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Hi and welcome, there is a post by Wendal called "How the band works " that I think will answer most of your questions. I would assume that when people get to goal they wouldn't have to watch what they eat as carefully maintaining..maybe ice cream instead of ff yogurt once in awhile. Food choices are as important as amounts. Or they could have an unfill. I have never read of too much weight lost being a problem.

Pretty much the same - applesauce and yogurt, but also some oatmeal along with the protein drinks. My Dr. said as long as everything was going along well between days 7-10 after surgery I could go ahead and start integrating the mushy foods into my diet (hurray!!). So, I'm planning on trying something tomorrow (day 7) -not sure what yet. We have 6 hens that we raised from chicks. During the warmer weather they free range in our back yard and they give us the world's best fresh eggs every day - so I'm thinking eggs! I've been missing those fresh eggs!

Hi all, On Sunday, I'm two months out from my surgery. It's been quite a ride so far! Post-surgery, I have lost 30 lbs. I lost 32 lbs. on my three-month pre-op diet for a total of 62 lbs. I have met some mini goals on the way: I'm now merely obese, not morbidly obese. And I'm in onderland! My surgery was uneventful except for a small, undiagnosed hiatal hernia that my surgeon repaired. That added about an hour to surgery. Recovery has been pretty smooth too. I did discover in the first few days that I am now lactose-intolerant. I'm hoping that will go away in a few months. I've read here that many people become lactose-intolerant for a few months after surgery. I also had a couple of weeks of diarrhea, but that resolved by itself. So far, I've tried to be very compliant: eating on plan, taking my Vitamins, getting my fluids in, and exercising 5 days per week. I'm following Kaiser Fremont's post-op plan. Currently, I'm downing around 600 calories, mostly low-fat Protein, in three meals and one evening Protein shake per day. I have had a few uncomfortable incidents after eating. Sometimes, food just doesn't sit right. I've had the slimeys twice, spitting up copious amounts of foamy saliva. I got sick and threw up for the first time since surgery this week. I had eaten 1/4 c. fresh peach and 1/4 c. greek yogurt in the morning. I can eat fresh peach later in the day, but first thing in the morning, my sleeve is p-i-c-k-y! One good thing: I had been worried I physically could not throw up because I've felt really sick but hadn't puked since surgery, but I know that is not true now! My energy level is still not 100%, but I feel stronger and better the more time goes by. I'm back to my pre-op exercise routine of five days per week, but I am moving less throughout the day. I've been doing less yardwork and housework and just generally moving less. I hope my energy is back to 100% by the end of this month. In the last couple of weeks, I have eaten some foods I shouldn't, such as salty Snacks and sweets. And last night, I had popcorn, Cookies, and fruit instead of my evening Protein Drink. Not a lot of any of them, but I can see they are the devil. I'm going to try a diet trick I've used before: Cheating one day per week only. So for this week, I've already had my cheat day on Friday. I'm looking forward to being three months out. I expect to be gaining energy this next month and meeting a couple mini-goals: A weight that starts with 18, and A BMI that's merely overweight, not obese. Do I regret the surgery: No I don't. I can see it is just a tool, but it's the best tool I've ever had! Lynda

Untill recently, without fail my day would start with a Preimeir protien shake! In the last couple months they are no longer attractive. I get up 5 to 530 , normally for the first 7 months I would get up and have a protien shake first thing after weighing in. Then for a snack I would have a greek yogurt around 930am,,, still do without fail! For lunch it is chicken, Chicken and more chicken, usually left over from the night before. (look up 1001 and ways to prepare chicken). Sometimes, not very often I would have a second yogurt. Now almost never. dinner is usually more chicken of some type. Sound boring right,,, but believe me after time you will stop caring what you eat Just as long as you put some food in there, it is no longer and important thing. (making high protien, lean choices are). Stock up on things like beef Jerky, turkey sauasage bites, baby bell cheese ect. Protien and Calcium and your Vitamins are your best friends! Oh and water!

Breakfast: Protein shake or greek yogurt snack: Mixed nuts Lunch: lunch meat and cheese or small salad or tuna w/wheat thins or greek yogurt (Mon and Tues: meat and cheese Wed: tuna and crackers Today: yogurt) I can eat 4-6 oz of the meat and cheese and a whole can of tuna snack: Mixed nuts Dinner: What ever meat hubby makes w/dinner about 4-6 oz snack: Wheat thins Anytime snack because they are in season cherry tomatoes Water or Diet Snapple Peach Iced tea all day and I am a coffee-aholic so I usually have 4-5 cups of that through out the day. Mon: Power Strgth Training Tues: Fitness Kickboxing Wed: Power Strgth Training Thurs: Fitness Kickboxing Fri: treadmill or stationary bike or nothing Sat: Fitness Kickboxing Sun: Walk 2-3 miles

june13sleever, you are just too funny!!!! I know exactly what you mean on continuously eating Protein. yesterday I ate: Breakfast: cheese stick (7g protein) with coffee Snack: yoplait greek yogurt (14g protein) Lunch: chicken noodle Soup (the whole can over a hour in a half) (14g protein) Snack: ham & gravy baby food (8g of protein) Dinner: 4 oz of chicken & spinach (27g protein) Desert: skinny cow mini - low fat fudge pop (1 protein) Drink: 64 oz of crystal light ice tea

