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At five weeks, I was just a few days into eating cooked regular foods as tolerated. But, since your doctor has you on a slower transition, you should just roll with it. I am surprised that you seem to be eating mostly carbs. Even at the mushy stage, you can eat regular food, just cook it to softness and then run it through the blender a bit to break it down. On soft mushy foods, I was eating yogurt (protein), scrambled eggs (protein), refried Beans with cheese and a little sour cream (protein), beef stew run through the blender (protein), moist chicken meat (protein), moist ground beef or turkey (protein) and steamed fish (protein). Let the blender be your friend. For every 1/2 cup of Protein, I was to eat two tablespoons of veggies. One of my biggest issues with food was changing my habits developed around food. I loved sweet rolls, muffins, pancakes, etc. for Breakfast as soon as I opened my eyes - sweets with a cup of sweet tea. Now I have eggs for breakfast, but one day it's a fried egg, one day it is boiled, maybe another day it is a small cheese omelet with sauteed peppers, onions, mushrooms and ham, and today I am eating deviled eggs. lunch was frequently an hour after breakfast. Now I make a point to drink at least two bottles of Water before I eat anything else, and then it is a snack. Today I had a gherkin and an ounce of cheese. Some days the snack is 1/2 an apple with a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. A couple of days a week, my snack is 1/3 cup yogurt with some berries. See, it is not the same every day. lunch is now early afternoon, and I am starting to eat more tuna salad and other cold salads and vary the ingredients. My late afternoon snack might be a little dark chocolate with a handful of almonds. In my soft phase, yogurt was my go-to. I could put a little sugar-free jam in it to give it a little flavor. Supper was any soft meat I wanted plus a couple of spoonfuls of mashed veggies. My favorite was/is green beans because they are not starchy. My bedtime snack, if I have to have one, is usually oatmeal with stewed apples, or 1/2 banana and peanut butter....there are so many things you can do. Meals cannot be the highlight of my day anymore. I have to be creative and find interesting things to do that don't involve mindless munching on popcorn or chips. Bariatric surgery changes your life. You need to think differently to feel differently and get healthy. This gets better as you graduate through the various phases because your options open up. No, I do not eat Pasta anymore. Last night for dinner, I had two meatballs with spaghetti sauce and parmesan cheese, and a few green beans. I have had pizza a couple of times and just use a fork to pull the goodies off the crust. There is no flavor in regular crust anyway. It's just a plate you can eat. Dessert will be a peach, not peach pie. Put on your thinking cap and get creative. Drink water, sip, sip, sip until your eyeballs float. You can do this!

Does anyone else here feel really hungry when they are bored? I am not busy at my job so I get really bored sitting at my desk for 8 hours every day. When I have nothing to occupy me, I find myself thinking about all the foods I can't have then I feel insatiable hunger. I know this is just head hunger but it feels so real. I try to find things to do like go for a walk or whatnot but I'm pretty limited on things to keep me busy. My doctor has a pretty strict post-op diet which doesn't allow soft foods until Day 36. I'm on day 23 and found myself eating some tiny cubes of soft cheese earlier just because I felt so hungry. I've tried snacking on healthier things like Greek yogurt or cottage cheese but it seems like my hunger isn't satisfied unless my taste buds are satisfied. This is exactly the kind of behavior that made me overweight in the first place. I don't think three tiny cubes of cheese will hurt me but I just don't want to fall back into old habits so soon. Any tips on how to combat this fake hunger and how to make healthier choices? PS I only experience these feelings at work when I'm so bored and stuck for 8 hours. When I'm home or out and about, I have no trouble sticking to my diet.

@@Anabean I'm 5 weeks too and I too struggle to eat more than 1/4 cup I do two 30g Protein drinks a day premiere protein and I also usually have a cup of homemade chicken broth in the afternoon. dinner I get some fish and I might snack on one egg in the mid morning or cottage cheese or yogurt like 1-2 tbsp. Down 40 so far never ate so much protein in my life lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I loved my pureed stage... I actually still eat some of the same foods. Mashed potatoes with cheese and/or garlic and added unflavored Protein powder Plain Greek yogurt flavored with various protein powders Cottage cheese mixed with milk and Muscle Milk cake batter Protein Powder (tastes like cheesecake) Pureed split pea Soup Pureed bean soup Pureed chili Huevos rancheros without the tortilla Cream of wheat with chocolate or vanilla protein powder String cheese Deviled ham Hummus Guacamole squash with added unflavored protein powder Egg salad Pureed tuna fish with mayo and mustard And leftover from full liquids....unflavored protein powder added to cream of shrimp, cream of asparagus, tortilla soup base, strained miso soup, egg drop soup, lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, etc. and I STILL drink a big protein/fiber smoothie everyday.

