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I definitely meal-plan, shop and cook more than I did pre-op. (I've lost all my excess weight and maintained my weight loss for over 15 months.) Breakfast is high Protein / high Fiber. lunch is something easy, e.g., dinner leftovers, a high-protein/high-veggie salad or sandwich, etc. Planned Snacks (not grazing!) are fruit, cheese. We do a sit-down dinner every night -- either home-cooked or healthy takeout. We eat in restaurants 4-5 times a month. I'm such a fan of My Fitness Pal. Using it for the last 2+ years, I've learned so much about the basic nutrients of specific foods. I now eat more fibrous veggies and fruits; yesterday I had carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, spaghetti squash, and blueberries. Yesterday's protein came from a Protein Drink, Greek yogurt, skim milk, cheese, roast beef, chicken. Whole grains were high-protein/high-fiber bread (2 slices), all-bran Cereal. I have treats daily. Yesterday's were 1 salted caramel biscotti, 1.5 ounces of scotch, and 1.4 ounces of dark chocolate. It's all so delicious and satisfying. I couldn't be happier about how I'm eating.

I feel really good this morning!!!! I woke up with tight restriction, had my coffee with soymilk and am catching up on my band family. I have had some really nice emails and PM's of people thanking me for the encouragement I have given and it makes what I have done even more worth it to me. Can this be a new ministry for me??? I love to help others and encourage them. That makes me VERY happy!:clap2: It makes me feel like God has really blessed my decision and is using me to help others. God bless my band, keep it in place and healthy for the rest of my natural life!!!! Breakfast: Gano Mocha Coffee with 1 cup Vanilla soy milk; 200 calories, 6 grms protein Lunch: Campbells' Cream of Chicken and Mushroom (1 can); 190 cal, 7 grms protein, 15 grms fat Snack: Activia yogurt; 110 calories, 2 g fat, 5 grms protein 1 cup Campbells' soup Chicken mushroom; 80 cal, 6 g fat, 3 g protein Dinner: 1 cup of homemade tortilla soup with sprinkled cheese; 250 calories, protein: unknown Total calories: 830 Total Protein: 21 plus Water: I am sipping on a 32 ounce sipper,which I am keeping near me at all times; 20 ounce crystal light Supplements: Liquid Vitamins; Glacial Milk; 1 tbsp. Mood: HAPPY, at peace, calm, I have hope for my future to be the person I really am without limits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My weight won't hold me back from all I have wanted to do!!! YIIIIPPPEEEE:clap2:

My doc only makes us do the pre-surgery diet for 5 days prior, so I don't have to start that until Jan 21st. I'm not looking forward to it!! I can have 3-4 carnation instant breakfasts (no sugar added), and very bland soft foods - no sugar added yogurt, plain cream of wheat or rice, unsweetened applesauce, pureed low fat soup (max. 5-6/day) - and all the sugar free jello & popsicles I want (oh, joy! **sarcastically said**). Is that what yours looks like? How long do you have to do yours for? I'd love to keep in touch. Not sure how to make 'friends' on the site, yet. I think there is a way, I just am too new to figure it out. If you figure it out, let me know, OK? Thanks!!

Hi...I am a naturopath and I am sure that gas is probably due to similar food than when unbanded, but perhaps a bit more abundant Beano helps and now they sell it in little strips that dissolve in your mouth...take it right before a meal...not after. here are foods to avoid if you have too much gas, you might be sensitive or intolerant to it....dairy(milk, cheese) you hopefully can eat yougurt which will help but make sure it is good yogurt with no sugar in it. Yogurt made with goast or sheep milk is worth the price and you get used to the slightly different taste. Add stevia and a little fruit or squeeze a lemon and stevia and stir and it is lke eating a lemon moouse! Avoid artificial sweetners since they give you gas and are not good for you anyway. Use stevia instead. Avoid chewing gum. You might want to see if you have a problem with wheat and gluten...the majority of people do and don't know it. Some people are sensitive to soy. Beans, broccolli,and cauliflower need to be cooked very well especially with the band. Well this is it for now...I hope it helps!

