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I ate low GI, went vegetarian, and started running. Within 6 months I was off all my meds for my type II, and my hormones were normal. I didn't do anything special, I just ate well and exercised. And the weight just came off.

I don't think you can predict peoples reactions.. I told my sister in law first, she wrote back not to do it,, its to scary and the diet is too restrictive and I would never be able to handle it... A friend?? said thats great, but its going to suck if your thinner then me.. what?? Another friends comment was.. she just needs more drama in her life!! lol (we're not speaking) my overweight friends are envious but happy for me, some have already had surgery and look and feel fabulous, my heaviest friend has other health issues right now, but needs to consider doing something drastic ASAP or her 4 kids might lose her. I have a sister who I haven't told. She is into naturalistic healing, a vegetarian, 6 ft and never been more then 30 lbs overweight. She is coming to spend a week with us so the subject will come up.. She is kind and takes time to think about her responses, but doesn't say anything at all which is even more annoying. She was convinced that my cholesterol problems were because of what I eat,, when she found out one of my brothers (one of 5, the only thin one) had higher then me she accepted the fact that its hereditary and she just got the better genes.. She thought accupuncture could cure my adenomyosis and pre cancer cells on my cervix so I didn't need a hysterectomy.. Shes extremely intelligent but doesn't live in reality at times I think.. My heaviest brother said,, you really need to do something about your weight,, I asked if mine was successful if he would consider it and he said his blood levels are better then ever and he lost 2 lbs in 4 months..??? He is pre diabetic and has already had a heart attack.. I am really worried about him. So, you just never know how people will respond.. If they start to give me the whole speech about researching and knowing what I"m getting into I tell them I wouldn't be thinking about it if I hadn't taken the last six months to look into it. I need to do this because I can't do it on my own. If they think I am weak, then they have no idea what I go through on a daily basis and how much strength it takes me to get through the day.. emotionally and physically. I am a force to be reckoned with on a bad day,, mayby they are just scared what I will be like on a good day!!

I just keep thinking that I look soooo much better than I did. If I just get to work and lose this last little bit I will feel better about my accomplishment. I am also focusing on being healthy and eating good. I eat mostly vegetarian I have problems with most meat. Can't eat anything after 7:00 and if I eat dinner after 6:00 I have to be very careful or I get acid reflux when I go to bed. I love this band, this would have been hard to accomplish without it. It is also so much easier to maintain. Have a great day,

Try cutting back to liquids for a couple more days and give your stomach a chance to settle down. Some people (myself) simply can not tolerate meat of any kind. It's difficult to digest. My 2 daughters are vegetarian and after my band, I found myself joining the band wagon with them. I've also found eating with a baby spoon to keep the bites very small helps as well. Its sure gets to be a guessing game sometimes trying to figure out what to eat or not to eat. Slow down, keep it soft & smooth, and it should get better. Some people can jump to solid the day of their fill, some need to be on liquids 5+ days. Good luck :tt2:

I just weighed! Oh My Goodness! I have lost 23.6 lbs since starting the challenge and this week I lost 11.8 lbs. True loss is only 4.2, since I had gained that 7.6 lbs last week from TOM and Water weight. I told my boyfriend that I am living on Love! Seriously, I think it's the new vegetarian lifestyle I've adopted. Tofu!!! I now can see how I get so depressed. My weight fluctuates so much! I hope it stays down! I am 10 lbs from 100! AND I have 3 days til my 6 month Bandiversary! AND tomorrow is my Birthday! I'll be 45! Only 5 years til I'm 50! I just lost my high! I'm sad now! 5 years!!! Someone tell me to stop!:thumbup: Okay, I'm outta here!

