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The other day at work I was starving in the afternoon. I kept thinking about going and getting a bag of Cookies out of the vending machine. This went on for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Finally I decided, heck, I haven't bought anything out of the vending machine since my surgery 9 months ago and gave myself the go ahead to buy the cookies. Then I thought "oh, i have a babybell cheese and an yogurt in the fridge" and I realized neither one of them sounded even the least bit apealing to me. That's when I realized I wasn't really hungry at all (and I thought I was starving) !!?? I'm happy to say I didn't buy the cookies or eat the cheese or yogurt! It is really difficult to distinguish between the two sometimes. Good Luck!

5 chicken breast 1-8oz sour cream (I would use Greek plain yogurt) 1-8oz jar of salsa 1pkg of Taco seasoning Place chicken in crock pot & cover with Salsa. Cook about 6 hours. Shred chicken & place back in crock pot. Add greek yogurt & taco seasoning & cook another 30 minutes.

Vitamins I am currently taking: 1 chewable Bariatric multi-vitamin. I only need one per day and I take it in the morning. 2 1000IU Vitamin D. I try to take these in the morning, but lately they have been feeling a little stuck so I might switch to doing these in the middle of the day. sublingual B12. I take one per day and I take it in the morning. At week 6, I will be starting a liquid fish oil supplement and Calcium. My doctor requires that his patients supplement the food with Protein shakes, until we are able to get 65 grams of protein per day from food. He said that can take several months to get away from them completely. I consume anywhere from 400 to 700 calories per day. This happens to be the "normal" range my nutritionist suggested, but also reiterated that we shouldn't be tracking calories. My doc only cares about Fluid ounces and protein right now. To me, if I don't have the calorie count, I just don't feel "right" about it. I am eating a lot of different things in this stage, but this is my current list of soft foods I have on hand at my house. refried Beans (not as much as the last stage of the diet) low fat cottage cheese (not as much as the last stage of the diet) 0% Greek yogurt (not as much as the last stage of the diet) sugar free pudding (not as much as the last stage of the diet) imitation crab meat Johnsonville deli bites Spicy black bean burgers (the spice isn't actually spicy at all - the nut suggested this flavor) avocado and guacamole (I use this as a little topping to the black bean burger) IKEA Swedish meatballs ground seasoned tofu-like stuff (I got this at WalMart in the produce section. It's weird, but it is high in protein and tastes okay when you mix a little shredded cheese) shredded cheese (not very much though) fresh mozzarella pearlines (tiny, tiny little balls of fresh mozz) homemade chili with beans and ground beef very thinly sliced chicken breast deli meat (I've tried a couple different flavors and the key is having the deli person cut it as thin as possible) I also add Protein powder, Just Great Stuff powdered Peanut Butter (like PB2), and Just Great Stuff powdered chocolate peanut butter to things like yogurt and pudding.

