Okay veterans or newbies....I am exactly 3 weeks post-op. I have lost 19 pounds so far....which seems very good. However that was really 5 pounds pre-op and 12 the first week. So basically I have lost 1 pound a week so far. I would like to get up to 2 pounds a week. I am worried that my diet may be the culprit....I have also just started Curves today...I haven't been doing any exercise other than a little walking thus far.

Here is my typical diet...I have a dr. appt. on May 7th...but I would like to hear it from people who have been there if maybe I need to do something different.

Morning = Multi Vitamin and Biotin 1000MG

Breakfast = 1/4 cup Cheerios and 2% milk (total 145 calories)

lunch = 1oz. Tuna and 1oz. laughing cow cheese wedge (total 70 calories)

dinner = 1oz. Laughing cow cheese wedge and 1 oz. avocado (80 calories)

Protein supplement = body fortress chocolate shake (total 270 calories) - 52 Proteins

Misc. = sugar free popsicle (30 calories) and Viactive Calcium (20 calories)

Daily Totals (615 calories, 71 Protein, 40.5 carbs)

Too many carbs maybe? As for calories...I really can't get in any more as I am still on 1/4 cup a meal 3xday until my 1 month appt. and fill. I am not hungry between meals (not real hunger anyway...sometimes cravings)...I stick to my diet and haven't cheated...well except licking the spoon after making my kids sugar free Cookies one day. But other than that I have been faithful. any suggestions? Will exercising give me negative calories? Which I think I am already negative since my Basic Metabolic calories expenditure is 1670 just being alive...lol So I am basically burning about 1000 calories a day. Any advice appreciated.

What is your doctor's post op diet progression? I was not allowed solids until week 5.

Cherrios are really empty calories, no Protein (milk does have some). I have Greek yogurt with fruit for breakfast with the following add ins: unflavored benefiber, 1/2 scoop vanilla whey isolate, 1/3 cup Kashi Go lean (high protein), and some walnuts. Not sure on calories but maybe between 300-350, but close to 30 g or protein.

My doctor says 3 oz of protein so I would have 2 oz of tuna with the 1 oz of laughing cow.

Looks like you have having most of your protein in one meal. Try spreading it out over your day.

Congrats on doing so well so far!!!

I know right now it's hard to get in more calories, but I would be willing to guess you're not getting nearly enough and your body is going into starvation mode, holding onto everything you eat.

Is there a way you could work up to even 1000 calories a day?

I bet if you switched your breakfast to eggs and turkey sausage (something high protein) you'd be good to go. You're getting a good amount of protein but I intend to keep the carbs between 20-30. And a little more protein wouldn't hurt. Of course, the veterans might tell you...you are still healing right now...it isn't about weightloss it's about healing.

Honk - my doc is kind of aggressive on the post op diet progression. He has allowed us certain solid foods, tuna, cheese, cheerios (yum), eggs and a few other items. He has asked us to stay away from pork/beef and can only have ground chicken/turkey til my first fill. I suspect the cheerios were too good to be true...sniff sniff

Mis73 - I hope to be able to work in more calories after May7th...I will be able to increase from 1/4 cup per meal (2oz) to 1/2 cup per meal (4oz). that should almost double my calories...and maybe I can cut back on the shake since I will be getting in more calories.

Passionatehrt - I suspected the carbs as well...but I thought with so few calories it would be okay. 15 carbs from from the shake...but with 52 grams of Protein I really don't want to cut that out at this point. I think I will have to limit or give up my cheerios...I probably won't be able to tolerate them after my first fill anyhow...too bad they really are a treat.

Just something else to point out, carbs aren't the enemy if they're good carbs. I don't eat bleached/processed/white/enriched breads or Pasta, only true whole grain. I stay away from chips but I do eat low fat Wheat Thins. I still eat carbs I just make sure they're good carbs.

My nutrionist told me a minimum of 60g of Protein a day, no more than 125g of carbs, and no more than 20% of daily calories from fat.

Even with all the carbs (twice as much as protien), I have still lost 81 pounds since Jan. 6. Obviously, in my case anyway, eating smart carbs works well for me.

Everyone is different and you'll have to find what works for your body. Just don't assume all carbs are bad, you might be surprised how well your body does with them when you choose good ones

My first piece of advice would be to get 2 lbs a week out of your head. Now, if you were ever able to lose 2 lbs a week in the past on any diet that you stuck to 100% of the time, you may lose that much per week now but I don't think it's realistic. Some weeks I don't lose at all and then I drop 3 or 4 lbs. You will drive yourself crazy if you start expecting to see the scale move when you want it to and you'll think the band has failed. Before you get some fills and get into the zone, I'd just let your body and mind catch up with each other. this is a journey.....you'll see that when you're out 6+ months. You'll learn more about yourself than you ever knew. When you're newly banded, you're all caught up in the "what can I have", "what can't I have stage" because it's new and it's all you think about which is perfectly normal. Everyone has to go through it....we've been focused on food for our whole lives so it's a big adjustment to not have it be the center of attention.

Once you have a fill, I doubt if you'll be able to eat cereal in the am. I'd find a protein shake you like and plan on having that. Most people are tighter in the morning so liquid protein goes down the best and keeps you full/satisfied til lunch. you're probably going to need about 1000 calories to keep your metabolism fired up. At 600 cal's, you're body will fight you and try to hang onto every calorie. Good luck.

Thanks guys...makes perfect sense. My husband has threatened to hide my scale...maybe I should let him so I will quite obsessing and just do what I am supposed to do.

Vegies? Fruit?