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I also could have yogurt and cottage cheese the first week. Could barely get down more than a tablespoon, but I can imagine how you must feel!

Day 6 after surgery: Today has gone pretty well. I'm SO lucky that I have lots of help with the kids and around the house, so I've been able to to some very good healing. What's working: warm liquids are the best, my decaf tea in the am and evening is really helping with my Water requirements. I bought some chicken tortilla Soup and strained it really well. I mixed it with a bit of greek yogurt, and it was a nice dinner last night and lunch today. It was a bit thicker than the corn soup I tried before, so I probably ate about 2 tablespoons before I worried it was too much. Almost every Protein shake I try has a horrible after taste to me, even ones I used as my pre-op, so I've been brushing my teeth a lot and chewing a 1/2 piece of SF gum (I have a jaw issue, so I'm not supposed to to chew gum but seriously, it's gross). I went out for about a 25 minute walk today and it felt pretty good. I went nice and slow. I'm having some lingering right shoulder pain, but I'm starting to wonder if it's related to another issue I have and not strictly surgery related. I see my surgeon tomorrow for the post-op and then I have another week of "full liquids." I'm going to get so bored! I'm trying so hard to keep my eye on the prize though and talk myself through any weird head games I play on myself.

@@Karen Scott Im one of those strange people I guess that I like the tartness of the fage yogurt - but Ive tried it with not only the torani syrup but also crystal light flavors... or sugar free jello or puddings powders... changes the flavors - and there is a vast variety of flavors then. I leave for Mexico one week from today... Im all packed and ready to go... but mentally Im spinning out of control! LOL calm one minute, emotional the next... I have essential oils for calmness... been using that.. and it helps!

I got hungry on post op day 6. I ate some Protein with no sugar and I feel better. I drink all the time. I had a Soup with chicken broth and eggs. I blended well and it was so good and filling. I had the sleeve. I was given so yogurt but it was too sweet because I had a dumping episode after that. Add some protein in your diet slowly and see if that helps. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G750A using the BariatricPal App

I was allowed to mix strawberries, blueberries and bananas into a smoothie with stonyfield plain yogurt. I have not had apples yet so not sure. But that sure sounds good! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If you can get the eggs to work now, omelets are a big go to for me. I usually do one egg, cheese and turkey sausage or something along those lines and that gives a little extra protein. I also go a greek yogurt as a snack because that packs a big protein punch. I'm currently trying to phase out my protein supplements at the encouragement of my NUT. I'm 16wks out.

I like extra (fairlife)protein milk... yogurt, eggs, fish, chicken thighs cooked in liquid , ...and I still use bars and occasional home made (inspire )protein drinks. Home made Refried beans are a staple Quinoa does have protein, and soy products have greatly improved ... pre baked and flavored tofu is amazingly good if you lean that way. Frozen yogurt is a treat! (Disclaimer: I'm a bander still working my program 10 years later...maintaining a 95 lb loss) And still I learn new things And wow. Just like everyone, I mess up!!

They make a peanut butter flour that is called "defatted" - essentially the yummy Peanut-Ness without the calories/fat. I've had it mixed with Greek yogurt or to flavor smoothies. HW 420 SW 347 CW 334 Sleeved April 10, 2017

Well the time has come and i am being banded tomorrow. I have lots of worries and fears especially what to eat after. The doctor said mushies would be ok by Tuesday in the afternoon if all GOD WILLING goes well. So i have bought chobani yogurts, cottage cheese with the fruit in it, ricotta, i have my pro-stat 64 drink ready to be used, Jello, and sugar free pops, and everything i bought is mostly sugar free. but i feel like i am limited to that stuff oh and of course Soups...i guess you can have cream based but i haven't bought any creamed based. i will stay away from that for a while. but any other suggestions meal wise??? so nervous that i will just come home and have ice cream shakes Breakfast lunch and dinner.

