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My surgeon told me I could have anything that would go through a straw, so I'm having chocolate muscle milk Protein shakes. I'm having 3 or four a day plus pureed Soup. (vegetarian) He said that after a few days, if I'm hungry I can switch the next stage of small food. My stomach was growling while I was in the freaking recovery room! I'm glad to hear that someone else is hungry too, because I thought there was something wrong with me!

This is where it is going to get tricky for me. I am not a huge Protein eater. In fact, I was a vegetarian for about 13 years. I am also the type of person that when I try to chew protein about 20-30 times, I want to vomit. It brings back all sorts of bad memories of being a kid and crying at the dinner table because I didn't want to eat. LOL Seriously, I believe that for the most part I am going to be relying on Protein shakes to make sure I get enough protein. I know that my entire eating lifestyle is going to change drastically. I won't really be able to eat a lot of the foods I like. I would think that the Atkins diet (btdt) would work but I'm thinking you will be better off updating it a bit (like South Beach?). JMHO, of course. Very good question. I'm curious to see what others are doing.

I know this is a very late addition to this thread however its Zucchini season here in Australia at the moment and since i made this today i thought i would share as it was delicious ! Zucchini Slice by Julie Goodwin Ingredients 2 zucchini, grated 1 large onion finely chopped 3 rashers bacon finely chopped 1 cup tasty cheese grated 1 cup self-raising flour (Self Rising Flour for our US friends) 1/4 cup of oil (Julies recipe has 1/2 cup of oil - can be easily halved) 5 eggs salt/pepper Method Preheat oven to 170°C (338 Fahrenheit). Grease and line a non-stick lamington tin Combine zucchini, onion, bacon, flour and cheese in a large bowl. Add oil and lightly beaten eggs, and mix. Season with a little salt and pepper. Pour into lamington tin. Bake for 35-40 mins until golden and set. Allow to cool slightly before cutting. Note: the vegetables can be substituted or added to – try corn kernels, grated carrot, shallots, shredded Beans, and leave out the bacon for a vegetarian version.

It's fine to deviate within reason. Because of food allergies and being a vegetarian my eating plan was very different than most. However I reviewed and discussed everything with my nutritionist. I made most things from scratch. What you were doing is still on program. However there are folks who will say things like how they ate noodles ( a slider food) during their all liquid stage. That's just bad advice. There's a difference in being creative and just plain going off course.

My skinny sister who exercises regularly has a higher cholesterol than me. She is a vegetarian (so not a red meat issue).

I've been a vegetarian for 18 years, and more recently a part-time vegan. My surgery is scheduled for Aug 9. I won't be eating any meat and will rely mostly on dairy and soy for protein. Hopefully once I'm back on solid food I can get rid of most of the dairy and get in more plant protein. But I'm just going to take it day by day.

Thank you both for your responses! I have checked the forum that @catdaddy suggested and I will be joining soon. I sent an email to my nutritionist today and I will call tomorrow to make an appointment so I can get some guidance. @smooshycheeks since you are a seasoned vegetarian, what are your preferred sources of protein? The ones that have the most protein?

I believe so inave seen research that kids would rather have one arm then be fat, but I can't blame them. people r mean to fat people. I'm at my heaviest I have been in about 4 yrs and at 180lbs I'm treated differently. It doesn't matter how healthy I eat or how physically active I am I get the comments all the time like "I don't understand how a vegetarian keeps on weight" or I'm compared to other fat people, or. I had I guy tell me how big my calfs were the other day! People r mean to big girls! May 9 th can't come soon enough!

I had my surgery in 2000. At that time, it was fairly new and my inspiration was Carne Wilson, believe it or not. My 13 year anniversary is April 28. I had no pre-op or post-op care but just studied and made sure I recognized that this was my rebirth and things needed to change. I did not want to take the surgery for granted. I did find myself (when I was in relationships) ignoring workouts and eating garbage. I DID gain 60 lbs back during the course of 8 years but in 2008, I wised up and started working out at the gym on top of my walking I had been doing every day at lunch. I also became a vegetarian because I needed that "whole" foods diet that would help me eliminate garbage. My advice is that you work out at least three times a week by walking (for starters), then go to the gym at least 30 mins/three times a week. If you're too soon out of post op, make sure you don't do much with your mid-section but don't ignore it either. The biggest neglects are the CORE. Too many people like us have surgery and then have a lot of loose skin on their belly...make sure you focus on that area. Do something that you will feel your core. As you advance, you can do the ab roller, or planks. I love looking at all of the progress on here! B

I agree with @BigViffer Everything you are doing looks okay. When in doubt cut out all processed foods and see what happens. That diet Snapple, no girl no. The veggie patty unless you are a vegetarian there is no benefit for you, eat a normal protein. Overall your food is really good though. I'd give up the cheddar chips though too. I like H20 protein water too. As a rule I try to limit my processed items to one a day max. They will slow your weight loss either will sodium or fake sweeteners. Also thank you so much for asking an educated question with documentation. That was really refreshing compared to most post around here.

