messages that your full (or hungry) to get through. This is why we’re told to eat slowly. By the time you feel full you likely have eaten too much. You will find too that many of those old signals are different too. Try not to eat until you are full but until you’ve had enough which requires you to think about your eating & how you feel. When you have those extra bites are you eating them because you need them or because you want them? This is a time of learning. About healthier more nutritious foods. About why you eat, how & what you eat & when you eat. It’s about establishing new eating habits & so on. Focus on eating your protein first, then if you’re able vegetables & finally again if you are able any complex whole/multi grain carbs as you’re allowed. Check your portion size recommendations & calories (if given them). I often only ate my protein & then if I could eat vegetables it would be a green bean or a small cauliflower floret & nothing else. Your weight loss will be erratic: stalls, normal fluctuations, diarrhoea/constipation, hormonal fluctuations, etc. and yes some people just lose more slowly. Have a chat with your surgeon, dietician & a therapist to help you work thorough all this.

Very understandable. Too dry. Too hard. Too coarse. Plus all that artificial flavouring. Just like a baby your tummy is learning new foods, textures & flavours & you’re learning new eating habits. Go slowly & gently. And don’t think of this stage as ‘regular’ food like you used to eat. It’s still a restricted way of eating (I don’t like the word ‘diet’ but that is what it is.) Think of it as solid food & food that’s protein heavy & nutrient dense. No foods with empty calories & little nutrition. So important to get those nutrients that your body needs to function effectively in especially with the small portions you’ll be eating. Still keep food moist & softer. You may find you struggle with chicken breast or steak because it can be too dry &/or coarse. Even though you can start to eat vegetables now, still eat your protein first, then vegetables if you are able & only after that can you look at complex whole/multi grain carbs. It won’t be unusual for you to only be able to eat the protein content of your meal. I remember only able to eat a green bean or a small cauliflower floret after I ate my protein & not every night.

Unfortunately no, you never lose your head hunger. What does happen is you learn to better identify head hunger versus real hunger & learn strategies to manage those time you experience it. So you take away some of its power over your desire to eat. Distraction can be a a helpful strategy because often head hunger doesn’t last. Go for a walk, water your plants, clean out a drawer in your wardrobe or shelf in the pantry, read, play a game, craft, check social media or this forum, ring a friend, etc. Often a warm drink can be helpful too. Oh yeah the shakes can become super sweet after surgery as we can become more sensitive to certain flavours. I’d force down a shake in the morning & then had soup. So glad never to have another one once I started purées. (Used high protein yoghurt & yoghurt drinks to boost my protein intake instead.)

Orgain Protein Powder is plant-based and my go-to protein for my morning shakes!

Protein feeds muscle. That's your key. Maybe up protein and focus on higher quality proteins. Also, higher weights and less reps build muscle. If your able, higher a personal trainer for a few sessions to get you started. We are unique in how and what we can eat. Maybe another thing to do is speak with your dietitian on how to improve your nutrition to better feed your muscles and bulk up. Best of luck to you.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks today- PB oatmeal with blackberries, lentil stew, celery and hummus and the popcorn I already know I’m not gonna eat. I also had a protein shake mixed with my coffee this morning which is included in the calorie count.

Get back to basics! Prioritize protein and make sure you hit your protein goal daily. Weigh and track all your food for a while so you can see how much you're eating and get back into the habit of hitting that protein! Get your water in. Move your body. It takes time but usually, putting those things first and getting back into good routines will help.

I’m 4 weeks post op VSG (3/13/23). Have lost 20lbs, just dropped into the 180’s for the first time in 7 years. My abdominal wall healing has taken longer than expected, so I haven’t been able to move as much as I’d like. Goal is to reach 170 by the time I visit my parents in late June. I’m learning just how finicky my body really is. Makes me feel less crazy about all the years of trying to lose and keep weight off….Not enough protein? STALL. Not enough fluid? STALL. Injured? STALL. Drink stuff with fake sweetener? You guess it…STALL! Lol 😂 ah well, I love this body anyway. Keeps things interesting if not downright insane and who wants to be normal anyway? 😛