Don't get real discouraged, the self dissapointment i think is worse. I am getting banded on Monday the 28th. I have not been 100% good. Everytime i gave in to the temptation i would honestly get so upset with myself I would vomit, didn't enduce the vomit but i would get so anxious. In the grand scheme of things that little bit of cottage cheese isnt going to do much. Try as hard as you can to stay true. It is very hard. add oenut butter to the shakes, or some fruit. I found the best tasting shake is to use some chocolate protien powder, ice, water, and some coconut greek yogurt, its like an almond joy. Hang in there, don't give up. Don't be like me. i regret my decisions and now am in a better mind set, but i wonder if it was too little to late. You dont want that on your mind. Hang tough, the first week is the worse, it gets a little better each day, and be concious of the situations you put yourself in. If your going to be around people or events where there is large amounts of food, maybe stay home or meet up with them after dinner. Best of luck to you.

I was banded on 8/25 and I initially lost like 10 lbs and then seemed to level off. I got very upset and my husband put it in perspective for me. The inital 10 lbs was pretty much Water weight and I was on liquids only. Then on the 3rd week I went to softer foods (higher intake of cals, etc) so I hit plateau. Then I started walking 1.5 miles a day and stayed at like a 20lbs for the next 3 weeks. What you can see is the changes in my body. Although I may not be losing as fast as I want, I am changing rapidly, adding lean muscle which weighs more than fat and losing the cellulite. I have gone down two dress sizes. Now I am starting to lose 2 lbs per week and feeling a little more satisfied with the struggle. I have been very strict with my diet though. I only eat what is high in Protein and low fat/cals and sugar. I drink plenty of water and am now pretty committed to an exercise regiment. I dont even try to eat things I am not supposed to. I dont think it is worth it. The whole point of doing this surgery is to change your behavior as well as have the tool of the band to help with hunger and restrict your eating too much. For Breakfast I have two eggs or Greek yogurt, a sm cup of coffee about 30-45 min later, then Isopure juice which I sip on all day long. lunch I will have greek yogurt or left over protein (fish/chicken) 4/0z or less. then about 30-45 min later an EAS choc shake (takes me about 15-20 min to drink, then back to the isopure and water sipping all day long, then dinner is protein only 4 oz fish/chicken, etc. I use my Calcuim chews choc from Viactive as my deserrt because they really taste like little peices of fudge. My reward. I do not allow myself a cheat. I have my first adjustment next week and things are going to get more restricted and I dont want to be surprised. I wish you luck and dont be discouraged. I think what you and I went through is natural. We expected big numbers and they weren't, but now it is coming off more steadily. Give yourself and your body a chance to adjust and I would really start to concentrate on your diet and cal v. burn ratio. Tyna DOS: 8/25/2010 Highest Weight: 255 Goal Weight: 150 Current Weight: 230

Omg thank you everyone! I know its all about change and that I am the ONLY one who can change. I know it takes time and I have to change my eating habits, I do know that Protein is a huge deal!!! My goal is to lose at least 90lbs all together! Im trying to get my friends and family on Facebook to do a New Years challenge with me, I figure if I work hard I can lose an easy 30lbs... Karen- Thank you for your help! I agree with ya about thinking how am I going to be skinny in such a short amount of time lol What is this book about? Ill check it out and let ya know!!! Im hopefully going to start swimming on Oct 1st, thats when we get paid. But I do know that exercising is a major part of weight lose! I know when to stop eating at times, just not all the time! I do my Wii which weighs me everyday/or when I do it lol I do know that I tried on a pair of my old jeans and I fit them!!! That was exciting:) Tross- Ya, I know I was debating on the 2 surgeries. I figured I didnt want them cutting me into pieces, and that I just wanted the extra push for help cuz I know I can lose weight if I have help. Thats why I choose the band, if the band doesnt work for me in the future I know if Im desperate I can always get the bypass. Ali- Thank you for telling me what ya eat daily. Ive been trying to figure out how one gets in all their protein and not alot of calories! On most days I tend to have a Slim-Fast for breakfast, Yoplait yogurt for lunch, then a nice dinner on a SMALL plate with much smaller portions then I used to, for snack ill share a 100 calorie package of Cookies with my daughter or another yogurt. But like I said I know Im not getting enough protein! I think Im going to steal your meal plan lol I always wondered about those Calcium chews, do they really taste good??? What is this isopure you are talking about??? Elfie- The 13lbs is really from before my surgery to my follow up appointment with my doc on Sept 7th. No I do not wanna get anything stuck nor do I wanna throw up. I do though wanna feel what everyone calls "restriction" lol I cant eat without at least baby sips when eating, I know I know...its bad :smile: I do though eat slow and take small bites lol

