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Hi! I am 3 weeks post operated and I am on muchy food. This is what the dr. given me... Soft Diet after Gastric Band Surgery {Non-veg} [2-4 weeks] General Principles 1.No liquids 15 minutes before & 1 hour after a meal. 2.A meal means 4-5 teaspoonful of food to be eaten slowly. 3.You may remain hungry after a meal but please wait for 20-30 minutes & then you should feel full/satiated. If you still remain hungry, then please contact us. 4.Average meal interval should be 4-6 hours. 5.Avoid sugars & use sugar substitute 6.Minimum oil to be consumed /day 7.No soft drinks [even diet ones] / Tea / coffee 8.Always eat Proteins first. 9.Eat siowly. 10. Daily walks 11.Water intake 2 litres Breakfast- Oatmeal/Wheat porridge in skimmed milk or Idli with sambhar (no oil), no coconut chutney or Tofu , preferably fat free or Egg white -[ scrambled, half boiled, poached] or Lassi made from skimmed milk , sugar substitute or Low fat paneer lunch - Khichdi /Semisolid dal / Minced fish or chicken , well- cooked vegetables and curd / low fat yogurt. Dinner-Veg Soup with dal / egg-white or Chicken soup You may interchange any of the above items at meals. In addition, you can have Skimmed milk-150 ml twice daily-not with meals Ensure Low fat yogurt /Curd [of skimmed milk or low fat milk] Papaya / melon / pear / stewed apple. I would like to compair with others as half of this foods I can't get here or eat. What are you aloud during the 3-4 weeks diet?? Does anyone have a meaurement how much to eat of Protein, vegetables, fruit, ensure a day?? I feel I am over eating... but at the same time I feel I need to eat to get enough protein a day. Has anybody get any feeling of fullness after eating. How do you know that you are full???? Or should one never feel full??? I would appreachiate any help... :help:

I am scheduled for 1 week liquid protein 4 times a day, 1 cup of veggies and 2 servings of milk or yogurt.

I had a very little fill yesterday .2 ccs. I thought I was already at 6 ccs, but the doctor said I was actually at 5.8. so now I am at 6. I am doing soft foods for today just to be safe. I lost 3.5 lbs in the past 2 weeks. I am now down 30 lbs!!!!! I have noticed that I am pretty tight in the morning and can not really eat anything solid. I started eating a few bites of yogurt when I wake up just to have food in the pouch and jump start my metabolism. Night eating is still the hardest part of my day. I get bored or something and want to munch. Any helpful ideas????? I do sugar free popsicles already. All in all I am really happy and pleased with the weight loss and the progress. My clothes fit better and my joints feel much better. I know I still have a long way to go, but I am on the right track at least and making head way. :thumbup: Oh and I have never had blood preasure issues, but when they took it yesterday it was 117/78. She said that was ideal!!!!! How cool. :smile2:

8:15 am - South Beach Protein bar, Coffee w/cream - 210 cal 11:00 - 7 almonds - 48 cal 12:00 - grilled chicken and green beans from Goldies Patio grill, mini candy bar - 405 cal 3:30 - non fat yogurt mixed with all bran cereal - 130 cal 6:30 - 1 oz cheese (sharp chedder), 1 cup of homemade turkey chili - 410 cal Total calories 1203 Exercise: Elliptical - 30 min Quads/thighs Hip Abductor - Inner - 3 sets - 1 @ 80bls, 2 @ 90lbs Outter - 3 sets - 1 @ 80 lbs, 1 @ 85 lbs, 1 @ 90 lbs. Leg Press - 3 sets - 55 lbs each set Bench step - 2 sets on each leg holding 5 lb dumbbells. Ball squats - 1 set of 10, holding for 10 seconds. Hamstrings/Glutes: Glute Machine - 2 sets @ 35 lbs (need to go up next time, easy with 35 lbs) Seated Let Curl - 2 sets @ 45 lbs Lying Leg Curl - 1 set @ 30 lbs Calves: Calve Machine - 3 sets - 1 @ 90 lbs, 2 @ 100 lbs Standing dumbbell calf raises - 2 sets holding 8 lbs dumbbells ABS: Laying hip raises - 2 sets @ 15 each Ab Crunch machine - 2 sets of 15 with 10 lbs weights Incline sit ups - 2 sets of 25 each Stretched - did not hop back on elliptical, I called it a night after 1 hr 40 min. Notes: I'm starting to see my body change, my DH told me last night my butt sure is smaller. :sneaky:. Still have not weighed, and excited to take my measurements to see how far I've come in 2 weeks! Today is my 21 year wedding anniversary, I wonder if I could fit into my wedding dress? I might try it on tonight to see.

