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Update: day 2 I had the leak test and was in tears by the end because of the feeling of the liquid hitting my new pouch. Since I passed the test, they started me on Clear liquids and took my iv fluids bag off. I've been walking a ton. Mat least 10-15 laps around the floor 7-8 times a day and it usually helps me get out one painful burp of gas. I was supposed to go home tonight but spent the night again because pain is not managed yet. I was started on the liquid hydrocodone which should last 4-6 hours and only lasts me about 1.5 hours. Then they give me diludad which lasts for 2 hours max. So pain seems like it will keep me again coupled with the fact that I'm struggling to drink 1 oz Water per hour. I know this is going to get better daily and even with the pain and discomfort I would do it over no doubt! Did anyone stay more than 2 nights because of pain management? Also, any advice to get over the fear of drinking water/sipping broth/baby nibbling Jello? I have clear liquids again today and am already fearing the yogurt and shakes that come tomorrow. ????????????

while I was getting adjusted to the green zone my doctor insisted I eaat 3 meals of solid food a day. now that I have reached the green zone eating isn't of concern. I told her that I have a green protein smoothie in the morning and she was all okay with it. lunch I frequently am not hungry for so cottage cheese, yogurt, protein bar etc. but I always sit down and have a good dinner. the only concern I have is getting the protein in that I need. sometimes though I am always hungry so I am playing mind games to get through the day.

I've had my band for a year and the honeymoon is over. I do love my band, but I'm so tired of eating the 'easy' foods. I used to have a pretty well-balanced diet pre-band, but not any more. My nutritionist just called yesterday to say I am severely deficient in vitamin D and I am anemic. I totally know why. I don't eat well anymore. I eat what's easy to eat - carbs. I know I'm not getting the right nutrition because my habits have changed. I used to eat yogurt (calcium and D) with my lunch. Now I can barely get my protein down for lunch. I used to eat more red meat (iron). Now I barely do because it's such a struggle to get down. My weight loss has stalled as a result of all this. I know I need to jump back on the bandwagon but it's so much easier to not fight with my band. Has anyone had the same experience? Any suggestions for more Vit. D/iron-filled food? Help!

If you are trying to survive on shakes that is the root of your problem. Solid food will give you more mass in your stomach than shakes. For example, for breakfast, I eat 2 boiled eggs and 3 slices of turkey bacon. For lunch, I each grilled chicken tenderloins and a vegetable. For dinner, I have grilled fish and a vegetable. If I am hungry in between, I will have yogurt or string cheese. I am not hungry most of the time but I do have an issue with being greedy which is another story. From one sister to another, focus on filling with solid food.

The PA spends alot of time with me i think about 30~45 mins. She looks at an entire month of mfp logs and goes over each day. I get hungry in between.meals because i eat low cal everything. My meals are typically 300 cals each. She wanted me to increase my cals, but its kinda hard because i eat the same thing basically everyday. The only thing i thought about was getting a higher calorie yogurt i currently eat the 80 cal 2~3 times each day. I just dont see the point in eating extra cals in yogurt when you can get the same amount of Protein for less cals. I have phone calls to.make monday morning for sure. This is my typical day Breakfast Yogurt String cheese 1/4 cup granola (not aloud anymore) lunch 4oz turkey breast Flat out wrap String cheese 1/2 cup fruit dinner 4~5 oz chicken breast 1/4 cup bread crumbs 1 cup.veggies Snacks Yogurt String cheese 1oz pretzels (not allowed anymore) I do not eat more than 12 oz at one time

I had roasted chicken today and some green beans thinking I could eat this with no issues . I have to tell you it took me forever and I did not even finish it . You know I have no issue when it comes to eating potatoes and beans and yogurt

I just have to get this off my chest. I work at a hospital. They have a beautiful cafe that I enjoy dining in. Anyway, I go in there for my morning break and purchase a protein drink and yogurt. Twice now I have bought Light Muscle Milk which has been expired. What an idiot I am, I should look at the date but I don't. Today the expiration date read 11/11. Now my stomach is upset. Being on a liquid diet already sucks because of headaches I am having, now this. You would think a hospital would be more careful of the food or drinks in their cafe for the health of their consumers. Thanks for listening!

The only thing I notice when I travel to different altitudes is that my band may be tighter for the first 24 hours and I have to do protein shakes or softer foods, like, yogurt, soups etc. But it has always adjusted.