I wanted to share this with anyone who is interested. It is info that I got from my doctor. Thought it may help those who are in the first few weeks, like me. BANDLIFE... THE BEGINNING (FIRST 4 TO 6 WEEKS) Healing Key points about healing Take it easy, because your number one job in the coming weeks is to heal. You'll also break from some of your old habits and take on some new ones. How does the band work? The band is connected by a thin tube to an access port. Your access port sits just under your skin. Almost all surgeons leave the band empty after placing it because your stomach is swollen from the operation. There's already a natural tightness around the "stoma" (the opening between the upper and lower stomach). If the band was filled, food would have a hard time passing through the stoma. As the swelling goes down, you'll most likely need an adjustment (or a "fill"). Healing do's and don'ts Right now, your stomach is sewn over the band. As you heal, the tissue around your stomach will form scars, which anchor the band in place to help keep it from slipping. As your band settles in, there are some things you can do to make sure it doesn't slip: Do NOT do any heavy-duty exercise or lifting (like kids or bags of groceries) in the first few weeks after surgery. You don't want to strain yourself. DO get up and around as much as you can. After surgery, keeping your blood flowing will help prevent blood clots or pneumonia. Go ahead and take a walk. It will also help move some of that gas you're probably feeling in your belly. DO stick to the liquids-only diet as long as your doctor asks you to. Typically, this lasts for the first 2 weeks because eating things that can make you throw up or make your stomach churn as it tries to digest thicker food can cause the band to slip. Do NOT take a bath, swim, or soak in any Water until your cuts are healed over. You don't want to run the risk of getting an infection. Most doctors say to wait at least 1 week. But ask if it's OK to shower. Do NOT smoke after surgery. Smoking slows down the blood flow all over your body and slows down the healing process. The general rule about healing is "slowly but surely." Going back to work Most people go back to desk jobs in about 1 week, sometimes sooner. If your work is more physically demanding, you'll want to take more time. If you feel tired or feel any pain, do NOT push it. During this time you should call your doctor if something feels wrong. Call if you: Notice that your surgical area becomes red, unusually warm or tender There's drainage oozing You have a fever of 101° F or higher Have serious belly pain Are dizzy Are short of breath Have bad nausea and are vomiting If you need to go to the hospital, tell them that you have a LAP-BAND and show them your patient ID card. Then make sure they call your surgeon. Eating and Drinking While your stomach is healing, you have to be extra careful and extra gentle. You'll have to start listening to your body in a new way to see how it feels and what it needs. There are 3 eating phases following your procedure, and you should speak with your doctor about how long each one should last for you. Phase 1: Clear liquids These are liquids that you can see through, such as: Water Sugar-free juice without pulp Tea Strained broth Do NOT drink anything carbonated. Sodas and seltzer water can bloat and stretch your pouch. Stick to Clear Liquids as long as your doctor instructs. "Full liquids" are things like skim milk, low-fat yogurt without chunks of fruit, blended Soups, Protein Drinks, and anything low-fat and low-sugar that you can sip through a straw. Some doctors will keep you on full liquids for the first 2 weeks. But the amount of time in any one phase can vary. So find out what your doctor wants you to do. Phase 2: Soft foods This includes foods that are low-fat, moist, and mushy. You want to stay away from anything chunky, chewy, stringy, or solid that can get stuck inside the stoma. Your masher, food processor, or blender will come in handy. Good breakfasts are: Cooked cereal Eggs Ripe bananas Lunches and dinners include: Low-fat cottage cheese Soft broiled fish Mashed potatoes In this phase you'll need to take really tiny bites and chew them well. You want to make sure your food goes down easily. But successful weight loss won't happen if you stay in this phase too long. Soft, mushy foods that are high in calories or that you are eating all day long can keep your weight on. Phase 3: Solid food Regular, solid, but well-chewed food that's high in Protein stays in your pouch longer and gives you a full feeling sooner. Your doctor may or may not want you to eat solid food before the first adjustment. Please ask so you know for sure. Drinking You want to stay hydrated, so drink water in slow sips. Cold water can cause your stomach to spasm, so try water that's room temperature or warm. When you move into the soft food phase, get into the habit of drinking between meals and not before, during, or right after you eat. You don't want to wash food through your stoma. What's Next Even though your goal is to lose at least half of your excess weight in the first year, do not expect to lose much weight during the first 4 to 6 weeks. Some people do lose weight, but others don't. Don't get discouraged if you don't see the pounds fly off right away. As the swelling goes down in your stomach, your stoma will naturally widen and you may not get that full-feeling signal. You'll see big changes once your band is fine-tuned with a fill or several fills, and once you're eating solids, especially protein, you'll feel full faster. Right now it's most important to stick with your instructions, ask questions if you don't know the answer, and pay attention to how you're feeling.

Avocado, strawberry and banana shake with Greek yogurt (any flavor), skim milk, truvia, and ice in the Nutribullet. My husband likes his with sugar so he sweetens his after I pour mine into a glass to add the truvia. I also LOVE the vanilla avocado combo ~ so creamy! Vanilla yogurt, avocado, milk, truvia to taste and ice.

