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So you cheated a little on your post-op diet. When you were supposed to be on liquids, you had a few spoons of mashed potatoes or a swallow of yogurt, both nice and soft. Maybe you ate a few Cheez Doodles, but what’s the big deal? They’re like eating flavored air, aren’t they? And the McNuggets you tried during the puree phase? You chewed them really well, and you could only eat three instead of your pre-op portion of six – isn’t that great? No, it’s not great that you could only eat three McNuggets. And yes,cheating is a big deal, and I’m going to tell you why. You’re not going to get away with this one. Miss Jean has eyes in the back of her head. She sees the cookie crumbs on your face and the neon orange faux cheese film on your guilty fingers. SOME DEFINITIONS OF CHEATING The word “cheat” has two main connotations. One is cheating in the sense of lying and deceiving. It’s intentional dishonesty. You know what you’re doing is wrong, but you do it anyway. The other connotation of “cheat” is unfaithfulness. Unfaithful to a vow or promise you made to another person or to an organization. When someone cheats you, do you just shrug and say, “Oh well, he was having a bad day”? Let’s say you bought a car that you thought was brand new, and later discovered that the dealer had fiddled with the odometer and charged you full sticker price for a car with 1200 miles on it. Would that be okay with you? And what if your spouse, the person you trust with your life, cheated on you by sleeping with your best friend, would you be able to just shrug that off? If your child got a B+ grade by cheating on a test by copying answers from the student at the next desk, would you be proud of him or her? And what if you found out that a coworker betrayed you by using the great idea you confided to him or her and taking credit for it when it worked out splendidly? Would you still be eating lunch with that coworker? Or what if you donated money to a political candidate who you admired, and he or she spent it on a vacation in the Bahamas instead of on re-election expenses. Would that be okay with you? Would you vote for that candidate ever again? I’ll take a guess at your answers to these questions. In none of the situations I’ve described would you be happy or proud. In fact, you’d be disappointed and angry. So just how can you think it’s no big deal to cheat on your post-op diet? EXCUSES, EXCUSES I can hear grumbling in the room. I think I just heard someone saying, “I had to eat that mashed potato. I was so hungry and miserable and cranky from being on liquids for a week, I couldn’t stand it another minute.” I do understand very well how you felt, but in the big picture of world hunger, where babies die because their mothers eat so little that they don’t produce enough milk for nursing, your and my hungry misery is a big So What. And someone else is whispering, “My best friend’s surgeon let her eat mashed potatoes on her third day post-op, so it must be okay for me to do that too, even though my surgeon told me to wait until my 15th day post-op. It’s not my fault that every surgeon has a different post-op eating protocol.” While it’s true that surgeons’ eating instructions vary widely, you signed on with your surgeon, not your best friend’s. Presumably you chose your surgeon because you and/or your insurance company believe that he or she is well-qualified in laparascopic bariatric surgery. During your psych evaluation, you affirmed that you understand what the surgery involves and that you can and will follow instructions. You nodded when the shrink asked if you’re ready to make all the lifestyle changes needed for success. You nodded when the dietitian asked if you understood your pre- and post-op eating instructions. You scribbled your own name on a sheaf of release papers to indicate that you were informed about the risks involved and despite those risks, gave your surgeon permission to perform surgery on you. In addition to all of that, you spent weeks or months jumping through hoops to prove your need for bariatric surgery. Perhaps you suffered through a six-month pre-op diet. You had lots of medical tests and evaluations, most of them not much fun, because you were so eager to get your weight loss show on the road. You had surgery, suffered some degree of discomfort from your incisions and gas, and