8:15 am - South Beach Protein bar, Coffee w/cream - 210 cal 11:00 - 7 almonds - 48 cal 12:00 - grilled chicken and green beans from Goldies Patio grill, mini candy bar - 405 cal 3:30 - non fat yogurt mixed with all bran cereal - 130 cal 6:30 - 1 oz cheese (sharp chedder), 1 cup of homemade turkey chili - 410 cal Total calories 1203 Exercise: Elliptical - 30 min Quads/thighs Hip Abductor - Inner - 3 sets - 1 @ 80bls, 2 @ 90lbs Outter - 3 sets - 1 @ 80 lbs, 1 @ 85 lbs, 1 @ 90 lbs. Leg Press - 3 sets - 55 lbs each set Bench step - 2 sets on each leg holding 5 lb dumbbells. Ball squats - 1 set of 10, holding for 10 seconds. Hamstrings/Glutes: Glute Machine - 2 sets @ 35 lbs (need to go up next time, easy with 35 lbs) Seated Let Curl - 2 sets @ 45 lbs Lying Leg Curl - 1 set @ 30 lbs Calves: Calve Machine - 3 sets - 1 @ 90 lbs, 2 @ 100 lbs Standing dumbbell calf raises - 2 sets holding 8 lbs dumbbells ABS: Laying hip raises - 2 sets @ 15 each Ab Crunch machine - 2 sets of 15 with 10 lbs weights Incline sit ups - 2 sets of 25 each Stretched - did not hop back on elliptical, I called it a night after 1 hr 40 min. Notes: I'm starting to see my body change, my DH told me last night my butt sure is smaller. :tongue2:. Still have not weighed, and excited to take my measurements to see how far I've come in 2 weeks! Today is my 21 year wedding anniversary, I wonder if I could fit into my wedding dress? I might try it on tonight to see.

