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Do you have a nut?? I would def not try it with candy. Maybe even some full fat Greek yogurt everyday or add some heavier items to the meals your already eating (nuts avocado maybe 2% milk instead of skim)

I use to eat pb every nite until my surgeon told me about almond butter. I eat 2-3 T a nite with plain Greek yogurt Splenda cinnamon and vanilla flavoring. Yummy!

I am almost 3 months out. My doctor has a food plan of introducing all proteins at 4 weeks, start vegetables at 2 months, potatoes (all varieties) at 4 months, fruits at 6 months and all foods at 1 year. The nutritionist said try some fruits at 2 months as they may be easier to digest vs vegetables however be aware of carbs/sugars etc. A lot of others post here about potatoes and oatmeal a few weeks after surgery. So far all is well but I feel like I am not getting natural vitamin sources with such a limited diet. I do take calcium and bariatric multivitamin. I'm in a rut and stick to a premier shake, yogurt, some meat (protein, tuna, egg) and some limited vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli. Is anyone else trying chia seeds? ground flax? fruits this early post op? I asked about nuts and the nutritionist said to try it slowly. When I look at Keto recipes they have a lot of foods I have not tried yet. I am feeling a little overwhelmed so I just stick with my basic foods. I have lost an average of 3 pounds per week form month 2-3 on 600 calories and started at a BMI of 35 so I think I may be losing too fast (I never thought that would be a concern). Any tips?

I agree to check with your doctor but mine has us adding mashed potatoes, applesauce and yogurt & creamed soups by day 9. No eggs though - that comes with his 'soft food' stage. I can't wait to eat regular food again!

So i was told that after surgery it wasn't uncommon to have the scale read higher at my first appt because of the swelling and such, however, when i went i was twelve pounds down. Now that was five days ago and now in those five days I have only lost three pounds. I am only on the soft food part of my diet so eating about two tablespoons of greek yogurt or three ounces of Protein shake. How can I hit a plateau already?

Try some liquid/firm yogurt.

Yogurt, mashed potatoes, jello, creamy soups, soups with noodles or rice (no chicken). I think you have it down.

Wendy's chili, homemade chili (try adding beans for extra protein or buffalo meat or venison to lower the fat content). Frozen edamame is fun to eat and yummy. Greek yogurt packs a lot of protein in one serving. Eggs in any form and meats in any form (chicken, fish, turkey, pork, beef, etc). Turkey bacon is yummy. Cheese an cottage cheese. Make up some taco meat or spaghetti sauce with meat.

Thanks you guys! I know this is sad to say, but i think this is the hardest thing ive ever gone through. I want flavor so bad and the protein waters like nectar and isopure make me want to gag now and my husband made jello with protein powder and it was DISCUSTING! It had a salty ending to the jello and changed the flavor. Things that have helped me through today were healthy choice tomato soup and vanilla carb and sugar control yogurt. Do yall know if greek yogurt is ok?

My plan says 1oz portions. I'm not supposed to start puree until tomorrow, but I tried a tiny bit of fat-free cottage cheese just now because well I'm a bad person, lol. 1 oz of cottage cheese was a joke. I felt no restriction. I could've easily eaten the entire 4oz container, just like I can down 4oz of drinkable yogurt. I imagine and hope pureed meat will go down differently. Hopefully I'll feel some restriction. 1 oz just seems insanely low. How am I supposed to get my Protein in? Eat 20 1oz portions a day?! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had vsg on 3/31 and on surgery day was 227 today I am at 202 [emoji20] Sometimes I feel a little discouraged, but then remember everyone is different and everyones plan is different. My surgeons plan has us on soft foods within 2 day. Liquids are only in the hospital, I left the hospital eating greek yogurt, cottage cheese and stuff like that. The one thing I am hoping for is that since weight loss is slower but steady, maybe I wont lose much hair, lol. Just follow your dr's plan and let your tool do it's work. Just think in 6 months if you lose steadily you will be down at least 50 lbs. Dont sweat the stalls either, I had an almost 3 week stall about 9 days after surgery, that was a little torture on the mind, but it also passed. Good Luck on your journey!! [emoji4] Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

