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Great batch of turkey vegi soup. Tomatoes, onions, sriracha sauce, left over green Beans. Season with some other holiday favorites. Took entire turkey carcass and all the elements I used for stuffing the bird, put in Water overnight, strained it today. Added more left over turkey meat. But used some fage yogurt and made it creamy just before my first bowl. Highly recommended.

Well, lessened learned here, that's why we post these things I made this: http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a33955/orange-cranberry-relish-recipe-wdy1112/ It goes great with vanilla yogurt, I mean REALLY good

Well my journey has finally started, day 4 of a liquid pre op diet....... soup and yogurt. Got 2 weeks liquid, then op on the 14th April and then the long hard road to a thinner, lighter and fitter me. So much I’ve read on here rings true and has been inspirational . Oh yes stats so far: HW: 306 lbs CW: 290 lbs

@frust8 I've been doing really well! Today is day 7 post-op, and only today did my incision stop hurting with every little movement, now it only hurts with very specific movements. I was able to spring clean my make up collection, and get back to my skincare routine. I lost 14 pounds so far, and I am feeling great! I remember 14 pounds taking me two months of strict calorie counting, using the scale, and meal prep... I am definitely getting into the hype of WLS right now lol! I am regaining my energy a little bit at a time. But the hunger has been real. It could be my stomach acid but each morning I wake up with this gnawing hunger. Liquids, tea, broth, and yogurt help me keep it down by a lot. I am on the full liquids phase (can't have even blended soup! Just strained broth) till Sunday. My NUT is so strict but I think that's for the better. All the patients end up not vomiting even once. I simply can't wait to have my thai butternut squash soup, and sweet potato curry soup, mmmmm!

I tried oatmeal too as one of the first soft foods and it did not go well for me either. I switched to cream of rice, I made it with skim milk and splenda and it was pretty good, went down MUCH easier than oatmeal and I didn't feel like garbage afterward. If food is getting stuck, you might not be chewing it enough...I know! Chewing oatmeal? The other problem could be taking bites that are too big. Eating anything is completely different than before surgery. I am one month out today, and I learn something new every day! Today has not been a great food day for me, so I am just taking it super easy, more (yucky) protein drinks, yogurt, soup blah blah...Good Luck!!! Hope you find that eating gets easier. OH! The other thing I had to do when things felt stuck was take little TINY sips of water, just to lube things up and get it down. I know we aren't supposed to drink and eat but when you can't swallow....

I didn't think abt the swelling...my fingers do swell a lot depending on my sodium intake....I usually can't eat a good portion until late afternoon...I've tried to use coffee and a heating pad to loosen me up in the mornings but that hasn't seemed to work much...but I'm ok with my shake and then yogurt in the mornings and if I get hungry I snack on some nuts....but I got worried because water just felt like it wasn't going down...I felt like I had a bubble in my throat....I'm going to try watching my sodium intake and see if that helps me with my swelling ! Thanks

I am 9 weeks post op and measure everything. 1/3 cup meat and 1/8 cup veggie or potato. 1/2 cup yogurt. Since I just started regular food, I don't want to overeat. I take my 1/2 cup container to restaurants. Measure my food and put rest in to go container. I ask for rice and noodles on the side. I leave these or take home to my neighbor. I have a power aide jug that I refill and try to finish one before noon and 4pm and 9pm.

Congratulations! I had my surgery on Monday, April 24th...so I'm six days post-op today. I too have the lovenox injections, twice a day. They're not as bad as I thought. I inject them into my lower stomach, alternating sides per shot. The worse part for me is that in my main incision site, where they take the stomach, and in my case, the gallbladder too, they had to leave it open. So that means, twice a day, my husband has to pack it with gauze and the incision is probably three inches deep. I guess the doctor did this because my gallbladder was full of stones and infected and he had the hardest time trying to get it out. He was afraid of an infection, so I guess this is how they head that challenge on--packing a wound . I will say my right side where they took my gallbladder out, and where my drain was, are the two areas where I have pain, other than that, I'm pretty good. I will say, six days out is 100% better than 3 days out. It's amazing how fast the body heals itself. An hour after I got to my room they put me on clear fluids, which all I could do was sip some water here and there, and by the second day I've been on pureed foods. So, as I'm writing this, I have my quarter cup of Oikos greek yogurt that I'm working on. Everyday it's getting easier to get food down, like a quarter of a scrambled egg this morning, but I'm not hitting 64 grams of protein or anything. It's not easy getting the protein and fluids down, but our bodies need both badly to heal itself and so we have to chug along. Good luck and it only gets easier--concentrate on that!!! Oh, and edit to add that I went off my pain meds as soon as I got home. I think that was the best thing ever. I had no more nausea or mental fogginess...