finally heaved a sigh of relief because all the struggles are over now. But then you discovered that there are still more struggles to survive because of that stupid post-op liquid diet. Yet despite jumping through all those hoops, in less than 60 seconds you blow it by popping a Cheez Doodle in your mouth, and justify that with the aforementioned misery excuse. And man oh man, that must have been some really serious misery, because evidently it drove out of your mind all the very good reasons for faithfully following that post-op diet progression. You forgot that one of the most common causes of band slips is the patient’s failure to follow the post-op diet. You forgot that food can get stuck in the stoma or esophagus and cause an obstruction or vomiting. You forgot that vomiting can disturb the position of the band, especially when you’re a new post-op and your stomach is still healing from surgery. You forgot that in order to move mashed potatoes or Cheez Doodles through your digestive system, your esophagus and stomach must expand and contract, which can disturb the position of your band and cause it to slip. You forgot all the promises you made to your bariatric team and to yourself about healthy eating and weight loss success, because you were so miserable and just a few little cheat bites are no big deal. I’ll try to give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you thought that being able to eat the Cheez Doodles without having any uncomfortable side effects or complications like a stuck episode, a PB, sliming, chest pain, esophageal dilation or spasms means that it’s okay to eat the Cheez Doodles. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s a wrong assumption. Cheating eating can cause problems without you ever knowing it until it’s too late. Cheating eating is just plain foolish. YOU’RE NOT ALONE Now here’s the good news. You’re not alone. Nobody enjoys the post-op diet progression. If any of us were good at following diets, we might not need bariatric surgery in the first place. And only infants enjoy a liquid diet. But in a sense, as a new post-op you’re a bariatric infant who must consume liquids because your body isn’t ready yet to handle anything else. Cheating on your post-op diet is cheating your health in a major way. If you already cheated once or twice or ten times, that’s not a good reason for continuing to cheat, so don’t do it again! I believe we should begin any project as we mean to go on. If you can’t follow your post-op diet, exactly when are you going to begin your healthy post-op lifestyle? Are you going to wait until after your first fill, or your second fill, or at some hazy time in the future? If so, don’t come running to me when your scale stays stuck on a number you hate. NOW is the time to begin your healthy lifestyle. NOW is the time to practice good band eating skills and making good food choices and controlling portion sizes. Doing that may not be easy, but it’s not impossible either. Losing a massive amount of weight is a big, tough project, but if you respect your band, it's going to be easier than any of your past weight loss attempts. Let me clarify that: it's going to be easier if you follow instructions. In addition to that healthy lifestyle, there’s another very good reason to stick to your diet. At some point you’re going to have to face up to your past and acknowledge that food and eating have been a major problem for you. The fact that you’re struggling with your post-op diet is a symptom of that. There’s no shame attached to that struggle. As mentioned above, if we didn’t struggle with eating, we wouldn’t need bariatric surgery at all. So I suggest that you look at the post-op diet (and your pre-op diet too, for that matter) as a rite of passage. During this rite, you’ll be painfully aware of just how many food devils you possess, because without food to shut them up, they’re going to be jumping up and down and screaming for your attention. But their wish is no longer your command. You’re going to send them a clear signal: that you’re not going to submit to their demands any more. From now on, you’re going to follow your surgeon’s and dietitian’s eating instructions no matter how much commotion those devils make. You’re in charge now. As the saying goes, today is the first day of the rest of your life. Do yourself a favor, and make it a day without Cheez Doodles!

