Search the Community

I track all my food on MyFitnessPal.com. I still mostly only eat 3-4 oz. at a time but lately I've been able to eat more at lunch. Unlike most people, I start out the day wide-open and get tighter as the day progresses. My schedule has recently changed and I haven't worked out a new routine. But meals such as lunch or dinner tend to be meat and veggies. I sometimes have a few bites of potato. Once in a while I'll do Soup or a salad... I put a lot of cottage cheese and egg on the salad if it's from a salad bar and I get salad with grilled chicken if I'm at a restaurant. Snacks tend to be yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese sticks, nuts or trail mix, Protein hot chocolate or a Protein Bar. Sometimes I do fruit or beef Jerky. Breakfast is almost always a Protein shake. Sometimes I put fruit in it and sometimes I do not. When I work out, I do trail mix, gels, sports drinks (I mix in a compatible Protein Drink to up the protein), Protein Bars and bananas. I'm still experimenting with that as well. At this point, I still don't really eat bread or Pasta. I do sometimes have pizza and will eat the crust. But I've never been a big bread person and pasta now sits too heavy in my sleeve. I exercise 7-8x a week on 5 different days but I'm trying to get up to 9-10x a week. I'm training for a Half-Ironman and I need to do more than I've been doing. I just started working out with a personal trainer and I run 3-4 times a week, bike 2-3 and swim 1 time. I need to get another swim and another strength session in there!

Now I can have salads again I had a chicken Caesar salad. I had some pre cooked diced chicken , toss with some romaine and shaved Parmesan. I like Marzettis yogurt based light Caesar dressing. I can’t eat what I used to, but I’m enjoying eating real food instead of shakes and such for sure! I made turkey chili last week and froze half of it for next week maybe.

guacamole. applesauce. Refried black beans with fat free sour cream. Egg drop soup. Fish (tilapia) poached in seasoned chicken broth with summer squash. (YUM) whipped sweet potatoes. Baked butternut squash. mashed banana. Cauliflower cooked in broth and mashed. yogurt. creamed spinach. cheese souffle. egg custard. cream of wheat. red beans and rice mashed. smooth peanut butter. These were my favorites during "mushies". May not be your preferences, but they're suggestions.

1. As far as pills- I was on Zoloft myself along with prescription stomach meds (much larger) and it was not a problem at all. The good news is that I am no longer on anything! Feels so great!!! 2. soda- both myself and my husband have tried soda. It isn't a problem; however, since the pre-op diet and surgery, it tastes TERRIBLE!! I never thought I would give up my Dr Pepper, but once you are away from it for awhile, your tastes changes. they taste like medicine to me. So, soda cravings are no longer a problem. 3.surgeon's experience- the main thing I wanted to know was how many procedures, any deaths due to complications and how accessible would he be after surgery 4. sugar free- not sure about the reason, however, it does help in kicking the sugar addiction. For me, it is like the soda, it just doesn't have the same appeal anymore. Instead of ice cream, I crave frozen grapes now. LOL! 5. yogurt- I won't be much help here. I guess you could dilute it with skim milk to make it more drinkable. However, you will be able to eat yogurt, so I don't see why you would have to make it drinkable. 6. Insurance- For my insurance I had to maintain above a 40 BMI since I had no comorbidities ( insurance accepted ones). They went back three years for BMI. I actually had to redo my 6 month supervised diet. In 2009, my BMI had dropped to 39. My doctor was great about the 6 month diet. I could not drop below the 40 or else the insurance would deny my claim for the reason " you are successful without WLS". AS IF!!!! Anyways, I would lose a couple of pounds, then have a "set back' and gain a pound. I know it sounds awful, but it showed that I was "trying" to lose but not being particularly successful. It is like a game of jumping through hoops. From my experience, don't let your BMI fall below the required min for your insurance.

