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Update please! @Lela Clark You are going to find out what works for you. Both of them are right in some ways, and not in others. You'll find your groove. I suggest journaling or at the very least keeping a real food diary so when you stall (and you will, it's just natural) you can go back and reflect on what worked well and what didn't. My nutritionist says 3 meals and 2 snacks (a shake included as a snack or meal), 1000-1200 calories, 60-80 gm protein (doc told me go to 100), and less than 100 carbs. It's working pretty well for me (when I follow it!).

Mine was 3 shakes a day for 10 days before. Then my surgery was delayed so it turned into 19 days. Then it was meant to be 2 shakes a day for ten days after surgery. Which I couldn't do. I literally began to gag on them. The reality is, you don't need to have the shakes if: you make something to drink that's just as thin and smooth and preferably with protein (although the short term protein requirements are overblown, a week with sub-optimal protein does nothing and no you don't lose muscle either). So you could blend Greek yoghurt with water, protein powder and skinless cooked pears for example. Just make sure it's as thin and smooth as a shake and you'll be fine.

Last week I had breast reduction and panniculectomy surgery, which all seems to have gone well. However… I was a 42H and my surgeon promised me a DD cup. I know that I can’t really see where I’m going to end up because it’s so soon, but I look like a B or C cup, and I think it looks ridiculous on my still heavy figure. (My daughter took one look and joked that I’ll need implants!) I have hated my breasts since the day they grew in looking down at my feet, and I was SO excited to have breasts I would finally feel good about. I primarily did it because of neck and back pain, but I just can’t believe how bad I look. Added to that, now that the belly is gone my thighs look hideously misshapen. They’re floppy. I’m just so depressed. I’m trying hard to not complain to others and to also accept what can’t be changed. But I just had to share with someone. I’m never going to look “normal.”

These exercises should be performed at least twice per week for the first six weeks after your procedure. They are designed to increase blood flow throughout your body and warm up your muscles prior to any weight training. These exercises are not hard, but rather intended to get your blood flowing through your system, loosen up your joints and prepare your muscles for the upcoming workout. You can perform these exercises before or after your workout.

I agree with most everything everyone has to say on here with one exception. You MUST do more exercise. I don't care if it is just slow walking for an hour a day, even if it is broken up over 3 or 4 sessions, but you have to exercise and keep moving. If you are not exercising at your stage you are going to plateau. You have to do more than you were doing at the heavier weight to burn off calories. Your BMR is getting lower, meaning your body is using less calories for basic functioning than before you you have to make up that difference as you lose weight. You are in some type of calorie burning/intake equilibrium. How about resistance training, weights, bands etc. Anything that creates calorie burn is seriously needed at this point. Of course this is assuming you are tracking and controlling your food and calorie intake.

I am approaching a year out and I suggest that you don't buy a lot of anything. It's a bad habit I got myself into. Yes, you want to be prepared, but I am exiting a two month stall because of my newly formed addiction to Quest products (damn, they're awesome!). Instead, I recommend you learn to menu plan and gain a dependency on fresh foods, not pre-packaged items if that is at all possible. Lean meat, fish, and veggies are the way to win, not relying on packaged, processed food. Like others have said above, your tastes will likely change, or you stomach will. On my pre-op diet I looked forward to my chocolate Fairlife shake. Now they taste awful to me and cause unbelievable gas.

Best wishes for a smooth sail I’m a week oit and doing ok

I am almost 4 years out. I still get nauseous about 5 times a week. I buy Meclizine by the bottle on Amazon. When the nausea is really bad I just take a couple of sips of ginger ale. I buy the 6 pack of small bottles so we can keep the rest for the next time. This is really weird but I have also found the eating a spoonful of raw oatmeal settles my stomach. There have been a few time that I have actually thrown up but that was because I ate something I shouldn’t have.

There are so many different protein shakes you can use. Premier Protein is one of the most popular because the ready made ones have 30G of protein in the small "juice box" Fairfield is another good brand and so on there are tons... As for pre surgery some people have to do a liquid diet for a week, 2 weeks, a month it all depends on what your surgeon says. after surgery you will be on a liquid diet for some time... Again it depends on what your surgeon says as they all do different things.

How do the nutrients fit in with your dietary plan? Not just calories but sugar, fat, carb content too. What are the serving portions like? Many smoothies are high in sugar & carbs from the fruit content alone with many containing more fruit than you’d eat in a single serve but without the fibre & nutrients left in the pulp they toss out. There’s nothing wrong with splitting a meal over a lunch & dinner. I’ve done it. Did it two weeks ago with a middle eastern halloumi salad bowl I had at lunch. Took the left overs home & had them for dinner. Just added chicken as I’d eaten most of the protein component at lunch. Do your homework & then make an informed decision. Whether you indulge or not ultimately is your decision.

Hiya everyone! I’m so excited to have got my date! April 11th! I was feeling pretty unsure and nervous, but I’ve got to the ‘bring it on’ mindset now! No easter eggs for me then! Re. the pre surgery diet I have to do 2 weeks on Optifast, I actually really like the shakes. I might start Optifast early to give myself a head start!

Yes, plans are different but there are similarities too. The plan for a staged return to eating solid food is given to you for a reason: to protect your poor healing tummy (remember all those internal sutures & staples holding your tummy together) & support your recovery. You don’t want to stress & strain your tummy & digestive system. It’s always best to follow your surgeon’s plan. They gave it to you for a reason: the surgery, any additional work that was done (hernia repair, etc.), your personal health history, their experiences, etc. I didn’t enjoy shakes either (grainy & gross) but I literally just sucked it up for the two weeks. I added more water to dilute them & warmed the chocolate flavoured one (tried to convince myself it was hot chocolate). I also found the bone broths unpleasant but cream soups were fine. Try the broths in pho or wonton soup - just strain them well to ensure you’re only getting the liquids. Or you can buy unflavoured protein powder & make your own like @MiniGastricBypassDude suggested. You can also add it to any soups you are able to tolerate. All the best.

I'm looking at these pics (whoa!!! yum, and kudos to all of you who prep all that food!) and I'm looking at the point y'all get full (like, 3 bites in????) and I'm wondering what's wrong with me that I can literally inhale these portions no prob only one month out! What is wrong with me?!?! And as a point of reference, I am not 100 lb overweight; while I am def very overweight- I need to lose 60-70 lbs. What I'm saying is I'm not one of these super massively obese people who can eat a house. But I can totally eat regular portions

My ekg was abnormal and I was able to have surgery. I did end up in the hospital for a week though.

This part stressed me out until I calculated where I was at 3 months and realized I am now at 7ish months and am more than double that amount now. Phew! I am trying hard to not think about time and just focus on what I need to do for as long as I can. But this was a good video - thanks for sharing @GreenTealael I like the idea of best weight vs focusing on BMI "ideal weight."

I had gastric sleeve surgery on February 9. I'm doing well so far. I'm on stage 3 diet, but I'm CRAVING something sugary sweet. Any ideas? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

So Lizzie, I’m picking that you have been accepted for surgery and have a date in April? Me too! Part of the process I have been through is seeing both a dietician and a psych, and will have this support after the surgery? Do you have this support? If not then you need to take steps to put it in place so that you can talk through your issues with a qualified psych and not have to roll with all the (undoubtedly well meaning) judgement on a public forum. I don’t think that you will ‘get turned round for BMI under 30’ at the surgery stage if you have been approved and accepted. That would be really unethical of the surgeon if that is really on the cards. Regarding the liver shrinking diet I don’t think that this is negotiable, (you say you’d ‘like’ to do it…I’m confused about the process you are following). If your surgeon has told you to do it, then do it as prescribed and the weight loss that goes with it is coincidental, you are doing it to make the surgery easier not actually for weight loss at this stage. I’m also picking from what you say that losing weight isn’t an issue but keeping the weight off is? Is that right? In which case yes surgery is absolutely the right approach for a chance at a permanent solution to get off the diet merry go round of yo yo weight loss and gain, if that is what you want. You say you feel that you need to indulge in unhealthy eating to keep your weight above 30 BMI? My advice would be that if you have been accepted for surgery, and you have talked to your support crew (psych and dietician) and surgeon about your dilemma, and got some constructive advice, then stop jumping on the scales for the next few weeks, eat healthily, like really healthily, include some healthy carbs, eat real food, then just stick to the liver shrinking diet for the amount of time your surgeon requires pre op and stop stressing. Focus on your health not your BMI at this stage. Keep doing healthy exercise, be as fit and active as you can be before surgery. Follow the plan from your surgeon and dietician exactly as they say, and know your own mind. I think that you need to be very sure of your reasons for doing this very permanent, crazy thing to your body. If when you have done all the research you can you feel that this is the best and only way forward to get to a healthy BMI for the rest of your life, then go you!! If however you still think that you can lose the weight….and more importantly keep it off through diet and exercise then maybe that would be the healthier option, both physically and mentally, for you.

