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Hello! Wow it's hard to believe we have all been banded for SOOOOOOOO long now! I'd LOVE to get the sleeve. I have lost a lot of weight but not "all" of it. Unfortunately there is no way I would qualify to get the sleeve unless I paid for it all as my BMI is actually not that bad now! Go figure! Anyhoooooooo so that wont be happening. I would love to just to eat again, I get stuck on everything and I eat like a bird. My problem is that the bad foods that dont get stuck still are super high in calories and just zip right on through. Amylynns I drink my breakfast EVERY morning, my blender is my very best friend. I drink yogurt/protien/fruit smoothies for breakfast every day and I also do a lot of green juicing. I worry because I know I do not get all of the nutrition in I need every day, but the only way would be to take a bit out of my band and I dont want to do that because I am scared I will gain. Today I had a banana/mango/cherry & yogurt smoothie for breakfast and a stick of cheese and a few crackers for lunch. Id love to eat more right now, in fact I am hungry however I know one more bite and it will be too much and I'll wind up drowning in my phlem. Lovely eh?

Hello Bandsters, I was banded on Monday November 3, 2008, so it’s been a full week. I can report that I had serous gas pains since Wednesday, but today I feel a lot better, and both ends are working. I still have a little tenderness at the surgery wounds, but no pain. I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but we picked a bad time of the year to get banded. My Birthday is tomorrow, the 11th, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, good grief. I’ve been on liquids for good month, and I am praying that my Doc puts me on mushy foods this Wednesday. Does anyone have any great ideas for Birthday treat; I can have puddings, Jell-O’s, and yogurts. Oh yes, other question. I see tickers and other info on the blogs, how do you install them? Thanks, and good luck to everyone. RBK.

I understand. Different facilities have varying protocols. Which really just goes to show you that there are no such rules set in stone. Pretty much everyone you talk to has a different nutrition format to follow whether it be standard or individualized. Yours sounds really strict and that must be difficult. The dietitian's on my Bariatric team recommend 5 grams of fat and 14 grams of sugar or less per serving. I even find that hard sometimes and wouldn't want to have my grams any lower that's for sure. Hope you have been able to find foods that are satisfying within such small gram amounts. And I hope you won't have to wait a whole year to taste my "new yogurt find" Blessings To Ya

You will do fine. The first three days are the roughest on the diet but after that you won't even want food. That's how I was and I thought it was going to be rough too. You can have one greek yogurt a day, one fruit, and juice. If you space things out you will find yourself actually full. The day of the surgery the anesthesiologists will talk with you. They asked me if I wanted some pain killer which I was later told it was a block. It lasted for 12 hours and I felt wonderful. In order for you to have it you must sign the approval before surgery. They gave it to me in recovery. I remember them doing it and I remember asking them question but I don't remember anything else down in recovery.

Hi, I had my surgery 10 days ago, yesterday I had my followup and lost 23 pounds! Now I can start mushy diet, glad my dr. didnt have me do the pureed, lol, he just said go slow. Tonight for dinner I had 2 T mashed potatoes with some low fat cream of mushroom Soup and it tasted so good! I could only eat a few tablespoons all together but thats ok im not hungry at all. Ativa has a lowfat/sugar free vanilla yogurt that is also good. Dannon has a 2x Protein yogurt that will help me get my protein in. I've finally been able to get my Water and Vitamins in but the protein is hard for me.

6 weeks will fly by, especially with the holidays coming up! My pre op diet is super easy. Three days of Water and yogurt. They say you can do ten days Protein shakes and chicken and salads prior to the three days pre op. Honesty I feel like I do that most days, although lately it's been bad with all the holiday treats, but I'll prob try and mostly stick to that, starting Boxing Day, but definitely starting Jan 1 I'll follow that for the six days before my yogurt diet. I am going to Mexico. Wish there was an option in Canada or the US but with my bmi at 29, I don't even qualify for the few docs that will do the surgery on bmis of 30. And I just can't justify spending triple or quadruple the money if the doc in Mexico is rated just as good if not better. My nerves haven't kicked in too much yet. Sometimes I read a story of someone who's had a bad experience and I wonder if I'm making the right decision, but that quickly disappears. I'm sure closer to and the day of I'll be a wreck. My husband is not coming with me, but my parents will be in San Diego at the same time so thinking they'll drive down the day of surgery just to make sure there's no serious complications. They have company flying into San Diego the next day so they'll only be able to stay one night, but they'll be close by and Trish my coordinator is suppose to be the best and surprisingly I'm not too worried about being alone.

