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My pre/ post op diet is milk with protein .... Pudding , strained soup, and yogurt... ... And i can gave cream of wheat in am ... Really nit too bad

I know this is very confusing. Before I became a bariatric patient, I was trying to eat as naturally as possible. I am allergic to soy and the soy isolate proteins, and avoid them like the plague. Right now I use either the Premier Protein Shake or a fortified (with whey protein) greek yogurt for breakfast to start my day off with 30 grams of protein. The remaining 45 grams I get from whole foods - cheese, nuts, beans, meat etc. My doctor wants his patients to eat as much whole foods as possible to fill up our stomachs, reduce grazing and hunger and avoid stretching out the sleeve. I think there are many ways to fulfill the protein requirements and most of it takes trial and error to determine what works for you as an individual.

I am not an expert. I haven't had surgery yet, but I've been pursing and researching WLS since last November. I've been seeing the surgeon since January for my insurance required 6 month diet. My surgery is next week. I know it is hard searching through the topics trying to find answers to your specific questions and it feels like a big step to make a post, so I'll try to answer what I can. In my area (Upstate NY) I actually hear WLS advertised on the radio. A few different hospitals advertise their weight loss options and they have a free seminar you can go to. I ended up doing my seminar online. So you might want to contact your area hospital and ask if they have or know of any free seminars in the area on WLS options. Or if they can refer you to a bariatric surgeon. Many general surgeons can do the surgery, however I think it's nice to go to a practice where that is their specialty. The doctor I chose has a big practice catering just to that. It is listed in their hospital's online directory under "weight loss." I would make my first step be finding one of these centers or surgeons who specialize in WLS and then making the initial consult. They discuss SO much in that appointment and can answer so many questions. Having worked much for surgeons in the past, I don't think you'll get many options in picking the time of day of your surgery. You can request a morning surgery, but that usually doesn't mean you're guaranteed that. I think in an ideal world, being the second surgery of the day would be perfect though. They are warmed up and awake, but not exhausted. I can't speak from experience about the loose skin. I do know genetics and age have a lot to do with it. I've lost a lot of weight on diets in the past and my skin caught up each time. It was slower weight loss, so the skin shrunk along with me. I know that with WLS, it's the rapid weight loss that makes the skin appear extra saggy at times. Then it will shrink some more with time. Will it shrink totally back to tight skin? Everyone is different. If you're young, with good genetics and hydrate well, maybe it will. I think it's likely you'll have some areas you don't like though. With my weight loss in the past, my stomach always kept it's saggy pouch, even though it did get smaller and wasn't noticeable under clothes. As for diet, my surgeon is requiring a 2 week pre-op liquid "stage 2" diet and then I will do this same diet for two weeks post op. I'm on day 7 of it right now. You focus on high protein liquid. I'm supposed to be trying to get at least 80 grams of protein per day. I am not supposed to be having any sugars either. I can have skim or whole milk, black tea or coffee (but need to switch to decaf a couple days before surgery too), sugar free puddings, sugar free jellos, Protein Shakes, high protein/low fat/no or low sugar yogurts, protein soups/broths (without chunks). It kind of sucks. I am doing mainly yogurt and protein shakes through the day. 2 weeks after surgery, I'll be evaluated and switched to pureed foods. You still aim for the protein, but can eat pureed things in the mix. And then I believe it is 1 month post op, I switch to soft foods. This is a pretty typical WLS diet around surgery time, but surgeons are varying it now. Some don't require the 2 weeks pre-op. They say they do those 2 weeks to shrink the liver so that the surgeon has better access to the stomach, which makes sense. Some keep you on clear liquids for a few days after surgery. It can vary a bit, but this is my protocol. I'm not sure there is a best season. I want to be free of this weight NOW. So, NOW is the best season for me. LOL. Good luck on your journey. I think once you can get in for a consult or go to one of the free seminars that a lot of places offer, you'll get a lot of questions answered.

For my doc - yogurt is week 2.

