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thank you so much for this tip. I have severe allergies to dust mites (IgE antibodies came back at 20x the normal limit). Shortly after starting full liquids abt 9 or 10 days post op my post nasal drip got really bad, and it was deep in my throat not something I can blow out or even hack up, whenever I blow my nose the pressure from doing so gives me a headache. I think what may have made it act up initially is my much higher than usual dairy consumption. I do not like any Protein shakes, so have been eating fat free yogurt, milk, FF SF pudding, cottage cheese, creamed Soups, my entire diet is pretty much dairy which I have since read is a HUGE culprit for PND. I also have an air purifier in my room, which I set to high every night, is has helped with the dust, but I can tell the humidity in the room is VERY low. SO I am thinking of getting a humidifier. I am also sensitive to drugs and don't like taking too any antibiotics cuz yeast acts up, so I prefer natural. Thank you for telling me about neilmed, I am def going to try it. Tried the neti pot, and it works, but you are right it is annoying and takes practice to get your head just right, holding your head at the wrong angle it will come out your mouth haha.

Hey Chantel... You Rock!!!!! It twas veeeeeeeeeery hard for me to come here and fess up but it had ta be done! This brings me to another talent in which I was definitely not gifted with... lying... I totally suck at it...lol. I think it comes from being raised with the "guilt" method of child upbringing. I'm just going to have to do what they say and be extremely hungry for two weeks. Let's see... I ate an egg and FF yogurt for Breakfast and a Lean Cuisine for lunch... that's it so far today *grumble grumble grumble*. That was coming from my mouth and my stomach! Oh... lets not forget the 3/32 oz containers of Water that I sucked on like a freaking infant to keep myself from blowing chunks d/t stomach pain. This had better be good enough for them or I am going to go POSTAL:confused: I love your comparison to quitting smoking... that was SOOOOOOOOOO right on the money! My kitchen is now a lovely creamy yellow after my day of painting... dang... it looks good enough to EAT! :cry You take care too... one of these days I am going to be on the banded side... but until then everyone here may just have to help me stay afloat. Good Luck to you too and thanks so much!!!! Darcy

@ I have been buying Halo Top for months. A pint lasts me, 6-8 weeks. I never finish one, I end up tossing them. I weigh my portion and I have 1/2 a portion about a time, so about 35-40 calories a pop. I don't like ice cream so its not an issue to me. If I ever went nuts and ate a whole container, the whole thing is 240 calories, I struggle to get enough calories every day anyway so it wouldn't matter to me. The macros and ingredients make sense to me, and I like it. I haven't had any in about 3 months because I kept wasting it but I think its a great option. And the macros are better than most of the yogurts that people eat on here. Also with all the people that are eating pulled pork in BBQ sauce and other things. And lets not forget the trash macros of PB2. And @@Clementine Sky is right. The consistency, taste and a lot of other things about it make is basically impossible to just graze on or munch on or over eat. It takes a little work, it isn't like normal ice cream even though it tastes like normal ice cream. If I liked ice cream or had an issue with ice cream I would probably skip it. But I like having it now and then with my Protein brownies just to soften them up and for a change of pace because IMO, the fastest way to get off track of boredom with your food.

Well u r lucky to only have 5days of liquids. My doc put us on 3 weeks of liquids and some minor food like oatmeal, yogurt, chicken, fish and salad. So this will be very difficult for me. But its a means to and end.

I am a super picky, finicky, whiny eater who hated everything already, and it only got worse after surgery. These are some of the things I do to get protein: Fairlife milk (lactose/sugar filtered out, protein/calcium added) mixed with diet hot cocoa mix or sugar free strawberry syrup String cheese Small amounts of vanilla Protein powder mixed with sugarfree vanilla pudding cottage cheese mixed with a tiny amount of tomato sauce (tastes like pasta/lasagna) plain greek yogurt mixed with sugar free strawberry syrup so it tastes more like regular strawberry yogurt rather than that bitter/sour flavor Now that I've been cleared for normal foods again, it honestly isn't changing much since I can't tolerate dense meats and Proteins. I have however bought my first pack of low-carb, high protein chips/pretzels/cereal (10g protein per pack), which I'll try and pack with me when I'm at school/work so I don't completely starve myself. It sucks when your tolerance for most things are low, you've just gotta find things that work for you.

March 9th doing very well off all pain meds on day four. Had three surgeries gastric bypass, hernia and gallbladder removal. Am excited for my one week post op appt to be off liquids and eat some yogurt or something other than water or broth lol.

