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Sleeved 12/19 and I am on full liquids for one week, then can have soup, eggs, potatoes, cream of wheat, yogurt, etc.

I know this is only my 5th day post op but I'm getting friggen tired of this stupid liquid diet already!! I do know how important it is for my stomach to heal but if anyone has any suggestions for something "new" I would appreciate it. I've been through popsicles, lipton cup of soup, thinned yogurt, crystal lite etc. thanks!

Hi rajgrover, I had my lap-band procedure almost 4 weeks ago. I used Dr. Ren as well - great choice. She was really quick with my procedure and I really had a great experience with her. I was a little scared myself. once I was on the operating table the anesthesiologist explained what he was doing and I was out in minutes. Dr. Ren said hello and I was out a few seconds later. They have so many people in the operating room I can assure you they will not have a problem moving you to your bed. You won't know what's going on either way and you'll wake up in the recovery room. Once you're in your room a nurse will assist you and walk you to the bathroom (she will not come inside with you.) I don't know anybody else that had the procedure that had a bed pan or catheter. I got a little dizzy the first time I went to the john but after the first time it was much easier. They really want to make sure you urinate as soon as possible since they want to make sure you got the anesthesia out of your body and not sitting in your bladder. I felt absolutely nothing until after my surgery. I did have some pain but the meds I was given really took the edge off things and the pain went away pretty quickly. Make sure you walk around as much as possible after your surgery. I have 5 stairs leading to my house and I didn't have any problems. I asked Dr. Ren and she said that wasn't a problem. I'd ask her if I were you since she makes her decisions case by case. While Dr. Ren was operating on me she noticed that I had a Hiatal Hernia. She "fixed" it while she was in there and believe it or not I am totally cured of my acid reflux I'd been suffering for some time! I did have gas pains for a few days in my shoulders and other areas. These symptoms are very common and I've heard the more you move around the faster the gas dissipates. I drank bottled fat and sugar free flavored yogurts, "naked" (that's a brand name) fruit juices, slim fasts, and low calorie broths. Good luck with your surgery! You'll do fine, quit worrying and start planning a new you

Raj, Let me speak from a "loved ones" view. Of course you are afraid of the pain, we are always afraid of the unknown. I have seen my husband in so many painful situations b/c of his weight. My heart has actually ached for him. There may be some pain, but it shouldn't be bad and will be worth it. Wayne walked up 30 steps the day after surgery and was fine. Someone bought him a 64oz. sippy-mug, he fills it with Water everyday and drinks the whole thing, that way he knows he is getting the water he needs. He is so encouraged (I almost said excited, but that's me, not him) by the 20 lbs he has already lost that he doesn't gripe about the food. Lots of soup, tea, liquid yogurt, juice and broth. You will burp but it won't be a problem,,,,,it'll be welcome! About the bedpan???? He didn't have to use one, got right up when it was time, was walking 4 hours post-op. And he is 59 years old! Good Luck Raj, let us know your success story!

I did SF pudding, Greek yogurt, thin cream of what, oatmeal, cream of chicken soup (minus chunks).....it really only takes a couple bites though!!!!! Glad they're springing ya!!!!

Lauriann, I just started adding food back in yesterday. Never thought I'd be so excited to eat Malt-O-Meal...lol I'm just eating what my Doctor calls the full liquid diet for a week. Yogurt, Mash potatoes, cream soups, fat free puddings. I know I'm not getting many calories. Their main concern is protein. I'm supposed to use two scoops per day and I'm having some issues figuring out how to get it all in. I've added one scoop to smoothies and I drink that throughout the day. I guess I'll try adding both tomorrow and see. I've also been adding dry non fat milk to things before I eat them and that helps with the protein. I have my nutritionist appt next Tuesday so I know I'll have a lot of questions for her. Make sure you're taking your vitamins. I'm also taking a chewable calcium supplement each day too. I know I'm a little lack luster as far as energy goes but I'm sure it will come back as we add calories. Good luck and keep going!!

Today (day17) I just completed post surgery All Liquids. Now I can have mushy/puree for next 2 weeks. I drank nothing but liquids and nonfat greek yogurt (plain with some splenda) Clear broths, chicken,veggie, beef, SF popsicles,SF jello cup, Crystal lights and for Breakfast & lunch costco Premier Protein shakes. I did NOT do jello, pudding. Put you mind to it and you can do it. I lost 14 pounds since surgery on all liquids, 48 pounds total. I would question your doctor on NO yogurt, becasue it has protein (as long as its greek plain yogurt).

What did the liver shrinking portion of the diet consist of? I have been on a 3 week pre-op diet. Surgery next Wednesday. Consisted of protein shakes and 1 lite protein meal a day. Chicken and fish, salad. Greek yogurt, applesauce. Strawberries, and oatmeal. Been difficult but doable.