I don't get resentful or try to change anyone's habits, but I've noticed I've become much more aware of what people are eating. Like my husband (who's never had a weight problem). Yesterday we went out for Breakfast. I got a thing of yogurt. He ordered this platter piled high with pancakes and fried potatoes. All I could think was "good Lord - look at all those carbs!!!"

Just curious but why did you have a picc line? I wasn't able to tolerate anything more than cottage cheese and yogurt at 4 weeks post sleeve. as for runny eggs, not a fav for me but I was able to eat them scrambled. Soft food stage:( Protein items) cottage cheese, yogurt, string cheese, refried Beans (water them down the first time or they will come back up) There are other soft foods but stick with the protein ones to start so you don't slow your weight loss with the carbs. I am 14 weeks out and still drink Protein shakes for my main protein consumption. I eat 1 meal a day that is usually a Soup with high protein count (since I can only eat 1/2 cup at that meal before I am full I add deli meat to increase the protein count) so I get protein and veggies at that meal. To add fruit to my diet, I mix the fruit into the protein shakes. Wish you the best and yes I still feel afraid to add foods to my diet.

CONSISTENCY *If the food you are eating is keeping you full for 3 or less hours you must increase the consistency/thickness of your food. (Generally when you are on clear liquids and ready to move to full liquids, full liquid to mushy, etc) *If the food you are eating is keeping you full for 4 or more hours your food is at a good consistency/thickness. *As soon as you feel full (this may feel like discomfort in your chest) STOP EATING. If you ever feel like something is stuck STOP! Do not drink or eat. Typically, in 30 minutes the food will come up or go down. · Special note: If all you can eat is soft/mushy foods, you are too tight and need fluid out of the band. ADJUSTMENTS · You are ready for an adjustment when you are eating good solid nutritious food (the highest consistency) and it is no longer keeping you full for 4 hours and/or your portions are increasing, and/or you are not losing weight. DAILY ROUTINE · Upon waking drink 20 oz of water (anything 1 calorie or less, no caffeine, no carbonation). The first 8 oz may need to be hot clear liquid. This is also a good rule to apply when preparing your meals. (If you feel pressure/tightness, you need to loosen your band before you eat with hot clear liquids and deep breaths, then repeat water process) · Wait 10 minutes. No eating or drinking (let the fluid drain out of the pouch). When dining out, this would be when you are waiting on your food. At home this will be the time you take cutting meat, moistening meat, and getting it ready to eat) · Breakfast: Protein 1st (use fork and knife and cut up food well), Fruit 2nd (Sample breakfast: ½ cup low fat, low sugar yogurt, 2 T of almonds, ¼ piece of fruit w/ no skin OR 1 very soft, moist scrambled egg, 1 crisp piece of bacon, ¼ piece of fruit w/ no skin · Wait 1 ½ hours (no eating or drinking) · Drink 20 oz of water up until time for lunch. · Wait 10 minutes. No eating or drinking (let the fluid drain out of pouch) · Lunch: Protein 1st (use fork and knife and cut up your food well), vegetable 2nd, carbohydrate 3rd (sample lunch: ½ cup chili (beef or turkey and beans), 4 whole grain crackers OR 1/3 cup chicken salad, ½ seedless cucumber, 4 whole grain crackers OR 1-2 oz grilled chicken on 1 cup garden salad w/ low fat dressing, 4 whole grain crackers · Wait 1 ½ hours (no eating, drinking) · Drink 20 oz of water up until time for supper. · Wait 10 minutes. No eating or drinking (let fluid drain out of pouch) · Supper: Protein 1st (use a fork and knife and cut up food well), vegetable 2nd, carbohydrate 3rd (sample supper: ½ cup stew (beef and vegetable), 4 whole grain crackers OR 1-2 oz meatloaf, ¼ cup green beans, ¼ cup mashed potatoes OR 1-2 oz bake or grilled fish, 2-3 tops of broccoli (steamed and very tender), very small baked potato w/ no skin · Wait 1 ½ hours (no eating or drinking) · If you are getting hungry between meals, you are waiting for an adjustment and you feel you must eat a snack, it should be a protein snack. (low fat chunk cheese, T of peanut butter, nuts, turkey jerky) · Once you get close to your ideal body weight you may have to pay closer attention to your calories. You should not have more than 1200 calories a day. They also recommend when drinking right before your meal to drink/gulp to see if it moves smoothly. This will let you know if you are ready to eat yet. Also, my doctor's office does not recommend snacks.