Football eats ? Yup....got a few favorites for gameday meals. As you'll see.....most of them are vegetarian and uber healthy......or at least sleeve friendly............. Guacamole is always good to me. I was joking about the whole vegetarian thing, btw. Herb smoked meatballs and stuffed mushrooms. Wings and buffalo chicken dip. Stuffed clams. Beef brisket burnt ends. Stuffed jalapeños. 'ritas. Lobster tails & tuna steaks with wasabi. Sliders. Grilled asparagus with bacon upgrade. An easy halftime food that can be made swiftly......ribeyes. This one was grossly overcooked, in my opinion. Bacon wrapped meatballs.

Torani SF syrups, Laughing cow babybel cheese and the soft cheeses (50 cal and 35 cal, respectively), Sargento reduced fat cheddar cheese sticks, 100-calorie packs of almonds, Sabra individual hummus packs (though I prefer fresh hummus, they are good in a pinch), Morningstar vegetarian "sausage" patties (80 cal, 10 g protein, low carb), low-fat ricotta cheese, fat-free plain Greek yogurt, PB2 or JustGreatStuff powdered peanut butter, almond milk, lite soy milk, Morningstar veggie "meat"balls, spaghetti squash (lots of fiber and filling), watermelon (seems to make me lose more weight and keeps kidney stones at bay due to citrates), strawberries (dipped in FF Greek Yogurt mixed with SF black cherry torani), homemade iced coffee, Designer Whey and Unjury protein powders, Pure Protein protein bars (only eat 1 about every 2 weeks), Weight Watchers Greek yogurt bars (80 calories, 5 grams protein, 13 carbs--once a week treat but better than commercial fro yo or ice cream plus good protein boost for low-cal treat), SmartWater (electrolytes!), Rancho Gordo dried beans--make the beans from scratch and they are so much better than canned, homemade salsa from the local Mexican joint--put it on everything for extra flavor, sprouted tofu--more protein, Morningstar crumbles for homemade veggie chili, red pepper strips, mini cucumbers, romaine lettuce, Penzey's herbs and spices, fresh cilantro, Granny Smith apples (occasional treat for fiber boost), quinoa (protein boost).....

Congratulations and best wishes for all the December surgeries. I had mine 12/2/15 and feel wonderful. My belly doesn't feel "normal" yet but I don't expect it to for a while. At this point, I'm just tired. Protein drinks......I've had some horrible experiences. I bought a bunch of samples and am working my way through them. Today I had strawberries and cream with soy milk. I always refrigerate for as long as possible because it does help with the taste. I took the shake with me while helping a group assemble holiday gifts. It was horrible. I had to hold back gags and ended up drinking it as quickly as possible. I try to drink one 28 gram protein shake/day. I'll have 15gram chicken broth and yogurt. I just started cottage cheese so that's adding to the daily goal. I know I need to get in more protein but I should be able to have pureed Soups tomorrow (post op visit). I make a mean lentil Soup that'll be delicious and protein packed ala pureed. It's interesting to read the differences in post surgery diet phases. I was on small amounts of Water the first day and then straight into Protein shakes the next. My food tray would come with one Protein Shake, Jello, broth and a big water. Nice choice! I'm supposed to stay on protein shakes and clear liquids (sf popcycles, sf jello etc.) until my post op follow up. I added cottage cheese a day ago (have to remember not to shovel it my mouth) and did fine with it. I have also started eating high protein oatmeal. It's very liquidy and there's really nothing to chew. Not the best oatmeal I've had but it's high in protein and doesn't make me gag. I also found a high protein bread for down the road. It's got 28 grams of protein / 2 slices. Good reviews too. I'm a vegetarian so I've been looking for tofu recipes. Tofu is in the same bracket as Protein Drinks with me. But, I'm going to give it a shot. I think if I get it really crispy and use a tasty dipping sauce, I'll be good. Pam

I think we should stick together girl! we have a lot of the same issues and things, except that i am a vegetarian and not a diabetic- sorry you have to deal with that and stupid pcos! maybe we can motivate each other! I sure would love a fellow cyster (hehe) to go thru this with!! I was banded 9-28-11 and so far have lost about 22 lbs- dealing with some bloating so i will weigh when that is over.

