Search the Community

I think there's a difference between "soft foods" and something like yogurt. I don't think you can over fill you're sleeve on yogurt - I've been told it's more like a liquid. But canned chicken, I don't think that would pass through so quickly? At 16 days, you're still healing. Please just be careful. .

I have a book but it does not give any amount either just says until satisfied. Im allowed yogurt eggs cheese beans chicken turkey and fish.. . I also hsd an appointment yesterday and she didn't seems concerned that i could eat a full cup of yogurt.

Thanks for your feedback @jane13. I also had my surgery on May 6th. So...I am definitely listening to the full signal. I just don't feel full until I've eaten a little more than the NUT said I should be able to. I start my day off with a protein shake as well and I usually take yogurt or something with me for lunch. I drink all day long because I got dehydrated when I first came home and it scared me to death. My problem is, I DO get hungry. I'm trying to feel out this "head hunger" vs "real hunger" thing. I still have cravings and my stomach is doing well at keeping down anything I've tried to eat. I just entered the mushy phase last week and I've been able to tolerate meats. I am going to have to consciously and deliberately make sure I keep my fat intake down because even though we have to focus on protein, we also have to make sure it's low fat. I'm craving bad stuff. I mean...I'm doing very well. 23 pounds down since the preop diet. I think I just need to focus on drinking more to stay full do when it comes to meal times I won't overeat....and by overeat I mean 4 tablespoons instead of 1-2. After I posted yesterday, I realized that my liquid intake was low for the last 2 days which made by belly empty for more food. Hunger IS something that I feel though. I also hear that once my stomach fully heals and I'm on solids, I will feel the restriction more. It's still numb and swollen

I'm jealous of both of you - I'm on liquids for 3 weeks total. After two weeks I can add in yogurt. I miss chewing! Though my popsicles help a little.

SF chocolate pudding with a bit of Protein powder mixed in, pureed avocado with plain geek yogurt mixed in and a squeeze of lime juice, hummus on a spoon, cream cheese on a spoon, Peanut Butter with a bit of Water and warmed in the microwave to loosen it... Get creative! Your head is craving FLAVOR. It's out there.

I'm still in the "pre" phase awaiting approval for a sleeve (hopefully later this week per my insurance co today!). I've been to my preoperative classes, have my lists of clear liquid, full liquid and soft/puréed foods and am wondering if anyone gets bored with their food choices? How do you change up your foods to avoid boredom? I'm a little worried because in my previous low carb diet attempts I have been successful by eating the exact same thing with very little variation. Seriously. I still cannot bring myself to eat spring mix with chicken breadth, cucumber and tomatoes, and I haven had it for 2 years! Anyone have recipe tips tricks or sites to look at? I realize there's not a whole lot to do with clear liquids. I guess I'm mostly concerned about where you go after the protein shakes and Greek yogurt??

Maureen - The RN in my clinic just made a lot of suggestions for added protein as I progress to puréed foods. (Yay!) 1) Greek yogurt and protein drink added to a fruit smoothie 2) Applesauce with cottage cheese (I had it tonight, heavenly!) 3) Mashed potatoes with chicken breast (puréed for now).

End of day, had my isopure, cream soups, pudding and yogurt. Having a bit of milk then to bed. Walked for 1/4 plus mile. Was sore on my left side. Did a bit of housework and no lifting. So ready for bed soon. Will weigh myself in the morning!

I'm 6 days out and doing powerade zero, thinned Greek yogurt, Popsicles and blended and strained black bean soup. I have stabbing pain in the center of my chest after eating/drinking. I tried tums, Ice and sitting up but nothing helps. Any ideas? Can't call my doctor either as he is out of town until 6/9 (wish I knew that before surgery). Please help.

Made it through day two...full liquids...yogurt, protein shakes, soup, broth, Popsicle and lots of water. Food seems forever ago already! June 8...the clock is ticking ⌛️

I haven't had any problems with anything I have tried yet. I am still good with dairy, thank goodness... I love my cottage cheese and yogurt! I am good with all veggies so far, even able to eat a few bites of salad. I do well with ground beef or turkey. chicken, fish, seafood, eggs are all tolerated. I have done fine on ice water since day 3, and I know some have issues with that. I really haven't tested the waters much because I am still so limited with a 2 oz capacity that I usually just choose Protein. I have only tried bread once... on half a topless sandwich... it was too filling, but didn't make me sick. I have always had a cast Iron stomach, I guess it is just a "mini" cast iron stomach now.