For the soup, be sure to get the lower fat kind. The yogurt sounds good; I'll have to see if I can find that!

Oh yeah Yoplait makes a Greek yogurt Popsicle bar that is awesome. 90 calories and 12 gms I believe of protein. Delicious caramel. I loved them. Might be an option to try. Good luck.

A lot of us use straws with no problem. Right after surgery I found it easier to take small sips with a straw. I just don't take a big suck down. As far as what I wished I had known, there's nothing, really. Except I'm 6 weeks out and still am limited to 1/4 cup of any solid. So I still rely on Protein shakes for most of my diet, with occasional yogurt and cottage cheese. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Yep ! I know how you feel ! ! !! I am sensitive to my Band, and this Halloween I will have it for 6 years. If I am to tight it will always get stuck,and come up. So I stay a little lose, and drink warm Water with whatever I am eating. Sometimes that can include a Protein shake Also. So a thinned out shake being chased with warm water so it goes down. Before you say NO WAY ! Let me tell you what I do. I fix myself something on the mushie side to eat, get a glass of warm water, relax and slowly eat a couple bites, then slowly wash it down with warm water. I keep a slow pace, because if I get hyped, I will get stuck. So slow and steady. My surgeon told me that I am to sensitive, so if it works go for it. I belong to myfitnesspal.com so I keep track of my calories, and protein on that site. Then I am good for the day... You might want to try it, (THAT'S UP TO YOU) but sense you will probably be nervous, be prepared for it to come up. would start with something that has water in it, or is creamy like cottage cheese or yogurt. Good Luck, and feel free to P M me anytime. I do understand this. Shirley.

Sleep has eluded me. I was sleeved on August 13th and I have not had a good night's sleep yet. My partner is a gastric bypass patient from several years ago and she said sleeping for hard the first couple of weeks. My sides are sore and bruised so it hurts to be on them, forget about laying on my stomach, and I can't breath on my back thanks to the continual gas pain in my left abdominal area and left shoulder. Right now I am surviving on daytime cat naps when I can get them in on my recliner but even that position sucks after a while. Right now my two biggest problems are lack of sleep and lack of protein. When I can home from the hospital on the 15th, I was not having protein problems but after a week of drinking protein shakes and eating Yogurt I about to puke. I can smell a protein shake and get sick. I am just trying to stay hydrated as possible. Any ideas on how to help with my protein issue? I hope my sleepless nights will not last too much longer.

At 3 weeks you can have Baked fish, canned chicken Canned tuna, egg whites, creamy peanut butter ( 1 tbsp) a day, low fat cottage cheese Canned fruit no sugar I get fruit cups, bananas, soft cooked or pureed vegetables. Light yogurt Deli meat turkey breast sliced thin