Prilosec is time released, and it takes time to build up in our systems to work fully. It might not take the full time to kick back in, but I'd take some Gaviscon to help soothe the stomach. I'd steer clear of Tums or Rolaids due to the calcium carbonate. I was out with friends and had some breakthrough reflux. A friend offered me some Tums, I chewed them up because I was so miserable. It helped for about 30 minutes, then the burning was about 10 times more intense. I knew that calcium carbonate could cause rebound reflux, I just was in an unexpected situation and needed some relief before I could get home. The tingly/weird speech stuff is kind of weird. The vomiting not so weird since you've been off the Prilosec a couple of days. Stick with bland foods for a couple of days, get some yogurt in your system in the event you're having some bacteria imbalance going on with the increased acid and vomiting. Stay hydrated too.

I don't follow any set menu plan. I reckon I should, but I'm like Nancy. That never worked for me before so I just try to focus on Protein. I usually throw some whey protein in some Water and shake it up and run out the door. For lunch, I often take a Tuna kit to work, if not, I grab a chicken breast and some veggies or I ask for a cheeseburger minus the bread and I'll have some Baked Lays or Sunchips with it. It's a treat when I do that. If I'm being 'good', I go home, throw a baked scrod or crabcakes or some protein in the oven, maybe a few spears of asparagus or a 1/2 cup of Italian green Beans. Most every night I have a yogurt to take my meds with. If I'm on the road with my traveling team. I am much much worse. I love the Schwan's man. I can order good protein from him and avoid the aisles that call out my name in a grocery store. He's a bit expensive, but the food is great quality and easy to cook in just the right portions, which helps me stay focused. I eat alot of chili too (Wolf Brand Chili), but I'm not always 'good' when I eat chili cause I like it with Fritos and grated cheese. Unless you've lived in Texas, you wouldn't understand just how good a Frito Pie with Wolf Brand Chili is, but it's one of my biggest comfort foods. I'm detoxing slowly. lol.

I have problems eating in the morning due to "tightness" as well. One of my employees is a health food nut and has me hooked on this blended drink which helps me get something down in the A.M.: 1 frozen banana ( I freeze my old bananas in a ziploc bag for this) a fresh banana makes a world of difference Approx. 5-6 unsweetented frozen strawberries 1/8 cup unsweetened cranberries 1/8 cup unsweetented frozen blueberries 2-3 tablespoons "balkan style" greek plain yogurt (this yogurt makes the drink fabulous) add unsweetened apple juice (or your favorite juice) to cover berries in blender and mix well. You might want to add more juice to make you're smoothie "runny" so that it goes down easier. If you want to add plain Protein powder to this you can (I have never tried it with it, I hate Protein drinks, however plain may be great in it?? If you try it with protein, please let me know how it tastes. I sip this from a "to-go" cup all morning and it fills me up. I hope you like it!

Hey, How much Protein shake do you add to your pudding and yogurt?

One scoop which is 25 protein and the yogurt had 5 protein ... So 30 total.... Tastes like brownie mix before you cook it lol

I was banded on the 31st , was on clears for 48 hours and now Protein shakes and fulls ( sweet potato Soup, yogurt), and i cant say that i have felt any real resistance with the band, is this normal?...does the real 'banding' feeling only come when solids are introduced? new jersey

I was reading posts over on the VSG forums and came across http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ Under the links and resources, there are some recipes that looked good, particularly the "BITES" section. I've always had a hard time eating a nutritional Breakfast. Mostly because I never get up in time to make something before heading to work. The idea of using a muffin pan to make scrambled egg "muffins" seemed like something I could accomplish on the weekend and have ready for the week without too much hassle. There's all sorts of stuff that looks good on there. Just thought I'd share. I'm almost two months out, and I've about reached my limit with just plain dairy Protein (string cheese, plain cottage cheese, plain greek yogurt), etc. I've been eating a lot of that since surgery and have been trying to find ways to fix things that are simple but different.

Peppercma, I read your blog. Thanks for sharing all your details. Did you say yogurt was considered a clear liquid pre-op? That would be great! What else did you drink? broth, gatorade?

I recently had a back surgery and had to quit my job. So I am at home and not able to do much but walking. I am obsessed with what I am going to eat throughout the day. I dont bing but I am always on my phone app fat secret typing what I am going to have! I too have the exact same insurance requirements. I had my first Nutrition class Thursday and I originally weighted in at 254.4. At Thursdays appt I was 250.2!! The trick is when you eat track it and set limits! I have been told to eat within 30 minutes from waking otherwise your body goes in starvation mode. So when I get up, I got straight for the bullet and make my own protein shake. This may not be the way we are going to do it post op but its working for now. At lunch I have a rather big protein planned meal and the I have a shake later on around 5 pm. Around 7 I have a snack of either yogurt or an apple with PB. So far so good. I have been trying to watch the clock and make my meals last 20-30 minutes and not to drink before or after at least 30 minutes. I counted my days left today because I'm going stir crazy. I have excatly 79 days to surgery!! I would love to be a buddy as I am pretty much on my own here.