Ohm, another thing: Eating Well and Clean Eating are magazines that have at least some of their recipes available online. Neither focuses solely on vegetarian/vegan choices, but a lot of their recipes are very, very adaptable. I don't know if you specified, but do you tolerate rice/brown rice?

I walk 3 times a day at about 20 minutes per. I can't do more than that at a time due to spinal issues. I have tracked my food...every day and am eating between 1000 and 1100 calories. I am now about 4.5 months post op and have gone from 430 to 360 with only about 10lbs lost in the last 30+ days. I know exactly what I'm eating but still have no clue why I'm not losing more. My diet is mostly protein shakes and vegetarian protein sources. It seems almost impossible that I am not losing at only 1000 calories which is what my nut has recommended.

When my knee isn't swollen and I can walk without pain I always walk as much as possible but my knee is the reason I needed this surgery as I realised I couldn't rely on exercise like I have done in the past to lose weight. I was assured by my surgeon that I should still lose being on a VCLD (very low calorie diet) and I seem to be stuck and losing much more slowly than most. My carb intake is tiny compared to the old me. So this is depressing I'm not getting anywhere yet eat small amounts. I could drink more Water I mostly drink hot tea , as for Protein I'm vegetarian so get it from cheese milk tofu and quorn plus of course veggies. Frustration is setting in I really need this to work I was crawling along and now at a standstill.

I guess it depends on your NUT cause my NUT wasn't too happy about me being vegetarian mainly because I'm not a big fish fan. But I'm on puree right now and have been eating tuna and canned chicken so I'll see once I hit stage 3 and 4.

I think kinda you can be. I'm looking into being vegan now that I'm vegetarian but I asked my NUT and she said I need to at least squeeze in eggs fish and milk.

I have a soy protein shake that tastes good. I'm vegetarian so only can do whey if it is organic. I just don't want to drink it. I have two cups of coffee in the morning with a spoonful of honey in each and then nothing but water until 7:00 when I eat four ounces or fish and about a 3/4 c of some sort of veggie. I do either have a sugar free Popsicle or a sugar free pudding about two hours later. I do take a Centrum chewable, B12 sublingual and a B-Stress complex. This has been how I have felt since the day of surgery. I have no fill, never hit bandsters hell and apart from some hair loss (that no one but me has noticed), I am feeling good. Not having an appetite is something I have never experiences before.