:driving:On the road again! Can't wait to get on the road again... Willie Nelson won't be with us! BTW! I wanted to touch base with my Peeps! Weigh in everyone, please. We are missing some from last week and the week before. Brandy, where are you Baby? Anita, did you get rid of your guests yet? Bookholder, how are you doing? Where are you? :crying: Marcy, I couldn't figure out if you gave me a weight for last week or not. How are the chickens doing? I do miss chicken now that I've become a vegetarian! Lifesaver, how are you, My Dear! I loved your face in our RR picture, You are just adorable! Deb, I'm so glad Tucker-baby is home with you and DH! Munchkin, how was your night floating? I floated to an adult ICU once and I threw up! :wink2: Sorry, but I was doing trach care and it was more than I could handle! Give me Meconium anyday!! Denver, there is not one thing I do not like about my band. Honestly, I cannot think of one thing. I'll be 6 months out next Tuesday and I have NOT (knock on wood) vomited once, no sliming issues and I can eat anything if I chew it well and take small bites! I love my band! Dork, a blue icee! I love icee's! I stopped at the 7-11 yesterday to get a splenda slurpee, but they were out! We've had 13 days straight of 90 degree or greater weather! I know for a PHX girl like you, that's nothing, but it's hot for us Denver Babies! Sunshine, how are you feeling? I'm sorry if I was hard on you! It's not my place to admonish anyone. I just was worried about you doing too much too soon. Besides, how often do we have a legitimate excuse for taking care of ourselves!? BRB - I'm going to weigh now! Hugs to all my Banditos! All of the newbies! :thumbup: AND all of the more seasoned Losers! Love ya, dee~

If you're still on liquids, realize it will be over soon. It's a little easier to get enough Protein on mushies - just make the highest protein choices. And once you're on solids it's very straightforward! My typical solids day would include an egg and a (veggie) sausage patty, a roll-up sandwich with 2-4 oz meat or fish, and a dinner meal with 2-4 oz solid vegetarian/meat/fish/shellfish entree. Hope that helps!

Hi Greenie! Thanks for posting! Yes that ticket agent has her's coming some day! Karma is a witch with a capital B! I was a vegetarian for over 10 years. I recently adopted that lifestyle again! Actually very recently! The Oats/No Red/Movin' challenge with Shelbi pushed me down that path! Now it seems like I have to be so cognizant of getting my protein in - previously I didn't seem to notice. Legumes are going to be my friend. Not to mention Tofu! I love the Morningstar Farms foods, so that won't be a problem. My freezer is always full of them. I also make a mean homemade veggie burger! Most of my family are vegetarians.

Dee ~ I can't believe that ticket agent! :smile: I hope karma bites her in the butt. I'm glad you enjoyed your concert and were able to climb those steps without a problem. I only know a couple of Rascal Flatts songs but I like them. :biggrin: Lotza ~ I hope that the infection clears up soon. Definitely finish up your antibiotics from Dr. K. And shame on that rude doctor. :w00t: None of her damn business! When I told my GYN that I got banded and that it was in Colorado, she said something similar, but not quite as rude. More like, "Why would you do that?" I said, well, since my DH's employer excludes WLS, I had to pay for it myself and this doctor was the best combination of experience and affordability I could find. That shut her up. Bella ~ I am so sorry that you had to make that trip to ER -- I hope it isn't too expensive and that you're feeling all better now. Better safe than sorry, I suppose. Marcy ~ Nice to hear from you. I was a vegetarian for many years. I eat meat again now and I struggle with it, because I love animals and hate that so many suffer in being raised and slaughtered for food. I am glad that your chickens were killed humanely. :scared2: See people, I am trying to post more and keep up! I hate feeling like I'm missing out.

Crock Pot Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe 1 container soft tofu 1 container firm or extra firm tofu ¼ cup soy milk ½ tsp garlic powder 2 tsp lemon juice 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped 1 tsp salt 2 10 oz packages frozen spinach, thawed and patted dry 4 cups tomato sauce 1 box lasagna noodles Preparation: In food processor or blender, combine the tofu, soy milk, garlic powder, lemon juice, basil, and salt and process until smooth. Add spinach to this mixture. Place about a cup of the tomato sauce in the bottom of the crock pot or slow cooker. Then place 1/3 of the noodles on top of the sauce, and 1/3 of the tofu and spinach mixture on tip of the noodles. Repeat these layers, being sure to end with sauce on tip. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or until noodles are soft. * DO NOT OVER COOK!!! THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE CROCK POT DISHES THAT THE LONGER YOU COOK IT THE BETTER!

