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I have been working to optimize nutrition pretty much throughout this whole process, within the limits of our restricted volume/calories and high Protein requirements of our sleeve – to me, the popular ketogenic diets leave too much nutrition behind to be worth whatever benefit they’re supposed to provide. From relatively early on I have regularly had small salads with a couple ounces of meat, mixed in an ounce or so of raspberries with my greek yogurt, frequently along with some almond and oat or wheat bran for added Fiber. I averaged a 2-3 nominal fruit/veg servings per day (against 7-8 pre-op). Potatoes were frequently present as an efficient source of potassium and mid-way thru the process some whole grain bread was added strategically as a complex carb source for fueling extended workouts. Now, in the transition to maintenance mode for the past month or so, I’m getting in 4-5 fruit/veg servings per day and my stretch goal is to minimize supplements long term. A few days have avoided Calcium supplements (2000mg per day is my target) and I sometimes see 80- 85% of the potassium RDA (that’s a tough one to supplement without Rx.) I have added back the morning snack that I dropped early on in the loss phase and sometimes have two small afternoon Snacks as needed to boost the calories and nutrition. Today’s menu as follows – B: 3 turkey breakfast sausage, with wheat toast/butter (good pre-workout profile for morning personal trainer session.) S: non-SF instant breakfast (the moderate sugar dose aids in transport of protein to muscle cells: SF version used where appropriate. I used to use Protein shakes for this but don’t need that much of a protein load anymore.) L: salad with chopped turkey breast, spinach, avo, tomato, snap pea, carrot, broccoli, yellow pepper, green onion, cheese S: can of low sodium V8 (great source of potassium), greek yogurt w raspberries and almond granola D: pot roast, roasted potato, broccoli S: protein loaded pudding on a piece of eggface protein cake. I have been evolving my practices of high density nutrition for several years, since my wife when thru her WLS journey with a DS several years ago and worked toward beating her down the scale (only partially succeeded, but did attain good weight stability prior to going with the sleeve to finish the job.) There’s no particular single source that we’ve used but a combination of various nutrition (as opposed to “diet”) books and the tracking software we have long used (an offline program called Nutribase, which is a slightly lightened version of what is marketed to the professional trade, as we weren’t satisfied with the online resources such as Fitday that were available at the time,) along with continued fiddling with recipes and personal preferences. As I had already worked out healthy dietary practices (other than the volume problem solved by the sleeve,) I was rather averse to the idea of doing any of the fad diets, medically supervised or not, which have such a low probability of success instead of WLS (and certainly wasn’t too keen on doing any of them post-op, either – thankfully my doc hasn’t gotten caught up in any of those fads.) With the lower volume available with the sleeve along with the general protein and caloric restrictions involved (I averaged 1000-1100 cal per day) I was able to adjust my pre-op dietary practices to my post-op needs by emphasizing the protein and dropping some of the less nutrionally dense items off the menu during the weightloss period, but generally still maintaining a reasonable nutritional balance within the remaining calorie allotment. Now, in the maintenance phase, I can add back some of those less nutritionally dense items as I work to optimize things, and don’t have the problem of having to wean off of a special deficiency diet back to normal practices – the downfall of most of the special ultra low cal type diets. I never needed to make major philosophical changes to my diet to make the sleeve work, nor to move into healthy maintenance practices. Good luck in your efforts,

I'd check with my doc. It's each clinics differing opinion on whats right. For me it was NO sugar for 10 days (only sugar free yogurt and cottage cheese), others have Protein drinks for 2 weeks..etc. Check with your clinic theyll tell you whats right

The only thing I had the day before was a Greek Yogurt.

You're still too new for mushy foods so don't push it. Keep walking as much as you can, it will push the gas out of your system. It just takes a little bit of time, you can't rush these things. You might want to lay off the juice for a few days and stick with the Water and popsicles. The juice might be adding to your gas and runny stools. broth, Jello, and yogurt should be pretty much what you're supposed to eat for another week or so. Your stomach is very sensitive and you could hurt it by putting food in there that it is not able to digest. Take it easy and the sleeve will take care of you during your weight loss. Good luck to you.

Hey Carmen, Start getting all of your supplies. I purchased all NO SUGAR ADDED foods per my doctor, or fat free. They make no sugar added yogurt (different flavors), fudgesicles -no sugar added, Protein shakes, I drink EAS( semi frozen) and Breakfast essentials. Stock up on crystal lite and reduced sodium Soups. Its is different, and challenging because I'm addicted to carbs. So good luck, on your pre ops fast. Guess what I am big boned too.,,150lbs is my goal approved 223 lbs pre-ops fast 211 (5days out) surgery - 5 days left STAY TUNE FOR MY UPDATE AFTER SURGERY Sheri

First of all, in my experience recommendations\treatment plans can vary dramatically from physician to physician. I can only speak to what I was told to do by my team. Women need at least 73g of Protein daily. I've been tracking my intake in MFP form the beginning and plan to do so always. Purees are not that bad when properly prepared. Check out theworldaccordingtoeggface.com for recipe ideas for all stages of WLS. I ate lots of home made Soup and chili, whizzed in a nutra bullet to smooth out the chunks, eggs, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt in the puree stage.

