Hello,

I am 7 weeks post-op and I don't know what foods I should try and what I should avoid. I keep hearing different stories about what you should wait on and what you should try at this stage.

What were eating at 7 weeks? Were you eating whatever you wanted in small amounts or were you avoiding certain foods? What foods would you suggest I avoid at this point?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Larae

According to my surgeon's plan, that would be the stage I could begin to eat a regular diet. However, carbs give me really bad munchies, so that would be something I would avoid. And most of the veteran's on this site recommend low carbing it to goal.

For Proteins, I was eating chicken, tuna, salmon, fresh fish, shrimp, pork roast (cooked in a crock pot), moist cooked ground beef, beef roast (cooked in a crock pot), baby bell cheese, laughing cow cheese, string cheese and cheddar or swiss cheeses. I really didn't start eating the pork or beef unitl about 3 months - at 6 weeks, it still upset my stomach. I also seldom eat eggs - I have a very low tolerance for eggs - they make me break out in hives if I eat too many (old alergy - nothing sleeve related). Eggs are a good Protein source and usually people have no trouble digesting them.

The only dairy I ate was lowfat cottage cheese, lowfat Activia yogurt, or greek yogurt. I would occasionally (maybe once or twice a week) have a 60 calorie sugar free pudding cup. I might mix 1/2 applesauce or Water packed peaches with the cottage cheese.

For veggies - I ate tomatoes, green Beans, squash, cucumber, sugar snap peas, carrots, green peppers and carrots. I started asparagras at six weeks. I stayed away from raw celery (only ate it cooked), and brocolli / cauliflower (raw or cooked) - didn't start it until later.

I would make smoothies for Breakfast with nectar Protein powder and frozen strawberries and frozen banannas. I would sometimes use different fruit in the smoothies. For 1 smoothie , I use at most 1/2 bannana and approx 6 berries.

I would eat a 2" long piece of corn on the cob maybe once /week.

I would eat little melba toast squares occasionally with the laughing cow cheese on it. I didn't eat any other crackers or bread.

I didn't (and still don't at 6 1/2 months) eat bread, Pasta, potatoes, rice or crackers). When I cook post roast, I might bend my rule and now eat a 1" cube of cooked potatoe.

I drink EAS /Myoplex Protein drinks for breakfast if I don't make a smoothie. I also will occasionally use an Isopure PLUS Protein Drink.

I also ate sugar free popsicles.

Hope this helps - good luck with your sleeve.

I've discovered that I can eat just about anything - although lettuce does not sit well with me. Keep it high Protein - and get the protein in first, then veggies, then fruit, then other stuff if there is room.

I had a craving last weekend for cheese bread from a local pizza joint. I wasn't sure how well it would sit, but I had some and it was wonderful. It actually scared me a bit at how easy it was to eat and didn't give me problems. I won't be doing that very often (it will be a good long while before I do that again though as I know it wasn't the best choice to make - too many fat grams, carbs and calories). I could only eat about 10% of what I used to, but it was still enough to satisfy my craving. I know it was mostly the head hunger for the craving, but I had been doing so good that I figured the one time eating of it wouldn't do too much harm.

What a GREAT post. I'm going to reply, but just had to say you rock for taking the time to post such a thorough list!! It's posts like this that just make me realize what a great resource this community is for all of us.

For Proteins, I was eating chicken, tuna, salmon, fresh fish, shrimp, pork roast (cooked in a crock pot), moist cooked ground beef, beef roast (cooked in a crock pot), baby bell cheese, laughing cow cheese, string cheese and cheddar or swiss cheeses. I really didn't start eating the pork or beef unitl about 3 months - at 6 weeks, it still upset my stomach. I also seldom eat eggs - I have a very low tolerance for eggs - they make me break out in hives if I eat too many (old alergy - nothing sleeve related). Eggs are a good Protein source and usually people have no trouble digesting them.

The only dairy I ate was lowfat cottage cheese, lowfat Activia yogurt, or greek yogurt. I would occasionally (maybe once or twice a week) have a 60 calorie sugar free pudding cup. I might mix 1/2 applesauce or Water packed peaches with the cottage cheese.

For veggies - I ate tomatoes, green Beans, squash, cucumber, sugar snap peas, carrots, green peppers and carrots. I started asparagras at six weeks. I stayed away from raw celery (only ate it cooked), and brocolli / cauliflower (raw or cooked) - didn't start it until later.

I would make smoothies for breakfast with nectar protein powder and frozen strawberries and frozen banannas. I would sometimes use different fruit in the smoothies. For 1 smoothie , I use at most 1/2 bannana and approx 6 berries.

I would eat a 2" long piece of corn on the cob maybe once /week.

I would eat little melba toast squares occasionally with the laughing cow cheese on it. I didn't eat any other crackers or bread.

I didn't (and still don't at 6 1/2 months) eat bread, Pasta, potatoes, rice or crackers). When I cook post roast, I might bend my rule and now eat a 1" cube of cooked potatoe.

I drink EAS /Myoplex protein drinks for breakfast if I don't make a smoothie. I also will occasionally use an ISOPURE PLUS protein drink.

I also ate sugar free popsicles.

Hope this helps - good luck with your sleeve.

At 7 weeks out, my dietary restrictions were gone so it was "whatever you can tolerate". That said, I am the WORST about remembering ANYTHING, but I will list a few of my fav's below. I will say that I was still really sticking to Protein at this point.

String cheese sticks, pepperoni stix, salmon, shrimp, lunch meat/cheese roll ups, Fage greek yogurt (w/ fruit mixed in....couldn't stand the plain any way I tried it), chicken salad, tuna salad, eggs, eggs, eggs! I ate boiled eggs, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, deviled eggs....(picture Forest Gump talking about shrimp...tee hee). Eggs were my friend during this stage and thankfully they agreed with me b/c I loved them.

Now that said, I did eat anything else I wanted in moderation and just tried little bits and pieces of what hubby and kids had (after I had eaten my protein) mainly to see what I could tolerate. Slowly came to realize that there wasn't a lot that I couldn't have. Just came down to getting in protein and Water and then making sure I was stopping when satisfied and not getting stuffed.

Stay away from raw veggies and nuts at this point for awhile longer.

Soft meat and fish work well at this stage as well as soft cheeses and yogurt.

Everybody is somewhat different in what they can tolerate when. My doc''s program is pretty liberal (mushy/puree from the hospital, no big liquid only phase) with the admonition to experiment with small amounts of new foods, one at a time. If something doesn't settle well, try again in a couple of weeks.

I'm not at 7 weeks yet, but my diet plan says absolutely no corn for a year.

I agree with not eating nuts and seeds. I was allowed pretty much anything at week 7 except nuts, seeds, beans, fruit with skin and raw veggies.

It was all fair game at week 12 tho.

Kelly

This week will be week 7 for me also. These are the foods I eat most often:

8oz soy milk with one scoop of nectar Protein powder and one scoop of click Protein Powder poured over lots of ice, it"s my version of iced coffee and it is yummy!

string cheese

edamame (soy beans)

chicken/tuna/shrimp salad

fish

egg drop Soup

scramble eggs w/ cheese

pretty much i eat my protein first - ALWAYS. Rarely is there any room for anything else so pretty much only protein for now. I have discovered that my sleeve does not tolerate breading of any kind (ie: chicken tenders) which we really should avoid anyway.

At 6 weeks out I was cleared to eat a normal diet. But some of my surgeons rules is to keep fat and sugar under 10 grams. I also tried/try to watch my carbs. My dietician recommends "protein then produce" . So at each "meal" I eat meat or meat substitute and then finish it off with some fresh fruit or veggies. I had difficulty with chicken at first, so I ate and still eat A LOT of seafood. Carolina girl has some good suggestions. Take care and good luck on your journey!

I agree with not eating nuts and seeds. I was allowed pretty much anything at week 7 except nuts, seeds, Beans, fruit with skin and raw veggies.

It was all fair game at week 12 tho.

Kelly

No beans? This is part of my mushies.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I know to avoid corn, steak and pork. My plan also allows me to have Beans, just pureed. I am going to try ground meat and my version of baked dark meat chicken which is very moist.

Has anyone tried ground beef or ground turkey with gravy? I will have to buy gravy in a can because my homemade gravy involves flour.

I'm seven weeks out too and it's been difficult but it's like taste here and taste there and see how it goes. I'm a salad LOVER. Not being able to eat salad the past few weeks was horrible. So I decided last week to give a nibble and it went down just fine and I'm eating it with no problem (some people can't eat salad until a few months after surgery but it all depends on the person). Tonight I made braised lamb shank so it was nice a juicy and fell right off the bone, fork tender and went down smooth.

I have been eating deviled eggs (made with greek yougurt and fat free mayo), peperoni sticks made from turkey (chew chew chew), cheese sticks, roasted veggies (eggplant, zucchini, asparagus , put on a baking sheet lined with foil and spray the foil with non stick spray, place the sliced veg on the foil, use a pastry brush and brush on olive oil infused with chopped garlic, sprinkle with salt and put in the oven for 12 minutes or until brown at 450 degrees)

I have been eating lots of chili and Pasta fagoli....and yes I'm keeping the carbs low, under 40 grams per day and I'm not getting in enough Protein but I just can't do those shakes, they make me gag.

I ate rice for a bit but I was in a 4 week stall and I began to eliminate the carbs and DRINK DRINK DRINK. The stall went away and I lost another 5 pounds like magic.

Make sure you keep your carbs low, you drink over the 1.5 litre limit (go 3 litres if you can squeeze it in) eat your yougurt, cottage cheese, and fat free or low fat dairy and TAKE YOUR VITAMINES. Make sure you get your protein in first but don't skip your veggies either......I hope this helps:)

Also I began walking with five pound dumbells in each hand to avoid loose skin. oh yeah I almost forgot.....DRINK DRINK DRINK!

Pulled out my handout from surgery (LA Surgical Specialists in Louisisana)

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Week 7

Fluid intake 48-60 oz day Protein 60-80 grams a day

Continue with previous stages and move on to salads with minimal amounts of low calorie dressings.

Add lean ground meats from turkey and beef (2-3 oz serving) and baked chicken.

You can add plain or lightly salted nuts (one 2 oz serving a day) Almonds are the best choice.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Adding my own note here - I am 3 months out.....I still can't eat lettuce, raw broccoli. They sit on my stomach. And I have not tried celery ever since I read about the ball of threads it formed in someone's stomach. I have not tried steak as my doc said to wait 16 weeks.

I eat most everything else. Tomatoes and cucumber I cut seeds out (for now) and they seem to go down better. I eat some of the same meats as before but smaller portions and try to get grilled not fried. I do enjoy a handful of nuts sometimes.....I enjoy pecans and walnuts but you have to chew them well!

good luck!