Hello everyone my name is Tina otherwise known as breakingtheshell. I really want to share my story with you I am so glad that I found this website. I am sure that there are many others out there with my situation maybe somebody can help me understand this because I asked my doctor my dietitian and they just seem to give me short answers and then there in a rush to get away I started out at 347 during my six-month counseling sessions and the day of my surgery I was 327 my surgery was on October 26, 2012. I wore a size 5x tops and bottoms or a 32/34 and my bra size funny funny was a 54 Double D. I never wore jeans after my disability which was a big contributor to becoming morbidly obese. Oh this is funny, I used to wear a size 13 wide shoe now I'm in a 12. How did that happen?? The surgery was extremely painful for me and it took a great five hours for them to poke and probe me and rearrange things rather then the simple 2.5 hours. My liver was extremely enlarged because I suffer from nonalcoholic liver disease so they needed to go in other places it was hard for them to lift my liver to work around it. I have been on the highest strengths of morphine for so long that when I got into the recovery room I felt all the pain and there was nothing else they could do for me so I stayed at the hospital for three days straight crying and begging for help to get rid of the pain.........I felt like I was butchered. By the way I was on pain medication for so long because I have severe back injuries I need to have a Nother three surgeries on my back I have fibromyalgia rheumatoid and osteoarthritis degenerative disc and joint disease spinal stenosis sciatica And everything else that causes pain. This is how I got started on my venturers for a gastric bypass surgery my back surgeon had to do another surgery on me but because I was so morbidly obese he refused to open me up on the operating table for fear that I would die. He told me I needed to lose over 100 pounds and in order to do that I had to go have the gastric bypass done so I quickly did my research checked my insurance and was approved quickly after six months of counseling. I lost a lot of weight I'm talking about 85 pounds by the end of my third month. I felt horrible I felt lethargic and spent most of my time in bed because I was so tired. My skin dried-up like you would not believe my face looked horrible like I had aged 10 to 15 years and I still with having pain in three months in my stomach area. Oh and the hair loss ......it's still coming out!! My six-month mark was on April 26, 2013. I had lost 122 pounds and my clothing sizes got to an extra large top a size 16 trying to wiggle into a 14 jeans and my shoe size went down and my bra size is now at 38b. When I look in the Mira I see a totally different person I look like a skinny person but I know that I need to lose at least 60 more pounds!! my husband says I should be grateful for what I have lost but darn it I didn't go this far to stop here but the problem is it STOPPED!!!! I understand that there are times that you will Platau but mine has lasted two months now losing only 9 stinkin pounds. I started solids a little late because of having Strictures and having to be dilated three times but I noticed that when I started eating solid foods my hunger started and I always feel hungry again an hour after a meal. I can only eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of solids. I mentioned this to my doctor and that was hysterically crying and he says to me well that means your metabolism is working again that's a good thing and then got up and walked out!!! Wtf???? This is my life. This is my dream. I am doing everything by the book I am drinking my Protein I am actually drinking the whey protein bullet (with approval) which is nice because it's only 3 1/2 ounces to suck down to get your protein and I don't know what else to do. I cannot exercise because of my back injury. I'm going to be having surgery again rods and screws put in my back and I just don't know what else to do. I've kept logs, drink my liquids,snack on a little fruit or fat free sugar free yogurt. UGH CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME ADVICE ON HOW TO KICKSTART MY WEIGHTLOSS AGAIN????? I don't want to be skinny because I love curves. I'm not being selfish! Thanks in advance for your input. Tina

Eating has been good, exercise on the other hand, not so good. I don't know what in the world is my problem, just seems I have lost my mojo! I gotta get my mind right, make no more excuses and get my butt moving! Weighed in at weight watchers and lost another .8 lbs. Thats a total of 9.8 lbs since joing weight watchers. It has taken my 3 months to lose it, but hey, I'm losing right? I know its slow, but I'll take anything right now. My weight keeps bouncing around from 158 to 162, I wish it would dip down into the 150's and stay. Maybe if I would exercise it would! I really gotta get to the gym! Menu today: Bfast 1/4 cantelop (1 pt) 1 ww yogurt (1 pt) Dark chocolate (organic) - (2 pts) Lunch talapia, 3 oz (3 pts) Broccoli (steamed) 2/3 cup (1 pt) Snack few almonds, humus (4 pts) Dinner 3 oz grilled chicken - (3 pts) green beans - ( zero pts) WW sugar free ice cream bar (2 pts) Wt - AM - 161.1

Yay, I did it! I got my happy fat butt up and went to the gym at 5:00 am this morning and did my cardio. Per the BFL challenge, I am to do my cardio 3x's per week first thing in the morning. So, today was cardio day, I sure didn't want to get up, but I forced myself up and did it. Feels so good to have won this morning! I didn't let my evil twin talk me into staying in bed, lol. Usually I get this little voice in my head and that says "oh, come on, you don't have to get up, you can work out tonight". But this time, I just got up and did it. Yay! Menu today: Bfast cottage cheese mixed with yogurt Meal 2 hummus (2 TBSP) carrots/tomatoes Meal 3 Turkey meatloaf edamame beans Meal 4 peach string cheese Meal 5 Stuffed Bell Pepper Wt - Didnt weigh this morning.