I started soft foods this week so I have tried Taco Bell pintos and cheese and scrambled egg, in addition to the yogurt and cottage cheese that counted for me under full liquids. After a grocery store run I want to try ricotta bake. I don't add tuna until next week.

it really just depends on your surgeons plan! I can add in like yogurt and cottage cheese after 7 days of liquids but everyones plan and body is different. you are doing amazingly keep tracking your in vs. out and walk walk walk congrats and welcome to the losers bench i'll be there with you soon

Quest Protein bars... I bet I could eat three in a row.. though I don't. Cottage cheese/yogurt Corn chips...... oddly if I use the corn chips to scoop up the cottage cheese it turns these two sliders into a really filling combination. 7 tortilla chips and half a cup of cottage cheese is now one of my favorite filling meals!

You are not alone in this...I am having a similar issue...I am playing around with the same 3 pds. Up and down. Today i visited lapband.com again & looked at the eating requirements for the 1st year after surgery. I have read the requirements over & over but today I feel like I woke up to the reality of how hard it is and I have to be committed to cutting the calories and making myself work out at least 3 times a week. Here's the basic requirements : Daily: 1 to 2 servings of Fruit (1.5 cups) 2 to 3 servings of Veggies (2.5 cups) 1 small portion of cornflakes for Breakfast (One small portion of low-sugar cold or hot cereal) Half to one slice of toasted whole wheat or rye bread each day 1 to 2 oz of meat, fish, poultry or 1 egg 2 cups of skim milk or lowfat yogurt 1 oz of cheese 3 to 4 teaspoons of Fat (butter/oil) Unlimited: Tea Clear Soup Water Flavored sugar free drinks I know that I have not obtained the "zone" yet...so I can not wait until my next fill. Keep your chin up...we will do this!

Mix it in crystal light for extra Protein. Mix it in Greek yogurt with some Splenda for some extra protein. Mix it with your suger free pudding for extra protein. Mix it with sugar free Jello for extra protein.

My lists are very simple, but come from a few different places. From Bariatric Eating Inspire Protein powder PURE unflavored protein Cancun chili seasoning mix From the grocery store: spinach lettuce garlic whatever other fresh veggies look good berries, or whatever fresh fruit looks good broccoli slaw mix--I eat a LOT of this Ken's Lite Asian sesame salad dressing cheeses--cheddar, cottage, Parmesan Greek yogurt (sometimes--it is a little slidey, so I don't have it as often as I did preop) almond milk ground chicken (for chili) turkey Italian sausage beans--fat-free refried, black Beans, kidney beans, cannelini beans, etc. from Market Day (ordered monthly from my son's school): shrimp tilapia-tortilla-crusted and plain scallops salmon cod rack of pork boneless pork chops chicken breasts portions--plain and teriyaki ground beef

Gross subject, I know! But I have not been able to have a bowel movement since the night before surgery which was on Tuesday night (12/17), so 5 days. At what point do I worry about this? I was not allowed any foods at all on 12/17 (only liquids) or the day of the surgery which was 12/18 and I didn't get my first sip of Water until 12/19 and later that night I was given a chocolate Protein shake. Since that time I have been drinking 2 Protein shakes a day, plus water and about 1/4 cup of low fat yogurt. I haven't been very gassy either and not peeing much.

I don't do artificial sugar, I think it tastes like chemicals. I am okay with the taste of Stevia in my coffee but I use very little. I like the liquid Stevia drops from Trader Joe's because I can use about half the regular amount. A bottle is going to last me years. I can't do dairy since my WLS so I don't consume sugar in yogurt or pudding. When I want something sweet I eat something with real sugar, just a really small serving, like a fun size candy bar. It doesn't bother me at all.

I was eating yogurt and cottage cheese a week out. Try some greek yogurt it will make you feel better

Sorry to hear about your suffering! I have to agree with the other folks that your first step should be to get in touch with your doctor's office as soon as they re-open after the holidays. I don't think it's a stupid question to ask why you have to stay on the liquids for so darn long. Maybe there's some good reason for torturing you...although I can't imagine what. Try to avoid wrapping your hands around your doctor's neck when you seem him though... :party: The only other thing I can offer is that tomato soup and lowfat, low-sugar yogurt are an acceptable part of my own post-op liquid diet. I've also been having sugar free Jello and sugar free and fat free pudding. I'm just coming up on my first post-op appointment on January 3rd (2 weeks post-op). At that time, the doctor decides if I can move to real "pureed" foods. Again, make sure you're getting in your Protein, which will help keep your hunger at bay, at least for a little while! Hope your clothes are already hanging off of you!

I think you guys should really watch out with how much Protein you're consuming. I understand that many of you are on a low-carb diet and that it's important to replace much of the carbs you're taking out with protein. But, as always happens, people think that if something is good for you, a lot of it must be great. Excessive protein consumption can place a lot of stress on your organs and bones. High consumption of animal protein can raise your risk of kidney stones by a whole 250 percent! At least make sure that a good amount of your protein is coming from eggs, legumes, whole grains (if you're eating carbs), soy, dairy (cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are great), and quinoa. Also, you guys should be aware of research that showed that insufficient carbs have a negative effect on brain function. A study comparing low-carb (less than 130 grams of carbs) and low-calorie participants found that the low-carb participants had slower response times in tests and worse memories than the low-calorie dieters. The low-carb dieters had worse results than even their own pre-diet scores. A week after the participants reintroduced carbs, their brain functioning returned to normal, pre-diet levels. I know how quick and satisfying the weight-loss can be on low-carbs. I just want to make sure that people go in to it knowing the cons and maybe give it a break the week before any challenging mental tasks are to occur (tests etc).

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

Protein shakes are critical, especially in the early weeks. I use Premier Protein shakes that you can get at Sam's Club. I like the chocolate. I did use a powder at the beginning, but never really liked it. My clinic gave me some samples, I would try those, because the powders are expensive and if she doesn't like them, it's a waste. Low fat Greek Yogurt and low fat mozzarella string cheese were staples in the first weeks. Also canned tuna and canned chicken. A small blender is nice, but you only really use it the first two weeks, or at least I did. Hope that helps. Carol. RNY on 6/25/13.

I felt the same way. I had surgery on the 17th and I am hungry. On the full liquid phase, you have more to chose from. I have been buying any kind of campbells soups and putting them in the blender to liquify and drinking that. soo good. I also have sugar-free chocolate pudding, yogurt, popsicles, sugar-free fudgesicles. Try some new stuff and maybe you won't feel deprived. I also wasn't getting enough protein and water and I think that is why I was feeling so hungry.

Any good surgeon will tell you not to rush. If you don't tolerate the next phase you are supposed to back it up a bit. The problems only come when you move ahead faster than you are supposed to. That being said, my doc had me on full liquids the moment I came home from the hospital, which was the day after surgery. Not everyone has to wait a full week. I was never told to puree anything, but rather to strain Soups and such. Grits, cream of wheat, yogurt and pudding where all on my approved list from the time I got home.

I struggle to eat meats or fish or eggs, so I'm turning to a vegetarian diet. I'm 11 months out and I eat about 50/60 gr of protein. Lots of nuts, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, cheese, tofu, different kinds of beans. I had a run bypass

While I'm not a raw foods gal I totally identify with being overweight from extremely healthy foods. That was me. I was a vegetarian for 17 years. One of the things I miss is those volume salads. We still eat a lot of nuts, etc., but I try to have four almonds and chew them into pulp then go back for more if needed. No more nut burgers or burgers of any kind, really, though I did make some fantastic fish cakes the other day. Glad you're doing so well. I have watched you because we have such similar stats in addition to other characteristics. You're doing beautifully! Oh, I should add that I continue to be surprised by what can be a slider for me. Yogurt I chunk up with a few walnuts, chia and gluten-free cereal, for example, so there's plenty of chewing. That seems to be the thing for me, the chewing activates the full signal. My beautiful fish cakes? Kind of a slider for me.....

I was banded on 2/10/11 and am on the soft meat stage. In 2 days i can go to regular foods. I eat a lot of eggs, chicken and lena greund meats. Turkey sausage is good too. Cooked veggies ( broccoli,squash, peas, carrots) and fruits. If I eat too many "sliders" (pudding, yogurt, jello) I get hungry too soon. I have lost 30 lbs and have not lost any in 5 days. But I know that untill I have a fill in a few weeks, it will prob be like that. EAS or Muscle Milk are good protein supplements, but they dont keep you full as long. Do whatever your doctor says to do as far as eating is concerned, but know that if you get a good variety of thing, you will not get bored and be tempted to cheat.

I think I had my first IBS attack last night at 9PM after I drank a kids cup Lil Angel from smoothie King and had 1/2 scoop of greek frozen yogurt. I have had these items before and was fine... I thought my appendix was going to burst or my intestines were inflamed from having diarrhea for the last few days (TMI sorry)...I haven't felt pain like this since the week after my surgery! Thankfully 1 hour ago, almost 20 hours after the pain started, I am feeling well enough to get out of bed. Has this happened to anyone else?

Wow, those are a lot of questions, lol! I will try and answer some of them for you about how my experience went (and how my life is 10 months later). Basically, your surgeon will schedule you once they know how they're going to get paid. So either through insurance approval coming through or you figuring out how to pay a lump sum. Then, at some point before surgery you will go on the pre-op liquid diet. I was really worried about this but it was actually amazingly easy. I really enjoyed the way my body felt on the liquid diet. Very light and bouncy! When you go to the hospital on surgery day you will be taken to pre-op and scrubbed and gowned and at some point they will give you an injection to help you relax. At this point you're not going to care whats going on around you! Then they wheel you into surgery and put a drug into your IV and before you can count to 3 you're out like a light and then waking up in post-op. Post-op anesthesia recovery is different for everyone but I get really cold, get the shakes, and a bit queasy. I've had surgery before and have had that reaction so I let them know before hand and they had lots of warm blanquets and medicine for me. I'm not going to lie, you had surgery so you will have some sort of discomfort but I personally didn't find it to be that bad. Plus I was hooked up to a pain pump for 2 days and found that it managed my discomfort easily. As for worrying about your husband and his meals, I would recommend just cooking a bunch of stuff for him and putting it in the freezer so he can just reheat it. I know that after I was back on solid food I really just kind of stuck to eggs, cheese and tuna fish for awhile because I wasn't interested in food. My stomach was also VERY picky about what it would tolerate and it was definitely a trial figuring it out. I still can't eat some foods that my doctor recommended (yogurt) and that I used to love. It's strange but my taste buds have definitely changed! It is hard to get used to drinking because at first you really have to sip constantly throughout the day, even if you dont want to. I swear my water bottle was glued to my hand for the first few months. Now, 10 months later I can drink bigger amounts so it makes it easier. I still can't gulp water like I used to, but I can actually drink like a regular person. My weight loss was very, very fast for the first six months and then it slowed down which, for me, was good both mentally and physically. I had, and have, a bit of loose skin that will show up when I drop weight quickly in a small amount of time (Ex: 10 lbs in one week during a nasty case of pneumonia) but it has tightened back up every time for me. I haven't had buyers remorse at all, nor have a grieved for what I've given up. Yeah, it was a huge change and sometimes it was hard to deal with mentally but I've always kept in mind that I've gained much more than I've lost (no pun intended). I now run, yoga, kickbox, climb, zipline, ride fair rides, date and do a variety of other 'normal' activities...which means more to me than being able to eat a cheeseburger and fries. I've also kept one pair of my old size 24 jeans and whenever I get down during a stall I just slip those bad boys on and laugh that I now can fit both legs into ONE of the jean legs. You just have to look on the bright side! Plus, and to be honest...once the surgery is done, it's done and there is really no going back. Regretting something that you can't change is a recipe for having a miserable life. I just made sure that all my mental ducks were in a row before I went under the knife and that I had a good support system in place for when I did get stressed out. Everyone is different but I wouldn't trade the life that I live now for anything, and would go through it all again if I had to. Hopefully this helped some, and good luck with your journey!

fast foods I have a problem with it won't go down. if i have a burger, it is w/out the roll. and i can't even think about fries. but by the time i eat the burger I'm full. bread of any kind NO WAY! but if i toast rye bread and make it hard i can get a few bits before it gets stuck. not worth it. once something gets stuck and the sliming starts i can't eat for 1 hr. breakfast usually is crangrape juice w/benefiber in it and my 8 pills, then I'm full thats around 7:00 am. at 1:00 p.m. i may have tomatoe soup or cottage cheese or yogurt. if I'm home for dinner it would be some kind of protein ad some kind of canned veg. if I'm out i omit the veg. because i can't get it cooked soft enough to get it down. sometimes i will eat salad if it goes or i ask for cucumbers and vinegar. i think my biggest thing is that i don' exercise. but that is going to end soon.