~ how big of pills can you take or have you switched over everything to liquids? (I'm on Zoloft, a tiny pill) I am currently on what seems like horse-pill sized antibiotics, and I am getting them down without issue, 4 times a day. In the first 3 weeks after surgery, I had everything in liquid form, but I started out with quick dissolve tylenol when I ran out of the expensive liquid stuff, and I haven't looked back. I have 6ccs in a 10cc band, and I think I'm reasonably close to the green zone. ~ Do you ever drink soda? I'm worried I will miss the bubbles of my diet Dr. Pepper. How does drinking carbonated drinks feel with a lapband? I have the odd diet coke now (sometimes even mixed with vanilla vodka!) and as long as I'm not eating at the same time, I'm fine. I burp a lot, but I haven't exploded yet It makes me feel full, but only for about half an hour. And I'm not having more than one can, spread out over an hour. However, I waited until one month after surgery, before I even tried it. You really need to master burping again, as silly as it sounds, before you try anything carbonated again. ~ what specific questions about my surgeon's experience should I ask? I asked how many lap bands he had put in, and what his rates of complication where, for infection, band slippage, and erosion. ~ Why is it so critical that everything be sugar free? It seems many of the sf foods are higher in carbs to fill in flavor. I think it's all about limiting our overall calories. Carbs aren't the end-all, be all. But if you are talking about things like sugar-free yoghurt/chocolate, where they've filled it with something else full of calories, it might be best to avoid it all together, or really limit the portion and how often you eat it. ~ my go-to yogurt is Dannon Light and fit toasted coconut. Is there something I can add to it to make it "drinkable"? Can you mix it up with milk? We don't get coconut yoghurt here in these parts (Canada) so I'm not sure if you mean that it's just flavoured like coconut, or if it actually has chunks in it. I wouldn't be eating anything with chunks until you are at the approved stage in your doctor's post-op diet. But, I can't see why you couldn't thin out any yoghurt you wanted, and drink it, provided that it's within your doctor's recommended diet. I can't answer the insurance questions at all though, since I'm in Canada, and I was self-pay.

Barbara, Congratulations on having your surgery date and I'll keep you in my prayers this week. I am 10 days post op and these are the things I can tell you from my experience. First of all, know that everyone's experiences seem to be a bit different as you can see from the posts. So it could be different for you. I did have on hand and made up prior to surgery a Jell O buffet (lots of different kinds) and lots of different caffeine free teas - loved the Almond vanilla and it made me feel better to think I could have more of a choice - after all how much choice is there with clear liquids. I also thought no problem eating this way for a couple of weeks, but it is taking its toll no matter how different kinds of Jello and tea I have - it's boring. I can hardly wait for some texture. I heard about the gas pains after surgery, but had no idea what to expect. Found it is not a good idea to be in a public place because of the screams they would cause me. They don't give a lot of warning either. My pains were mainly in my left shoulder area. Took a box of Gas X (not at one time) and it didn't seem to give me that much relief, but would recommend having one on hand. Walk around and getting your fluids is a great tip! I did go back to work the Monday after my surgery on Thursday. Take it easy - don't think you are Super Woman you will pay for it - one way or another. It's funny how your body will "scream" at you when you don't take care of it. I learned this by Tuesday evening I was on the couch by 4 pm in tears, exhausted, and wiped out. I rested a while and felt so much better, so rest when you can so your body can heal. I felt really pretty much back to normal by the 7th day. The port incision is still tender however. I also tried to get by without the pain meds when I got home, there is a reason they give you the pain meds so feel free to use them and not try to be a hero for the first couple of days. I hated the fact that they would make me fall asleep - but in hind sight, that's not a bad thing -helps in that healing process. I also found that using a straw helps me take a sip and drinking hot tea is another way to change any "gulping" habits. The other thing I wanted to share with you is that you may feel a tightness in your chest - right between your breasts - I couldn't tell if that was I was hungry, full, surgery, etc. But I guess it is normal from the posts I have found now, so check those out. It is crazy because there are times it seems I can't get full and other times I eat a half of a yogurt and feel full. So just start looking for the "full" feeling, you'll know it and I am practicing now not to push the bar for when the fill comes, I am not wanting to practice the PBing. I find it hard to also get in enough Protein and eat all that the nutritionist wants me to - so I would encourage you to get some high Protein shake or I got some Protein powder that I can add to my Instant Breakfast or pudding or yogurt - it's flavorless and not bad and gets me lots of protein, with no fat or sugar. Bottom line always follow your doctor's orders and you'll be on your way to a new way of life. The posts here are also very helpful and looking forward to using this resource to its full potential. Best wishes, Lisa Banded 12/9/04 13 pounds down

