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Greek yogurt and well chewed low fat mozzarella cheese sticks. Set a timer for 25-30 minutes. Eat very slowly. Don't forget no sipping with eating. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm also a grazer. I eat yogurt all the time....but the chez-its are the worst. I like almonds too. I have to say though...I've lost 91 pounds. My surgery was April 1st.....so I must not be doing too bad. I think I'll hit 100 by six months *surely*. I'm also not a dumper...and I've been testing that. Morbid curiosity, I guess. I've had cookies and m&ms. Yes, I realize I'm triggering bad behavior. I've only eaten 3 m&ms at a time. Moderation.

I was sleeved April 20. In addition to what you listed: protein soup (ProtiDiet), V8, protein pudding, applesauce, green beans, yogurt, refried beans and cheese. This week I get to add soft fish so I had some grilled salmon tonight at a cookout.

I'm with you, I hate soup. Hate it always had. I wanna chew my food. This phase was difficult for me, I used egg beaters and would make scrambled eggs 1/4c. and 1/4c of cottage or ricotta cheese in them. That was yummy to me. I also have heard several people talk about refried beans with melted cheese and greek yogurt on top. I am so sorry! I don't have much more than that. I think this is the tough part. But you can do it, and it really will be worthwhile.

It’s day seven of my liquid diet, and today was the first time I really struggled. First, let me say that today was a great day in many respects. My husband and I took our oldest on a college visit today where he and other students auditioned and interviewed for theater scholarships. I’m not just saying this because I’m his mom—my son did great! Some of the professors even told me so afterwards. He had such a great experience today (this was our second visit), that he decided to commit to the school, which is a huge load off of all of our minds. My son really shined today, and I’m excited about this new chapter in his life. He's going to do amazing things! Okay, now here’s the crabby part. This, as many of you already know, is just a really hard time of year to be on a liquid diet. (Though I'm sure every time of the year has its own unique challenges.) While on campus today, we were treated to lunch in a recently updated dining hall that truly is more like a collection of restaurants. It puts my old college’s microwave eggs and frozen pizzas to shame! And it was a social lunch, one that was stretched out for an hour so that we could talk to the faculty and visit with other prospective students. I felt a little self-conscious about my tiny bowl of soup (which probably wasn’t even technically on my list) as people went back for seconds. Then, we were enthusiastically encouraged to hit the icecream bar. I got another diet soda—a no-no, I know, but at least it wasn’t the icecream bar, and it made me feel like I was having a treat. After a very long two hour drive, we got back into town right around supper time and stopped to pick up my two younger kids from my mom’s house. When we got there, my kids showed off the frosted Christmas sugar cookies they made and everyone endulged—except me. Now, I can see this as a small victory, and I do, but I felt bad because my 3 year old daughter didn’t entirely understand why I wasn’t eating her special cookies. And I felt like my mom was disappointed in me too. Maybe it was in my head, but she kept looking at me like, “Come on, Jennie, just eat one, for your kids.” Then Mom continued to talk about how excited that she was that her favorite pizza place was moving back into our neighborhood. I got out of there as quickly as I could. As soon as I got home, my phone was ringing. My little sis, who lives 3 hours away, is hosting a girls weekend at her place this weekend. It’s the first time she’s had many of the girls of the family down to visit since she moved there, and she’s especially excited because she has a beautiful new home and it’s all decked out for the holidays. Plus, she’s newly pregnant. If you haven’t noticed already—backing out of the trip is simply not a possibility. She is really supportive of what I’m doing, but in her defense, she’s been planning this weekend for a while, and certainly not just for me. So on the agenda for the weekend: a winery (and I LOVE wine—it’s kinda my thing), a local festival of fresh baked goods and Christmas crafts (the crafts should be cool), and then out on the town for dinner in Kansas City. Sigh. This is going to be a tough week, I can tell. But, here it is: I have 7 days left, and A LOT to do. I have to get sub plans ready for the 9 days I’ll miss work, and I pretty much need to have Christmas shopping and wrapping done before I leave town Friday. I teach a college night class, and the grades for that are due next week, and I have to take my student group out to buy gifts for ten area needy kids that we “adopted” for Christmas. I’m hoping that I’m so busy, I won’t have time to lament the loss of real food. Though this weekend will be tough. I’ll just have to keep focused on my surgery. It will be here before I know it. Writing this all down has really helped me get my head around where I am emotionally today. Maybe I wanted to eat more today because, even though it’s a really wonderful milestone, there’s something very bittersweet in my son’s final selection of a college. This is exactly the kind of thing that I would have celebrated by going out for a nice, high calorie dinner! And maybe it’s bothering me that I don’t feel as supported by my extended family as I wish I was. But on the other hand, I’m never going to change them, and I love them how they are. I’m sure I drive them nuts from time to time. And my husband has been amazing. He’s passing on food all the time just so that he’s not eating in front of me. He is even making all of the dinners for the kids right now, which allows me to make my shake/soup/yogurt/whatever and go sit and unwind a minute alone at the end of the day. So I have a lot to stay positive about—I’ve having the surgery, afterall. I’m only days away from something I’ve wanted for almost two years. So I just need to stay positive. Stay positive.

thanks everyone for replying to my post - I feel a bit guilty this morning for whining to you all... and you're right Alexandra, (love your new picture by the way, you look about 19 in it now!) I should come on line for support more if that's what I need. Unfortunetly that is typical me, isolate myself and then complain about being lonely! Oh and thanks for the complements - i look far from gorgeous but am surprised at the change in my face - I don't have as many chins now! Also my stomach has gone down a lot if you know what I mean. I am really enjoying eating - I eat so little that I can really enjoying full cream yogurts, and salad dressings - dieting used to be so miserable with all the "diet" foods tasting of additives and sweetners. I am also delighted to be at a point where I seem to have broken my bad habits - eating between meals and eating at night - I was going to bed at nine some nights just so I wouldn't snack! But I'm taking each day as it comes - next month I may be blending big macs and cadbury's buttons! (chocolate buttons!) I'm ashamed to say I am doing precious little exercise except for christmas shopping so am hoping catch the New Year's Resolution fever for joining the gym - my husband got me a great membership for my birthday! Jennye - Definitely all the weight loss is down to the flip-flops - but tragically it's bloody freezing and wet here in Ireland at the moment so I'm back to wearing red runners! Babs - hang in there - this is pretty much the hardest time of the year to stick to a rigid plan - it will all come together again in the new year! Shelly - loved your pictures too - we are going to kick super-model ass next summer! better go - must make dinner for kids - thanks for cheering me up guys xx :kiss :kiss :kiss

Hi cher (and hi again faybie!) - I am not much of a meat eater either, so he're is how I get my Protein. Egg whites contain the protein, not so much the yolks. The egg yolks are filled with fat, and if I'm not mistaken, the whites are fat free. Eat the whites. You can also use Egg Beaters, which don't have fat and have lots of protein. That's actually what I do because I don't like the goopy egg white innards. While I don't eat beef, pork, lamb, etc., I don't mind salmon, turkey and chicken, so that is what I eat to get my protein. I buy the Amish (no steroids, hormones, injected) boneless, skinless chicken breast and usually grill it on my George Foreman grill. I buy the canned Swanson chicken. I also use the pre-packaged Chicken of the Sea Salmon (boneless, skinless). I think 3oz of each has about 15g protein. I'm still on the soft food stage, so I'm making what I call "Whips." I take the chicken or salmon and mix it with cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, yogurt (all FF of course) and add various seasonings. I can change the entire texture of the meal by adding cream cheese (especially good with the salmon). I've used Greek seasoning, Italian seasoning, hot sauce, bbq sauce, lemon pepper to flavor the whip. Each one of the whips has about 25g protein. I'm also drinking Isopure zero carb drinks. They are fruit flavored, not the milky protein shakes. 40g protein each and only 160 calories. You can also go to your surgeon's office and have them order Bariatrix products for you. You can't order them yourself, but a MD can order them. Each one has 70 - 100c and 15g protein. My surgeon had me on those for my pre-op and post-op diet, and I still use them as necessary. (I'm on self-imposed liquids this weekend, matter of fact. 5 drinks = 75g protein.) GNC is having a sale of Muscle Milk - 34g protein per drink. I only drink them on days I work out because it's got 360 calories. I also got some other high Protein Drinks, but I haven't tried them so I don't know how they will taste. Oh, I also bought some Stallone Protein pudding, too. We'll see how that goes. I don't care for pudding, so I don't know why I bought it. Oh yeah, 20g protein! There are also some IGN (?) protein bullets. The new ones are 3oz and have 42g protein. ReneBean mentioned them earlier, and if you're interested I can dig up a link for you. I've not tried those either, but plan to. Those are all of my secrets. Hope they helped! Sorry it took so long to reply, I just saw this thread. Good Luck! Nathalie

I use both PB2 and another brand peanut powder. Love it in shakes, with cottage cheese, or yogurt.

