Susanne

I really liked mashed potatoes at this stage, sometimes with gravy or with creamed spinach. I like grits too, yummy with a little grated nutmeg and "I can't believe it's not butter" spray. I had refried beans, with salsa and a little Greek yogurt. If you like, mix some hummus with Greek yogurt, which makes it a little creamier and adds protein. I am not a big soup person, but I think they are having some great packaged soups by Pacific Natural (http://www.pacificfoods.com/our-foods/carton-soups), you may need to take a blender to some to puree the chunks but most actually worked fine as is.

I don't know about you, but one of the reasons why I went for surgery was because I was a slow loser. My Mom has put me on diets starting in my mid teens, and I did a few rapid "if I just don't eat anything, I'll lose weight" diets - all of which did a real number on my metabolism. I am not claiming I didn't eat much but for the times I did diet properly and exercised a lot, it was always so sad to see that my husband - who is less overweight - managed to pretty much lose double the amount I did. So, what I am trying to say is that being a slow loser is unfortunately part of who you are and while it rocks to shed pounds like crazy, there is not much you can do. Is your doctor happy with your results? I am only 6 weeks out but my doc said I am doing great - even though I have lost less than a lot of people in here have. To me, it looks like you are doing great and you look great and you are young (and married) so there really isn't a major rush to speed up the weight loss, is there? Keep it up, and don't lose your spirit!

Like everyone else, I am so with you. The clear liquids are fine for a couple of days when you are more busy trying to heal but as you get better - your food doesn't!!! I had a tomato broth and a beef broth that was bearable but after 10 days I was ready to jump out the window. How long are you on clear liquids? I was on it for 2 weeks and the day when you eat a spoon full of mashed potatoes or grits, it's all forgotten...but then starts up again toward the end of that phase. Now I am six weeks out and am finally allowed soft and moist foods which is HEAVEN. You'll make it. If you are on a plan that is slower than others, it'll have a reason. It drove me nuts to read people talking about tuna salad within the first 3 weeks when I knew it would take me another 3 weeks to get there, but every doc is different! Good luck and stay strong!!!

Yes, but it will be from a Mexican doctor I assume?

At 3 weeks out I wasn't even allowed any food like that. I was on full liquids and those foods were added for me after 6 weeks (which is now). Be happy that they allow you these foods, and I don't mean to sound mean. While I am only 6 weeks out, I believe it gets better. A ighast meant to ask is, if your son doesn't know you had surgery? Maybe he is actually happy for you? And in the end, he got a free meal, no reason to complain no matter how much you eat

Decaf...why bother? LOL

I made my husband the drill sergeant and every day he came home from work the first thing he said was "How much protein" followed by "How much water". It's silly, but that really made me go for it once it got closer to 5.30pm, LOL Do you have anyone who can check in with you, who can hold you "accountable"? Should be a nice person you respect but also someone who will go to town on your "low protein a$$" if you are not doing it right

I am starting now - 6 weeks out. I have my last appointment with my nutritionist tomorrow and I am prepared to get yelled at. It's just sooo hard, I love coffee so much and it was always my staple because it was a low/no calorie treat. I am having a "grandma cup" a day, that's a cup barely bigger than an espresso cup. Sigh, I love coffee so much...

Same here! I went for over a week (note, I am only 6 weeks out and I am a daily weigher) where it did not budge. Every morning the same which got me to a "WTF????" It seems like I am on a drop drop stall schedule, where I lose for 2 weeks and stall for 1 week which is simply enerving. Now, I broke through the stall and I am losing 0.6 to 1 pound every day! It's ridiculous, and I wish my body would just manage to gimme a little bit every day instead of letting me hang for a whole week.

Are you both talking about plain? I don't think I have ever seen plain Chobani, only with flavors which dramatically increases the carb count!

Holy craps, for realz? This is considered normal? The only thing that was bugging me was the itchy glue from the tape - I guess I was VERY lucky

Yeah, tenderness but not sharp pain that requires pain medication!

