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Im a little over 2 yrs out and im pretty much the same. I might be able to eat a bit more than you but if i hit that wall Its coming up. I just take it in stride and try to stop before i'm full so i don't get sick. If i take a long time to eat I'll be tight and that meal will be really small. That next meal won't be as small. If im eating dense protein my meals will always be just a few ounces. Just the cost of doing business. So long as you are healthy and have no issues and aren't losing a ton of weight i say go with it. But if it's really getting to you talk to your surgeon and NUT. Can't hurt. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Any suggestions? I tried mixing it with grape juice and it has a weird smell to it. It doesn't taste too much different, but I think the smell is grossing me out. And how should I mix it? In a blender with ice? I just stirred it with a spoon...maybe that's the problem... I know the website said SF drinks, so maybe I'll try SF kool aid next. Thanks for any suggestions!

I have Tricare Prime and only have to pay $70 for my nutritionist appointments. For protein and multivitamins I was given some guidelines and found Designer Whey at GNC and Flinstone Complete chewable at Wal-mart. You have a Health and Wellness center available to you so you can use the exercise physiologist that works in the office. You have free gym membership, so basically I think the doc you chose is ripping you off or isn't a covered provider.

I have Tricare standard. My nutricionist appointment was done over the phone and through emails. It was billed through the facility I used. Same with the behavorial specialist. I just saw the final billing amount from the doctors office and surgery center a bit ago. It was over $20,000. Out of that I paid a total of less than $100 in co-pays ( EKG, pre-op physcial, chest xray, blood work, and prescriptions). I got my Protein powders from Trader Joes, and Atkins brand. Sherry, if you're willing to travel and switch to Standard, you may like coming up my way.

As previously posted, we need to avoid "slider foods" which usually have little nutritional value. Slider foods are those which can be swallowed with little to no chewing. I've become very focused on reading nutrition labels so I know the nutritional value of everything I eat. There are hidden carbs everywhere, and I try to avoid them. I also avoid processed foods to the best of my ability, and eat most meals at home so I can control and know what I am eating. I still cannot tolerate any stringy fruits or vegetables such as pineapple, celery, or asparagus. We are all individuals, so we will have different tolerances for what foods we can eat. Best rule for me to follow has been high quality lean protein and healthy fiber carb choices. Best wishes to you on your journey...

Had my preop this morning. My upper GI looked good, and I am waiting for lab results. Everyone keeps asking me, "are you excited?". My answer is that I am back and forth between nervous and excited. I am excited that my future is about to change and at the same time, I am paying someone to cut my stomach out...what the hell is wrong with me??!! My biggest fear is anesthesia, complications and getting enough protein/water.

Are you taking a PPI? If not, what you may perceive as hunger may in fact be acid. And/or, you may be experiencing "head" hunger. It is common to crave food when we are used to using food to regulate out moods and it is no longer an option after surgery. As to the constipation, in addition to the Miralax, make sure you are getting in all of your fluids. Miralax only works with enough Water in your system, plus the hydration will also help relieve your constipation. Some diluted prune juice may help, too. You may also want to talk to your doctor if either the cravings/hunger and/or the constipation persists.

Only 2 weeks? Lucky you... I has 2 was preop liquid and 3 wks post op liquid. Sugar free Popsicles saved me from going crazy... And i also enjoyed protein shakes, fresh fruit smoothis, sugar free pudding, applesauce, v8 juice, soup and lots of water

I'm almost 7-8 weeks post. Full liquid - I loved Soup - cream of chicken (strained) when cooled a little add some unflavored Protein. Cream of mushroom, beef and mushroom. All these have flavor and will go down nice. You can add protein but only when cooled if not they clump and are nasty. Go very slow as it was hard for me to tell I was full. Sorry I must be different. If you feel like if you burp it would cause Fluid to come back up you need to eat slower (if that makes sense). It gets easier. Message me if you need more help Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Welcome to the infamous 3rd week stall! Just keep getting enough protein and fluids and you will be fine! Your body needs time to adjust. Congrats on your loss so far!

If you're looking for Protein drinks other than "powder based", you might take a look at About Time Prohydrate. It's a Water based Protein Drink that has 20g of protein per bottle, and is a nice break from the powder-based drinks. Also, Isopure is another option and I think their bottles are 44g of protein (but are larger bottles). Also, you could try adding some unflavored protein to Soup broths. That was a big help for me immediately post-op. Best of luck!