I bought some sugar free Torani syrups because I've seen it suggested a lot, I haven't tried it in yogurt yet but they are good in plain Protein powder. But in the past I have flavored the yogurt with extracts as well and it is good, you can find a lot of flavors usually on the baking aisle, orange, lemon, mint, vanilla, coffee. I hit them up when they are on bogo haha.

@@Bexsta everyone has different taste buds and it's ok to not like yogurt. I don't think you have to force yourself to eat it unless you just super want to eat yogurt. There are plenty of other nutrient rich foods with protein out there that you will love, and you can always get probiotics in other methods. =)

Just google "recipe" and "raita" for Indian savory recipes using yogurt. You can add roasted or cooked veggies, or fresh cucumber + spices (not necessarily hot ones) and it helps to wet your food and provide extra Protein. It helps to make it a few hours before you eat it because the flavors need time to meld.

I can't deal with yogurt at all - it makes me gag! I've tried regular and greek; plain and flavored; regular and lite; fruit on the bottom; mixed with fruit; mixed with flavorings - you name it. It's weird - I LOVE sour cream and have no problem eating that but I just can't do yogurt. Tried it both pre- and post-surgery - YUK!! I wish I could since it would be another Protein source for me.

Healthy Choice makes a Greek frozen yogurt in 100 calorie single serve cups.

Eating Greek yogurt is one of the topics I share with others about this lifestyle. I started to eat Greek yogurt on the advice of a health coach about two weeks before my pre-op diet. I detested it. I mixed in chocolate Protein powder, but the sourness was strong and it was like gagging with every spoon. After a month, I stopped gagging, but really hated it. I found I had tried so many brands hoping to find the one.....and I did.....Lucerne. It is the cheapest plain Greek yogurt. I had tried organic ones and ones with bigger brands or better packaging. I think Lucerne is a local, Texas brand. I must say while I don't like plain Greek yogurt, it has become a staple. I attribute some reductions in flatulence volume and toxicity to the yogurt (sorry if this is TMI). It remains on my doctor prescribed diet even after the Protein Powder and so many other things have gone away. I go through a 2# tub each week for $3.45. I don't shop at chains other than Randall's because other chains don't sell this brand. To me, it was part of the lifestyle change I needed to make, and I made it successful.

I stick to high Protein for the most part: eggs, tuna, salmon, Greek yogurt, and some veggies. On a not so good say I might add some rice or Pasta. I also have a drink from time to time. How bad do u think that affects weight loss? Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App I'd say that the "drink from time to time" is as wide ranging in impact to your weight loss as rice and pasta. Rice and pasta have zero value to you now and will certainly keep you from achieving ketosis (if that's a state you hope to get in). drinks, on the other hand, may not keep you out of ketosis for long. Depends on the type of liquor and the macro content of the mixer. I've got out for an evening and had vodka or tequila with a low calorie mixer in a 2-4 drinks......and used ketone strips the very next morning and found that I was still in ketosis and chugging along. You have to find what works for you and you have to establish priorities. For me.....my overall priority is to lose the weight that has been a burden to me. I am doing this to be healthy and enjoy my life. I can go out and have fun without losing sight of those priorities. I've learned that if I have the skinny margaritas or vodka and diet mixer.....then that is done in absence of any type of eating. Since the alcohol is empty calories....then I have to ensure I've chosen carefully earlier in the day and met my protein goals and also made some room in my calorie budget by burning some off in the gym. No longer do I go out....pound down beer and then order something horrible to eat later. My actions have to align with my priorities and have some fun times within reason. You have to find what works for you and figure out what you value. For me....it's to let pasta and rice go. I haven't missed them at all. I found spaghetti squash makes a great substitute. Great advice! Thanks Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

