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I am sorry that you are having troubles. Are you allowed to eat non fat greek yogurt or cottage cheese? My Dad is also a diabetic and has trouble keeping his blood sugar up while sleeping. His solution is to eat 3/4 cup of cottage cheese with fruit or some other topping right before he goes to bed. As for broths- have you tried straining broth based soups? You can get all the flavor of the soup without the solids. I really like low fat broth based tortilla soup. Num Num.

Angie that wasn't so bad. We have a tool, we aren't expected to snap and change overnight. I sure hope your daughter isn't that bad, and that she will recover. Today is a new day, start fresh. b- Protein drink (not the shake just a premade driink), and I think I'll get a scrambled egg l- 1/2 cup chicken salad 1 canned pear (last nights dinner, ate yesterday's lunch for dinner) s - activia yogurt d - pork roast and a little of whatever else mom makes with it s - a bite if that chocolate cake she baked for the heck of it and a big glass of milk.

So when did everyone start eating some food that you actually have to chew?? Also what foods did you start with and how did your sleeve handle it? I am 3 weeks out and am still on liquids, creamy soup(no chunks), sf pudding, yogurt(no fruit) and protein shakes! I am sick of this stage and am so ready for something different!

I was banded on the 14th too. I have been experiencing alot of hunger also. I think it is because I am not getting on a schedule. Once I go back to work I'm sure that will change. On the days I get up and eat breakfast right away and then do my shake a couple hours later then do lunch then the shake again, then supper then another shake. I am stuffed. It's when I don't follow that that I get HUNGRY. The routine is harder than I thought. I never thought about eating every minute of the day before. I just ate when I was hungry...now it's "did I get enough protein, did I drink all my water...oops time for lunch" I am tired of soup and yogurt...I can't have mushy food until late next week.

Thanks ya'll. I'm trying to get my liquids in. Yesterday I did pretty good but today I just didn't get in as much as I should have. I only had about 40 ounces today. I am going to get a shaker or blender and fix me protein drinks tomorrow. Water was going down good, but not I am struggling to drink it. i don't like the isopure, but I make myself drink little bits of it during the day. Chicken broth is alright and I don't have much trouble with it. The only things that are saving me right now are Ice Chips and SF Popsicles. I've had 3 cups of ice chips and 3 popsicles today. I"m thinking of having another before bed, even though they say to stop 3 hours before bed. I really do not want to get dehydrated. I really really want to eat something and I'm not going to, but man when my guys are eating I just want to take it away from them. I am just going to have to get them to eat in the dining room instead of trying eat in front of the tv while I'm on liquids. It is not easy as you all know, but I know it will get better everyday and I'm so looking forward to full liquids and then to the "mooshies". I read my papers everyday on what I can have and when. I'm marking the days off on my calendar. I'm so excited that I can have yogurt in a few days.. I can hardly wait. Yogurt is going to be my saving grace with the unflavored protein. My family are so wonderful and helpful to me right now and they didn't realize how difficult it was for me until today when I just broke down and told them I couldn't handle it.. I'm just muddling through one day at a time and with God's grace I'll make it through with enough liquids in me each day. I appreciate all of the kind words, encouragement, and prayers that I know I receive from the people here, and for that I am forever grateful to all of you. Just been a rough day here for me and thanks for letting me ramble. Hugz, Penny

