toasty

<p>Yeah, it all depends. Often, when I get that cramped feeling, I end up throwing up. So far, chicken (even chopped up small), sashimi, and squash don't work for me, while ground beef, ground turkey and baked fish are fine. My NUT says sometimes after a while you can tolerate them again, and sometimes it is permanent.</p> <p> </p> <p>Just put it on your list of "do not eat now" and try something else.</p>

Its so funny how everyone has different tastes when it comes to Protein brands. I used to love Premier Protein, but after surgery couldn't handle them (I still think they are tasty, but they give me nausea when I drink them). So far, the only protein I can handle are the Isopure powders. But just because that works for me doesn't mean anything for you. You will just have to try a bunch. As people here are saying, just take them back if you don't like them. Most grocery stores will accept returns with a receipt if you didn't like it.

@@Tssiemer1 Pureeing cottage cheese with (canned in its own juice or no sugar added) fruit should be fine. Just make sure you use canned fruit, not regular fruit, as regular fruit is not going to puree as well (needs to be really soft). Note what you will end up with will be essentially flavored cottage cheese sauce, but if that works for you, great. Also note that because the volume of actual cottage cheese you will be eating will be lower (some of that volume is now fruit), the Protein you will be consuming will be lower than if you didn't add fruit.

Honestly, I have been drinking Protein shakes for probably 5 years now. I am only one month post-op, but I always found that it was very convenient to drink a protein shake for Breakfast. It generally takes me 15-20 minutes to drink a 10-11 oz shake (I drink 1 scoop Isopure powder w/ 8oz water). I am pretty sure I will continue this habit indefinitely because it is so convenient. Whether you will need to drink them for the rest of your life depends on how you plan to get your protein in. If you use a high-protein supplement (like a shake), then you don't have to be so vigilant about making sure you get in the rest of your protein during the day through food. If like @@James Marusek your lifestyle allows you to get in all the protein via food, then drop the shakes. Its really that simple. The shakes (and bars for that matter) are a convenient (and generally low-carb and low-calorie) method for getting your protein. I need 60-80g of protein a day. I drink one shake in the morning, and in the evening I have a cup of sugar free cocoa with a scoop of chocolate Protein Powder in it for dessert. That gives me a total of 50g of protein, so as long as I get at least 10g of protein from food any other protein I get from food the rest of the day is simply icing on the cake.

Just for your info, generally diabetic patients will drink OJ to recover when they go hypoglycemic because it has lots of sugar and the sugar in juice gets absorbed into the bloodstream so fast. For that reason alone, I would stay away from it. I am sure apple juice and grape juice (and probably any fruit juice) would be the same. Just guessing here, but if you were to drink it, I would really dilute it (like 1 part OJ to 4 or 5 parts water). Probably not worth it diluted that much though. Some of the other solutions recommended above sound like great ideas.

On the oatmeal, I definitely wouldn't try to just eat it raw by throwing it into a shake. I would only eat oatmeal if it were cooked. My NUT generally says to limit "white and brown carbs", which is a good rule of thumb for me. Rice, bread, Pasta, potatoes, etc. are generally not as good carbs. Even though it says "whole grain" doesn't mean it is a good carb either. It is just a rule of thumb however, you can definitely find exceptions. For instance, oatmeal is a pretty good carb, so long as you don't load it with sugar, raisins, etc. I agree with some of these others that the trainer seems pretty aggressive, especially when you told them you were new at this. And it doesn't sound like they understand what bariatric surgery means in terms of nutrition. If you continue with her, you might have to make some of your limitations clear (in terms of stomach size and Water intake), let her know how many calories or food you are able to consume, and develop a program that gradually builds you up.

I'm pretty sure the answer is yes, you can count decaf coffee as part of your daily fluid intake.

Yeah, Isopure is what I use now, their low-carb version. They're ok, not my favorite, but at least they don't make me nauseous. I had the same nausea problem with the unjury Protein. Weird.

Sounds awesome, thanks for sharing!

I used to drink Premier Protein pre-surgery, and I loved it. I still like the taste, but now it makes me terribly nauseous when I drink it. I wish I knew why. It was so convenient, and 30g protein too.

@@leanne1126 Could you share the recipe? I am constantly on the lookout for good alternatives to classic pumpkin pie.

@@beachgal2935 I am certainly going to try that recipe. Sounds delicious!

@@shelleylester I am so sorry. I reread my post, and I think I was out of line. Absolutely having a piece of pie every once in a while is great, especially when you have been so successful in your weight loss. And finding one that is sugar free is awesome. Please accept my apologies for sounding so self righteous in my post.

Yeah, puddings were a pureed food stage for me too.

Well, I don't know of any Giant grocery store here in So. Cal., but what is the nutritional information? What size is a serving, how many calories per serving, how much fat, how much carbs, how much Protein? My wife gets a sugar free lemon loaf from our local market, and she thinks it is great. But when we look at the nutritional information, it might be sugar free but it is still loaded with calories, fat, and carbs. She hates it when I say it, but sugar free doesn't mean low calorie and healthy. Yeah, I know I am a killjoy. Sorry. BTW, for thanksgiving dessert I am making a crustless pumpkin ricotta bake (http://theworldaccor...cotta-bake.html). Serving Size: 1/2 cup, 137 calories, 5g carbs (1g sugar, 1g fiber), 9g fat, 9g protein.

First, a disclaimer: I plan to have a glass of wine at Thanksgiving. So I'm not apposed to alcohol, especially in moderation. But I've read a couple of research studies on alcohol use with RNY patients. First, one glass of alcohol (any kind) generally hits us like 4 glasses of that alcohol did pre-surgery. So if you drink, don't drive. Second, there is a much higher incidence of alcoholism with RNY patients than with the population as a whole. Research is not clear on why, but speculation is it may be transference (can't binge on food anymore, so binge on alcohol). I'm not suggesting any of this will affect you, just pointing out the research, and why doctors are generally wary of RNY patients drinking much.

Wow, you are definitely in a difficult situation, especially when you are 3 months post-op. In your situation, the first thing I would suggest is talk to your NUT. This seems definitely like a complex situation where you need serious dietitian help. With not being able to eat meat or Protein shakes (or Protein powder I assume), it would seem you will have to get all your protein from plant sources, such as tofu, edemame, Beans, chickpeas (even as a paste dip [hummus] with something like sliced cucumbers), quinoa, hemp seeds, seitan, etc. Just like a vegetarian. Google for vegetarian protein and see what you come up with. Quinoa is a great substitute for rice, and I love edemame (you can get it steamed or even baked for a crunchy taste). Chickpeas can be either eaten plain, baked for a crunchy treat, or pureed into hummus. However, note that you will have to consume quite a bit of these foods to get in your recommended daily protein allowance. Unfortunately, meat sources are the best high-density protein sources out there. Can you eat fish? That may also be an option for higher protein. Try cod, tuna, haddock, and halibut, which are high-protein. Careful of any breading, which will add carbs and maybe fat to them. In order to ensure you get in your required protein, as we were taught from the beginning, start every meal with your protein first. If you have room after the protein, then other fruits/veg (such as broccoli, squash, bell peppers, bannanas, berries, etc.). If you still have room after that, then the other carbs (potatoes, corn, whole-grain bread, whole-grain crackers, etc.). It is really important to get in your daily protein when eating these low-density-protein sources, so eat that first. Also, ensure you are taking your Vitamins. With eating so little, you cannot get your necessary vitamins from food, so you need to take your supplements. As far as Fluid intake, I don't know what to say. Can you tolerate straight Water? If so, sipping that all day may be the only option. If you can handle flavored water, of course Crystal Light or something similar (I'm sure you've tried that).

I love the World According to Eggface site, and below are some ideas. Note these are all high-Protein, low-carb recipes. Could possibly use this one on soft foods stage if you leave off the topping: Pumpkin Praline Ricotta Bake (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/09/pumpkin-praline-ricotta-bake.html) These have to wait for solid-foods stage: Pumpkin Protein Mini-Muffins (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-pumpkin-muffin-morning.html) Pumpkin Ricotta pancakes (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2010/09/day-in-my-pouch_15.html) Many of these recipes require SF Torani Pumpkin Pie Syrup, which you can get on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Torani%C2%AE-Pumpkin-Syrup-Sugar-Free/dp/B002TW7438) and maybe other places. You might want to get the pump as well. They also have variety packs so you don't have to buy them individually as well.

I just got the following from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose): "Sucrose is often extracted and refined from either cane or beet sugar for human consumption. Modern industrial sugar refinement processes often involves bleaching and crystallization also, producing a white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste of pure sucrose, devoid of Vitamins and minerals. This refined form of sucrose is commonly referred to as table sugar or just sugar." So it looks like Sucrose is essentially plain table sugar. That's why the Coconut Sugar can be substituted for cane sugar, because they both contain high amounts of Sucrose. Probably not what you want. Just FYI, here's the information on fructose, also from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose): "Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose. It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, along with glucose and galactose, that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion. [...] Pure, dry fructose is a very sweet, white, odorless, crystalline solid and is the most water-soluble of all the sugars. Fructose is found in honey, tree and vine fruits, flowers, berries, and most root vegetables." It goes on to say that one formulation of fructose, bonded with glucose, becomes "high-fructose corn syrup". Also note that fructose found in fruits and vegetables is normally bonded with lots of Fiber, so it generally doesn't get into the bloodstream as fast as say honey or refined fructose. Glucose, Fructose, and Sucrose seem to all have real potential for dumping for us. Could you substitute Splenda or some other artificial sweetener for the Coconut Sugar? I realize some people are sensitive to artificial sweeteners though. And if you find a good recipe for crustless pumpkin pie, please share! I want that for Thanksgiving!

Although not as bad as you guys seem to have it (my sympathies, it must be awful!), I have also been having this problem. I am not sure, but I think it is because the sorts of foods we are eating on the liquid and pureed food stages don't have much fiber in them. I recently got Benefiber, and have been putting that into my drinks (Powerade Zero, actually). I am hopeful that this will...rectify...this situation.

As always, I suggest you follow your surgeon and dietitian's advice. That's what you are paying them for. Everyone is going to have a different experience, so your best bet is to follow your bariatric team's advice.

Definitely check with your surgeon or NUT. I am pretty sure decaf coffee would be fine. The problem with caffeine is that it has a diuretic effect, and it is a stimulant. Stimulants increase hunger, so it might make it more difficult for you. However, as @@catwoman7 said, some surgeons don't allow caffeinated drinks (hot/cold tea, hot/cold coffee, etc.) at all, some do allow it earlier, some later. So as with everything else, ask your doctor. In my case, my doctor allows decaf coffee starting in the pureed stage, and 1-2 cups of caffeinated coffee or tea (hot or iced) per day once we reach the solid foods stage.

Try as best as you can not to cheat. Believe me, I know the temptation, I've been there. In some ways, the pre-op diet is the hardest part. But if you cheat repeatedly, and don't shrink your liver, they might not be able to perform a laparoscopic procedure, and they might end up having to go for an open surgery, or even abort the surgery (after they have already made the laparoscopic incisions!), which will be much harder on you. The more you cheat, the easier it is to keep on cheating. So really try to clamp down and not do it anymore. Remind yourself of the reason you are getting the surgery in the first place. You can do it!

As everyone here has said, you just slipped a little. Guess what, you're human and we all slip every once in a while. What you need to do is to brush yourself off and recommit to following the diet for these early stages. It will get better; soon you will be able to eat pureed food, and then soft foods. At each stage things will get better. One thing I might suggest is if you are not already seeing a therapist, go see one. Personally, this helps me out tremendously. Dealing with the underlying problems and habits that link boredom and stress with eating is key to success. I really like the blog "The World According to Eggface" (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/). She is very motivational. There is a story on her website that I found inspirational (http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2013/12/weight-loss-surgery-wisdom-from-friend.html). I suggest you read it. It is in the second half of the page, titled "There's no crying in baseball". It's kinda harsh, but totally true. I'll paste it here so you don't have to follow the link: THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!! By: Leilani Gibbs That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough. Or your sick of taking Vitamins, getting in Protein is hard, Water doesn't taste good, etc. That kinda' thinking is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. ENOUGH already! It's time to LOVE yourself enough to get "TOUGH" with your aftercare. Your long term health is worth it!! Success comes with a backbone, NOT a wishbone! First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough? I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownership for our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely existing on the sidelines. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible. We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted.We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price. The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more than enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 days Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned. * You say you can't get in enough liquids throughout the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? * You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ... it's just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquified, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. * Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with protein shakes and bars. Trust me, I don't drink my Protein Shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what. I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said. This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier than others, regardless, no days will be missed. It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note on your forehead, whatever it takes. You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will.

So I just got my approval from the insurance company, and I my surgery is scheduled for Sept. 11. I know, not a very auspicious day, but it is going to become the first day of my new life. I am so nervous. I have been looking forward to this for over eight months, when I decided I really wanted this surgery, and now it is here I can hardly believe it. Getting the date made it really real for me. I know I am doing the right thing, and I am excited about it (especially after seeing all of the people here who have been so glad they did it), but it is still scary. I just know it is going to get even more so as the date gets closer. Any encouragement appreciated! Any other people out there with a September surgery date?