I went to a bariatric surgeon who insisted that I go on a high protein, low carb, low fat diet. It sounds helpful, but realistically, I'm a pescetarian who relies on fish, beans, nuts, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cottage cheese for my protein.

When I told him I eat fish, he basically said that's good and gave me the impression that I'd have to rely on fish for my protein needs. I would get sick of fish if having to eat it two or three times a day. And he said no protein shakes or any food that's squishy or liquidy. That rules out protein shakes, yogurt, and cottage cheese. And beans are ruled out because they contain carbohydrates. Nuts are ruled out because they're high in fat. I was very discouraged after talking to him.

How have you changed your eating habits? Which eating plan do you follow now?

1 hour ago, imaginegirl said:

I went to a bariatric surgeon who insisted that I go on a high Protein, low carb, low fat diet. It sounds helpful, but realistically, I'm a pescetarian who relies on fish, Beans, nuts, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cottage cheese for my protein.

When I told him I eat fish, he basically said that's good and gave me the impression that I'd have to rely on fish for my protein needs. I would get sick of fish if having to eat it two or three times a day. And he said no Protein Shakes or any food that's squishy or liquidy. That rules out protein shakes, yogurt, and cottage cheese. And beans are ruled out because they contain carbohydrates. Nuts are ruled out because they're high in fat. I was very discouraged after talking to him.

How have you changed your eating habits? Which eating plan do you follow now?

That seems very extreme. Beans and legumes are very important sources of protein and one of the easiest soft foods to tolerate at first. The nuts can wait til maintenance as they have a lot of calories and fat. Yogurt and cottage cheese are also really good "first" foods. Why does he think you shouldn't have low fat cottage or yogurt? That makes no sense. Give us more of what your basic post op food plan will look like - week by week, according to your surgeon. Here's what mine looked like:

Stage One (weeks 1,2): clear fluids and 2-3 protein shakes per day to meet 60 gm per day.

Stage Two (weeks 2-8): soft proteins including cottage cheese, yogurt, bean soup, eggs, soft cheese, ground/pureed meat or poultry, soft fish, tofu, thin sliced deli meat. 2 protein shakes per day and 1 meal.

Stage three (2 months - 6 months): New foods. 1 protein shake per day + 2 meals per day. Gradually add veggies and fruit and new proteins.

Edited February 22, 20206 yr by AZhiker

I agree with the above poster. That is really weird. I pretty much lived on protein shakes, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt those first few weeks....

16 hours ago, AZhiker said:

Why does he think you shouldn't have low fat cottage or yogurt? That makes no sense.

He only wants you to eat food that stays in your stomach and fills you up.

I haven't met with the nutritionist, so I don't know about the stages. I wonder if that person is more reasonable.

Actually, the foods you meantuin are exactly what I eat (but Chicken instead of fish). Carbs high in protein are fine, as are healthy fats. It is the low quality carbs and u healthy fats that you should eliminate. But do eat protein first and foremost.

I have actually been eating pretty much all lean chicken since my surgery 5 years ago and I haven't gotten tired of it. I cook or eat my chicken different ways/different flavors so boredom doesn't set in. I've tried eating other meats, but they just don't sit well with me. Nausea will rear it's head pretty quickly! If I ignore the warning, dumping syndrome comes next. No one wants that! ? Using different herbs, lemon and lime juice, and chicken broth to flavor my foods helps to keep dishes tasty and flavorful.

I'm now onto the soft food stage as I'm 4wks post op today but typical days were:

Puree weeks 1-4:

Breakfast: protein shake with skim milk

Lunch: puree beans

Dinner: greek yoghurt or chicken soup

Soft stage weeks 5-8:

Breakfast: blended oatmeal

Lunch: protein shake or greek yoghurt

Dinner: mashed potato and a tsp peas

I didn't fancy the idea of liquidised meat ? so I'm substituting it for yoghurt, shakes and beans or peas.

18 months out from sleeve surgery, I'm still a pescatarian. Note that I wasn't able to eat some of this stuff for quite some time after surgery. Lost about 120 (gained a bit from my low, but have been maintaining here for a couple months). Some typical meals for me:

* Stuff I ate in soft food stage (note YMMV because different docs have different rules. Might also be different with the RNY)

**stuff i ate as I transitioned to real food (same caveat)

Breakfast

* Greek yogurt/cottage cheese (after soft food stage: add blueberries)

*scrambled egg

An egg and some veggies (scrambled, fritatta, crustless quiche, etc)

Lunch/Dinner

**crustless quiche (in early stages, be careful what you put in the quiche - I now do broc, but couldn't eat that until I was almost a year out)

*Ricotta bake

Baked sweet potato with black beans and some greek yogurt mixed with chipotle peppers. If I'm feeling fancy add soem avocado (*soft food appropriate if you cook the potato and beans really well and mash them REALLY well)

Tofu and veg with some sauce

**Tuna salad

* Egg Salad

**Fish with veg

Shrimp with Veg

*Hummus bowl or **falafel

Breakfast hash (sauteed kale, roasted sweet potato, poached egg)

Salad with fish or shrimp or beans

Bean chili

About once a month a pita pizza (small pita, tomato sauce, mozz, and veg)

Curry chickpeas

Snacks

fruit (sometimes and apple w/peanut butter), veg, almonds, cheese, parm chips, guac, hummus