The only thing I'd be concerned about is that 50 lbs is not much to lose. I'd ask the surgeon to give you at least a 40f so you will have a better shot at being able to stop the weightloss after you hit50-60 lbs lost. If he gives you a 32, it might be a lot harder to stop the weightloss when you want to. That's just my opinion, and some people say bougie size has very little to do with it, but mine's a 40 and I've lost a lot of weight, never thrown up, never had problems with any food, etc. I love that I'm able to eat anything, just a lot less of it. I'm almost 5 months out and losing steadily. A good example of what I can eat is what I ate yesterday. 1/2 cup of oatmeal with 7 cashews and 10 frozen blueberries 2 string cheese 1/3 of a mango 2 ozs of rice/vermicelli/scrambled eggs/chicken breast 1/4 cup of greek yogurt 1/2 cup of endive/mashedpotatoes/bacon/nutmeg/vinegar mush with 1 cheese souffle (Admittedly this meal took me about an hour to eat but I knew I needed to try to get dinner in because I have a kidney infection so I had been sipping white beer and cranberry juice all day. Man it's hard to drink beer after VSG.) Then before bed I had 5 saltines with light gouda cheese. I thought after all that I'd show a gain on the scale (the beer and cranberry juice alone was 700 calories) but I actually lost another 2 lbs. I dunno, maybe bougie size doesn't matter that much, but I know I can eat enough healthy food with a 40f whereas some people I've read that have a 32 can't get in much more than 1/4-1/2 cup of food at a time. If I only had 50 lbs to lose, I'd be scared it wouldn't stop. I have a few friends that are 20-30 lbs below goal and try very hard to gain weight. We're all different, so it's hard to say, but I do know that a 40 allows me to get in proper nutrition (my 4/5 month bloodwork was excellent!) and still lose weight. Additionally, if for some reason a 40 is too big and you have trouble maintaining, you can have additional surgery to convert to a bypass or switch, but if you get a 32 and can't stop losing, what can you do? Nothing except get used to weighing 110 lbs. Just my opinion. I do think the sleeve is an AMAZING tool, but for someone who has only 50 lbs to lose, it's a risk that your body might get down way below goal before it matures/heals enough to allow you to stop.

Greek yogurt and pudding?

I am on day 9 of a 20 day preop diet consisting of protein shakes, cottage cheese, yogurt, broth, and SF jello and popsicles. I've lost 13 lbs which is great. I'm trying really hard not to complain because it could be worse and I could be on full liquids or only protein drinks, but...I'm on burnout. I'd kill for just a salad, a cucumber, something with substance and crunch! In November, I kicked a 15 year habit of smoking cold turkey. During that time I munched on baby pickles when I got a craving for one. When I traveled I ate sunflower seeds. I thought i was over it, but now that I can have very little I want a cigeratte, a big Dr Pepper, and the right side of the menu from the burger place down the street! (ok, i really want the whole menu) I don't know why today is so hard, but I've just stayed in bed and slept since yesterday afternoon. I'm fighting caffine, nicotine, and every food craving imaginable. Any suggestions? How did you make it through?

i remember the first 6-8 weeks and it was hell. i was still hungry and i had to do all the work (not much help from the band). my suggestion would be to write down what you eat (or use dailyplate.com) and change it. i would eat less and just suffer through it because i promise it will get better. a typical day for me then was: b: 1/2 cup yogurt or oatmeal OR Protein Shake with 1 teaspoon Peanut Butter (skim milk) l: tuna, chicken, or egg salad with 2 tablespoons of mayo (1/2 cup)--i ate it without bread OR deli meat rolled up with a piece of cheese d: Protein based meal (1/2 cup total). After 6 weeks i was allowed to eat a cup at a time. Good Luck!