I am allowed yogurt,pudding, cream soups, cottage cheese etc....

A lot of weight loss surgery patients struggle with weight for their entire lives before deciding to get surgery. The same is true for Michele Elbertson. The difference is that Michele was only 23 when she hit 427 pounds and got her wake-up call. She got the lap-band, changed her lifestyle, and dropped 260 pounds. She’s run 6 marathons in the past two and a half years, and is training for her first Ironman triathlon this spring. Bigger from Birth…And Then College Hit Michele was always big. She was at the top of her height and weight charts from the time she was an infant. She remembers times in her childhood when she couldn’t or wouldn’t participate because she was so big. She didn’t like physical education or sports, and the other children teased her. Food was a comfort. Michele describes the situation as a vicious cycle. The more kids teased her, the worse she felt. The worse she felt, the more she ate. The more she ate, the more she weighed. The more she weighed, the more she got teased. College was a disaster in terms of her weight. Forget about the freshman 15. What about the freshman 40? And the sophomore 40? Add to that the junior 40, the senior 40, and, for good measure, the super-senior (fifth-year) 67, and you now know how Michele Elbertson got to be 427 pounds at the age of 22 years. A Young Weight Loss Surgery Patient with New Relationships Michele made the decision to get the lap-band on her own. She needed a tool to help her control how much she ate, but understood that it was up to her to control what she ate. She only told her parents about her decision after she was sure about it. They were supportive, and have been since then. Michele has taken full advantage of and responsibility for the band. She has lost 260 pounds – 260 pounds! – in less than four years. As she says, she’s a determined person who will accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Michele began to “eat to live” rather than “live to eat.” As her relationships with food and exercise changed, so did her relationships with some friends. She lost some friends whose relationships centered only on food. She gained many more, though, through her new activities. She says the friends she’s gained through running and fitness far outweigh those she lost by changing her lifestyle. An Athlete Is Born Michele ran her first 5k after losing 100 pounds – when she was still 327 pounds. She was hooked. She loved the training, the atmosphere of the race, and the accomplishment. She has never looked back. Since then, she has run countless other races, including 38 half-marathons, 6 marathons, and a 50-miler ultra-marathon. She has also competed in triathlons. Now at an athletic 159 pounds, Michele has her sights on even greater challenges. In the near future, she wants to run a 100-miler and complete an Ironman. Both are feats that most people wouldn’t even dream of. Marathons, Ultras, and Ironmans Now, not everyone’s a distance runner or triathlete, so to understand Michele’s accomplishments, here are a few facts about these endurance sports. A marathon is 26.2 miles. All marathons are 26.2 miles. An ultra-marathon is anything over 26.2 miles. Michele’s recently completed ultra-marathon was 50 miles, and she is training for a 100-miler. A triathlon includes swimming, biking, and running. An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon. Fitting It All in Every Day Michele works out 6 days a week. Currently, she’s training for an ulta-marathon and is running 5 days a week and lifting weights 3 times. She also does Zumba classes. She takes a rest day once a week. Michele has built her life to be able to accommodate her training schedule. She recently quit her teaching career to focus instead on helping others achieve their fitness and health goals. She is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Working at a gym is pure genius – it leaves her with no excuse not to get her workout in! Eating Like a Bariathlete How do you have energy to train like an athlete and work full-time while losing over 200 pounds in 4 years? Ask Michele. Here’s how she eats and works out in a typical day. 7:00 a.m. breakfast: almonds and yogurt or eggs/romaine lettuce 9:00 a.m. snack: protein bar Workout, such as running, lifting, or group fitness class, such as Zumba or bokwa Noon. lunch: soup or salad, usually the largest meal of the day 2:00 p.m. snack: cheese and crackers or something small, equivalent to 200 calories (may include a fruit or vegetable) 4:00 p.m. snack: hot tea 6:00 p.m. dinner; lean protein, veggie, possibly a carb 7:30 p.m. snack: lemon water/hot tea. The number of calories Michele eats during a day is 1,800 (her resting metabolic rate) plus half of the calories she burns through exercise. So, if she runs 10 miles and burns 1,200 calories in exercise, she’ll eat 1,800 plus 600 calories, or 2,400 calories. She allows herself an occasional treat meal with junk food, but still counts those calories. The Accolades Michele is more than your typical bariatric patient, and she’s been getting the recognition she deserves for her extraordinary achievements. These are a few recent examples. Runner’s World magazine Cover Contest Finalist. Makeover on the Rachel Ray Show. Local feature on 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia. Dealing with Negativity – Don’t Worry About It One of the most striking things about Michele is her drive. She has worked very, very hard to get where she’s at today. She’s lost 60 percent of her body weight through being very disciplined every day. And, she has run marathons. Anyone who has run a marathon can tell you that it is was harder than they had ever imagined. Anyone who hasn’t run a marathon cannot imagine how difficult it is. But with all the publicity, Michele has receive a lot of nasty comments. How is she supposed to react when people slam her? They say she hasn’t accomplished anything, that the band has done it all. In fact, they basically say what a lot of weight loss surgery patients hear all the time from people who don’t know any better. So how does Michele react to negativity? She doesn’t want to respond directly and add “fuel to the fire.” She knows they don’t know anything about her, and she’s probably done more exercise and worked harder than they ever have. So, she just goes about her business. Leading by Example Michele says she hopes her successes and story will give others hope. She describes herself as a “real person” and “very down-to-earth,” and she hopes others will see that they can accomplish what she has. In the future, she would like to travel to seminars as a motivational speaker. In the meantime, we congratulate her on her amazing story and wish her well in her 100-miler this spring!

