My post op diet is split into six weeks:

Week 1 is basically Clear liquids with Protein shakes : also allowed is coconut or rice milk. Decaf coffee or tea. Plus Vitamins. Of course all the Water 64oz

Week 2: all of week one stuff plus things like low fat cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, and yogurt without fruit chunks. Unsweetened applesauce. And oatmeal or grits .

Week 3: everything from the previous 2 week plus scrambled eggs, canned or packed tuna, 1/2 piece of toast or crackers.

Week 4,5,6: all previous plus baked/broiled fish, soft cooked veggies, soft fruit without skin, soft Pasta, hummus, tofu, couscous, and quinoa,

Week 7: everything

Anyone else have something similar?

I was 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks purees (right now), then 2 weeks soft stuff. Then I think on New Years day I'm free.

Here in Montreal Canada we have 2 weeks full fluids soups yogurt applesauce then 3 weeks of pureed foods protein veg or potato and then full textured foods.

It's very highly dependent on your doctor and nutritionist. In fact in my case, my nutritionist and my doctor gave me two different diets! Which was frustrating.

In the end, the doctor explained to me that the first phases of the diet are about protecting the sleeve. Initially you want nothing small and granular, which is why liquids and full liquids only - you don't want tiny bits getting caught in your staples, where they can lodge and cause irritation, get infected, etc.

Additionally pressure caused by excess food in the stomach can also tear the staples - combined with the inflammation this is why amounts are so small initially.

Later, as the staple line begins to heal/scar over, you can tolerate more solid-ish foods, but you still don't want anything sharp that can cut your healing wounds. This is the reason for the "mushies" phase, which is where I am right now.

Finally, by about week four, the wounds are healed enough that you can't jeapordize them with sharper foods, which is when you start to reintroduce toast and crackers and so forth.

PLEASE NOTE that not only am I not a doctor, I don't even play one on TV. I also am sharing information from my doctor about my condition - your surgery or requirements may be different. But understanding the above helped me to understand why I couldn't just "sneak a bite" here and there of something more crunchy or flavorful initially.