VITAMIN A – Vision, immunity, and healthy red blood cells Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Food Sources Orange fruits (mango, cantaloupe) Orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, Green vegetables (kale, spinach) Liver Deficiency Information Blood test: serum retinol (vitamin A) Consequences of deficiency: impaired vision; changes in iron metabolism Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. VITAMIN D – Calcium metabolism and bone health, affects immune function and heart health Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Little skin exposure to sun, live in northern climate, or older age Food Sources Fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel) Fortified milk Egg yolks (if you are a bariatric surgery patient, you might mostly be eating egg whites) Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: 25-hydroxyvitamin D Consequences of deficiency: osteoporosis (low bone mineral density and higher risk for fractures); possible higher risk for heart disease Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. Need for supplementation is very common. VITAMIN B12 – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health) Risk for Deficiency WLS that reduces nutrient absorption: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS. Plant-based diet. Heavy bleeding: e.g., complication after WLS) Older age Food Sources Animal-based foods: meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: vitamin B12 Blood test: CBC (complete blood count) Consequences of deficiency: risk of heart disease; megaloblastic anemia; permanent neurological damage; osteoporosis; depression Supplement Notes High doses not likely to be toxic. Supplements may be necessary if you are on antacids such as proton pump inhibitors FOLIC ACID – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health), prevention of neural tube defects (for pregnant women) Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Low dietary intake – especially when grain intake is low after weight loss surgery Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Lentils Asparagus Orange juice Spinach Lima beans Deficiency Information Blood test: serum folate Blood test: homocysteine Consequences of deficiency: cognitive dysfunction; neural tube defects; megaloblastic anemia Supplement Notes High doses can hide vitamin B12 deficiencies. CALCIUM – Bone health, muscle function Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Diet low in dairy products – either because of lactose intolerance or other reasons (such as avoiding milk because of the calories). Food Sources Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt (choose fat-free) Fortified milk substitutes (almond milk, soy milk) Fortified orange juice Canned bony fish (salmon, sardines) Green leafy vegetables (absorption is poor) Some fortified cereals Tofu Deficiency Information Blood test: calcium levels – note: this is not a good test for adequate calcium! You can have normal test results and still not have enough calcium in your diet! Dietary intake analysis: see if you get at least 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams per day from your diet. Rough estimate of dietary intake: at least 4 servings of high-calcium foods each day Consequences of deficiency: decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis and higher risk for bone fractures) Supplement Notes Taking too much calcium can cause kidney stones and be bad for the heart. Ask your doctor how much calcium you should take in a multivitamin and as a calcium (or calcium and vitamin D or calcium and magnesium) supplement. Don’t take your calcium supplement at the same time as iron because you will interfere with absorption IRON – Healthy red blood cells, energy and other metabolism Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Vegetarian or vegan (plant-based) diet Adolescents and women of child-bearing age. Individuals with excessive bleeding (such as with a post-op complication) Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Meat, seafood, and poultry (animal-based sources have a more absorbable form of iron) Beans and lentils Green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli Potatoes Raisins Deficiency Information Blood test: serum iron/Fe Blood test: ferritin Blood test: total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (high value means low iron status) Blood test: hemoglobin and hematocrit Supplement Notes Iron supplements can be toxic even if your dose is not that high. Don’t take them unless your doctor prescribes them. That includes iron in multivitamins. Don’t take iron supplements at the together with calcium supplements. Try to take supplements with vitamin C (in food or as a supplement) to increase absorption. THE OTHERS The above deficiencies are most common among weight loss surgery patients, but other deficiencies are possible. You are at risk because of your low food intake as you restrict calories. Malabsorptive procedures, such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, also put you at risk. Ask your doctor if you are concerned about any of the following vitamins and minerals. Often, a simple blood test or even a run-through of your daily diet can help you figure out if you need an additional supplement over your daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. B vitamins: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) Vitamin C Vitamin K Magnesium Zinc The Bottom Line Nutritional deficiencies are a big risk after weight loss surgery, but they depend on a few different factors. Type of weight loss surgery – sleeve and bypass patients are more prone to nutrient deficiencies than lap-band patients. Your diet – eat protein first and choose nutritious foods to lower your risk of deficiencies. Genetics and other uncontrollable factors – women are more likely to need iron supplements, for example, than men. Megadoses of vitamin and minerals can be toxic, so don’t prescribe them for yourself. Instead, contact your surgeon or regular doctor. Simple tests can often let you know your nutrient status so you can know which nutrients to supplement.