Best answer Living to Eat: Do You Have a Food Addiction? By Meghan Vivo Jane sneaks out of the house at midnight and drives six miles to the local 7-Eleven to get a chocolate bar. This has become a nightly ritual. She's gaining weight and feels profoundly ashamed of her lack of self-control. Though she vows to stop this behavior, she can't seem to shake the craving night after night. Jane is a food addict. In many ways, food can closely resemble a drug - caffeine and sugar offer a quick pick-me-up while carbohydrates and comfort foods can help soothe and relax the mind. Some people use food, like drugs, to feel at ease in social situations or to unwind after a long day. If you think about food constantly throughout the day, have compulsive cravings for certain types of foods, or waste more than half of your daily calories binging on unhealthy Snacks, you may be one of the 18 million Americans who suffer from food addiction. What Is Food Addiction? Food addiction, like any other addiction, is a loss of control. Food addicts are preoccupied with thoughts of food, body weight, and body image, and compulsively consume abnormally large amounts of food. Even though they understand the harm caused by their behavior, they just can't stop. Food addicts tend to crave and eat foods that are harmful to their bodies. For example, people with food allergies may crave the foods they are allergic to, while diabetics may crave and overindulge in sugar, despite the adverse effects. Food-aholics generally gorge on fat, salt, and sugar in the form of junk food and sweets. If they are feeling depressed, lonely, or disappointed, they consume large amounts of chips, chocolate, or other comfort foods for a "high." As with most addictions, the high wears off, leaving the person feeling sick, guilty, and even more depressed. Because the addict is out of control, she will repeat the same eating patterns over and over again in an effort to feel better. Compulsive overeaters often eat much more rapidly than normal and hide their shame by eating in secret. Most overeaters are moderately to severely obese, with an average binge eater being 60% overweight. Individuals with binge eating disorders often find that their eating or weight interferes with their relationships, their work, and their self-esteem. Although compulsive overeaters or binge dieters often struggle with food addiction, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are also considered types of food addictions. Addiction or Bad Habit? Unlike drug and alcohol addiction, which have been recognized by the medical profession for years, addiction specialists still question whether food can be genuinely addictive. Is the obsession with eating a true addiction, or just a bad habit? Some experts are quite skeptical of putting food in the same category as drugs or alcohol. They argue that people like junk food because it tastes good, not because they are physically incapable of controlling their behavior. Others contend that individuals who abuse substances in excess of need, despite the harm it can cause, are addicts, whether the substance is alcohol, drugs, or food. In some cases, food addicts trying to break the habit claim to experience both physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, mood changes, tremors, cramps, and depression. In an animal study at Princeton University, researchers found that after rats binged on sugar, they showed classic signs of withdrawal when the sweets were removed from their diet, which suggests foods like sugar can be addictive. Brain imaging studies conducted by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have found that food affects the brain's dopamine systems in much the same way as drugs and alcohol. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. When psychiatrist Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and her colleagues compared brain images of methamphetamine users with obese people, they found both groups had significantly fewer dopamine receptors than healthy people. Moreover, the higher the body mass index, the fewer the dopamine receptors, which may explain why it is so difficult for some people to lose weight and keep it off. Are You a Food Addict? Whether the obsession with food is a true addiction or simply a bad habit, one thing is clear: Your health is on the line. Obesity, psychological disorders, and diabetes are just a few of the health risks associated with compulsive eating. If you're worried that you may have a food addiction, FoodAddicts.org recommends that you answer the following questions: Have you ever wanted to stop eating and found you just couldn't? Do you think about food or your weight constantly? Do you find yourself attempting one diet or food plan after another, with no lasting success? Do you binge and then "get rid of the binge" through vomiting, exercise, laxatives, or other forms of purging? Do you eat differently in private than you do in front of other people? Has a doctor or family member ever approached you with concern about your eating habits or weight? Do you eat large quantities of food at one time? Is your weight problem due to your "nibbling" all day long? Do you eat to escape from your feelings? Do you eat when you're not hungry? Have you ever discarded food, only to retrieve it and eat it later? Do you eat in secret? Do you fast or severely restrict your food intake? Have you ever stolen other people's food? Have you ever hidden food to make sure you have "enough?" Do you feel driven to exercise excessively to control your weight? Do you obsessively calculate the calories you've burned against the calories you've eaten? Do you frequently feel guilty or ashamed about what you've eaten? Are you waiting for your life to begin "when you lose the weight?" Do you feel hopeless about your relationship with food? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may have, or be in danger of developing, a food addiction or eating disorder. Although food addiction is not nearly as intense as alcohol and drug addictions, you may need help regaining control of your life. Treating Food Addiction Change is never easy, and overcoming food addiction is no exception. It will require a combination of discipline, healthy eating habits, and exercise. In many ways, treatment of food addiction is similar to drug and alcohol addiction. The first step to recovery is recognizing and accepting the problem, and identifying which foods cause allergic symptoms and cravings. However, unlike drug and alcohol addiction, food addicts can't quit cold turkey. Everyone has to eat. Instead of taking drastic measures, make the following changes gradually, one small step at a time. Reprogram your taste buds. If you eat tons of sugar-laden foods, your taste buds get used to the flavor and you will start craving sweeter and sweeter foods. When buying foods that aren't supposed to be sweet, like Pasta sauce, bread, and crackers, make sure they don't have added sweeteners like fructose, dextrose, and corn syrup. Slowly try to limit sweet or salty foods in favor of fruits and vegetables to restore the sensitivity in your taste buds. Plan your meals. Food addicts often hide food or binge when they are alone. One way around this is to avoid hiding a stash of food in your car, desk, or nightstand. Also, plan out healthy meals in advance, portion out single servings on smaller plates, and eat scheduled meals at the dinner table. If you eat in front of the TV or while talking on the phone, you're more likely to eat large amounts of food without realizing it. Though it may take a few weeks to change your eating patterns, your brain will eventually get used to smaller portions of healthy foods and generate fewer snack-food cravings. Moderate your hunger. People with food addiction tend to take an all-or-nothing approach to dieting, bouncing from ravenous to overstuffed. A useful tool to moderate food consumption is to rate your hunger on a scale of zero to ten, zero being starving and ten being overstuffed, then try to stay between three and five. If you wait until you hit zero, you may not stop eating until you reach ten. Know your weaknesses. Everyone has a list of foods that are hard to turn down. If you can't resist a fine loaf of bread at a restaurant, ask the waiter not to bring the bread basket to your table. If you can't walk past an ice cream parlor without stopping for a scoop or two, take a different route. If you have a habit of eating Cookies or popcorn while watching TV at night, read a book or walk the dog instead. If these tricks don't work, stop buying unhealthy foods at the grocery store. If it's in your kitchen, you're probably going to eat it. Deal with the real issues. Typically a food addict will numb unpleasant feelings with food. If you stop relying on food, you can learn to tackle problems head-on and let yourself feel the sadness, anger, or boredom without using food as a crutch. Find healthy ways to cope. For food addicts, the next salt or sugar fix becomes the dominating force in their life. The best treatment is to find other ways to fill the void, like working out, hiking, going out with friends, or talking to a therapist. Exercise sparks the same pleasure centers of the brain as food, and offers a similar high without the guilt. If you're not physically hungry but you're struggling to resist a craving, brush your teeth, drink Water, leave the house for a few minutes, or choose a healthy substitute like yogurt instead of ice cream or baked chips instead of potato chips. Give yourself a break. The guilt people feel after overeating perpetuates the addiction. They're sad because they ate too much, so they turn to food for solace. Learn to forgive yourself and don't get discouraged by minor setbacks. Food addiction can be a serious problem. Just ask the people who habitually visit the drive-thru at midnight or load up on candy bars on a daily basis. To beat the addiction, sometimes all you need is motivation to change and a few lifestyle modifications. In more severe cases, you may need to seek help from a food addiction group like Overeaters Anonymous, a mental health professional, or an addiction treatment center. In either case, a shift in outlook must occur: Eat to live, don't live to eat. Other resources and articles:

breakfast: Greek yogurt Lunch: cheese stick & 3 breakfast sausage links Dinner 3.5 oz chicken Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

I am now 5 days op with a few questions. I have gone from "I think I'm gonna die and this decision wasn't so hot" to "I'm uncomfortable but it is manageable and I will be fine in a few days. I'm glad I did this.". here are my questions: how much should I be able to drink at a time? In the morning when I get up I can drink a 10 ounce Protein shake in just at an hour. Is that too much? Should I still have pain on incision sites? I still have a pretty significant pain on my left side by one of my incision sites. How much solids should I be able to eat? I am cleared for yogurt and I was able to get down 3 ounces in about 30 minutes. Is that too much? I guess I was under the assumption i wouldn't be able to eat but a teaspoon of food at a time. I was shocked I could eat the yogurt. when I stopped at 3 ounces i didn't even feel really "full" or uncomfortable. I just stopped since it was the first time I'd eaten anything. I guess I am ultimately worried I have a leak in my stomach and I'm able to get so much food down because it is leaking into my abdomen! The doc did a leak test on me and it was fine at hospital. I just didn't think I'd be able to get this much down! Is this normal?

hey tia !!!.........no ! dont have buyers remorse !!!!... i am in the same boat you are in !!!... i am 18 days post op...and am feeling like i am at a stall . my wt before surgery was 228...and presently for the past 5 days i have juggled between 210 and 214......so have lost maybe 15 lbs since surgery i feel i am not losing it quick enough and have recently been told by several ppl that it is normal between 2-3 weeks to be stuck ...lasting maybe even a month , and then the weight will start droppin again. i hope i am right !!i am tring to get a cpl protein shakes in a day ...a few bites of cottage cheese, krogers carb master yogurt, chili chewed up really good, ....i can only eat a few bites and get extreme fullness.i worry i am not getting in enough protein, an i will admit , i sure dont drink much water !!!!i think what we are feeling is normal . i have googled local support groups in the area and am trying to attend however many i can !!it really does help !!!! we can do this !!!Hang in there , and i'll be glad to help u n compare notes !!!

Try to eat as healthy as possible and work out a lot. I eat a light fruit yogurt for breakfast. 4 strawberrys and 6 cheese cubes for lunch. Then I walk to the gym .5 miles and run 2 miles on the treadmil and walk back another .5 miles. I drink a lot of water!! Then I will do two scoops of protein in 16 oz of skim milk. When I go home from work I will usally eat a grilled chicken breast with some broccoli and maybe some long grain rice if I am really hungry. Then I will do 50 min of circuit training after my stomach has settled. I have lost 131 lbs in 8 months so it must work. Good luck to you I hope this information has helped you.

I am so sick of making myself get in protein shakes cottage cheese yogurt mashed potatoes and beans. What are some soft food ideas?

So sorry you're having a rough time, but it does get better. I had terrible diarrhea my first 6 days postop & I still have no idea how I managed to stay hydrated. It was awful & I felt so weak! My doc ended up adding kefir (liquid yogurt) into my diet & it made a world of difference for me. Hang in there...this too shall pass!

There are many ways to add extra protein to your diet. I could not handle Protein Shakes at all so I would take SF pudding and add a scoop of protein powder or plain old powdered milk (excellent choice and cheap!) Also, you can add it to yogurt and double the amount of protein you get in one easy step. You need to work to get that protein in. It is crucial when in the "honeymoon" stage. Congrats on the choice to have the Sleeve. It is LIFE CHANGING!!

I'm 3 months post op and I also forget to eat. I'm going to be seeing the nutritionist for the first time after surgery in two weeks and now is definitely the time. Not only do I forget to eat (and drink enough water) but it seems to be so much work to get in the Protein drinks which I still supplement with because there's no way I can get enough protein otherwise. I still have a tendency to eat too fast which can cause nausea but it could be lack of Water as well. It's a work in progress for sure. I start the day with a Protein Drink and often that's more than I can handle for Breakfast. Sometimes I'll have eggs (2) for lunch or crackers and cheese or yogurt and fruit with granola/cereal. Another protein drink and then supper. Not sure whether I'm getting enough calories or perhaps the wrong calories. Hopefully, the nutritionist can give me some ideas. Ruth

Hello... I use Pure Protein Vanilla Creme & mix in sugar free jello's or puddings to make different flavors..some of my favorites are s/f chocolate pudding with 2 tbsp of peanut butter or s/f pistachio pudding with almond flavoring added to 12 oz of water, some ice and 1 scoop of the protein powder...Have tried many other combinations like s/f orange jello (creamsicle), s/f lemon pudding...this morning I tried s/f chocolate pudding with a packet of chocolate raspberry truffle instant coffee and it was really good...you can also add greek yogurt to boost protein from 25g to 39g...Prior to my nutrition appointment I always used Atkins but I found this to be much less $ and more tasty and doesn't leave the after taste.

My first three days (plus day of surgery) I was on clear liquids only, and that was fine because I was not hungry at all. I sipped on flavored water and apple juice, that's it. No protein. My dr. and NUT actually didn't mention protein at all for those first few days - all they cared about was me keeping myself hydrated. After a few days the swelling went down and I was able to get more water in. I started on protein drinks with the full liquid phase, and I've been having 2-3 per day, plus my water. Every once in a while I'll have some chicken broth, Greek yogurt or jello to vary things.

I am on day 4. I am able to get in 1/3 cup of full liquid like cream soup or pudding at a time. I eat for a max of 20 min. and give it up. I can drink a medium sip at a time and drink throughout the day. I am getting 30 ounces of water/crystal lite daily. I actually find it easier to get in full liquids and things that have the consistency of pudding or yogurt than clear liquids. I am trying to increase my intake.

I eat maybe 4 ounces of food in a sitting. It takes me 30 min - 1 hour usually. I try and eat 3 times a day high protein (protein shakes, greek yogurt) and then two snacks (like half of a sugar free jello, broth, or popsicle), one between breakfast and lunch, and one between lunch and dinner.

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.

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.

Did anyone go in for there first fill and not get a fill?? My nurse told me that I have 3cc residual fluids in my band from surgery already and I was 4 weeks post OP down 25lbs not hungry at all with good when I do eat. still a little nervous eating solid foods so I do protein shakes , fish, Greek yogurt and egg whites with salsa most days .. I'm sure this is completely normal just wanting to see if anyone else had this experience...

Progress! Managed to eat a little cottage cheese and NO queasiness after! I practically threw myself a parade hah. I'm thinking this is a good sign toward mushies? Feeling a lot stronger today, likely due to yogurt and cheese. I also tried these 42g protein shooter things and I think that helped a LOT, but oh god it was *awful* getting (and keeping) that down. Any suggestions for less offensive tasting protein? I'm trying to get as much in as possible but obviously it's quite a task. Help!

This morning I was at the grocery store in the check out line, I began to unload my groceries onto the conveyor belt and the lady in front of me kept glancing at the items that I was putting on there. I was a bit self conscience at first because it was normal occurrence in the past for people to take a second look at the full buggy of food that I was purchasing. It was "normal" for me to be piling up the conveyor belt with things that aren't good for me and that helped to get me into the position I was 9 months ago right before I had my surgery. It was normal for me to have Cookies, chips, prepackaged foods like chicken nuggets, pizzas, lasagnas, then ice cream, candy, hamburger helper meals and a TON of sodas. But now, I am one of THOSE people that I felt self conscience around (although they didn't do anything to make me feel this way except for to make better choices in the food that they purchased) Today, my purchases consisted of fresh fish and chicken, lots of fresh veggies and yogurts. I chose to skip the chip, cookie and soda aisles and I am not missing a thing! (And as an added bonus, my grocery bill has gone down!) Woo-hoo!!!!

Howdy all, I was sleeved exactly a week ago tomorrow AM. My doc's post operative diet called for 10 days of clear liquids following surgery, but I am struggling a bit and really want to move on to the full liquids phase. I know some people move on at 7 days and I am jealous!! I had a low BMI at surgery (29) and physically I have had no issues since surgery whatsoever. I feel good. Back at work from home (though finding it hard to concentrate when I am only intaking very low calories), I'm walking the doggie a few miles a day, no vomiting or nausea, already had some mini BMs. I do have a few incision twinges at surgery site but nothing major and the compression garment I'm wearing helps with those. I just really want something other than broth, juice and tea. That's literally all that is on the diet plan for the first 10 days. Broth, juice, tea. That's it. I'd just kill for some thicker soups or greek yogurt, even a protein shake... but don't want to defy doctors orders. Thing is, they just seemed to be his standard orders that he gives out to everyone, and not particularly tailored to me personally (sleeved in Mexico). I know three days more shouldn't be a big deal. I keep telling myself that. This is temporary. Im lucky that my partner has cooked me up delicious home made beef bone broth and chicken broth and I feel super grateful. Not sure if I am asking for approval or just moaning. I really want to stick to plan, but it's hard and this whole "I have no desire to eat" thing doesn't seem to be applying to me. The 10 day mark feels like an age away. Guessing its probably all in my head?? Other than that, feeling good!

I was banded on the 10th about 2 weeks ago. Lost fifteen pounds too. Now Im on mushies and actually had ice cream yesterday (it was my grandmas93 bday). It was only half cup and it went down fine and I ralized that just because I have this band this tool I have to make good choices. I didnt beat myself abt it bcause I enjoyed it but still i (we) have to watch it. I advise you to not beat urself up, try not to get depressed and make better choices: fruit, jello, lowfat yogurt, etc. If yu made a few poor choices dont sweat it and do better next time. You got the band for a reason so its going to be a process and a re-learning in regards to food choices and you relationship to food. Good luck!!