I get the Isopure at the Vitamin Shoppe (but you should be able to get it at any nutrition store, i.e. GNC). ISOPURE I get it by the case at the Vitamin Shoppe. I get the EAS premade shakes at costco again, a case at a time. The yogurt does have a little bit of a different taste at first, just mix it good and now I like it better than any other yogurt I have ever eaten (and I ate a yogurt every day even before surgery). I started walking about 1.5 weeks after surgery (1.65 miles on my lunch half hour). I think I pushed too hard though and gave myself shin splints. So I have taken a week off, but I have really learned to like it. Gives me a break during the day and I get that extra exercise. Once the doc tells me I can I am going to switch to the elliptical machine. I have one in my house. Because of the arm motion they didnt want me doing it too early for fear it would hurt my surgery recovery. I will do that 3 days a week and still walk at lunch. I can really feel it this week that I have not walked. Let me know what you think of the websites.

I was banded last November and I am so happy with my choice. I am not hungry in the mornings so usually I don't eat until around noontime. I like Greek yogurt and buy the 100 calorie kind then pack the cup with things like chopped walnuts, chia seeds, a bit of gluten free cereal, etc. For me this is like a giant treat. Later I'll have whatever protein is going and some veg. Tonight we grilled and I loved my steak, just a small amount and then when I'm full I'm done. Oh, earlier I had cheese and crackers (GF) and we are having cocktails. I don't want to say what's good for any one but me, but this banded life is wonderful. I sure I could be losing faster but for the first time I'm not on a diet, I have no deprivation and I am at peace with food. I still love to cool -- have some chicken Marbella marinating right now. I've lost about sixty pounds and feel GREAT.

Interesting....I am allowed to eat the yogurt and pudding as is ..no need to thin it . And I have tolerated it just fine:laugh:

I'm on full liquids for 2 weeks now....pudding, yogurt, carnation instant Breakfast sugar free. Stuff like that. I live in Minnesota, where about do you live? TTYL:cool2:

perhaps the potatoes are a slider food for you. My NUT recommended adding unflavored protein powder to the potatoes. That might help you feel some fullness, otherwise, maybe try something else a bit more nutritious, like yogurt, or cottage cheese.

Watching this now and what a load of Cr@P! This woman is obviously too tight. Programs and people like this give banding a bad rep. Of course she should be eating solids and if she was only eating 5 teaspoons of yogurt then she would probably be constantly hungry and would be eating sliders far more often than 3 times per day. I hate shows like this.

Good morning! Like you, my schedule is always on the go go go. I was worried about maintaining the pre-op diet after returning to work, which admittedly I have not done yet as much surgery was just 2 days ago. However I started the diet before leaving for surgery, and was able to successfully eat on the go and still fit in line with the diet. My office has a cafeteria, but we also have plenty of restaurants on the good. I would bring just a small sandwich bag of 1 scoop of unflavored protein powered and mix it with soup broth I would buy from the cafe or restaurant. I was able to successfully keep up this way. I also purchased things I could leave there, like Greek yogurt single serve cups, or oatmeal packets. The option I favor is packing a full day's worth of meals in my lunchbox thought but totally understand that this is not always a possibility!

Hi Mom2tess - I record calories on Fitness Pal. Try to stay 1000 to 1200 calories. I eat low carb. Some days a total bomb with calories, if something special going on. I wear a Fitbit - try to get those 10,000 steps in. I do Zumba usually 4 days a week. Fun exercise, if u like to dance. I have had several stalls. If I'm doing what I'm supposed to do, I do not worry about it. Weight loss very slow now. Weigh about 2 times a week. I still have a large appetite. Bummer! Favorite snacks Greek yogurt (Fit and Light - 80 calories, plus 1 tablespoon slivered almonds ), deviled eggs made with Hellmans light mayo, dijon mustard, no sugar added sweet relish, salt and pepper - very filling, and dry roasted almonds. Hope this helps! Sent from my SM-T550 using BariatricPal mobile app

I did not like the fage yogurt even though it has 18grams protein taste so bad but I read a few threads and have now bought the sugar free syrup and used some in it. Delisssshhhhh. Mmmmmm!!! Try it guys. 18 grams of protein can't beat that.