I had some yogurt tonight so far good. But I'm still very tender

My surgery day is the same as you. 6/27. 6/7: A group counseling session 6/9: Pre/op day. Meeting with the surgeon again, NUT to review pre/post op diet and bone density scan 6/13: start two week high Protein liquid diet. I believe I am allowed 4 oz of real protein, like chicken, yogurt, eggs and unlimited no starchy veggies with 4 Protein shakes a day. 6/27: THE BIG DAY! I am scheduled to arrive at the hospital at 1:15pm which makes me nervous since you can have nothing to drink, not even Water after Midnight! We're surgery twins!!

bummer about the shoulder pain - i have a lil bit of that. my heating pad is my friend :thumbup: i feel hungry, nauseous and bloated all at once. my belly is making crazy gurgling noises that startle my dogs lol. doc gave me liquid tylenol 3 (pretty yucky tasting) so i haven't been taking it a lot. thankfully, the pain level is tolerable. trying to keep up on my liquids. looking forward to tomorrow (skim milk & yogurt - yay!) take care!

I am being banded on Friday. My surgeon has been going over the menu with me for months, as has my lifestyle coach. I am required to do a clear liquid pre-op diet. After I have had the surgery, I am to follow the following diet. Phase I: Clear Liquids (1st week) Phase IIA: Full Liquids (2nd week) Phase IIB: pureed (3rd week) Phase III: Adaptive/Soft (4th and 5th weeks) Phase IV: Stabilization/Regular (6th week) Clear Liquids are considered: Apple, grape and cranberry juices, clear beefs, chicken and vegatab le brothers. Unsweetened coffee or tea, sugar-free Gelatin, sugar-free popsicles, sugar-free frozen jice bars, Gatorade, All Sport, Propel, flavored waters, Crystal Light. Full Liquids are considered: Skim milk, low-fat cream Soups, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free custard, Protein shakes, no added sugar carnation instant Breakfast, protein powders. Pureed foods are: Yogurt, cottage cheese, scramb led egges or egg beaters, pureed beef, chicken, turkey, canned tuna or chicken white fish, baby food meets. These foods should be "spoon thick" and seasoned to taste. Adaptive/Soft Phase foods are: Tuna fish, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, cooked vegatables, and canned fruits. As well as white fish, chopped chicken, Deli sliced turkey breast, sliced/grated low-fat cheese, hard boiled or poached eggs, soups, tofu, mashed or baked potatoes, cereal soaked with milk, boiled pasted, canned fruit, fresh fruit (without the skin and no citrus fruit), cooked vegetables. Stabilization Phase is the phase where you will be able to eat foods of a regular consistency but in small portions and cut very small. I copied this from the nutrition guidelines for gastric banding surgery.

willsmommy, not all surgeons put everyone on the same diet, for example my dr puts his patients on liquids for 48-72 hrs after surg then mushy food for next 4 wks so you can heal, I will say mash potatoe and gravy is not on the list to start. you shld be looking at things like, a scrambled egg, yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed broccolli, carrots, sweet potatoe is much easier and better for you than white potatoe, canned boneless skinless salmon with a tiny bit mayo, you want to be able to eat comfortably and heal, don't overfill your new pouch, you probably wont feel any restriction for a while and it can be easy to over extend it eating the wrong thing. Your dr may want you on mushy food, but stay away from white starchy food, yeast and gassy.. go protein first,,then veggie, then if room fruit. right now make sure you mash, chew slow and very well, I would stay away from graveies and sauces for now too. You need to get use to just having the band put in and healing,, and your mind is adjusting to your band too remember. Good luck, but definately call "your" Dr office and clarify what they want for "you" on their program. then put a plan together for yourself. ok, goodluck