Thanks @@KristenLe! I have talked to him but the jealousy seems to be an ongoing problem. We're working on it. For now I just say things like "The scale went down this week" and don't focus on it with him. I have other support systems as I have another partner who is supportive. @@dianemar Unfortunately, that's not really an option for me. I had surgery in Mexico (I'm in AL) so my support team is only accessible my email or phone.

Hey, BariatricPal Members! Happy Fourth of July! This summer holiday is filled with parades, barbecues and concerts, and we hope that your holiday involves family and friends! Any weight loss surgery patient or potential patient can use a little advice to get through a three-day weekend, so that’s why we’ve put together this newsletter! Here is what you’ll find. Pay It Forward This Independence Day July 4 Barbecue: What Are You Bringing to the Party? Go, Team USA, at the FIFA World Cup! A Little Honesty, Please! (From Yourself, to Yourself)! Have a safe holiday weekend! We hope you find some time to spend part of it with us. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder BariatricPal.com Pay It Forward This Independence Day On July 4, the United States celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence as a significant step in the separation from the United Kingdom. Since then, Americans have enjoyed a degree of prosperity that is unparalleled in most places in the world, and many of us are grateful for the freedom that we have to express our thoughts, pursue our interests, and choose our friends. This weekend, we suggest that you take a few minutes to reflect on some of the things in your life that you are grateful for, whether that includes your family and friends, your job, or your freedom to make decisions that affect your own health. We also suggest taking a few minutes to help someone else out in any way that you can think of. You could help your neighbor clean out the garage, volunteer at a homeless shelter, or read a book to children at a local library. Your way of helping may be as simple as logging on to BariatricPal and giving a struggling member a few words of encouragement. Kindness can only make this country better! July 4 Barbecue: What Are You Bringing to the Party? Your friends or parents invited you over for a barbecue this Fourth of July weekend, and you know what that means: ribs, hot dogs, baked Beans, potato salad, coleslaw, and cupcakes. Unfortunately, you know from past years that there is not going to be anything that you can eat. What can you do without being rude? Be polite, of course! No good guest shows up to a party empty-handed, so why would you? Think about the foods that you need to stick to your diet during the barbecue, and bring them. Just make sure you bring enough for several people because these healthy treats may be the biggest hits of the afternoon. First, make sure that you bring some lean Protein. You might bring a package of vegetarian burgers or turkey burgers to be grilled along with the other meat. If you don’t think the host will be willing to grill your protein for you, bring your own pre-cooked veggie burger, low-fat cheese, or hard-boiled eggs. Another option is to bring a high-protein salad to share. You might try chicken breast, egg white, or tuna salad made with Greek yogurt. You’ll also want another dish or two to eat with your protein. These are a few foods to consider bringing. Classic green salad with a bottle of dressing on the side. Raw or grilled veggie kebobs with cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, bell pepper pieces, and zucchini slices. A cut-up watermelon so that you and the other health-conscious guests can have something to eat for dessert instead of brownies and chocolate chip Cookies. Frozen bananas. These may simple, but a half of a frozen banana can keep you from digging into the ice cream. When you bring enough delicious and healthy food for everyone to share, you can be certain that you will be able to stick to your diet at a barbecue and still be able to enjoy the occasion with everyone else. Go, Team USA, at the FIFA World Cup! Soccer is nowhere near being as popular in the U.S. as in many parts of the rest of the world, and it lags far behind the major sports of football, baseball, hockey, and basketball. Many Americans do not watch any Major League Soccer games during the professional season, and can’t name the top American or international players. Still, that lack of interest changes once every four years during the FIFA World Cup. As the games play out in Brazil, millions are watching these incredible athletes. Whether you are a patriotic American who roots for Team USA, or you have chosen your favorite teams based their stories or on your or your family’s ancestry, you can use the FIFA World Cup 2014 as motivation to get in better shape. You may not have the athleticism of these seasoned and talented athletes, but you can use a soccer ball to get yourself moving. One great idea for getting some exercise is to bring a soccer ball with you whenever you go to a picnic or another outdoors event. Take it out and kick it around with your friends and family when you have a few minutes to spare, and you’ll burn a few calories without much effort. You would be surprised at how much of an effect this can have on your weight loss when you do it regularly. You don’t need to be a good athlete to have fun and burn calories with a soccer ball. If you’re not up for sprinting up and down a soccer field during a full-out game, try one of these lower-intensity alternatives with a soccer ball or another kind of ball. Kick the ball around with your friends and family. Play dodgeball. Play monkey-in-the-middle. Play kickball. Whenever you make exercise fun and convenient, you are more likely to do it. So, keep your soccer ball handy and get it out whenever you can! You’ll also be showing your support for the World Cup teams. A Little Honesty, Please! (From Yourself, to Yourself)! This topic comes up all the time on BariatricPal, and it’s worth mentioning here as a little reminder. The only way you will be able to lose weight and keep it off is to be honest with yourself with respect to your food choices, portion sizes, and exercise. What other people believe doesn’t matter. Tricking yourself into thinking you are following the plan when you really aren’t will not lead you to lose weight. If you hit a weight loss plateau, you start to feel sick frequently, or your health numbers are not as good as your doctor expected, ask yourself these questions. “Am I measuring every single bite?” “Am I drinking enough Water every day in between – not with – meals?” “Am I eating a source of lean protein at every meal and snack?” “Am I choosing nutritious foods or sugary, fatty foods?” If you’ve fallen into a few bad habits and you’ve noticed that you might not be telling yourself the whole truth and nothing but the truth, a three-day weekend like the Independence Day weekend can be a good time to get back into it. Use the extra time to figure out what you can do better, and how you will make it happen. Good luck, and let us know how it goes on BariatricPal!

