Search the Community

I just finished that stage Sunday. I didn't really puree much...some chicken salad once (canned chicken) which was okay. Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta bake and I had soup once I think... I was only on puree for 5 days though so I guess it depends how long you have to do it.

I actually did the elliptical today (funnily while dh was at the gym w/ the kids) and felt so good! I have got to figure out a way to program the elliptical so I can still do the weight-loss program but for a longer time. Right now, it stops after 20mins. There was such a good, mindless show on (VH1 80's) and it made it really easy. I was also studying and so happy to have a break from that. Aside, found a study website that made studying actually fun! I transferred 25 flashcards onto the site and got pretty fluent w/ them in about a half hour. Good times! I want to write down what I ate today since I get a little fuzzy on all that: 1. Protein shake (160 cals) 2. 6oz Stonyfield farms yogurt drink (180) 3. 12 whole grain pretzel nuggets (60 cals) 4. mini snickers (80 cals) 5. 5 choc. covered espresso beans (40 cals) 6. 4 cups air popped popcorn (110 cals) 7. Frozen chix Tandoori w/ brown rice (160 cals) 8. Mini banana muffin (60 cals) 9. 30 oz Sobe Lifewater So cals are low. Interesting. Feel full. I had a couple of hairy moments. Used sugarless gum and candy to get through. That actually probably adds about 40 cals. I would love to find better tasting sugarless candy. Although, that could be dangerous. I could really work my way up to eating a lot of anything tasty... So, feeling good, feeling better. Clothes fitting a tidge better. Happy about the online study guide and that i stayed on top of the clutter and mess in the house. One of those, 'Can I really do it all? Yes.' Days. Gotta love those!

Make sure none of your regular meds are extended release or sustained release, if they are, have your doctor write new Rx. Get a pill crusher for the meds you take, and mix the crushed meds with sugar free pudding. I find that boullion and V-8 juice taste pretty good after all the sweet stuff I have been eating! oatmeal and Cream of Wheat (both thinned with skim milk) are good to have on hand. Low fat yogurt, too. My doctor had me on liquids for 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after surgery ... tomorrow is the end of those 4 weeks!

Hello! I'm on Long Island but understand how you feel. I have had one fill and know its not enough, going for second fill on Friday. I have never regretted my band, I'm sorry you are having regrets. I've realized though the band is a tool. Yes we have all heard that before but you have to diet and exercise and use the band to guide you. I changed what I eat since being banded I pack my lunch every day! I go to the gym, I try for 3 x's per week. It's hard, not easy, but I have lost 30lbs since being banded on 8/11/11 I'm not done losing and pushing myself to keep losing. I hope to be in onederland in a week or 2! My day is usually muscle milk or protein shake for bfast. Lunch is usually Morningstar turkey griller and chobani yogurt, dinner some sort of protein veg and maybe carb. I'm not always good, I treat myself when I want, and like a glass of wine occasionally. Good luck and don't regret anything! Use it to guide you and it will help you more than you know! Message me if you need a buddy or wanna chat!

Had the sam problem for first 4 months post op. Now i have a yogurt or Quest protein bar everyday and this keeps me regular. I don't eat fruits and rarely eat vegetables. Mostly i eat chicken.

I am in Greece at the moment and am surprised by how much protein focused items that are available in the supermarkets. I am having some delicious protein yogurts that are way better than at home. I don't do shakes but there are masses of them here too. Good quality brands too. I am sure that France will be the same. You will get good soups like consommé and, fish and stews. Omelettes, eggs cheese and milk are great go to foods. Enjoy yourself Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

