I want to give up

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I loved Rosarita traditional non-fat refried Beans (in a can at any grocery store) mixed with cheddar cheese -- then heated up / melted in the microwave. It was literally my favorite go-to food during puree phase.

One egg mixed with cottage cheese and cheddar cheese and "microwave-scrambled" (remixed up every 15-30 seconds)

Grind up water-pack canned chicken and add to refried dish (above) as your tolerance for this increases

Blend frozen fruit (or fresh fruit) to Protein drinks (occasionally)

Add ground water-packed canned chicken to Soups. It's an easy way to get i more Protein.

FYI, I never did fully "puree" food -- instead I just ground up stuff. I'm 4-1/2 months out. Obviously, I didn't die.

Also, FYI -- some foods will go down better for you than others. For example, my tummy liked chicken, but not tuna. Don't worry about it. Just keep looking for things that your tummy likes.

BTW, re your "vague instructions" about pureed foods ... there's really not a lot to say about pureed foods. You puree them. You eat them. That is all.

Edited January 4, 2015 by VSGAnn2014

[Kindle 8,667]

Thanks for the ideas.. I've just started puréed, and not everything is going down smooth... I have a good day and then next one where I think I will just drink for the rest of my life. Everything causes a commotion and rumbling inside.

I think that's pretty normal. I only ever added 1 new thing a day or even every other day. I just drank my shakes and broths and Soups as staples plus one new food item. That way I wasn't throwing a whole bunch of stuff at my new tummy to deal with. And if there was a day that didn't go well, I knew exactly what the culprit was. Took me longer to progress through the stages, but I had minimal discomfort and never got sick. You are still healing, and just like this isn't a race to lose weight, it's not a race to see what food you can eat. Take it as slow as you need to.

[WL WARRIOR 690]

Type in "Recipe Frenzy" in the search bar to get to a post from bobbyswife. She put a list together of some of the best bariatric online recipes and cookbooks. The two Bariatric Buddies cookbooks are free downloads. Since there is no copyright, you can print them out on your own printer or do it at Kinkos's where you can also get it binded. There is a pureed recipe section in these cookbooks, as well as a recipe section for each stage of the Bariatric Eating plan. Good luck!

[katmaar 22]

Thank you everyone!!!!

[galadriel535 43]

I have been living on this Soup for the past few days...it is to die for. I am thinking of adding silky tofu and/or Protein powder to it. (I also snuck in some fat fe=ree cheddar. I used low fat cheddar cheese shredded, rather than velveeta. this Soup rocks my socks!)

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-cheese-soup-1

I googled low fat recipes for soup...worked for me. Hang in there sweetie! I understand your confusion...it hits me too.

[Stevehud 1,790]

O dp wpnder how many people confuse their dietary stages. For me stage 3 after liquids only, was liquids and puress for 2 weeks, stage 4 for me is soft meats, ground meats, etc. mashed or soft veg, no fruits or anything raw. no white bread kind of stuff etc. so its easy to mistake stage 3 purees, for stage 4 purees so be careful.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Steve, FYI ... I had only a single puree stage -- not two.

Your program is actually the first I've ever heard of with two different puree stages.

So many different programs people are given!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Do you live on campus? Have a meal plan?

Many colleges have a nutritionist on staff for their meal service and/or health center. You might want to find out if there is someone like that on campus and make an appointment. Take the written info from your NUT/surgeon and see if they have any ideas or suggestions. They also may be able to make accommodations (blending food, stocking healthy options).

It never hurts to ask.

Edited January 4, 2015 by Inner Surfer Girl

[AlbertaD 4]

I had my sleeve on Dec. 5 2014. My diet is stage 3 for 4 weeks. Stage 3 in my diet is liquid. Milk based Soup, pudding, cream of wheat along with the Protein shakes etc. Stage 4 is mashed food. I am extremely excited to get on this portion of the diet just because I am a tiny bit tired of having the same things over and over. Providing I will be able to tolerate it, I will be able to have some meat and fish as long as its soft. No bread, rice, potato or Pasta. I am on this for 4 weeks then I move on to the final stage. I have see people post that they were on the mashed stage only a couple of weeks after surgery. I was kind of surprised since I thought this was universal for the sleeve. I guess different drs have different stages of diets. I have lost 22 pounds since my sleeve. I dont know if I am ahead or behind in the weight lost but man, it feels awesome to have that off. With my presurgery diet I have 47 pounds off in total. I cant believe how much my body has changed it how it feels. awesome. I get sick of what I have to eat but I just have to look at how much better I feel and change my relationship with food. Its a struggle.

[Foreverblessedx3 16]

Thanks to those who replied to me..maybe I will get better @ posting/quoting. Today I did really well with sweet potato mashed up.

I love tuna and I only have one pureed stage and tuna/chicken canned is part of that. The tuna just doesn't settle...so won't try it again for a while. I will try the canned chicken in a few days...I am a little scared of meat. I am going to try an egg tomorrow, did anyone have a problem with eggs?

I have eaten refried Beans (awesome) and cottage cheese, both go down well.

I read a lot on here and thanks to all who have shared their experiences. I am so thankful for whomever posted to mix premier chocolate with milk...I am so appreciative. It works for me too! I starting to think I was going to just tolerate the Protein drinks. Again, thanks to all!

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Steve, FYI ... I had only a single puree stage -- not two.

Your program is actually the first I've ever heard of with two different puree stages.

So many different programs people are given!

Yep, I only had 1 puree stage as well. Each stage was only 2 weeks long. The goal was to get to getting Proteins from real food. Each program is different, that's why as helpful as we can be to each other here, we need to understand what the program we signed up for requires.

Edited January 4, 2015 by BLERDgirl

[gottagonow 82]

I didn't blend a thing - I'm weird about texture. Love these suggestions; it's what I survived on during this stage!

Ricotta bake was one of my favorites, along with refried Beans and homemade crab cakes ( these things are already soft so you don't need to blend them) my stage was purée /mushy combined. Look at it that way not everything had to go into A blender.

[AlbertaD 4]

Storytotell.. did it bother your stomach in any way since you didnt puree anything? I have been on the liquid for 4 weeks the dr said it was for stomach healing.

[gottagonow 82]

Not really. I stayed with refried Beans, eggs, etc. My protocol from the surgeon's practice was different than most I see on here. We had tuna at the hospital on day 2. The directions vary a lot! The practice also warned me about chicken, which they suggested to gradually get to by week 4 or so (I had it shredded before then to get my Protein, can't do the canned stuff). chicken is the one thing that has agreed with me throughout all of this - I struggled with their suggested fish dishes though, which were permitted early on. I listened to my body, went slow, and tried all new things at home (sometimes they came back up and all!).

Storytotell.. did it bother your stomach in any way since you didnt puree anything? I have been on the liquid for 4 weeks the dr said it was for stomach healing.

[peki31 37]

The only thing I pureed was some chili. Other than that nothing. I am 3.5 weeks out and on soft foods for 5 more days, then on to regular food. Nothing I have eaten in any stage has given me any issues. Except I hate the supersweet Protein drinks, yuck.