I'm still on mushies and 20 days post-op. I've been eating soup with a little more substance, added a cracker yesterday, cottage cheese, yogurt, fudgecycles, pudding, soft boiled egg smashed up with a little mayo & mustard is really good. I tried tuna salad today with mayo and mixed it really good. YUM I was told to gradually add things to my diet. By the end of 3 weeks the Dr. wants me to have tried bread and meat. I did "cheat" Friday. I had three french fries from McDonalds, but in my defense, I smashed them with a fork first and mixed them with ketchup! I keep telling myself this is the time to heal. If my head hunger gets too bad I go grab a SF popcycle and that can usually distract me. Good luck

Maybe you could ween off it by eating frozen yogurt (non fat, no sugar).... Yogurt is better for you and has kinda the same consistency.

I was on Clear liquids for the day of surgery and the day after and then moved to full liquids for the next 2 weeks. Anything that pours off a spoon (no chunks) - yogurt, pudding, soup, smoothies, Jello, Protein drinks. Your dr's office should be giving you some guidance and hopefully access to a nutritionist. Good luck.

Take boiled chicken, throw it in the food processor add celery, onion, spices, then take 2tbls. Lite mayo and 1/4 cup FF Greek plain yogurt. Mix together to consistency you need or like. Delicious and better than all that mayo! This made my day since I am in the puréed week. Made larger batch to eat tomorrow or 4th of July picnic! Hope you enjoy!

I had four weeks of full liquids, four weeks of purees, and then four months of soft foods. "Soft foods" = you can cut it easily with a fork. Purees - everything had to be run through a food processor unless it already had a pureed texture, such as poached eggs, refried Beans, yogurt, and cottage cheese. We also had lots of rules about the types of foods to eat (no grains or other high carb/low Protein foods etc.), how much to eat, how often to eat, and so on.

hello there. I got sleeved on November 11th. had a great surgery and recovery. I started my week pre diet with Protein shakes, it actually wen great. My problem right now is that i cant stand those shakes i am actually gagging on them, having a very difficult tine finishing them , and the chicken broth and and greek yogurt gives me goose bumps just listening to the words. i would like any kind of ideas on how you managed to go thru that liquid stage. thank you!!!

<p>Post-Surgery Diet, Nutrition, and ExerciseAfter surgery, you will need a new nutrition plan. Discuss this in detail with your surgeon and/or dietitian as they can help you learn about and get used to the changes in lifestyle and eating habits you need to make.It is very important to follow the eating and drinking instructions starting right after the operation to allow the new stomach structure to heal completely and in the right position. This may take a month or more. It is also important, especially in the early weeks, not to stretch the small stomach pouch above the band. Vomiting can stretch it, so it is important not to vomit. Vomiting can increase the chance of stomach tissue slipping through the band. The First Few Days Post-Surgery Right after the operation you can take an occasional sip of Water or suck on an ice cube. You shouldn’t drink more than this. The day after the operation, you can take a little more Fluid but only a small amount at a time. Besides water, you should also choose Clear liquids that have an adequate number of calories. To prevent nausea and vomiting, do not drink too much. liquid Diet (1-2 weeks post-op)The goal during this early post-operative period is to protect the small stomach pouch. Only thin liquids can be tolerated at this time. It is also important to keep hydrated with lots of water. Other liquids recommended during this phase include:</p> clear broth or Soup (with no vegetables or meat and not creamy) skim milk & fruit juice no-sugar-added popsicles pureed Foods (3-4 weeks post-op)During this phase you may start having slightly textured foods. Aim for the consistency of baby foods. This will help you transition to more solid foods later. Because Protein is so important to help you maintain muscle while you are losing weight, eat protein-rich foods first, and then move on to fruits and vegetables. Foods in this stage may include: pureed skinless chicken or fish mashed potatoes peas low-fat yogurt or pudding In the first few weeks you may be able to eat foods that might not be allowed in your diet later as these foods may contain too many calories. It is more important in the first few weeks to let your stomach adjust to the LAP-BAND® System than it is to lose weight. Also, your timing and progression into each dietary phase may vary. In general, you should follow the advice of your surgeon and/or dietitian about nutrition. Soft Foods (5 weeks post-op) Your meals can now include tender cooked foods like fish and ground turkey. Now that you can chew, make it a habit to chew foods well. If you have dentures, be sure to cut your food into small pieces and chew it thoroughly. If you don’t follow these precautions, you may experience vomiting, stomach irritation and swelling. You could also have stoma obstruction. If solid foods cause nausea and vomiting,go back to the liquid diet you had earlier. Then you can slowly add soft foods and eventually transition to solid foods. Always ask for advice from your doctor or dietitian that is specific to your situation. Vomiting may increase the incidence of band slippage, stomach slippage, or stretching of the small stomach pouch above the band. Your New Nutrition Plan When you can eat solid foods without problems you will need to pay close attention to your diet. Liquids will pass through the reduced stomach pouch quickly and will not make you feel full. The LAP-BAND® System was designed to restrict solids, not liquids. Drinking liquids during or immediately after meals tends to flush food through the pouch and you will not get the prolonged feeling of satiety needed to help you eat less. Staying hydrated throughout the day is important. Drink at least 6-8 cups of water per day and make sure you consume them between meals.Many patients have a difficult time with solid foods during the morning hours. If this is the case for you, you can open up your LAP-BAND® System by starting with a couple of glasses of liquids before your first meal. Too much food or big chunks of food can block the stomach pouch outlet. You can avoid this problem by chewing food welland eating small bits at a time. It is important to remember that your new stoma opening is approximately the size of a dime. Chew your food adequately so that it can easily fit through the opening. Eat only three small meals a day and make sure that these meals contain adequate nutrients. Your stomach can only hold about1/4 cup of food or 2 oz. at a time. Stop eating when your hunger is gone or when you feel comfortable. You may find that the small stomach pouch makes digestion of high-Fiber, high-fat and dry foods more difficult. Tolerance will vary from person to person. Ask your surgeon and/or dietitian about your food choices. The general guide below can help you create good and healthy meals that contain adequate nutrients but little sugar and fat. Good Food Choices 1. Fruits and vegetables 1 to 2 servings of fresh fruit daily 2 to 3 servings of fresh vegetables daily 2. Breads and cereals 1 small portion of low-sugar cold or hot Cereal 1/2 to 1slice of toasted whole wheat or rye bread each day Note: some patients have difficulty eating bread 3. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, 1 oz. to 2 oz. of meat, fish, or poultry or one egg each day. (Remove all visible fat from the meat. Remove the skin from poultry. Prepare the meat in ways that need very little fat. Grilling, steaming, microwaving, or boiling are all good ways to do this.) Note: some patients have difficulty eating meat 4. Dairy products Milk and yogurt are calories in liquid form. However, these types of food have Calcium, which makes them an important part of a healthy daily diet, so choose a maximum of 2 cups of skimmed milk or low-fat yogurt and 1 oz. of cheese a day.</p> <p> </p> <p> 5. Fats Restrict the use of fat to 3 to 4 teaspoons of margarine, butter, or oil per day. You can have low-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise in moderation 6. drinks Drink as many calorie-free liquids per day as you wish (though not with meals).Suitable drinks are tea or coffee (black) with low-calorie sweetener water non-carbonated beverages containing few or no calories Some doctors have reported that carbonated beverages may contribute to enlargement of the small pouch and recommend they be avoided. Foods to AvoidSome foods have a concentrated supply of calories with little nutritional value and should be avoided as much as possible. They include foods such as syrups cakes biscuits jam honey pies chips pastries Alcoholic drinks should also be consumed in moderation, for example a glass of wine per day. Common Problem Foods Some foods have difficulty passing through the opening of the stoma and may cause blockage. These include foods such as: dry meat shrimp untoasted or doughy bread Pasta rice Peanut Butter dried fruit fibrous vegetables like corn,asparagus and celery nuts coconut popcorn greasy or fried food seeds and skins of fruits and vegetables membrane of citrus fruits Introduce these foods slowly and individually to see if they are tolerated. Always be careful, chew well, and follow your surgeon’s or dietitian’s advice Exercise GuidelinesIncorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine is as important as your nutrition plan. Often patients have been sedentary due to decreased activity tolerance, psychological constraints, and in some cases, physical disabilities. After LAP-BAND® System surgery, aerobic activities—particularly walking and swimming—are generally best tolerated. Consult your surgeon and weight management team to find out which activity is right for you I got this info from obesityhelp.com I hope it is helpful to you I will be following this plan SC not yet banded

Good for you! I actually preferred the liquid stage. Shakes for breakfast, broth for lunch then maybe a yogurt (thinned out with soy milk) for dinner. Just easier! @Mikeyy

I am only allowed broth, protein shakes, liquids I can see through and 1 Greek yogurt per day. It has been rough but mostly with fighting the head hunger. I desperately want a cookie, a grape or Chinese food but I am not hungry I just want them. I haven’t given in because I know that this is what is best for me and that I only want those because I can’t have them. Today starts day 3 and I am down 5 lbs already. I notice that the days I have school (went back to college) I am ok but my days off are torture. Today I’m off so I plan to fill my spare time with homework and either a trip to the gym or a workout video at home. So far so good. That is great that you are feeling a difference clothing wise, congratulations you are doing great [emoji16]. We will all do great and get healthier together [emoji1360] Have a great day! Amanda [emoji16] HW 248 CW 241 Surgery Date: pending 11/21/2017. Goal weight 150’ish [emoji23]

To those entering the stage that allows yogurt... I can't recommend enough the Oikos brand greek caramel yogurt. It is the best tasting yogurt I have ever had. It can be hard to find - but try Target or Walmart. It is amazing.