Breakfast- yoplait greek 100 calorie yogurt (10-13 g of prot, depending on flavor) Snack-light string cheese (8 g prot) Lunch- varies (usually Soup, tuna, chili, or eggs, 10-15 prot) Snack-pure Protein bar (20 g prot) Dinner- varies (15 g prot) My doc & nut want me to eat six times a day @ 1000 calories, I usually don't eat after dinner, but if I do I usually have some thing sweet, sf Jello, sf pudding, diet hot chocolate etc. On Sun, Tues, & Thurs on use my indoor bike while I catch up on last weeks shows On Mon & Wed I use resistance bands, 5 lbs weights, and my own weight to tone up the jiggle

It is very important to get your protein in, plus you don't want to start losing your hair. As PaulB said above talk to your nutritionist they will be able to suggest other sorces of protein. Maybe try a different flavor of the powder, I know the shakes are not the best but I just drink mine as quick as I can and get it over and done with. I eat cottage cheese and yogurt which are both high in protein as well. My dr. says minimum 64 grams of protein a day... I do my best to get 80 grams a day.

I'm also 2 wks post op and I'm still on a full liquid diet until tomorrow. I've also been experiencing terrible heartburn for the past couple of days (with no actual food intake as well) and last night was the worst! It actually woke me up from an Ambien induced sleep. I thought I was dying, I didn't know what was wrong. My instinct just told me to eat Tums and it worked. I'm also eating those like candy. From other forums on this website I found that we should probably talk to our doctors about that. It sounds normal from what I can tell from a lot of other posters on this website. At the top, I searched for "heartburn" and found more info. One person said we're getting acid reflux from our stomach's being empty. So I've been trying to eat a small spoonful of yogurt throughout the day. I'm going to start taking an OTC med for it too. Another person said his eventually went away after a month. So in the meantime, I'm going to continue to eat my Tums until I see my doc. Good luck to you!

Well said! My partner and I were in the grocery store Saturday reading the Protein content in yogurt. She said something like, "Gosh it really smells like rotten milk or cow poop." And right after I said I didn't smell anything, she started laughing and said she thought it might be my breath! I was horrified! It's even there right after brushing! E-gads! I'm looking for solutions! Ugh! Still loving getting the desired results!

Bigger from Birth…And Then College Hit Michele was always big. She was at the top of her height and weight charts from the time she was an infant. She remembers times in her childhood when she couldn’t or wouldn’t participate because she was so big. She didn’t like physical education or sports, and the other children teased her. Food was a comfort. Michele describes the situation as a vicious cycle. The more kids teased her, the worse she felt. The worse she felt, the more she ate. The more she ate, the more she weighed. The more she weighed, the more she got teased. College was a disaster in terms of her weight. Forget about the freshman 15. What about the freshman 40? And the sophomore 40? Add to that the junior 40, the senior 40, and, for good measure, the super-senior (fifth-year) 67, and you now know how Michele Elbertson got to be 427 pounds at the age of 22 years. A Young Weight Loss Surgery Patient with New Relationships Michele made the decision to get the lap-band on her own. She needed a tool to help her control how much she ate, but understood that it was up to her to control what she ate. She only told her parents about her decision after she was sure about it. They were supportive, and have been since then. Michele has taken full advantage of and responsibility for the band. She has lost 260 pounds – 260 pounds! – in less than four years. As she says, she’s a determined person who will accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Michele began to “eat to live” rather than “live to eat.” As her relationships with food and exercise changed, so did her relationships with some friends. She lost some friends whose relationships centered only on food. She gained many more, though, through her new activities. She says the friends she’s gained through running and fitness far outweigh those she lost by changing her lifestyle. An Athlete Is Born Michele ran her first 5k after losing 100 pounds – when she was still 327 pounds. She was hooked. She loved the training, the atmosphere of the race, and the accomplishment. She has never looked back. Since then, she has run countless other races, including 38 half-marathons, 6 marathons, and a 50-miler ultra-marathon. She has also competed in triathlons. Now at an athletic 159 pounds, Michele has her sights on even greater challenges. In the near future, she wants to run a 100-miler and complete an Ironman. Both are feats that most people wouldn’t even dream of. Marathons, Ultras, and Ironmans Now, not everyone’s a distance runner or triathlete, so to understand Michele’s accomplishments, here are a few facts about these endurance sports. A marathon is 26.2 miles. All marathons are 26.2 miles. An ultra-marathon is anything over 26.2 miles. Michele’s recently completed ultra-marathon was 50 miles, and she is training for a 100-miler. A triathlon includes swimming, biking, and running. An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon. Fitting It All in Every Day Michele works out 6 days a week. Currently, she’s training for an ulta-marathon and is running 5 days a week and lifting weights 3 times. She also does Zumba classes. She takes a rest day once a week. Michele has built her life to be able to accommodate her training schedule. She recently quit her teaching career to focus instead on helping others achieve their fitness and health goals. She is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Working at a gym is pure genius – it leaves her with no excuse not to get her workout in! Eating Like a Bariathlete How do you have energy to train like an athlete and work full-time while losing over 200 pounds in 4 years? Ask Michele. Here’s how she eats and works out in a typical day. 7:00 a.m. breakfast: almonds and yogurt or eggs/romaine lettuce 9:00 a.m. snack: protein bar Workout, such as running, lifting, or group fitness class, such as Zumba or bokwa Noon. lunch: soup or salad, usually the largest meal of the day 2:00 p.m. snack: cheese and crackers or something small, equivalent to 200 calories (may include a fruit or vegetable) 4:00 p.m. snack: hot tea 6:00 p.m. dinner; lean protein, veggie, possibly a carb 7:30 p.m. snack: lemon water/hot tea. The number of calories Michele eats during a day is 1,800 (her resting metabolic rate) plus half of the calories she burns through exercise. So, if she runs 10 miles and burns 1,200 calories in exercise, she’ll eat 1,800 plus 600 calories, or 2,400 calories. She allows herself an occasional treat meal with junk food, but still counts those calories. The Accolades Michele is more than your typical bariatric patient, and she’s been getting the recognition she deserves for her extraordinary achievements. These are a few recent examples. Runner’s World magazine Cover Contest Finalist. Makeover on the Rachel Ray Show. Local feature on 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia. Dealing with Negativity – Don’t Worry About It One of the most striking things about Michele is her drive. She has worked very, very hard to get where she’s at today. She’s lost 60 percent of her body weight through being very disciplined every day. And, she has run marathons. Anyone who has run a marathon can tell you that it is was harder than they had ever imagined. Anyone who hasn’t run a marathon cannot imagine how difficult it is. But with all the publicity, Michele has receive a lot of nasty comments. How is she supposed to react when people slam her? They say she hasn’t accomplished anything, that the band has done it all. In fact, they basically say what a lot of weight loss surgery patients hear all the time from people who don’t know any better. So how does Michele react to negativity? She doesn’t want to respond directly and add “fuel to the fire.” She knows they don’t know anything about her, and she’s probably done more exercise and worked harder than they ever have. So, she just goes about her business. Leading by Example Michele says she hopes her successes and story will give others hope. She describes herself as a “real person” and “very down-to-earth,” and she hopes others will see that they can accomplish what she has. In the future, she would like to travel to seminars as a motivational speaker. In the meantime, we congratulate her on her amazing story and wish her well in her 100-miler this spring!

