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sorry if my posts are choppy...its damn swype! p.s. i use a T of real maple syrup my 0 percent Greek yogurt..it's more palatable i that T of maple syrup i choose to enjoy the Very food i eat now. 42 days out 33 lbs post op.....woohoo! good luck to u!

Natures Bounty D3 5000iu gel capsules 3 days/week Source Naturals B12 1mg sublingual 3 days/week ( I was taking Twin Labs B12 until I read we should be taking methyl cobalamin, not cyanocobalamin) I still had some source of life gold chewable vitamins leftover which I gagged down until they were gone. Started the Vitamin Code capsules probably 2 weeks postop, but was taking the Vitamin D gel caps starting day 4. I had also been taking Solaray calcium capsules (opened and mixed in my yogurt) and Garden of Life Healthy Blood iron capsules too. But my calcium and iron were both high on my 6 month labs so I discontinued them. And I wouldn't bother with the "fat burning" pills. You will lose plenty of fat without a fad diet pill. Kinda surprises me they have such a thing...makes it look like they don't have faith in their own surgeries. Oh yeah, and I live in the boonies, so I get everything online (except the vitamin d the local grocery store carries).

My first post-op appointment is today and I am so excited!!! Have 3 weeks really already gone by?!? I can't believe I survived the 3 weeks liquid diet... Hoping (fingers crossed) I will be advancing to soft foods today after my appointment! While I know I'll only be able to tolerate a bite or two (as even now yogurt/ pudding goes down like a brick), I'm excited for different flavors/textures!

I’m going to try Greek yogurt , chicken salad, and ricotta bake this week. Last day of liquids is tomorrow 🥳

Protein shake twice a day, crystal light, broths, sugar free jello and popsicles, 1 cup raw veggies (lettuce, cucumber, tomato.) with Greek yogurt with no fruit....with which I add crystal light to or I'd go insane. My liquid diet starts tomorrow but I started it on Monday. I'm surprisingly not hungry or craving food anymore, surgery on the 16th.

Yes, I'm still on the liquid diet (for 10 days post surgery, which will be this Sunday). I'm allowed clear liquids, protein shakes, nonfat yogurt and sugar free pudding. My calorie intake has been between 600-800 per day on the liquids... its not TOO bad, but sometimes i feel like i could kill someone for a bite to chew on!

Hi everyone! I was banded on Thursday, May 13 :thumbup: I'm down about 7lbs. I think I'm doing well so far. I'm trying to stick to the diet the dr gave us (my husband was banded the week before me) but as the days pass it's getting harder and harder. We can have clear broths, Jello, pudding, yogurt (all sugar free) and our Protein shakes (1-2) per day. Yesterday I added a teaspoon of smooth peanutbutter to my Protein shake and had that for dinner. That helped fill me up. My husband just made an egg drop Soup that he got the recipe for on here. I had two full cups of it and am comfortable. Peanutbutter and eggs arent on my diet for another week and a half. I'm worried that by eating them I might cause a problems...but then I see how varied other dr's diets are and think it's not that big of a deal (it's not like I'm eating steak - which I'd LOVE right now...mostly for the texture!). Ideas? Advice? I've also had some sharp pains where I'm pretty sure my port is. I know the port it stitched in place, so I can only assume I'm pulling at a stitch when I move a particular way?

I was banded on Friday the 14th. Today is the first day I have felt like myself since.... My incisions are healing nicely, but the gas pain is horrible. I don't really have it in the shoulder, but mostly in my chest ... I can't burp either... it goes in, but doesn't come out which just makes it worse! Any words of advice how to get the burps up? I know that it would be the cure to my ills! Yesterday I was allowed to add yogurt to my diet and man! I needed it! I haven't really been hungry (although my stomach grumbling begs to differ), but the yogurt hit home nicely. One thing I am having issues with is drinking enough Water... I am forcing it down, but I think I'm subconsciously am afraid I will gulp it down or take too big a swig. Today I did get enough and I feel a million times better. I have been walking... started with 10 minutes and tonight will be up to 15.. I am actually going to venture to the market ... with my family.... in my pajamas! LOL I have never done that, but you know what? I don't really care.. I want to get my walk in and this way we can kill two birds with one stone! I know it's early, but I have already lost 11 lbs since surgery day.. I am sure that it's because of my liquid diet, but that's okay.. it's making all the pain and discomfort worth it!

I found it at market basket right next to the cream cheese. It has a little yogurt taste to it but its not bad. 2tbsp- 30 cals 3G fat 1g sat fat 1g carbs 3G sugar 2G Protein.

Lilly is the Greek yogurt ok with the strawberries in it because I do not like the taste of it by itself?

Hello, My name is Alex and I am scheduled for the gastric sleeve procedure on 12/18/23. Growing up I never had a problem with my weight; as a matter of fact I was very thin. Due to changes in life and past trauma, I used food as a coping mechanism. I ballooned from 160 pounds at 18 years old to 475 pounds by the time I turned 31. I was "content" being overweight because I refused to deal with it. At the behest of my wife, I begrudgingly scheduled an appointment to be seen by a primary care physician for the first time in years at the height of the pandemic. At this appointment, I weighed in at 475 pounds and was diagnosed with high blood pressure... extremely high blood pressure. This made total sense as I couldn't walk very far without being out of breath, I couldn't go up steps without sweating and having my heart pounding, and I couldn't play with my nieces and nephews. I was prescribed blood pressure meds at 31 years old and told that if I didn't make significant changes and lose weight, I was staring down an early death. That was the kick in the ass I needed. I immediately got a gym membership, downloaded a calorie tracker, immediately made improvements in my diet and dove in head first. Over the course of the next year and a half I lost nearly 100 pounds through diet and exercise alone. I knew that to get to my goal weight though, that I needed more tools.... or a more powerful one. So I was seen by a bariatric provider and over the course of many months was approved for sleeve gastrectomy and was scheduled for surgery. I am currently on the liquid diet and I am struggling. I am dying for flavor... the protein shakes, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, and jello that have been my diet for the last three days are not cutting it. I've made a few mistakes... a piece of cheese here or a nibble of chicken there. I am striving for today being a good day.. but it has been hard. I am constantly cold, I'm less tolerant of daily B.S. than I normally am, and am just now starting to not feel as irritable as I have the last few days. I am looking forward to having this procedure done, but I am nervous that I won't lose enough. I'm nervous that I'll ruin it or some other nonsense I keep telling myself. After being overweight for so long its hard to imagine not being as large as I am. I am looking forward to a healthier life, the ability to play with my nieces, nephews and daughter, and being in more control of my life. Thank you for reading this very long post and I look forward to chatting with you on this journey!

Ok how was the class? I have some of the chocolate Unjury at home. I'm going to use that instead. I'm super excited and nervous too! How is your pre op diet going?? The class was good. Basically two parts, the nutritionist and then the office manager. They both touched on the same things. We had 4 in our group and there were 2 sleevers, 1 bypasser and 1 bander so they had to cover info for all 3 surgeries. We got handouts. I didn't purchase the "kit" with the Protein stuff and Vitamins and shaker bottle. They went over the stages, vitamins, exercise. Then when that was done, one at a time we went to speak with Dr. Johnson one more time before surgery! My preop is going pretty well. My days 1-4 were very easy. Today I had more of an issue (however, any second now it will be that time of the month so I think that is playing a role) but I have not cheated at all. My diet consists of 3 shakes, 2 unsweetened applesauces and a cup of chicken broth. Along with Water. Looking forward to going through this with you! I'm looking forward to receiving all this information. Especially sitting down and talking with Dr. Johnson again. Now this Preop diet is a different story!!! I do great at work, but by the time I leave I'm super hungry and I feel a bit like my blood sugar is low(I'm also Pre-diabetic). So I have cheated my first 2 days nothing big or heavy though. The first day I had a slice of grilled chicken breast and the second day I had a few pieces if pineapple when I was making my shake(even though I'm not too sure that eating pineapple that's going in my Protein shake is exactly cheating). Today is day 3 and I've already had my light yogurt. My diet consist of a shake for lunch and one for dinner, SF chocolate pudding for my first snack, a light yogurt for Breakfast, SF applesauce for my second snack. I switch my Snacks and do a SF Popsicle or Jello. Throughout the day I drink water and 1 small Gatorade. I'm praying that that today is better I'm going to add a cup of chicken broth. You seem very content on your Preop diet!

-------- These days I'm barely getting in 500 cals and scary to say probably only 50g of Protein which is too low for my doc office -- they want me at 65-80g. I'm coming over a setback After some flounder that did not sit well so started back on full liquids at 8 weeks out. I'm almost 11 weeks out now and have been doing ok with salmon and stewed meats. most of my protein still comes from shakes blended with fage greek yogurt cause it takes way too long to eat any solids. Still recovering from hernia repair. Everything makes me gassy these days post flounder so I'm taking ultra tums as per my doc. I take spin classes 2-3x a week and have no idea where I get the energy from But it's a fun stress reliever. I feel fuzzy only when I don't get enough Water like minimum 6-8 cups daily or more on spin class days. Hope you feel better soon.

I would have fainted on clear liquids for a week with my normal pre op stomach ... My surgeon only required 1 day liquids pre op (still tough) then 7 days clear postop --- eventually became super weak on day 6 and started full liquids which helped a bit I've been blending my RTD protein drinks (GNC lean vanilla bean) with baby food like banana or mango or pear - dash with powdered nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla extract Deeeeeeelish!! Will try adding Dannon light and fit Greek yogurt soon with or without the baby food

Good morning all! Well, my scale FINALLY moved...only 1.2 pounds, but at least it was in the downward direction! I've been getting frustrated and wondering if I needed another fill..that's the first loss in almost a month!! For me, a Wendy's side ceasar salad is a full lunch. (minus their dressing...use my own) Sometimes I add some boiled shrimp on top...YUMMY! I actually think the boost of protein may be what moved the scale. (We just got 50# of shrimp so I've had some every day.) Ms Vicki: How do you like Dr. Spivak and his staff? I have been less than impressed in all honesty. I haven't seen Dr. Spivak since surgery and only for a moment on that day. I've called his office on three occassions and none of the three did they return my call. When I had my first fill, noone even identified themself as the Nurse, PA or whatever, so I don't even know who it was that did my fill, although it was totally easy. They gave me the "fill criteria" as 1) wanting to eat everything in sight, 2) loss of less than 5# in a month. Otherwise, said they never need to see me again. (that's real friendly, huh?) skbishop: third time's a charm, huh??? I have only had one- hope I don't have two to go. With what I'm eating right now (and how the chest feels when I eat) I'd be a little nervous about getting another fill right now, even though I'm not losing hardly any. SIGH...guess I'll hang in another couple of weeks before deciding. Julie: I'm a coca-cola junkie too. My RNY friend says "yeah, I'm not supposed to, but I drink at meals and I drink diet coke all day long" but I've decided that I'm not going to have any coke for now. I don't miss it THAT bad and I look at it this way...either I won't be able to tolerate it, then I'll feel deprived OR I will be able to tolerate it and I'd probably overdo it...so either way, leaving it alone AS IF it's off limits serves me better. I'm sure at some time I'll try a swig, but until it's just really "CALLING" to me, I'm gonna consider it an "OFF LIMITS" item...very black & white...makes it easier for me to resist in my mind. prinnie: WELCOME to the best thread on LBT. We have plenty of support for you!!! JanetC: I think you're right...we all PMS and/or are prone to binges at roughly the same time each month. Harder to have a "voice of reason" available, but easier to have "pity parties" together!!!! I don't want to take any chances at stretching my pouch or "causing" conditions right for slippage, erosion, etc. so I'm trying to stick to the rules as closely as possible. For me, if I give myself an inch, I'll be eating the entire pantry!!! I know me, and it's not PRETTY!!! That's why I've chosen to keep portions down to 1 cup or less...no carbonated beverages...no snacks between meals (unless a protein shake or yogurt if feeling poorly)...trying to up my activity...no bread...I want to TRY to help the band do it's job as much as it can. Like all of you...WAY too much money, WAY too much post-op misery and WAY too much pressure from those who know about the surgery to let it NOT be a success. I'm just trying to measure my success by the doctor's standard, not by the by-passers or the people at work, etc. who don't understand that the band works differently. That's the only way I don't feel overwhelmed by the task at hand and just crumble! When I feel deprived or overwhelmed (which actually I haven't much--which has been the best surprise of the whole surgery!) I allow myself 1-2 M&M's or a fat-free fudgcicle or ice-cream bar as a "SLIP" and drag myself back onto the wagon. (kicking and screaming, but I get on!) Hope everyone "weathered" the weather in the plains states and everyone up north is enjoying some springtime. Texas is already headed for "HOT"-the main season here! Talk to you all soon! Thanks for your support. Nanster

Kathy, Mornings are really tight for me, and from your post, it sounds like the same may be true for you. Don't push it. Here is what I eat in a day to keep things from backing up. I have had to do this since my last fill, before that, I thought I was tight enough because I would PB after lunch about 2 times a week. Morning: I start with bottle of water. Then I either drink a slimfast, eat a yougurt, or some oatmeal. Then, after an hour, more water. Lunch: Soup, then cottage cheese with fruit. If I have a lot of time to eat, I might do some chicken salad with crackers, but I have to be able to eat very slowly. More water. Afternoon: yogurt or more cottage cheese Dinner: basically, anything I want following bandster rules with the protien first. Last night I had Kalbasha and chili. All evening I drink water. I have replaced my diet pepsi successfully with bottled water. Because mornings are so tight for me I have to stick to the rules, otherwise, I'm miserable. But, I make sure all my choices have protien and because I'm tight, even the liquids fill me up. FOr the oatmeal, I have bought the kind with extra protien, I can't remember the name, or I add Flax seed to what I have which gives it extra protien. I am also thinking of ordering some stuff from bariaticeating.com in order to make sure I'm getting enough protien because I know some days I am not and since I exercise everyday, I really need the protein. Audree and Susan, a warning about watching TV during this time, it seems like EVERY other commerical is about food. That can really add to the head hunger, I know it did for me. YOu are both doing great. Keep it up! I'm home sick today with a terrible cold. First time all year I have really been sick. I am so greatful that the cold companies have come out with so many different cold medicines that aren't in pill form, as I would be worried that the pills might get stuck. So, I am drinking Theraflu for colds and taking little strips for my cough.

Ok, my diet is different too. I can have two low carb slimfast or other low carb drinks a day, plus 2 servings of vegetables, and 2 servings of cottage sheese, or sugar free yogurt or pudding. And, of course, all of the calorie free liquids I can drink. I have not been hungry at all, but I swear I have thought of food every ten seconds, and I am on day 3. My surgery is Oct 3. I may be chewing on my own arm by then. But I really think it is just psychological. I'm supposed to eat the veggies raw, but tonight, I boiled a chopped carrot and a chopped onion in my fat free chicken broth. It was great!!! ANd I don't feel bad about cooking the veggies. I pretended it was like a chinese Soup. How fast does the liver really shrink? Isn't that the purpose of this whole thing anyway? I can't believe it will shrink in a week, but my doctor says it will. I do great at work, but when I get home, I want to cook and eat! I'm doing ok with this becasue I'm afraid of the whole thing not working becasue the surgeon can't get past my liver. How do you keep your mind off food?

Hey guys!!! I am back home and doing really good. I did vomit right after surgery because of sensitivity to anesthesia. They checked me under fluero and thank God all was great. I just feel sore and bloated. I have a lot of pressure in my abdomen I assume is gas. I did check on the computers, but couldn't remember my password!:faint: I am surprised how well I feel. I don't feel hungry. I am having broth, sugar free ice pops, jello, water, kellogg protein water. I can have yogurt on day 4. Thanks for being there for me!!! How are you all doing??? Audree

i have struggled with upping my water. i am getting more than the 64oz easily. i drink more water before 9am than most do all day. !ha! but seriously, i do, butmy goal is to drink a gallon and a half. it has been really really hard. the workout i do before the kids wake up. i try not to eat before i work out so that i can burn fat, not food calories. then i am famished for breakfast and have a nonfat yogurt and cereal. where my weaknes lies is wanting bread. sugar doesn't bother me. but holy heck i want some sourdough bread. it is killin me!!! this week i am going to try for a perfect week on the bread. i think i can i think i can.

hi all, i was banded on the 25th and am doing pretty well. i have been walking every day but mostly just around the neighborhood. i am having no problem with taking my pills but they just take forever to go down. i got an infection in my arm from the iv so i am on antibiotics which is making me have a bit o diarrea so i need to drink more. i have times when i am really hungry. went out to vitamin cottage today and got higher protein powder so that maybe some of these liquids will stay. i have been ok with yogurt but it seems to take me a long time to eat it. i bought a bunch of different cream soups so i hope that by adding protein powder they will stay. i go back to work on thursday. glad to hear how you are all doing. anyone else besides me not weighing themselves. i threw out my scale a few years ago because i became so obsessive with it? i don't know if it is good or bad. i do know i am losing weight so that what counts! hang in there fellow september banders!:whoo:

My doctor/hospital requires a 3 week pre-op diet. I started my diet 2 weeks early. In those 2 weeks I lost 15 pounds so I'd say it's worth starting your diet early. I too was told about the need to shrink the liver. My doctor's pre-op diet is pretty painless. Slim Fast for Breakfast, Lean Cuisine for lunch and dinner (keep it under 300 calories). I'm allowed 1 cup of cooked or 2 cups uncooked veggies and a 90 calorie yogurt. I can also have all the Crystal Light I can drink and sugar free Jell-O. If you're not into frozen meals, 4 Slim Fast shakes are allowed. I'm pretty happy on this diet and not really hungry. It's helping me shrink my stomach down and I love the fact that I've lost weight before the surgery. If I can do some now, that only helps me in the long run. Take care!

Instead of milk, trying mixing your favorite cereal with some greek yogurt. Tastes great, stops it from being a slider food, and adds TONS of protein.

Rosi -- I haven't been banded yet but I've been experimenting with the allowed foods so I'll be ready after surgery. This morning I made a yummy "protein shake" with the following: Blue Bunny strawberry yogurt smoothies (it's sugar free) 1.5 tbsp of vanilla whey protein 1/4 c cottage cheese 8 ice cubes blend all together well till ice is chopped fine -- YUMMY Hope that helps.

I had my surgery July 3rd so I'm on my first day of "full liquids" -- according to my dr's diet plan I can drink soups, protein drinks, yogurt drinks and even watered down cream of wheat! Not really hungry today though. Not like day after surgery or even yesterday. I'm down about 21 pounds since I started my pre-op diet. I'm not really in pain just some minor discomforts -- the big incision is "tight" so I can feel it but I wouldn't call it pain. The shoulder comes and goes. I've done some walking -- the last few days have been perfect for walking. I've had a few hic-ups and was able to burp without too much problem. I'm tired but it could be that I took some codeine in the middle of the night to help me sleep better. I think it's making me drowsy today so I'm going to try and stay off it today and tonight. Good luck to those are getting banded this month! d

Okay, guess what The Nat had for dinner? EGGS! I friggin HATE eggs. But they were so friggin good. Here's what I did. (In case anyone wants the recipe.) I cooked some turkey sausage on the george foreman grill and then pressed the rest of the grease out of it with paper towels. I crumbled it in the bottom of the muffin tin. Then I added cheese crumbles. And onion/green pepper. And finally I poured some egg beaters in the cups and baked it for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. They are like little tiny quiches. Nummy num! Unfortunately I made 24 of them... and ate 3. They are the mini-muffin size, so I think that in total it's 3/4 of a cup. I'm estimating that 1 egg muffin is 1/4c. I'm pissed that I did it again. I see that i'm eating too fast, and not planning my meals before I start sucking it down. And I need to put it on a plate and sit the hell down instead of standing up eating in the kitchen. My belly is so damn bloated! I also whipped up the salmon tonight. I used about 3oz of plain yogurt, added lemon, dill, onion salt and lemon pepper. It was a little runny so next time I'll use 2oz FF cream cheese 2oz FF plain yogurt. It had a good taste, too. Oh, and I put a lil vinegar in it - I like a little tang to my dishes. BTW, I tried to post earlier but I lost my post. I said some really nice things to y'all... Shame I lost it. It's the thought that counts, right? Hang in there, ladies, and don't forget to FORGIVE yourselves. Do the best you can, and when you fall down, pick yourselves up, forgive yourselves and keep on doing the best that you can. Don't be harder on yourselves than you would be to any friend in your same situation. Just a lil loving advice from your friend Nat. Be good and I'll try to keep up with you tomorrow! We really need a list of all of us, and our surgery dates. I don't know everyone on the board anymore. I wish I did though. Stay Strong! Nathalie