Clear liquids only while in hospital (2days) 1 oz. every 30 minutes, working up to 2 ozs. every 30 minutes. Home now: Only took pain meds first night, cramping and stomach meds twice. Tummy sore - getting up and laying down for first 3 or 4 days.Then, just incisions sore. Typical day. Up around 6:30 A.M. - check blood sugar levels (which have been great! Taken off Metformin day 14), take Prilosec, sip on a warm cup of fruity herbal tea. Within an hour 7:30 - eat breakfast of plain greek yogurt with SF Smuckers strawberry jelly in it (started out a few bites, worked up to 1/2 cup) Really liking cream of wheat lately - bump up protein by making w/milk & adding scoop nonfat dry milk. Drinking Isopure, thinned out with crystal light at first. Now, no problems with just plain water. Snack around 10:30 of protein shake ( 3 or 4 ozs. at first- worked up to 6 ozs.) Lunch around 1:30 usually some cream of whatever soup, but can blenderize just about any soup, lentil, bean are good choices. Add milk. Continue drinking, eating SF jello or popsicles, diluted diet cranberry juice or even skim milk. Better than bouillion is good too. 4:30 snack - shake or thinned, instant SF pudding (bumped up with scoop of protein powder) Dinner around 7:00 - usually blended soup, can bump up protein by adding stage one baby food meats (or puree your own), mix in well. First few days - got most of protein from Isopure - God send! I was on full liquids for first 2 weeks, no vitamins until after that. Now in puree - moving to soft foods. Take 1/2 my BP meds and Cholesterol meds at night. Day 24 for me. Sip slowly, burp when you can and stop eating/drinking when you feel like you have to burp, but can't. Hope that helps

I'm so excited.. July 10th will be the first day of the rest of my life and I so look forward to it.. I'm having trouble with the pre-op diet.. My NUT told me to drink 3 Protein shakes a day and 2 fruits.. :-/ That's impossible honestly, I'm so hungry... She did tell me I could drink an additional shake or have some extra fruits or a yogurt, Jello or broth, etc... does anyone have any suggestions? Will I be okay if I do eat additional fruit?

You didn't stretch your stomach by eating 8 oz of yogurt. I think my yogurt is in a 6oz container and I could eat that once I hit the full liquid stage at 2 weeks out but it did take me at least 30 mins to eat it. Much quicker now

I was not required to prove I could fail on another diet (oh wait they expect success) ....so I am sorry that you are stuck in this situation. I know others will disagree,but I find that many "starches" trigger cravings and over eating even 3 years post op. It works best for me to eliminate or severely restrict many of them. So I do eat veggies, Protein, berries,greek yogurt etc. On a daily basis I avoid rice, Pasta, bread and potatoes and I eat very little fruit (sugar!)..even 3 years out and below goal.... I never eat fast food,junky food like chips and Cookies. My advice, go back to stage 1. Bread is my nemesis and now my kids have moved back home it surrounds me again. It is a delicious demon which i work very hard to minimize. Do not get me wrong we need some carbs for good health but we need way less than our typical diet includes. Some of us are more insulin resistant and prone to the carb crazy train too.

It's still early days for you so consider it a goal, not necessarily something you will achieve just yet. But, you need to work hard to try to get there because you will eventually. I found that the Isopure drinks helped me get a lot of protein in. They are an acquired taste so beware. But they are 40 grams of protein, no sugar, no carbs and they also count towards your fluid intake! But, yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese (have you found the ricotta cheese bake recipe yet?), eggs, tuna and edamame are all very helpful. I still rely on those. ANd now I live on chicken and ground turkey, cooked in a variety of ways.

I also think it could just be sore from throwing up. I would just give it a little time. You seem to be throwing up more than is normal if it is happening every couple of days. Try eating a little slower and chewing more to avoid it. Another thing I did is I would have something like plain yogurt, or a lowfat sauce or something along that line with some Proteins that I knew were harder to get down. If you continue to throw up regularly, you should get a very slight unfill. It is harmful to your band to continue this way.

Well. It worked out pretty well. The day I saw the psychiatrist, I was sick as a dog with the flu, but we changed the meds. This type of change requires 'coming off' the original drug, which throws you into a sort of 'flu like' symptoms of basically withdrawal. So, luckily, I already had the flu and it wasn't any worse than I was already dealing with. After 3 days of stopping that one, I started a new one called Cymbalta. This is one of the newer drugs, not quite in the same family as the Pamelor, so the results will be an experiment. So far, the swing from one to another hasn't been as bad as some of my past attempts. My mood seems pretty stable. I am having some sleep issues, but they say give it 2-4 weeks before you can really rely on the results, so I'm being patient. I am keeping a journal in the process, so that I can report everything accurately when I return next week for follow-up. We did not discuss the eating disorders counseling yet. I was too sick to stay any longer than I did - which was over 3 hrs. ugh.. I don't know if it's the new drug or not, but I have lost 3 more lbs for some reason since this began and I can definitely say that my appetite has wained. It's also helped in that I take this pill in the morning as opposed to the evening and it is a smaller capsule, so I don't have to have that extra yogurt/jello etc in the evening to take it with. I'm not real sure about the cravings for sweets. Interestingly, I've had some. I even indulged in ice cream when I was so sick with a sore throat and still lost. I can tell you some things that I AM doing differently, however, which may be contributing. I have startd a regimen in the morning where I fix up a carnation instant Breakfast with Hood Carb Countdown milk for my breakfast. I also pour an 8oz glass of crystal light which I add 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of Vitamin C to. I have been bringing my tuna salad lunch kit to work and avoiding the cafeteria (and the evil homemade Cookies there), I may have a V8 to boost my lack of veggies, then in the evening, I either bake a chicken breast, baked scrod or crabcakes for dinner and add some veggies or not. I have also been taking a dry bowl of frosted mini shredded wheats to munch on during the day. Interesting thing, this past week or so, I haven't cared so much about the munching. Something's working..

Slept on my right side last night. I was a little scared but had no pain at all. I couldn't really sleep last night at all and I wonder if it was my panicking of me sleeping on the right side. Every morning I wake up, I am SUPER thirsty. I have to drink something right away. I found this died low calories iced coffee in the fridge and I have a cup through out the day. I hope that's ok. I really like it and it doesn't bother me.....I wonder if I can count this as clear liquid? It's decaf too...???? Now I'm panicking... Today's plan? Taking a shower... Going to the supermarket to buy some stuff to take to work tomorrow(first day going back).. I don't even know what to take with me honestly....maybe pack my Tylenol just in case even though I haven't used it since I got home. I wanna take a long walk because of the snow I haven't been able to walk much at all. I wanna go to the mall and walk for about an hour. Like my other post, I lost 13lbs as of yesterday. Yes I lost 13lbs in 6 days and I wanna continue being active so I can lose more and more. Missing food is definitely getting easier each day. I did have an emotional breakdown yesterday because tree was rice pudding in the house (home made) and that's m favorite. What helped me? Looking at amazing pictures on this forum of people losing weight. Being able to eat good again. I am 200 as of yesterday and I really really really want to be at 140 by summer. Do you think I can do it? Working out at least 4 times a week? I didn't go to the beach or pool last summer because I felt discussed at 210lbs. I was embarrassed. This year I wanna get a sexy one piece bathing suit and go to the beach every weekend. (2hours away). For once I wanna be able to wear shorts(haven't worn them since I was 18 now I'm 25) . I wanna change my hair and just be a new healthy me. I'm tired of being shy and not go out because I feel fat. Yes I barely hangout with my cousins because I was shy how much I weighted. They won't see me for another few months and can't wait for them to see the new me ... No one knows I did this tigers besides my mom and 2 sisters and my 3 best friends. I didn't even tell my SIL which I am so close with. Don't want her to be jealous and mad at me. I said I had kidney stones and I have to lose 60lbs ASAP. She's been asking me what I'm eating these few days and I lies Soup and yogurt just so she's doesn't get suspicious. I'm only on liquids. It's my choice. I hate to lie but this was my choice and me decision. Ok I better go take that shower since I need to blow dry my hair and really wanna drive to that mall... First day out since I got home Wednesday. I miss driving my new car that my parents bought for me 3 months ago ... Yes guys I am thankful every day. Can't wait to graduate next fall and hopefully by 2015 get into law school as a sexy paralegal haha.. Ok enough I'm getting conceded. SORRY.. It's the only way I get motivated and love my pouch (sleeve) Hope you all have a wonderful day and I will check back after I come home! Muahhhhhh beautiful skinny people

I've only lost 27-1/2 pounds since my pre-op diet.....and I've added crystal light to the greek yogurt, works well too just don't add too much

Can someone please help me know when I'm full? I have had no problems drinking as much Water and Protein as I need, so I'm so scared that I've stretched my sleeve. I have been on pureed for about three days now. I've mostly eaten refried Beans with some melted cheese and Greek yogurt on top (boy, are they good!). I just heat up three tablespoons and eat that. I wouldn't dare eat another bite for fear that I'd rip my stomach open or some other horrid complication. I just really don't know how to tell if I'm full. I guess that may have been my problem for the last 50 years, but it seems like it's a really necessary skill now. I keep reading that I will know, but I haven't. (I haven't felt hungry either.) I don't know if I should try to eat more or keep measuring my food. If I should keep measuring, at what point do I up my intake? The surgery and recovery have been so easy, but I really need some answers on the amount to eat. I've emailed the nutritionist who works with my doctors in Mexico, but I didn't feel like I got a real answer from her. I've tried to find a nutritionist here who has experience with bariatric patients, but, so far, they all seem to be associated with a surgery program. They will allow me to make an appointment, but only after I attend a seminar describing the surgery that I've already had. I just read a post on here about someone who had to be sleeved twice because they left his/her stomach too big the first time, so now I have a brand new concern! :-) What if this is my problem?!?!? I'm really not usually such an alarmist, but I think the fact that I had my surgery in Mexico, and my insurance will probably not pay for complications arising from surgery outside the US, has me in fear. Also, I'm worried sick about my hair falling out, so I have protein on the brain constantly. Any advice, reassurance, or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you, if you don't mind me asking how far post op are you? I am 23 days and the only thing that settle well in my stomach are yogurt and protein shakes and I am tired of both of them. I have tried chicken salad, egg, mashed potatoe and nothing set well in my stomach.

I've snacked on some dry cereal occasionally. Also added <1/4 cup to some yogurt, just to have some crunch. But it's really a very infrequent thing. A very conscious decision to have the extra carbs. I don't think carbs are evil. I just think too many are, especially if they make me feel bad. Can't imagine having a bowl of cereal with milk! How things have changed

Yes! I'm a sweets girl! They are my weakness...especially ice cream. After my last pre-op counseling, on my way home, I picked up a gallon of ice cream. Lol. Hard to break old habits, but I'm getting better. My boyfriend brought home a pack of donuts last night...grrrr. See, he can eat as many as he wants, he's 135lbs and won't gain weight. When if I just look at the pack of donuts, I gain like 5lbs. Lol. I told him he's going to have to stop doing stuff like that to me...it's touture. My mom had the gastric bypass back in '04, so I'm VERY familar with dumping syndrome. I've heard sleevers don't really get it, but it depends on the person. I'm hoping I'm not one of those people...although it might be a good reinforcer to keep me away from the "bad" foods. I have really learned that everyone's diet and expectations vary from program to program...person to person. It's been SO hard for me to get in eating 6 times a day. I barely eat 2 times a day sometimes...but I'm bad for grazing when I'm bored. I've tried different snacks like Cliff Bars, fruit, yogurt, veggies...but I just don't feel hungry so I feel like I'm forcing myself to eat. I told my dietitian last time I was there that I have to scratch eating after dinner, because my instinct says "DESERT TIME!" Lol. I'm at work...brought a protien shake with me...and I'm gulping down my water. Good luck on weening off of solids. I'm so excited that your surgery is only 3 days away! I'd be so anxious to know my time...I hate having to wait to find things out. Lol.

Sure do! My doctor said I can have anything I want that doesn't require chewing. I've blended up Soups, Protein shakes, etc. Mainly I stick with fat free refried Beans with some lowfat cheese, Greek yogurt, Protein Shakes (google some recipes - there's yummy stuff out there!) and blended soups that I sometimes enhance with chicken soup flavored protein powder. Use your imagination, but stick with the protein guidelines you've been given!

2/20 B-Protein shake S-South Beach cereal bar L-Shrimp Ceasar Salad Water-80oz Exercise-40 min circuit training 2/21 B-protein shake S-South Beach cereal bar L-Meatballs and veggies S-About 10 pistachios D-protein shake Water-60oz Exercise-none 2/22 B-Protein shake S-2 hard boiled eggs L-none (lost track of time) S-South Beach cereal bar/10 pistachios D-Homemade Beef w/ Broccoli Water-60oz Exercise-30min Walk Away the Pounds 2/23 B-Protein shake S-2 HB eggs L-Homemade Beef w/ Broccoli S-South Beach cereal bar D-Protein shake Water-60oz Exercise-none 2/24 B-Protein shake S-2 HB eggs L-Homemade Beef w/ Broccoli S-South Beach cereal bar D-Protein shake Water-60oz Exercise-30min Walk Away the Pounds 2/25 B-Protein shake S-South Beach cereal bar L-Salmon and Greens w/ roasted peppers and artichokes D-Protein shake Water-60oz Exercise-none 2/26 B-Protein shake L-Protein shake D-Chicken taco salad (no shell) Water-60oz Exercise-none 2/27 B-Protein shake L-Protein shake D-Baked Chicken and green beans Water-60oz Exercise-30min Walk Away the Pounds 2/28 B-Protein shake L-Salad, baked chicken, meatballs, cabbage, and mixed veggies (Last meal) D-Protein shake Water-80oz Exercise-none Starting Full Liquids 3/01 B-Protein shake S-1 unsweetened applesauce L-Protein shake, 1 cup cheesy pepper soup, D-Protein shake, 1 cup cheesy pepper soup, 1 sugar free pudding Water-60oz Exercise-30min Walk Away the Pounds 3/02 B-Protein shake S-1 unsweetened applesauce, 1 lite n fit yogurt L- 2 cups Wonton soup D-Low Cal Jamba Juice smoothie w/ Protein boost Water-48oz Exercise-none 3/03 B-Protein shake S-1 unsweetened applesauce L-Protein shake, 1 cup wonton soup, 1 sugar free pudding D-1 Muscle milk light, onion soup, 1 unsweetened applesauce Water-48oz Exercise-none 3/04 B-Protein shake w/ banana and peanut butter S-1 cup cheesy pepper soup L-Protein shake w/ banana and peanut butter D-1 cup cheesy pepper soup w/ 2 oz of chicken breast, 1 sugar free pudding Water-60oz Exercise-none 3/05 B-Protein shake w/ strawberries L-1 cup Potato Cheddar soup w/ 2oz of chicken breast D-Protein shake w/ banana and peanut butter Water-40oz Exercise-30min Walk Away the Pounds 3/06 B-1 cup Potato Cheddar soup L-1 unsweetened applesauce D-Protein shake w/ banana and peanut butter Water-60oz Exercise-none 3/07 B-Protein shake w/ pineapples L-1 cup tomato soup w/ roasted peppers, 1 sugar free pudding D-1 cup Potato Cheddar soup w/ 2oz of chicken breast Water-80oz Exercise-30min circuit training 3/08 B-Protein shake w/ pineapples S-1 unsweetened applesauce L-1 cup Tomato Basil and Garlic soup, 1 muscle milk light S-Protein shake w/ strawberries D-1 cup Red Pepper and Black Bean soup, 2oz blackened salmon Water-64oz Exercise-none 3/09 B-Protein shake L-Protein shake w/ pineapples, 1 cup Tomato Basil and Garlic soup, 2oz blackened salmon S-1oz chicken breast, 1 lite n fit yogurt D-Protein shake w/ pineapples Water-64oz Exercise-40min circuit training 3/10 B-Protein shake S-1 sugar free pudding L-1 cup Broccoli Cheese soup, 2oz chicken breast, 1 unsweetened applesauce S-Protein shake w/ strawberries D-1 cup Red Pepper and black bean soup, 1 muscle milk light Water-64oz Exercise-20min walk 3/11 B-1 muscle milk light, 1 cup grits made w/ 2/3 cup skim milk and 1 tsp smart butter S-1 unsweetened applesauce L-1 muscle milk light, 1 cup Tomato Garlic and Basil soup, 3oz tuna w/ 1tsp light mayo S-1 sugar free pudding D-1 muscle milk light-C&C Water-70oz Exercise-none 3/12 B-Vanilla protein shake, 1 cup grits made w/ 2/3 cup skim milk and 2 tsp smart butter L-1 C&C Protein shake, 3oz tuna w/ 1 tsp light mayo D-Tri Protein Banana Smoothie from Health Food Store Water-64oz Exercise-30min circuit training 3/13 B-1 Muscle Milk Light-C&C L-1 Muscle Milk Light, 3oz tuna w/ 1sp light mayo, 1 sugar free pudding D-1 Muscle Milk Light-C&C, 1 cup Red Pepper and Black Bean soup Water-64oz Exercise-none

Well I made it through both weeks of liquids and got to move on to soft foods. But the added wrinkle to my week is that I am traveling from CA to CO for my sisters wedding. So I am not in my home environment. My sister was very helpful and had my protein drinks, yogurt and cottage cheese at her house when I got here so that has helped. So far I am doing fine with soft foods. However, I have discovered that I am sensitive to sugars. I have had two bouts of diahrrea, both of which came after I had a bit too much sugar. (One I had blended some peanut butter into a shake, and the second one was just eating a normal yogurt) So neither time was I over doing it, but I have decided that I am really watching the sugar content in anything I eat. It has been a challenge to be with my whole family, and not be eating. I haven't really had an issue with it, I'm not hungry and I just eat what I can. But I think other people get nervous if I don't eat. But so far, I've been doing good. My other challenge is to drink my water. We spent the past 2 days running around, setting up for the wedding, the wedding itself, and then running around cleaning up. I have been really really tired and I noticed that the creases in my skin are staying much longer than they should (like creases on my shin from tucking my jeans into my boots stayed there for over 8 hours)...so I'm a little dehydrated. But I'm going better today and just hauling my water bottle around with me. My weigh day was Wednesday and I did weigh just before I got on the plane. I did win the bet with my husband ...he thought I would lose close to 20# between surgery and our trip (2 weeks) I didn't think I'd lose that quick. I was right, but I still feel good about what I have lost. Heaviest Weight: 281 3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24) 3/13/13: 251 (-6) 3/20/13: 245 (-6) I will be flying home on Wednesday so I'll have to weigh on Thursday after I'm back at home with my own scale!!

On Monday I will be moving on to the next stage in the post op lapband diet stage 4 ( soft foods) My diet now consists of 1 Protein shake in the morning, a greek yogurt for lunch and a Protein Shake for dinner. I have been averaging about 1 lb weight loss a day and im nervous that when I move on to soft foods that I won't keep losing. so I guess Im curious as to what you ate for your soft foods and did you still use a protein shake for one of your meals? Did you keep losing?

Good rule, the straw test, for pureed food. As far as pumpkin in a can goes. That's unsweetened. You couldn't just dump it in a pie crust and call it pumpkin pie You have to add egg and sugar and spices....that's how I know it's not sweet. Sweet Potatoes or yams would be good pureed. I think. I hope. My NUT just told me today buy baby food. Look at labels, it has to be pureed, not chunky, no pieces of anything in it. Even yogurt must be no fruit, only the blended kind. It's a lot to think about, but It's so nice to bounce ideas off each other here. I start my pre-op liquid diet today, I think I might want to stay off the food topic for awhile. LOL I have 10 days liquid before and 2 weeks after surgery, then pureed stage for 1-2 weeks, then soft diet for 2 weeks, and then....if I am up to it, real food. So this is going to be quite a journey. Ohhhh and the person who mentioned corned beef hash. I could eat a whole can, and did, often. Nothing else, but I could eat the whole can. Life is about to change in huge ways for me. Thanks for the input here, if I come across any good pureed ideas, I'll post them here.

I can't have anything but Protein shake, Water,broth, Soup with no chunks, and drinkable yogurt Sent from my HTC Desire 626s using the BariatricPal App