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I like ATkins drinks they have a chocolate one and its reaaly good in the blendar with ice and yogurt

My new favorite high protein is the Greek Yogurt! It comes in a variety of fat levels (non-fat, 2%, full fat, etc). The interesting this is that the non-fat varieties tend to have more protein! I am currently munching on Oikos brand Honey flavor Non-Fat greek Yogurt. 5.3 ounces for 13 grams of protein, no fat and 120 calories. Perfect for breakfast. I have also tried the blueberry. Also the Fage brand is good too.... just make sure to get the 2% or non-fat version. The full fat version has 12 grams of fat!! Craziness.

Barbara, Congratulations on having your surgery date and I'll keep you in my prayers this week. I am 10 days post op and these are the things I can tell you from my experience. First of all, know that everyone's experiences seem to be a bit different as you can see from the posts. So it could be different for you. I did have on hand and made up prior to surgery a Jell O buffet (lots of different kinds) and lots of different caffeine free teas - loved the Almond vanilla and it made me feel better to think I could have more of a choice - after all how much choice is there with clear liquids. I also thought no problem eating this way for a couple of weeks, but it is taking its toll no matter how different kinds of Jello and tea I have - it's boring. I can hardly wait for some texture. I heard about the gas pains after surgery, but had no idea what to expect. Found it is not a good idea to be in a public place because of the screams they would cause me. They don't give a lot of warning either. My pains were mainly in my left shoulder area. Took a box of Gas X (not at one time) and it didn't seem to give me that much relief, but would recommend having one on hand. Walk around and getting your fluids is a great tip! I did go back to work the Monday after my surgery on Thursday. Take it easy - don't think you are Super Woman you will pay for it - one way or another. It's funny how your body will "scream" at you when you don't take care of it. I learned this by Tuesday evening I was on the couch by 4 pm in tears, exhausted, and wiped out. I rested a while and felt so much better, so rest when you can so your body can heal. I felt really pretty much back to normal by the 7th day. The port incision is still tender however. I also tried to get by without the pain meds when I got home, there is a reason they give you the pain meds so feel free to use them and not try to be a hero for the first couple of days. I hated the fact that they would make me fall asleep - but in hind sight, that's not a bad thing -helps in that healing process. I also found that using a straw helps me take a sip and drinking hot tea is another way to change any "gulping" habits. The other thing I wanted to share with you is that you may feel a tightness in your chest - right between your breasts - I couldn't tell if that was I was hungry, full, surgery, etc. But I guess it is normal from the posts I have found now, so check those out. It is crazy because there are times it seems I can't get full and other times I eat a half of a yogurt and feel full. So just start looking for the "full" feeling, you'll know it and I am practicing now not to push the bar for when the fill comes, I am not wanting to practice the PBing. I find it hard to also get in enough Protein and eat all that the nutritionist wants me to - so I would encourage you to get some high Protein shake or I got some Protein powder that I can add to my Instant Breakfast or pudding or yogurt - it's flavorless and not bad and gets me lots of protein, with no fat or sugar. Bottom line always follow your doctor's orders and you'll be on your way to a new way of life. The posts here are also very helpful and looking forward to using this resource to its full potential. Best wishes, Lisa Banded 12/9/04 13 pounds down

fruit yogurt with cheese garlic bead dipped in soda (mostly sprite or diet coke) rather yummy!! Otherwise i am really picky with my food - i think fruit in a normal salad is just like totally WRONG!! WHO DOES THAT MY GOD! And pineapple in pizzaa?? GOSH! Pehehehe!!

Pls no rushing ladies...yes clear fluids only during first week....let that stomach heal from surgery...no protein til second week when you get introduced to calcium products milk..yogurt..pureed soups...youve come this far....it will go fast trust meim 2nd week post op..plenty of food but im taking it slow and watching fat and sodium content....any questions id be glad to help...i have nutritional course and am an LPN. Good luck

There are many regular yogurts that are high in protein too. Just have to shop around

My doc does allow sf jello, sf pudding, Dannon fit & light Greek yogurt, ice pops...I just wish I could at least have a small salad included too.

