Here are the lists that my nutritionist gave to me for the different stages of eating after having surgery. The moderator may want to make this thread a sticky for those who don't get defined lists, as I've noticed a lot of questions about this topic in the past.

*STAGE 1 - liquids

START: When you return home from your surgery

DURATION: For 2 weeks post surgery, or until your next dietitian appointment.

DIET: Clear and full liquids

GOAL: Aim for at least 64 ounces of Fluid for the day by continuous sipping.

LIQUIDS RECOMMENDED:

Water

100% fruit juice (No sugar added)

Bouillon

Strained Soups or broths

Skim or 1% milk

Soy milk

Milk shakes - thinned

Gatorade or equivalent sports drink

Yogurt smoothie drinks - not including homemade

Crystal Light

sugar free beverages

Herbal or decaffeinated tea or coffee

Popsicles (Pedialyte)

LIQUIDS TO AVOID:

Citrus juices (orange, grapefruit, pineapple)

Acidic liquids (tomato juice, tomato Soup, buttermilk)

Caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea)

Carbonated beverages (any soda pop, seltzer, or tonic water)

Homemade fruit or yogurt smoothies

Anything that seems liquid but is not (Jello, yogurt, pudding, ice cream) *Do pour test*

*STAGE 2 - MUSHIES

START: 2 weeks post surgery

DURATION: Up to 2 weeks post liquid stage

DIET: Soft food

GOAL: Aim for a meal capacity of about 1 cup (8 ounces) for 3 meals per day. Aim for fluid intake of 48-64 ounces per day.

FOODS RECOMMENDED:

Milk (skim or 1% only)

Cottage cheese

eggs (poached, scrambled or soft boiled)

Blended cream soups

Yogurt

Low Fat Cheese - unmelted

Peanut Butter

Tofu (silken only)

Pudding

Applesauce or other fruit sauces

Canned fruits

Mashed potatoes

Cream of Wheat or oatmeal (diluted with milk)

*STAGE 3 - SEMI SOLIDS

START: 4 weeks post surgery

DURATION: 2 weeks post mushies stage

DIET: Semi-solid food

GOAL: Aim for a meal capacity of about 1 cup (8 ounces) for 3 meals per day. Aim for fluid intake of 48-64 ounces per day.

FOOD RECOMMENDED:

Deli cuts of meat

Canned flake meats such as tuna or chicken

Ground meats like ground beef or ground turkey

Beans

Tofu

Baked fish or crab meat

Pasta, rice, and corn

Fresh fruit - eliminate skins

Cooked vegetables - avoid celery, asparagus or broccoli stalks

Low Fat melted cheese

FOODS TO AVOID FOR MUSHIES & SEMI SOLID STAGES:

Caloric beverages - sweetened tea, soda, lemonade, juices

Ice cream, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, & smoothies

Regular Jello

Dry solids like breads, cereals, crackers, high Fiber foods

*STAGE 4 - SOLIDS

RECOMMENDED FOODS & SERVING SIZES:

Protein GROUP:

1 ounce lean meat, poultry or fish

1/4 cup yogurt

1/4 cup pudding

1/4 cup cottage cheese

1 egg, 2 egg whites

1/4 cup egg substitute

1 tbsp. peanut butter

1 ounce tofu

1 ounce cheese

1/4 cup canned flake meat

1 slice deli meat

2 tbsp. grated cheese

1/4 cup shredded cheese

1/2 cup beans

1/4 cup hommus

GRAIN GROUP:

1/2 slice toast

1/4 bagel or english muffin

1/2 cup Cereal (cooked or dry)

1/2 cup broth-type soup

1 oblong graham cracker

1/4 cup rice, pasta, or potato

1/2 small baked potato

1/4 cup corn

4 crackers

FRUIT GROUP:

1/4 cup canned fruit (in its own juices)

1/4 cup grapes

1/2 piece fresh fruit

1 tsp. jelly or jam

1/4 cup dry fruit

VEGETABLE GROUP:

1/2 cup cooked vegetables

1 cup raw vegetables

1/2 cup tomato juice

1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa

OTHERS GROUP:

1 tsp. oil, butter, or margarine

1 tsp. mayonnaise

1 tbsp. Miracle Whip

1 tbsp. sour cream or cream cheese

1 tbsp. salad dressing

2 tbsp. guacamole

4-6 almonds, cashews, or pecans

1 ounce cheese

2 tsp. peanut butter

1 tbsp. tahini

1/4 cup Cool-Whip

1 tsp. sugar, honey, or syrup

COMBINATION FOODS:

1 or 1 1/2 cup per meal

1/2 cup per snack

CORE PLAN:

BREAKFAST:

1-2 Proteins

1 fruit

2 grains

1 other

LUNCH:

2-3 proteins

1 vegetable

2 grains

1 other

SNACK:

1 fruit

1 protein

DINNER:

2-3 proteins

1-2 vegetables

2 grains

1 other

SNACK:

1 vegetable

1 grain

I hope that this helps those who are researching getting the band, with knowing what your eating habbits will be like after surgery. I also hope that this will help those who are never given a clear eating plan after surgery too.