My doctors advised me not to follow the stories on people who don't like their bands because it discourages you. And because we don't know the entire story regarding why they had issues with their band. I met one woman and she kept complaining how she never lost any weight and then when I asked her why, she said oh she couldn't get anything down except ice cream. I asked her why she didn't try yogurt, or cottage cheese, or jello, or other alternatives, and she just ignored me. So you don't know the real reason, and most ppl think that the weight is going to fall right off that they don't have to do anything. It's not true. No one should discourage you, you do this for yourself!

Congrats on your recent surgery. It is completely normal to feel hungry and want to "pig" out at this stage. Your stomach is healing and is not as swollen as it was in the beginning. Remember, you are in the beginning stages which are about healing the stomach and ensuring band placement. You have yet to get a fill and be restricted. You felt restricted before cause of the swelling and irritation to the stomach due to the surgery. Even though I don't think what you ate is considered pigging out - you must be careful not to overeat and expand your pouch at this point. You need the first 6 weeks to allow the stomach to heal and allow the band's placement site to heal too. Overeating can stretch the pouch and cause less restriction for you later on. If I recall correctly, you should be eating 2-4 oz per meal - try your hardest to stick to that. If you continued to feel hungry - wait as long as you can and then eat something like a sugar free jello, yogurt, a full liquid so it will go thru the band and not stretch it. Don't worry - you aren't alone in this stage. It is hard and you are doing fine. Do your best, that's all we can do. Good luck.:mad2:

I did experience aversion to food. I wasn't nauseated, but just couldn't stand eating. At about the five week mark I found a couple of things that tasted okay. Then thing started improving and I can eat now. At my worst, yogurt seemed to go down without a problem. I also had peanut butter on Melba toast or 1/2 a toasted English muffin. I love milk, so that helped.

Hi Guys, I am about 7 weeks out from gastric bypass surgery and I have some questions regarding how much I should be able to eat. I have been cleared to eat normal food since week 4 and since then I have been sticking to three meals a day of high protein homemade meals like chili, tilapia baked in salsa, an egg baked in lentil stew, or chicken cooked in crushed tomatoes. I had my surgery in Mexico so my aftercare from my surgeon has been essentially nonexistent even when I called early on with some issues I was having. Additionally, my health insurance here will not cover any weight loss attempts whether it's surgical or non-surgical so I can't afford to see a bariatric surgeon or nutritionist so I am relying on you guy's experience to guide me in terms of what a normal volume of food is at 7 weeks post-op I weight out all of my food and food prep so I know exactly what and how much I am eating at any one time. I am worried that at 7 weeks post-op I can eat anywhere from 4 oz to 6 oz of dense protein mixed with a sauce at a time. This is almost always at dinner time. So my usual breakfast is one container of Siggi's yogurt which is 5.3 ounces. That usually takes me an hour to finish. I feel no restriction when I eat the yoghurt but I feel no need to eat until lunch after having it. My lunches are usually chilli or chicken in some sort of tomato sauce. There I can consume between 2 oz to 5 oz of food. How much I can handle before I feel full varies day to day. Now the biggest issue comes at dinner. I can and have in the last week eaten up to 6 ounces of dense protein and sauce in one sitting within 30 mins. Now usually there will be 4 oz of dense protein 1 ounce of beans or other vegetables and then the remaining ounces will be sauce. Now I make sure to not drink water 30 mins before, during, or after my meals so I know the issue isn't that. And I am eating dense protein like ground beef, fish, or chicken so I should feel more restriction. I read posts from other people and they talk about how they can barely handle 1 ounce of meat at 7 weeks out. But it seems I have an iron stomach. I haven't eaten a thing so far that bothers my stomach or gives me any pain. So I am wondering if the issue is the fact that I am eating my protein with sauce? I have tried dry chicken and even with that I could eat 3 oz at only 4 weeks out with few problems. This seems like way too much food. I know stews like chili are considered sliders but the fact that I can consume 3 oz of dry chicken seems like way too much. Maybe I should limit the amount of sauce I use with my food. Mind you I make my sauces from scratch using canned tomatoes or so I am not using high carb premade sauces. What thoughts do you guys have? What has your experience been? Is my capacity way out of line? Am I pushing things too far? I am really starting to worry that my surgeon may have made my pouch super big and that will hinder my weight loss. To date I have lost 27 pounds since surgery and 42 since my 2 week pre-op diet. Sorry if this super long post it's been weighing on my mind.