@@nancynew, I would start with yogurt, cottage cheese, or a blended soup. Going from all liquids to thick liquids was a good start for me. Scrambled eggs and refried beans were okay, but I could only handle about two tablespoons before feeling SUPER full and very uncomfortable. I soon realized that yogurt and soups just slide right through my new stomach and were so much easier to tolerate than thicker, more dry foods. Now I'm nervous to try anything new away from home! Good luck!

Get a fitbit.... worth the $99 bucks all day long. The clip one works the best. start walking at least 10k a day.... everyday. Normal everyday stuff will bring you to 4k so only another 5-6 k will meet your goal. Slow and steady non impact exercise really kick your metabolism up. and healthy Snacks only (if your going to eat between meals...make it a high Protein snack like cottage cheese a string cheese or greek yogurt). These changes will make a big difference

Every night without fail I eat fruit and plain yogurt. It is not that you are eating at the wrong times it is what you are eating. I don't think about it I just have found that that works for me personally. Seems to me that small meals is the way of WLS. So you are right on there. I think you also know when you are not making good choices. If evenings are your worst time. Schedule the right food that will help you to stay healthy and well. Congrats on nearly 2 years out! I am 2.5 + exciting eh!

I am 16 weeks post-op. 62.5 pounds down, 51 of which are post surgery. I exercise very little (true confession time)... A typical day is 950- 1000 calories, with a Protein goal of 88 or higher and carb goal of 50 or lower. I typically don't count fat unless I'm stalled. My surgeon is super pleased with my progress and blood work. B: Decaf coffee with 1/8-1/4c of vanilla premiere protein shake. I usually do 2 12 oz Keurig pods. B2: Dannon Light & Fit Greek yogurt mixed with either 1 oz of nuts or 2 oz of fresh berries. Occasionally I will do 1/3c of high protein granola (Kind or Bear Naked), but that's only if I know I'm going to be very busy and not get a balanced meal day. I eat yogurt every day. It's good protein, goes down easily, and is full of Probiotics. L: Leftovers (see dinner) or deli meat and cheese. I use ultra thin cheese mostly. Sometimes on the go I'll do a P3 pack or a tuna pouch. S: 1oz Beef Jerky, cheese, or a T of Peanut Butter with celery (only if I have calories to spare). D: 2-3oz of meat (primarily beef or fish. Chicken/turkey come back up 95% of the time and pork is insta-heartburn) and 1oz of veg (zucchini, asparagus, spaghetti squash, Brussels sprouts, etc...). No potatoes or broccoli- both get stuck. Tonight we are having spaghetti. I'll do spaghetti squash with meat sauce and a T of Parmesan cheese. I measure it out to be about 3-4oz total. I'll eat the leftovers for lunch for several days or until I'm tired of it! S: Protein bar. I eat a Quest bar every day to meet my protein threshold. Some people advise against this, but I haven't seen an issue with my loss. When I stall, I increase my fluids and cut nuts and beef jerky (salt and fat). I feel restricted mainly at dinner, so I make it my lightest intake of ounces. I can intake the most at lunchtime, thus the snack. Eating out is still really difficult for me, and I find it's mainly because of stress over what to order. If possible, I'll check the menu beforehand. Because of this stress, restriction seems to increase so I tend to eat very little when I go and end up wasting food or having a ton of leftovers. Keeping this in mind, I'll order things that can be reheated easily or eaten cold. Good luck!

I eat tortillas almost every day. I did have sleeve surgery over the others so I could eat as normally as possible without the fear of dumping or productive burping. Unfortunately, even with my sleeve, I got both. I disagree that we should not be finding substitutes for foods we used to love. Why not? Doesn't adapting old favorites into new healthier options make absolute sense, not only for us but for those we love and cook for? I would much rather my kids eat spaghetti squash as noodles instead of white Pasta. I would much rather my kids eat high Protein greek yogurt over the sugary oreo topped versions. I used to make subs, now I make wraps in low carb, high Fiber (gasp!!) tortillas. I want them to see me enjoy a mini ice cream sandwich or a kids' scoop of sherbet instead a behemoth sized serving and see that it's perfectly OK to enjoy treats as occasional goodies, not diet staples. Oddly enough (wink wink), they are following my lead. Yes, this surgery gave me back the gift of good health, but it's also affecting my kids in a very positive manner. That's priceless.