I was banded 8/6/12, and it is a month now. I struggled at first with snacking, but healthy snacks, no carbs just greek yogurt, or cottage cheese, etc only protein. I got the carbs from the yogurt and cottage cheese. I was not losing weight for about 10 day, and when I did a follow up with my doctor i realize they meant no snacking between meal but I was so busy trying to get in carbs and protein, that i was eating too many calories. I have nothing in my band until hopefully the 19th of September. I am now eating 1 cup of food each meal, and i am losing weight. I am not eating between meals which allows me to get in my 64oz of fluid, ex: water, tea, etc and i am not hungry. My dr. said to only focus on the protein and fiber, not the carbs and fat but be mindful to make low calories, low fat choices, not pizza or canned processed foods. She explained to me that i will not feel full after my 6-8 ounces of food, but wait the 20 minutes and let your brain process the food and i should not be hungry for at least 4 hours. I could eat more, but i don't, i wait and i find that i am not hungry. I would not beleive if it didn't happen to me. She explained that it is very important to have the 4 hours window of not eating, because what i don't take in with carbs and fat by not eating between meals your body will use your body fat to get the carbs, fat etc and burn the fat and you lose weight. If you do eat between meals, your body does not need to burn the fat because you are feeding it more food between meals. It was so profound when she said that, it all clicked and i tried it and it worked. Remember I have nothing in my band yet, and i can eat more, but i stop at 1 cup and wait the 20 mins. I was talking on the phone today and went 6 hours and still did not feel hungry, and all i had this morning for breakfast was a 6oz greek yogurt with fruit, a cup of coffee before breakfast. Unbelievable. I may not get a fill if I keep up this way. I do want a fill, because my doctor said once i get a fill, it will be hard to eat more than 1/2 cup of food and then i really need to focus on protein and fiber. Try not eating between meals and if that does not work, don't eat the white carbs because it is not a healthy choice, and i may be filling you up but not keeping you full (carbs make you hungry and that may be what is happening to you) and you need to have high protein with each meal. I have been on a ground turkey homemade chili for 1 week and loss 4 pounds. I have only followed this meal plan for 1 week and it works, where I did not lose any weight for 10 days before my dr. set me straight. Hope this helps.

I eat every two to three hours.I eat less than 200 calories at every small meal and try to make sure there is 10-15 gram protein minimum. For an example I may have triple zero Greek yogurt with five mixed berries and six to nine almonds.the next meal might be 1.5 scrambled egg with salsa,the next might be a balance protein bar.You get the idea.

Ladies, what can I say, I am guilty of all of the above, and that may be one of the reasons I've hit a plateau for the past 3 months. Not to mention I also need a fill. I can easily eat a 10 oz. Lean Cuisine plus 2 oz yogurt. In addition to that, I've been having a burning sensation in my stomach, and that has me worried.

Sleeve here. I dump when I each anything really rich. Ice cream, more than 2-3 small bites and I'll be vomiting shortly. Rich cream Soups will send be to the bathroom with explosive poo. Frozen yogurt gets me, frosting from a cake, cheesy rich mashed potatoes... I can have a baby spoon or two, but that's it. Works for me. I can take a taste but I don't want more than that. It's not pretty if I do.

For me day 2-7 full fluids.... Low fat yogurt drink Skim milk Fat free Soup or broth Low cal Jello sugar free Popsicle Cream of wheat made thin This is what I am allowed from day 2-7

I too couldn't get past the smell and taste of Protein powders. What FINALLY worked for me was the unjury chicken Soup. It's a little salty in flavor, but none of the issues I had with other Proteins. It is 21 grams of protein. I also use [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Instantized-Protein-2-7-Pound/dp/B000GIUQOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1276226079&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: 100% Any whey Protein: Health & Personal Care[/ame] and add 1/2 scoop to my yogurt and or sugar free Cocoa powder. I cannot taste it at all and it boosts my protein by 8.5 grams. Good luck in finding what works for you. I know it was a struggle for me and many others.

If it's a work day, I get up and eat either a small amout of oatmeal or grits with fake butter and splenda. I usually can't eat much at all in the mornings, but I try to get a little down. Then after I get dressed and get ready to go, I will have coffee. Some doctors don't want you to have it, but some, like mine, think a little is ok. We take lunch at 12. I usually can't eat much then either. So I will just try to eat something light like tuna or soup. Soup isn't the best choice, but sometimes it's all I can get down. I usually start getting hungry around 2 or 3. I will have some yogurt or some crackers. I am usually starving when I get home. I can eat more in the evenings, so I really have to watch my portions then. I will cook some kind of meat with 2 vegetables. I am one of the lucky ones, I can eat any type of meat. My husband and I eat the same dinner most of the time. Sometimes he wants pizza, which I cat really eat very well, so I will fix him pizza and I will have fish and rice. I try not to eat anything else after dinner. I think that is what has helped me lose a lot, not eating at night. If it's a non work day, I will usually eat breakfast and then my husband and I go out to eat that night. My doctor also says no snacking, but I do at times. I will have a hand full of chips or some candy. You have to indulge sometimes or the cravings will kill you. Every now and then I will eat ice cream. The key is to balance everything out. If I find myself eating too much one day, I will really keep an eye on my portions the next day. Water is also very important. I drink it all day. Get the bottled water and just refill them. They work great. I also drink a lot of tea. Exercise is also key. I try to get 30 minutes most days. It seems overwhelming at first, but it's really not as hard as it seems. Good luck!