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Orgain Protein Powder is plant-based and my go-to protein for my morning shakes!

Protein feeds muscle. That's your key. Maybe up protein and focus on higher quality proteins. Also, higher weights and less reps build muscle. If your able, higher a personal trainer for a few sessions to get you started. We are unique in how and what we can eat. Maybe another thing to do is speak with your dietitian on how to improve your nutrition to better feed your muscles and bulk up. Best of luck to you.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks today- PB oatmeal with blackberries, lentil stew, celery and hummus and the popcorn I already know I’m not gonna eat. I also had a protein shake mixed with my coffee this morning which is included in the calorie count.

Get back to basics! Prioritize protein and make sure you hit your protein goal daily. Weigh and track all your food for a while so you can see how much you're eating and get back into the habit of hitting that protein! Get your water in. Move your body. It takes time but usually, putting those things first and getting back into good routines will help.

I’m 4 weeks post op VSG (3/13/23). Have lost 20lbs, just dropped into the 180’s for the first time in 7 years. My abdominal wall healing has taken longer than expected, so I haven’t been able to move as much as I’d like. Goal is to reach 170 by the time I visit my parents in late June. I’m learning just how finicky my body really is. Makes me feel less crazy about all the years of trying to lose and keep weight off….Not enough protein? STALL. Not enough fluid? STALL. Injured? STALL. Drink stuff with fake sweetener? You guess it…STALL! Lol 😂 ah well, I love this body anyway. Keeps things interesting if not downright insane and who wants to be normal anyway? 😛

I was a slow loser I had my surgery in March of 2020. I could eat what ever I wanted to right after surgery. Which confused me. Don't freak out. I thought right after surgery I would lose all this weight and My medical issues would just go away. I was wrong. My first year I only lost about 50 pounds. It wasn't until I got my mindset on point was when more weight would come off Trust me your stomach is about the size of your fist. Just try and get your protein in first. Don't obsess over everything. It will hurt you mentally. So water protein and veggies. And walking 🚶‍♂️ My doctor's off was no help for me actually i really never had any follow-up with them which bummed me out. But I just kept doing my thing. Don't be hard on yourself. Everyone is different. I would try not to do the snacks, even the sugar free ones. And watching the carbs, your body need the good carbs. It wasn't until I was way past the 6 month mark that more weight started to come off. I used to get upset when I saw/heard/read about people who lost 100 in 6 months. Crazy. I was too hard on myself and that was also part of my problem. I started at 250 and really it wasn't until I was well into a year when more weight would start to come ff But that was me. So. Protein water and movement. There is is book out there Bariatric Mindset. I know your not a few months in. Please do not start to get upset. You will be surprised how your bodies react to stuff. You have to have a better understanding/relationship with food. It took me a long time to finally get it. It took years to get where you started at it will take time to get to where your going. Yes you should be losing a bit more than what you said. Be honest with yourself and really be accountable for what you choose to eat. No you won't stretch you new stomach out. It's all about better choices now. Read read read and get your water protein in first. You can do this. We are so hard on ourselves. Please don't be. As long as you don't have any pain. Just keep moving along. It will happen. Be honest with yourself and maybe start logging your food. You would be surprised at what you see. Like I said I started at 250 pounds and 3 years later I sit between 130-140 We are all different. Much love to you on your journey you can do this.

So I progressed to soft foods today. I noticed that I stay fuller way longer, yay! I am a lot happier. But I also noticed I can sometimes seem to eat a lot. Like 1/2 a cup or more and then other times just 2 tbs depending on what it eat. I guess why I bring this up is because my doctors guidelines leave me so damn hungry. I get 65g of protein per day but nowhere near calories to function and I'm always tired. If I eat til I'm happy and content with no pains I feel wonderful. 😌 did anybody else have this problem? What did the doctor say? Whats a fave cheat recipe during this phase?

Have you tried greek yogurt? Dannon makes an apple pie greek yogurt that you might like since you like applesauce. Definitely try to get some protein in! Good luck!

I think your body is really confused. You had major surgery and probably didn’t eat much the first couple weeks, then started eating heavier than you should and sugar as well. The body probably latched into the sugar and carbs to replenish stores and turned the rest to fat (explains the gain). Then you go back on track and your body needs to adjust again, but after losing some pounds you’re eating less often (so your metabolism machine is slower) and still having sugar even if it’s a small amount. Your body is really smart. After going through trauma, it’s going to try to stabilize. Here’s what I do know… you still have time to get yourself back on the right path. You will need all your fluids (sugar free), the protein prescribed by your plan, very low carbs and all of your vitamins. If you don’t at least do these things, you’ll probably remain frustrated and stuck. It’ll take a jolt and consistency to recover. I believe you can do it because you already got this far. Dealing with our emotions and food is not easy, but it is possible. I’m pretty sure everyone here would pat you on the back and tell you to get back in the ring, don’t be so hard on yourself and stay focused. You’ve still got time to turn it around! You can do this. Sending you all kinds of encouragement! 🌈😊

So your plan must allow you to eat regular food son after the surgery? I know everyone's plan is different. We had to do protein drinks until you were starving, then added easily digested food like cottage cheese. I lose very slowly but staying on the liquid protein drink for 3 weeks allowed me to drop 15 pounds the first 3 weeks. I think psychologically it helped more than anything! I think you are doing the right thing by adding protein, stick with the 4 ounces, add some vegs, we were told carbs twice a week. I like that you can have them, just not everyday. If I'm told I can't have something at all, I rebel and want it twice as bad. I was amazed at how much I could eat after surgery. Once I was able to add popcorn, which was months down the road, I could eat 3/4 to a full bag! At the same time I'm, reading about people who were 6 months out and couldn't barely take 3 bites and wanted to throw up! I remember thinking mine must be a failure. But I'm a year out, had surgery 2/23/22 and have lost 60 pounds. Stick with it, keep the carbs low or out of there and it will happen. I know sometimes I question if I'm always over eating because like you said, you take one extra bite and you do feel over full. What works for me is meditation, if I can do it everyday the practice of mindful eating is easier to do. I try to always leave something on the plate and stop eating before I'm to full. I suspect this will be a lifetime battle. Hang in there! Your body is still adjusting after surgery and going thru a lot of changes. You may drop several pounds at a time, then stall out, then drop some more. Thats what my weird body did.

I had my surgery Feb. 28, so it's almost been two months. A week after surgery my weight was 212 and i have barely moved since. At first, I thought I was holding weight because I hadn't had a regular bowel movement. Nope, not the problem. Then I thought it was because I started eating too heavy too soon; which was definitely part of the case because I had gained four pounds, almost five pounds back. But then I got back on track and lost the five pounds, plus two extra. But since then, for about the past two, almost three weeks, my weight has been sitting between 209 and 211. I've stayed on track and have been sticking to low carb, high protein meals. Any snacks I have are sugar free and so are the drinks; either sugar free or low sugar. I haven't gone off track until last night for Easter. I had a small plate of food within my limits, but ate a dessert that was high in sugar. I know it's bad that I had sugar at all, but I am proud of the self control I did have with not over eating/eating too much. I listened to my new stomach and stopped when I felt myself getting full; which is something I am still getting used to and figuring out. I have been struggling financially, unexpectedly, after having the surgery so I haven't been able to meal prep and buy all the foods and snacks I need to stay on track and not give in to temptations. And seeing as how I don't know when this financial struggle is going to get better, I don't know what to do about staying up on nutrition. Besides Easter, I've found it easier to barely eat anything at all, than to risk eating badly again. I am supposed to be eating 4-6 small meals a day to make sure I'm getting nutrients and proteins in, but it's more like I eat 2, MAYBE three times a day, high protein meals, just to get close to protein goals. Even though I am proud of the little restraint i had, I am still ashamed that I ate badly in the first place and that I wasn't strong enough to fight cravings. Which is definitely still a real thing after surgery. But I am really scared and concerned that I caused my surgery to fail because of the first time I went off track. Did I? I think I am in a stall. Is it possible to stall this early? What do I do? By going off track did I cause my sleeve not to work anymore? If not, how do I get back to dropping the weight like before? I know the "honeymoon phase" of dropping weight goes on for about a year to a year and a half, but did I cut it short by not staying on track and eating things I shouldn't have. I really need to know and I really need some guidance. My doctor's office is really busy and they haven't been the best getting back to me unless I have an appointment.

I had done the stress test to get cleared to have gastric sleeve but I was wondering if anyone also had to do a stress test 1 year post op. Just got a call to schedule one but I never heard my doc say I’d needed to do it. I still have follow up visits and bloodwork etc. Just wasn’t sure if the stress test was required or an optional thing. Surgery went great. Was done Feb 17th 2022 and I’ve lost 222 pounds to date.

I had it and as others said I stood slowly. Once I came off my high dose of BP meds it went away. It was not a big issue for me, the only thing is I always carry a drink and a protein bar when I go out. Its more of a comfort blanket now than actually needing them.

some information: I'm 24 73kg/160,9lbs 179cm/5'10. So I had my surgery around August of 2019. I lost around 50Kg from than till now but I don't wanne lose any more. I started going to the gym last week but before that I also did 3-4 month at home training because I didn't wanne go to the gym before i could at least do something. (stupid to think like that but yeah...) My arms looked like twigs and still do but at least there is a some muscle to see compared to 4 months ago. All the information I find online regarding gaining muscle is all about "eat big to get big" but that's the thing i can't eat big, like probably most of you guys. I have been drinking protein shakes 2X a day protein bars... and other food that contain protein to at least get as much as I can let's say around 80g of protein But I don't see much progress (counting the 4 month workouts at home) and I don't know if I should just trust what I’m doing now or change something... Sorry about my writing, I would say sorry about my English but even in my langue I write with many spelling mistakes.

Thank you for all the information, the tips and especially the reassurance. I'll be coming back to this post from time to time to remind myself these things. I think I have been having a lot of head hunger and that's a great point. Does the head hunger pass? I've seriously been craving pizza and Cheetos and lasagna. Maybe that's because I am already tired of sweet protein shakes.

I’m on all liquids. So far so good. The first days I really struggled with the protein shakes. I’m a huge texture person and I had trouble with the chalky/powdered part of the shakes but now I’m going strong. What does your diet look like?

Sometimes our bodies just decide to hold onto where we are right now. I am 12 years out. I had a wonderful Birthday week - and then some celebrations .... and a trip to Disneyland and ate meals out. I literally gained 5 pounds in a week. Shrug. I went back to what I do.. high protein, low to no processed carbs, lots of fruit and veggies, yogurt, cheese, nuts.... and for the first week and a half....nothing. the 5 lb weight just sat there. I ignored it. Two weeks, nothing, three weeks.... finally this week... it all came off. I did NOTHING different. It just happens that way (for me, at least) sometimes. It WILL come off. Give your body time. Losing weight quickly as we do in the first year is traumatic to our bodies. If your body shuts down, there may be a reason. I always figure my body is telling me that food is limited and we are having a famine ..... I explain to myself that this is not pre-history. I have a freezer and a stove and food. Eventually it will Happen.

I’m going to be honest with you…there is absolutely no way I could have gone back to work two days after my surgery (which would have been yesterday for me). I’m kinda going back tomorrow, and I’m even questioning whether I can do that (and it is a work from my bed, with laptop on my lap, kinda job). I’m no longer on pain killers during the day, but I just feel like sh*t. Gas pains have subsided a lot, but still there. I’m really struggling with getting any protein in me, and between alternating 2 ounces of a protein shake with getting water/other liquids in me, it is a full time job.

I never had any restriction, never dumped, never lost hunger. So while those are nice tools to have, don't rely on them to keep you on track. You have to retrain your brain and stomach on how to eat, when to eat, and what to eat. As well as when to NOT eat. Just because you CAN eat something, or a certain amount of something, doesn't mean you SHOULD eat it. For example, I CAN eat a burger patty, 1/4 cup of broccoli, and 2 hotdogs in 1 sitting (no buns). What I ACTUALLY eat is a burger patty and 1/2 a cup of broccoli. I'm comfortable but not stuffed, and it's healthier. You don't want to eat until you're completely stuffed. You want to eat until you're comfortable and no longer hungry. And you want to add in veggies whenever possible, and make sure your protein amounts are where they should be (protein makes you feel full longer).

I think there is non flavor protein powder you can add to food and I think drinks, I’m going to look into that. Sometimes my stomach gets cranky when I have stuff with flavoring.

I'm 3 days out of surgery and on protein liquids. I can't figure out how fast or slow to be eating in order to satisfy my hunger and make sure I don't stretch out my new pouch. I ate a 1/4 cup of pudding in about 10 minutes and am feeling guilty that it was too fast. My stomach gurgled and I felt it stretch. Am I damaging the pouch? How do you all eat slowly and satisfy the hunger?

I am moving g to soft food Monday. I am so excited. Does anyone have recipe ideas? I saw a young lady go to qudoba. She had chicken, beans, tomatoes. Sour cream and veggies that was it. It was all in restrictions. So I guess that was good. And I k ow we don't want to go out to eat if at all. I'm just grateful I have access to so many healthy food options at work. Like smoothies or power bowls. Etc. And the only reason why I keep it In my mind is because flavor, and because if nothing else sticks from what I bring from home this might. Or if I forget to restock and I feel it's a good skill to learn sort of thing. If that makes sense. Anyway.... does anyone have a super favor recipe? I'd love to know all the ins and outs of what you did during this phase. Thanks for the help. Be kind, please.

Your experiences are quite common at this stage. I wasn’t hungry or interested in eating either and I too just sipped my shakes & soups for hours in the liquid stage. I got in less than 300 calories in the beginning. I only ‘ate’ two meals during the liquid stage & from purées started to eat to a routine so I could better get my nutrients in. However, I was never given a caloric goal only protein & fluids & portion size recommendations. And it took a while to regularly reach those goals & that was okay. You can only physically eat what you can especially this soon after surgery. Doesn’t matter how much someone tells you you should be eating. If your tummy can’t tolerate more then you just can’t. I was barely eating 900 calories by 6 months. My surgeon & dietician were okay with this because I was eating a variety of nutrient dense foods & my blood work never showed I was lacking or low in anything. It was almost my 3rd year before I could eat 1400/1500 calories. Many eat more but this is fine for my age, height, gender, weight & activity level. That was my experience but others will have very different stories because we’re all different. Keep working at getting in your protein & fluids. Try explaining to your dietician that your surgeon is okay with what you’re doing. That you physically can’t eat that many calories at the moment while you’re still healing but you’ll keep working at it. If they won’t listen maybe try to find another dietician who is more understanding & willing to be more flexible for you & your needs. No one way will completely suit everyone. Plans should be flexible enough to be modified so it works for you whether it be your calories, portions, activity level, specific nutritional needs, medical needs, progress timelines, etc. PS - Try diluting your shakes, broths etc. & count the extra towards your 32oz water goal. Fluids don’t have to be just plain water. Try green or herbal teas, squeeze some lemon, lime or orange juice into your water, protein water, milk, yoghurt drinks, electrolyte drinks (an little boost of energy too) & then rotate the ones you enjoy throughout your day.

My gastric bypass was performed on Tues. April 4th. The procedure lasted 4 hrs since the doc was repairing a hiatal hernia at the same time. I was 2 hrs. in recovery so my fam was starting to get worried by 6PM despite the hourly updates. No complications. Pain was minimal. No nausea, vomiting or gas pain. Dry mouth from hell. Sipped water day 1. Walked a lap and up another time to use bathroom. Surprised they didn't walk me more. b4 going home. Day 2 . Tolerated meals well. Tried a little of everything they brought me. Discharged me that afternoon. Felt more pain at home. Mostly pulling on incisions as I bent over, stood or tried turning over in bed. Sipping on prescribed Hydrocod helps for pain. Walking on my treadmill every couple hrs for 5 minutes to prevent clots. Drinking my protein drinks and water for now till appetite returns. Not weighing till after inflammation goes down. Overall...so far so good. Pain lessens each day. Praying for a speedy recovery for all of you this month!!!