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I started to get the Greek yogurt with fruit... however I saw the crazy amount of sugar in it and chose not to go there. I use Stivia and other alternatives to sugar, try to keep the additives from SF/LC down as much as possible, so I feel like I'd be back tracking if I started adding things to my diet that have that kind of sugar count. Just me. Also, I don't know how true it is, but I read on one of the WL sites I frequent that any amount of protein over 30g at one time is excessive, and doesn't get absorbed. Just what that WL Dr. of Nutrition said. Haven't had a chance to check with my nut yet.

I also really like Chobani. I am in full liquid stage right now and I have a modified Chobani as my protein for breakfast. I add a couple tablespoons of vanilla protein powder, two teaspoons benefiber, Chobani 0% fat with fruit, 1 Tablespoon milk, some spendra and mix in a small tupperware with a stick blender. This makes the yoghert more liquidy (greek yogurt is thicker than reg.) and the fruit is minced. My favorite part of the full liquid diet. I would say it's about 25 grams protein.

Try Greek yogurt with cocoa powder and some kind of extract ( I like coconut). Blend and freeze for just a little bit.

Thanks! What you wrote made a lot of sense. I have been trying to have yogurt sometimes instead of the protein bar/ shake. I know it will be a process. I don't want to pick up any new bad habits as I am sorting this out.

It's my one month anniversary! I am so excited that I am finally doing something about my health that is working! I have lost 16 pounds since the surgery but don't judge that lightly. I have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and PCOS ( poly cystic ovaries). Both diagnoses made it impossible for me to lose weight in the past because my diet had to be extremely restricted to lose even small amounts of weight. I resigned myself to be happy with losing 5 pounds a month with this surgery (and maybe that will still happen) but #16 in the first month!! I did minimal exercise so that will be phase 2 for me. I have good energy and have resumed my 12 hour a day schedule which is very physical. Right now I still drink a Protein shake daily (over many hours) which has all my Vitamins in it (called Alive from Whole Foods). I eat a hard boiled egg in the morning which fills me way up for a few hours. For dinner I can eat 2-3 oz of fish or chicken (cut up and chewed very well). Then an hour or so later I have some steamed squash or even a small russet potatoe. I eat a cup of yogurt or 1/2 cup of keifer in the afternoon too. I stay pretty full and haven't had any trouble with hunger (unless I go more than 3-4 hours with nothing.) When I'm hungry, just a few spoonfuls is enough. So I'm currently feeling VERY restricted. I have learned one thing. If I drink within a half hour of eating, I can get hungry again. So, I actually look at the clock to determine when I can drink again. I wait a whole hour. The one thing I did that I'm tremendously happy about is that I took a few months before the surgery and genuinely dieted. I lost 19 pounds, so when I hit a two week plateau, which usually makes me give up the diet, it was time for surgery. I think I gave myself a big head start both physically and mentally. So, sitting here one month later I'm down half a shoe size, two dress sizes and of course two cup sizes and I still can't believe I did it!

I've been making a shake with fat free/sugar free frozen vanilla yogurt, 1% skim milk, 1/2 banana sliced, 1 tbsp peanut butter...and you can throw in a scoop of protein powder. delish...

Hi ALL! Just checking to see how everyone is doing. I have not been following any plan really and have lost a total of 35lbs. I am still satisfied because without this surgery I would probably have gained that much weight by now! My bmi is 28.8 and am relieved that I am now in the overweight category. I know I eat more than 1 1/2 cups per sitting. Here are some of the foods I can no longer eat because my band won't allow it : Calamari, ground beef, flour tortillas, bread (most bread products) chewy veges, rice, sushi (I really miss this one!)...I don't really like sweets but I do love flavored yogurt, which I can still eat. I tend to eat alot of Soups. I don't enjoy meat so much anymore. It is too much trouble to get it down. I think one of the main reasons I am still losing is just the fact that I have had to cut out much of the starch that I used to eat. I don't do diet sodas anymore, just Water with a lemon wedge or diluted propel, which I love. What have you guys had to cut out food wise?

I also dont understand. I only had surgery 5 weeks ago and this week have only lost 1 lb. I thought the weight would come off quicker, my Dr. actually said you should loose 1lb per day in the first 3 months and that is definitely not happening for me. I am only consuming protein shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese and tofu and not loosing much weight. I am terrified what will happen when I get back to regular food if I am not loosing now.

Day 5: So far so good. Though, I seriously suck at drinking water! It isn't a taste thing. Water is the only thing I do drink, with the exception of a morning cup of herbal tea, but I am just NEVER thirsty. Like, never, ever ever. Even when I should, by all rights, be really, really thirsty. I can actually forget to drink any liquid all day long at all (and have) if I am not really being mindful. I have to approach drinking like I treat taking vitamins almost. So weird... Not like I am eating soups or anything with liquids either- (maybe the yogurt 1x per day counts fluid wise some though?) Otherwise, it is lean protein/veg. Perhaps I am part camel. 🐪 😉 I do force myself to drink, because, well, death. 💀 lol! I have gone back to a timer like early on, just to space it out better and get it in more as a part of my challenge here. I don't want to grow that back hump, even a little. Item in my home I am most grateful for: Like most people, my dog is the best! He is funny, loyal, and a huge part of our family. The house would not be the same without his sweet, sweet little face. 💙

andrea - you don't necessarily have to cook, though - just assembling things and putting them together in a to-go container is better and cheaper for you than hitting up your local sandwich place. for instance, fruit/veggies and cheese and crackers, and a yogurt cup... there's a lunch right there... and instead of a cooler, what about those thinner insulated bags they have these days? or you can cook a nice medley of veggies and store it in a ball jar and just keep taking some... that way you don't have to cook 4 dinners, but just keep eating leftovers... i'm not trying to preach, i just honestly care, and it's sooo much better for you. in terms of eating out, i would say just try to look for the healthier options on a menu - where do you usually go? if you get a salad, can you get oil and vinegar on the side, so they don't drown your lettuce? what about subway? you can get a big sandwich there with mainly vegetables, and tell them what to put on it, so they don't load it up with mayo. hm, what else? i would tell you to try to go mainly vegetarian... i have posted before that even people like the new york times' mark bittman are saying even if you love meat, you should be mainly vegetarian... and red meat, well i would either cut that out all together or have it once every few months. it's very bad for you. Soup is also a good option, depending on what it has in it. smoothies are SOMETIMES good if you can choose what goes in them, my dr. told me that a lot of eople remain fat by going to places like jamba juice, though. i'm trying to think of what else i do when i go out... if i get a sandwich, i usually take off most of the bread, but i rarely get sandwiches anymore. if you're in an italian place, or actually, any place, you can ask them what dishes they have that are primarily vegetables... instead of (trying to) eat a big thing of pasta/chinese rice/etc... if i think of anything else i will try and let you know! one other reason i say eating in is good is because you get to experiment with what you can eat for when you do eat out, you know?

I love the buffalo chicken too, I use chicken (sometimes chicken breasts, rotisserie chicken, or sometimes canned) and add the hot sauce/wing sauce, plain greek yogurt, and a little bleu cheese dressing. I also love rotisserie chicken or smoked chicken with hidden valley ranch dip mix made with greek yogurt or the hidden valley ranch fiesta dip mix.

Yester day, August 30th I went to the surgeons office. When I was weighed I had lost 24 pounds. The nurse was very excited about that. When the Doctor came in he started to look at my chart and said do you know how much you have lost? I told him yes, but that I did lose some of the weight prior to surgery as I had cut back on my carbs and had been walking 2 miles on my treadmill. I probably had lost 10 pounds from May until my August 17th surgery. While I was there he took off my steri strips that had been covering my incisions. He said I was healing very well. I am happy anyway for the 24# loss. I am scheduled to go back to him on Sept. 12. He told me I could eat anything you would feed a baby. So I had a cup of clam chowder last evening. Yogurt fro breakfast as usual.

This really makes me sad that your doctor doesn't seem to want to help you. I was self pay and my doctor is so hard on me and "demands" me to abuse him for the first year. I have to see him every month regardless if I need a fill or just to talk to him..he wants to see me. You would think since he can't bill my insurance he wouldn't even want to see me. I guess the only thing I can suggest or tell you what I have done...I have currently 5.25 ccs in a 10cc band (I had a total of 4 fills but we had to unfill when I hit 6ccs..it was too tight). When I was first banded 11/23/9 I followed the "diet" to a tee for the first month..then I told my doctor that this is not a diet this is a lifestyle change. I eat normal foods (I make the same meal for my entire family for dinner). I just eat much smaller portions, I eat the protien first and then nibble on what ever else might be served. I never drink a 1/2 prior or after any meal. I am not a breakfast person so I normal do drink a shake for breakfast. My snacks include Chobani Greek yogurt or SF pudding. I have lost 75 lbs to date and going strong. I walk for my excerise. I love my band!! Stay positive. I truly hope this new doctor is more helpful to you! I wish you the best!!

I didn’t know what to title this. My surgery was April 29th, I ended up in the ER the day after my release from the hospital with pneumonia, critically low potassium and acute UTI. I was also diagnosed with esophageal dysphasia. Because of that my follow up appointments got thrown off course. I had two appointments close together. The second appointment he had me go for a upper gi fluoroscopy and endoscopy. Which found stoma stricture, Schatzki ring, sliding hiatal hernia and ulcers. TBH after the endoscopy I didn’t want to schedule my next follow up appointment. And the doctor hadn’t said when. It should have been 2-3 months post-op but it’s almost 4 1/2 months. I see my surgeon on Thursday and because I need medical transportation it turns into practically an all day affair. I am actually dreading this appointment. He is a great surgeon but my communication skills, especially when I’m fatigued are sorely lacking. I’m at a loss what to say since I feel like I can’t do anything right. While yes my weight has gone down (rather slow) and I think I’ve hit around 53lb loss - I haven’t been able to progress in certain things and have to keep my calories very low otherwise I stall. Due to the esophageal dysphasia I’m not drinking a lot of water. I haven’t attempted purées again and should probably even be into regular foods by now. The most I’ve been able to manage is yogurt mixed with protein powder for breakfast (sometimes a shake) cottage cheese, BariatricPal protein soup (if I have any) juice flavor protein mixes, and sometimes soft boiled egg but I get kind of sick from it so not too often. It’s more an allergy thing with that. My surgeon never really said anything after the endoscopy. I read on the results that he balloon dilated the stricture which it seems to me he did it too much at once and I don’t feel better. The fluoroscopy showed it at 3mm and he dilated 10mm and assumed it was ok because the scope passed? I find it perplexing. And maybe they think the other issues too