I have noticed from others that sometimes after being banded for a while, it is easy to forget or stray from the original guidelines or some banders didn't get adequate information from their centre initially. For starters, I would log what you are eating (ideally through myfitnesspal or something like that that will track calories too). You should not exceed (per my doctor) about 1200 calories per day and should have about 60+ grams of protein. Try not to exceed 1 cup of food per meal and have a planned healthy snack in between meals (piece of fruit) or something. If you are not able to get even yogurt down, perhaps your band is a little too tight which may be causing you to eat some unhealthier items (sliders) that will go down easily and that may be part of the problem. It sounds like you could really benefit from a visit (or 2) with a nutritionist to get back on track. You shouldn't feel so defeated and frustrated with your food choices. I am able to eat most anything as long as I eat slowly and eat small bites. I would urge you to see out one (my bariatric clinic has ones on staff) and they have a lot of great ideas and advice. I truly don't feel deprived and only did when I was too tight and struggled getting solid food down. I also have found healthier ways to still enjoy many foods I loved before but now in a healthier way. There is a website called Emily bites (I believe) and there are many recipes that you make in cupcake pans so they are portioned out into appropriate sized meals. They are healthy versions (ie. lasagna) of everyday foods. I really enjoy them. Good luck to you!

I don't stuff food down at all. It seems the little that I eat is getting stuffed down and this is very little like soup , yogurt , etc. Im' three weeks out and no fill but I think I need to learn how how to take baby portions and chew better.. I will use the dime on the spoon/fork and chew until its baby like rule for now on!

I have the same fear. I started solids yesterday and so far I have eaten a half a chicken breast for lunch and another half for dinner. My other meals are my old reliables - yogurt and hummus. I have to say, the chicken felt no different and was actually very filling. I was at a restaurant for a business dinner last night and caused quite a stir that I didnt clean my plate as normal and did not request a doggie bag, oh well. It was actually a waste of food but I knew that if I brought it home it could be trouble.

I did try a free sample of it that I received and it mixed well with my greek yogurt, so if you are just looking for a taste-free option that mixes well, it seems like a good source of at least 15 grams of protein. In their videos they say it doesn't mix great with straight water (didn't try it myself), but does mix well with any flavored beverage like Gatorade and with hot beverages like coffee or tea.

It is weird the way different clinics require differnt things. I was allowed a light blended yogurt. They were flavored, sugar free and NO fruit pieces in them. I used Yoplaits thick and creamy light.

I would bring what I was told was ok by the dr. Nuts?. Jerky? protein powder, protein bars, yogurt, string cheese softened, maybe a banana?

My lunch bag is almost always a frozen meal, a Greek yogurt and some kind of fruit like an apple and beef Jerky or a Protein bar if I'm going to the gym. Seriously, it's the same thing every day. It's sad. But going out to lunch is an expensive waste. $10 on something from the corner bakery or potbelly that will just be thrown out because the portion is ginormous. Also, have a square of chocolate. Or get chocolate yogurt.

I am scheduled to be banded on the 21st as well. It is interesting how each surgeon is different on their pre op diets. I don't start mine until this coming Wed (7 day diet). My diet is a mix of low carb shakes (2 a day) a cup of juice, 2 servings of fruit, 2 c. raw veggies, 3 dairy (SF yogurt, cottage cheese or pudding) and all the broth, SF popsicles, diet soda etc. I was never nervous before but now I am beginning to be.

Thanks! I do seem to be able to eat yogurt without issue so that is good. I couldn't tolerate drinking milk so I did switch to soy yesterday for shakes. Someone told me the almond soy is better then the Soy brand , did you guys have some advice on which is better?

I agree, you have got to find a way to get your Protein in. It is absolutely critical for health, healing, and ultimately weight loss. I know we all had this surgery to lose weight, but you have to focus on health right now but not getting adequate nutrition can have severe consequences, the least being hair loss. You are recovering from major surgery. Have you talked to your NUT or surgeon? What is your protein goal? Even if you don't like food right now you have to find a way to eat. Have you tried Greek yogurt or cottage cheese? Are you cleared for soft meats like tuna, tilapia, or canned chicken? What about chili? Refried Beans? Protein shakes are not the only source of protein, but they do make it easier to get enough when you have such little room in your stomach.