Well everyone's plan seems to be different. My post up I had TWO weeks of FULL LIQUID which included: Protein drinks, flavored water, gatorade zero and that kind of stuff, strained low fat cream soups, sugar free pudding, sugar free popsicles, low fat milk, blended bean soups, greek yogurt, that sort of thing. I was NOT ALLOWED Juice of any kind or caffeine or carbonation. Did your office give you examples or an actual plan?

I'm 7 months out and still don't enjoy food (but that's a good thing!). The only thing I really like is steak. I do eat a lot of yogurt and cheese to make sure I get enough protein every day, but I have to schedule times to eat or I won't get it in every day. I'm not bothered that nothing tastes good because food no longer controls me!

I love using the Isopure unflavored in broths. (Make sure the broth isn't more than about 130-140 degrees or it will clump. I also use reduced sodium Better Than Bouillon + the protein for a quick meal some days. Also, I have added it to a little V-8 then warm it until it's a tomato soup thing...but I'm not sure if V-8 is legal from a sugar perspective? I also have added it to pot roast and other pan drippings to make a protein broth for me. I hear you can add it to low carb milk, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt to up the protein content.

Sautee 1 cup chopped onion in 1-2 T oil. Let them soften. Add finely diced carrots and celery if you like (I don't) and cook until softened. Sometimes I'll add sliced mushrooms here. Add 3 or more minced cloves garlic and cook 30 second to one minute Add 1lb ground turkey (or chicken or beef), stirring until no longer pink Add 2-3 T chili seasoning (I like Penzey's Chili 9000) and 1tsp or more cumin, plus 1-2 T unsweetened cocoa powder, and 1 tsp cinnamon and stir to coat. 1 T of brown sugar is a nice addition but not necessary Add 1 28 oz can of crushed or diced tomatoes Add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of broth Add 1 15 oz can of beans, rinsed (kidney or black beans are both great) I like to add about a cup of frozen corn and a bag of cauliflower rice right from the freezer at this stage, but you can add a lot of different frozen veggies. I love the sweetness of the corn, and the texture. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, adjusting seasonings and cook for at least 30 minutes, but it gets better after an hour or so. Serve with plain Greek yogurt and shredded cheese (and onions if you like).

Had my surgery on the 23rd. Everything went well. First 24 hours were a bit rough, but now I'm doing okay. Walking 2-3km everyday since Thursday, getting most of my water and protein in. Still sleeping in a recliner, but hoping in the next couple days to move back to my bed. On strained thin liquid diet for 10 days, then smoothie consistency liquids for 10 more days, then purees for the next 10. Hate every protein shake I've tried, so I've been putting unflavored protein in my soups, broths, yogurts and that's been okay. Think I really hit ketosis today because my breath is awful and the taste in my mouth is so, so bad even right after brushing my teeth. Oh, weighed myself this morning for the first time and I'm down 13.8lbs from surgery--YAY!

this sounds exactly like me when I ate too fast, or a texture I wasn't ready for yet. I would get a terrible chest pain that took a moment then passed. never nauseous or regurgitated anything, it just HURT right in the centre of my chest. here are my suggestions to you: 1. buy yourself a smaller set of silverware and a small plate to help you adjust to eating small bites. I've heard the size of your pinky finger tip. sometimes you just have to trick your brain with an optical illusion to help you relearn what size bites are really right for your stomach. 2. use a timer to time your chewing. Baritastic is an app that has a "chew chew chew" timer built right into it. use the timer and make sure you are chewing that entire time, even if the sensation starts to be kinda gross. you will eventually be able to chew a BIT more normally, but for now you really need to destroy everything that goes into your mouth. 3. PUT YOUR FORK DOWN between bites. do not chew, swallow, put more in the your mouth, because you'll think you're taking your time but you may be eating wayyyyy faster than you perceive yourself to be. (this is especially true of moms or teachers or nurses or anyone who has had a lifetime of needing to eat fast and get onto the next thing ASAP... those habits die hard lol!) take a bite, put your fork down, chew, swallow, sit and breathe... then take another bite. If you are chewing slowly and small bites and still getting that sensation, take a break from the food that causes that sensation and try something else. the first time i got it was from some mashed potatoes. I stopped eating them, had something else, and didn't try them again for another couple weeks (since they're not that great of a food for you anyway). for something like eggs that fits well into your post-op diet, try them the next day or two days later maybe. you can also try cooking the eggs a different way. some people can't do scrambled eggs but can do poached, etc. tuna, if you haven't yet, try mixing it with some kind of sauce, whether that be light mayo or yogurt or vinaigrette or whatever else you like. I had mine with light miracle whip.

Plain Greek yogurt protein infused is good. Dannon Oikos......but water and shake still more difficult

Take probiotics he helps they sell the liquid form in Health food stores and activate yogurt

I go through days like I am so hungry and feel like I've eaten all day, and then others where I forget to eat and still feel full. Not sick or anything. I realized though that on the days where I feel I've eaten a lot; I have probably only eaten a small portion. Some days I just buy food but don't eat it. It's like an old habit/compulsion. I'll go to Bojangles and buy 2 wings and a sweet tea, or buy a kitkat or last week went to mcdonalds and bought a french fry and a hot fudge Sunday. At Panera, I might buy a scone, coffee, and Mac and cheese. As soon as I try a bite of any of these things, I'm satisfied (or repulsed) and I bring them home to my husband or the trash. I ate a salad for lunch today and picked up a cookie on the way out off of a salad/dessert buffet and brought it home. I guess I'm doing this as a "I used to love these!" Kind of deals, but it's so weird. And costly. If I do try to force myself to take a bite of say fried chicken or Mac and cheese, my stomach rebels as soon as it's in my mouth and can't swallow and I immediately want something cold and clean like watermelon or water. It's not even a head hunger or craving that makes me buy. I think it's habit. But then I'm like, what the heck? I don't even want this! I'll throw whole sandwiches in the trash or give them to the guys at work. (Who are vultures and like that I'm on a 'diet' so they can eat my food.) I don't do this a lot, but maybe once a week. It's like a comfortable blanket to just have it near me I think. I once had an eclair in the fridge for over a month and my daughter asked me if she could throw it out and I told her no. She asked why, bc it was practically moldy, and I told her that I like it there. Later, I wondered why. Is it bc when I open the fridge and take out a yogurt that I actually "chose" the yogurt over the eclair? Is it a reminder of where I've been, or of something I used to love and want it there like a blankie to reassure me? I think I like looking at it sitting there, and I smile to myself and shut the door. Like, "you don't have power over me anymore!! See, I don't need you!" Idk. A psychologist might have a field day with me but I feel like I did when I was having food funerals, only I was sad then and powerful now. On most days I eat a protein bar on the way to work or a yogurt, a cheese stick as a snack, chicken with nuts and fruit for lunch and then maybe a protein shake for a second snack. For dinner, I eat maybe taco salad, a cup of chili, or chicken salad. Something lighter so I don't feel heavy when I go to bed. Plus I'm not usually hungry by then. Watermelon, berries (all kinds) and cantelope are my daily friends. That's where I am on this 11th month, still trying to honestly understand my relationship with AND without food.

@Beni---Awwww, thank you Beni!! It was hard waiting, for sure--but so worth waiting for!! I should get some of your chickpea recipes, LOL! I forget about them!! My go to for a quick Protein fix (snack) are these new (to me) little Sargento snack packs.(7g of protein) They have a little portion of cheese cubes and then nuts/dried fruit. Love them. They're 180 calories, but if I'm getting that hungry feeling about 3pm, they do the trick! (although I try and choose Greek yogurt, since it has a lot more protein, but I do get sick of that) As far as meals, I am SO with you on the taco salad! When I fix the family tacos, I make extra meat and then for several days I'll even have it for breakfast! My other favorite meal is salad. I add grilled chicken breast, black Beans, a sprinkle of a nut mixture I made up, cheese, and I found a yummy dressing. (Lite Asian toasted sesame) It's only 45 calories per serving. Sometimes I eat that for lunch and dinner, LOL.

Hello everyone. Big day for me. My scale this morning says 230 lbs I started at 270 lbs that means I have lost a 1/3 of the weight I need to lose to get to my goal of 150. That's 40 lbs gone baby, bye. This certainly helps my state of mind because I have been having a hard time with food. I eat what I'm supposed to and very very slowly but I have thrown up a few times. I am back to week 2 foods because I am too scarred to eat more solid stuff. Yogurt is my best friend and broth. Will talk to the NUT today.

Thanks Jillian! I got the staples out today and the doctor told me, "nothing for the next two weeks that won't go through a straw" - so I questioned him a little, and he said if it is thin enough to go through a straw and NO chunks or lumps, I can have it. With that said, off to the store I went, I came home and got plain Greek yogurt, a banana, skim milk and came home! I am currently drinking a Protein shake made of half a container of Greek yogurt, half a banana, 3/4 cup of skim milk and a packet of Stivia. Yum! Sip, sip, sip!! I appreciate you taking time to respond!!

OMG..I know EXACTLY what you mean! I can't even do broth..it makes me want to hurl. And I've never been so aware of tv commercials about food! I can eat a whole jello cup at one time..just not first thing in the morning. I tried that the other day and could only eat 3 bites. But after a while...no problem. I was able to start drinking Protein shakes on day 5 and I've never been so glad for something in my life...just for some variety! Next weekend on day 10 I can add yogurt, creamed Soups, and sf pudding.

Breakfast: smoothie with Greek yogurt, frozen strawberries, splash of OJ and a sprinkle of chia seeds. Snack: cottage cheese Lunch: Turkey and Swiss on wheat (3") from a deli. Could only eat half. Snack: tea and tried SF rice pudding. Gross. Tossed it. Dinner: round steak ( 1oz) 1/3 of a boiled potato and steamed veggies. Snack: hummus and pita crackers (4) Went to my Pilates class tonight too. Loving it! "Swimmy" feeling in my head is gone since increasing my Protein. Still very tired and have nasty dark circles under my eyes. :-( 12 weeks post op.

@@tacycakes My doctors NUT has us not take any lactose products for the first 6 weeks. Only yogurt because it is easily tolerated. I am on skim Lactaid. It tastes great and I can't tell the difference when I mix it with my Unjury vanilla powder. I was also told your lactose intolerance will resolve itself once all your stomach enzymes stabilize however some become lactose intolerant. I pretty much think I will because I was borderline before anyway and both my mother and her mother are.

@ sue, I will ask my nutritionist tomorrow, I'm scheduled for my one week check up @Oz I have a protien powder, that says Whey protein isolate, but it's still making me extremely, painfully gassy, I don't understand it though, because I have been eating some Greek yogurt to help, and as long as I take a lactaid tablet it hasn't bothered me just yet, that's what I've been eating today, alternating yogurt, with water, and beef broth, so far I still feel fine. I think I may just have to try soy powder with some almond milk. Thanks you all for your help, I'll be so glad when this stage is over....

Diva and Bella, Thank you for the warm welcome! I am really hoping that WW and the band can finally do the trick, so far so good...we'll see how the weekend goes since that is the hardest time for me. I was born and raised in a 3rd world country and have a mentality that I must finish everything on the plate (including my kiddo's leftovers) so when I eat out I end up finishing the humongus portions they give you!! At home I try to serve myself only tiny portions and throw away my kids' leftovers as soon as they are done. Maybe I'll eat in during the weekends too! Yesterday: b-coffee w/milk WW2/60cal l- smart one WW5/ 250 cal s- WW yogurt WW1/ 100 cal Salsa Sunchips WW4 / 210 cal d- turkey/ff cheese sandwich WW3 / 150 cal Progresso 0 point soup WW0 / 120 cal yogurt/blueberries/honey bunches of oats (1 cup) WW4 / 200 cal WW 19 1095 cal

My diet is pretty similar to Fluffy's, and I simply don't understand @CreekImp13's continuing insistence that a healthy diet can't be lowish carbs. Heck, with our tiny stomachs, our diets are lowish everything! I aim for <50g carbs a day in veges, fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt. There's room there for occasional beans, rice, lentils and hearty bread, but I do keep those portions small of necessity in order to meet protein and vege/fruit goals (only so much room in the new tummy!). I find that I don't have the volume to rely on beans and legumes as a major source of protein, unless I supplement with protein shakes, which I feel isn't a good long-term solution for me. My plates are full of delicious, healthy stuff and my food plan feels very sustainable. ETA: I also think we should all as a rule at least aim to be in the "normal" weight range as there is amply evidence that "overweight" carries significant health risks.