Ok, I am 6 days post op and starting soft foods tomorrow. I have had a ton of protein today! Carnation Instant Breakfast, addred a scoop of Designer Whey Vanilla. Then some 3 parts water apple juice. Then blended up some fat free blueberry yogurt with skim milk and another half scoop of the whey. I still feel so hungry. Any tips?

Your story is very inspiring. I am 25 days post op. I lost 18lbs preop, 11lbs by 11 days postop and then bam... Stalled. I've lost 1.5lbs in 2 weeks. I am on full liquids consisting of 3 protien drinks and 2 yogurts a day. It's so disappointing to be on such a restrictive diet and not lose the weight. The nutritionist tells me it's normal. At this point, I regret having the procedure done. Please share any advice that you may have. Thanks!

Well think of it this way... if you have been a good girl and you've stuck to the plan, you can reward yourself. If not, you can also say screw it and still eat that cookie, or you could have extreme will power and reject it altogether. Personally I usually try to eat some greek yogurt or drink a Protein shake. I still sneak in some chocolate everyday. One week I ate frozen custard every night and lost 9 lbs. I don't encourage anyone to try this, it is so tempting to forget the new healthy eating habits.

The protein shakes do get old the first week, but they do help. Each doctor is different in their post-op instructions so I'm not sure how long you have to be on liquids. I know when I started with soft foods, cottage cheese and high-protein yogurt helped me get my protein. Check the protein shake cook book at bariatricfoodie.com, too. All the best to you!

I was banded Aug 6th too and I had to do clear liquids for a week...which was sugar free jello, watered down cranberry juice, broth and water and crystal light. Now I am in my 2nd stage (week) and I have to eat pureed foods...I put in the food processor chicken small (very small) potato, veggies and broth and mix it smooth, snack is sugar free pudding, applesauce, nonfat yogurt, smoothie, oh and protein drinks and powder which I have to add to my meals and snacks. Water all day long about four five glasses. I did good my first week...this week I just feel like I am not doing anything right and I feel like a fatty. I weight my food only 1/2 cup with each meal. I am still sore and can not excrise or lift anything over ten lbs. I am walking around the block now and going to start two blocks tomorrow. I am reading all this stuff and 3 days in and someone is mowing their lawn ? How? Lisa

well here is what i had 3 weeks out today: no breakfast really-1/2 cont. yogurt with fruit for lunch: 2 oz turkey, 1 table squash cass, 1 table green Beans, 1 table homemade cornbread dressing-my moms! so good, 1 table butter beans, 1 table pea salad, 1 table copperpennies. couldn't finish all of this but did have it on my plate. ate all of the turkey and dressing. have beat myself up over this. but like someone else said compared to what i have eaten of all the christmas dinners past this is remarkable!! we have gone from plate fulls to little bird portions. for supper: a 1 egg veggie omelet and only are half. also had sf chocolate pudding with sf cool whip on it. that tasted so good. also a few bites of cornbread dressing again. that stuff goes down so good. wish i could find something with low carbs like that! it is mushy is why. but i know it is loaded with carbs cause of cornbread!!

Hi my name is Jessie and I was banded on Nov 14 2007. I was allowed to have popsicles, jello, fat free pudding cups, yogurt, chicken broth, as long as it is all fat free.

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.

I agree that most of those meals are carb heavy and full of sodium and preservatives. For me it is fairly easy to pick a Protein and then add a vegetable it fruit. (For instance, turkey breast and green Beans or roasted Brussels sprouts or similar; cottage cheese with fresh tomato; Greek yogurt with fresh berries; chicken patty and a green vegetable; etc.) It tastes so much better than frozen meals anyway and is really easy..

Chicken salad was a mushie on my post-op diet. I am almost 18 months out and I still crave chicken salad. I had it today for lunch I was also allowed to have pureed chili, very watery mashed potatos, thinned yogurt, and thin pudding. Hope things improve quickly for you. The pre-op and post-op diet are hard. But the band is worth it. ~Mandy

I was banded a few days before you and was told to eat 6 ounces at each meal and if I was still hungry to eat 8. I've been living on 6 ounces for Breakfast, usually a 4 ounce yogurt and 2 ounces of cottage cheese. About 8 ounces for lunch and then 6 ounces for dinner. I didn't start getting hungry until last week. I ate a little more than I planned to but tried to stay positive. On Friday the band reminded me it was there by clogging up in public and again yesterday at home. I am back on board with the 6-8-6 again. A trick to fighting hunger pangs is to brush your teeth when they come. It takes your appetite away. Stay positive. Your fills are right around the corner. My first is April 21.

Yeah I know... my nutritionist told me its ok to have yogurt the 4th day.. I started reading the forums and found out that some didnt drink it till a week later.. I was bloated yesterday from the protein shake and got so paranoid and called the doctors office upset lol! But he told me supposedly its ok.. people telling me different things.. Im kinda getting confused so I stopped the yogurt and its my 9th day and Im still in clear liquids haha... so scared to feel bloated again or mess up my band. Plus I dont mind being in liquids for a while as long as I will be ok.. its my 9th day and I already lost 7 lbs! Yey! My only problem is my obsession with the scale lol ....................... and sucked on a cheetos puff... ( HeyJust wanted to taste it k lol ) I will agree to be in liquids forever as long as I have cheetos puff lol!

You guys are the best, I feel bad for my partner because I just dont want to talk about it shutting her out, Leaving me in a bed bound slump today. I know it will move again I was taking in more it was 600-800 and nothing so I lowered it its like nothing I do works. I know our bodies went through some serious trauma but the lack of weight loss is taking my mental through some serious trauma as well, Heck I would take a pound a week but nothing at all ? I eat 3oz of yogurt for breakfast Salmon and spinach for lunch and for a snack the other half of yogurt then salmon again for dinner I should be loosing this weight like water smh I use the rest room all day long feels like every 20-3 minutes i drink so much water so please body respond is how im feeling right now! I hope your right and I can look back at this and laugh at myself for allowing the scale to control my emotions I really do.

I have to agree you. There's just something about the texture.. gritty maybe? I can totally live without yogurt but, I tried yet another kind today and it was really good. Try the Yoplait 100 greek yogurt. It was crazy creamy. Creamy enough to make me actually want go and buy more for tomorrow!

If you are talking about plain greek yogurt, it does take time to get used to it. I used to add peanut butter, or protein powder to mine. Then I started adding Torani syrup. Now I have started using it to replace mayo in my tuna salad. I use a little lemon pepper in the yogurt and mix 2 tablespoons with 4 oz tuna. I think it rocks!

I hated yogurt especially greek but i found i really like the oikos zero vanilla or toasted coconut...really mild and creamy no sour taste Sent from my LGMS631 using the BariatricPal App

Both my kids are high functioning ASD - I know what you mean! We mostly avoid artificial/processed food, but the pre-op diet was tough. I'd already picked up a few Sucralose products during the insurance mandated diet, but went full chemical sugar free for the last few weeks of super low carb. Man, it was *nasty*. But I've seen the pictures from my surgery and my liver looked FABULOUS, so I'm pretending it helped my liver shrink and am moving on. Like elisa5150, I did use sugar free stuff the first month or so - especially the sugar free popsicles - but also Gelatin, Protein powder, and some protein hot chocolate. Now, I use flavored stevia drops for kefir or yogurt (yay live cultures!) and a little xylitol (a sugar alcohol) in my tea. Some of Protein shakes (Orgain) have stevia and erythritol (another sugar alcohol) or monkfruit and inulin (Jamie Eason Lean Body for Her). Personally, I do really well with xylitol and okay with erythritol (though their "naturalness" is highly debatable). And while current research increasingly makes it look like sucralose and other traditional artificial sweeteners are really messing with gut health, there doesn't seem to be any evidence that stevia, monkfruit, xylitol, or erythritol have much effect one way or the other. There are natural(-ish) protein powders out there - as long as you can keep the carbs and protein where they're supposed to be. (My NUT recommended youbars - they make custom Protein Bars with options for natural sweeteners.) We love grass fed butter and cheese, though I'm sticking with olive oil and coconut oil for now. I do have a tub of natural coconut oil based vegan butter spread I use every once in a while, but I wouldn't give up grass fed dairy for margarine if I had a choice. Mostly, though, my new stomach prefers savory moderate to low fat food, so I try to work with that as much as I can. When I was still eating dairy, I discovered I could mix herbs (Penzey's Fox Point seasoning) into low fat Greek yogurt and use it as a dip. Still got my protein, but didn't have to sweeten it. Which is probably for the best. I don't think living on artificially sweet or fatty things is necessarily better than living on real sweet or fatty things. So, good fats when we eat them - grass fed beef; pastured eggs; olive & coconut oil - and all in reasonable amount. If a dish is too fatty, I can't eat enough to meet my protein goal. Sort of a self limiting problem, so I don't see the need to drag margarine into it. As for sweets... research just keeps making it look like artificial sweeteners wreck your gut and make you crave more sweets. Which kind of makes sense since some "bad" gut bacteria has been tied to increased sugar consumption/desire for sugar. And sweets have gotten me into a lot of trouble in general, so I feel like this is the time to develop better habits. Thank heavens I did full on high fat/low carb Keto before surgery - I rarely had sweet things anyway and it still kicked my butt! But it really did kick the sugar cravings and I am so glad I didn't have to deal with that post surgery! It's made it way easier to explore healthy options that don't involve so many chemicals. Now to try and get back on my gut health protocol and try and get my kids onboard. Wow - sorry this is so meandering - it's the middle of the night and we have a small herd of cousins over for the first Christmas break sleepover. Brain. Fried. Let me know if you need product ideas - I feel like I've researched them all . Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Im having the same issue, but Ive had so many unfills that now Ive gained 20lbs..some days I can eat anything..like breads etc, the next day yogurt wont even go down...and EVERYDAY the heartburn is there. I did a swallow study and it was too restrictive so again, more fluid came out...but it still continuing. Im miserable and am considering having the band removed. Ive had to little over 2 years, lost 80lbs now gained back 20. This has caused me to panic, and think I need it tightened but I am just so sick and tired of constant pbing and just being miserable and hungry all the time and mostly not being able to eat except for crap, like candy. For some reason, thats the only thing that likes to go down..go figure.

I had my post op today too and everything looked good. I got contact dermatitis from the dermabond that is on its way to healing. Still super itchy but it’s not as red as the past couple of days. I’m beginning to think my practice is so incredibly different from the others. We don’t have a purée stage. First 10 days is liquid+ meaning liquids/shakes/yogurt/pudding etc. after 10 days it goes to soft (fork mashable foods) which includes cooked veggies, meats (ex chicken salad and tuna salad, or any moist meat). I’m now cleared to slowly add in these softer foods before cleared for regular food in 3 weeks. I ate tuna tonight with 0 issues :) Fluid avg: 100oz Protein avg: 85g How is everyone else fairing?

I haven't started taking one yet - I'm doing the Viactiv for multi-vitamens, but here's my question... I think I am LIVING on cottage cheese, yogurt, tuna, spinach, and eggs. I feel like I'm on a calcium overdose! Anyone able to share why we're supposed to supplement calcium?

Find things you enjoy! I eat a lot of fish and homemade chicken salad. If you are still on soft food, anything you like can be put in the blender to at least give you a different flavor. I also ate a lot of yogurt and cottage cheese at first. Now I pretty much eat whatever I want (healthy) in a very small amount. If I eat bread, it is multigrain round flat bread and only half of it. If I am having heavy meat (prime rib or filet) I even sometimes have a bite of mashed potatoes or sweet potatoe with my veggies. It is amazing how your taste buds change along with your habits as time goes by. I log everything and still only eat two meals a day (typically) and about 550 calories. I think every NUT has different suggestions. I am down 122 lbs, still see the dr every 3 months and have 25 pounds to go. She also says you have to be satisfied. Good luck everyone. I have had an incredible journey so far and it has been with the help of all of these veterans.

I made mashed potato with broth and greek yogurt (for protein). Then, I pureed minced onions with the mashed potatoes and more broth, and it was yummy.

I am not a fan of yogurt but my NUT say it's very important to eat for protein. I break down and buy some and use no calorie sweeter just as recommended.... Seriously wanted to vomit!! I need help with this... Any suggestions? I plan on trying a bite a day so that I can get used to it.

My mom asked me about greek yogurt and I didn't chosen that because im plans get surgery in January 2017.. I do eat greek yogurt often not daily and i do eat yogurt without greek per my doctor's order I don't like option idea.. I don't eat greek yogurt till after my gastric surgery if my doctor says ok with that..