Yupp I got up and went to the gym this morning..then I purchased EAS Myoplex Lite and Im drinking that twice a day so I can get my Protein in..Im gonna have a turkey sandwich on wheat bread and a greek yogurt...stuff like dat...anything with protein is what I will be eating..so in 1 day ill be consuming 1000 calories and over 100g of protein...Im so excited to get back on track lol n Im proud of u for going back on track as well

Well, the weekend was a big bust for me. Not sure how many points I went over, but I know that I blew the WW plan on Saturday night. I was doing good until then. I was released from the doctor on Friday and I decided that Monday (today) I would start the BFL program again. I am going to modify it a little, but for the most part, I will stick to the plan. I set my alarm for 4:45 am to hit the gym, well, I almost didn't go, but finally I forced myself up and headed to the gym. I'm so glad I did! My menu today: Bfast - weight wise oatmeal, WW yogurt = 3 pts Snack a few pistachios - 2 pt Lunch Green salad with all kinds of vegies, and 3 oz of baked chicken breast - 3 pts Homemade salad dressing with EVO and lemon and vininger - 2 pts FF pudding - 2 pts Dinner 1 baked potatoe with lean ground beef and side salad - 5 pts WW dessert - 4 pts Exercise - :cursing: 35 min on elliptical 5:00 am 45 min with strength training UBWO - 11:30 am Wt - didn't weigh this morning, but will be weighed tonight at the WW meeting. Hopefully I'm down at least 1 lb!

Hi, I am 11 weeks out from surgery. I have lost 44 lbs However, I have not lost any weight in 2 weeks. Suggestions? I also find myself eating the same foods....lots of protien shakes and greek yogurt. Suggestions on what to eat? Thanks,

If you can find it....try SIGGI'S - it's an Icelandic yogurt and has the lowest sugar count I can find, it has a lot of protein, and it's delicious.

@@BobbyD - walmart also carries a greek yogurt in four packs that are 80 calories. Not as many varieties but I love the strawberry cheesecake! You can add Protein to bump up the content, but watch the sugars and calories as well. I was told to try to get single digit grams of sugar or under (1-9 grams) and double digit protein (10 or better)

God, Christie, I really needed to read this right now. I returned from Iraq almost 2 months ago and in that time have only lost about 10 pounds. I know people will jump on me for saying "only" but yeah, only! With this surgery and being in my first year (8 mos out), I get to say "only" because we all know it should be more! I have fallen off with attending this forum, fallen off with inputting to my diet tracker, my protein is way low. Yes I have finally crossed over the Great Two Hundred Divide, but only just. I haven't hit 100 lbs lost yet. I am surrounded by delicious food and these old feelings of inadequacy are coming back - I'm the fattest one in tango class, in zumba class, and the biggest size in regular stores still doesn't fit me right, but the smallest size in plus is too big. in the last 20 days I have lost maybe 3 pounds. I'm eating protein bullets, greek yogurt, sashimi (no rice), and baked chicken almost every day. I dance or zumba or something every day. And only a pound a week. =( =(

Nope. You didn't hurt anything. Next time you want to try foods, stick with the next foods on your list. Try a little oatmeal or yogurt....leave the pecans for a while down the road:)