Please know that this is just the plan that was given to me, and I do not expect all bandsters to follow this plan. It is simply a guidline for those who need one/are not given one.

Please remember to follow exactly what your surgeon/nutritionist says, even if it is different than this list.

I was told that if you do eat red meat to have it more on the raw side because it is easier to digest, but I have also heard that some people really can not tolerate it much. Glad I really like chicken

I am 2 days post op and have been put on a clear, liquid, sugar-free diet only for first two weeks. (water, crystal light) This seems awfully extreme. Has this happened to anyone else?

that seems very extreme, are you sure that's right. I was on clears for 2 days and FULL liquids for 2 weeks. Clear and full are very different. That seems dangerous to me.

Ellen

Here's what's in my surgeon's guide:

STAGE ONE - LIQUIDS (1 Week)

- Begin taking Multivitamin (chewable Flintstones Complete is recommended)

- At least 40 grams of Protein per day

Liquids include:

- Protein drinks (made with water)

- sugar-free Gelatin

- Sugar-Free Popsicles

- Water/Ice

- broth

- Decaf/Unsweetened coffee

- Crystal Light

- sugar free Kool-Aid

- Diet V-8 Splash

- Diet Snapple

(No carbonated beverages)

STAGE TWO - liquid diet (2 weeks)

3 meals per day

1/4 cup per meal

Liquids between meals

Meals include:

- Cream Soups (low-fat)

- Milk (Skim or 1%)

- Sugar-Free pudding

- Yogurt (Low-fat, no sugar added)

- Thinned mashed potatoes

- Thinned Cream of Wheat

- Thinned oatmeal

Protein shakes (at least 40 grams per day)

STAGE THREE - Soft Diet (3 weeks)

3 meals per day

1/4 cup per meal

Liquids between meals

Foods include:

- Everything from Stage 1 and 2

- Ground meats, canned tuna

- cottage cheese

- low-fat cheese

- eggs (scrambled or hard cooked)

- Low-Fat refried Beans

- Grits

- Casseroles

- Canned Fruit (No Syrup)

- No sugar added Applesauce

- Canned or Soft cooked veggies

Yes, I would love to have any diet/nutrition information you can give. I was bamded on 7/30 and am not happy with the dietitian we were required to see or with the meager amount of info given by the surgeon. By the way, I am having all sorts of trouble with private messages. Could you please email directly to me at komishe@sccoast.net. Also, if you feel comfortable in doing so, I would love get your phone number so I can call you and talk. I am in South Carolina and have unlimited long distance. If you would prefer to call me, email me and I will send you the phone number.

Many thanks for all your help.

Sheila

The message above from me was directed to pjanes54

Message for scareDcat -- I would love to have whatever information you have for patients that are on solid food. I had my surgery on 7/30 at Conway Hospital in South Carolina (near Myrtle Beach). I actually attended a seminar given by the group that did your surgery in West Columbia but I felt that it was too far to travel for all the necessary pre-op and follow-up appointments and for fillls.

If you can to converse via email, send it to komishe@sccoast.net. I would love to chat with you.

Sheila

For scareDcat

I would love to have any information you have for patients that are already on solid food. I was banded on 7/30 and am eating solid foods but not sure of which ones of which quantity.

I actually attended the seminar from the group of surgeons you are going to in West Columbia and was very impressed with them, but concluded it would be too far to be going back and forth from Myrtle Beach to West Columbia for all the pre-op and follow-up and fill visits.

If you wish to communicate by email, my address is

komishe@sccoast.net.

Thanks,

Sheila

Thanks sweet lady for writing all this down for us.

Nancy-FW

Alexandra,

What caused your band to slip, did they say???

I begin eating similiar things around day 16 also, I am still nervous that I may have did some damage. How did yours turn out? I go to get my first fill the 8th. Please let me know what your doc said?

I am learning so much here. Thank you all for the information. I really want to change my eating habits now but I find it so hard to do. I have no support in the house. I have not yet been banded. I am in the research stage. I am going thu the Veterans Hospital for their Move program. If I am approved for the surgery I will have to travel from NJ to Pittisburg Pa. This is a 4-6 hour drive 1 way. Anyway I digress. The information is very helpful.

Jack. Hi I am new here 19 days post op, I just gotta comment. Regarding that Dec 2004 oatmeal cookie. I ate one on the 9th and instantly gained 2 lbs plus 2 lbs the next day too. Here it is the 19th and I am still up those 2lbs. No more cookies for me. -

Esther

You ate a cookie 19 days after surgery??? Did it make you sick? I am afraid to deviate from the charts they gave me to follow and if I did cheat a cookie would not be at my list I hope someday I can eat Pasta again even in small amounts. Right now I am so happy for broth all the sugary stuff is getting old. Popsicles, Jello, yogurt and all. I just want some chicken noodle Soup with the noodles LOL

Bren

Hi Brenda- I admit I have a sweet tooth- I was never a big pasta fan- Isn't it strange how differently we all get our carbohydrates. Actually I ate the cookie on the ninth day- Not only did I not get sick- I ate three more cookies the next day - grazing one of each flavor. That is why the gained weight stayed with me for so long. I now am 23 days post op and 12 lbs lost.

esther