Call your doctor, I wouldn't toy around with those. Once I got the tape off, there were little crusts, and my husband was joking that he probably couldn't stop himself from poking around at those. I am usually worst with scabs and crusts BUT I kept reminding myself that these incisions are not a scabby crust from a scratch. THEY USED TO BE AN UNRESTRICTED PATH TO YOUR LIVER, YOUR STOMACH AND ALL OTHER ORGANS Call the doc, no one here can really tell you what to do, we are not docs and every pain, every problem is different with most individuals.

I didn't have any either. Please keep in mind that you mostly get to read complaints - because no one starts a post "I have no gas pains". You post what you have - or what you not have if you should have it. Wow, does that make any sense? It's too early for me I guess but no worries, I believe the majority of people do not have gas pains.

Do you have any links that support that? I searched online and I asked my nutritionist and they all confirmed that there is no limit. Many protein drinks have much more than 20-25 grams per serving and I don't think they would make them if it was all wasted?

The Fage 2% has 8g of carbs and 17g of Protein but it is probably also twice the size of the other yogurts, so if you do the math and get it down to a 100g container, you are too at 4g of carbs and 8.5g of protein. I think it is totally worth it because it also has mostly natural ingredients. I am no health nut or conspiracy theorist who believes that everyone is out to get me and everything is a big plot of the industry, but I always feel the less ingredients, the better - skimmed milk, cream and yogurt bacteria, that's it in Fage 2%. I do find it shocking how many carbs are in plain regular yogurt - if I want carbs in mine, I take a greek yogurt and mix it with maple syrup or agave nectar. THOSE carbs are worth having, that's for sure :-) Here are a few articles about yogurt and carbs: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/yogurtcarbs.htm http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/yogurt.html http://www.carbsmart.com/greatyogurt.html

I love Doctor's CarbRite Diet Bars- the S'mores flavor. 190 calories with 21g of protein. I got them from http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/ $16.49 for 12

Well, are they made with milk or do YOU make them with milk? I'd suggest you make it without milk then - I make mine just with Water. I know, with milk tastes better, but if carbs are a concern, you may have to accept the hit in flavor. Try adding splenda or any other low carb beverage. If you want to up the protein, add more protein powder - the "protein to carb/calories" ratio in protein powder is much higher than with the added milk. In general, your protein is fairly low, 43g on Su/Mo and 52g on Tu. I felt I broke my stall when I made sure I hit the 60g -- but then, who can tell, because stalls usually just break all by themselves anyway. 52 is OK, 43 seems on the low end to me.

I was OK'd for Hummus as a full liquid, but I mixed it with Greek yogurt. It makes it silky smooth and adds some extra protein. I was so fed up with the sweet/bland stuff, so I added a bit of sriracha/hot sauce

I looked at those cookbooks, but I never bought one - mainly because I think eating with a sleeve allows you A LOT more things than RNY and Band and the main reason why I wanted to get the sleeve was to avoid the restrictions. Now, if I cook according to an RNY/Band cookbook, it seems like I am short-changing myself - not? I have another week on full liquids and then I have to fly the coop, so if anyone comes across a cookbook for sleeves, that would be cool. Other than that, I don't think we need a specific cook book other than "High Protein" (not even necessarily low carb)

Cross posting, never good - the admin may delete some of them and then people who replied there did so in vain. Aside from that, I am with BCBS PPO Michigan. They started to support the sleeve November 1st (and my surgery was on the 2nd) for people with a BMI of 40+, they just changed their mind about it. Maybe you can check with them and find out WHY they changed their mind? There must have been a reason why they switch now, so that could be a starting point. What are your stats?

Well, doesn't that mean that your measurements changed - at least on your calves? I don't know what measurements you are tracking but if the boots fit now but didn't before, something clearly changed :-)

Don't start - 2 week liquid diet is horrible, more than you can imagine so try to do as little of it as possible. Liquid diet after surgery is much better because you'll be happy if you get anything in for a few days and you are not really hungry anyway. Before, you are in full blown eating mode and Clear liquids is pretty harsh. Interestingly, I didn't have to do clear liquids BEFORE, just a surgeon prescribed diet consisting of their supplements

Yeah, but HE also told YOU to ask US. Now WE say YOU should tell THEM the TRUTH Easy as pie -- which I still can't have