1389 calories: 90 protein -168 carbs -50 fats- Maintaining my bounce range. I'm down 4 lbs. Breakfast Oat meal 1.6 Cup Dried cranberries 2 oz Sliced almonds .3 oz Black coffee 2 cups Unsweetened cashew milk 1 cup Splenda with fiber Lunch 50/50/spring mix 3 oz Grilled chicken breast 2.3 oz Hemp hearts .2 oz Pomegranate seeds 2 oz Chili lime pepitas .5 oz Light n fit Greek yogurt 5.3 oz Dinner 50/50 spring mix 3 oz Hemp hearts ,2 oz Chili lime pepitas .5 oz Smoked salmon 2.9 oz Snack Red grapefruit 3 OZ Chickpea sea salt snack 3oz Frozen grapes .5 cup

B - Fage strawberry yogurt L - Melba toast with salsa chicken, cream cheese and artichoke antipasto D - fried cheese, 2oz fajita chicken with tiny bit of guacamole, sour cream and cheese (dinner at chili's with my hubby!) S - box of goobers at the movies! Calories - 1176 Protein - 64 So enjoyed going out with my hubby and enjoyed everything I ate.....even the goobers! And I only went 176 calories over my calorie count! WooHoo!!

Morning all B-frozen berries/4oz skim milk/4oz strawberry yogurt and 1 scoop unjury s-yogurt L-wheat Pasta and sf spaghetti sauce s-lite Protein Milk S- Fiber Cereal w/scoop of unjury surgery date: 12-13-2011 down 58lbs

For me it has a very chemical after taste that is off-putting, but it's such a good source of protein in a small quantity that I am still using it, but as a smoothy base with a little Fairlife vanilla protein shake and plain greek yogurt. Since today I start soft foods, I am going to add a little banana. MUCH tastier this way!

It sounds like you are right on track. I don't eat refined carbs either. But I do get carbs from fruit and beans. I eat either Greek yogurt or a scrambled egg for breakfast. Lunch either chili, chicken soup or a chicken breast on top of greens. Dinner I eat what I make for the family but not the starch. So if I make them turkey burgers, for example, I just eat the patty and tomato. If I have an evening snack it is usually fruit or string cheese. I often supplement with a protein shake if I'm low. I average about 900-1100 cal per day, 90 G protein and 40 g carb. I've lost 130 pounds and am 6 pounds from my personal goal.

Soups or scrambled eggs if you have to order food anywhere. Cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. if you have a mini fridge in your room. And then just lots of protein shakes!

Try them soft boiled (6.5minute eggs) with a 1/2 tsp of real butter. Or a dollop of grk yogurt. They go down very very easily.

You may need to eat out after WLS, because Americans eat out a lot. Some estimates put one-quarter of Americans eating fast food on a given day, before counting food from casual and upscale restaurants. A total of about 1 in 3 calories come from foods that are eaten away from home, such as prepared foods and restaurant foods. With restaurants, fast food, and other prepared foods being such a big part of our culture, you may not be able to, or even want to, stop eating out. That is okay, even after WLS. You will just need to be a savvy customer to be sure that wherever you are, you get a meal that fits into your meal plan. Take heart: it is almost always possible. The Trouble with Eating Out Research has been clear on the differences between eating out and preparing food at home. Restaurant meals tend to be bigger and higher in calories. Beyond that, they are higher in sodium and saturated fat, and lower in fiber. That does not bode well for weight loss, but you are not doomed. Most restaurants are willing and able to accommodate you. You may be pleasantly surprised at the choices. Do Your Homework (Or Procrastinate) Most restaurants have their menus posted online. Many have their nutritional facts online. Check before you go to the restaurant, and decide on your meal before you get there. When it comes time to order, you need not browse the menu for temptations. Or Procrastinate It is not always possible to check beforehand, and that is okay. Just keep your goal in mind: Some lean protein, such as eggs, chicken, or fish. A vegetable. A small amount of a healthy starch and/or healthy fat. Build that meal from the items you see on the menu. The Customer Is Always Right If you need another expression to drive home the point, what about, “He who pays the piper calls the tune?” You are perfectly entitled to ask for no sauce, dressing on the side, or no bun. A surprising number of joints allow substitutions or modifications for no extra cost, although some may charge. The cost is usually minimal, and worth it. Examples include getting grilled instead of fried chicken or fish, or swapping a side salad or steamed vegetables for a side of rice, pasta, or potatoes. Best Bets for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner You can go to a restaurant with some ideas of what they might have for each meal, and search for those. Breakfast Eggs: in an omelet or scrambled. Look for egg whites if you can, and choose vegetable toppings. Cheese and turkey can also be good additions. Skip bacon and other fatty meats in your eggs. Oatmeal: plain, regular or steel-cut, without add-ons such as dried fruit or brown sugar. Nuts are okay. Steer clear of granola. Breakfast sandwich: English muffin (you can eat half) with egg and/or cheese and/or ham – no bacon, sausage, croissant, or biscuit. Create a meal from sides or add-ons, such as cottage cheese, an egg, fresh fruit, or turkey sausage. Lunch Green salad with any of grilled chicken, cheese, nuts, vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and light dressing. Skip regular dressing (or order it on the side), croutons and chow mein noodles, and dried fruit. Chicken, fish, turkey breast, a veggie burger patty, a hamburger patty, or taco beef. Skip the bread, tortilla, bun, or taco shell, and steer away from breaded and fried. Side salad, carrot sticks, yogurt, or sliced apples. Dinner Shrimp cocktail or broth-based soup for starters. Avoid dips, chips, bread and breadsticks, and fried starters. Grilled, baked, or roasted plain chicken or fish. Avoid fried choices, fatty meats, and creamy or buttery sauces. Steamed vegetables or a side salad. Avoid fries, pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes. The Final Filter: You No matter what lands on your plate or your to-go box, the ultimate decision about what goes into your mouth is made by…you. You can turn a potentially disastrous order into a not-so-bad or even good meal with some smart choices. Decide how much you will eat and pack away the rest before you take your first bite. Scoop out the filling from sandwiches and burritos, while leaving the bread and tortillas. Eat the proteins and vegetables from your plate, while leaving the fries and fatty sauces. Scrape off any breading and eat only the chicken or fish inside. Weight loss surgery is to help you lose weight, but it is also to help you live a better life. If the good life for you includes eating out, you can do it. Just be careful. Keep your weight loss surgery diet plan in mind as you order and eat, and you can lose weight as you live your normal life.