i have actually found a Protein powder i like! it is chocolate-Peanut Butter made by Body Fortress. This is the breakdown: 2 scoops mixed w/about 12 oz of Water - adjust to suit taste: Calories: 270 Calories from Fat: 40 Total Fat: 4g Saturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 90mg Total Carbohydrates: 7g Dietary Fiber: 1g Sugars: 3g Calcium: 243mg Iron: 1.3mg Phosphorus: 175mg Magnesium: 59mg Copper: 0.07mg Sodium: 130mg Potassium: 470mg PROTEIN: 52g !!!! compare to Boost, Calorie Smart 1 bottle, 8 fl oz: Calories: 190 Calories from Fat: 60 Total Fat: 7g Saturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 10mg Total Carbohydrates: 16g Dietary Fiber: 3g Sugars: 4g Calcium: not listed Iron: not listed Phosphorus: not listed Magnesium: not listed Copper: not listed Sodium: 180mg Potassium: 150mg PROTEIN: 16g !!!! now - i do like boost chocolate - but if i can get double the protein in a 12 oz that i mix myself compared to an 8 oz - i'm gonna go for the 12oz drink - they also list the breakdown for 1 scoop on the container. i mixed a little powder in my greek yogurt, which is also high in protein, and it was quite tasty. the container costs approx $16 at wally world. i was drinking the tropical punch 'shots' from the same company and it would take me two shots to equal two scoops of powder and the taste wasn't a favorite of mine. hope this helps. please note there is a notice at the bottom: use this product as a food supplement only. do not use for weight reduction. i'm feeling ok with drinking this as i only have one or two drinks per day. lori

Each physician has their own diet plan pre and post op. My physician had me on Clear liquids (broth, sf Jello, sf popcicles, low cal juice) plus the Optifast for two weeks prior to banding. My banding was on Dec. 29th. I have followed a clear liquid diet since the banding with no Optifast. Tomorrow I have my first post op visit. I will then be able to eat creamed Soups, sf pudding, low fat yogurt, cream of wheat, and vegetable juices. One thing that was very helpful....I have a small ice cream freezer (one that sits on the counter). I freeze the container so it's aways ready. Put the vanilla Optifast in and blend for about 10 minutes. The result tastes just like a Wendy's Frosty. It is delicious. That was my treat every evening. I have two cases of the Optifast left and will not use it. If you are interested, or know anyone interested, I would be glad to give a good deal. (Case vanilla + case chocolate). Good luck with you new way of life.

Plain Greek Yogurt flavored with dry Jello crystals .... or .... 1 Poached egg and Johnsonville maple flavored sausage links (2-3) ....or.... 1 egg scrambled with grated cheese. These are things i eat post-op .... I ate the same pre-op, just more of it...lol

It's not the final digestion so much, the exiting from the stomach and breaking down in the intestines, for me it's more the entry into the stomach and initial digestion. If I eat chicken, tuna, or eggs I can only eat an ounce maybe ounce and a half comfortably and even then it feels like I just ate a ball of concrete. I'm 6 weeks out. On the other hand, I think greek yogurt is the sleever's best friend.

I only get like 1-3 shakes (meal replacements) per day. The rest of my "meals" are like cottage cheese (fat free), ricotta cheese (fat free), yogurt (plain would not be sweet, if you wanted to try that - fat free) for my dairy, then its broth, chicnen, beef, vegetable whatever you like. I asked about the sodium, the Nut said not to worry as I wouldn't be getting sodium anywhere else so I'd be fine. I don't know if that helps or not! Nicole

Eat yogurts, sf pudding, sf jellos, Soups, go to emilybites and check out her lasagna cupcakes, etc. She has some really tasty stuff you can use for your self. My family loves them too.