Don't let this discourage you. My husbands aunt had GB 8 years ago she went from a size 24 to a size 4 and she has maintained her weight loss all these years. I asked her tonight what was her secret. She said no caffeine, no soda, beer, or wine. Drink lots of Water, eat three small meals a day and three small Snacks. I asked what sort of snacks she said yogurt or 1/2 banana. I wish you the best of luck and we are all here to support you.

Happy Memorial Day!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Dear BariatricPal Members, Happy Memorial Day from BariatricPal! Everyone loves this holiday because it kicks of the summer vacation season. As a weight loss surgery patient, you can use this holiday to kick off a new phase of weight loss and health, whether you’re getting ready for surgery or you’re working on losing weight or keeping it off. Here’s what we have for you in this newsletter. Use Memorial Day to Inspire Your Next WLS Victory Red, White, and Blue: Your Memorial Day WLS Treats! Healthy Barbecue for Memorial Day and Summer Enjoy the newsletter, then use your day off to spend time with your family and friends. Don’t forget to burn a few extra calories and put together some healthy meals for the rest of the week! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder BariatricPal.com Use Memorial Day to Inspire Your Next WLS Victory Memorial Day is the national holiday that honors the men and women who have died while serving in the United States’ armed forces. This could include members if your immediate family or your former friends, or maybe your family tells stories of ancestors who went off to fight in long-ago wars such as World War I. Most of us know one or more family members or friends who currently serve in the armed forces, and this holiday offers the perfect chance to thank them for their service. Memorial Day can also offer the opportunity to become inspired again in your WLS journey. Maybe you can dedicate the next phase in your journey to a vet, an active duty solider, or a current member of the reserves. Knowing how proud you can make this person can give you the energy to put in an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill when you feel like quitting, or the strength of mind to say no to dessert. Hit your goals as your inspiration is fighting for the country, and the two of you can make each other proud. Red, White, and Blue: Your Memorial Day WLS Treats! If you’re going to a Memorial Day party or just trying to enjoy the time for your family, there’s nothing more appropriate than bringing or making something red, white, and blue to serve. Decorated cupcakes and berry pie with ice cream are tempting and simple options, but you can do better. Here are some fun and healthier ideas. A veggie tray with purple and white cauliflower, red grape tomatoes and bell pepper strips, and white yogurt-based dip. Sugar-free strawberry jell-o topping with sugar-free whipped topping and blueberries. Sliced blackberries and strawberries in cottage or ricotta cheese optionally sweetened with low-calorie sweetener. Sliced figs and red pears served with white low-fat feta or goat cheese. With a little creativity, you can make an attractive and healthy treat to share. Healthy Barbecue for Memorial Day and Summer Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. That means it’s grilling season! Whether it’s a party at the park or a backyard barbecue, you’re the one who gets to decide how well you’re going to stick to your WLS diet. Remember your pre-WLS days? A meal at a barbecue might have looked something like this. Chili dog and bun or barbecue ribs (500 calories) Cole slaw or pasta salad (300 calories) Baked beans (200 calories) Iced brownie (200 calories) Can of soda (150 calories) 1 beer (150 calories) That’s 1,500 calories, in case you lost count. Healthy Grilling Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, ribs…who needs ‘em? You sure don’t! With all the healthy possibilities out there, you have no reason to worry about a barbecue! For a healthy, tasty burger, grill a mixture of lean ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasonings, and crumbled fat-free feta or grated parmesan cheese. Or, if you’re not in the mood for much food prep, just throw some lean ground turkey, veggie burgers, chicken breasts, or shrimp on the grill. They’re all high-protein, low-calorie choices. Instead of serving your protein on buns or rolls, serve them with lettuce leaves. You may be able to get your family to try these healthy swaps. You could even challenge them to see who can come up with the best healthy burger or other recipe for the grill. If not, you know the drill. Throw their hot dogs and beef burgers on the grill, and let them have their treats as you enjoy your lighter, high-protein, low-carb food. Guess who’ll feel better after the meal! Smart Summer Sides after WLS If you’re still hungry and don’t feel like more protein, try grilling up a portabella mushroom or some sliced eggplants for something to chew on. For a side, almost any vegetable is a great grill choice: zucchini, asparagus, artichokes, onions, and even cabbage. Just brush them with a little olive oil, not butter, and flavor them with herbs, bouillon, or teriyaki sauce. The cold sides can be killers at a barbecue, so plan ahead for healthier options. Skip the baked beans and biscuits, and don’t even think about mayo-laden pasta or potato salad. If your grilled protein wasn’t enough to fill you up, think about the following. Use Greek yogurt instead of mayo when making prepared salads. Make prepared salads based on veggies or proteins, not carbs. So, make slaw with shredded cabbage or broccoli, or make tuna salad or egg white salad with ham. Always have a big green salad available. It’s something to fill up your plate and keep you busy when you’re not truly hungry but still feel like eating while everyone else is. Sweet Endings…No Regrets Red, white, and blue cupcakes...American chocolate chip cookies…a flag-decorated sheet-cake…you don’t have to blow your diet to show your patriotism! Fresh red strawberries, white peaches, and blue blueberries or purple grapes are just as patriotic, just as popular, and way healthier. Sugar-free ice pops work, too! Your Memorial Day celebration and every other barbecue this summer can be even more fun because you know you’re doing the right thing for your weight loss. You can make your meal high-protein and low-calorie while keeping it delicious and simple. Have a great Memorial Day! Remember to keep it healthy, active, and fun! After all, that’s what life and your WLS journey are for, right?