Hi All, I've been reading the forums this week, trying to compose my pre-surgery shopping list. Can any veterans help me out and let me know if I'm forgetting anything? Thanks! Gas-X Strips Chapstick liquid Tylenol Chewable Multivitamins Baby Wipes Protein powder Ready-to-Drink Protein shakes Probiotic Pearls (this is my own addition, my chiropractor said he thinks it will help my stomach) Biotin Tablets (This is my own addition, since I am worried about my hair falling out when I start to lose weight) Bromelain Tablets (another addition of mine, Bromelain promotes healing after surgery) Grocery: SF Jello SF juice SF Popsicles SF Hot Cocoa Drinkable Yogurt broth and Soup Milk (for protein shakes)

Dannon light and fit Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, string cheese, low carb high protein granola, sf popsicles, crystal light, canned soup and salad are a few of mine.

The last time I wrote I was getting ready for an upper gi because my surgeon suspected that my band had slipped a little. I went for the upper gi and despite not really being able to eat, vomiting a lot, and everything that I eat hurt when it hit, apparently everything is perfect. the change in positioning was either a fluke or it fixed itself when they removed all the fluid. So here i sit, just over a year down the road, 90 pounds lighter, not where i want to be and questioning if i can pull off the last 40. i'm trying to cut back on my calories as much as possible, as well as up my exercise. i need another fill, my 2 cc isn't doing much of anything. i find i do better portion wise if i eat like 6 meals a day. not at all what they want me doing, but i get sooo hungry. and i can control it a little better if i eat more meals (small ones) more closely together. sadly since having the fluid out, and only 2cc put back in i've gained 2 lbs....i was up 4 but have since lost 2 back. hopefully i can get back on the horse and get a good rhythm going again with the weightloss. has anyone else had the problem where they can't seem to get a good green zone? i thought i had mine, dare i say i did. 5.5 cc. but i just had to get that stupid tomato stuck and since then (july '09) i haven't been able to get a GOOD restriction like i had! i mean before it was ....maybe 4 tyson chicken nuggets, or a side salad, or if i were particularly hungry the kids steak bites from texas roadhouse with a sweet potato, plain with butter on the side....that was fantastic restriction!.....i could get a serving of greek yogurt then and be good to go, even when i got back to 5.8 cc yogurt went right thru! not to mention everything else too!.. is it just me? or has anyone else out there had this problem too??? i can't fathom having gone into such tremendous debt to pay for this to have me possibly have blown it in the first year and be doomed to never see my finish line. meanwhile...i'm still going to the gym, farm work, and contemplating taking a belly dance class for the heck of it.

Harley Nana recommended these to me - and they could be considered a mushy... those Reeses choc. Peanut Butter eggs. Definately a mushy food. :biggrin1: :biggrin1: hehehe - sorry! :speechles Dont worry, Chriselda, its just another day. The world is what has made this day one of the biggest feasting days on our calender! Try not to center this day around the family's feast - but on spending good time together. The canned soups will bring the salty for you, and try having yogurt for your sweet.

Same here on week 3 puréed and eating protein shakes, refried beans, Greek yogurt, want to try that ricotTa bake from world according to egg face

I ditto Gamegirl. Once u start eating solids, ull fill up much faster. I could've probly ate an endless supply of pudding/yogurt when I was on full liquids. And ur 1 of the lucky ones to not feel hunger. Mine started on day 10 and I've been hungry ever since (4 mths). It take some people up to a year before they feel hunger. Lucky ducks...

This is quite normal. This early out, your stomach is still numb and you won't be able to feel everything. It's why they recommend that you measure your portions out so as to not accidentally overeat. You also won't feel any restriction to speak of until you start eating solid foods. Everyone can eat a lot more of soft things like yogurt and pudding than you can of say, chicken breast. You're doing fine

You'll be on mushies soon so don't worry until then - a lot of people struggle in the early days. You'll then be able to have scrambled egg and yogurt (Greek yogurt has double the protein of standard yogurt), so that should help. You'll probably be OK with some fish too.

I am 6 months now, i can do cheese and yogurt with no problem, but Tuesday was the 1st time i drank milk and didn't have to run to the bathroom, I just kept trying it every few weeks just a little at a time. Tuesday i was able to drink 1 cup of skim.

I'm not having that many carbs. Mostly I eat a greek yogurt or cottage cheese for breakfast, a protein shake for lunch (actually I sip on one all afternoon), then a large spoonful of whatever I made the kids for dinner. I sip on water all day. If I am out then I'll grab an unsweet tea from McD's. No calories or carbs in that though. I wonder if I should try to add a couple of snacks in there to get my calories a little higher? I'm satisfied with what I am eating though.