I was a slow loser I had my surgery in March of 2020. I could eat what ever I wanted to right after surgery. Which confused me. Don't freak out. I thought right after surgery I would lose all this weight and My medical issues would just go away. I was wrong. My first year I only lost about 50 pounds. It wasn't until I got my mindset on point was when more weight would come off Trust me your stomach is about the size of your fist. Just try and get your protein in first. Don't obsess over everything. It will hurt you mentally. So water protein and veggies. And walking 🚶‍♂️ My doctor's off was no help for me actually i really never had any follow-up with them which bummed me out. But I just kept doing my thing. Don't be hard on yourself. Everyone is different. I would try not to do the snacks, even the sugar free ones. And watching the carbs, your body need the good carbs. It wasn't until I was way past the 6 month mark that more weight started to come off. I used to get upset when I saw/heard/read about people who lost 100 in 6 months. Crazy. I was too hard on myself and that was also part of my problem. I started at 250 and really it wasn't until I was well into a year when more weight would start to come ff But that was me. So. Protein water and movement. There is is book out there Bariatric Mindset. I know your not a few months in. Please do not start to get upset. You will be surprised how your bodies react to stuff. You have to have a better understanding/relationship with food. It took me a long time to finally get it. It took years to get where you started at it will take time to get to where your going. Yes you should be losing a bit more than what you said. Be honest with yourself and really be accountable for what you choose to eat. No you won't stretch you new stomach out. It's all about better choices now. Read read read and get your water protein in first. You can do this. We are so hard on ourselves. Please don't be. As long as you don't have any pain. Just keep moving along. It will happen. Be honest with yourself and maybe start logging your food. You would be surprised at what you see. Like I said I started at 250 pounds and 3 years later I sit between 130-140 We are all different. Much love to you on your journey you can do this.

So I progressed to soft foods today. I noticed that I stay fuller way longer, yay! I am a lot happier. But I also noticed I can sometimes seem to eat a lot. Like 1/2 a cup or more and then other times just 2 tbs depending on what it eat. I guess why I bring this up is because my doctors guidelines leave me so damn hungry. I get 65g of protein per day but nowhere near calories to function and I'm always tired. If I eat til I'm happy and content with no pains I feel wonderful. 😌 did anybody else have this problem? What did the doctor say? Whats a fave cheat recipe during this phase?

Have you tried greek yogurt? Dannon makes an apple pie greek yogurt that you might like since you like applesauce. Definitely try to get some protein in! Good luck!

I think your body is really confused. You had major surgery and probably didn’t eat much the first couple weeks, then started eating heavier than you should and sugar as well. The body probably latched into the sugar and carbs to replenish stores and turned the rest to fat (explains the gain). Then you go back on track and your body needs to adjust again, but after losing some pounds you’re eating less often (so your metabolism machine is slower) and still having sugar even if it’s a small amount. Your body is really smart. After going through trauma, it’s going to try to stabilize. Here’s what I do know… you still have time to get yourself back on the right path. You will need all your fluids (sugar free), the protein prescribed by your plan, very low carbs and all of your vitamins. If you don’t at least do these things, you’ll probably remain frustrated and stuck. It’ll take a jolt and consistency to recover. I believe you can do it because you already got this far. Dealing with our emotions and food is not easy, but it is possible. I’m pretty sure everyone here would pat you on the back and tell you to get back in the ring, don’t be so hard on yourself and stay focused. You’ve still got time to turn it around! You can do this. Sending you all kinds of encouragement! 🌈😊

So your plan must allow you to eat regular food son after the surgery? I know everyone's plan is different. We had to do protein drinks until you were starving, then added easily digested food like cottage cheese. I lose very slowly but staying on the liquid protein drink for 3 weeks allowed me to drop 15 pounds the first 3 weeks. I think psychologically it helped more than anything! I think you are doing the right thing by adding protein, stick with the 4 ounces, add some vegs, we were told carbs twice a week. I like that you can have them, just not everyday. If I'm told I can't have something at all, I rebel and want it twice as bad. I was amazed at how much I could eat after surgery. Once I was able to add popcorn, which was months down the road, I could eat 3/4 to a full bag! At the same time I'm, reading about people who were 6 months out and couldn't barely take 3 bites and wanted to throw up! I remember thinking mine must be a failure. But I'm a year out, had surgery 2/23/22 and have lost 60 pounds. Stick with it, keep the carbs low or out of there and it will happen. I know sometimes I question if I'm always over eating because like you said, you take one extra bite and you do feel over full. What works for me is meditation, if I can do it everyday the practice of mindful eating is easier to do. I try to always leave something on the plate and stop eating before I'm to full. I suspect this will be a lifetime battle. Hang in there! Your body is still adjusting after surgery and going thru a lot of changes. You may drop several pounds at a time, then stall out, then drop some more. Thats what my weird body did.