Tylenol is ok (according to my team) bc it is acetaminophen not aspirin. I am two weeks post op today and I have found every plan is very different. For me week one was full liquids, week two was soft foods like yogurt/cottage cheese/oatmeal/ and puréed meats. Week three is the same as week two and week four I can begin to add in more solid meats.

I lost weight about a week and half ago. Sleeved 5/4. Fluid intake I am not meeting and probably not protein either. I find that even if I meet my 3 ounces at dinner I'm still hungry. I was told to only eat 3 times a day. I usually have either a shake or yogurt for breakfast. Lunch varies. And dinner I know I get my protein.

I would stay away from the popcorn, chips etc. Nuts are the closest to junk food I'll go but I did split a small, non- buttered popcorn at the movies last week with my son and was fine. Dannon Light & Fit Greek Yogurt has a chocolate raspberry flavor that I love. And I'll buy Atkins snacks/candy because it's lower carb. Celery with peanut butter or an apple with peanut butter is yummy and very filling

And, BTW, if you don't like the texture of the fiber in your protein drink, I also mix it in my Greek yogurt.

I took the prescribed pain stuff for two days after and haven't taken any since. Lots of walking, rest when u need it but don't become a vegetable. Do your daily stuff (with limitations!). I like cold water better than warm (everyone different!) For my crushed meds I put them in a lil shot glass, squirting a little water enhancer flavoring w/ a dab of water and down it. So much better than the med taste! I put my "meals" in a small container measured out and just eat slow ...loving greek yogurt, cream of chicken soup and sonic ice! You'll know when you've taken too big of a bite, or eaten too much, it's a feeling like you've swallowed a big gulp of air on accident and gets stuck in your chest... gas pains were worse while in the hospital, at home I was so relived when I could toot! Hmmm... once I was at home and now in a little routine I have no qualms about my decision and can tell this is exactly what I needed to be successful at living healthy! Take it one (quick) day at a time !

Awesome! Thanks for all the tips. Anybody have any good recipes for post-op (any stages)? I'm hoping I don't lose my taste for Greek yogurt because I love it now.

For immediately post-op, the best piece of advice I got was be upright (sitting or standing) and move as much as possible. When they move you into your regular hospital room after the recovery ward, do not let them put you into your bed! Instead, sit upright in the loveseat, easy chair, rocker, whatever they have for you in your room. That makes it easier to get up and down for your walking and trips to the bathroom (unless you have a a catheter you will be making plenty of trips to the bathroom). When you are sitting in your room, you can gently rock your upper body back and forth with your arms crossed over your torso. Sitting, standing, walking, and rocking help get rid of the post-surgical gas and will make you much more comfortable. Lying around in bed will not help you. Don't even get into bed unless you are going to nap or sleep. Don't overpack for the hospital. It's surgery, not a cruise. The hospital will have virtually everything you need. Apps: Myfitnesspal (though I mostly use the website rather than the app) and Eat Slower. If you find yourself thinking, after three weeks on liquids, or only being able to eat yogurt, or whatever, "I'm bored with this food" -- remember that food is NOT entertainment. Find something else to entertain you and resign yourself to being bored with your food, at least for the immediate future. It isn't the end of the world. Do whatever you can to not compare yourself to other people. Don't weigh yourself every day if it is going to drive you crazy. It doesn't matter if other people are losing 40 lbs a month (they aren't), are told by their doctor to start eating solid foods 5 days after surgery, have to limit themselves to 8 grams of carbs per day, or are running marathons 6 weeks after surgery. What everyone else is doing and what their results are should be irrelevant to you if you trust your surgeon and his team and are faithfully following the program they laid out for you.