Hi everyone, It's been 5 days since I've had my surgery (7/11) and I've been reading these posts religiously each day. I've noticed lately a lot of questions regarding post-op eating plans and I thought I would share what I've been instructed as part of my post-op recovery. Day of surgery and the following day--Clear liquid diet...My diet for these two days consisted of clear broth, Jello, gatorade and Water. I had no appetite and took my time drinking fluids. Full liquid diet for 1 week...my diet this week consists of milk, Protein shakes, thinned or liquid yogurt, jello, pudding, strained Soups, broth. I'm required to eat 50 grams of protein each day, low fat and sugar free/low carbs. One product I fould I like is called Isopure. It's high in protein, low/no carbs and about 150-190 calories depending on flavor. You can buy it at GNC. For my Protein Shakes I drink something called Muscle Milk. I'm also trying to eat only 3 times a day and not include extra liquids like water during or up to an hour to 1 1/2 hrs. after i eat. So far my appetite is non existant but I'm sure that'll change as the days progress. Next is pureed foods for 1 week...I'm actually looking forward to this. Everything I'm suppose to eat is to be blended. Some examples include beef stew, mash potatoes and gravy, blenderized soups, maltomeal or cream of wheat, strained or pureed veggies and fruits. I can supplement my protein intake by adding in protein powders or shakes. Again 50 grams min. protein per day, low carbs and low sugar, 3 meals a day and NO drinking during or up to an hour to 1 1/2 after you eat. After blended foods come mushy/soft foods for 2 weeks. Examples of foods to eat...soups, ground meat (not steak), flaked fish like tuna, eggs scrambled with milk, cottage cheese, yogourt, well cooked veggies. Again 3 meals a day, 50 grams min. protein per day, low carbs and low fat if possible and no drinking during or up to an hour to 1 1/2 hours afterwards. The last two weeks is a regular diet. Again 50 grams min protein/day, 3 meals, low fat and sugar if possible and NO drinking during or up to an hour to 1 1/2 hours afterwards. The main goal the first 6 weeks after surgery is to give your stomach time to heal. If you start eating too much you risk the chance of stretching your new pouch. These 6 weeks should also help reinforce eating habits you'll have to follow to make this process successful. To help with hunger and cravings make sure you eat protein first. Doing so will help minamize hunger and cravings between meals. Also make sure you "layer" your foods when you eat. Protein first followed by starches, carbs, etc. And no drinking during or up to an hour to an 1 1/2 afterwards. Doing so will just wash the food out of the pouch, thru the opening and into the stomach causing you to get hungry sooner. Please keep in mind that nothing is full proof and that you can cheat but if you stick with the plan you should lose weight. Also keep in mind what I've written is what my dr. has told me to do. If others have been told differently than they should follow what they have been told by their drs. Finally I want to say that patience and determination will be rewarded. Each one of us has had many years to program ourselves in the way we eat. Now we have to learn to re-program ourselves. The weight didn't come on overnight nor will it come off overnight. Keep with it because it's our chance for a new beginning. Den

I have been eating lots of greek yogurt. Yoplait makes a good one with 14 grams of Protein. I also baked some tilipa last night. Any white fish doesn't need pureed and I added some lemon pepper seasoning. I am planning on having refried Beans this week and cottage cheese and of course mashed potatoes. I have been trying to load up on protein and need to pull out my eating well after weight lost surgery cookbook. I didn't look at it through the clear/full liquid stages.