So my questions: 1. How will the LAP-BAND® help me lose weight? There is something magical that once you hit your "sweet spot" you can only eat about a cup of food at a sitting - and your body stays satisfied with that - thinking it is full....I find I don't crave sweets or junk food...bread has NO pull at all as my body craves the Protein that it needs to function well. I would've NEVER believed that pre op - as i was a carbaholic! 2. What kind of diet needs to be kept after the LAP-BAND® is installed? Like she said - you first eat your protein - as I found if you aren't getting enough protein your hair will start to fall out...not cool! You will find that once you have eaten your protein you haven't room for much else! But if you want to eat a scoop of frozen yogurt or something as a treat you can, and it is no big deal...you just have to be careful at the "slider" foods that go through the band and don't leave you feeling satisfied. I shoot for more solid protein that will stay with me longer. 3. If I/We/anyone can’t maintain a diet regiment before the LAP-BAND®, how can we expect that it would be any different after the LAP-BAND®? You still have to work on WHY you overeat -or make the choices that you do...it isn't an easy fix, which folks seem to think it is. (common misconsception) If you are prone to turn to food when upset - you still will even with the band, and you can "eat around" the band by overeating with slider type foods that go right through....and thus circumventing the band. So it isn't a cure all - but it helps you control your portions of foods and you can still eat "real food" - it just takes a LOT less to satisfy your body. 4. Are there medications or supplements that need to be taken after the LAP-BAND® is installed? I just take my gummy Vitamin - some docs recommend a Calcium supplement, too.....your doctor will go over what they recommend. It isn't like the gastric bypass, though, where you have to take a lot of things for the rest of your life. (or so I am told by others...) 5. If insurance covers the procedure (I am investigating that with my insurance right now), and there is a problem with the device such as a leaky port, who covers the expense of fixing it? My mom's friend had to have her lapband replaced as it sprung a leak - her insurance covered it...I think typically if they cover putting it in, they would cover anything else that had to be done...but I would definately check with your insurance company. 6. Are there other manufacturing defect problems that can occur with the LAP-BAND®, and if so who absorbs the cost of repair? Haven't heard of anything on this either....... 7. I am noticing the number one side effect of the LAP-BAND® is nausea and vomiting. Is that a temporary problem or an ongoing problem? Can be ongoing depending on what you are trying to eat! If you are sticking to the right types of foods (protein - not breads and things that get stuck) then you won't have any trouble with PB'ing (which reminds me of a baby spitting up -just a burp) - but once you hit your sweet spot and have good restriction you will find that you have to eat slow and chew well ---- or else you can still struggle a lot with the "vomiting". I struggled the first 4 months or so...but then everything became habit and I haven't had any problems for a long time. 8. Is there any restriction on drinking alcohol when you have a LAP-BAND®? Not that I know of - course you wouldn't want to drink too much since it is empty calories.... Good luck! Kim

I remember that my first egg salad was absolutely delicious! Just a tip. I mixed the egg with 1/2 lowfat miracle whipand 1/2 Fage unflavored greek yogurt for more Protein. I think I made this with either egg or tuna every day for a week. Marie

Hi, I cannot do the shakes. Made me sick both ends. My doc kept me on full liquids for 6 weeks post op and then at my 6 week visit Thursday gave me a food list. I don't have to purée or do mushies. Just chew the heck out of every bite. I ate cottage cheese and lots of Greek yogurt and did fine. He did not give me a calorie or Protein requirement either. When I ask him about that his answer was just to be sure I burned more calories than I took in on a daily basis. He does not push the shakes because he wants to ensure that we learn as soon as possible to adjust our eating to real food and cutting off eating before we are too full. He says at bite three we should be asking ourselves are we full. Stop if so but ask ourselves on each bite to follow and stop before full.

I'm set for May 9 and starting my pre-op diet April 25. I've been trying to ease myself into it by eating mostly yogurt, protein shakes and vegetables this week. No meat or breads.

I had been trying solids, chewed to mush, but no go. Painful. Back to protein drinks, cottage cheese and yogurt. I know that even though it smells good, I will pay for it later. Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi...I am a naturopath and I am sure that gas is probably due to similar food than when unbanded, but perhaps a bit more abundant Beano helps and now they sell it in little strips that dissolve in your mouth...take it right before a meal...not after. here are foods to avoid if you have too much gas, you might be sensitive or intolerant to it....dairy(milk, cheese) you hopefully can eat yougurt which will help but make sure it is good yogurt with no sugar in it. Yogurt made with goast or sheep milk is worth the price and you get used to the slightly different taste. Add stevia and a little fruit or squeeze a lemon and stevia and stir and it is lke eating a lemon moouse! Avoid artificial sweetners since they give you gas and are not good for you anyway. Use stevia instead. Avoid chewing gum. You might want to see if you have a problem with wheat and gluten...the majority of people do and don't know it. Some people are sensitive to soy. Beans, broccolli,and cauliflower need to be cooked very well especially with the band. Well this is it for now...I hope it helps!

My surgery was on Monday 4/26 and i was only on clear liquids 1 day. Once i went home doc told me i could do full liquids so sugar free sherbert is great to have and yogurt!...i also am doing the sugar free jello and ice pops and i use the whey protein and make my own protein shake with the protein and sherbert..it tastes great :thumbup: