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Im 9 days post op. My cravings have NOT gone away. When I drink my shake or eat my yogurt, my restriction does not kick in until after its too late so I have to portion control myself. And then I still experience cravings for real food [emoji22]

Protein is good for your kids, too. Plan your shopping and your meals a week ahead of time. If grocery money is an issue, look for what is on sale and plan your meals around that. Have one day a week for batch cooking, like Rachel Ray does with her "week in a day" process. For example get a couple of whole chickens (You can buy the roasted ones from the deli because they are already cooked.) One chicken you can use right away for dinner that night. Steam some frozen veggies and throw some melted cheese on it. Dessert? Maybe apple slices and Peanut Butter. Sometimes I thaw out some frozen berries and mix it with vanilla Greek yogurt, Take your other chicken and tear it apart and make a casserole with it or a family pot pie. When it is time to eat, just don't eat the crust. Take the carcasses and loose bits and make a big pot of Soup. Take a dozen eggs and make a big pan of scrambled eggs and throw in some ham and cheese and whatever veggies you like. In this house itis mushrooms, peppers, avocado, and tomato. Or you can mix your scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese and make a dozen Breakfast burritos. When you eat yours, just don't eat all of the tortilla. or you can use store-bought pie crust and make a beakfast quiche just don't eat the crust. If you take a large beef roast, you can have roast beef one night (with your veggies), save some back to make stew or soup in the crockpot, or take some shredded and re-cook it in some beef boullion and Italian seasoning. Put that on buns, maybe with some melted provolone, and you have an Italian beef sandwich - just you don't eat the bun. If you get creative in the kitchen, you can get a lot accomplished in one day, and the rest of the week is just heat and serve. If your boys are old enough to help, they should be helping and learning how to cook and clean a kitchen. You can get them involved in the process by having a little sit down meeting once a week to discuss the plan ahead based on how to adjust their favorites into something healthy the whole family can eat. Maybe let them help with the shopping and pick out one crap item apiece They can have spaghetti and meatballs, just you don't eat the Pasta. Meatballs with sauce and parmesan hits the spot and I don't miss the spaghetti at all. Yes, you can have pizza. You just won't want as much as you used to eat. Thrown some veggies on your slice, maybe even extra meat and cheese, and then - don't eat all of the crust. I may have two bites, and then scrape the rest off and eat it that way. I have made fake-out buckeye candies by blending chocolate Protein powder with peanut butter, roll it into balls (about the size of a chocolate covered cherry) and dipping them in melted dark chocolate. Shoot, you can even dip strawberries in melted dark chocolate. You could make a huge pot of chili and it will last all week. Taco salad is good and skips the chips. You could make a dozen hamburgers with cheese ahead of time. Kids like hamburgers. So, find something they like and cook it all in one afternoon. Get creative. i

I am having to crush three pills, one antibiotic, hctz and amlodipine and add to food/drink. tried yogurt, not gonna work, tried crystal light, equally nauseating. Any suggestions? At this point I am at a loss and would rather just not take them.

You and I are at the same phase. Each dr usually has a totally different program for you to follow. But since yours didn't seem to give you much directions maybe the following will help you so your not so freaked out. My Dr has me on 1 Bariatric multi Vitamin, B-12 tablets under the tongue, and Prilosec every day. More Vitamins will be introduced at 1 month and 3 months. I have to have labwork done at 1 month post op. Then 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. My Dr all ready gave me all the forms at to what is to be done each time for the labwork. These forums are freaking me out. I feel like nobody has gone through what I'm going through. Not helping my anxiety. I have had no word on any labs or vitamins. He just looked at me and said ok you're clear to start solids. I'm almost a month out and am still eating liquids and mush. The most solid food I can stomach is refried Beans with a little avocado and the occasional ritz cracker that's chewed to death. I get horrible stomach cramps and pain if I eat anything more than that. So I'm freaking out about starting back at work and I don't have any control of my food. I don't sit at all at work and generally log in 10k steps a day. I work retail and I cannot be off the floor to eat every hour.. My boss would flip and send me back out on leave. I have a sheet of paper with some food items on it and a diet plan of what to eat and when. Nothing very detailed. Sent from my iPhone using BariatricPal This week I was told I can begin to eat cottage cheese, string cheese and other shredded like cheeses, sliced deli turkey, tuna and other light white fishes, soups like miso, bean, lentil, yogurt, egg, old fashion not instant oatmeal, Pam spray and light mayo plus at least 1 shake. I am averaging about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or an egg, or 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal for Breakfast, 2 oz of turkey or fish, and 1/4 cup of refried beans for lunch and maybe an oz or 2 of turkey or fish and a cheese stick or maybe 1/4 cup of soup for dinner. A yogurt or premade shake or Protein powder with milk as a snack. So I am getting in the 60 Protein and calories are around 400 to 600. Tracking what you eat on myfitnesspal or some other website that has food and exercise trackers would be a good idea. I get that same pain you are experiencing and when I do I stop eating as it is the signal that the tummy is full. You may not realize it but the tummy is only able to accept about 1/2 a cup at a meal. At this stage of the recovery protein should be about the only thing going in that tiny tummy. No drinking a half an hour before and after a meal. chicken, Calves Liver and non raw Vegetables and non pulp Fruit are to start at 6 weeks outs. Beef, Pork, Lamb, Ham etc can be tried at about 5 to 6 months out. Crackers, Pasta, potato, breads, rice etc is not to be eaten until 6 months out and then it is the last item on the plate and the smallest amount. I am to drink 64 ounces of Water, crystal light, powerade zero a day. coffee and Tea is not allowed until 2 months post op. As for your not being allowed to eat or drink on the store floor, I find that to be extremely harsh. I don't know if you told your bosses at work about the surgery but it might be a good idea to get some kind of notice from your PCP that states you must stay hydrated and need to have your bottle of water with you on the floor otherwise you will be out of work again and back in the hospital because of dehydration. Dhrguru gave you some good advise. You have to be an advocate for yourself if your surgeon dropped the ball. Get your PCP to order the lab work and provide you with a Bariatric Nutritionist. Order the Big Sleeve Book from this site. It is filled with lots of wonderful info that may reduce your stress and make this time of recovery a bit more pleasant for you. The offer to support and encourage each other through email is still available to you. Hopefully you will start feeling better as you increase your protein and water. Good luck!

I would definitely say no, not at this point however I want to point out that week 3 is not always pureed foods. Every surgeon is different. I started soft foods on day 3-14 which includes things like yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna, eggs and even ground turkey as long as it's chewed very well. I am on day 10 post op and doing very well with all of these items. Day 14 I get to move into regular textured foods in 2-3 ounce portions and I'm so happy to have more options. Again, everyone is on a different plan, but I think the biggest thing is don't push yourself into anything that could cause you harm or discomfort. It's not worth it. Patience will pay off in the end.

I totally agree - I tried about 5 different kinds of protein shakes prior to surgery and the ones from Costco were by far my favorite! Haven't tried the vanilla ones, I'm happy with the chocolate I also mix in a 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt to my shakes to get an additional 11.5g of protein. Plus a half banana just because I love bananas! Yummy!

@@_Kate_ - I'm still allowed to drink Protein drinks, yes, though the NUT does want me weaned off of them when I'm able to eat actual food since she explained drinking the shakes despite their high protein won't actually continue to register in your brain that you've eaten. Actually being able to still get through a shake without feeling nauseous is a totally different matter.. And I've also been told the premier shakes don't count towards my fluids because they aren't a clear liquid. As opposed to trying one of the Isopure drinks. @@Folly - So as I'm able to eat more, I'll be able to go longer without getting hungry. Makes sense! Thanks! @ - My body feels like it's physically starting to reject the Protein Shakes and smoothies I make... I can't drink them without feeling ill now. So I drink my Water and stick to soft foods and yogurt. @@Sharon1964 - I could understand doing it this way when I can eat more, but I've figured out my body's difference between head and real hunger and right now I'm feeling real hunger every two hours. Though I do hope to get to this eating pattern when I'm able. Thank you! @@AngelaWilliamsMD - I'm glad I'm not alone in this. I'm still eating less than 500 calories a day even with high protein micro-meals, and I know I'm at that phase where my body may be going through a stall and/or is readjusting to actually getting real food instead of straight up liquids. @@Inner Surfer Girl - Like I mentioned earlier, my NUT told me the shakes don't count towards the Fluid goal anymore since they aren't a clear liquid.. As it is, I can get about 40oz of water in and up to about 40~50g of protein altogether in a good day. Sans the protein shakes. Do you think that's still okay? @@Niki15 - I was trying to do something like this, but now that it takes me SO long to get through a Protein Shake because they don't make me feel well, I believe that's why I've supplemented with the high protein micro-meals every few hours instead (varying by class schedule during the week). Thanks for all of the replies so far!

Looking for your thoughts on Unflavored Isopure powder... I want to add it to my homemade broth, Greek yogurt, crystal light, etc. Just don't want to pay the $ if you guys tell me it's really awful;) thanks

I have a question. I am currently at 3CC's and to be honest I am afraid. I get so guilty when I eat foods other than yogurt mashed potatoes, and Soup. I so afraid that this is not going to work for me. I hear that you should not diet, but I have spent so much of my life dieting.....How and what do you all eat? How do you control the junk food urges? I am in dire need of advice..... Thanks Birdee!

RMAP has a pretty lenient diet protocol IMO, from what I've been reading on here. It's only half a day clear liquid before surgery (starting at 3pm) and by day 4 after they have you on stuff like light yogurt, cottage cheese, strained Soup, etc. By day 15 you can have soft moist foods. So yeah, it's gotta be the most "liberal" of the diets I've seen! (Including the 10 day preop diet. That's just a 1000 calorie diet with a Protein shake for Breakfast, lunch, and a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice meal for dinner. So not bad at all!)

I agree with those who say that we all lose at different rates, and I don't know that speed is of the essence, as already stated, because we didn't gain the weight overnight, why worry about losing it overnight. In my case, I was banded 3/25/08. My doctor put me on a full liquid (includes Protein shakes, yogurt, sugar/fat free jello/pudding/popsicles, cream Soups, broths) diet with a small amount of lean protein to ease the transition, then four days before surgery liquids only. Post op 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks mushies, then slowly transition to regular food, depending on tolerance. I ended up spending 3 weeks pre op because I caught a cold and they postponed my surgery a week. I had mentally prepared myself that I would be hungry somewhat during the day, and I saved my lean protein for the evening when I tended to eat the most. I had unbreaded chicken tenders that I grilled on a small George Foreman grill and hard cooked eggs as my lean protein treat. I would have 2 tenders or 2 eggs. I had increased my exercise from just Curves to walking in a nearby park (for distance, not so much for speed--I carry peanuts and stop to feed the squirrels). By the time I started the liquids the weight was already starting to drop some, but it picked up steam with the diet. The dietician said it was to jump start the weight loss and prepare me for the post op diet. By the time I had surgery I had lost around 40 pounds and it is still coming off. I entered Onederland this morning (weight below 200). I weighed in at 199.2. I am delighted and it really helped my motivation to see the weight drop. I started at 252 last June (had to do a 6 month diet for insurance--lost all of 10 pounds on that) and my goal is 150, so I am well on my way. If you are comitted to the process, and doing what the dietician tells you, I think you can lose 100 pounds with the band. You will get out of it what you put into it.

This is similar to the sample menu I was given. I understand it's a good concept but I know my dietician wanted to to start eating that way at 3 weeks. I am 8 weeks out and I have to wait at least any hour after I eat to be able to drink or I can feel it. Then I am finally able to drink about 6 oz at a time, but then I have to wait at least a half hr before I can drink more. On the days I work its hard sometimes to even get a lunch break sometimes. I do 12 hr shifts, unfortunately we've been understaffed for over a year now making it worse. But I do have to eat multiple times a day to get enough protein. Yesterday I had 2 eggs before I left for work at 6 am. While at work anytime I went to the back to grab something for a patient I passed the break room, so I stop and drink some water. Around 10 am I ate a string cheese. At 1 pm I ate a 20 gm protein bar for lunch. At 5:30 I had a Greek yogurt. When I got home at 8:30 I had 2 oz of chicken for dinner. During the day I was able to get in about 36 oz of fluid and 77 gm of protein. Ideally I shouldn't be eating dinner that late, and yes I should get more fluid in. But I feel for working on a busy floor at the hospital I did pretty good and there's no way I could've done it without snacks in between meals. I haven't gotten to the point where I'm able to add in vegetables yet though bc I get full off the protein but I know it will come in time. At home I can do a little better without the time constraints of work.

I found what worked for me to lose some weight u might want to try it and see if this works for you. Breakfast: slim fast shake (4 hr hunger control ) 8 Oz of 1% milk I scoop of slim fast and ice and blend Lunch: I made enough to make 2 portions one for dinner. Dice up egg plant, carrots,tomatoes, onions, green onions, bell peppers, broccoli, colliflower, season with whatever seasoning u like. I used adobo cumin , black ,pepper, garlic and lime juice sautéed it. And u can pair it with 3 Oz lean meat fish, turkey, chicken I cook it in my my wave oven. And I take a tablespoon og low fat Greek yogurt and hot sauce. And omg it's delish. Dinner: Eat second portion of lunch same way. Eat raw carrots when u have a craving to eat in between. You will lose weight eating this everyday and those 10 lbs will come off in no time. Try it. Yes I know it will become boring eating this everyday but it worked for me. I actually love it. Good luck. Julio Sent from my SM-N900T using the BariatricPal App

Hi, im 12 days post op...tried onion broth with a bit of melted mozzerella and went through 1 hour of deadly reflux and i threw up a few times..I guess everyone goes through it. I was just wondering if i could eat watermelon or yogurt? Im a bit scared of yogurn from that mozzerrella reaction..I would really appreciate it if i heard what people were eating around this time...if anything?? Thanks for the help

Snates - here is the post-op diet my surgeon provided to me - hopefully it will help you figure out what to eat when... Day 1 thru 5 ( Clear liquids Only ) fruit juice ( apple, grape, cranberry ) Propel broth Jello-O Water Tea Protein Water by Kellogg?s Water popsicles Clear Protein drinks only ( example Isopure, unjury ) Day 6-10 ( thin liquids ) All of the above and: Natural Vegetable Juices ( example Carrot, V-8 juice ) Protein drinks mixed with water ( example Matrix ) whey nectar Protein Mix Day 11 thru 20 ( full liquids ) Cream Soups Yogurt Jello-O Boiled pureed fruit ( example apple, pear) applesauce Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Low fat milk 1 or 2% Water, Propel, tea Soy beverages sugar free pudding Protein shakes and protein powders mixed with milk Day 21 thru 30 ( soft food ) Soft food should be the consistency of a thick liquid ( no chunks or solid material ) and it should be chewed very well before swallowing until it is a liquid consistency ) Tofu Low fat cottage cheese Cereal oatmeal Precooked pureed rice Low fat Yogurt Yogurt mixed with fruit very well blended Cream soups eggs Boiled pureed fruit ( example pear, apple ) Watermelon, papaya or melon in small pieces Boiled pureed vegetables Beans Day 31st and beyond ( solid food ) Fish, Chiken meat Turkey Vegetables Fruit A diet consisting of 800 calories and 70 grams of protein should be your goal. There is a book called " Weight loss Surgery for Dummies" Authors: Kurian, Thompson and Davidson You might find it helpful. I contains several recipes and ideas on what to eat after surgery Grilled Marinated Tuna with Lime Herbed Beef Patties Turkey Meatballs Seafood salad chicken Salad

Today is Day 12 - Post op... I've heard of stalls happening at weeks 3 & 4 but not week 2. I lost 14 pounds the first week after surgery and only 1 pound during week 2. The good news is that I haven't gained any. Has anybody had this happen before? The stall began when I started the full liquids (yogurt, pudding, soups). Related? The other thing that concerns me is that it's been 9 days since I've had a BM. Normal for post - op?

@@graceday32001 since you didn't mention otherwise...... besides the protein issue, is everything else going well?? gas, bathroom "issues", tiredness? are you having problems getting Water in? are you able to sip without a problem? room temperature water is always a suggestion to be more successful with your drinking many people use crystal lite bottom line is, drinking (as much as possible) water is more important than protein at this early stage of the game necessity of protein is also there, but again water is much more important!!! iwhen people don't drinkenough water they frequently get dehydrated (me at 6 weeks ) i became dehyrated on Valentines Day so i'll never forget the date then they have to go to hospital have IV's to get hydrated spend the night thats great you are eating yogurt is great way to get protein in i eat Fage 0% greek plain yogurt 20 gr of protein yum, yum, yum speaking for myself and some others......... Protein shakes??? blahhh, yech but continue to try and drink them shakes should be given to kids as punishment as suggested by @@Elizabeth21 add unflavored Protein powder to "whatever" i know you will progress with your protein issue i have plenty of confidence in you I see a healthier, happier, longer life in your future good luck bud kathy

Hey there.. I guess I am a fast loser since it hasn't been 8 months and I have lost 107 pounds. I follow these rules very strictly: I have been extremely aggresive with my fills I chew chew chew I eat slowlllyyyyyyyyy I cut my portions in tiny pieces I eat Protein first then a veggie I eat off of a salad plate If I start to feel stuck I stop eating immediately and am done. I always eat under 3 cups total food a day If I need a snack i stick to 100 calorie Snacks Love the m&m I drink as much Water as possible between 32-70 ounces daily I stay away from carbs (I just don't have room and am to tight for cereal or breads) My foods usually are: b: 1/2 6oz yoplait thick and creamy yogurt l: small piece of meat and a little veggie d: small piece of meat and a little veggie s: 100 calorie snack I am never starving. I never have tummy grumbling which makes me not focus on food. I now eat to live not live to eat. I stop when I start to feel full. I don't pb anymore ever! I listen to my body I don't diet, I eat what I want including fats and sweets I just eat a tiny bit because I am full from being at my sweet spot! I am not a big excercizer, I figured if I was losing why excercize lol. I know if I started really excercizing I would have been at goal already.. I hope this helps!

I am in Spain at the moment and am having a difficult time finding foods to eat in the hotel restaurant. The eggs are so hard boiled or over cooked scrambled that I cant digest them. The soup is shocking and has no body. The meat is so tough, I am living off milk and yogurt and am really weak at the moment. I hope you are going to a better hotel than this. Take some foods or protein supplements with you just in case. I never realised it would be so difficult for me

My surgeon talked with my dietician and she totally revised my eating plan. He said that the diet is per Doctors orders and the nutritionist's job is to make sure calories and nutrients aren't being sacrificed. Well with that said I told him about not being able to have yogurt or cream soup stuff or sf pudding etc. He had her change the diet. I can have thin deli slices, yogurt, sf pudding lowfat cheese slices, eggs(soft scrambled or poached). My surgeon said that the liquid phase was okay for a week and full liquids does include cream soups thinned etc. Kathy I can have egg drop soup with the egg but to got slowly! I feel so much better now. he also said I ws doing very good and the weight loss is great but not typical so don't get discouraged if it slows down after the next 4 weeks. He said that all the surgeons who perform this procedure have different diet plans. Unfortunately my dietician had RNY in mind for me and that is the diet plan I was on. I guess she got confused since the majority of the patients are RNY. I had a slice of lowfat cheese..yum and 3oz of fat free turkey and ham... and I was full WHoo Hoo! I am on my way.

Jenn The Protein drink in the morning is a great suggestion. I heard on Dr Oz that you need 35 grams of protein in the morning to jump start your metablism. I am like you and cannot eat first thing so I always do my Protein shake in the morning. Then for some reason I never know when Im hungry but do get a stabbing pain when I dont eat. So I pretty much set myself up to eat something every 2-3 hours. baby bel light, string cheese, greek yogurt. It helps me alot!!!

Kristy- I went shopping last night for cheeses and Greek yogurt. I need to get my snack on my doctor suggests 3 meals a day.... Breakfast being one! I would think the more Protein in the .morning is best... That Dr oz is a smart good looking man! I drank my shake this morning I got it down and my 1/2 yogurt & cheese for breakfast in about hour. Lili- whey protein and skim milk! If you can get them down more power to ya! It's hard & your getting all the protein.... You rock! Surgery 7/25/12

I lost 10 pounds in 11 days of liquids. I also did the protein shakes like mentioned above and then I did jello, pudding and popcicles for snacks, but I do like greek yogurt now that I am post op, never tried it prior. Oh and I loved sugar free popcicles, especially after surgery when it is difficult to drink and get your liquids in they were wonderful and went down with ease and taste good Good luck on your journey, you will be happy with your decision, I still have some days, but I am so happy I made this decision for myself.

so do I! I started my liquid diet today. Protein drink, yogurt, applesauce, v8, soup

I always have some almonds handy, but I like a good Quest protein bar or some Greek yogurt with a scoop of vanilla protein.