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When you say solid foods, do you mean things like chicken, or are you counting cottage cheese and yogurt in that?

I am suppose to take 3 a day. I got the OK from my Dr to take them all at once. So now I take them right before bed with a little yogurt. If I don't take them will food I get all the symptoms of being about to throw up. This is the only way I've found that works for me. I am 4 weeks post op. They must be working because my hair and nails are growing like crazy.

I have 9 total chewable that I have to take a day. I tried taking 4 at a time once.....big mistake. I like your idea of taking them before bed though. My calcium pills are the ones that give me the most trouble. I'll give it a shot. Thank you! Mixing with yogurt? Great idea!

Plain yogurt with any torani syrup and some berries. I am going to do a 5 I'm for the first time ever and I am concerned too about my stomach and closest washroom [emoji14] Good luck on your marathon. Sent from my Nexus 5 using BariatricPal mobile app

When I could introduce solids I was told to start with just proteins like yogurt, milk, ground white meats, eggs, and protein shakes.

That seems too soon to go back to work, especially if you have a job where you must be on your feet all day. I have a sedentary job, and I went back exactly 1 week post-op. I maybe could have gone back 5 days post-op, but not any earlier. You will likely feel weak. You may still have discomfort, and if you are like me, unless you are getting some protein in by way of yogurt or a protein shake, you may be having to run to the bathroom A LOT. I hope your job is flexible. Good luck on your journey! Jigglypuff

Really no secret, just your basic, healthy meal plan..... For the first 6 weeks I followed my surgeon's meal plan and transitioned slowly through the food stages (very good restriction did not allow for "skipping ahead"). As hard as it was, I met Protein and Water goals 90% of the time. Once I was on regular food I focused on protein and non starchy veggies. Steak, burger, ham, ribs, pork, chicken, BBQ, tuna, refried Beans, eggs, milk, Protein Bars, PB2, Greek yogurt, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, mixed nuts, beef and turkey Jerky, broccoli, spinach, kale, green and yellow beans, mushrooms, red peppers, edamame, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Chinese mixed veggies, you name it.... Now at just over 7 months out I have a 24-32oz protein smoothie with 30-40g protein everyday and eat 4-5 meals and Snacks. I get a MINIMUM of 64oz water daily and I take whole food based Vitamins. I have had sweets, deserts, chips, fries, alcohol, bread, Pasta and rice, but in moderation and probably not even once/week. As I got close to and passed goal, I started adding more fruit and whole grains. Besides protein bars (Natures Valley Protein, GNC Lean Bars, Fiber One Protein) I added whole grain bars like Kind, Kashi pumpkin Flax, and Pure Ancient Grains. I snack on mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, edamame, Peanut Butter and apples, frozen pineapple, melons, and plain Fage or Chobani Greek yogurt flavored with Protein powder. I add berries and other fruit as well as Metamucil and benefiber to my protein smoothie. But really, the simple answer is I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein (always first priority) veggies, fruit and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry and only until satisfied, not full. Besides protein and water, I never tracked anything. I have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat. As for exercise, I've got no magic formula there, either. I haven't been to a gym in years. Immediately postop I walked a lot but that was pretty much to help with digestion and to decrease the bloated feeling I had. I rode my recumbent bike 20-30 minutes/day for awhile but I haven't been on it in a couple weeks. I actually just have a very active lifestyle. I work 60+ hours/ week. I am a vet tech, so I'm standing, squatting, bending, lifting and walking all day. On the weekends I ride my horse, sometimes 15-20 miles/day (which is an excellent Pilates and thigh master workout if you are riding "correctly"). And along with the horses comes chores...shoveling shit, fixing fences, hauling water, feeding and stacking hay. Last weekend I got 42 bales of hay. Each bale weighs 80 pounds and I had to lift and move each one 3 times (big stack to truck; truck to shed; stack in shed). So essentially I lifted 10,000 pounds in 2 days....and at least part of that over my head (Basically lifted weights and did stair master for a couple hours). I got another 21 bales yesterday and the day before went whitewater rafting and rowed a boatload of friends 8 miles (more Pilates and push-ups). Anyways, everyone's journey is going to be different. What works for me might not work for you. Just figure out what you are most comfortable with (establishing a workout routine and tracking everything is not a bad thing, it's just not what I did). And if you are still reading this, let me say my biggest advice is don't compare your weight loss to others. Concentrate on being healthy, don't torture yourself with guilt, keep a good attitude, and look for NSV's for validation, not the numbers on the scale.

I was just banded last Wednesday and was so nauseous because I wasn't getting enough calories. My doctor told me that I could have yogurt and baby food. After I ate some baby food I felt so much better. You can also try some ginger tea or mixing some ginger into your food. It's a natural tummy soother. Good luck and I'm sorry you are feeling bad. :-(

high protien greek yogurt with granola added in - that seems to keep my hungry feeling away.

Hi all- I am about 5 months out now, doing great, but the scale has really slowed. I've been told this is normal, but my 'honeymoon period' is coming to an end, and i still have about 25 lbs to lose until goal. After reading a lot online, I decided to try a shake/broth/yogurt type fast for at least a few days. Something similar to my pre-op diet. I am wondering if that will get the scale moving again? Any advice?

Planning is key! And I am horrible at it. I know what to do but it is hard to do. However, it is the biggest part that will help you succeed so I applaud you asking this question now. A couple of things. YOu know your food log that you are supposed to keep? If you fill it out on Sunday for the entire week, you will know what you are going to eat for the week and can get everything prepped early. Fill out what you will eat/drink for every meal and snack for the entire week. You can even cook it all on one day and just reheat it throughout the week. I think I am more successful when I fill all this out on paper but I also tend to not do it on paper so that isn't good. So I used an Excel spreadsheet . Just keep going down the spreadsheet for the next days. Oh, it wouldn't let me post it!! ******Note that I am a year and a half out so my food list will be different from yours!!!!!***** Basically, it should be kind of like this (though things probably won't line up here. Aug 3 Breakfast 2 eggs scrambled 12 g coffee black 0 g Snack Greek nonfat yogurt 12 g Lunch 2 oz chicken 14 g raw veggies 0 g balsamic vinegar 0 g Snack Greek nonfat yogurt 12 g Dinner chicken marsala 14 g Total 64 g But WHAT to make?! That is where I fall short. I have my dishes that I know how to make but I'm not a very good cook and don't have a wide variety of things to make. I'm still a work in progress! I would love to also hear what other people do.

On March 22, 2011 I began my new life with my lap band!!! yay finally! Here is what I have gone threw in the past 5 days. The day I got home I was totally out of it but I did manage to eat my soup 1/4 cup 3 times that day and slept alot. The next day I was feeling really good and even went to the book store to get some books, my hubby drove! lol I thought wow this is not as bad as I thought, although a little dizzy if I stood to long. When I had my galbladder removed it took me forever to recover. 3 day I began to eat cream of wheat of wheat 1/4 cup and plain yogurt not quite 1/4 cup felt full, then at 1230 the same but I began to feel light headed and not sure what was going on. I did take calcium and vitamin D liquid that morning. My husband took me for a short drive and I was just not feeling it so I decided to take a shower. I told my little girl to stay close by because I was just not feeling right. I was in the shower and it felt so good and then I felt like everything was getting dark and really light headed. I yelled for my little girl. I couldnt stand so I layed on the bed and had her turn the fan on. I tried to stand and well not happening. I just layed there and let it pass and prayed I would not pass out. By the time my husband got home with my son it has passed. I went back to sticking with broths and no liquid vitamins just my flinstones with iron. 4th day (friday) Husband decided he needed to stay home with me just incase. He wanted me to go for a ride with him to get me out of the house. So I went and I felt really good just not all there. I ate some soup and yogurt in the am and sipped on protein shake all day and water. 5thday (Sat) I ate the same stuff but felt hungrier. My husband said it was a good thing because that means I am healing. But I felt like eating whatever BUT I didnt! I just had protien shakes and jello. I went to mass that day and while kneeling I began to feel dizzy so I sat down. Today is 5th day (Sun) and I am feeling a little more like me now! YAY!!! I got on the scare and I am at 247.2 day of surgery I was at 258. I have had lots of gas and been burping a lot...Can anyone tell me why I am burping a alot what can I do to prevent it? Also I cant sleep good since I am used to sleeping on my tummy. I know in time things will pass and I will be back to living a normal life well except for over eating. I am going to keep a daily diary on here because I want to help people that do it and have questions. Please add me as your friend and begin a new life with me.

Hi Jackie, I was banded on 3/24 and the surgery itself is a piece of cake. I had never had surgery before so I was very nervous about the postop pain. My surgeon uses a local anesthetic that lasts about 10-12 hours afterward(you could ask your surgeon if he does this also) so I had no pain at all until the middle of the night when I got up to go to the bathroom. The pain was a little sharp only where the port was placed. The first day after surgery I was uncomfortable but not unbearably so and I slept most of it anyway. The second day it was almost as if I hadn't had anything done. The port site hurts for a couple of weeks when you use your abdominal muscles but tylenol or ibuprofen took care of any discomfort. Don't be surprised if you have gas pains that go up into your shoulders, these are from the gas they use to insufflate your abdomen. I had a little bit of that but walking help significantly. Do a lot of walking afterwards. I started out walking for about 20 minutes a day. I found I wasn't that hungry for the first couple of weeks afterward. For the first time in my life I had to remind myself to eat. I just copied and pasted what I had told someone previously down below. I hope it helps. Congratulations on your decision to get banded and change your life forever!!!!! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana Some things that have helped me through the first three and a half weeks: 1. Stock up on plenty of non-carbonated liquids. Bottles of Water help keep count of water intake. I am not a great water drinker so I usually add sugar-free Kool-aid or Crystal Light. Also it would have been nice to have more options available, I soon learned. Once you get to full liquids it gets easier, you can choose from things like V8 juice, Yogurt smoothies, Instant Breakfast (sugar-free of course), etc. I have just gotten into the habit of looking on the shelves for different options. When you find something that works don’t forget to let us know!!! 2. I also bought all the different kinds of mashed potatoes in a cup but found that instant potatoes tasted better – it’s all a matter of preference, yogurts, sugar-free puddings, tomato soup(one of my faves), actually any Soup works, I have found that blending them in the blender makes just about any of them go down well. Malt-O-Meal and Cream of wheat are also tasty warm meals. 3. Protein shakes were my salvation (and still are) when I just don’t get enough in. The Atkins and Slim fast ones have 20grams of protein, which help with getting the 60grams of protein in daily. I either drink these over ice or I mix them with ice in a blender to make a smoothy (almost like a milk shake) 4. There are also plenty of choices in the sugar free Popsicle aisle. There are fudgesicles, cremesicles, and just about any flavor Popsicle. These are great because you can actually chew them. 5. Don’t forget your chewable Vitamins, antacids (chewable or liquid), advil or tylenol (chewable or liquid – like Jennye said, try to get the adult strength or you end up drinking half the bottle), and something for gas (although I haven’t needed that yet). 6. Don’t be surprised at how much you can eat at different times of the day. I have yet to figure it out. Sometimes I feel like I can eat anything and others I can’t eat hardly anything without getting that “it’s all going to come back up” feeing. Take Care and Good Luck and let us know how it goes!!!

you actually might find foods that are currently appealing to you, aren't after surgery. Post surgery I have very little interest in junk foods. I was a big pizza fan, but I have no interest anymore. I know that bread hurts my stomach, so I don't even think about it. And I really don't crave any sugary foods. I might have something sweet (sugar free popsicle, sugar free pudding, 100 calorie frozen yogurt) once a week. And I don't feel like im missing out on anything else. My biggest suggestion right now, is as you're starting the process, start doing research, checking out this site and others, to look into foods. You said you're a finicky eater. Nows the time to start figuring out what you do like that will be good after surgery, because the first year post surgery is critical. It's good to have a plan. Congrats on the decision! We're all here to support you

Im 3 months today! A typical day for me is... B 1 scrambled egg with reduced fat cheese and ham S greek yogurt L bean chili or vegetable chicken soup or chicken salad S protein drink D chicken or turkey hamburger with veggies S sugar free pudding or apple with PB

Almost 3 months out and this is what a usual day looks like for me Breakfast 1: Protein Bar (pre-workout) Breakfast 2: Scrambled eggs with cheese (sometimes I add smoked salmon) with fruit Breakfast 2 alt: Yogurt with Bear Naked Granola and ground flax seed Snack 1: BabyBel Light Cheese and Turkey Jerky or Turkey Snack Stick Lunch: Grilled Peppers/Onions with chicken Sausage or Turkey Burger lunch Alt: 1/2 Ham and Cheese Sandwich Snack 2: Power Crunch Protein Bar Snack 2 alt: 1/3 cup Mexicali dip with healthier option chips (Chia tortilla chips or veggie chips or some type of wheat thin like cracker) Dinner: Not Much. I am not usually very hungry for dinner. Maybe a small amount of chicken, turkey burger, salmon with veggies. Sometimes I will make a pizza on a tortilla with turkey pepperoni. I will also make fish tacos once in a while. Cod cooked in a skillet on the stove then flaked into a soft tortilla with lettuce, cheese and cilantro lime tarter sauce. Throughout the day I also consume 1 - 20oz bottle of Isopure Protein Drink to supplement more protein. This also counts towards my Fluid intake for the day.

In your post op diets, did they mention using ground flax seeds or refried beans? These are all excellent sources of fiber and will help with constipation without the use of stool softeners. I add ground flax to my yogurt daily and since I have I have a small BM nearly every day.

I know how you feel! I am 6 days postop. This last week has been really hard. I had a little of a rougher time than most other people seem to have with the surgery. I've had a lot of pain from the gas and generally have felt very uncomfortable. I did clears for two days then full liquid up till now. I am soooo bored with the things I am able to eat. I was allowed during this time to have no chunks yogurt and sugar free pudding. Also, the last couple of days I went to Jasons deli and got a couple of Soups and just didn't eat anything chunky out of them. And, I have been super hungry at times. Tomorrow I start the blenderized (puree) part of my diet. I can have some more things. I'm excited. Just keep focused on why the doctors want you to slowly progress your diet. A big cup of warmth beef broth helped me feel full many times. You can do it!

hey...how bad are peanuts? I know i am on the liquid diet, but i find if i have 13 peanuts (so 26 individual) i do not crave anything at all. I figure that it is better than many other alternatives. They did say i could have a fat free yogurt if i wanted...i am sure peanuts are not the greatest, although it is high in protein which is helpful. Right now i estimated that i have 39g protein from shakes, the yogurt is 9g. Adding the peanuts (the past 2 days) has helped greatly with keeping me satieated. any suggestions? I could eliminate them completely and will...just it is sooo hard when others are eating.

i also had my troubles eating so I just concentrated on protein. I had 3 protein drinks a day. I used vanilla and crystal lite. Tasted like sa 50-50 bar. Progreso lite soup with no flavored protein mixed in. Be sure to add protein to hot stuff slowly, stirring constantly. And than a Greek yogurt. That was pretty much it but it was a all day endeavor . I wish u luck. It does get better.

Lux bitc h, bitc h, bitc h!!!!! you think you have problems!!!!! this afternoon i couldn't decide between blueberry or strawberry yogurt!!!! you know i'm kidding you bud!!!! i/we are all sad for what you've gone through this past year i've "seen" you and your horrible situation/story on the board in the past i can only imagine what a hard time you went through you have a family - having them have to watch you hurt not a joke - but - you having to watch them dealing with your pain glad things are finally, very slowly, and very overdue - improving 200 lbs down - the very hard way!!! do you mind if i ask you your starting weight, and where you want to end up???? you went through such hard/miserable/painful times........ you should get an award for bravery above and beyond the call of WLS take care of yourself get stronger huggggggs kathy

not phases, but I have days like that. The last couple of days all I've wanted to eat are Protein shakes and yogurt.

I've been tolerating yogurt very well too. That's how I've been taking my PPI and gallstone prevention meds they gave me. That's the only meds I've been able to get down. I'm scared to chew a flintstone's Vitamin and I haven't tried to drink the Calcium citrate yet either. It does feel like a full time job for sure! I have another 3 full weeks off before school starts (I'm a teacher) so I'm hoping it will be easier then. I dread trying to do all of this while doing teacher inservice and once the students start....hectic!! Thanks for your encouragement and advice. I really appreciate it!

Hello guys. I'm brand new, almost three weeks post-op. I'm still trying to learn how to eat, but almost every time I eat solid food I get really, really sick. I get very nauseaous, my chest gets tight and I need to throw up. When I do, most of the time, it's just foam/froth. Sometimes it will be food as well, but it's mostly just froth. It doesn't happen with liquid or anything super soft (yogurt, pudding, etc.) but almost always with solids. What is up and how long with this last? It's getting a bit old. Thanks for any replies!

I have set my surgery date. DH came to the Drs. appt with me which is helping him feel a little bit better about the surgery. The surgeons wife is so involved and a great 'people' person. She explained to my DH that not only am I preventing health issues before they develop, I'm also entitled to look and feel good about myself. Thank you. DH is thinking that I'm all about the cosmetics, while important it's not the only reason I'm doing this. If it was I wouldn't opt for surgery. So when is the big day?!!?!?!? May 14. It's a friday and then I'll be home with DH all weekend for him to take care of me! lol. This means I start the pre-op liquid diet May 1. I already explained to the Dr. why I have such a hard time with the low carb. My workouts are still pretty intense and working overnights, there are times I stay awake for 24hours. If I allow an extra yogurt and take tylenol, Im ok. But between working as a nurse and driving home tired, it's not so safe to feel like that! :tongue: Well I was told I dont have a fatty liver and I've lost most of my pre-op weight required. I was required 12 lbs and I lost 8 lbs. I explained where Im having difficulties and basically was told to keep doing what I'm doing. I hope for the month of April to lose another 8lbs and make it more than I was supposed to! :eek: Then anything lost on the liquid portion will just be extra! I'm feeling pretty good about everything. It still feels surreal that I'm going ahead with this but I've been honest with the Drs. team. I guess everyone can feel the way I do at times. I still am having a hard time telling others about this surgery. So far DH is the only person who knows and two friends know I'm thinking about it. I'm worried to tell my parents because they are moving soon and I don't want them to worry about leaving me or anything like that. DH is doing a good job supporting me. I hate feeling like I'm lying since I talk to my parents all the time. "So what's new?" "...Nothing..." ARGH!