I had my surgery on the 4 th of October and so far, I've lost about 20lbs. However, I ve had a really hard time following the diet directions. I haven't been eating devil dogs or anything but I was eating watermelon and mango my first week out. This week, I have just started to eat small portions of protein(ie. Chicken and fish). I don't have any appetite for protein shakes or broth and for the first three days, I only got about 16ozs of liquid in. I know that I will receive much criticism from this post and that's fine. I am trying to figure out if this will damage me later on. I need to reiterate that I am not eating bad food or drinking soda but just trying to give myself some nutrients. I feel very weak most of the time.

I want to let you know that it IS possible to turn things around. I went through a phase at maybe 3-4 months out when I ate way more slider foods than I should, and also drank wine almost every day. Even though my calories weren't all that high, my protein was low, my carbs were high, and my weight loss slowed to a crawl. I lost only ONE pound in June and though I'd go crazy! But i signed up with a personal trainer at the gym and got my head back in the game, and the weight started coming off again and the cravings went away. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on your program. You'll do fine!

Just wanted to say that I'm 10 days out and I was told I could have watermelon. I think it's common sense not to eat the white or black seeds but I really dont' see how it could be a problem.

I agree with all of the other posts..

First, congrats on the weight loss so far. I was sleeved on the same day as you, but I am only down 11 pounds.

I am on a liquid diet for 3 weeks, which seems way more conservative than most people on here. I read the other posts and am tempted to try some soft foods. BUT....

I remember I had someone cut me open and take out most of my stomach. That's not normal - that's drastic. Did I do this to make things easier? No. I did it because I need to change my life.

So I am starting a whole new me.

I am going to follow the Dr's orders, even though I wonder why he is so conservative. What is an extra week on liquids? It took me over 40 years to get where I am - what is one lousy week without food?

I am going to drink these Protein shakes even though I make a face after every sip (although the Atkins dark chocolate is the least bad)

I am going to think of food as fuel and not try to think of ways to cheat or to eat my fave foods.

I am going to get some kind of excersize very day even if I don't feel like it. And I will be proud that I did it even when feeling tired.

This is my chance to change my body AND my life and I am going for it. Don't think of what foods you want. Think of what you want your life to be - how you want to look, how you want to climb start without breathing hard. And do things the right way..

I haven't had the surgery yet (scheduled for 11/11) but my doctor warned me that if I don't follow the dietary rules: 1. I could have a leak and end up with major issues from that and 2. Not getting enough protein and liquids would make my hair fall out. Don't want that, so I'm mentally gearing up to follow the rules however hard they may be. Good luck to you. I hope you can get back on track.

Just wanted to say that I'm 10 days out and I was told I could have watermelon. I think it's common sense not to eat the white or black seeds but I really dont' see how it could be a problem.

They said it was the clear ones that were the issue. I don't know exactly why but I know that I'm 50+ and could not be certain that I could see them all in spite of common sense telling me not to eat them. But bless youth, until you experience the ravages of age, it's hard to imagine.

They said it was the clear ones that were the issue. I don't know exactly why but I know that I'm 50+ and could not be certain that I could see them all in spite of common sense telling me not to eat them. But bless youth, until you experience the ravages of age, it's hard to imagine.

Ahhh I read it was the white ones not clear ones. Don't think it has much to do with age, my hubby has been legally blind since he was 20 but my bad on the misread.

I thank everyone for their posts. They were all helpful in their own little way. I had a follow up appointment with my DR and NUT and told them the same I told you all. My NUT told me that watermelon was not the best choice but told me that I could make fruit smoothies to help me. I also changed my protein brand and that has helped as well. My head is in for success but I opted not to FORCE myself to drink the protein shake and broth in fear that I would vomit. I was just simply trying to find a alternative that would give me some energy. As the healing process continues, I am feeling alot more energetic and excited. I am now on to the mushy stage and am happy about that. I am able to get alot more liquid in as well. I followed some advice and started to drink Gatorade and will start drinking coconut water. Thanks again.

I'm not saying that you will fail, but the little "honeymoon stage" doesn't last forever. Now that I'm 16 months out, I can eat triple the amounts I could at your stage, and it takes effort to steer clear of the dessert cart, and keep my hand out of the bag of chips. Because those foods are wasted calories, and nothing but junk, they're not going to do me any favors, but I sure can eat a helluva lot of them. If I didn't make changes, I could easily see a regain, I could easily suck down a 2000 calorie milkshake if I wanted to, but I chose to have surgery to live a healthy life, and not have food control me.

Hey, Tiff! I'm a little nervous after reading what you said above. If you can now eat three times what you ate in the beginning then it sounds like you can eat normally now? If that's the case and doctors say that only 1% of obese people can keep their weight off...what is the advantage of having the sleeve after "it" relaxes? I'm now nervous that I might get to my goal and then fight the same battle I did last time I lost the weight and gain it alll back. I know that you are the most knowledgeable person on here and I just thought that I would never be able to eat as much as I once could. Please tell me I misunderstood...I'm feeling a little defeated already.

I could only eat an eighth of a cup of food (maybe!!!) at one sitting at one month out. I can eat triple that now at four months and one week.....so Tiff isn't eating anything close to what she and most of us were pre-op!!! Don't worry!!!

I thank everyone for their posts. They were all helpful in their own little way. I had a follow up appointment with my DR and NUT and told them the same I told you all. My NUT told me that watermelon was not the best choice but told me that I could make fruit smoothies to help me. I also changed my Protein brand and that has helped as well. My head is in for success but I opted not to FORCE myself to drink the protein shake and broth in fear that I would vomit. I was just simply trying to find a alternative that would give me some energy. As the healing process continues, I am feeling alot more energetic and excited. I am now on to the mushy stage and am happy about that. I am able to get alot more liquid in as well. I followed some advice and started to drink Gatorade and will start drinking coconut Water. Thanks again.

If nothing else, get Atkins, it has 15 grams of protein. SOBE with 0 calories isn't bad, but Gatorade is loaded with sugar, as much as a regular soda. I too hated Protein shakes, I tried for three months pre-op to find one I could drink....I finally just got two cases of protein bullets from GNC, blue raspberry, 42 grams of protein. They're only about 3.5 oz. I could sip a little in the morning, a little at noon and finish it off later in the day. Not the best tasting stuff in the world, but I could drink it and it wasn't a huge Protein Drink....which I would be nursing for 2 hours. Yuck. The bullets worked for me. I actually liked the Atkins. I only had to supplement for 2 months, I get all my protein with food and have been for over 2 months now. I keep Atkins around just in case we are leaving for the day.....and I might need something.