For those craving snack foods, I have found Kay's Naturals Protein chips help. For the salty craving, my favorite flavor is Lemon Herb (they also have Crispy Parmesan, and Chili Nacho, and pretzels). There is also Krucheese chips, kind of a cheesy flavor. They are high protein, gluten free. The nut label is for 1oz but the bag is 1.5 oz so I do the math, because I eat the whole bag. They come in larger boxes, but I do better with the small bags, because I will stop when the bag is done. I can't always guage in a bigger bag or box and I eat too much. For the sweet cravers, they have Almond Delight and Hazelnut Delight (chips) and sweet/salty Sweet BBQ(pretzel and chip combo). They also have a new Cinnamon pretzel, and if you like wasabe there is a wasabe pretzel(I didn't care for that flavor). They also make Cereal in 1oz 100 cal bags in three flavors (Apple Cinnamond, French vanilla, and Honey Almond). I am a grab and go type person, so during the week they work for Breakfast because I keep them at work so I don't have to pack one each day. I drink a Protein shake first, wait an hour or so and then have cereal (I don't even bother with milk, I eat it like a snack) sometimes by itself, sometimes with my yogurt. I get Greek yogurt from Trader Joe's. They have a plain fat free there that has 22g protein per cup! Comes in a 2 cup container, and at home I split it into half cup servings (11g protein and only 3g sugar each) and stir in sugar free Smuckers preserves for flavoring (plus some cinnamon). I can't say every day is perfect, but I have probably eaten no more than 5 potato chips and a handful of regular pretzels since my sugery over a year ago. Kay's has a sampler you can order to try different flavors. They sell the bags in a carton of 12, and they frequently have sales. Find them at kaysnaturals.com. I don't know if this solves the snacking problem for anyone, but I hope it helps. Good luck on your respective journeys.

Greek yogurt with cinnamon and Splenda, smoked almonds, dill pickles, chocolate Protein drink, small amount of Pop chips, a few Triscuits with bleu cheese, beef Jerky. I'll occasionally splurge with a small amount of expensive top quality dark chocolate, eaten as slowly as I can possibly manage.

I am scheduled for surgery on May 19th and I am starting a mandatory pre op diet on May 19th. Mostly liquid, with protien shakes and some soft foods like cottage cheese, yogurt and low fat Soups. Good luck!

I usually have a poached egg on 1 slice of wholemeal toast - sometimes I add a slice of ham or smoked salmon. I also notice that lately this isn't keeping me full for as long as it used to so it may be time for a fill. I do do better with the egg though than if I eat oats or weetbix. My alternative breakfast is natural (untoasted) muesli with greek yogurt.

I have the fol guidelines. On rising drink 1 sm glass of Water with the juice of 1/4 lemon - this helps open the band and aids in digestion. Breakfast - 1 Protein, 1 grain, 1 dairy 1 sm fruit eg - 1/4 - 1/2 c Cereal with 1/2 cup 1% or skim milk, 2 tbsp nuts/seeds (and/or 1/2 scoop dry Protein powder can mix with a little water), 2 tbsp berries OR 1-2 egg white omlette with veggies, 1 serving whole grain, 1/2 tangerine, 1/4 mango/papaya OR Meal Replacement or self made protein smoothie (incl 1 scoop protein powder) with1/2 c 1%/skim milk or 2 tbsp yogurt and 1/2 c water and 1/2 c fresh or frozen fruit Snack - 1 sm - 1/2 med fruit, 1 protein or 1/2 dairy eg - 10 grapes, 1/4 - 1/2 c low fat yogurt, add 1/4 - 1/2 scoop dry protein powder (can mix with a little water) OR 1/2 c fresh or frozen berries, 1 oz low fat cheese OR 1/2 sliced apple, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 rye crisp lunch - 1 protein, 1 grain, 1 sm salad or 1 veggie serving eg - 1 c lentil Soup, 1 rye crisp, 1 sm salad OR 1/2 c chili (with chicken or beef), 1 rye crisp, 1/2 cup steamed veggies or a sm salad OR 2 tuna melts on rye crisps, sm salad Snack - 1 sm - 1/2 med fruit or 1/2 serving of veggies, 1 oz protein or 1/2 serving of dairy eg - 1/2 apple, 1 tbsp hummus, 1 rye crisp OR 1/4 - 1/2 c fresh or frozen fruit, 2 tbsp nuts/seeds OR 2 dried dates and 2 dries apricots, 1/4 c soy nuts dinner - 1 protein, 2 veggies or 1 veggie and 1 salad eg - 3 oz chicken. 1 c steamed asparagus, 1 baked tomoato OR 3 oz baked sole, 1 c stir fry veggies OR 3 oz beef/ground chicken or turkey meatloaf, 1/2 c steamed cabbag, 1/2 cup grilled peppers. They also not for optimum weight loss, avoid grains and starchy veggies after 5 PM. I hope that helps you on your journey. I too am pretty leary as to the introduction of "real" foods. I start this stage tomorrow.

Hi contemplating. I too, started "regular" foods this past week. I have some smaple menus from my doc that I can share. However, I am not able toeat nearly half as much as suggested. Sometimes I am close, but somethings just don't go down that easily. Tuna was fine at first...now when I eat it I get a lump in my throat feeling and so I have stopped it for now. So, anyway, I think it is also a learning process...this new stage we are in...but here is the doc's recommended menu suggestions. 8 am B:1 scrambled egg 1/2 c. cantaloupe 10 am Snack: 1/2 c. fortified skim milk 12 noon L: 1/2 c. chili 1/2 c. stewed apple with cinnamon 6 pm D: 2 oz. baked chicken, no skin 2 tbsp. lo fat gravy 1/2 c. squash or 1/2 c. string beans 8 pm Snack:1/2 c. sugar free yogurt 8am B: 1/2 c. cooked oatmeal 1/2 c. unsweetened pears 10am Snack: 1/2 c. fortified skim milk 12noon L: 3oz. tuna 2 tbsp. low fat mayo 1/2 c. watermelon 6pm D: 2 oz. poached fish 2tsp. diet margarine 1/2 c. boiled potato or 1/2 c. steamed carrots 8pm Snack: SF Swiss miss hot cocoa with skim milk Hope this helps.

Hi all I'm not banded, still in the research stage, but I'm going to start adding in Protein shakes & fresh fruit smoothies (with added protein) into my diet to replace Breakfast and lunch. I've found that I probably don't eat enough, I usually only eat one good meal a day, sometimes two but I don't snack in between. I usually just have a small lunch and dinner but I've had a hard time understanding why I'm overweight when I'm not eating all the time and not eating a bunch of junk. So I want to add in the shakes/smoothies for breakfast & lunch and eat a meal at dinner to see if that will help get my motabilism going. My question is, what are good nutrition guidelines for them as far as how much (how many ounces), how many calories, how many carbs & protein. The reason I ask is because I was looking at this recipie (and I now it's only one recipie) but it is only 8 oz. I thought maybe I could double it but the carbs for a single serving are 16.2--if I double the recipie the carbs would be 32.4 (without protien added). I'm worried that only 8 oz won't fill me up and if I double it, aren't those carbs kind of high? Here's the recipe (from www.skinnytaste.com): Very Blueberry smoothie Gina's Weight Watcher recipes Servings: 2 • Serving Size: 1 cup • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 2 pt Calories: 80.5 • Fat: 0.0 g • Protein: 3.4 g • Carb: 16.2 g • Fiber: 3.0 g Ingredients: 3/4 cup blueberries 1 cup crushed ice 6 oz WW blueberry nonfat yogurt What are some good nutrition guidelines I should follow in making these to replace meals? I figure it will be good to do and add in exercise, especially if I have an all liquid pre-op diet when I do get banded

Yes. It's normal. But here's the thing. It's your responsibility to figure it out. Figure out a way to get your protein in. We all did it. Ask your doc what your protein goal is for this early out. Many only had a 40-48g protein total. By the end of my first week, I was getting 60g in. I ate according to a timer and schedule and not because I was hungry. And 60g is only 2 drinks. Add a spoon of protein powder to your yogurt to up the protein total. Add an ounce of Protein Drink to your yogurt to thin it out. Add protein powder to your eggs (unflavored). If you tolerate cheese, add some cheese. I love cottage cheese cooked with scrambled eggs. It melts! Who knew?

A few things I loved. . pureed turkey chili (thinned out with some chicken broth); mashed potatoes with nonfat Fage yogurt; poached salmon (waited until the end of mushies for that); yummy soups (I put some recipes in my blog); sweet potatoes. I know. . I totally overdid it on the carbs, but it was like heaven after clear liquids! Bon appetit!! Catherine

Hi, I guess I'm a poor example, as I am :hungry: hungry...down in the :cry dumps, and haven't lost a SINGLE lb. ! I was actually SUPPOSED to have the Gastric ByPass, because my "downfall" has always been my major addiction to sweets, and ICE-CREAM, in particular. Then...lo and behold, when the Dr. noticed that I hadn't written down all of my meds. on the sheets I had filled out, (I left a little note there, saying "Too numerous to write down! Ask me in person!") he said, "Ok...what gives with the meds?" I pulled out a HUGE cosmetic bag full of meds. and once he started checking all the labels, he sighed, leaned back in his chair.....and said, "Ooops! :opps2: I think we have a problem." Due to the fact that most of my meds need real gastric juices, from the actual STOMACH, to be absorbed, properly....there was no way I could utilize these meds, with a Gastric ByPass. And, since most of them, were meds I could not just STOP, "cold turkey"....but were, in fact...not only necessary to my well-being, but also pills that if I WERE to stop, would require a l-o-n-g period of time...in order be "weaned" off of them! So, if by some miracle, my primary physician COULD find a suitable alternative, I would, none-the-less, have to be weaned from the current Rx's.....v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. And, again, it would have to be a substitute, which did exactly the same thing, the ORIGINAL meds did, but which would NOT need the stomach's gastric juices, to get the job done! Arranging all the bottles, into little groups, on his desk....Dr. Rumbart finally said, "In your case, we both know, that with your sweets and ice-cream addictions, the IDEAL surgery for you, and the only one I can guarantee will work, would be the Gastric Bypass. He went on to say, "This is because, with the lap band, you will still be able to eat those things, which caused your problem with obesity, if your will-power should fail you." I looked at him as though he were crazy;:eek: "WILL-POWER???" And, before I could continue, he said, "Yes. I know. You are thinking...since will-power has NEVER worked for you in the past...why would it work for you THIS time???" We just looked at each other :paranoid , across his desk....for what seemed a very long time. I could see the empathy in HIS eyes, and I know, that he could tell how I was feeling, since he could obviously SEE the tears begin to spill out of my eyes and down my cheeks.:think He was so nice...as we continued to talk...and as I TRIED to regain my composure. After we had talked for a long, long time...about the pro's and cons.....he could see that I was totally frantic...and so :noidea: undecided. So, finally he told me to think about it, really, really hard...overnight, because my although surgery was already scheduled for the next morning, he would be more than willing to change the date. Did I think that I could really AVOID eating sweets and ice-cream, egg-nog and cheese-cake, forever and for always....all by myself:ban: ? Because, he hated to do a procedure that he just wasn't sure would be effective, for me ;ie: the lap-band. My mind just continued to race; I had traveled :plane: so far. I had :blah: BEGGED :hail: my husband, to provide the funds, for what I considered to be my "last and ONLY chance" at losing the weight that had been plaguing me for years. We couldn't afford to do it, in the States...as we are retired and on :money: fixed incomes. And, truth be told, even having it done in Mexico, was not something we could really afford, either. His first reaction, was to :rant: rant and rave, and tell me, I must be :der: crazy. He was really, really :mad2: angry...that I would even think :confused: of such a "selfish" thing, and especially :flame: angry when I told him that I had been :phone: checking this out, working out all the details, without talking to him first! But, I :argue: argued that if I hadn't done the :typing: research, first...with facts and figures, to show to him, I wouldn't have stood a chance! He would have just said, "NO!", and that would have been the end of it! Finally, after much :hail: pleading, on MY part...and then a few days of not speaking to me:zip:, on HIS part, I summoned up the courage :yield: to ask, again. To my total surprise, my husband finally agreed to give me this "Last Chance", and spring for the GBP. "On one condition", he said. "You have to PROMISE me, that you will die, :rip: on the operating table!" (You know....there's ALWAYS a "catch" :doh: with him!! Although, that wasn't exactly, the response I'd hoped for :ohwell: ....I thought, "Hey...whatever works for YOU; whatever gets the job, DONE!" :peace: :amen: ! Now, I was faced with returning home, with NOTHING having been done....OR, taking the wild leap into the daunting "Will-Power" Zone, again. A place, which for me, has ALWAYS been fraught with failure.:phanvan My wonderful Dr. had a friend of his, a psyciatrist, talk with me for several hours. (This would NEVER happen in the states!) I finally decided...to change the plan, and take a gigantic leap of faith....(in myself) and switch to the lap-band. Have I been eating a healthy meal-plan, since my operation on the 22nd of Mar.? Nooooo. :spider: I've been existing on sugar-free Jello, sugar-free popsicles, Isopure, and sugar-free Popsicle Brand Fudgesicles. Can't have broth, because it seems as though all of them have too much sodium, which is a killer for me, since I have severe lymphedema. I have also had at least one of those little YoPlait, low-fat bottles of yogurt, as a treat each day. Maybe the lack of weight-loss, is due to the fact that my new sugar-free popsicle addiction, means I eat about a dozen of them, a day! Not good. Not good. I spend hours trying to keep my mind off of eating....but am finding myself, too weak to really excersize. I do try, but only last about 15 minutes, before I just "poop out"!:notagree Also, I have severe balance issues. I tend to topple over, quite often...and so, have been in a wheelchair, for some time, now. Well, as luck would have it, on my 2nd or 3rd day home, I took a rather nasty:faint: fall, as I was trying to go down the stairs. Not Good. I can no longer feel my port, and my Dr. here, could not find it....even on x-ray. Anyway, that's my story...thus far. I'm pretty down in the dumps, about the whole thing....and am honestly wishing, I had just gone ahead and had the Gastric ByPass....and worried about the medication problem, later. But, I took my shot, and now I just HAVE to make this work. :help: I would sure appreciate, any words of inspiration...or advice...from anyone out there. Hope to hear from some of you, long-time bandsters....or even better, maybe from those of you who are just starting out, like I am. Did I mention that I was banded on the 22Mar2006? Thanks for listening.... Nonny