I was told to do a Liver Shrinking Diet (Make sure it is less fatty, and a smaller size considering the stomach is located under it). I don't start my pre-op diet until 2 weeks before, but the Liver Shrinking diet a month before. This includes: 2 Protein shakes (Less than 200 cal, 12 carbs, 5 fat, 36 protein) 2 Protein Snacks ( Protein Bar, greek yogurt, 2 eggs, string cheese, 3 oz protein, or serving of nuts) 1 Meal (palm size protein, three handfuls of non-starch veggies, or one handful of fruit) Plenty of Water They said I can add a veggie to my protein snack too. Talk to your nutritionist - I am sure at your pre-op class they will let you know if there is anything else. I have been doing it for almost a month, and have lost 25 lbs. And according to my tests, my liver is healthier too.

Hey.thats cool. i do what works for me i eat between 800-1000 cals per day depends if i am training or not. i snack also on fruit or a yogurt and crackers with low fat cheese if i want. also i do have chocolate and im dropping weight like crazy. This journey is so so individual i do what works for me and what works for me isnt for some people. i know im on the right track because i am losing alot but its good to find out other peoples journey and what they do. Sent from my SM-G935F using the BariatricPal App

Avocados, full fat eggs, full fat cheese, pork sausage rather than turkey, 80/20 ground beef, butter. You do have to be careful with adding TOO much fat at one time, but you should be able to eat enough with a mixed meal in order to get enough fats to up your calories. Then there's the whole grain and starch thing. And IF you're trying to gain weight the fastest way to do that is to add fat to carbs, BUT it goes to the wrong place. Honestly if it was me, I'd go search out not only what foods you can eat as an RNY, but look at programs designed for males who are trying to add lean muscle. Cuz honestly that's really what you need--even in the absence of being able to weight train right now. I'd eat saucy gooey casseroles that are very calorie dense (think lasagna, chicken pot pie, stews, chicken and noodles, chicken and rice). You can blend those things and then thin them out with Fairlife milk or broth in order to make them appropriate for Stage 2/3. Mashed potatoes fully loaded with sour cream or full fat Greek yogurt and cheese and green onions. That sort of thing. But, quite frankly, you really don't need to "gain" just for the sake of gaining. You really just need to not LOSE any more. Here's the "ideal" weight chart that insurance and the med prof uses. It's pretty beyond most of us, cuz it's so low...but look where you are. You're not that far off. If it was me, I'd just chillax about the scale. Eat to your stage, work with your RD to set up a healthy diet that keeps you from losing...then when you can begin a strategic strength training program working out in about 6-10 weeks, then you see an exercise physiologist who is also an RD to put you on a program to gain muscle. Hope you heal well and get better soon!!!

I'm not a vegetarian but I do have some meatless ideas for you. I enjoy a lot of yogurt and cottage cheese. I find Oikos Triple Zero gives you the best high protein/high fiber/low sugar option. My favorite way to prepare cottage cheese is with toasted walnuts and a drizzle of honey. For meals I have a fiesta black bean quinoa salad that my husband and I just love. (I'll post a link for the recipe) I also like to make wraps with hummus and black beans, spinach leaves and red pepper slices. Egg salad would also be a good idea especially if you are still early in pureed/soft stages. So would lentil soup. https://www.crunchycreamysweet.com/roasted-sweet-potato-black-bean-quinoa-salad-recipe/ https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/lemony-lentil-soup/