In my 30 + years of working in healthcare, I have rarely run across any two doctors that have the same way of practicing medicine. This is also and more so true with bariatric surgeons. What my doctor said is okay to eat pre op will not be the next doctors choice. What my doctor has me eat post op no other doctor may agree with. All this banter going on to other members of this forum to not listen to your doctor or nurses because they are wrong is not in any way something anyone should say to another person in this forum. Just because I was on clear liquids post op, does not mean every doctor makes their patients take in clear liquids. Some go right to full liquids and then on to regular food. It all depends on what that doctor chooses for his/her patients. If someone is eating yogurt the day after surgery and their doctor said they could then they can. If your post op and on clear liquids but want a glass of milk I would say call your doctor but I highly doubt that a glass of milk would hurt anyone. No two surgeons of weight loss surgery will give the same pre op or post op diet so if one doctor says its okay to eat food after a fill and another doesn't then neither is wrong its just what they prefer. Do any parents raise their kids identically? No they don't. Do all nurse give the same care? No they don't. Is every college student going to get straight A's? No they are not. So no one can say your surgeon is wrong because that is farther from the truth. Follow your doctors advice and his/her plan for your surgery and yours alone. They have invested their time to be bariatric surgeons and it all depends on what they were taught. Even though it makes it hard to have a community of people who have had the same surgery try to come together, no ones doctor is wrong unless he is being brought up charges of medical mal practice and since no one has said theirs has, then please follow your doctors orders and not what we are doing.

If you have the desire to lose weight you need to start eating healthy. Frosties are nothing but sugar. Eat some yogurt. I think you may be sabotaging yourself. Remember your band is just a tool to help you eat less but your change of diet is the most important for you in the long run. I know it is hard to change a life time of bad habits but you need to nip it in the bud. You may even enjoy eating healthy foods if you give yourself a chance. Trust me, it will work if you are on the right track. Josephine 251/136 Surgery Nov. 10, 2005 No Fills

I know water doesn't soothe the burning is such, with Indian food they eat yogurt or cucumber raita or similar to take away the hot sensation. But not being able to drink at all makes a huge difference. A drink even at the end of the meal would get rid of the lingering taste, refresh the palate etc but you can't do it and after spicy food it feels weird!

Agree w/vickyd. Protein drink ( mix powder w/milk ) for b'fast; Greek yogurt as a dessert at night.

I am a year and a half out. Still use Protein shakes daily because I am VERY tight and can only eat about a 1/4 of food at a time. I use Kefir, a dairy product similiar to yogurt. It has 14 grams of protein for 8 ounces. Then I add in a greek yogurt for another 14 grams so each shake is 28 grams of protein. I will also add some fruit and some Splenda Brown Sugar for sweetness. Love them!

I eat lots of chicken...baked, chicken parmesan, chicken salad, chicken teriyaki, etc I also eat quite a bit of lean ground beef in the form of burgers with spinach, avocado, cheese, spinach and pickles (no bun), chili with lots of veg, meatloaf, taco salad with ground beef cooked with taco seasoning, lettuce, spinach, avocado, salsa and whatever lowfat dressing I want(no shell, just a bowl). I eat tuna at least twice a week with some lowfat miracle whip, and celery in it...sometimes with a few crackers, sometimes not. I eat eggs and egg whites in the form of omelets, scrambled, and hard boiled. I found a Protein supplement called nectar that I really like. I get the strawberry mousse flavor, and blend it up with Water, two frozen strawberries and a little stevia. Then I top it with sugar free whipped cream. Quite tasty. I eat a ton of cottage cheese with strawberries, blueberries and a bit of stevia. I also keep a variety of lowfat cheeses around to grab when I'm in a hurry. I eat Peanut Butter or almond butter as a treat. Sometimes if I'm dying for a goody, I put two dark chocolate chips in my tablespoon of peanut butter. Another time I was dying for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but obviously bread and jelly aren't great options. I just took a tablespoon of Peanut Butter and threw in five or six blueberries. Got rid of the craving and it was a perfectly acceptable snack. I keep small packs of beef Jerky around for the times that I really have to run, but have forgotten to eat, which happens often since surgery. It does have a lot of sodium and nitrates so you have to be careful with that, but if you really need a high protein snack...it'll pack a punch at around 15 grams an ounce. Organic is also an option if you're worried about nitrates or hormones in your meat. I also eat a lot of greek yogurt. I used to eat the DELICIOUS fruited varieties, but they can have a lot of sugar. Now I eat the no fat, plain kind and add my own fruit and stevia. There really are a lot of options out there once you get the hang of it, but it is so hard in the beginning when your stomach is picky and nothing really tastes all that great. This blog has been mentioned on here a ton and for good reason...it is PACKED with great ideas. Just browse through and you'll find a ton of high protein recipes for everything from casseroles to Protein shakes, to protein ice cream. Great resource. http://theworldaccor...e.blogspot.com/

Hi @MarceMonster. Here’s the formula I used to get to goal weight: • Start every morning with a Protein shake for Breakfast. • Eat 60–80 or more grams of protein daily. • Drink 64–120 ounces of fluids daily. (I drink tons of Crystal Light, or generic, sugar-free/decaf iced tea.) • Do not consume any starches or sugars. • Get all carbs from green veggies, legumes, and dairy products. • Do not consume empty liquid calories/sugar (fruit juices, ice cream, etc). • Try to avoid alcohol. It’s empty liquid calories that turn to sugar in your body and can lead to poor choices. • All Snacks must be protein-based (Jerky, nuts, cheese, Greek yogurt, deli meats, etc.). • Get some exercise 4-6 times a week. • Never leave the house without a plan for what you can eat and drink while you’re out. If necessary, bring food and drink with you. • Restaurant eating is not hard: 1) skip the bread; 2) order a meat (or legume/bean) dish; 3) replace the starch with a second vegetable; 4) skip the dessert. You’ll probably end up taking some of the meat and most of the veggies home for another meal. • Beef/turkey jerky is my secret weapon. It’s saved me more times than I can count, so I try to always have some in the car for emergencies. You can buy a bag of jerky almost anywhere. It’s kind of expensive and not great for sodium-restricted diets, but it’s also high protein, low fat, okay sugar, and a 3.5-ounce bag is a meal by itself! • If you fall off the horse, get back on immediately – at the next meal. Not tomorrow, and definitely not next Monday. That’s what got us here! • Go to Bariatric Support Group meetings in your area, if possible. • Participate actively in online forums like BariatricPal. • Read as much as you can about the process and the journey; and especially, read posts and articles from those who had their surgery a few years ago. Try to understand what lead to their successes and/or struggles. • Share your story and reach out to help others who are behind you in their journey. By helping them, you’ll help yourself as well. • Have a goal weight in mind and strive to get there. (I weigh myself every single day.) But also set lots of smaller goals. It’s fun and inspiring to achieve them. • Always be looking forward. Don’t look back over your shoulder waiting for the heavier person to drag you back. Let that person fade into history. • Believe that the slimmer person in the mirror is the real you. • A little vanity is okay. Enjoy how you look. Accept compliments graciously and don’t deflect them. Have fun trying on smaller-sized clothes that fit now. Compare before and after pictures. Take pride in your accomplishments! • Accept that this is a somewhat selfish process. That’s okay, too. You don’t have to apologize for it. And don’t let other people interfere with your progress. We have to make our weight loss program a priority in our lives. • But at the same time, recognize that your journey affects your friends and loved ones as well. Be sensitive to their reactions and their emotional needs, without allowing it to derail your program. • And finally, try to have fun losing the weight and getting healthy! Hold onto your determination! That's what'll keep you going during the difficult times and the stalls. Good luck!

I had sushi and sashimi, and later a yogurt cup with fresh fruit, honey and granola and a double shot of Scotch neat....I had horrible gas after surgery, I'm 2-1/2 weeks post-op and still have gas.....so I'm sure it wasn't the food. The Recovery nurse told me it was the anesthetic (sp), that it affects a lot of people that way. What's wrong with farting in front of your husband?....mine sure doesn't pinch them back! I wonder if the Queen farts in front of the Duke? Carol

I spoke to a pharmacist and we determined that I can take the pill with Water and then eat afterwards. I don't think it was the yogurt that made me ill, I think it was drinking after I had a bunch of food in my tummy. Switching it around the other way totally solved the problem. My fever is down to 99.9 and I'm feeling like I'm on the mend. Thanks for your suggestions though

I do a bean bowl. ¼ cup black Beans, salsa, shredded cheese, dice avocado. You can up the Protein by adding dollop of greak yogurt instead of cream cheese. Everything else is allowed on a soft diet and give you protein plus Fiber. As you progress to all foods cucumber and baked cheese chips are good alternative. I even read that some people bake pepperoni slices.

Thanks.....that make sense. I just don't see how yogurt is considered a part of the liquid diet but I did better on that.

For me, the sample diet my program was simply a guideline for the type of foods to eat. Such as, my plan advised to eat fish twice a day, well I don't like fish, so I substituted beef or chicken. I didn't follow it to a "T", and it hasn't had any negative effects on me at all. As for the eating more than the recommended amount, your stomach is still healing. You should not overfill it, and you really don't want to feel the uncomfortable, cramping, pain that comes with overfilling your sleeve early out. You put yourself at a higher risk of a leak if you overeat. I'm not trying to scare you, but it is the truth. I'm 5 months out, and can barely eat 4-6oz of yogurt, or creamy Soups. But, I eat extremely slow, and make sure that I listen to my body. There is a learning curve early out, and it takes 20 minutes of eating for your stomach to tell your brain that you are "full". If you consume more calories than recommended, yes, it will effect your weight loss. During the initial post-op phases, the key is allowing the stomach to heal properly, and to maximize your weight loss.

My doc said to consider the "mushies" as anything you can smash with a fork, but she wants me to stay away from carbs like mashed potatoes. I've been having cottage cheese, yogurt, scrambled eggs (which I normally don't like) but I cook a little mexican chorizo and add to my eggs - yummy!, tuna/chicken, and salmon. I made some yummy salmon in the oven and it was easy. I don't normally like it much but used some lemon and light butter spray...it was pretty good. I found some at walmart in the fish section, there have bags of 4 frozen salmon fillets for only about 5 dollars, which isn't too bad. My mushie stage is only a week, so I don't have to do it too long. I really like to use Mio in Water. It's drops you squeeze into your water for flavor - like Crystal Light - but liquid. My fav is the berry pomegranate but they have lots of flavors. I'm not a huge water drinker either, and it really helps me to get my water in.

Yep, I'm finally here. That fourth fill on Monday did the trick. By yesterday afternoon, I decided to try some real food. First, I had a yogurt which went down real slow. Then, I tested myself w/a solid dinner of chicken apple sausage, asparagus (slightly overcooked on purpose), and pasta. I took very small portions and cut everything super small. The skin on the sausage was a little irritating, but went down OK. But, having the leftovers today at lunch, I got stuck bad. Still no PB. I had to just tough it out until it passed through. Lesson learned... remove the skin on sausage!!! :eek: Its kinda like now is when I really GOT my band. All of the stuff they taught me that I would need to do (small small bites and chew chew chew) was not necessary before and now, all of a sudden, it is. I'm gonna take it easy w/dinner tonight and maybe just have lentil stew or a black bean soup that has been waiting in my pantry for just such an occasion. The really good thing is that I'm still not hungry so I really don't care what I eat. I am a little worried about tomorrow, though. I'm going to a friend's wedding tomorrow night and have no idea what is on the menu or if it will be buffet or served to us. I usually am not a fan of buffets, but I am really really hoping for a buffet this time so I can pick out just a little of the things that I think will work for me. I just really don't want to end up having a stuck episode in public and at a special event like that. My plan is to locate the nearest bathroom ahead of time and cut my food really really really small. Working in my favor are two things. First, all of my friends know I am banded and I am sure she will have sat us all together. So, at least all of my tablemates will know why I am eating such miniscule portions and skipping on meat or dry chicken if that's what is served. They are all very supportive too and won't make me feel weird about it. The other thing is that the bride's own mother is actually banded. So, maybe, just maybe, the menu is actually band friendly. Could I actually be that lucky? :w00t: And then as soon as I survive this wedding, what do I have next? Easter dinner! At least I am hosting so I get to choose the menu. I'm gonna make ham and really creamy delicious scalloped potatoes. Haven't figured out the rest of the meal, but my MIL is bringing baked apples (totally soft and band friendly) and coconut cream pie. Yum! Still gotta figure out some other sides. Really, I think the ham is the only thing that I'm not sure of. I have never baked a ham myself and just hope I can do a good job so it is not dry. And, the good thing is that the only outside guests are my inlaws and they also know I'm banded and are supportive. You know, the thing is that even though everyone knows about my band and is totally supportive. They just haven't seen me ever get stuck before. :eek: And, I would hate to have that happen in front of them and then have them think badly about the band. All of us who are banded know its a learning curve. Every time we get a fill, we have to relearn what works for us and what doesn't. But, from an outsider's perspective, they see you get stuck or in pain once and they think... oh, the band is bad, makes you sick all the time. Oh well, I guess I can't start worrying now about what people think.

The shoulder pain is normal unfortunately. I was banded 9/4 and am still having the pain. Heating pad, GasX and WALKING are the only things that really seem to be reccomended for that. Stomach noises.. oh yes.. mine has been pretty noisey too. If you are having that much trouble with getting down a yogurt, I would stick to liquids. My doc had me stay on clear liquids for the first week anways. I just moved to full liquids, and then will move to mushies next week. But every doctor is different in what they reccomend. Hang in there.. I'm a week out.. it really does get easier!

I am on a normal diet already and I can eat about 5 ounces of food depending on what it is. I can take very large drinks of water no problem. I'm thinking he didn't make my stomach that small or something. I can definitely eat a thing of yogurt no problem

I started soft foods this weekend. Have been doing great. So thrilled to be off liquids! But today was my first full day back at the office and I didn't plan well enough. I only took a small yogurt and a protein shake (gag). By the end of the day, I felt puny and knew I needed to eat. Got home, fixed my tuna and ate too fast. Did not throw up but felt sick for 3 hours. Lessons learned: Pack adequate nutrition! Don't eat fast! I know all this but had to still learn the hard way I guess.

My dietitian recommended water Mellon, berries, cantaloupes and those high in fiber while avoiding the more sugary fruits. I told her that I like cherries and she said sure, unfortunately cherries are heavy on my stomach. When eating fruits its best to eat with a protein, cottage cheese, yogurt etc. Always check with your plan of course.

they said 1/4 cup--i tried a bacon and bean strained soup---yuck!! it was so salty--i think i may try yogurt next! i am in need of something else!!!

I use unjury Protein powder, and they just sent me a few recipes by email. I'm going to try the chocolate mint today! Hope these help give you an idea: OR-UNJURY berry smoothie 1 Scoop vanilla UNJURY 1/4 cup Dannon Light and Fit Blueberry Yogurt 1/4 cup Trop50 Orange juice 1/4 cup Ice 1/4 cup Frozen Raspberries Directions: In a blender, combine the ice, raspberries and orange juice. Mix UNJURY into yogurt and spoon into blender. Blend for 10-15 seconds, until a smooth consistency is reached. Nutrition Facts per 1 cup: 150 calories, 22 grams Protein, 15 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams sugar Variations on Vanilla: Experiment with other low-sugar yogurt flavors like peach, key lime, lemon, strawberry or raspberry Try substituting 1/4 small frozen banana, blueberries, peaches or blackberries for the raspberries Mint Chocolate shake 1/4 cup Skim Milk1 3/4 cup Ice 1 Scoop Chocolate UNJURY 1 Drop Peppermint Extract* Directions: Mix Chocolate UNJURY into milk. In a blender, combine the ice, UNJURY mixed in milk and peppermint extract. Blend for 10-15 seconds, until a smooth consistency is reached. Nutrition Facts per 1 cup: 120 calories, 22 grams Protein, 7 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams sugar * Additional peppermint may be added for stronger mint taste. Variations on Chocolate: Instead of peppermint add a couple teaspoons of low-sugar Peanut Butter and blend until smooth. And/Or Try adding 1/4 a banana