I feel i have eaten really bad today, give me the reasons, tell me i have been bad need to be remotivated, i had a slice of fruit loaf for breckie, a muslie fruit bar for morning tea, a large large flavoured skinny latte afternoon break, dinner was a tablespoon of fish from my baked dinner last night,tablespoon of peanut paste, and two slices of thin vegetarian pizza minus the crust from dominos - you could see the grease on it, and 30 grams of nuts, now a skinny latte.:ohmy:

Does anyone know of a good vegetarian multivitamin for bariatric patients?

LENGTH ALERT! (This has very detailed tips and tricks, so this is not a short post. Just a "heads up") People asked me a lot how I went from Slow Loser to getting to goal. I did better my second year of banding and when the weight came off - it really came off. This is something that worked for me, and I recommended to other Bandsters. Granted, these are tips that's not in any LapBand brochure or doctor's manual, and YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY - but if you already think of yourself as a Slow Loser like I was, then maybe you will be open to trying something to shake things up a bit. When I needed a weight-loss push, I didn't cut down on calories much (if I'd recently had a fill adjustment, that's different) but in general: I *added* Protein to every thing I ate. This helped me to lose steadily (although it sped up my weight loss, more importantly it kept it steady). And it worked! Some Bandsters in my same banding date were better at counting calories - I wasn't. Some were better at counting carbs, I wasn't, but I excelled at ADDING protein. And I did well and later, other fellow Bandsters were asking me for help and tips. :crying: How did I do it? I did not reduce calories or the amount I consumed (without a fill it wasn't much need to try that) and yet, I still lost. (I added a little bit of Beans, or a sprinkle of cheese (my favorite), or eggs - whatever I could. I didn't reduce what I ate, but I "upped my protein" - and it worked. With the band, if you eat more protein, you generally will find yourself eating less overall - it doesn't feel that way but you do. Every single time I added more protein to my regular Band-friendly meals, I lost more weight, even though I wasn't eating less calories sometimes. Sounds crazy - but in my particular case, if I didn't keep my protein levels up, my body held on to calories a lot more. Who needs their bodies "hoarding" calories? :thumbup: If adding a bit of food meant I would lose more, it was worth a try. It worked. And I paid attention to the TYPE of protein I ate. (Even before banding, I didn't eat beef or pork at all. And the band was developed in other countries where the pork and beef consumption is a lot lower than it is here in the 'States. I'm not a vegetarian, I just eat seafood and poultry only. My doc said this helped my weight loss a lot because the protein I ate was leaner, not fattier protein like pork/ham/bacon or beef/hamburger/fatty red meat. So I didn't have to regulate my portions as much as some Bandsters did. My can of tuna did more for me than a hamburger ever would have.) Also, I'm a single/childless Bandster who lives alone, so I eat out for almost every meal. If I could make it to goal - while eating out - ANYBODY can. How did I do it? Here were some tips. At Breakfast, with my morning egg(s), I added a bit of cheese on top. Or I would have cottage cheese added. For protein and hunger reasons, cottage cheese did better than yogurt for me - unless I just had a fill or was very very filled or adjusted. The most filled I am, the less I eat in the mornings. So especially if you are not at your sweet spot, try Proteins that "stick" with you more to keep hunger away. Yogurt alone was not good enough of a breakfast for me, with the band it just went through, and wasn't really filling. Now if I charged up my yogurt with lots of nuts, seeds, and wheat germ - then BAM! I'm not much of a cold Cereal eater (I prefer hot cereals) but if I had one I made sure it was a protein-packed one (I LOVE Grape Nuts cereal best. Go Lean is awesome, and several of the Oatmeals & Cream of Wheat cereals have good protein content. I also added a few nuts to those, too. If I had a yogurt smoothie drink as a snack, I had them had a half scoop of Protein powder (a full scoop can make it too thick sometimes) or some soy or nuts. Lunchtime was easy to get more protein in. I'd eat a scoop of tuna salad or chicken salad for lunch - and have them add some shredded cheese, some seeds and/or some nuts. I also love Soup. Usually a cup is a nice start to my lunch if I'm having a scoop of salad or tuna. If it's my whole lunch I get a bowl of soup and eat what I can from it. My band will tell me when to stop. Almost any kind of any soup is great with a sprinkle of cheese or nuts added. Beans, too! With my dinner I always like a cup of soup to begin. Gets me going, jump starts & 'primes' my band and it's a great protein opportunity. Then if I could, I concentrated on seafood. ANY type of fish worked great with my band - From catfish to salmon to snapper to Tilapia. Or even shrimp or my all time favorite, calamari. I enjoy oysters in season and clams all year. The weeks that I ate more seafood, I lost more weight - across the board. Usually grilled is a good choice to be honest I even ate it fried (sorry, weight loss experts) and I still did well. And with my seafood, if I could I added beans to almost everything. With my steamed veggies, I added nuts and a sprinkle of cheese sometimes. I know it's not very It really does work! See when I restrict my calories or even when I try to cut down on fat - I usually just end up cutting down on protein. And no matter how "well" or how much less I eat, if I cut my protein my body won't 'burn' up the fat. It holds on to it. I know that protein is the fuel that helps the LapBand machine work and not trying to diet or 'cut down' was a blessing to me. I've had other Bandsters try this, and yes they are skeptical at first but when they start seeing inches lost (muscle really does weigh more than fat, so your clothes tell you before the scale ever will) then they get on the bandwagon. So don't just 'cut down' - ADD some food on your plate. That's right. ADD MORE nuts, boiled/diced egg, beans, cheese, seeds and other yummy forms of protein. Your body and your LapBand will thank you for it. Also adding protein allowed me to eat fewer carbs and save them for what was really a nice treat - a nice martini or occasional glass of wine, with dinner. Yes, I'm a drinking Bandster. All the successful European Bandsters I knew drank a glass or two now and then and they were my role models. I can't drink a lot AT ALL - a little goes a long way, but it was nice to get to goal weight without ever missing a Friday Happy Hour. I got the band to enhance my life, not take away some of the things that make it enjoyable. I eat out at restaurants, I go have drinks with friends - and I feel and look great. BRAVO! Good Luck to you. (And since so many people asked me the same question in private posts - that's why I am posting it on the Slow Losers board too...) Keep up the good fight. I did it - and you can too.

Vegetarian Artichoke and Spinach Quiche 1 onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp olive oil 2 containers firm tofu, pressed 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp salt ½ tbsp soy sauce 1 10 ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and patted dry 1 6 ounce can artichoke hearts, drained ¼ cup grated cheeses ( optional) 1 pre- made pie crust Preparation Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Sautee the onion and garlic in the olive oil Blend the tofu, soy sauce, salt, pepper and basil until smooth. Add the cheese, spinach and artichokes to the tofu mix and stir to combine. Pour the mix into the pre-made pie crust. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until set. Sprinkle with additional cheese if desired and enjoy! *** I added more cheese then what is called for. I blended it in the quiche and sprinkled some on top.

Awwww PennyLane we have all been "Scared to death" at this point your at now. Hang in there I PROMISE it gets better and is so worth it! I too am very into the environment and things that are "green" I have washed my car in the rain for about as long as I can remember because it saves on Water and is a great rinse job!! lol I work hard at recycling and do it with great passion, it has become a way of life, a hobby, a way to focus my time and energy away from food. Now that my kids are almost grown I am feeling the pre-empty nest syndrome and keeping busy in a positive way has helped me so much! My daughter is a vegetarian and I have always cooked geared towards her needs but have found since getting my band I have really gotten into and enjoy organic and meatless cooking. I have always had to struggle to find ways to get my daughter to eat enough Protein in her diet, now it's a breeze lol. At first friends and family considered me "odd" in some of the things I have cooked up but I have to tell ya (laughing) I get more request for my tofu chocolate pie then I EVER had for any other pie I have made! PLEASE share any ideas you have of things you do! It's always great to learn something new. I will be posting some of my "weird" food recipes in the food section soon.

fish eggs (poached, scrambled, omelet) cheese chicken/turkey deli sliced lunch meats pork/beef/lamb vegetarian/vegan meat analogs like breakfast "sausage" patties and chik'n cordon bleu and BBQ "riblets" tofu nut mix beans cottage cheese greek yogurt like Fage or Oikos South Beach protein bars Luna bars Special K2O protein/fiber drink mix EAS vanilla or chocolate protein powder in water

How are you getting your protein now? I am not a vegetarian but have pretty much given up meat since getting the band. Just a personal choice. My daughter is a vegetarian and I have been cooking meat free for years so I am very used to it ( I cook meat for my hubby and son) I do a lot with tofu and always enjoy finding new ways to make it. Edamame is enjoyed by the whole family and we do a lot of dairy ( not Vegan here) I would think being a vegetarian and getting the band would work out very well! Good-luck to you! :redface:

I am in the decision making process right now about the band. I have been a vegetarian for 5 years. i am just wondering if there are any other vegetarian bandsters and how they have fared. what did you eat? any ideas or tips? i know protein is really important afterwards..... just wondering!!!

Hi, I had my fourth fill last Thursday, July 3rd. I now have 6 cc's total in a 14 cc band. I had complained to my doctor that I didn't feel enough restriction, and my hunger was still not under control. My doc gave me another 1 cc fill, and I went home on full liquids (he requires 12 to 24 hours of liquids after a fill). The next day, I went on soft foods and I could eat a lot, in my opinion, more than one cup at a time. After about 2 or 3 hours later, I was looking for more to eat. The following day, I went to my favorite Mexican Grille and I managed to eat nearly one whole vegetarian burrito bowl! I thought to myself, "Wow, this is a lot of food to be eating in one sitting." I was beginning to worry again. My hunger has been really crazy since the fill, but last night while I was eating some baked fish, the food seemed to get stuck as I got closer to finishing it, and it was the only food I was eating. I really thought I was going to PB for the first time, so I just stopped eating, took a tiny sip of water and let it go down. Thankfully, it did. Perhaps I was eating a little too fast. Now today, my restriction is much better, better than before. I ate a normal breakfast this morning and felt satisfied. It is now about 3 hours later and I am NOT looking for something to eat. Great, I feel good! I think I am experiencing a "delayed restriction." Is this even possible? Has anyone ever experienced a delayed restriction after getting a fill? Thanks!

Because you may drop jello on you? LOL Gosh I'm so happy to be vegetarian, it keeps me away from doctors and their sometimes weird principles.

June 14, 2008 Down 4 pounds in 24 hours is quite amazing to me, however, I realize that the pounds are going to just drop off here at first. Yesterday was my first day on a Pre-Op two week diet. I had 1 Slim Fast Optima, 1 Weight Control Quaker Oatmeal, a serving of grapes, 1/2 an apple, 1 can of vegetarian vegetable soup, one 8 oz glass of skim milk with a packet of Carnation Instant Breakfast (no sugar added) mixed in, and 1 cup of no-fat cottage cheese. Oh and of course plenty of water, which I love. Actually, it wasn't so bad. I kept myself busy with reading, computer work, laundry. That's the key. I need to redirect my life. I'm looking into starting my own web site so that will take some time. This morning I got up at 7:00 and took a walk with the dogs. We walked down to the pond, which is a little ways away, downhill. The dogs loved the water and romped and played. So they got their exercise too. The trudge back up the hill was a killer, but I know it will get easier with time. If I consider my alternatives, (heart attack, stroke, diabetes, death), I rather like this hiking up and down hills. The Slim Fast tasted better this morning: Strawberry Cream, which I thought would be delicious, turns out NOT to be. Plus I had a yogurt, Activia, which I didn't get in yesterday. All the foods I mentioned are all that I will eat for the next two weeks. This was given to me by the dietitian. Why, I bet I lose 20 pounds even before surgery! The dietitian explained to me that the reason for this diet is to help the liver to lose weight. Fatty tissue built up around the liver is not good and hinders absorption of proper nutrients. I know there is more to it than that. I will need to research that again. So, I'm off and running. Well, actually, not running yet. That will come later, I hope.

June 14, 2008 Down 4 pounds in 24 hours is quite amazing to me, however, I realize that the pounds are going to just drop off here at first. Yesterday was my first day on a Pre-Op two week diet. I had 1 Slim Fast Optima, 1 Weight Control Quaker Oatmeal, a serving of grapes, 1/2 an apple, 1 can of vegetarian vegetable soup, one 8 oz glass of skim milk with a packet of Carnation Instant Breakfast (no sugar added) mixed in, and 1 cup of no-fat cottage cheese. Oh and of course plenty of water, which I love. Actually, it wasn't so bad. I kept myself busy with reading, computer work, laundry. That's the key. I need to redirect my life. I'm looking into starting my own web site so that will take some time. This morning I got up at 7:00 and took a walk with the dogs. We walked down to the pond, which is a little ways away, downhill. The dogs loved the water and romped and played. So they got their exercise too. The trudge back up the hill was a killer, but I know it will get easier with time. If I consider my alternatives, (heart attack, stroke, diabetes, death), I rather like this hiking up and down hills. The Slim Fast tasted better this morning: Strawberry Cream, which I thought would be delicious, turns out NOT to be. Plus I had a yogurt, Activia, which I didn't get in yesterday. All the foods I mentioned are all that I will eat for the next two weeks. This was given to me by the dietitian. Why, I bet I lose 20 pounds even before surgery! The dietitian explained to me that the reason for this diet is to help the liver to lose weight. Fatty tissue built up around the liver is not good and hinders absorption of proper nutrients. I know there is more to it than that. I will need to research that again. So, I'm off and running. Well, actually, not running yet. That will come later, I hope.

June 11, 2008 Today I had my pre-op appointment at the hospital where I will have my Lap Band done. I was there for 3 and 1/2 hours. Wow. I had blood tests, a chest x-ray and an EKG. I also went through preadmission for the hospital and preadmission for the Ambulatory Surgery Center. I met with the financial person and also spent a great deal of time with the nutritionist. This was most interesting. I was given a booklet to read followed by a 20 question, multiple choice quiz. The nurse went over the quiz with me and we discussed all the answers. The nutritionist gave me a two-week pre-op diet I will start in two days, Friday, the 13th. Oh my. It will be a combination of Slim Fast protein drink, lo-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, vegetarian vegetable soup, oatmeal and no sugar puddings and jellos. She also gave me a protein powder drink to mix in with my food. Their main concern is my getting the necessary amounts of daily protein. The reason for such a strict eating program prior to surgery is to clear the liver of as much fatty tissue around it as possible. This will help ease the process of the procedure and later help with the absorption of the vitamins and minerals I take in. I think there is more to it than that, but I will need to go back and read my materials again to be more knowledgable on the matter. The surgery is scheduled for June 27th. Then I will be on a clear liquid diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks of pureerd food and finally work my way slowly into solids again. So, I'm on my way. I'm still upbeat and have never been so excited about quitting eating before. I also met a former patient from the weight loss center. He has lost 125 pounds since his Lap Band last July. That's a great loss for less than a year. How excited he was. We had a good conversation and he shared some of his eating habits with me. Guess that's it for now. I'll keep you posted on the soft diet program stating Friday.:wink:

June 11, 2008 Today I had my pre-op appointment at the hospital where I will have my Lap Band done. I was there for 3 and 1/2 hours. Wow. I had blood tests, a chest x-ray and an EKG. I also went through preadmission for the hospital and preadmission for the Ambulatory Surgery Center. I met with the financial person and also spent a great deal of time with the nutritionist. This was most interesting. I was given a booklet to read followed by a 20 question, multiple choice quiz. The nurse went over the quiz with me and we discussed all the answers. The nutritionist gave me a two-week pre-op diet I will start in two days, Friday, the 13th. Oh my. It will be a combination of Slim Fast protein drink, lo-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, vegetarian vegetable soup, oatmeal and no sugar puddings and jellos. She also gave me a protein powder drink to mix in with my food. Their main concern is my getting the necessary amounts of daily protein. The reason for such a strict eating program prior to surgery is to clear the liver of as much fatty tissue around it as possible. This will help ease the process of the procedure and later help with the absorption of the vitamins and minerals I take in. I think there is more to it than that, but I will need to go back and read my materials again to be more knowledgable on the matter. The surgery is scheduled for June 27th. Then I will be on a clear liquid diet for 2 weeks followed by 2 weeks of pureerd food and finally work my way slowly into solids again. So, I'm on my way. I'm still upbeat and have never been so excited about quitting eating before. I also met a former patient from the weight loss center. He has lost 125 pounds since his Lap Band last July. That's a great loss for less than a year. How excited he was. We had a good conversation and he shared some of his eating habits with me. Guess that's it for now. I'll keep you posted on the soft diet program stating Friday.

Slinderella, Did they give you a sheet at WLSC? Actually it is a small book. It should have a lot of different ideas about what you should be eating (or drinking) Clear liquids 100% fruit juice-no orange or grapefruit, NO punches or cocktail drinks Clear broth or Bouillon-canned cartons or gases (beef, chicken, pork or vegetable) Non-carbonated sports drinks-such as Gatorade, less than 15g of carbohydrate per serving Regular of sugar-free popsicles-no fruit ice or bars with pulp or seeds Regular or sugar free sorbet or ice-no pulp or seeds Regular or Sugar-free gelatin-any color, any flavor Regular or Sugar-free drinks-Crystal light, Kool-aid, etc coffee and tea-decaffeinated or herbal Regular or Sugar-free instant hot apple cider Sugar substitute-any color packet Non-carbonated Regular or Sugar-free flavored waters(such as Propel and Fruit2O) Protein Water such s K2O Full Liquids Skim or 1% milk* regular or sugar-free hot chocolate*-made with milk Regular or sugar-free pudding*-no pistachio fat free, no sugar added yogurt*-smooth and creamy, no chuncks hot cereal-cream of wheat, rice, oatmeal farina or malt-o-meal-must be blended cream soups or blended chicken noodle, chicken rice, turkeynoodle, vegetarian vegetavble regualr or sugar free fudge bars fat-free, regular or sugar-free frozen yogurt, ice cream vegetable juice-tomato or V-8 regular or sugar-free V-8 splash Mechanical Soft Foods Cottage cheese*-(low-fat, small curd) Mashed potatoes (instant or fresh, no skins) Crackers (low-fat saltines, graham cracker, melba toast, etc) Soups/stews*(small pieces, cooked very soft) Soft baked fish*-canned tuna, shrimp, scallops, salmon, tilapia, etc. Natural mint butters* (smooth and creamy peanut, almond, etc) Low sugar/low Fiber cereal(cheerios, rice krispies,corn flakes, special K) pureed baby foods-quick and nutritious Frozen regular or sugar-free fruit bars Tofu* Modified Regular Foods Moist baked chicken*-no skin eggs Milk, protein shakes(Advantage-for diabetics- Atkins, Curves, EAS, Glycerna, Skim fast etc.) Thinly shaved low-fat deli meats*-chicken, turkey, ham, roast beef Soft baked fish*-canned tuna, shrimp, scallops, or imitation seafood Toasted bread-whole wheat Soft fruits:fresh without skins or aned in water or natural juice, bananas, apples, peaches, pears Soft cooked Pasta and noodles Soft cooked vegetables: carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, green Beans, hominy beets (no onions, dried beans, peas, corn or gas causing vegetavbles for 3 months after surgery) Low-fat, Regular or Sugar-free yogurt with fruit* supplements Protein supplement*-recomend purchasing at least two kinds (flavored and/or plain powder or liquid) Multivitamin with iron-Vivactiv Soft Multivitamin Chew, Centrum liquid, Flintstones complete, One-A-Day Childrens Coomplete etc Calcium-Tums, Vivactiv Soft Calcium Chews Os-cal chewables, Citracal liquitabs Effervescent tabs, etc. *Good Protein Source This was taken from the list that I was given as I left the clinic. There are as many different opinions out there as there are doctors. The best advice I can give you is to do just what you are doing, ask questions. If someone doesn't have an answer they can usually find out. Also don't hesitate to ask you doctor. They want to see you succeed and are there to help you. Concentrate on letting the band heal up. I hope this helps you on your journey. Good Luck and keep us posted.