Search the Community

For the guys out there (and gals) that were worried about if they could ever eat a normal portion of a food or drink after their sleeve, for my experience its yes. I'm four weeks out from surgery and never had any food or drink issues. Today I downed a whole 11 oz Protein shake with ease with no bad feeling afterward. Also I'm having normal portions of things like roast beef and fish. Mind you I've now been trained to eat slower and I'm paying attention to properly chewing things. Maybe its were I'm still eating softer foods...but I'm moving more toward my protein goals from foods from shots and shakes...which is great. The atkins bars make for a great high protein snack and greek vanilla yogurt. My diet for this week will consist of deli turkey breast dipped in spicy mustard maybe wrapped in 2% milk cheese, denty moore beef stew, campbells chunky Soups, frozen fish and salmon, canned chili. My sleeve absolutely loves WHEAT THINS...has for over a week now. I guess its where it chews up into a nice mush. For the folks who loved meat before, the post op diet is going to fill right back into track.... thought I'd share that! Worm

I had my post op today too and everything looked good. I got contact dermatitis from the dermabond that is on its way to healing. Still super itchy but it’s not as red as the past couple of days. I’m beginning to think my practice is so incredibly different from the others. We don’t have a purée stage. First 10 days is liquid+ meaning liquids/shakes/yogurt/pudding etc. after 10 days it goes to soft (fork mashable foods) which includes cooked veggies, meats (ex chicken salad and tuna salad, or any moist meat). I’m now cleared to slowly add in these softer foods before cleared for regular food in 3 weeks. I ate tuna tonight with 0 issues :) Fluid avg: 100oz Protein avg: 85g How is everyone else fairing?

@Rose57I had the traditional DS almost 15 years ago and the answer is yes regarding help. I had my mother stay for about a week. I was too tired and weak to do much. She made my meals (which was a tsp. of scrambled egg for breakfast 😁), kept track of what pills I started on and crushed some into a tsp. of yogurt as I recall. She also pushed me to get up and walk outside several times a day. I needed her to clean myself as well.

I used string cheese, and Greek yogurt for Snacks. I used to eat chobani fruit flavors but so much sugar so instead I mix fruit with Fage plain yogurt (about 22g per 8 ounces!) or I mix a Dannon lite and fit Greek fruit flavored with a plain Fage and get about 30g Protein and 180 calories. Yum! I will eat 2-3 Quest bars a week and also 1-2 GNC ready to drink shakes. That it 20-25g protein in one of to either of those!

8 oz can vary a lot, depending on what it is. I could easily eat 8 oz of yogurt, but I could never eat 8 oz of meat. A full plate of food also depends on what it is and how big the plate is, but in most cases, yes, it's likely too much, Do you know how many calories you're averaging? You probably haven't stretched your stomach, but once you get used to eating larger amounts of food, it's hard to go back..

I would check and see what your NUT has cleared you for. I was on mushy's at that time period and I could have mashed potatoes, hummus, yogurts, Soups. You still need to be very careful, your tummy is still healing. Maybe you could take something with you to eat while he is eating. Congrats!!! They grow up too quickly! So glad that you are getting healthier so you can enjoy life better with him!

Yes. Dumping is not that common with the sleeve, but it happens to some people. I had a dump at around 12 weeks eating frozen yogurt with fresh strawberries. Not fun at all.

I'm not suppose to start pureed foods until next week. The yogurt and protein shakes have helped. I did sneak in some pureed carrots. Bought baby food today.

I was sleeved on 1/3. All sips hurt but especially water for some reason. One day I just woke up and it didn't hurt anymore. I went to the doctor on Wednesday (10 days Post op) and he added yogurt, eggs and protein shakes. I start full liquids on day 14 post op. I can tell you this.....I tried eating an egg every day and it does NOT feel too good. I keep trying it again each day. I have been very lucky...no naseau or vomiting.. Good luck and email me if you need any questions.

Diarrhea is the plague of my life. After surgery it was bad, but I attributed it to the whopping dose of antibiotics they gave me. That's a major problem for some people. Yogurt is a big help. I ate some every day and was better every day. There is also some sort of dried form you can sprinkle in liquid. For some reason yogurt was on my list of "full liquids" so I just nibbled on a little at every "meal"

Posted in this site as when I was reading some of the messages it scared the tripe out of me So I am three day after surgery feeling great as long as u take all the pain relief given Walked into theatre on the 6th had met the surgergon before hand, nurses lovely made me feel really at ease In recovery for 2 hrs can't really remember much Up to the ward morphine given and loads of other pain relief Daughter arrived in 13/16 fixed the hair and facial Consulant arrived late evening asking why I was still in gown, patient feel better he says in pj Got into pj got coffee and yogurt up to the loo Too excited to sleep much Next morning coffee then porridge 30 later Shown how to inject anti clotting drugs given loads medications for home. wounds to b left alone for ten days And then I take off Pass the hospital/ clinic daily when back driving and to call in if any worries Got dress a bit make on checkout at 11:30 Good to b home Purée loads of dinner and homemade soups Eating low fat yogurts and custards Only time will tell re weightloss But the whole experience to all you worried pre bandsters For me it was the equivalent to key hole sterilisation I am not saying it will b the same for everyone but that mine So I hope that puts some of u at ease Take care

Thank you for your encouaging words Slenderella Kristikay I was supposed to lose 30lbs before surgery but I gained 10...I think the same thing, 6 months is a long time, my doctor only requested a week of yougurt, unsweetend applesauce, sugar free pudding, popsicles, skim milk, protein shakes and raw veggies, jello, but It's hard to do this when I've contantly got people around me eating McDonald's, Taco Bell, and 7-11....once I made up in my mind hey I'm going to do this regardless of what's being eaten around me, I felt a lot better, still a little PO'd but I'll get over it. Time to start losing this weight, we both will! My surgery is September the 27th, only 1 more day, and this day I can only consume liquids, nothing red and no yogurt or veggies, just broth and protein shakes and nothing after midnight Wednesday.

I would say first off you aren't eating enough and you aren't meeting Protein goals. I would add at a minimum an afternoon snack something like yogurt with a bit of fruit and a tsp of flax or wheat germ sprinkled on top would also address the constipation issues you previously mentioned. I would look into something like the the Isopure nocarb drinks or Syntrax nectar to help increase your protein and Fluid intake. I would also try walking for at least 15 - 20 minutes a day. Exercise helps jump start your metabolism and appetite. I would also call the doctor. Still having trouble eating at 8 weeks out is not a good thing. ETA: If you can tolerate it. I would even add a tiny bit of spinach to that 1 egg. Spinach had Vitamin A, K, folate, Fiber, Iron and protein. I would also add a tiny bit of Protein powder to the the afternoon yogurt. That would increase your protein intake.

I feel very good considering I just had surgery 2 days ago. I've been able to eat jello, yogurt and plenty of fluids. Going to have creamy soup tonight. I have 6 incision sites and they look great. Dr Garth Davis said my surgery was Video perfect. I am so glad I don't have any drains. They removed a lap-band. It feels great to finally cross the hurdle of having the surgery done. The waiting and liquid diet had me very nervous. Sent from my SM-J700T1 using BariatricPal mobile app

i am sick of protein shakes as well. so instead of the shakes i eat beans, chicken, turkey ground, eggs, yogurt, protein bars, lunch meat, shrimp and fish in order to get my protein

We're leaving for a 7 day Alaskan cruise on Monday! Already have my snack bag packed for the 8 hr drive to Seattle (almonds, Cheerios, jerky and a cooler for yogurt and water). Our last 3 cruises, I was banded and never gained any weight. This time tho I'm totally unfilled (slipped last month, awaiting a revision to sleeve in late June) and I've gained a few lbs since being unfilled. I've noticed tho that my stomach hurts really bad for about 24 hrs and I have to be on liquids for 2-3 days when I overdo (like I did 1 day last week) so I'm hoping that will deter me from eating too much. Anyone who's been on a cruise probably know what I'm talking about! Access to food 24 hrs a day. I plan on going to the gym everyday tho! And walking around in all the ports. Hoping that I don't gain. If I come back to my drs appt on May 22nd without having gained 10 lbs since the last time I was at the drs a few months ago, I'll be happy! Being totally unfilled for months and having gained only 10 lbs is a feat in itself, I think! Wish me luck! Marci

I was looking today for a quick and easy way to get more Fiber in my diet without a lot of calories, or a lot of cooking. I took 1/2 cup of canned black Beans (no fat added), added a few tablespoons of salsa and a few tablespoons of greek yogurt (or could use FF sour cream), stirred it up and ate it cold. Would be good heated, too. Came out to about 150 calories, 13 gm Protein, 8 gm dietary fiber and 1 gm fat. And it was delicious, and very filling! Thought someone else might be interested in this tip! The average US diet gets less than half of the recommended fiber, and we all know that our band diet tends to get even less than that...and all the problems that causes. LOL.

I was banded nine days ago and still on liquids. I have been getting hungry, but trying to fill myself up with low cal selections. Different soups that I put in the blender, protein shakes, watery cream of wheat, yogurt, decaf coffee, water etc. Can hardly wait for the mushy stage!

I am 4 weeks out and I split it up through out the day. Wake up Protein shake Midmorning at work, greek yogurt lunch bare burito or baked potatoe or I'll have about 3 oz of deli meat and cheese Midafternoon shake or greek yogurt dinner 3oz of what ever meat hubby is making Evening protein shake My issue before was that I ate until I was over full and I am finding that I do the same a little bit now. Not to the point of getting sick but being really full. I still only get in about 3 oz when actually eating food. Gotta work on that.

Sleeved on 04/29. I am very unhappy because in the last 3 weeks I have only lost 4 lbs. I track calories and never go over 700 per day, all from lean protien and vegtables. Sometimes I have a yasso frozen greek yogurt for a treat but never more than one per day. I usually get all the water in, and have been increasing my workouts to 5 per week. Love C25K! Whats up? How can I work so hard at this and the scale is not moving. A friend of mine was sleeved 02/14 and has already lost 70 lbs, she was about the same size I was starting. She does not exercise, count calories, or even worry about how much protien she gets in. She has 2 protien shakes (12g protien ea) per day and eats a small dinner. Her Dr. never emphasized the protien as much as mine. Maybe I should just relax and not try to stay so on top of it and trust the sleeve will do the job.

Hi Jennifer I think it is fantastic that you joined up in support of your husband. I think the biggest misconception may be that there are foods we can't eat after surgery. Granted there are MANY items we shouldn't eat, but unless for some reason he can't tolerate something, the option to have his favorites, in moderation, are there. Bread is hard for a lot of folks, its just too dense and heavy. There is no way to know exactly how he will be effected. I love my carbs too, and I know I need to stay away from them to really get the most out of my weight loss efforts. This has ALWAYS been the case, not just post op. Carbs are necessary for a balanced diet, but most have no real nutritional value. Since we take in so few calories, we really want to get the most bang for our buck, so I try to stay away. I just found some wraps (Fiber One honey wheat) that I will have for lunch on occasion. Your switching to whole wheat pastas etc, is a great step in aiding his changing habits. I had a conversation with my mother not too long ago, she has never had any weight issues and we were a large family of 10 kids, so she never really thought about the food we ate growing up and how it does shape our habits throughout out life, just that we had enough. We had lots of bread and Pasta, quick meals that fed a lot of people for less money. It was a way of life, and that's what it needed to be at the time. But looking back, my habits were formed early on, it was up to me to change them. I completely understand his not wanting his struggles to be ones your children have later on and his wanting it to change now. That being said, it has got to be hard for a whole family to make sweeping changes, but some are for the overall better good. I don't have children, but I do have my young nieces & nephews come over a lot. Yogurt, cheese sticks, fruit. all acceptable snack items that are all still good for me too. keeping an open dialog is most important, if there is an item that he feels having around will make it really hard for him then maybe talk with the kids and see if they can take one for the team & dad and do away with for a while. I also can understand needing there not to be junk food in the house, maybe each of the kids can pick their own healthier alternative while he is in the early stages. I have been keeping pre-portioned packs of nuts as a snack, it gives me a crunch and on my plan. Making the decisions as a family for the overall good should make it a little easier at least. He may not realize all the changes you have been making behind the scenes. There are a few really good websites that have very tasty family friendly recipes. www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and www.emilybites.com The kids most likely won't even realize these are "healthier" options. If his inquiry about surgery opened more of a dialog about healthy eating habits for the family, there is no "fault" there. He might need to think about it in a different way, or at least know that you don't think of it that way. Every summer I go away with a big group of my family to the beach. This year I put it out there to my many nieces and nephews to bring their bikes as a way of getting from one house to another (and to get me moving on vacation) They JUMPED at it, they loved that I wanted to ride with them and every one brought a bike, the whole week we rode and they never thought it was more than a great way to spend time together. My point really has to do with perception. There is a sub-forum here The Man's room. He & youmay get unique point of view by checking it out. Again, I really applaud your efforts to understand what he is going through and your willingness to do what you can to make the process easier. Best of luck to you all!!

I would say you are not getting in enough calories. I don't think that even adds up to 800 calories. If you had surgery in March try to eat food instead of drinking Protein shakes. I would rather much eat calories then drink them. If you have issues in the morning eating, make a shake with fruit, yogurt and other things many cant eat Breakfast but if you can eat breakfast I would recommend replacing those shakes with food instead.

I'm also in the mushy stage and I've been eating yogurt a lot. I've also tried homemade applesauce and for dinner, I'm just eating what I make for my family and mushing it up. I have not tried any red meat as of yet.

During the first few weeks after surgery, you need to take the time to recover and to start adjusting to your new life with the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System. A big part of your long term weight loss success will be your motivation and commitment to a new lifestyle that includes a new diet and exercise plan, routine check ups with your surgeon, ongoing LAP-BAND® System adjustments, support group meetings, and more. However, be patient with yourself in the first weeks after surgery. You've already taken the biggest step - the first one. Now, it'll be a new life and lifestyle you create over time, not overnight. Your doctor will work with you to address your needs specifically. Below are some guidelines: Recovery Here are some key points for your recovery in the first few days and weeks. First Days You can expect some soreness, especially where the access port is, but it should subside (Please call your surgeon if the pain persists after a few days). To prevent infection, your surgeon may tell you not to shower for a day or so after surgery. Try to walk as much as you can comfortably, so that you'll regain strength and prevent blood clots, but take it slowly. [*]First Week(s) During the first week after surgery, allow yourself to recover and get plenty of rest. In about a week, you should be able to return to work, provided it's not physically demanding. For more physically active jobs, allow yourself two to three weeks to recover. Within four to six weeks, you should be able to resume all normal activity and start a new exercise program. Note: Before engaging in any physical activity or exercise program, first consult your surgeon. Many surgeons see their patients weekly or biweekly during the first month after surgery, so you will be sure your recovery is going well, and have any questions answered. Dietary Guidelines After surgery, you'll need a new nutrition plan. You'll learn about the positive changes you can and need to make in your diet and lifestyle from your surgeon and/or dietitian. It's very important to follow your new eating and drinking instructions beginning immediately after the surgery. In the first few weeks after your LAP-BAND® System surgery, you will be on a liquid diet since only thin liquids will be tolerated by your stomach at that time. As you heal, you will gradually progress to pureed foods (three to four weeks post-op) and then soft foods (five weeks post-op). Finally, after about six weeks, you will be able to eat solid foods. The First Few Days Post-Surgery It's extremely important to follow the eating and drinking instructions immediately after the surgery. This allows your new stomach pouch to heal completely and the LAP-BAND® System to stay in the right position. In the early weeks, it's crucial not to stretch the small stomach pouch above the LAP-BAND® System. Vomiting will do this, while also increasing the chance of stomach tissue slipping up through the band. Right after the surgery, you can take an occasional sip of Water or suck on an ice cube. Don't take any more liquid than this, though. The day after the operation, you can take a little more Fluid but only a small amount at a time. Besides water, you should also choose Clear Liquids that have an adequate number of calories. To prevent nausea and vomiting, do not drink too much. [*]liquid diet (1-2 weeks post-surgery) Your goal during the first few weeks is to protect the small stomach pouch so that you can heal properly. It can only tolerate thin liquids at this time. It's also important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water (small amounts at a time). Other liquids recommended during this phase include: clear broth or Soup (with no vegetables or meat, and not creamy) skim milk fruit juice no-sugar-added popsicles [*]Pureed Foods (3-4 weeks post-surgery) Now, you can start adding slightly textured foods. Think of the consistency of baby foods. This stage will help you transition to more solid foods later. Protein is very important for maintaining muscle while you lose weight. So, you should eat protein-rich foods first, and then move on to fruits and vegetables. Foods in this stage may include: pureed skinless chicken or fish mashed potatoes peas low-fat yogurt or pudding [*]Please note: In the first few weeks you may be able to eat foods that might not be allowed in your diet later, because they may contain too many calories. [*]Remember, it's more important in the first few weeks to let your stomach adjust to the LAP-BAND® System than it is to lose weight. Also, your personal timing and progression into each dietary phase depends on your progress. In general, when it comes to your nutrition, you should follow the advice of your surgeon and/or dietitian. [*]Soft Foods (5 weeks post-surgery) Your meals can now include tender, cooked foods like fish and ground turkey. Now that you can chew, make it a habit to chew foods well. If you have dentures, be sure to cut your food into small pieces and chew your food thoroughly. By not chewing properly, you may experience vomiting, stomach irritation and swelling. You could also have stoma obstruction (obstruction of the stomach opening created by the LAP-BAND® System). Some products like bread, red meat, and rice may still cause you problems, so it is better to eat softer foods that are easier to digest. These might include foods such as moist white meat (chicken or pork) and fish. If solid foods cause any nausea and vomiting, go back to the liquid diet you had earlier. Then you can slowly add soft foods and eventually transition to solid foods. Always ask your doctor or dietitian for advice that is specific to you. Again, remember that vomiting may increase the incidence of band slippage, stomach slippage, or stretching of the small stomach pouch above the LAP-BAND®.

Wow, I'm surprised you weren't given any more specific guidelines than that. For me, I had two weeks of liquids, two weeks of purees, two weeks of mushies, then back to regular foods. Right off the bat I was supposed to get 70 grams of Protein a day, and the only way to do that right out of surgery is with Protein drinks. I had a variety.... chocolate, vanilla, a couple of nectar brands, and some Isopure. Counting all of that toward my Water intake, it wasn't too hard to hit 70 grams and get my water in, although calories typically were only about 300-400 or so. Nearly always in the evening, dinner was creamed Soup of some kind (strained if necessary), and my favorite was tomato. With a little dollop of plain Greek yogurt in it, it was HEAVEN after all the sweet proteiny stuff. Purees are pretty much soft solids and mushy stuff blenderized to thickish liquid consistency. Mushies would be soft meats such as moist fish, chicken or tuna salad, ricotta cheese, refried Beans (mixed with milk, can also be used in puree stage)... jeez, it's been so long now, I can't remember everything! I have to say, I was so dying for something solid by the end of the liquid stage, a couple days early I had a slice of American cheese that I'd let dissolve piece by piece on my tongue, and I had a bit of potato soup on day 13.