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Hey all! It's been awhile since I've posted, but I need some advice. Does anyone have a daily meal plan they are willing to share with me? I am 9 lbs away from my goal, I've been going to the gym 5 times a week, but I still have cravings for sweets and am unsure of exactly what I should be eating, meal wise. I saw a dietician, but she didn't seem to understand that I wanted a meal plan, not just the grams of protein that I need to have, per day. Thank you, all! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yea, I'm getting my protein, water and vitamins. I don't know what's going on but I hope it STOPS SOON

I must be Water Soup and Protein shakes lol this liquid diet is worse than I thought

I love going out eat and my doctor advise me to change food because i get surgery in january 2017.. I eat salad and soup before surgery Have options i can eat? Fruits&Vegetables Soup Salad Salmon And lots mores what i eat I don't eat sweet food or fried food till after surgery

Sounds like me also....can't eat early in the day, so it's high protein smoothies..plus my coffee....can't eat after 7-8 or it's reflux from being horizontal.... Been that way for 2 years now...I'm doing fine...have lost ALL excess weight and un needed body fat.

Hello all, I was sleeved this past Wednesday 10/29 in St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, NY. Everything went so smoothly and quickly I am still in shock. I thought there would be a series of blood testing and everything like the pre surgical appointment a week prior but it was quick. Appointment was 8am so I was there by 730, by 8 I was already in a stretcher with blood drawn and answering questions. The anesthesiolgist came to see me and I can't remember much after that, I didn't even see the inside of the OR. I was already knocked out. Woke up and was a little taken aback by how I felt, thought I would be in agonizing pain and I wasn't. They woke me up to go walking and I did, next thing you know I am in a room with a button in my hand for dilaudid. I wasn't really in pain but I kept pressing it because I was afraid the pain would hit me hard but it didn't. I felt fine, worst part was my room mate and I were saying how much we would pay for some Water, just a sip, or ice chips. That was hard! ChapStick and mouth swabs got me thru that day. Other than that, I felt great, I even did double laps when walking because I felt so good. Next morning I was given some tea and ProStat to drink and just the 3 medicine cups had me feeling so stuffed. The staff was great, Doctor, NP and PA were all wonderful. But that morning I tried not to take any of the pain meds since I was going home and after that walk I could feel the rawness around the incisions and it hurt so I took 2 more hits before I had to go home LOL. PA said we can take tylenol also so I didn't fill the Percocet prescription. I take generic Tylenol I brought from costco that is extended release and in a capsule and I am fine with the pain. When I came home, my family was a little shocked at how well I looked and seemed. My mother thought she would be here to help me do everything but I did for myself. Even washed my own dishes without an issue. I thought it would be worse than c-section pain but it really isn't at all to me. I wouldn't call it pain honestly, it's more of a discomfort, feels like a raw abrasion you might get on your knee or elbow. Since being home I make sure to walk, I also thought that going up and down the stairs would be a problem for me but it wasn't, I was able to go up and down and much as I needed to without an issue and while I am walking around sometime I walk from the basement to the second floor 2-3 times for the exercise.funny thing is hardest part is getting the Protein and water in. I'm on pureed for 4-6 weeks and it's so hard. I get full so quickly it amazes me. 3 teaspoons and I feel stuffed. I haven't eaten to the point of fullness out of fear of vomiting but I feel good, I feel lighter and the funniest to me is prior to surgery I was always hot, now even in the house I always have an oversized hoodie over my clothes and my Uggs on. I am so cold which is welcomed since I hated sweating all the time. Not weighing myself yet but I feel great and know this was the best decision I have made for myself ever. I am wearing a comfy girdle that isn't too constricting along with moisturizing my skin constantly. I was also able to sleep in my bed the first night home with the help of a body pillow since I'm a stomach sleeper, I was able to sleep on my side and comfortably. Getting here seems like forever then it comes and I realized it was all worth it. It is amazing to me that my perception of food has changed immediately. On the way home I passed a Wendy's and Checkers and normally love to stop there but the thought alone hurt my new pouch, lol. I can't even imaging being able to swallow a bite of a burger without being in pain. I'll pass. I cannot wait to see what lies beneath all these layers. Thanks for reading!

I have been full of regret and anxiety and wondering if I made the right choice.... I am 8 days out from surgery and I have been suffering through. No major problems just sore and sad and anxious... But I decided that I should be thankful. I chose this and I need to make the best of it. So I am trying to change my inner voice to things like You can and are doing this You are stronger than you think You do not need food to be social You can have fun still There is no attack so just relax. I have also been trying to calm myself with deep breathing. And trying to get back to my old routine... Doing better with liquids and Protein. Trying to get my calories up a bit too. 5'11" Highest weight 322 Pre op weight 307 Surgery weight 296 Current weight 280

So I am 6 weeks post band. For the last 2-3 weeks I haven't had any weight loss. I've been keeping my calories under 1000 and was exercising about 6 days a week. So this week I hadn't exercised at all, I was sick for half the week with a sinus infection and mother nature paid her monthly visit. So I jumped on the scale this morning and dropped a little over 2 lbs. What I'm wondering is was I working out too many days a week? What is the recommended days of week? Also how many calories should I be eating a day and what is the limit on carbs and fat grams per day? I was told at my last dietician appointment not to worry about calories but just to concentrate on protein. Which I have been, but I also want to make sure I'm not ignoring fat and carb grams in the process. Any advice would help please and thank you!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I really appreicate your tips/advice! I know this will help me. I did buy the powder whey protein shake and will try that first mixed with some fruit but it is good to know that I can use the slim fast too! I had heard that about the smell! and That is what I really am afraid of. Thanks again for the advice. I am sure I will be pestering you on more things as my surgery dates gets closer.

Yep I agree with some others here...it really depends on what food you're eating that will determine the amount you can eat. Denser foods may take less to give you that full feeling than lighter, or "softer" foods. This is why I think refined carbs are so important to watch and steer clear of...they are "empty" calories, and most people can eat quite a bit of them before feeling restriction. There's not much by way of nutrition in most of them, so you're filling yourself with nothing, and therefore you get hungry again a lot sooner, and then subsequently eat more...thus starting a never-ending cycle. Protein on the other hand is dense. Good carbs like those found in whole (not juiced) fruits contain Fiber, again giving you that full feeling a lot faster while at the same time actually feeding you. You'll figure out which foods will be easier to eat and how much of it you can eat a bit further out. For now, eat what you can, and just make sure your choices are nutritious. Best of luck!

I have to say that this is 1 of the hardest things I ever had 2 do atleast it feels that way. I am an emotional eater so usually when Im down I can cook something that makes me feel better BUT I cant do that now. I am on day 7 of a 10 day liquid diet, I feel like I went from 1000000 calories down to 200 lol anyway, I take a protein shake in the am, then wylers light in water ALL day, I eat a cream of chicken soup (like a juicy steak), when I get home I have another shake & I have a sugar free fudge popcicle then more water...then I take my shower & go 2 bed. Its easy for me 2 do this diet at work, my problem is when I am at home. You can do this tho, if I can do it ANYBODY can do it believe me!

I was told the expensive CPAP machine was OPTIONAL for surgery, and OPTIONAL for daily use. During surgery, the anesthesiologist will just "make some adjustments" which eliminates the need for the machine. And of course after surgery once you've dropped weight, your sleep apnea will probably vanish. Are you sleeping fine without it? If so, call your surgeon and see if your answer is the same as mine. Which will save you some cash.

Total Scale Victory and Random Observations: I now have lost more than I weigh. I have lost 190 lbs. from my highest weight of 374. The first 50 was using Victoza for Type 2 diabetes. My bariatric program has my starting weight as 343. SW=325. CW=185. My program doesn’t give goal weights. For my own satisfaction, 174 would give me a normal BMI. I’d like to end about 170 knowing that some gain/loss is possible as things settle. I’m 5’10”. I have gone from a size 30/32 to a 14. I haven’t been this size since early high school. I look forward to doing things rather than dreading them. I’ve been off all diabetes meds since surgery. I am still using my CPAP although I’ve had the pressure lowered twice. I see the sleep program in December and we will re-evaluate then. I suspect I will still have a need for it. My cholesterol medication will be re-evaluated in December as well. My doctor thinks it likely I will remain on that med due to family history. That is the only medication I take other than my vitamins and supplements. I track in LoseIt. I track every bite, every day. It keeps me accountable to myself and I foresee it as something I will need to do forever. Today is the first time I ever exported my progress to a spreadsheet. On other groups, I see so many questions that ask how much someone has lost at a given point. I honestly never knew what I did. These are my totals lost from first to current month: 16, 19, 17, 15, 15, 18, 4, 9, 17, 10. I exceed my liquid goals every day and never tracked that after the first week. I’ve never had any trouble with liquids and I know roughly what I drink each day as I know what my mug holds. I also ran my macros for the first time. Since surgery, I’ve kept protein to 40-50% of my diet with fat and carbs 25-30%. I’m still at 800-1000 calories per day. My program has said that is relatively low at this point but as long as I am losing and not feeling hungry, it was fine. My hunger has not returned. I am grateful for that. I’ve tried to build successful habits that will serve me for the long haul. I’ve been walking since coming home from the hospital. I started at 5-10 minutes per day. Now, I try to walk 45-60 per day at a moderate pace. I use 5 lb. weights and do toning exercises for 10-15 min. most days. I’ve started seeing virtually a therapist recommended by my program. I don’t have a history of trauma or eating disorders but I didn’t get to my weight by having a healthy relationship with food. Plus, I was very moody and short-tempered following surgery. I feel great and have more energy than I have in years. But This. Is. Work. I’m ok with that and try to keep my focus on progress and health. I follow what my program suggests and make my own decisions within that framework. There is no short cut to this. There’s no pouch reset, fasting, diet pills and how soon can I eat at McDonalds. I ranted on here one time about hating the word “pouch.” I still do. I hate pouch reset even more. 🙄😫 I don’t believe in it. We don’t need to reset. We need to make the best decisions and choices we can without needing to be perfect. Sure, you lose weight with it, but it’s simply because you are going back to not taking in many calories….and most of us have been down that road before. I continue to absorb the wisdom I get here from those who have gone down this road before me or are on it now. I still hate shopping even though it is not as difficult as it once was. I’m still not sure who I see in the mirror and am uncomfortable with focus on my weight loss. I could eventually benefit from plastic surgery, but I don’t know if that will be in the cards. Enough for now……thanks for reading.

On day 4 of my protein shake only pre op diet. I'm doing well; better than I thought I would. Each time I think about how hard this is, or I get a little grouchy because I love food and I want to eat, I look at a picture of myself I don't like to remind myself why I am doing this. It has helped me a lot! I have had a lot more head hunger than actual hunger and it does get easier as the days go on.

No stomach spasms I'm using atkins chocolate protein shakes and I have some Hawaiian.punch sugar free packets ... King of slow drinking it I've only consumed about 36oz water and 12gr protein today

I will stay overnigt too. I am glad thats an option.

are you getting in 60-80 grams of protein and drinking at least 8 cups of water?

All the bars i've tried taste like cardboard. I perfer Slim Fast Low Carb drinks with 20 grams of protein.

I have tried the South Beach diet protein bars. They aren't too bad but I prefer my protein shake.

Check out Isopure clear Protein drinks. You can get them at some GNC's and places that sell items for body builders too. They are kool-aid-y (perfectly decent tasting) and come in about 7 flavors. Each bottle has 40 gm of protein. Check the site for info.... index

Looking for others experience. Almost 3 weeks post op. Yesterday and today have started to have mild cramping feeling in both my legs. Like I just did a workout on a spin bike or something (but haven't) Also waking up middle of night and the morning with very dry mouth. I am on a diet of pureed food. Including shakes, Protein injury Soups, I am managing around 48 ounces of fluids. I rarely seem to be able to meet the 64 ounces, but keep trying. I feel more fatigued then I did a week ago too. And as far as weight loss, it has not moved more than a pound for two weeks now. Anyone experience the same, or know what these two symptoms might be?

Yes, I will be at Park Plaza. I won't find out exactly what time I go in until next Friday. I am exciited and nervous at the same time, which I know is normal. I was told I won't go in for a fill, if needed, for 5 weeks and that I should feel restriction with just the band at first. I know a lot of people don't feel restriction at first, but I hope I do. I am ready for a change and in need of one regardless. The pain in my back and knees is ridiculous. I am more embarassed with each passing day at work when I get up and hobble down the hall to ladies room. I am trying to be really proactive with all of this. My husband is so supportive and has said he is going to eat whatever I do. I don't see him joining me in the super mushy or pureed versions of meals though! I have tried a couple Protein shakes to see which ones I like best. I know I only have to be on a liquid diet for a few days after surgery, but I figure I will need a protein boost for a while in addition to whatever I start eating. So far I like the unjury chocolate. My plans this weekend are to clean out and reorganize my pantry so I can see what I have, what I need and of course get rid of the junk that is in there as well. I bought 2 cookbooks with recipes and meal ideas specifically for WLS folks. I have been lurking on these boards for a couple weeks now and the nutrition information alone is SO overwhelming to me. Hopefully the cookbooks will help to make the soft food stage a little more interesting and just give me a little guidance for variety. I know I sound like a crazy person, but I just want to give myself the best shot at success from the beginning. OK...I am done. I am backing away from the keyboard! I do appreciate all of the feedback and support though!

Well they say most people meet the love of their life when they aren’t looking. Maybe focus on yourself but leave the option open if you meet the RIGHT guy.chances are if you meet him you will change your mind.

Hello everyone! First-time poster here. I had Gastric Sleeve surgery on Monday 8/15. I went in hungry and woke up hungry. The day of and days following I haven't experienced any nausea or vomiting. I have been drinking water non stop, eating Liquicel protein packs, and sugar free popsicles like crazy. I'm worried because I've not had anything come back up. My stomach should hold around 4ounces so if I'm consuming more than 4oz, where is the rest going? Does liquid just move extremely quickly through your stomach? I'm starting to think the doctor just made some incisions but didn't take anything out, Hah! I know, unlikely. I just don't feel as restricted as I was hoping for and I am having more hunger pains than I thought I would. Is anyone experiencing the same thing? Please share your experiences with me!

Welcome back!! I was just thinking of you the other day and was wondering where you have been. I am excited for you that you have another procedure coming up in which to make yourself even more fabulous. I know you have been wanting to get your teeth/mouth fixed for awhile so congrats! Hopefully with the protein/liquids you won't lose a lot more weight. I know you are at goal. Maybe you could add in a few shakes that normally we Bariatric patients wouldn't drink ( higher carbs and calories) so you can maintain your weight. I know you will figure it out because you always do. You will have to keep us all posted.