It appears that my two weeks of hell since my last fill are officially over. I spent a week and a half eating and drinking nothing but warm to hot liquids. Saturday was my BFF's birthday. We grilled filet mignon and baked potatoes. I ate about 3oz of steak and about 5 bites of potato and was full. Most importantly it stayed down! I also drank about a cup of tomato soup about an hour before the dinner to help loosen up the band. The next day I did my usual routine coffee and carnation instant breakfast in the morning. At lunch I tried some bites of a chicken thigh. Major sliming and up it came! Stayed sick the rest of the day but managed to get some soup down for dinner. Yesterday was Monday and I started out with my usual coffee and carnation instant breakfast. Lunch was another carnation and a yogurt. For dinner I decided to cook for my family for the first time in 2 weeks. I cooked a roast, potatoes, carrots, and green beans. I got about an ounce of roast down and even though i chewed until there was no flavor, it got stuck! No slime or throwing up this time though! I waited for the pressure in my chest to go down then took a couple more bites of roast, a small carrot, a spoonful of green beans, and a spoonful of potato. Then, I had to go to the hospital to see my grandad who had surgery that morning. My mom wanted to go to subway since she hadnt eaten all day. This was 8:00 at night! I fell back into my old habits again..I wasn't hungry but I ordered a sandwich anyway! I picked the vegetables and meat off 1/2 of a 6 inch and ate it. No bread! Still to scared to try that! But what the heck was I thinking? I wasn't hungry but got it anyway! Anyway, woke up this morning and am so hungry I could die! I haven't been this hungry in several weeks! Also the scale hasn't moved in 3 days:sad:! It's just dissapointing after having lost a pound a day for 10 days straight! As long as it's not going up though, I guess I should be happy!:confused:

Mashed potatoes! Just chew them really really well... I ate mashed potatoes 5 days after surgery and did just fine. Or you could try watered down cream of wheat or oatmeal, and yogurt?