Well - I went on vacation and since the week before and since my work schedule and kid schedule has not allowed me to get to the gym - i am sure that is part of it.. My diet was off while on vacation but i maintained and didnt gain, when i came home i was having a hard time eating anything.. lots of pbing, couple vomiting - so unfortunatly i was resorting to soft foods - slider - mashed potatoes and stuff like that - As of yesterday i have turned my eating around and i think im back on track - chewing chewing and slow eating is my enemy and that is what i need to think about every meal. Todays food was - 1/2 cup special k protien plus with 1/2 cup skim milk. mid morning was a protien shake lunch was 2 string cheese and a yogurt ( lunch at work is very hard for me to eat i always get pbing from only having 30minutes to eat and thinking about the next thing i have to do ) dinner was slice a moist meatloaf made with half burger half ground turkey , sliced cucumbers and 1/4cup of corn snack just a little while ago was six crackers with hummus. what do you all think. i know im probably not getting enough protien - shake is 25g yogurt is 6g meatloaf ?? hummus 5-6 i think.

But regardless, I'm nowhere near that. Even if I was allowed it... I can't stomach more than 3oz of anything at this point. I do do a yogurt and can do 4oz of cottage cheese. Nothing else though. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yeah, every surgeon is different. I did a 1200 calorie diet (3-8 oz protein shakes, 1/2 cup of fruit, 1 fat free yogurt, 1 lean cuisine and 1 cup of salad w/1 tbsp of lite dressing) for 8 days and then clear liquids for the 2 days prior to surgery.

I have acid reflux all day. Indigestion all day the only foods that go down are yogurt bean soup smoothies other soups but gave to grind everything else can't eat any raw vegetables. with just eating all that has acid all day long

Hi guys! I was sleeved a week ago today. Im so confused about what my body signals are now. The gas has died down (thank the lord) and I am feeling some hunger - typically when I wake up and if I accidentally go a long time without anything in my belly. How much should I be eating? I averaged 500 calories this week until today, when I worked really hard to get in a breakfast protein shake ( took 2.5 hours!), a 6 oz yogurt (split between lunch/snack), 4 oz. of cream soup for dinner and a pudding for snack. That seems like so much! My doc said yesterday that my stomach is 4.5-6 oz, but how do I know if I'm eating too soon inbetween meals? Or if it's too much? I was losing 2 pounds a day until yesterday so I thought if I bumped up my calories a little it might nudge my weight quicker. But I'm so confused. ????

I had surgery 4/13 Was sent home on stage 3. For the first 2 weeks until my post up apt I had clear liquids, Protein shakes and yogurt. Week 3 until my next nut apt in about 3 weeks i'm on stage 4 soft foods. Cottage cheese, fish, salmon, tuna in Water ect. I have been on stage 4 for almost 2 weeks now. I'm trying to make different types of food. YES! I have had to trow away lots of food either because I didn't like the taste or because I like it the first time but not anymore. My tastes have changed a lot after surgery and it does happen to many people. I remember when I was told I had to get used to wasting food as it would be no option after surgery Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I put this stuff in my greek yogurt in the mornings. Love it!

Ummm yes, this would be me.... chocolate!!! The craving: sweets If visions of Cookies and ice cream dance in your head, what you may be craving more than the sugar in these foods is the fat that provides their texture, taste and aroma, according to Somer. Several studies have shown that fat and sugar may release endorphins into the brain (neurotransmitters that can produce a feeling of pleasure or euphoria). This hypothesis may explain why people crave that sweet, creamy taste -- it produces a pleasurable feeling. The solution: Guess what? Good old-fashioned exercise also appears to boost levels of endorphins (they're the same substances credited with the so-called "runners high"). So next time you feel like biting into a chocolate-covered ice cream bar, lace up those walking shoes or hop on your bike instead. You'll get the same pleasing feeling and the benefits of doing something good for your body. If you're on the job or unable to get immediate fitness gratification, you can still get the creamy taste and texture you yearn for from low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit. I agree with the exercising part, but there's no compairing chocolate to cottage cheese ROFLMFAO!!! Great post Pnut !!

My doctor had me 1 week liquids and 1 week mushy. On my mushy phase I had cream of wheat, greek yogurt smoothies, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, puree butternut squash, carrots and my favorite of all split pea soup.