Didn't know that about Fage yogurt. Will have to check it out :-) Gen :-) 12/15/12

The foam vomit is the worst! Gross! Thanks for the papaya enzyme tip. I will be buying some ASAP. Wendy's chili is great for me. I've also discovered Fage yogurt which has 28 g of protein per cup. I got it at Walmart. SD:1/28/13 HW:358 DOS:338 CW:310

Hello everyone. I'm a band to sleeve revision scheduled for May 16th! Getting here has been a long and often miserable road. I am so excited to be beginning this new journey. I really messed up by not being prepared when I had my band put in and that is not going to happen again. So, I spent some time today compiling of list of things to get in the next month. It's suited to my tast so there is no pudding and only vanilla flavors (no chocolate or strawberry). Also, everything is pre-packaged (making it more expensive) because I have two kids who keep me extremely busy and a husband who works all the time. I quit drinking carbonated beverages and caffeine a couple of months ago and gave up alcohol (almost completely ) in January. I never though I would be able to do that (of course I am really fightin replacing with eating)! Anyway, just in case this may help someone here it is: For Day of Surgery Ear plugs Eye mask Chapstick Warm blanket Ear buds for TV Gas X (couple of different forms) Slippers or Socks Belly Binder Nightgown Belly bear or pillow Phone charger Milk of Magnesia For Weeks 1 and 2 May 16th – May 31st 21 Carnation Instant Breakfast Vanilla (Pre-made) 28 Fat free or low fat cream Soups (strained before eating)(see list at end) 28 No sugar added Greek Yogurts 3 Cartons chicken broth 3 Cartons beef broth 1 Carton skim milk 14 Jello snack cups 6 Cans crushed pineapples in Water or light syrup (for smoothies) 7 Bananas (for smoothies) 1 Carton OJ (for smoothies) 6 Mangos for smoothies For Weeks 3 and 4 June 1st – June 14th 1 Large box of quick Quaker Oats 14 Fat free cream soups (see list at end) 21 No sugar added Greek Yogurts 14 HMR or Healthy Choice etc. frozen dinners (to put in blender) 1 Spinach (to put in blender w/ frozen meals) 1 Broccoli to put in blender (to put in blender w/ frozen meals) 1 Box of instant mashed potatoes 14 Prepackaged snack cups of unsweetened apple sauce 4 Cans of chicken for chicken salad 1 Jar of Hellman’s low fat mayo Vitamins and supplements Mulit-Vitamin – Bariatric Advantage Convenient Daily Packs (30 day supply) Biotin – Nature’s Bounty 5,000 iu Protein – unjury unflavored, Unjury strawberry sorbet, and Unjury chicken Soup Vitamin D – highest dosage (I'm African -American (so my Vit D is always low) but with enough other stuff mixed in that my mom has osteporosis. Go Figure!) I also already have every heartburn medicine (both OTC and prescription) at home but if you do not probably good to have it on hand. Tylenol - liquid or chewables if I can find them. I get migraines so I am sure one will hit me. Cream soups may include from Campbell’s Brand – FF Cream of Celery, FF Cream of Chicken, FF Cream of Mushroom, FF Broccoli cheese, Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese Soup, Cream of Potato Soup (sparingly)

My NUT has my full liquids as Clear Liquids (unsweetened tea with splenda no milk or creamerish stuff, SF Jello, clear broths, SF popsicles, G2 Gatorade, Crystal Light, Diet Snapple, Water, and clear Protein shakes such as Isopure, Protein Blitz, and New whey Protein shots. She said if I mix 1 bottle of G2 with 1 bottle of Protein Blitz = almost full day's liquids). For FULL liquids, its all of that ++ Light & Fit yogurt, SF pudding, Cream of (mushroom, chicken, potato, etc) Soup with LACTAID milk (as we may have a problem with milk right after), SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, Egg Drop Soup, Wanton Soup (no wantons), Miso Soup (no seaweed), V8 juice, and any SF shakes.

I had sushi and sashimi, and later a yogurt cup with fresh fruit, honey and granola and a double shot of Scotch neat....I had horrible gas after surgery, I'm 2-1/2 weeks post-op and still have gas.....so I'm sure it wasn't the food. The Recovery nurse told me it was the anesthetic (sp), that it affects a lot of people that way. What's wrong with farting in front of your husband?....mine sure doesn't pinch them back! I wonder if the Queen farts in front of the Duke? Carol

I've been buying mine at stop and shop if you catch them on sale they are five dollars and as far as the yogurt choban greek vanilla is the lowest ( other than plain which is nasty LOL ) but i have not seen AA in bulk/cases only 4 packs

I'm doing pretty well. Down 44lbs and starting to comfortably get into my next size down clothes. I'm wearing a dress today I haven't worn for at least 4 years. I'm not going to bother shopping until I drop a few more sizes. I have enough clothes through size 14. I've been a total slacker when it comes to exercise! Baaaad girl. I need to get my fanny back on the treadmill and dug up my five factor fitness book that has a six day exercise program included. It's pretty simple- three exercises per day in addition to cardio. I need to get inspried! My giggly belly and arms should be enough to inspire me... Not drinking with my food is sooo hard and getting in all the Vitamins and meds - I feel like I need a schedule: 7am- thyroid, 7:15-7:30 - coffee, 7:45 - yogurt, 8:15 - start drinking a 20 oz drink, 8:45 - actigall #1 for the day. I can't keep track half the time! I've had some moody days too - days when I just want to crawl up and read all day. Thank goodness my mom takes my son quite often on Saturday so I get a day to just be alone. Overall, doing pretty well and very happy I made this choice for myself. Best thing I've done other than have my son and have lasic surgery! =)

@@becweaves I am on normal food stage. I am eating a greek yogurt with a scoop (30gm) of grnepro unflavoref protein powder each day and then chicken, turkey, and fish for dinners. I have been making a lot of stirfrys with chicken and then some veggies and been eating that. I have just been focusing on getting my 100gm of protein a day and my liquids in. I have had a chest cold since Dec 14 so no gym just walkinh for exercise

I mix cocoa powder into one of the ultra-light vanilla yogurts - like Light & Fit or Carbmaster. That'll do the trick as well - plus give you a boost of protein, too!

Loving this thread! These are the kinds of real world ideas that I love finding on here! Here's a few of my favorite items now: Bolthouse Farms yogurt based salad dressings are the best! Love classic ranch and cilantro lime on salads. From The Ground Up cauliflower crackers are just like Cheez-its! Amylu chicken sausage! They are individually packaged so you can freeze the rest. They also make breakfast sausage!!! Outer Aisle cauliflower bread is amazing! You can use it for tacos, sandwiches, pizza, anything and it freezes well if you want to buy online and stock up.

I make chicken salad - some mayo or yogurt, and I add fresh halved grapes. Great to take to the office for lunch. I also make Chinese chicken salad - bottled low fat asian dressing, greens of your choice ( I like spring greens ) diced chicken, diced water chestnuts (very crunchy and low calorie) tablespoon of sliced roasted almonds, chopped green or red onion and you have a lovely restaurant quality salad ! Or I might make riced cauliflower - steam it a bit then toss in a pan with other sautéed vegetables and add diced chicken at the end to heat it up with the rest - sautéed in teriyaki or low sodium soy sauce with a bit of oil so it doesn't stick - or instead of asian sautée in just a bit of oil and add hot sauce and make it Mexican and serve like a tostada with salsa.