Nutritional deficiencies are a major concern after weight loss surgery. You eat less food, so you eat fewer nutrients. Sleeve and bypass patients absorb fewer nutrients. You eat less fat, which makes it harder to absorb fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin A. Some bariatric surgery patients take one or two multivitamins, plus an entire barrage of high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements. Others barely take any supplements. Which should you be taking? How do you even know whether you need a supplement? Can you prevent deficiencies just by eating a better diet? VITAMIN A – Vision, immunity, and healthy red blood cells Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Food Sources Orange fruits (mango, cantaloupe) Orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, Green vegetables (kale, spinach) Liver Deficiency Information Blood test: serum retinol (vitamin A) Consequences of deficiency: impaired vision; changes in iron metabolism Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. VITAMIN D – Calcium metabolism and bone health, affects immune function and heart health Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Very low-fat diet Little skin exposure to sun, live in northern climate, or older age Food Sources Fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel) Fortified milk Egg yolks (if you are a bariatric surgery patient, you might mostly be eating egg whites) Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: 25-hydroxyvitamin D Consequences of deficiency: osteoporosis (low bone mineral density and higher risk for fractures); possible higher risk for heart disease Supplement Notes High doses can be toxic – take only if your doctor prescribes them. Need for supplementation is very common. VITAMIN B12 – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health) Risk for Deficiency WLS that reduces nutrient absorption: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS. Plant-based diet. Heavy bleeding: e.g., complication after WLS) Older age Food Sources Animal-based foods: meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs Some fortified cereals Deficiency Information Blood test: vitamin B12 Blood test: CBC (complete blood count) Consequences of deficiency: risk of heart disease; megaloblastic anemia; permanent neurological damage; osteoporosis; depression Supplement Notes High doses not likely to be toxic. Supplements may be necessary if you are on antacids such as proton pump inhibitors FOLIC ACID – Healthy red blood cells, homocysteine metabolism (important in heart health), prevention of neural tube defects (for pregnant women) Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, BPD-DS Low dietary intake – especially when grain intake is low after weight loss surgery Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Lentils Asparagus Orange juice Spinach Lima beans Deficiency Information Blood test: serum folate Blood test: homocysteine Consequences of deficiency: cognitive dysfunction; neural tube defects; megaloblastic anemia Supplement Notes High doses can hide vitamin B12 deficiencies. CALCIUM – Bone health, muscle function Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Diet low in dairy products – either because of lactose intolerance or other reasons (such as avoiding milk because of the calories). Food Sources Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt (choose fat-free) Fortified milk substitutes (almond milk, soy milk) Fortified orange juice Canned bony fish (salmon, sardines) Green leafy vegetables (absorption is poor) Some fortified cereals Tofu Deficiency Information Blood test: calcium levels – note: this is not a good test for adequate calcium! You can have normal test results and still not have enough calcium in your diet! Dietary intake analysis: see if you get at least 1,200 to 1,500 milligrams per day from your diet. Rough estimate of dietary intake: at least 4 servings of high-calcium foods each day Consequences of deficiency: decreased bone mineral density (osteoporosis and higher risk for bone fractures) Supplement Notes Taking too much calcium can cause kidney stones and be bad for the heart. Ask your doctor how much calcium you should take in a multivitamin and as a calcium (or calcium and vitamin D or calcium and magnesium) supplement. Don’t take your calcium supplement at the same time as iron because you will interfere with absorption IRON – Healthy red blood cells, energy and other metabolism Risk for Deficiency Nutrient malabsorption procedures: Roux-en-Y, gastric bypass, BPD-DS Vegetarian or vegan (plant-based) diet Adolescents and women of child-bearing age. Individuals with excessive bleeding (such as with a post-op complication) Food Sources Fortified grains (most grains in the U.S.): including spaghetti, bread, cereal Meat, seafood, and poultry (animal-based sources have a more absorbable form of iron) Beans and lentils Green vegetables, such as spinach, kale, broccoli Potatoes Raisins Deficiency Information Blood test: serum iron/Fe Blood test: ferritin Blood test: total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (high value means low iron status) Blood test: hemoglobin and hematocrit Supplement Notes Iron supplements can be toxic even if your dose is not that high. Don’t take them unless your doctor prescribes them. That includes iron in multivitamins. Don’t take iron supplements at the together with calcium supplements. Try to take supplements with vitamin C (in food or as a supplement) to increase absorption. THE OTHERS The above deficiencies are most common among weight loss surgery patients, but other deficiencies are possible. You are at risk because of your low food intake as you restrict calories. Malabsorptive procedures, such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, also put you at risk. Ask your doctor if you are concerned about any of the following vitamins and minerals. Often, a simple blood test or even a run-through of your daily diet can help you figure out if you need an additional supplement over your daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. B vitamins: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) Vitamin C Vitamin K Magnesium Zinc The Bottom Line Nutritional deficiencies are a big risk after weight loss surgery, but they depend on a few different factors. Type of weight loss surgery – sleeve and bypass patients are more prone to nutrient deficiencies than lap-band patients. Your diet – eat protein first and choose nutritious foods to lower your risk of deficiencies. Genetics and other uncontrollable factors – women are more likely to need iron supplements, for example, than men. Megadoses of vitamin and minerals can be toxic, so don’t prescribe them for yourself. Instead, contact your surgeon or regular doctor. Simple tests can often let you know your nutrient status so you can know which nutrients to supplement.