Hi everyone.. I was sleeved on the 24th as well.. Im down 27 pounds.. That includes 2 weeks pre-op.. I have been on puréed foods since Thursday and will stay on that for two weeks.. I kinda think I am having a stall.. I haven't lost in two days infact, I gained 1.5.. So, trying not to get discouraged.. However, I'm not getting all of my protein in.. So I'm working harder on that and hopefully it will send me back to losing.. As for what I'm eating.... Soups, pudding, yogurt and Popsicles.. Ready for the next phase.. Some days are soooo hard!!!!

My dietician gave me the following advice and I hope this helps you. After surgery your on a liquid diet for approximately 2 weeks. Must be in liquid form, thin enough to pass through a straw, smooth, has no lumps and no fizzy. Suitable fluids Commercial Protein drinks Plain Water Coffee/tea Drinking yogurt fruit juice Vegetable Juice Tin strained soup/stocks They also recommend you take a liquid Multivitamin. For constipation take prune juice or benifiber. Hope this information helps you, I could email you the information which will be in more detail if you like, just email me your email address.

I've seen a lot of threads about different types of Protein powders, shakes, etc, but haven't come across one yet for ways to pack in the protein in other forms, so I figured I'd start one. I'm only a few weeks out so my diet is still limited, but so far the things I've found are: Oikos greek yogurt 110 cal, 0 fat, 15g protein! It's kinda sour, so I usually add some Bear Naked Protein granola. Bear Naked Protein Granola: 140 cal, 7g fat, 5g protein Kashi Go Lean High Protein & High Fiber cereal: 140 cal, 1g fat, 13g protein Special K Protein Plus: 100 cal, 3g fat, 10g protein Carbmaster yogurt: 80 cal, 4g carbs, 12 g protein (i can only find this at Smith's, so i'm not sure if that's true of everywhere, or just here) Frigo Light String Cheese: 60 cal, 8g protein 1g carbs I'd love to hear what other products people have found. I'm not a huge fan of the shakes, so as my diet progresses, I'd like to add a wider variety of protein options instead of going back to shakes. Right now, my favorites are yogurt and granola or Cereal with milk. Since skim milk has 8-9g protein (depending on the brand) I can easily get at least 18g in one quick meal. :ohmy:

I'm doing mashed potatoes tonight with yogurt butter and skim milk. I'm excited about that. First eating my protein so just expecting to be able to have a few mashed potato bites.

I'm tight in the mornings, so I usually have a protein shake or yogurt for breakfast and I mix in 2 or 3 spoonfuls of Benefiber. If I get stopped up I rely on good ole MOM (milk of magnesia). I'm running to the potty about an hour after that. Pre surgery, I had multiple bm's a day and they were the sudden urge types, now I go once every couple of days or once a day. Maybe TMI, but oh well.