Basically it's just no caffeine one week before surgery, and yogurt only for the 3 days before surgery. Not much more to it than that. No laxatives, no 2 week shakes or anything. I guess Dr Ponce figures 3 days is enough to empty the glycogen reserves in the liver, it works for him. If it makes you feel better you can do low carb now until your 3 day yogurt phase.

1/2 cup 0% fat greek yogurt, splenda or stevia and a tsp of honey. 87cals and about 12g protein

@@mefosburg @@auntjanny I'm eating baby food fruits, mashed potatoes and gravy, taco seasoned refried Beans, malt o meal, and yogurt so far. I honestly don't know how other people can purée food. I just can't eat puréed chili or Soups even, when I had jaw surgery a lot of people actually puréed McDonald's and other foods....sounds awful to me

My puréed list has things on it like malt o meal, cream of wheat, yogurt, mashed potatoes, any meats are to be puréed/blended with broth/gravy and then eaten...so hard to even think of eating meats puréed...lol I'm too picky

*waves* Hi, y'all. Long time no see Let me share my current experience with this. On Tuesday, I got a fill - from 1.75 to 2.5. I felt immediate restriction - all good - happy happy. Tuesday night I had Soup for dinner, slept like a baby. Wednesday, I had my Protein bar for Breakfast (not my brightest moment), yogurt for lunch and instant potatoes for dinner. I was still a little hungry after dinner, so I had a graham cracker, and my Water. I was up off and on Wednesday night with horrible reflux. Thursday, I had a Protein shake for breakfast, yogurt for lunch and really really runny instant potatoes for dinner. Had my water. Had a snackwell's chocolate cookie (ugh). Up most of the night with reflux. Still have it this morning. Now, I came to the board to read a bit because I'm thinking - this is too tight, not good. Then I realized...my period is due tomorrow. And when I have good restriction, I am always tighter a few days before and a few days into my cycle. And it's not just my stomach, I can feel it all over in my midsection, which says to me - you're bloated, Jill, get over it~ So I'm not panicing (thank you), but I am back on straight liquids, and I'll go get some Prilosec before I go home tonight. If this hasn't cleared up by mid week, I'll go get a partial unfill. Til then, I'm babying the band.

All of the above advice is excellent, the only thing I would add is to keep a few healthy snacks with you at all times. This kept me from eating something I shouldnt be eating even if it was only a few bites. I was not a perfect eater, and still aren't , but having healthy snacks when out Im out is always a good option. Depending on what stage you're at, yogurt, a protein drink, cottage cheese, nuts, raw veggies, fruit slices are some favorites. Good luck !!

Hi Everyone! I'm new here. Joined back in August 2015 after my initial consultation with my surgeon. My surgery date was November 23, 2015. Been lurking awhile, but this is my first post. All in all, I think I'm doing pretty well. I've lost 61lbs. I tolerate most foods well. I haven't experienced much nausea or vomiting (that only happened once thankfully!). I do have some concerns and I'm hoping the lovely people here can offer some tips. I feel like my life revolves around food now. I feel like I'm constantly eating all day to get my required Protein in (my doctor recommends 65-80 grams per day). Water is a whole other beast (64oz). It seems I just don't have the space for the volume of food and water necessary to meet these requirements. I know once we are able to eat solid foods, we should be getting most of our Proteins that way. I do okay maybe half the week and the other half I'm still using shakes to supplement. Should I not be doing that? I almost feel like Protein Shakes will be something that's part of my life forever, but there's a lot of people who disagree with that feeling. While I'm not vegan or vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination, I CANNOT just eat meat and nothing else all day long. I eat veggies and dairy products as well. I don't eat much fruit due to the sugar content. If I have any at all it's blended in a shake or 1/2 a teaspoon is added to my Greek yogurt to take the tang out. To make matters all the more awesome, I was never a big water drinker. If I had 8 cups of water in a month, that was a lot. So to go from that to 8 cups PER DAY is really difficult for me. I get maybe half. My doctor is aware and it's something I'm working on. He'd like me to get it increased, and quickly at that. So. Any tips to ensure I get as much protein packed into a single meal WITHOUT using shakes? Or is it okay to supplement with them as long as I need to? Tips for water consumption would be awesome, too. Thanks for reading! Sorry if I rambled