It's not selfish or greedy at all. It's no different from a diabetic buying special foods to replace things they can't eat often. Wouldn't you think it inconsiderate if someone ate all the diabetic food knowing that person did not have the option to eat regular treats? Or let's say you live with a vegetarian - who would eat up all the vegetarian food, knowing that person is not comfortable eating meat? Well, your medical condition is just as valid as diabetes, or a severe allergy or being vegan or any other kind of need for special food. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Hey all! I've been wondering how and where everybody is at from the same time frame as myself. I had my surgery Oct 5th, I was between 263 and 266, I didnt want my exact wt the day of surgery. Today I am 224 but I have seen 223. For the last week and a half I have bounced between 225 and 227. Kind of like when I was at 254, I thought the scale would never move again. I dont even remember seeing the 230's, we were moving and the next thing I knew they were history! Looks like the avg is about 40lbs in loss for this far out. Isn't that great?!!! I am starting Snap Fitness 24hr this week, very excited, I've always loved the way I feel after working out! Now, other things... I feel flabby, eeeew! My boobies have fallen and they seriously cant get up, unless I'm in a sweetheart plunge line brazier! The back side of my undies fall down, butt has deflated! Oh and I have this bit-o-skin under my chin, like a turkey! Now for the food, unfortunates...I backslid during Christmas, boy those Cookies are so easy to get down! Whereas I've never had much of a sweet tooth, apparently the surgeon left that part of my stomach behind, because I have one now! Im trying to get more fruit in and dates, so that I dont eat any baked goods. I also dont do so well with whey any longer so I've chosen a vegan Protein... In fact I eat more vegetarian recipes as well. Beef goes over well (if its cooked soft, so I usually use my Power Pressure Cooker XL, or similar to that is an Instant Pot) but chicken, no so much. At times I crave carbs because my body will feel depleted even if my head doesnt think Im hungry...so I try to eat a healthier carb, such as potato salad made with avocado and no mayo, an egg and seasonings such as cilantro and green onion, etc., or a grain salad.. I think fast food tastes like crap and is a waste of calories (if I feel gross after eating something I try to engrave that into my brain!), but I do crave pizza now and then so I try to not have it in the house except for on a rare occasion. Some weeks are way harder than others, but I find if I eat two egg white bites nearing 4oz from Starbucks in the AM, along with a fruit or PB and banana two hours from that, a smart lunch, dinner and another snack Im good. Eating a hearty Breakfast with a lot of flavor helps me a great deal and it sticks to my bones. For the longest time I could only get between 2-3oz in weight in my belly, now depending if its a slider food that is still more on the solid side and not a Soup I can get between 3-4 oz in, 3oz is the best though, for me... thats if I havent had a muscle meat in my belly that day. Soups and purees are almost like Water to me, I can drink up to 12-15oz, not all at once. Whereas I once loved ice cold water, it now feels hollow and odd in my tummy, so I probably get 32 of unsweetened ice tea in and the same amount of water per day.... this is not acceptable and I can tell by the dizziness that sets in and how dark my urine gets, I need to get more water in. Lately I have been dizzy on occasion, more water helps, I usually add sugarless Propel powder to my water and that helps even more! I do have more headaches than usual and as of this past week my IBS is bothersome after the first meal of the day, poss because Im sensitive to eggs and thats what Ive been eating in the AM. HOW ARE YOU FEELING PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY??? Not everyday is great but we can make tomorrow, or even later better! Don't focus on your failures, meal plan instead, read inspiration and watch healthy cooks on YouTube for inspiration, don't watch MUKBANGS! What I ate today: Two egg white bites Apple slices with peabut butter and a date Sushi Rice 1 Peanutbutter cookie Non-fat greek yogurt, made locally, with a sliced banana and mashed strawberry sauce & granola What I ate yesterday: 2 egg white bites - 13g carbs 13gr protein 170cals 3oz split pea soup (was still full from egg white bites) 1/2 pc pizza (no end crust) 2oz yogurt with granola, half a small organic banana What I ate two days ago: Thai Cashew Slaw ( I LOVE IT) cheese wedge and almonds More Thai Cashew Slaw (no mayo) Pot Salad - 1 baby red potato cooked and chopped, with 1 egg, 1/2 of an avocado, cilantro, herbs, green onion other seasoning. Mashed avocado with herbs and other seasonings to make a dressing Raspberries KEEP ON KEEPING ON! <3 Shana

I had my surgery a little over a year ago. I've lost 100 lbs. I'm hoping to lose about 30 more. I also get ideas from Vegetarian magazines, sometimes other things like health magazines or cookbooks. Sometimes those recipies call for pastas or grains that I can't eat, but I just omit them. As long as veggies are somewhat cooked, I can eat them. They don't have to be total mush or anything. I actually like them to have some crunch to them :thumbup: If I'm unsure how a veggie will work w/my band, I'm really cautions and chew it a lot until I get the feel for it.