I really got motivated today and cleaned out my cabinets! Out with all of the remaining junk food and carb loaded food. It left me wondering what will I need appliance wise for the puree/mushy phase. In my cleaning, I found a blender, a stick blender, a Bravetti chopper and a food processor! I can't imagine I need anything else. Any suggestions/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

I am new to this site. My surgery is March 23rd ( if I don't back out!)

The blender will be best for Protein shakes, especially if you like to thicken them with ice cubes.

The stick blender does a fantastic job of turning Soups into purees.

The chopper and food processor will be helpful when you're back on full food, making pieces of food smaller. For example, my husband and I love onions in everything, and I always used to cut them up by hand. Now I chop them so that the pieces are smaller and there is less of a chance of them getting stuck. The difference between these two appliances is really quantity. If I'm chopping up just a quarter onion, I use the chopper, but if I'm doing a large pot of Soup or spaghetti sauce to freeze, then I need the processor.

Sounds like you have the blending/pureeing thing under control, but I will tell you that I LOVE my magic bullet for making smoothies. It is so much easier to deal with than a regular blender. Prior to having the magic bullet I would not make a smoothie because I did not want to deal with getting out the giant blender and then having to clean the darn thing.

Thanks for the input! I was thinking of getting a Bullet but when I came across all of these appliances I started to wonder. I do have a Xmas gift card to Kohl's. Maybe I will use it on that.

I quite like my personal blender by Hamilton Beach. The mixing cup is a travel mug. It's only $15 at Walmart which is much cheaper than Magic Bullet. Works great on Ice Cubes.

The Hamilton Beach travel blender is awesome! It is also quiet, so it doesn't disturb others in the house in the early AM I have to wake up at! Yes, very affordable at Walmart, gotta love that!

Thanks for the tip on the Hamilton Beach blender! I HATE dragging out my big blender so this is perfect! I can bring it to work as well ( I work 12+ hrs a day). I purchased it @ Walmart.com. It comes with 2 blender cups and lids for $20 ! Just terrific...Thanks a lot!

Hi I am glad you cleaned out your closets and found appliances. Start with the ones you have and then see if you really need to purchase anything else. What works for one doesn't work for everyone. I and my husband had surgery on December 30, 2010. It so happens that I had mine first and when the surgeon went to talk to my husband he thought of baking out. In the end he had the surgery and is so happy that he did. Our surgeon gave him the biggest band (apparently there are different sizes) All we know is is that I could not eat everything and he could eat what he ate before. The doctor did that on purpose because my husband was too concerned that he wasn't in the right place to reduce food but he would get there. Even at his first fill the doctor asked him if wanted the full fill or only half a fill my husband does want to lose weight so he asked for the full fill.

Good luck in your choice I do hope you go through with it but it is not an easy road as most people suggest. Make sure you are ready for it, this is only a tool to help us with the weight it is not going to keep it off forever unless we all work on it daily.

Cathi

I do have a Xmas gift card to Kohl's. Maybe I will use it on that.

Save the Kohl's card for the new clothes you are going to need...Good luck