SF Pudding Greek Yogurt Apple sauce Pear Sauce SF Custards I could have super thinned out Cream of Wheat sweetened with splenda (it wasn't my fave, but it was warm and soothing).

i try to listen to my bodys wants and needs, as what works for one may not work for another. I 'm in the green zone, but finding my band tighter in the am ,so i able to eat less in the morning and more in the late afternoon and evening. if i want a snack 3 hrs after a lite lunch , i have one because my body is telling me to eat something, so i eat some healthy like yogurt, almonds or, today a morning glory muffin. (a bran muffin with chopped apple,banana, and sunflower seeds. ) try to be a little understanding of what your band is telling you, it may be a different than what someone else's band is telling them.

Thanks for the replies. I don't know why I can have fried, but not scrambled or boiled. I think I will try the egg beaters. I can't have milk with lactose now either, but I can have cheese and yogurt. Strange sleeve!

Oh I love yogurt....but my band doesnt. After I eat it I am so uncomfortable....almost feels like its stuck.....i can eat oatmeal just fine but yogurt is like glue in my tbroat/band area

Okay, still struggling. I am on the 5th type of Protein shake, still making me gag. I have about 5 glasses of tea a day, that maybe equals 40oz or so. But I am getting in 0 protein. In desperation today I bought yogurt, even though I can't stand it. I am going to email my dietician tomorrow. I just don't want to wither away. In about 10 days ill be able to eat soft foods and I am hoping that will help with my protein intake. I feel like I am being a bad surgery patient!

Assuming you have a cooler....Hard boiled eggs, yogurt, hummus,. Assuming you will be cooking eggs, scrambled. I usually take a large baggie of chopped chicken and pineapple in Hawaiian marinade to be cooked later. You can get tuna in pouches. Grab some mayo packets at a fast food place if you like to add right into the pouch. Hamburgers with out the bun perhaps. =)

Well if you're willing to do anything to be thin and healthy then that's your answer. I would work on giving up the carbonated sodas. Chips, ice cream and chocolate are band friendly ( which can be a bad thing). Band friendly means they go through the pouch easily and won;t fill you as easy as other foods, so it's possible to overeat those foods. Since being banded, I've had two small pieces of chocolate (over x-mas) and a few potato chips, no ice cream yet and no pizza. Yes, you can eat out in restaurants and you might want to just order an appetizer instead of a meal sometimes. Not EVERYONE can eat EVERY FOOD. Some people can't tolerate beef or bread. Some fibrous veggies are difficult for some people. Some people can eat bread if it's toasted. You just wont know until you get there. Remember some of these foods might go down when you are first banded, but as they fill the band to tighten it to fit YOUR stomach and restrict your quantity of food, some foods might be harder to get down. Things like Soup are tricky because it's liquid it goes through your band, does not stay in your pouch to keep you feeling full. So far I am still able to eat chicken and beef. I have had a little bread, but stick more to the crust, I've also had popcorn and nuts. I eat fish, cooked veggies, chicken, beef, turkey meatloaf, yogurt, Cereal, oatmeal, lean cuisines, eggs, salad. Each time I get a fill and get closer to a good level of restriction, I must slowly try foods that I could eat before, to see if my tightened band will tolerate them. Each person also has a level or tightness that works for them. One person might like to be tighter, which might mean many foods don't go down well and another person is ok with a looser restriction. We each find our own personal level of restriction. I just had a fill, so the next few weeks will tell me if I reached a good level of restriction that works for me. I highly recommend you read the threads on the forum about "how fills work" by Wendell, it explains the process very well and was very helpful to me. Or discuss with your surgeon the fill process, so you don;t get discouraged while waiting for good restriction. I'm a slow loser ( always was) but for me this 26 pounds is unbelievable. I am two pounds away from the lowest weight I've been in over 20 years! I know it will be a long road to get this weight off and I know I'll have to work with my band to keep it off. If you lose the weight and pick up your bad habits of drinking with meals, you could start gaining weight back. Our brains are smart and our need to eat is strong, we can figure out ways to beat our band, if we're not careful.