I did great on my pre-band diet and good since the surgery. My last visit I was upgraded to mushies and find I am now constantly hungry. It starts about 2 hours after my morning shake. My stomach is growling and I start thinking about and looking for something to eat. Even high Protein Snacks (cottage cheese, yogurt) aren't holding me very long. One afternoon I had no snack with me and succumed to trying a bite of a donut that was in the office. I discovered that I can not only tolerate eating (yes, I have to chew well) but the QUANTITY doesn't seem to be an issue. I've gained back about 4 lbs according to my home scale. It's that same little-bit-of-crazy hunger that used to herald the coming of my periods. Experienced bandster, HELP! What's going on? Is this normal? I don't seem to have any restriction and think I've reached the end of my own discipline and willpower. Is this just a bump in the road? I'm not due for my first fill until this coming Monday.

Hi Debbie, Has Mr Hewin given you a post op diet to stick to. My collegue has just had it done and had to eat yogurt for a week (nothing else) I've been reading up on all sorts of pre op diets (low fat, low sugar, low carb, high Protein, shakes, Soups etc) and wondered what he suggested. I have my docs appointment tomorrow so he can refer me as my blood tests were clear. How long does it usually take from consultation to operation? I'd love it done in the spring holidays as I'm a teacher. I can't wait to have it done but there's still a chance he could say no :-( Gill :-)

No I am not eating solids. Only soft mushy food like cream of wheat,grits,tuna with low fat mayo, steamed tilapia, eggs greek yogurt etc. Ok glad to see I am on track.

No, that wouldn't be healthy for you or your band. Hmmmmm. I was going to suggest super tiny bites and chewed chewed chewed well, waiting 30 - 60 seconds in between bites with NO FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH while you wait. Instead of swallowing portions of each bite try just putting that small amount in to begin with. Do you have a problem with mushies? Could you start with something like a bite of yogurt or sf ff pudding first to 'lube the tube' a bit? This is a toughy, and unfortunately I'm not your best source. I vote call the doc and ask him. Make sure you come back here and tell us what's going on though OK? I'd really like to know.

I was banded on 12-29 and have been eating between 600 to 1100 in calories per day. Lost 20lbs in the first 6 1/2 weeks. Pound up or down for the last 6 1/2 weeks. I see where people list what they've eaten for the day & it seems like it is so much less than what I've eaten. I can eat 1/2 to 1 cup of greek yogurt for Breakfast or cottage cheese, Soup, etc but others list "I can only eat a few bites" or 1/4 cup of whatever. I do measure all my food so I'm just concerned that I'm eating too much volume instead of watching my calories like I've been doing. Had 3cc in band from surgery & I requested a fill last week since I could eat pretty much anything. Now have 4 1/2 ccs and am eating softer foods for a few more days. Opinions?

Well last week I lost 5lbs I am on my 2 week pre op diet, with one week left. I can only have protein shakes and sugar free liquids. But I added carbmaster yogurt from Krogers it only has 4grams of carbs and 12 grams of protien =80cals. I also eat this AMAZING new cheese it's a 100 cal pack from Kraft called 3 cheese blend. It's my one treat everyday And only 1gram of carbs. I have been doing 800-1000cals per day and although it sucks it is somewhat tolerable as long as I keep myself busy. I also eat these prepackaged SF jello jigglers from krogers called gel bites and that has helped a ton to keep me satisfied. I don't think I could tolerate 500 cals a day yikes!! You should def. go low carb and you will for sure loose the wt by June 9th. And shrink your liver

My doc has said 60-70 as well for protein intake. I plan 1 snack a day but again that was his instruction. I do have the unflavored protein powder from GNC. I do my best to get most of it via food .. eggs, quiche, tuna, cottage cheese greek yogurt however also add it to the cottage cheese, tuna, even DD ice tea.. it litterally has no flavor so I can make almost anything high in protein.