Hey everyone! Today for lunch I had some super spicy and YUMMY chili. Afterwards my mouth was burning and of course I can't drink water so I had a couple of bites of some yogurt. It got me wondering though, is my little healing pouch alright to have some spice? I hope I didn't cause any damage, I feel fine though- what do you think?

The past 3days I tried 3 sugar free drinks to have something other than water at first I thought it was because it was pink lemonade so I tried the fruit punch same heartburn just lessen all 4c brand btw than I tried crystal light fruit punch & had heartburn from last night til this morning I drank almond milk, ate plain greek yogurt & ate plain cottage cheese (that was yuck almost threw up) nothing worked I hope sipping on this protein shake helps if you know anything else that can help please let me know I don't see my doctor til nov 6 for my first post op visit

Congrats, Welcome to band land. I was banded on Sept 23. Tomorrow will be 7 days. I came back to work today and am doing well. The soarness has gone and now I just feel a little discomfort at my port site when I turn or sit in an odd position. Starting to get my appetite back which is weird because I don't really have much restriction. My doctor is requiring me to have liquids and yogurt for 21 days. Then I can go to soft food. I am coutning the days. Good Luck

I'm 6 days post op, and I was allowed to go to purees upon release from the hospital. I didn't then as I had zero interest in putting anything in my mouth! But now I'm feeling that gnawing hunger that you feel in the pit of your stomach. I didn't expect to feel it, and I don't really know what to do about it. Here is what I have eaten today: 6 oz 99% ff yogurt (in this I mix my PPI and my gallstone prevention med) 1/2 low carb slim fast 1/4 cup of oatmeal made with 1/2 cup of milk Water, ice chips, and a sf popsicle When I enter this in fitness pal, it says I have eaten 410 calories...and it's only 1 pm here! That is more calories than I feel I should be having, but at the same time I feel hungry. I'm so confused, and I don't really understand any of it! oh and I've lost 10 lbs in 1 week.