I recommend having some ice packs. I found they really helped with incision pain. If you like your Water cold, I recommend getting an insulated water bottle or cup. I love my ThermoTank. Your tastes will change, so don't buy too much of anything. Yogurt was my go-to pre-op. I liked it for the first week post-op, and now I can't stand it. Most sweet things have an off flavor to me. remember you will be eating tiny amounts. A single can of Soup will be enough for 3-4 meals. Your stomach doesn't feel any different, though you will likely burp more than before. Certain things will fill you up very fast. Feeling "full" doesn't always feel like full did before. It may be discomfort, or pressure, or burping. Certain foods will taste awesome going down, and then sit like a rock in your new stomach. I'm two weeks out, and here is what I actually used my first two weeks: 2 bottles Atkins Protein water 1 package Jello 1 package jello pudding 1 package sugar free Popsicles 3 cans of condensed soup Several containers of flavored yogurt Cream of wheat Small container of plain yogurt Crystal light/Mio Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Can I have a yummy frozen yogurt!

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 was slightly lactose intolerant prior, but now it is bad. I don't throw up but it makes me have the runs something awful. Yogurt and pudding were to be my strength. Now, I suffer if I eat them. Do you think we could take Lactaid? I bought Lactaid milk, but it sounds gross. I'll talk to my surgeon next Thursday and post results. Good luck!

Every doctors pre-op is different. My pre-op diet was 4 shakes a day (2 with milk & 2 with another liquid) if I mixed them with Water I could have 5. I could also eat 6 servings of s/f pudding, s/f Jello, unflavored applesauce, 1 cup raw veggie, oatmeal and yogurt a day. The day before surgery I can eat normal till 4 pm, then I have to drink 32oz mirlax over 4 hrs starting at 5 pm. That's the only thing that doesn't sound pleasant.. I think I'd rather have the 2 day clear liquid diet. The plus... I've lost 11 lbs on my 2 week pre-op

I'm glad to know I’m not the only one experiencing this. It will be one month since my sleeve tomorrow and I have the same cravings. I still want wings and burgers and the smell of bacon ummm. One thing I know for sure is that you can have some of the things you like just in moderation. I was only on liquid for one week after surgery. after that I'd eat steamed veggies and grilled fish that was easy to go down and I could only eat a bite or two. You might also want to try tuna low fat mayo and relish that was my go to when I got an urge. Instead of sherbet try frozen yogurt you wouldn’t believe how good it is. I still have to cook because I have a family that needs to eat. You can still use the seasoning your use to. I tried to eat a small piece of fried chicken it felt like it was stuck in my throat I felt so sick. So I remember that when I get the urge. Good luck! Stay strong you can do it!!

Hello all. I am scheduled for my banding on Nov 20th with Dr. Quilici in Burbank, CA. I just started on my liquid diet yesterday after my McDonalds Breakfast. I figure McDonalds helped get me into this jam, it was only fitting that they send me off. I haven't had my nutrition appt at my surgeons office yet (Friday) or gotten the official 2-week diet info in the mail. Based on reading this board about what other's 2-week diets consist of, I have a feeling I am in for a rude awakening about what I can and can not eat. For the past 24 hours I have been having low-fat yogurt, low-fat Soup (with stuff in it), crystal light, and soda (I am not ready to give up Diet Coke until the last second). Anyway just checking in. Look forward to keeping track with this board.

I've had 6 surgeries over my 55 years. This one was the EASIEST by far. I had mine in San Diego at UCSD Medical Center. The team was incredible. The only thing that was slightly uncomfortable was the shot. It burned like a tetanus shot for a few minutes. Nothing. I took 3 nice breaths of oxygen and ....awoke. Without grogginess or nausea.I had a mild sore throat and a little cut on the inside of a lip that went in a few days. Throat lozenges the first day only. Felt a little discomfort in the tummy so they gave me a pain med. It went away. I needed some help being lifted and lowered into bed. The incision sites would OUCH a bit if I used my core muscles. That passed by day 3. I took 3 dosages of the tylenol with codeine and stuck it in the med cabinet. The most discomfort has been sore shoulders and clavical area from the CO2 used to inflate the torso. It is tolerable, not as intense for me as a hard workout. Walking helps. Bloating has been slightly uncomfortable, feeling like you need to pass the gas and can't. It's not painful. That is almost gone now I had diarrhea for a couple of days. That passed when I graduated from Clear liquids to full liquids. The most painful experience for me the entire time was the pre-op procedure for swallowing--the manometry--where the tube with the camera goes thru the nose into the tummy. I had a deviated nose (didn't know it), so it was painful trying to shove the tube up a broken nose. And then the Water drops went into my trachea and lungs, instead of the esophogus. It's over. Onward! Best to you. PS Read about the dietary stages in the forum. If I were you, I'd make sure I followed the more conservative dietary guidance. I was surprised you're eating whole food before surgery. My surgical team said liquids are crucial to keep the liver small. I drank 2-3 Protein drinks, sf popsicles, Jello, 3 servings of yogurt, cottage cheese, clear broth 2 weeks before surgery. Those who needed to lose greater weight did this a month, a nurse told me.