70? I guess different doctors recommend different amounts? My doctor said to shoot for 45 grams for non menstruating women and 55 for those who are menstruating. I eat a lot of chili - thats great protein! (large chili at wendy's has 28 grams) Also you can buy non flavored Protein powder at walmart and put it in anything...applesauce, yogurt, shakes, etc. I like to make a choc Peanut Butter shake with my herbalife choc mix, a tablespoon PB2 (powdered peanut butter - can use regular lowfat) and then add extra protein - it is like a heavenly chocolate dessert and I feel like I am getting something fabulous like dairy queen. LOL I use the vanilla herbalife shake and put in frozen fruit, skim milk, and extra Protein Powder, too. I know they tell us not to drink a lot of our protein - but I cannot eat more than a cup at a time and even then sometimes I can't eat much - so this is the only way I can get in my protein....and since I hit my "sweet spot" I am never hungry anyway... Good luck to you! Kim

The weight loss surgery diet is pretty structured. Your choices are so limited on the liquid diet (a little chicken broth, anyone? Oh, no thanks, maybe I’ll go with beef broth instead for lunch today!) and on the pureed foods diet. Even once you get to semi-solid and solid foods, you don’t have much flexibility since you need to eat your Protein first, your veggies next, and there’s not much room left after that. So it makes sense that once you find a meal pattern that works, and meals you like, that you stick to them. Soon, it becomes a habit, and maybe a rut. For me, I’m perfectly happy eating Greek yogurt with blueberries every day for Breakfast. Some chicken breast with broccoli makes an easy dinner. A tuna salad makes a quick lunch. For snack? Apples seem to come up quite a bit! So, I guess you could say I’m in a bit of a food rut. Between lack of time, lack of desire to cook (you could call it laziness, I suppose), and the fact that it basically works and I’m happy with it, I eat pretty much the same things day in and day out. What are some of your food ruts – either your favorite meals or your regular daily menus? Or are you a little more motivated or more of a foodie, and you switch up your foods all the time?

Thanks for all of your answers! It looks like the good news is that a lot of us have healthy food ruts going on! Something I’ve noticed is that these food ruts are based on convenience foods or easily prepared foods – like yogurt, deli slices, cheese, and Protein shakes. That seems to make sense, since most of us don’t have the time, energy, or interest in cooking a lot now, Still, I wonder if some of the gourmet chefs on here get into food ruts or not. WL Warrior, Yes, food ruts are definitely a strategy for success! Find what works, and do it, over, and over, and over again! The fact that cutting out a lot of foods and depending on a limited variety can help you lose weight is one reason why a lot of the fad diets work, too (for a time, until you get sick of them). I think there’s research also to show that the fewer different foods you have at one meal, the fewer calories you eat because your taste buds get tired so your appetite goes down sooner.

I replace all mayo based recipes with plain yogurt or sour cream. Sometimes if its really hot and I have a craving for chicken salad I will use fresh lemon and lime.

I use fat free ranch or lite vidalia onion sometimes. It's pretty good, but not as good as mayo in my opinion. I've also done low-fat plain yogurt with a chutney of some kind like mango. That's yummy!

I take Bariatric chewable multi Vitamins from The Vitamin Shoppe. They aren't too bad. Get my B12, Vitamin D, Biotin, calcium citrate and clear ready to drink Protein drinks (by Cyroslort) there too. I like getting everything from one place. They have a huge selection of protein powders too. If you get something you don't like, they'll exchange it (store ctedit). I've read numerous times that you shouldn't take Iron unless your surgeon or PCP recommends it. I've had a hysterectomy so don't need it. Also be aware that some chewable multi vitamins don't include minerals which are important too. I don't think One a Day or most gummies have minerals. You might try speeding out your pills/ meds too. I take some right when I get our of bed, some with Breakfast (swallow with a bite of yogurt) and I tJe my multi after lunch.

*Scrambled eggs with a bit of cottage cheese mixed in to make them super moist *Refried beans with melted cheese and green chili sauce *Hummus *Guacamole *Pureed tuna fish (yes, this was good with a dab of mustard) *Plain Greek yogurt flavored with protein powder and/or Torani syrups *Any kind of soup I could find that didn't contain rice or noodles....pureed with unflavored protein powder added *I also continued with my protein drinks thoughout all stages as they are an easy way to help meet protein and fluid goals.