@@stacyrg2 Well I am glad to hear things are going well for you now. I do get frustrated when people automatically dismiss one or the other surgery without understanding that both delivery amazing results, both are equally as invasive and bother require Vitamins and blood testing for life. I think i get frustrated because so many people tried to talk me out of bypass and of course were super uninformed. I honestly think people should not make up their minds until they have all the facts and a surgeon has helped them work through what might be the best option for them given their current health situation. To your point, I have heard frequently that folks that never had reflux end up with it after the sleeve. It is a chance people take and most of the time it works out fine but those that even have a slight reflux should really consider all of their options.

Dear February Sleevers: I am 2 weeks out from surgery and everything tastes so sweet. I am still on liquids for 4 more days. I eat Chobani yogart to help with Protein amount then Injury chocolate for another 30 grams of protein. Suppose to get in 70 grams but still only able to get in 60 grams a day. Have tried cream Soups to get away from the sweet but they don't taste good. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think they may have also done something with my taster while in surgery.....lololololol

I tried them on my pre-op diet because I was loving the little cups of plain low fat cottage cheese. I found them to be a big disappointment. I didn't like the sweet mixing with the savory, and it just seemed like the syrupy fruit was corrupting the cheese (and I'm someone who LOVES sweet things!). I'd say find the cups of the plain and stick to those. They taste better (in my opinion) and you can save yourself from that "evil" high fructose corn sugar!

My pre-op is in day 8, surgery scheduled the 24th of April. My diet is completely different: 3-4 protein shakes a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and may have one in the evening) and water, broth, sugar-free crystal lite. I had headaches the first few days and blamed it on caffeine withdrawal. Did you drink colas or coffee or tea previously?

I am 33 months post-op RNY. I like to eat home made high Protein chili. I consume about a cup per meal which equates to 23 grams (around 3 ounces). The recipe is here. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

True, you can't put your arms through with the IV, but you can wrap it around your shoulders and let it hang. I couldn't imagine wearing sweats or pants- I don't even know if my hospital would let me. I don't think I'd want anything near the incisions and might end up with a banana bag (I soooo hope I don't!). But everybody is different- bring what you think will work for you. I also second having someone with you overnight if at all possible- no matter how good nursing care is, there is nothing like having family or a close friend with you. They will be there a lot more than the nurses and can remind you every few minutes to keep sipping protein shake, water, use your spirometer, time to walk again, etc.

been a while since I've posted.... last I was around, I was preparing to have gall bladder removed...turns out that wasn't the problem... no gastro problems of recent... I am 16 months post op... got to normal BMI at 10 months... am now actually under my goal... wear size 4...21 BMI...25% BF was APPROVED for panniculectomy on first submission to AETNA and was supposed to have that surgery 2 weeks ago however, GYN issue became emergent and I ended up with hysterectomy that day instead... approval good for 6 months so hopefully I will get it in the Spring... Dr says I can get it as soon as 6 weeks post-hysterectomy however I am only 2 weeks out and in a LOT of pain still so that's definitely not happening...besides I need to go back to work for about 2 or 3 months to build up some FMLA time. I have always followed my own eating/exercise path post-VSG...glad to say its still working... I eat plenty of carbs, always start with Protein...plenty of Water.... take my vits & Probiotics.... I haven't really exercised in nearly 2 months and I maintained weight during that time, even managed to get down another 3 or 4 pounds....Plastic Surgeon says for me to expect another 5 pound loss once my extra skin is removed.... I cannot believe at that point I will be struggling NOT to lose weight... MIND BLOWING!!