I was sleeved April 4th & today is the first day I could have soft food. This morning tried 2 bites of cottage cheese & one bite of yogurt. Stomach made a lot of noises - but feel ok. First 2 weeks was Clear Liquids, 3rd week was liquids that run easily thru a strainer. I made homemade black bean Soup & put it thru the blender. Hands down best thing I've tried besides Campbell's soup on the go (not allowed tomato soup). Also, tried a frozen Greek yogurt bar last night & had no problems. Planning on trying a few bites of egg for lunch. Premier Protein chocolate shakes are the only ones I'm interested in now. Liked the strawberry & vanilla first 2 weeks, but now I'm sick of them. All other Protein Shakes just turn me off now. Shakes I used to drink regularly before surgery now are hard to get down. I do drink a whey "Nectar" drink in tropical flavor with my powdered bariatric Vitamins in it & it's ok for 24g of protein. I add spoonful of Isopure non- flavored protein to my soup & coffee (mix it w/bit Water first). G2 & Powerade zero taste delicious to me right now. So I drink quite a few ice cold drinks & my Fluid intake is very good. MyraLax is a must for me every day too. Painful spot next to my belly button that burns with a sharp pain! Drives me nuts cause I'm wanting to physically do so many things. Doc's office said its where they put extra stitch to prevent hernias. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Everyone, I have been asked so many times on this board about what Protein drinks are good and some sample meals that I used during the first month and things I did after the 1st month. These are very valid questions and I know when I first started out I had all the same questions. Again this is long so please print this out if you would like. Protein Drinks. My all-time favorite is: Premier Protein Drink. It comes in 11 oz. drink boxes already mixed. There are 30 grams of protein in each box, 160 calories per box, 1 gram of sugar and 5 grams of carbs. The flavor I buy is Chocolate—that is all I can find at costco. I get mine at Costco and I understand that you can get them at Sam’s Club too. You can order these on line at Costco and Sam’s club. They are also available at this Web Site. http://www.premiernutrition.com/product.html I pay about $25.00 for a carton of 18 drink boxes at Costco in the city where I live. I drink one of these every morning for my Breakfast and nothing else and it has been almost 3 years since my “sleeve surgery.” The next Protein Drink that I have tried is called: Matrix 2.0 Mint Cookies made by Syntrax. You can check this out on this Web Site. http://www26.netrition.com/syntrax_matrix_page.html The cost for 2.16 lbs. is $22.99 plus postage. Item # 39-0963 My next Protein Drink that I have tried and like is: nectar, variety pack, you get 13 single servings in a variety pack. The cost is $22.95. This is the Web Site and they are made by Syntrax also. http://www6.netrition.com/syntrax_nectar_page.html There is one other Protein Drink that I found on Obesity Help.com that was rated really high by 188 people. I have never had it, but you might want to check it out. The name of the protein drink is: Carb Solution High Protein Power—it comes in more than one flavor. They also have cans of it already mixed. The Protein Powers cost $12.99. It has 110 calories, 1 gram of sugar, 4 carbs, and 20 grams of protein. This is the Web Site for Carb Solution at Wal-Mart. http://www.buycheapr.com/us/result.jsp?q=Carb+Solution&qs=ti&ga=us7&ts=go On www.ObesityHelp.com they have a lot of different information about Protein Drinks and they list so many different brands and people have rated the ones they really like check this site out. It has a lot of information about almost all the protein drinks that we find out there. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/nutrition/a,prodsearch/searchtype,1/criteria,11/ I hate Isopure. It does NOT taste good to me—I know that some people like it. I call it Isopuke, and it reminds me of pond scum. I have been told if you buy it at a GNC and don’t like it and still have your receipt they will refund your money if it hasn’t been more than 30 days since you purchased it from them. I guess they will do that with protein powers too—ask before you buy what their policy is about returning something if you don’t like it. So if you want to try it remember this. There always seems to be a GNC in most Malls. This 1st month after weight loss surgery is going to be the hardest one to do. You just get tired of what they want you to do. It is for a reason—the doctors know what they are doing. You need to let your new stomach heal from a major surgery, so that is why you have to do these things the 1st month. You should try to keep your calories at 800 per day and no more than 20 carbs a day if you want to lose weight. The 1st month you really don’t eat a lot. So in the following months keep track of everything you are putting in your mouth. You can track what you eat on this site. I found it to be very helpful to write down EVERYTHING I was putting into my body. If I didn’t write it down I was going over 800 calories per day and would not know I was. It does take time to keep track of it—you are worth the effort, but once you get the hang of it you will know what 800 calories really are. When you exercise this site helps you figure out the number of calories you have burned and that allows you to eat more than 800 calories. It is an easy site to use and it if FREE. http://www.livestrong.com/ The 1st 10 days for me had to be clear liquids—you had to be able to see through them. 1. broth. I used and love “Better Than Bouillon.” It comes in a jar and it is like a paste. I like it because it tastes great and you can make single servings. It is located with bouillon cubes and Soups in the grocery store. I had chicken and beef. I also made some home chicken Soup and strained everything out of it and just had the chicken broth. I would try to have ¼ of a cup of it for part of my meal, but sometimes it was just too much for me. Remember you have a new smaller stomach and it is swollen and can only hold about as much as the size of your thumb. 