Alarm. 7.00 AM showered, maple and brown sugar oatmeal (for kate). went to make coffee, milk was outdated on November 7th & today is the 11th. suggested kate smell it to see if it was feasible. it was not. have to stop at dunkins donuts. at this point cole realizes banks are closed due to veterans day. now no coffee and no money. enter sisters wallet. 9:00 AM drs appointment mass general hospital downtown boston. seeing hand doctor for hand pain. (and not from slappin kate) he was a total toolbag and his assistant typed out our entire conversation. click click. clickety clicky. CLICK. instead of addressing my hand pain issue he psychoanalyzed me and said the pain is all in my mind. so i said i imagined that my hand hurt so much this morning i could not wipe my ass. his assistant still typing, click click clack. i felt like i was withstanding trial. as soon as we left the office kate declared, your hand doctor should get a foot up his ass. onto Boston common. sister sat on Mrs. mallard and i collected leaves to give to friends who live in tropical places and do not have fall leaves (which i made kate carry in her purse.) alot of men with tight pants, which kate pointed out are referred to as” moose knuckles" if you don’t have a visual of what that is, as kate said 10 times today, google it. especially one guy in yellow pants with yellow shoes. he was looking for his yellow hat, and we were looking for a curious monkey. Sorry we were laughing to hard to snap photo. we then went to the paper store. this is now kate talking now before i explain this, just a reminder that my sister nicole is 35. and i am 24. [kate] *points at table with miscellaneous items, but particularly a book about cupcakes picture included* "oh nicole, i almost got you that for christmas last year" *nicole turns around and looks at table, instead of asking, almost got me what?, she sees a stuffed chicken and with the enthusiasm of a 3 year old says " you almost.... got me.... the CHICKEN!" "really, oh my god" to which i have to reply, "no nicole, the cupcake book" She slumps down with a big "ooooooo" and frowns. Besides this incident, everything was going smoothly until I purchased 3 rolls of paper to use later to decorate a bulletin board. The lady at the store gives me a small bag that barely contains the long rolls of paper. Picture included. off to the Prudential building but were cool Bostonians so we will call it the Pru. Lunch at Wagamama. asian bistro. miso soup was had,with Japanese pickles and real ramen noodles with chicken. pictures included. this is a big moment people, i introduced kate to pinkberry frozen yogurt. pics also attached. I had a 200 calorie pumpkin with raspberry small frozen yogurt. Kate had a super sized. chocolate , with peanut butter crunchies and to top off the fat already around her liver, white chocolate shavings. 9000 calories. its 10 pm and this was at noon. she still wont stop asking to go back and bellyaching about how amazing pinkberry was. bathroom break lord and taylor. enter Pandora. we check out some charms and get kate sized . we speak to who we at first thought was a nice and normal salesperson. back story. my stupid sister loves the Minnesota Vikings football team who btw are 2 and 6. so we ask her to show us a ton of charms until kate says "oh can i see the viking, that’s my favorite i want that one for Christmas" salesperson [silence...................] [but why?, why would you like the viking?] like it was bad luck or something. i mean really lady what kinda question was that? kate "well i like the Minnesota vikings football team" salesperson [oh] nicole*rolls eyes in disgust* saleslady then forces us both to take pandora catalogs. which i also make kate carry in her purse (Go Pats!) off to crate and barrel. where i pick up some wine glasses for a xmas present. when we get to the checkout counter the saleslady asks "can i just throw a handle on your box instead of give you a bag?" mind you, there are 6 fat heavy wine glasses in said box, and since were at the pru, were obviously not parked outside and have a long trek back home so a bag would be handy. Nicole “actually, may i please have a bag? to which saleslady makes a clicking noise with her tongue rolls her eyes and throws them in a bag. kate was so pissed she was ranting about the stupid b***h at the "Cracker barrel" for the rest of the day. i said kate, its crate and barrel.... to which i get a whatever! fast forward, Davis square train you know the picture of the bag with the rolls of paper sticking out because the paper people didn’t have a decent bag. yeah well thats about to come into play .when were leaving the train station and i walk by an up and down escalator and BOOM this is when the bag decides it can no longer handle the paper rolls. i bend over and realize im not going to reach it in time to which i yell to the little sister to go after paper rolls being carried down the down escalator of course there’s 1000 people watching much their joy since nothing exciting has happened all day. kate grabs rolls just in time and we flee with red faces. we finally make it home and prepare a great meal with swiss chard, chicken, Brussels sprouts, and red mashed potatoes. it was delicious and we washed it down with some ice cold beers. we recanted our day and our full bellies hurt from laughing so much!

My Doc said to add some grated cheese to your scrambled eggs in the morning (remember we're not counting fat) it's the weight of the eggs that are the problem - they need a little help going down and the cheese is just enough to make it easier to stay down...I can also do yogurt with nuts in the am - and chew really well!

Is that crushing the meds with the yogurt?

I tried cereal last night with milk and it was very uncomfortable. I'm thinking maybe because of the liquid with solid food. I'll have to try it with Greek yogurt. Thanks!

Another update and a good one! I actually wrote pretty much the same thing on the Post Surgery Board. I went in to see the doc today about my incision, and found out that it has closed up enough (and is strong enough) not to need stitches. He did give me a script for antbiotics which i will take for 10 days along with 1 yogurt a day. I had my first yogurt today and it was awesome! I have been busy today and more active than the past few days....even went on a walk with pumpkin (our dog) and pain is tolerable now.....Things are now going in the right direction. Just a minor complication that apparently is now fixed

Im doing better now that I'm in week two. I get a few gas bubbles because I forget I can't gulp water or whatever I'm drinking at the time. I haven't had nausea at all during this whole new life change which is surprising. Hopefully yours will stop soon it gets easier, I think when day 7 came everything seemed to be a lot better! I figured I needed more protein because my body was so week, my friend and I both got some protein shakes so we did that one day and felt soooo much better. And getting to have a few bites of yogurt was a nice change! Things are finally starting to get better!

I drink the dannon dacactive yogurt drinks that are about 35 calories and only 3 oz. That can tide me over pretty good and they are a very thin liquid. V-8 juice works too and the V-8 fruit juices. I am 6 days and I miss chewing right now.

McDonald's Yogurt Parfait - 160 calories of yum. Arby's roast beef (bun or no bun). KFC roasted chicken. Wendy's hamburgers seem to go down pretty well - juicy/moist. Best advice though is keep a few things at work in case of days like this (easy to say now huh!) Things that are shelf stable - like a fruit/nut mix (can keep you filled for hours), canned mandarin oranges, I've also seen some shelf-stable packaged meals (Hormel? - not sure the brand) that might work in a pinch. Granola is always good - although can be high in calories like the fruit/nut mix. A little goes a long way.

My 1 year Bandanniversary was in December. Life has been crazy, sad and I'm stalled. I'm working to get back into the groove of recording everything I eat and making better choices in foods. My son was killed in Afganistan in October of 09, My brother in law passed away from cancer in October 09, I've gained around 20 lbs since then and have added candy bars and cheetos to my diet... Yes I know bad bad bad. I went through a period of being too tight...or maybe it was grief and my pouch was topsy turvy and I couldn't get good things in and resorted to liquids for my lunch and dinner. (Soups mostly) There were times I couldn't even get yogurt down. I wanted to come back and see how everyone was doing and be a bit whinny cause I know everyone will understand.

Being unable to eat ANYTHING in quantity, no matter what my head told, me helped me get over cravings. Cravings are a mental habit - with time, if you don't feed the habit, it goes away. Try not to look for similar foods to replace your favorites with. From there it's a short step back to old habits. Try to find new healthy favorites. Become a gourmet - eat small amounts of new, delicious, healthier foods and savor the flavors. I'm almost 7months out. I love 2-3 pan seared scallops w/a couple asparagus spears, or 4-5 shrimp cocktail. I savor my yogurt as a sweet desert or snack. A few legume crackers w/spicy hummus make a filling snack. I love full-fat cheese so I indulge in a little now an again. Experiment - not being hungry let's you sample new foods without overdoing it - you'll find your own new favorites. Make it a lifetime change, not a slow transition back to your old habits. :-)