I had a week of liquids (we don't discern between clear and full here, because your stomach doesn't care what color things are) and hated the shakes. So I made them myself - with program approval - out of high-protein, sugar-free yoghurt (skýr), whey protein powder, banana and OJ. I know, I know, I had triple-digit calories and that's not how you're supposed to do it. You're apparently supposed to starve and be miserable so you can really think about how fat you are. After all, after 6 months pre-op on Optifast and standing on your head to prove you want it, what's a few more weeks? In Europe, however, you'd be able to have the above.

it could be that your stomach just isn't ready to progress in the diet, so you might have to stay with soft or pureed foods for an extra week or two and then try again. OR...yes - it could be a stricture, since you're in the right time frame for one. If it gets harder and harder to keep things down (and if it keeps progressing without intervention, at some point you won't even be able to keep fluids down), then it's probably a stricture. But the first one is probably more likely (i.e., your stomach isn't really to progress quite yet). If you're still having trouble in another week or two, then I'd contact the clinic again - they'll probably schedule you to have an upper endoscopy to see what's going on (and to "fix" the stricture if there's one there...)

Hello everyone I am a post op for lap band on Jan 20 of this year liquid diet 2 weeks then I was getting hungry more often and my portions were bigger I lost 19 lbs so far but I haven't lost anymore and haven't gained I had my first fill yesterday my doctor filled it up to 5cc then told me to drink water as I felt alot of pressure drinking it he kept taking some saline out till about 2.5cc I was ok. Now I could drink water like nothing I don't feel much restriction I am starving and could eat a horse however my Dr told me to go back to a liquid diet for 1 to 2 weeks? Uhhhhh like the eff? How long do I have to wait for yet another fill? Is there a certain time frame? I don't have any motivation so yet another clear stupid liquid diet for 2 weeks I've lost more hair then weight 😂 I need some advice oh and I've read many times the fills don't go in affect for couple of days? I'm confused

Hello everyone I am a post op for lap band on Jan 20 of this year liquid diet 2 weeks then I was getting hungry more often and my portions were bigger I lost 19 lbs so far but I haven't lost anymore and haven't gained I had my first fill yesterday my doctor filled it up to 5cc then told me to drink water as I felt alot of pressure drinking it he kept taking some saline out till about 2.5cc I was ok. Now I could drink water like nothing I don't feel much restriction I am starving and could eat a horse however my Dr told me to go back to a liquid diet for 1 to 2 weeks? Uhhhhh like the eff? How long do I have to wait for yet another fill? Is there a certain time frame? I don't have any motivation so yet another clear stupid liquid diet for 2 weeks I've lost more hair then weight 😂 I need some advice oh and I've read many times the fills don't go in affect for couple of days? I'm confused

So pre-op diet for me was 11 days of 4 shakes a day and 4, 1 cup servings of non starchy veggies. Then of course the day before was just clear liquids. That was it. Then AFTER surgery it was 2 weeks Full Liquid then 1 week Puree then 2 weeks Soft Foods and then finally, regular foods after that. As more people post you will see some of our plans vary greatly and some are very similar. Strange how that is. LOL

I had RNY on Tuesday, five days ago. Knock on wood, I’m doing well. But, I am starving today. I cannot bear the protein shakes and broth. It makes me sick to even look at them now. My doctor prescribes the same diet to everyone. Day 1 - 14 clear liquids and protein shakes; day 14 - 21 add plain yogurt, liquified cream of wheat, low-fat milk; day 22 start puréed food. I’m not going to make it that long without food. Why are there so many discrepancies among how doctors determine post-op guidelines?? I’ve seen people on purée by week two. Can I start something else now? Ugh. Having temporary buyer’s remorse.

Last day or two I've had some issues keeping food down comfortably. I'm not talking about a t-bone, two crisps this morning and I felt like dying and had to induce vomiting. However I just had two tablespoons of hummus and it's sitting ok. I spoke to my surgeon and he said people heal at different rates and possibly solid food is too much for me at the moment or I have a stricture. But they specifically said to me: eat what you want just chew well. 6 weeks out. What do you think?

I was the last day of May, so I’m just over 9 months out. I’m down 74.4. Only 1.8 away from the elusive “healthy” BMI. I would probably already be there, but I was in Florida for 22 days - I didn’t gain, but only lost 0.4 during that time (which is actually a huge win - since 2 weeks of that trip was at WDW)