I had my surgery Feb. 28, so it's almost been two months. A week after surgery my weight was 212 and i have barely moved since. At first, I thought I was holding weight because I hadn't had a regular bowel movement. Nope, not the problem. Then I thought it was because I started eating too heavy too soon; which was definitely part of the case because I had gained four pounds, almost five pounds back. But then I got back on track and lost the five pounds, plus two extra. But since then, for about the past two, almost three weeks, my weight has been sitting between 209 and 211. I've stayed on track and have been sticking to low carb, high protein meals. Any snacks I have are sugar free and so are the drinks; either sugar free or low sugar. I haven't gone off track until last night for Easter. I had a small plate of food within my limits, but ate a dessert that was high in sugar. I know it's bad that I had sugar at all, but I am proud of the self control I did have with not over eating/eating too much. I listened to my new stomach and stopped when I felt myself getting full; which is something I am still getting used to and figuring out. I have been struggling financially, unexpectedly, after having the surgery so I haven't been able to meal prep and buy all the foods and snacks I need to stay on track and not give in to temptations. And seeing as how I don't know when this financial struggle is going to get better, I don't know what to do about staying up on nutrition. Besides Easter, I've found it easier to barely eat anything at all, than to risk eating badly again. I am supposed to be eating 4-6 small meals a day to make sure I'm getting nutrients and proteins in, but it's more like I eat 2, MAYBE three times a day, high protein meals, just to get close to protein goals. Even though I am proud of the little restraint i had, I am still ashamed that I ate badly in the first place and that I wasn't strong enough to fight cravings. Which is definitely still a real thing after surgery. But I am really scared and concerned that I caused my surgery to fail because of the first time I went off track. Did I? I think I am in a stall. Is it possible to stall this early? What do I do? By going off track did I cause my sleeve not to work anymore? If not, how do I get back to dropping the weight like before? I know the "honeymoon phase" of dropping weight goes on for about a year to a year and a half, but did I cut it short by not staying on track and eating things I shouldn't have. I really need to know and I really need some guidance. My doctor's office is really busy and they haven't been the best getting back to me unless I have an appointment.

I had done the stress test to get cleared to have gastric sleeve but I was wondering if anyone also had to do a stress test 1 year post op. Just got a call to schedule one but I never heard my doc say I’d needed to do it. I still have follow up visits and bloodwork etc. Just wasn’t sure if the stress test was required or an optional thing. Surgery went great. Was done Feb 17th 2022 and I’ve lost 222 pounds to date.

I had it and as others said I stood slowly. Once I came off my high dose of BP meds it went away. It was not a big issue for me, the only thing is I always carry a drink and a protein bar when I go out. Its more of a comfort blanket now than actually needing them.

some information: I'm 24 73kg/160,9lbs 179cm/5'10. So I had my surgery around August of 2019. I lost around 50Kg from than till now but I don't wanne lose any more. I started going to the gym last week but before that I also did 3-4 month at home training because I didn't wanne go to the gym before i could at least do something. (stupid to think like that but yeah...) My arms looked like twigs and still do but at least there is a some muscle to see compared to 4 months ago. All the information I find online regarding gaining muscle is all about "eat big to get big" but that's the thing i can't eat big, like probably most of you guys. I have been drinking protein shakes 2X a day protein bars... and other food that contain protein to at least get as much as I can let's say around 80g of protein But I don't see much progress (counting the 4 month workouts at home) and I don't know if I should just trust what I’m doing now or change something... Sorry about my writing, I would say sorry about my English but even in my langue I write with many spelling mistakes.

Thank you for all the information, the tips and especially the reassurance. I'll be coming back to this post from time to time to remind myself these things. I think I have been having a lot of head hunger and that's a great point. Does the head hunger pass? I've seriously been craving pizza and Cheetos and lasagna. Maybe that's because I am already tired of sweet protein shakes.

I’m on all liquids. So far so good. The first days I really struggled with the protein shakes. I’m a huge texture person and I had trouble with the chalky/powdered part of the shakes but now I’m going strong. What does your diet look like?