I've decided to start this (yet another) blog to document what I'm going through after banding. So... here goes.. I was banded on June 30th overseas. The surgery cost $6,100, and was at the top center in the country, with a doctor who is the feature cosmetic and bariatric surgeon at a makeover show. Two of my cousins are his current patients, and they attest to his work. After meeting with him, the nutritionist, and the endocronologist last week, we decided to just go ahead with it. I was admitted on 6/30, and discharged the second day. By the second day, I was already up and about, granted with some pain medication, but still. The worst part of the experience was waking up from anesthesia, and choking on (???), and not being able to tell the docs about it. I actually have nightmares like that. So, that was truly agonizing. The surgeon came to check up on me the next day, and said that in order to save time, he had already put in 3 ccs in mine, and will fill it one more time prior to my departure in three weeks. I came home the next day, didn't feel like eating much, except for some clear liquids, soup, and custard and jello. The next day, I moved to solider liquids including yogurt, etc. By the fourth day (today), I'm still keeping some of the liquids, but already started with the mushy food. I am not having any trouble with the eating. Since portion control has always been a problem for me, and I'm seriously dreading PB'ing, I'm eating very slowly and chewing like crazy. I am eating very small portions, when I get hungry or crave something, I try to eat something healthy that would satisfy the same need (diet chocolate crackers for chocolate), and been drinking lots of water. So far, I have lost 10 pounds almost effortlessly. It really helps that my mom is near me, and she's watching what I eat too. I seriously don't think I could have done it without her. I'm worried that I'm not getting enough nutrition, but I'm feeling full most of the time, my hunger pangs are at a minimum, and I feel no discomfort, or low energy. I'm taking my vitamins, and I'm having plenty of protein. The port pain is the only one that hurts right now. Next week, I go back for my first follow-up with the entire team. We'll see how that goes. But, right now, I'm enjoying the weight loss, and I keep expecting the other shoe to drop. I hope it never does.

Variety? I really liked hot bone broth (fairly high in protein) and would get different flavors or have my husband doctor it up and strain it. chicken bone broth simmered with a Parmesan rind; beef bone broth with a spoon of miso paste stirred in after heating (bonus probiotics); or some of the flavors like chicken and ginger, maybe with a splash of soy. He'd put it in a thermos for me and I'd just work on drinking a couple of ounces at a time for hours. If I was having a hard time with Protein, he'd add extra Gelatin to the Soup. I should have seen if the Pho place could have sent plain broth... I also liked the ... Sleepytime Peach Tea, maybe? I think it was Celestial Seasoning. It was chamomile and peach, with a little mint that soothed the stomach. No protein, but good for staying hydrated. Hot liquids were a lot easier in my stomach, though I also threw in a teaspoon of collagen powder sometimes. If you're low on calories (and it's not a gateway drug, I mean food) you can always add a quarter teaspoon of raw honey. I also liked the Syntrax nectar fruit flavors, really watered down. They're just so much thinner than most Protein shakes and more like flavored Water. I also really liked the Ultima Replenisher (stevia sweetened/no cal) electrolyte powder for getting hydrated, and would sometimes add a scoop of the Syntrax Medical Unflavored. As I improved, I added Greek yogurt with a few drops of flavored stevia (couldn't stand it that way before) and kefir, sweetened the same way. Jello was great for mouthfeel, and Eggface has great recipe where she combines it with Greek yogurt for a creamy, jello salad kind of thing. You can mix Protein Powder straight into Greek yogurt (I think I used a Nectar fruit flavor) but it was a little thick/weird. Eggface also tells you how to mix SF pudding into protein powder to get it to set up. (Seriously, her website is bomb and she has a whole section on liquids and purées.) But yeah, an hour at a time and weeks of doing nothing but eating, drinking, and moving around to get rid of gas. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App