If you are on mushie foods, you should have no problem drinking a protein shake. Weren't you drinking them before this stage? But, as the others have said, not all protein shakes are created equal. You want to look for one with whey isolate as the main protein source and not much added sugar or fat.

lol I stocked up with like a 3 month supply of protein drink mixes, protein water, SF jello and pudding, bone broth, creamed soups, Greek yogurt... After what I've been able to get down there last year days I realized it's probably actually 6+ months worth of supplies considering I'm only eating a tablespoon here and a teaspoon there. Heck one small box of Jello will serve me twice a day for a week. Plus, my taste buds are suddenly changing and I'm not even enjoying my meals except the protein shakes which thankfully I still love. Sent from my XT1635-01 using BariatricPal mobile app

My pre-op diet is for 10 days & consist of this BREAKFAST: 1 high Protein shake LUNCH: 1 high protein shake AFTERNOON SNACK: 1/2 cup non starchy veg. DINNER: 1 high protein shake EVENING SNACK: 1 high protein shake and I can have all the non carbonated sugar free beverages I want.

Dear Nancy, I was also scared and a lot overwhelmed when I first started this trip. There is a lot of information to absorb and if you have problems dealing with change, it can to be a bit much. Here's what I would suggest: Take a deep breath and try to focus on one issue at a time. Read as much as you can on the subject. There is a very good book out there titled - Bariatric surgery for Dummies (or something like that)- that talks about all the different types of bariatric surgery and everything about each one. I started with a seminar from my surgeons office, worked thru the book and came to this website, a lot! The pre-op tests will take some time and if you are using insurance, they may require you to take at a minimum 3 months before you can have the surgery. That is useful, "considering it" time, for you. I did all of that and had my surgery last week. Since I have type II diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea, I can understand all your concerns. I have been off of my diabetes meds since the day before surgery (my numbers are consistantly low) only on high blood pressure (and may come off those in 3 months) and hopefully will be off my CPAP machine in 6 months. This option does work. It is not easy and you will find yourself wondering about it all the way, but for me, it is already accomplishing what I wanted it to do - get me off the meds! Please, take your time to think about it, don't feel rushed and use the resources that are out there. Then, it may not feel so overwhelming. Please feel free to contact me privately if you would like more support - elgrad@hotmail.com. I am also in North Carolina. Be calm and breath deep. Elgrad

I stopped losing weight at 7 months post-op and I went from a "Weight Loss" phase to a "Maintenance" phase. I am now 27 months post-op RNY. Since that time I have dropped another 15 pounds without really trying and I am currently near the bottom end of the scale. I attribute this added weight loss to the following: 1) A couple times I developed a stomach flu that was going around. I would lose my appetite for a few days and drop weight quickly. After I recovered, I would decide this was my new goal weight and not try and gain it back. 2) I have found that softer foods such as chili and Soups go down easier so I primarily rely on these for my meals. Whenever I eat out, I find that I cannot consume very much harder foods and as a result I lose weight. 3) I believe the meal plan for those in the Maintenance phase should be very different than in the Weight Loss phase. After surgery, the stomach that normally absorbs fats and sugars has been cut away. That is why your diet needs to restrict fats and sugars; otherwise it leads to dumping. But after about a year, you intestines change and the intestines begin to convert fats and sugars. So in the Maintenance phase the objective is to "not be hungry". Fats take away hunger. So I reintroduced fats back into my diet. And for the most part, 27 months post-op, I am never hungry. On the other hand, I almost religiously restrict myself from processed sugars. I read food labels; I really read them. If they contain more than a couple grams of sugar, I look at the ingredients to determine if they contain high amounts of processed sugars. For my sweet tooth, I consume artificial sweeteners (such as Splenda, sugar alcohol), natural low or no calorie sweeteners (such as Stevia), and natural sugars found in fruits and milk. So in general, I consume a cup or two of hot coffee each day with a very large scoop of whip cream. The whip cream I make myself using heavy whipping cream and Splenda in place of sugar. This adds fat into my diet. I also consume 2 or 3 Adkin's treats per day. I also use whole milk, real butter and real meats. I restrict my meals to one meal per day with complex carbs (such as Pasta, bread). In the maintenance phase, the meal plan should include a balance of Protein, fats and carbs. Fats are an important ingredient.