Cottage cheese, yogurt, beans, tofu, homemade soups, split pea soup. I'm two and a half weeks out, I eat rotisserie chicken in broth and soup cut up really fine. Plans differ so wildly... Just make sure you're eating enough calories, and getting your protein and fluid goals. All is well:) Be patient. I'm gonna have finely chopped up turkey, mashed taters and gravy at Christmas. I do a lot of smoothies and put some leafy greens and fruit in there (watch the sugar and calories)

Hi all please share when I went back to work how u packed your liquid meals. As well as what liquid food are good. I can't eat the Greek yogurt or the caned soups or jello I am Russian So I am so not use to caned food and i don't know how to make healthy home made foods. So day two I am forcing my self to eat the liste things. Please help

I am starting my preop diet for surgery with Dr. Kelly on the 29th. This is what I got as far as preop diet instructions go: Allowed foods (7 day pre surgery diet) All kinds of liquids Water, tea, lemon water (take at least 3.5 litters a day) Water, tea, fruit juice drinks, natural fruit beverages, chicken stock, vegetables, cream soups, skim milk, yogurt, jelly (gelatine desserts). Same liquids plus pureed foods a day (a first stage of Gerber sized, strained). Mashed fruits, vegetables, cereals (oatmeal, rice, potato, noodles, mixed). Am I correct in thinking that I can have oatmeal and mashed potatoes? What did other Dr. Kelly patients eat during their preop diet?

Hi I was sleeved the 12/22/2017 on purred foods taste buds have changed I drink cream soups, chicken salad, CHOCOLATE IS THE BEST PREMIER PROTEIN SHAKE campbells is good just dilute with water or skim milk, its hard to get all what they want you to get in but protein first , I like yogurt i get the one with some flavor as the plain is nasty, i tried i gagged. we can chat as I am having trouble with what to eat, as we are limited at this time and i have tried some things on you tube, spice gives me gas so i am doing shakes cottage cheese yogurt chicken salad spinach blend tuna I tried fish to heavy in stomach going to try beans tomorrow good luck

Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Independence Day from BariatricPal! It’s a chance to show off your national pride if you tend to be patriotic. Otherwise, it’s a chance for a three-day weekend, some relaxation, and hopefully some celebrations and family time. And, of course, a chance to keep chasing your weight loss surgery goals. As always, we hope to help, so here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter. Independence Day: Celebrate Your Freedom Taking a Look at Those Summer Goals Red, White, and Blue Bariatric food Ideas Hope you love the newsletter and then take advantage of the long weekend and a little down time to logon to the BariatricPal forums to catch up on all the discussions. Thanks for all of your support, and Happy Independence Day! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Independence Day: Celebrate Your Freedom July 4 celebrates the freedoms we all cherish. Each of us can do what we wish, and that’s not something to be taken lightly. So as you go through these next few days, why not pay a little extra attention to the choices you are making each and every minute, and remember to be grateful that those choices are in your hands? The Freedom to Eat What You Want It may not be what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they signed the Declaration of Independence, but being free includes being free to eat what you want. So what’ll it be for you? pizza, chips, and a soda? Or tuna, yogurt, and strawberries? Nobody but you has the right to decide, so make the decision that would make the Founding Fathers proud – the decision that will make you the strongest and healthiest citizen possible. Land of Opportunity…and Options What’s another great thing about the freedom we have in this country? How about seeing how easy it is to get your hands on delicious, high-Protein foods? At The BariatricPal Store, you can get high-protein, low-carb meals, Snacks, and beverages for every occasion and every time of day. Our low-carb cereals, pastas, protein bars and protein powders, and instant entrees can be yours with the click of a button. The store promises the lowest prices available online, and we back our products with a satisfaction guarantee. Taking a Look at Those Summer Goals Summer has a habit of slipping away. At the beginning, it seems like it will last forever, with the long days stretching out endlessly. Then all of a sudden, the nights get crisp and autumn arrives before you know it. Don’t let your summer goals slip away with the summer! July 4 is a great time to refocus on those goals – or set them, if you haven’t already. So, here are a few steps you can take to be sure you can look back at Summer 2016 as one that did wonders for your health and weight. Remind yourself – or set – your goals. Keep them realistic, measurable, and under your control. There’s no point in setting a goal that depends on factors outside of your control. Examples of possible goals include getting in five servings of fruits and vegetables a day by summer’s end, walking a September 5k, and getting WLS in the fall. Figure out what you need to do to hit your goals. For example, what kind of diet do you need to follow? Do you need to train a certain way if you have a fitness goal? Do you need more information if your goal is to get surgery? Get working! Make any necessary changes to your diet if your goals are related to weight or eating habits. Write out your workout schedule, and stick to it. Make any phone calls to potential surgeons to gather more information about getting weight loss surgery if that’s your end-of-summer goal. Slow and steady effort is one of the biggest tricks to hitting your goals. Be patient and persistent; love yourself, and be confident that you can do it. With renewed focus and daily commitment, your efforts will add up to big things by the end of summer. Red, White, and Blue Bariatric Food Ideas A festive July 4 picnic or cookout can spell trouble if it involves the usual barbecue fare (slaw, burgers, and baked Beans come to mind) along with berry cheesecake, Cookies and cake decorated like the American flag, and brownies (just because they’re American!). You may already know how to handle a traditional barbecue (chicken breast and veggies, anyone?), but as for the red, white, and blue? There must be a better way to celebrate Old Glory than with fat and sugar! Instead of the high-calorie culprits, you can find weight loss surgery-friendly red, white, and blue food options to stay in the holiday spirit and to stay within your calorie goals. When you choose naturally colored foods, you’re almost sure to end up with nutritious, satisfying, and diet-friendly choices that actually are as Starting the Day Red, White, and Blue Get in the mood from the get-go with a bowl of protein oatmeal, whitened up with a swirl of fat-free ricotta cheese or Greek yogurt. Stir in some sliced strawberries and blueberries, and you’re on your way to a fiber and protein-filled day. The amount of sugar and calories in your breakfast doesn’t even compare to the load you’d get from a stack of pancakes with whipped cream and blueberry and strawberry syrup. Red, White, and Blue Cheese Dip Blue cheese contributes both the blue and the white colors, and it’s easy to add the red. Whip up your favorite blue cheese dip and serve it with red bell pepper strips, or, for a bit of a fancy twist, some baked beet chips. For the non-WLS patients at the party, serve some blue corn chips for an even more festive presentation. Red, White, and Blue Skewers If you’re planning to do a little July 4 grilling, keep it healthy while making it patriotic with red, white, and blue skewers. Use cherry tomatoes or red bell peppers, and add blue from eggplant slices. Then take your pick of white options, from button mushrooms or, for some protein, chicken breast or tofu. Drizzle your kebabs with olive oil and seasonings of your choice. Patriotic Dessert to Live For Granted, it may not be as decadent as a frosted cupcake with a candy flag it in, but a fresh fruit salad can do just as much for your patriotism and far more for your longevity. Watermelon, white nectarines, and fresh blueberries can be just the beginning, with plenty more choices like strawberries, grated coconut, and blackberries waiting in the wings. With these ideas for treats and tricks, have a wonderful and safe Independence Day! Thanks for reading the newsletter and continuing to support BariatricPal. We couldn’t do it without you!

I'm 13 weeks out and most times I can't get much more than maybe 2 ounces of anything solid...yogurts I can get up to about 3.5 ounces. I used to measure...then the numbness wore off and I could easily tell when I was full. Turns out it doesn't take much...I call my sleeve Gloria and she's temperamental. Some days she hates food...other days like today, she feels like a garbage disposal.