Healthy snack ideas for your hungry stomach. For many of us, snack time is when we lose control of our diets, either by overeating, or by indulging in high-fat, high-calorie foods. This often happens because we allow ourselves to get too hungry and then are unable to stop ourselves from overeating, says Dee Sandquist, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and manager of the Nutrition and Diabetes Center at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. To avoid getting too hungry, Sandquist says she recommends always carrying a healthy, portable snack with you when you know you'll be out on the run without easy access to healthy food choices. Try getting at least two food groups in each of those Snacks so that you're getting a combination of carbohydrates and fat/protein, which will help keep you satiated longer, she adds. Here, some super snack food ideas: Plain Yogurt with Blueberries - Pair plain yogurt with blueberries for a sweet treat that has a similar texture to ice cream. Yogurt is a great source of Calcium and Protein, and blueberries are packed with valuable antioxidants that help fight off heart disease. If fresh blueberries aren't in season, try frozen instead they work great in cool, creamy yogurt. Or if you get bored with blueberries, substitute any other frozen fruit like cranberries or cherries. Recommended Serving Size: Plain, low-fat yogurt, 1/2 cup, 56 calories Blueberries, 2/3 cup, 30 calories banana with Almond Butter - This combination will keep you satiated for a longer time than either on their own because of the combination of Fiber in the banana and protein and fat in the almond butter. Bananas are also an excellent source of potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps and is essential for normal brain function. Of course, Peanut Butter would be a great substitute for almond butter. Recommended Serving Size: Medium banana, 95 calories Almond butter, 1 tablespoon, 101 calories Hummus with Pita Bread - Made from chickpeas, hummus provides protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. Spread hummus on pita bread for some added carbohydrates. Also try putting some veggies on your bread to make a great sandwich. Recommended Serving Size: Hummus, 2 tablespoons, 83 calories Pita bread, 1 round, 195 calories Apple with Brie cheese - Stick to a small amount of cheese with this snack because of brie's high saturated fat content. However, brie does offer a good protein source. Apples have a low glycemic index, which means they keep hunger at bay longer than other fruits. Recommended Serving Size: Apple, 47 calories Brie cheese, 2 ounces, 160 calories Salsa w/ Baked Tortilla chips - Ingredients in salsa vary greatly, but most tomato-based vegetable salsas are an excellent source of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and lycopene, which helps prevent heart disease and some cancers. Avoid high-calorie fried chips by purchasing the baked varieties instead, and be sure to look for varieties that list zero trans fats on their nutrition labels. Recommended Serving Size: Salsa, 2 ounces, 20 calories Baked tortilla chips, 1 ounce, 120 Light Microwave Popcorn - Although this is a single-food snack, Sandquist says she recommends it because of its high fiber and B vitamin content. Plus, who can resist the smell of popcorn? Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup, 30 calories

to see how food goes down, take a funnel. put in yogurt. (if you want to see the effects of drinking Water with meals, put in some water with it) now put in mushies. they tend to go down slower.

Hmmm, definately worth a try - the apple before meal, and I know I've been eating too much mushy easy food too. Managed to spk to my radiologist today. She wants me to keep a food diary. She also think if I cant eat solid food ie meat etc, then I am too tight and shd have some fill taken out as the band will only work with solid food, cos the soft food go right through and I'll never be hungry. So true again. But I got one month to try to lose some weight before going back to her again, I really dont want to have to take any out, but on hindsight perhaps I should. Today, BFast - muller light, Morning Snk - banana Lunch - Salad with tuna & soup for lunch. Afternoon snack - 3pcs ginger biscuit and weight watchers yogurt. Dinner - Home cook chicken & veg soup and Bake salmon. Evening snack - 1 pcs of choc cake. Supper - 1 glass spritzer and 1 pck prawn crackers.

If you are worried you have damaged your sleeve, go to the doctor and have him do a leak test. STOP EATING SOLID FOODS. PERIOD. It is too early for you to do that. You could get things caught in your staple line and possibly cause an infection or leak. Yes, you have a line of staples the length of your stomach. While that line of staples is healing, you need to be on liquids, then full liquids, then mushies. Nothing you mentioned you are taking bites of is OK. You need to be drinking protein drinks and clear fluids. Maybe some SF jello, or maybe yogurt. Ask your doctor. When I would get hungry(which was acid), I would take a GASX strip and drink either warm broth or warm tea. I would drink my protein drinks and calorie free liquids (Propel, etc). I was prescribed FAMOTIDINE (pepcid) morning and evening and I took a prilosec in the evening. Don't mean to be harsh - I am just worried you are going to hurt yourself. Please take care and let us know how you are doing. Good Luck!

My doctor put me on Full liquids after day two, this included yogurt, sugar free pudding, cottage cheese, cream of wheat cereal, milk, thick soups. The yogurt and pudding really helped at those times I was really hungry. Listen to your body, you will know when to stop eating. Now at two weeks I can progress to pureed foods. He told me to go slow when I start transitioning to 'real' food and to be careful with meat. When I saw him yesterday and he said I was doing great. I only have 30 more pounds to lose. My next visit is in six weeks. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Try kefir. Super tasty with more Probiotics than drinkable yogurt. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I put yogurt with milk in the blender and made a shake. I could use regular yogurt, not Greek cause it is too thick.

Get a low sugar Greek yogurt, blend with Fairlife milk. If you're in the South, Publix has a great yogurt smoothie called B'More. I love those. Sent from my Nexus 6P using the BariatricPal App

I have a protein drink I enjoy. I use one cup non-fat plain yogurt, one cup frozen strawberries (not sweetened), 2-3 pkgs Equal, one scoop unflavered whey protein powder, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend in a blender until smooth. Very high in protein and low in calories. Just stick it in an insulated mug and you can sip or drink from it over the day. I find it very filling and the unflavored whey protein powder has a higher protein content than the flavored ones.

I havent read all the in between posts but I agree with you entirely Janine. I dont like artificially sweetened products, I'm wary of what artificial sweeteners may do to you Healthwise, and I dont like the taste. But wait, there's more, lol. I dont like low fat products either (apart from skim milk and mayonnaise). I like full fat cheese and yogurt. Way I see it, if you eat appropriately and in moderation from all food groups, in proper amounts, the fat isnt a problem. AND here's the really contraversial thing. I dont believe in low carb. I think its unhealthy and a great way to give yourself bowel cancer and heart disease years down the track. I respect people's choices but I dont think there's any miracle about it, cut out a food group and you lose weight. All that scientific mumbo jumbo about insulin levels etc, I dont believe that. I think wholegrain low GI carbs are just fine. When people say they're addicted to carbs because they crave them, well of course you will crave them if you dont eat them because you're body needs them. They provide ready energy. People that suffer *severe* carb and caffeine cravings often have an underlying disorder like hypothyroidism. But I agree, sugar is no good for anyone. Processed white refined carbs are crap foods that we shouldnt eat. I also think the Protein first thing is garbage, we need food from ALL the food groups. It may be the best way to get full but its not the best way to nourish yourself. Protein is not the only nutrient we need. Lol, wow, I feel brave saying all that. Each to their own though. Why would I want to argue and be disrespectful of the way other's choose to lose weight? My way works for me, and that's all I'm really concerned about. I'm not saying I'm 100% right either, its just my personal feelings. I would never not follow my surgeon's directions, but I only had to do 24 hours of Clear liquids, others have to do 2 weeks. So who's right? There's no consensus on it. But I do agree that if you cant follow the post op instructions, you're going to struggle long term.

For low carbs, you pretty much have to eat all protein--no oatmeal, no prepared microwave meals, no crackers. Even a cup of skim milk has 13 gms of carbs. My turkey breast which I had for breakfast has 3 carbs as it's honey-roasted. My meals are fish, seafood, meat, greek yogurt, chicken, and eggs. cheese as a condiment and half&half in coffee.

So that means stay on my protein drink 3x a day... my Dr said to take yogurt 2x a day but heck thats outrageous... company is here.. bbl

Any meat, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese...these things are all high in Protein. Not so much the fruits, which are typically high in sugar.

I had a huge waist too. I'm also at a 36 now. The only Greek yogurt I can eat is oikos triple zero. Yes nuts are the devil. I have issues with just eating away like it's nothing with them too. Glad your getting back on track. I weighed in at 193 today.

I would like to start posting more on the food I eat now at 9 months out. This is what I had yesterday: 5:10am 1/2 banana and 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter 6:30am coffee with Splenda and fair life milk (this is the reason I couldn't keep dr Weiner diet) I really need my coffee and it needs to be with Splenda and milk. 9:00 3 egg whites with turkey sausage, veggies, and cheese 11:30am premier chocolate Protein shake and 1 cup of veggies 2:00pm coffee again and nuts 5:30pm 1 cup of fage Greek yogurt 0% with a crystal light packet. 7:00pm watermelon and some more nuts I haven't been tracking my food in my fitness pal! I guess I need to. My weight is still at 169-170. I bumped up my exercise a lot more this past week and have every intention on keeping up with exercise. What I found out that is much easier if I do the exercise in the morning - get it out if the way as early as possible . So far within the past 8 days I have done 4 boot camp classes and one Zumba and walked on the treadmill 2 times for 45min. I hope I start seeing the scale move, however I will be happy as long as I feel good and see that my clothes fit better! Hope everyone have a great day!

I eat a lot of fish lemon sole - sauteed in butter and lemon chile - burgers (just the patty 10% lean) I havent' made my staple chicken breast marinated in olive oil, lemon and oregano Veggies usually portobello mushrooms grilled. Have done baked eggplant w/ the greek garlcky yogurt.

Full liquids are tough to get creative with, but I had a few good things. I got potato, bacon and cheddar low fat cream Soup and blended it until it was smooth and that was probably one of the best things I ate. I also got some Cinnabon flavored cream of wheat and made it with unsweetened almond milk. Cinnamon applesauce, sugar free pudding cups, greek yogurt, cream of chicken soup. It's not easy but it was a DEFINITE step up from clears.