RNY does not guarantee dumping syndrome. My cousin had RNY the same day I had my sleeve done and she hasn't dumped on anything yet. And she has not really followed her diet very well. (She started soft foods much much sooner then our surgeon said to start.) She hasn't eaten a candy bar or anything but she's been fine with regular yogurts and coffee creamers. I'm not sure if there is enough sugar in those things to cause dumping but we sort of thought it was a sure thing so soon after our surgeries (12/5/11)

Yea i have been using sugar free chocolate pudding mix with unflavored poweder and pb2 ice and a little almond milk. Or i use sugar free frozen yogurt chocolate flavor with the above mentioned minus the ice.

I got my food schedule calendar and here is what my doctor has his patients doing: Day 1-2 Clear liquids (32-64ounces per day) (popsicles, crystal light, broth) Day 2- Add in Protein drink (40-70grams a day). Start taking Vitamins again Day 3-4 - Add full liquids, v-8 juisce, thin low fat cream Soups and yogurt (lowfat no sugar added) Day 5-6- Add applesauce, pudding, and protein smoothies, bananas (lowfat no sugar added) Day 7 (XMAS day for me!)- Add oatmeal consistency foods, well cooked vegetables, vegetable soup and legumes (beans) well cooked (no grits, rice Pasta or peanut butter) Day 8-10: Add soft boiled and scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, canned fruits, baked potato (low fat cheese to eggs and potatoes) Day 11-13: Fresh fruits, continue protein supp, drink 48-64 ounces per day Day 14: Slowly add baked fish, tuna (with no fat mayo), toast or crackers, small amount of rice, pasta, vegetables (except asparagus, celery, corn) and whole grain ceral (granola bars, protein bars) Day 16-28: You'll be ready to try baked turkey and chicken and salads Day 56 (8 weeks(: You can move on to ground beef, then gradually add roast beef, ham and sausage. Steak should be last! Goals: Protein 50-70 gms/day Fluids: 48-64 oz/day

I always thought the size of those cups of yogurt were sort of a joke! Who could ever just eat one and be full. Now I know, sometimes I can’t even a full cup of yogurt!

Shell - you are so normal! You are letting go of what has been your #1 way of making it through life! We are addicts - and addictions don't die easily. That said - you must start again, and again, and again. The more you lose now - the better for your surgeon and you when you have the surgery. Take that very, very seriously. This is how I got through my three weeks of liguid - I DIDN'T! LOL I didn't do 100% liquid. For two weeks I ate this: Breakfast - big ole protein shake; Lunch - diet yogurt and protein drink; Dinner - 1 McDonald's SW grilled chicken salad with ranch OR another big ole protein shake!. Five days before the surgery I went to all liquid and yogurt. I lost 30 pounds. I don't think I could have done it alone! I had friends and family checking on me - lovin on me - helping me get my mind off food. And I prayed a lot. And wrote every single bite I ate (or drank) in a journal. You can do this! Make a plan you can do - and make it workable for you! But - to be honest - it's time to let go of pizza and other really unhealthy stuff. Cry through it if you have to - but it's time. You will probably be able to have it again three or four months after surgery - and you can make it till then. Your addiction is lying to you. You can do this! You are worth it! We are here to help you! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!

I know everyone is differnt and will lose at a different pace. yada yada yada.... But here I am 10 days post op and I'm seeing everyone is postin losses well into the double digits! I have only lost 2 stinking pounds from my pre-op weight! 2 pounds, in 10 days right out of surgery? That seems so abnormally slow. It worries me knowing that everyone seems to hit a stall at 3 weeks. at my rate I will only lose 3 pounds before that stall happens. I feel like this surgery has not been a success. How can I have lost only 2 pounds? I eat 3 times a day. My meal is one of the following: 1 ounce string cheese, 1/2-1 egg, 1/4-1/2 cup cottage cheese, 3 ounces yogurt. I get around 60 grams of Protein a day. I'm not up to 64 ounces of liquid a day but i always get at least 40 ounces. sometimes 50. I eat my 3 Vitamins a day. what am I doing wrong? I'm very happy everyone else is being so successful but I'm worried at the slowness of my weight loss. This should be the time I'm losing a lot.

I was allowed to eat yogurt as soon as I wanted to do so. My doctor considered that a liquid. I also didn't have a clear liquid stage and was allowed to eat soft foods after one week. Yazzy is right. There are many sets of rules out there.

advice from a nurse, if your tongue is white, eat some yogurt that has live cultures of lactobacillus acidophilus in it, most do, this is the happy bacteria that normally live in your body to fight yeast. your balance of yeast to happy bacteria is probably off, yogurt will restore some of it!

A lot of people on here love it, I'm kinda blah about it....it was okay, but not the real thing. Mixed mine in yogurt and with shakes. HW 312, pre-op (lap-band) 294, pre-op (RNY) 255, surgery date 2/11/13, goal weight 154, current weight 217.2

My pre-op was only liquids for 2 weeks before, protien shakes, yogurt, creemed soups, sugar free puddings. wasn't to bad to stick with. i did 3 weeks because i was hoping to have my surgery a week earlier but didn't happen, anyway lost 20lbs before surgery.