2. Jello-- sugar free. I might have 2 tablespoons of Jello. That was something I had fixed and ready when I got home from the hospital. 3. I tried to drink 64 oz. of Water and sometimes I could get it in and sometimes I couldn’t. Do the best you can, and just sip it all day long. I would add Crystal Light to the water—it made water taste a whole lot better. 4. Apple juice, white grape juice, sugar free sports drinks, decaf hot tea, also decaf ice tea. 5. Veggie broth or the broth from French Onion soup. 6. Sugar Free Popsicles if my stomach was upset this really seemed to help. The 2nd 10 days. This was much easier to do. If I didn’t mention it, it was difficult for me to swallow my medication so I would crush the medication up and mix it with about 1 tablespoon of applesauce and some Equal and mix my meds in the applesauce and take my medication that way. You will have creamy foods the next 10 days 1. I loved so many of the creamy soups. I used regular Campbell’s creamy soups that they had. I was only having about ¼ cup or maybe a few tablespoons of soup. 2. Jello was still good for me. 3. Sugar Free pudding, maybe 2 tablespoons full. 4. Yogurt a few tablespoons of it. 5. Frozen yogurt. 6. Applesauce a couple tablespoons. 7. A little cream cheese. 8. Sugar Free Fudge Cycles. 9. Premier Protein chocolate Drink mixed in blender with about 4 ice cubes and 1 cap full of Miralax. When you have a lot of protein you get constipated and Miralax works for that. It is tasteless and blends really great in the blender with the protein drink. I use the Miralx daily and it is NOT habit forming. 10. Soft boiled eggs or soft scrambled eggs—eggs didn’t work that well for me. 11. Low fat Chocolate milk. 12. Cottage Cheese. 13. Sugar Free Popsicles 14. Creamy Peanut Butter. The 3rd 10 days and final part of the first month. Yeah the 1st month is almost over. I could eat mushy food. This was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. 1. Mashed sweet potato or mashed yams with a small amount of butter on it. 2. Mashed up chicken noodle soup. 3. Mashed up homemade veggie soup. 4. Eggs that were soft boiled or soft scrambled. 5. Applesauce. 6. Cottage cheese. 7. Premier Protein Drink with miralax blended in the blender with 4 ice cubes. 8. Mashed up steamed carrots 9. Mashed up and blended a little tuna with a small amount of mayo. 10. Blended chicken breast with no skin on it. 11. Ham blended with a small amount of mayo. 12. Water with Crystal Light 13. Jello with fat free cool whip. 14. Yogurt and frozen yogurt. 15. Sugar free pudding. 16. Protein Bars chewed up really well—I could never eat a whole one—just a few bites. 17. Mashed potatoes and cream cheese mixed in with them. 18. Mashed black Beans they have a lot of protein in them. I would have about 1/4 the a cup and that is about 9 grams of protein 19. Sugar Free Popsicles 20. Hard Boiled eggs made into egg salad. If I went out to eat I found that a cup of soup was about the best thing I found that I could eat. I also felt like I was on display sometimes because family and friends would watch me eat. It used to bother me, but not anymore. I watched them eat and I thought to myself. “Oh my gosh they inhale their food and they hardly chew it.” I was always the last one to finish eating. That is OK too. At first I actually mourned the loss of food. Later on I was thrilled that I had the restriction of a sleeve because I was losing weight. I found that chicken and fish were easier to chew and I liked them a lot more than red meat. I said that chicken was one of the main sources of protein for me. I found Kirkland (Costco brand) grilled Chicken breast strips. It is already cooked and I would put one bag (1 pound) in the freezer and use the other (1 pound bag later.) It is really handy to have around and a quick meal to fix if the chicken is already cooked. We also ate more fish. I would buy Halibut or Sole—a mild fish. I would marinate it in OJ or crushed strawberries or blueberries all day. I would also marinate it in law calories Italian Salad Dressing all day. I would cook it in a pan with Pam spray and put garlic or rosemary in the pan when I was cooking it. I don’t eat a lot of red meat and I used to be a real red meat lover. For me it took too much chewing and it just didn’t taste as good as it used to. I will now have a small hamburger and only eat 1/3 to ½ because it just is too much food for me. Ham was something that worked well for me too. I found I could get a large think slice of from the grocery story deli and I would have it for a protein—I would slice off about 2 oz. of the ham. I also enjoy a Taco Salad and I make mine with chicken instead of beef. I love Shrimp and lobster too, so those are my treats that I reward myself with. A typical meal I ate starting the 2nd month after WLS. Breakfast: Premier Protein Drink with Miralax and 4 ice cubes in the blender. Lunch: 2 oz. of chicken or ham with a small amount of cheese melted over it. I would have a bean salad—it has 4 different beans in it. Snack: I would have about 10 dry roasted almonds and maybe 10 dried cherries Dinner: 2 oz. of Chicken or Fish, steamed veggies of