minor? I don’t. I don’t want to be stuck on proton pump inhibitors. They cause constipation and are not safe long term for things like magnesium, bone density etc. which I have enough bone density loss as is. I told My gastroenterologist about new issues with this of course they said talk to the surgeon and also my PCP. I’ve been having crushing chest pain. And weird strong spasms below my ribs on the left side. Of course I forgot to mention it to my PCP I was too annoyed by her attitude when I caught her up on the surgery and everything after it (she was on maternity leave a few months) well that’s a long story I won’t bore anyone with. My gastroenterologist scheduled me for a colonoscopy the end of this month to rule out possible colitis (a ct scan result said colitis) I was supposed to have had it before my RNY but it didn’t work out that way. I’m not sure how I’ll manage prep. They gave me a prescription for one that is less to drink but I’m allergic to it. Ill have to do clear liquids two days prior to the colonoscopy. Does clear protein count as a clear liquid or do I not have protein? I’ve had colonoscopies before but this is my first after RNY. Also. I have endometriosis and it’s possible he won’t see the problem in the colonoscopy since that won’t show up if it’s on the outside. I worry it won’t answer the problems there. As for endometriosis. I saw my uro/gyn because of hemorrhagic cysts on my one remaining ovary. Which also has endometriosis on it. I guess it’s time to have it out now and I’m scheduled for that October 14th. Which means .............. menopause. But I’m hoping it will ease the endometriosis and pcos symptoms. He had removed my other ovary that was covered with endometriosis during other procedures he was doing at the time. I’m too chicken to ask him about an issue with one of the other procedures he did. Just like my follow up with my bariatric surgeon. I’m at a loss what to say and when I’m exhausted I lose my words. Also doesn’t help that I speak to several people before he enters the room. I feel like they expect me to be cured of all my ailments after surgery, even my pcp had that attitude but with lifelong chronic illness it doesn’t work that way. In fact I knew things likely would get worse for me but this was my last chance at a tool to fight my out of control weight gain. You can only eat so little calories without help of some kind. My surgery wasn’t reliant on comorbidities since my BMI was 40. I have them. But most wont just go away with weight loss. But it doesn’t mean I regret the surgery. (My pcp had the attitude of why did I have it if it didn’t help those things ... well I was already at least 208lbs and BMI 40 (height 5’) like isn’t that enough of a reason? Im sorry I just wrote a very long rant. My memory is so terrible I don’t remember when my last two appointments were and what was discussed at the last one. I don’t think they even mentioned my bloodwork. All I know is that was when he scheduled the tests. Now I’m following up on that. I almost don’t even want to go. I feel like I won’t be able to explain anything. And honestly surgeons just want to hear that you lost a huge amount of weight and that you’re doing great not “it’s complicated. “

Breakfast- Snyntax nectar Protein drink...chocolate truffle 27 g protein Snack- Fage greek yogurt w/ sf french vanilla syrup 12 g protein Lunch- 2 oz tuna mixed with grey Poupon 13 g protein and a few tiny baby carrots Snack- 1 Laughing Cow lite swiss cheese 3 g protein with 1 Wasa light rye crispbread Dinner- Boca Burger w a few spinach leaves 14 g protein and a thin slice of tomato Snack- Atkins Carb Advantage Mocha Latte 17 g protein 540 calories 86 g protein

I made some fresh yogurt. Chipotle chicken broth mixed with mashed potatoes instead of Water is great. Have not tried refried Beans yet. Made deviled eggs and ate one. thats my mushy experience so far.

I see you are pre-op so that's a "whole 'nother world" from post WLS. Because, you still have the monkey on your back for portions and addiction to the foods that made us all fat, especially when it comes to eating easy, crap food that tastes delicious and packs a sh*t ton of fat/carb calories with them and the drive thru is a tempting, evil siren. My advice if THIS above scenario is actually your issue, then we all just have to suck it up buttercup and change the way we deal with food. Now, if I'm wrong and instead it's because you have lost your appetite and desire for food as you move toward the WLS outcome, then I sincerely apologize and will help you brainstorm. I second what everyone said about the crockpot and storebought rotisserie chicken especially post WLS, because crockpots are awesome for cooking things in moist heat so they will go down your new tummy better. But if even a crockpot sounds too gruesome for words with work, then you can think of many other pre-made foods from the grocery. I personally think some of them are full of hidden sugars/salts, but there are some jewels that work really well. I tend to eat the same 2-3 things for breakfast and lunch every day. It's easy. It's easy to track in MFP. And I'm not bored by them cuz they are just "expendable meals." I'm busy with work and other daily chores so am not counting on them to speak to my soul, just fuel my body and keep me from going off the deep end with hunger. Breakfast: 1. Omelet or egg scramble with Hillshire Farms Black Forest Ham or pre-cooked turkey sausage crumbles from Jimmy Dean, baby organic spinach/super greens trio, mushrooms, salsa. 2. Cottage Cheese/Greek Yogurt mixture (to keep the carbs down and get probiotics), frozen blueberries, 5g Fiber One Cereal 3. Green smoothie: scoop of banana cream protein powder, 1.5oz frozen chopped spinach, 1oz frozen blueberries, 5g whole psyllium husks, 12oz water, 4-5 ice cubes=blend and drink. (Sometimes I add 6g Vitacost Peanut Butter Slim Powder.) Lunch: 1. Salad + grilled or unbreaded protein (you can get at any drive thru or make your own) 2. Lunch Wrap: Hillshire Farms deli meat, low fat mayo, organic spinach or chopped cabbage, low cal dressing, low carb tortilla 3. Green soup: 2c water, 1 1/2 tsp Better Than Bouillon, 100g chopped frozen greens-your choice, 2 mushrooms sliced, frozen squash or cauliflower (optional), 2oz diced protein (any kind), spices of your choice, hot pepper vinegar. 4. Sardines, mustard, pork skins and grape tomatoes Dinner: You can do anything, but essentially I grill/broil/pan saute a whole package of chicken on the weekend. I cook a lb or 2 of ground meat (turkey, chicken, lean beef, or pork), and usually make a pork loin cuz they are so dayum cheap. Once that is done, I can portion and freeze or leave in the fridge since there's 2 of us. So that's the meat. Once in awhile I will make a pot of chili, meat sauce for "spaghetti," and special soups or stewps then portion and freeze for rainy, non-cooking meals. I keep frozen veggies (broccoli and green beans), fresh veggies: salad stuff, grape tomatoes, avocados, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, etc cuz it takes 5 minutes to whip up a couple of servings of veggies at dinner. I keeps sauces either made or bought to add to meat to jazz it up. I keep shiritaki rice and noodles to sub for pasta. Then beyond that I keep string cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan on hand along with cottage cheese, yogurt, hard boiled eggs. I keep packets of chicken, tuna, and salmon in the pantry. With all of that stuff, I'm able to get meals together in 10 minutes or less. That keeps me on the weight loss trail and living the dream as I work toward surgery. If you don't want to cook meat, look in the frozen foods at all the grilled basics like: fajita beef, grilled chicken, brisket, pulled pork--just read the labels for added sugar, carbs, and calories. Hope this helps you!

I have been trying to find a Protein shake that didn't taste like a Protein Shake and I think my wife has hit the nail on the head! She knows I like Peanut Butter and chocolate is good with so much! So she created this for me. I just had a serving and it is soo good. 5 oz container of Danon Light n Fit Toasted Coconut Greek Yogurt 5 oz of low fat milk 3 tablespoons of Jiff Peanut powder 1 Scoop chocolate Protein Powder 4 ice cubes 4 oz serving has 22 grams of protein It may not be to everyone's liking, but it hits the spot for me. Good luck to everyone and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

I targeted my 2 week pre op diet today! Ugh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ how ppl do this Lolz. I had broth, 3oz of stewed beef with about less than a 1/4 cup of rice with beans, 2 cups of protein with skim plus and a yogurt. Oh yea not to mention 5 cups of water! Smh

This is my first post, and I am hoping my first attempt to get some help. I have been banded since OCT 2006 starting weight 126kg getting to my lowest weight December 2008 which was 75kg. I am 5ft10inch I have never been able to eat properly with my band only being able to keep down fluids with most solid food coming back up. I for over 3 years vomit any solid food I eat. Over the past 12 months I have gained back over 10kg of my lowest weight even though my calorie intake would be lucky to exceed 600 calories a day (unless I binge on chocolate!) My daily intake of food is lucky to be a V drink and 2 freddo frogs with the occassional handful of nuts or sometimes I can keep down some Cereal with yogurt. I can't go back to my surgean to have fill taken out for 2 reasons. firstly I had some further surgeries with him that didn't go well and I don't trust him and 2 I am scared if I get fill taken out my weight will go up even further! I recently went and had some tests done and have been diagnosed with something called Adrenal Fatigue, my thyroid is no longer working my Iron along with most other nutrients is dangerously low and they class me as having malnutrition...In short I am killing myself... I know this in my head, I am a smart person, a mum, a successful business owner... but I am petriefied of being fat again (even thought I look at myself at the moment and class myself as extremely overweight since gaining the 10kg) I am booked into a specialist to work on the adrenal fatigue and thyroid but just don't know what to do with regards to my lapband... Please don't come on here and be agressive with me that is not what I need, I need to speak to people that understand me and can help me... My husband is worried (no one else knows I have even had the band done) I cover my fatigue and general unwellness very well but am suffering daily with these chronic symptoms. Sorry for such a long post, I have woken today feeling exceptionally unwell and realise I need to do something before its too late..

am am 3 weeks out. I have yogurt, blueberries, well chewed chicken (roasted), scrambled egg well chewed, protein shakes and protein puddings. I don't get in all my water but at least 48 ounces (not counting any shakes). I have started to avoid the shakes and eat more of the foods mentioned because I am getting my protein 60g+ that way and feeling fuller than on shakes. I also eat alot of sugar free popcicles and jello when I want to snack (head hunger) so that I am getting few calories and filling up. I feel like I can eat more than alot of you guys mention but I think maybe that is because I am smaller in general pre surgery 166 and surgery 155 (but I was a revision from a slipped lap band). I am really concentrating on protein protein protein and chew chew chew and sip sip sip. Doing pretty great I think as far as following that and staying low in calories and carbs. I just want this stall to end so I can feel some progress in the flesh. But I went through too much to give up. I also feel I need to walk more but that is difficult with my time and schedule. I get 7000 steps (whatever that means) generally each day.

you could try PB2 it is a peanut butter powder only 45 cals per serving. It helps when you crave that peanut butter taste. I add it to my shakes or plain greek yogurt or even spread it on a lo cal bread.

I’m 3 weeks post sleeve. After moving to purée stage I was feeling hungry more often. Yes get the protein in first. My directions are 1 scoop of protein powder must have 20 gms of protein and below 12 gms of sugar. I mix the protein powder with almond milk. I got a jug of protein powder that tastes terrible so I got some dry peanut butter powder from Amazon for more protein. I mix only 4 ozs almond milk, protein powder 1 scoop, 2 Tbsp of dry peanut powder plus one Tbsp sugar free Greek vanilla yogurt. Tastes like a peanut butter milkshake which if you like peanut butter tastes pretty good. Somewhere I read the difference between head hunger and true hunger. I find that useful. Make sure you are drinking enough water because dehydration can be confused for hunger. My diabetes immediately went away so the surgery was well, well worth it in my book. Good luck!!

Hey there Same-Day Sleevie (11/8)!!!!!! I've planned a little something with just my mom, dad, and I (family is on the otherside of the country or out of the country). Here's what's on the menu (for me): Mashed Potatoes (not chunky for me) Cranberry Sauce Peas (mashed) Ground Turkey with Stuffing (cooked soft - might not eat it) Baked Cauliflower Mac & Cheese (won't eat that day; will freeze for next week) Ricotta Bake Granted, I'm not going to eat that all at one time (will be spaced out for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner that day, along with one Premier Protein blended with Plain Greek Yogurt for extra protein -- to drink at two separate times) We're lucky we're in the stage of pureed/soft foods around this time lol. My doc and nutritionist is fine with it, as long as I get my exercise in every day lol.

You can get skim milk powder and mix 1/3 cup into a cup of skim milk. You double the Protein and it tastes more like whole milk but you aren't adding any fat. Also you can get some hummus or fat free bean dip and purée it with some flavorless protein powder and some cottage cheese. Or used canned chicken or canned tuna puréed with mayo or Greek yogurt.