some kind. Sometimes my husband and I would split a small baked potato I put a teaspoon of butter and sour cream on it. Snack: Some type of fresh fruit or a Protein Bar. Carbs and what to eat and what NOT to eat About the 3rd month after WLS I would add a little bread in my diet—I could only eat about ½ a slice of bread or ½ of a hamburger bun and they are the “thin” buns that they have out now. They also make a thin bagel. You just have to look when you are shopping in your local grocery store for these things. Try to find Whole Grain carb products and if you can’t the do the whole wheat. Try to stay away from WHITE carbs. They are white refined carbs and that is how we got fat eating a lot of them. Rice should be brown rice and only a small amount—NO white rice. Pasta comes is Spinach or Whole Wheat and you can have only small amounts of it. banana – Medium size has 27 Grams of carbs—I stay away from the banana, and I love them, but I just don’t want to spend all my carbs for the day on a banana. I use a Mexican soft flour shell made of spinach or sun dried tomatoes for making a small sandwich too—you know they call them wraps. Beverage: They do not want you to drink something when you eat—you need the room for the food so that you can get your protein in firsts. During the day I would have water or decaf tea for my liquid after I ate or all during the day. As I said the Crystal Light Individual packs and different flavors worked well in a bottle of water. It seems like it took me forever to eat and drink all the things I was supposed to be eating and drinking. I was always sipping on the protein drink and water. supplements you should take. It is important that you take a multi-Vitamin. I had a difficult time trying to swallowing large pills. Look for an Adult Chewable multi-vitamin. I also have the Chocolate Chewable Calcium that I buy at Costco. As time goes on it will get easier to swallow larger pills. Do NOT take the multi-vitamin on an empty stomach, it may make you sick. My Primary Care doctor was very helpful and after I had been home 2 weeks from WLS, she had me come into for an office visit. She ran a full blood panel and made sure all my levels were ok. I knew my potassium was low when I left Dr. Aceves in Mexicali—they ran my blood test before I left and gave me a very detailed report about my surgery to give to my doctor here in the US. Dr. Aceves told me to have it watched when I got home. I now take a potassium tablet prescribed by my doctor and work on eating food high in potassium. Starting the 3rd month I started to eat more salads about here. I had a favorite and still eat it. It is Fresh Spinach, with slices of almonds, feta cheese, dried cherries, or fresh strawberries, a tablespoon of bacon and Paul Newman’s Light Raspberry & Walnut dressing on it. I sometimes add some of my Kirkland (Costco) Grilled Chicken breast strips to it and then it is an entire meal in one bowl. Chef’s Salad is a great one meal in a bowl thing to have and I just use any kind of dressing I want on it. This salad has lettuce, tomatoes, olives, sliced hard boiled eggs, turkey or chicken, and some ham sliced on it with some cheese. REMEMBER make this in a much smaller bowl than the normal Chef’s salad comes in. Sometimes I will add a small amount of Whole Grain dinner roll or some bread with it. Stir Fry is a great way to get meat and veggies all in one meal too. I have a pan that works great on the BBQ grill and I do a stir fry on the BBQ in the summer time. Have a sense of adventure and take some of your old recipes and see if you can convert them into a healthier recipe. Use veggies that you have never tried. Try some “rubs” on you meat located in the spice section or the grocery store and try to marinate some of your meats all day before cooking them—it really changes the taste of them. Desert I don’t want you to feel deprived. I learned that sometime just a bite or two of a desert really satisfied my need for it. Instead of the WHOLE piece of cake or pie, just a sliver of it worked for me to satisfy my need for it. When you want a cookie have just one small cookie and not the entire bag OK. Sugar free pudding with a small amount of Fat Free Cool Whip is good too. Use Splendia to make a desert that you like. So everything in moderation works. Exercise I was never a fan of exercise until I started to walk and I found out how much I benefited from it. Now I try to exercise 5 days a week. Find some form of exercise that works for you and do it. Start slow and then add more until you are comfortable with it. I am sure I have missed a few things, and I will write those down as I think of them and make a Vol. 2 if I needed too. These are just my suggestions, spice them up and make your food interesting and don’t get in a rut. This is not a diet, you will learn to adapt it and find things that work for you and that you like eating. This is a LIFESTYLE change. Make it work for you. You have the tool of restriction now use your new tool to your advantage. The fat doesn’t just melt off of you. It does require work and effort on your part. Stalls—No weight loss for a period of days. Be prepared you may have periods where you lose NO weight. We call those “Stalls.” You will panic and think for sure that you are the “one person this is NOT going to work on.” I know I was sure that was me. NOT true at all. Our bodies just do this. Mine lasted for 9 days—no weight loss at all. Just keep doing what you are doing and the weight will start coming off again I promise you. I can tell you not to panic but most of you will anyway—that is pretty normal too. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds.