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I had my first post-op appt today - I am 10 days post-op - I am having same pain as you and he said it is gas pain and I need to take Gas X or Milk of Magnesia - I did not know it was from gas but now I do - It is not killing me but is very uncomfortable - maybe what I am eating is wrong but I am basically living on soups, cream of wheat, oatmeal, yogurt and protein drinks. Should go away eventually he said. I also have a lower back pain which is also related to gas.

Hi guys, I am asking the experts here since you all know what it is like. I got my second fill yesterday, I am now at 2.3cc in my medium band. Since the fill (done under fluoro) I was of course on liquids yesterday, in which was able to go down and not come up, but 80% of the time went down with gurgling, like air or something. It's hard to explain, it even gurgles sometimes when i swallow my spit. However I do not feel like throwing it up but it just feels like alot of trapped air in there. I am on mushies today, and I am eating yogurt for the first time, and it is going down ok without the gurgling. I guess my question is this what it feels like to be TOO FULL and i need some taken out or is this normal, i'm a little scared to start solid foods tommorrow, and find out then and not be able to get unfilled. Also, when it was gurgling after the fill about 30 min later they brought me back in and checked me under fluro to make sure it was going down even with the gurgling. Am I being paranoid. Please help....:help:

I started burbing on Saturday and I didn't know what was happening. That's when I first went on-line to see if I was unique. It was very helpful to know others are affected. Are you walking at all? When I walk a little, I burp and pass gas a lot. Yesterday I also did some fingertip massage on my abdomen (not stomach area). I also had not had BM since the day before the surgery and yesterday took 2 Duclolax that alleviated the problem comfortably. I started my powder Fiber today and I hope that and the Water will keep me regular.? I think the Benefibre will help you. Are you pretty sore at your port site? I am so glad to be feeling better overall, but that one spot still remains. I go to the dr on Thursday--when do you go again? I didn't have to do the clear fluids, only a liquid diet, so I have had some Protein powder and yogurt. Are you sleeping ok? Joan

It figures my "big" questions always come at or close to 5 on a Friday and I don't want to bother anyone at the surgeon's office if most here say it's not a biggie. Not sure if this is a problem. In 3 days I start pureed (OMG- cant wait for the ricotta thing!!). So I dug out this amazing blender for Protein etc. shakes I bought years ago and whipped up a concoction- vanilla RTD shake, some greek yogurt, ice, pumpkin pie spice, tsp. of Peanut Butter and a 1/4 a banana. It has been (haha- 2 hours later) amazing! But... as a was gulping (for some reason liquids go down fine- I know I need to slow my roll) I tasted a piece and realized banana has these tiny pulpy seedy pieces. They were extremely fine and did get pulverized through the blender. I had lots of it already. The thing that freaks me out is one day this week someone said something about accumulated stuff like that getting stuck in the staple line and causing an infection. Do you think I have anything to fear? I've been so "good." I read about people going to soft foods almost immediately and can't understand that, however that makes me think if they "made it" doing that-- I'm probably fine??? Also, I'm not having any liquid restriction so this shake was really a lot --- since I didn't feel a need to stop how did you know when to? Calorie wise I'm still prob. around 500 a day but getting in at least the 70 grams and all liquid- easily. Thanks for any knowledge or even if you know a place on here that explains this process a little more fully.

I can't get in my required protein without a protein rich snack. cheese lowfat plain Greek yogurt

Hey, its 12:54 april 24th 2006....i should be studying exams but i'm here doing my journal! I will start with what i did before getting into this, since i don't have much to say about the pre-op diet (i started 1 hour ago...its a 10 day diet consisting of yogurt and cottage cheese) So....around march i started thinking out of the blue...I need help, i've tried everything, I don't even know what clicked but all of a sudden i felt the urge to look up everything on the RNY gastric bypass. While i was researching that i found info on the Lap-band...which led me here. I was looking for forums where real people were discussing real issues. I started out just talking about it with my parents, they were ok about it but quickly warmed up to the idea. My mom did research and found someone in Toronto. This was the TCC (toronto cosmetic clinic) So i booked a consult in person for late may. I was searching the forum and found out no one really knew them and their reputation was not established, and their post-op care didn't add up. I opted for the TLBC (Toronto laparascopic band centre). Where i could do a phone consult which i booked for april 5th... Filled out the forms, did the consult, set the date....May 4th 2007. I spent countless hours on LBT researching, viewing threads, looking at before and after pics, reading horror stories about the complications. Now comes the real test...10 days, pre-op diet! I will keep you (if anyone is actually reading) posted!

I was told the eventual goal is 3 meals per day with no Snacks. But also that everyone is a little different and if you feel you need a snack it should be healthy, choose fruits and veggies, or a yogurt or ounce of cheese. Although I'm still on post-op full liquids so I can't say what I'm doing yet!

I'm not sure. I have decided that what you are talking about is why we got the lapband. You are just at your second fill and I know exactly what you are talking about. At that time I was still eating things that I should not have like potato chips. Now I am at the sweet spot and I have to really watch what I eat, how I eat it and when I eat it. The amount I can eat has been very limited and so I now make sure that what I'm eating has the most bang for it's buck (yogurt and berries for Breakfast, fish and spinach or greens for lunch, etc). I have to take 30 minutes to eat and chew every bite completely before swallowing. I take little breaks between bites to make sure that I am not too full or that I'm not getting stuck. If I had not gone thru what you are talking about after the 2nd or 3rd fill, I would have been very unprepared for the care that I have to take now. It is a process and it works great.

I am on day 6 and was on clear liquids only until this morning. Now I am on full liquids for 2 weeks - today I had protein shakes, some greek yogurt (the second serving I flavored with guacamole seasoning of all things) and cream soups.

Im a little worried. I know im not supposed to compare myself to others but ive been reading the boards here and im worried i am able to eat too much. Some posts Ive read here say you have to eat fluids only for 2 weeks, then mushies for 3 months!! Wheras my Dr said to "build up to eating normally in the next month" . Ive also read that some peoples dr's have said no strenuous exercise for 4 to 6 weeks, wheras my Dr said i could go back to Rollerderby within 2 weeks... I know VSG is a new thing here in Scotland but still!! Im exactly 14 days post op and i can already eat fairly normally. Yesterday I had my Protein shakes/water, a chicken/sweetcorn tortilla wrap, a mini choc bar, some diet coke, some cornflakes and a yogurt. today, ive had my protein shakes/water, a yogurt, 4 chicken McNuggets, a couple of spoons of mashed potatoes, and probably some chicken/rice Soup for dinner.. Im a bit perturbed that i can physically eat these things quite happily (as long as i chew and eat slowly,a new thing for me!)..... i get hungry every couple of hours, eat a little bit, feel full, then a couple of hours later im hungry again (which is again new to me, i used to eat hardly anything during the day, not be hungry, have a huuuge dinner, then feel sick ) Should i just count my blessings and shut up? thanks

I am doing really great... Better then I had expected actually. I had my gallbladder out Oct 07 and that was WAY worse then the recovery from lapband. I go for my two week post op appt today and I hope to get the ok to start back at Curves. I have missed going there and I need to get back on track with that as well. I have been doing liquids and I am very satisfied. I never feel hungry unless I have waited too long for a shake. In fact waiting on people to eat is a pain in the rear LOL! I am guessing that since I went to my PCP for my referral to the surgeon I have lost almost 25 pounds. Since my surgery I have lost about 12. I came home from the hospital 10 pounds heavier then when I left the morning of my surgery. So really I have lost almost 20 since I came home. It took almost a week to get the 10 pounds of swelling and fluids out of me. Let see... I can sleep in any position that I desire with no pain. I can sit up from laying down flat no problem. My incisions are all about healed except for the port one. One end of it is still a little red but I am treating it. I have a little bruising left behind but other then that all looks good with the incisions... I actually have to hunt for one of them. I should be able to start full liquids after my appt today... so some cream Soups and yogurt cottage cheese things like that. If you have any other questions let me know.... I am pretty much an open book!!

Check out some of the recipes I created while on my 6 week full liquids. Ignoring the peanut butter ones, of course. I also got chest pains with the heaviness of some things like peanut butter if I was not careful and had too much. Once I started doing this I was getting more than my recommended 60grams a day. Some of them are pushing the limits a bit, but most of them were a true life saver, as I never found myself getting desperate for real food! <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/909/6236/9096236.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Free Weight Loss</a> Tools</small></p> J’s High Protein Full liquid Recipes PHASE 2: Full liquid diet This starts 1 day after surgery NOTE: On the Full Liquid Diet, up to 6-8oz per meal is OK for 3-6 meals a day with lots of water and mini 2-4oz Snacks in between (snacks are optional, but can create slower weight loss). Make sure to drink LOTS of water. The bulk of your fullness should be water. Stop before feeling full. I am consistently losing weight with these measurements. Remember to drink or eat very slowly. You can train yourself by using tiny baby spoons. The point of this 6 week plan, I am told is partly to shrink your stomach and get you prepared for the first band tightening where you will be limited to very tiny amounts. The doc wants you to get bored of these foods, because after the 6 weeks, you go strictly to solids and water. No more mushy or liquids. All of my recipes include ingredients that can be found at most Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joes or Meijers Grocery. Organic products are all optional, but I (from recent experience) highly recommend for those wanting a more rapid weight loss or healthier system in general. Using skim milk over cream or any other dairy milk will speed it up as well. The nut milks are a great way to sneak in even more nutrients. Most grocery stores carry these organic products now, but you have to look for them. *All my high fat recipes include only healthy or beneficial fats that have not been processed and do not include any hydrogenated oils. Please check the nutrition labels before purchasing any ingredients.* My Personal Tips for More Rapid Weight Loss Using the Liquid Recipes: 1. Use my snack recipes only once a day 2. Choose only my low fat options from my recipe list 3. Stay under 1000 calories. 4. Minimize the amount of sweetener used 5. Choose a Superfoods recipe at least once per day 6. Take liquid multi Vitamins from Whole Foods Market once a day 7. DRINK MORE WATER J’s Favorite Sugar Substitutes Liquid Stevia (Whole Foods Market) Xylitol (Whole Foods Market) Looks like sugar & great for decaf coffee, baking (during Phase 3: Solids) etc… J’s Daily food Goals 60g Protein per day (split up into six 2oz meals or three 4oz meals) 5g or less of sugar per meal 3-6oz per day of liquid multi vitamins from health food stores As many drinks of water between meals as possible 800 Calories a day Full Liquid Recipes (MY FAVE) Decaf Mocha Protein 4oz organic decaf coffee of choice 2 oz skim (lowfat option) or Real Organic Whipping Cream (high fat option) 1 serving organic whey Protein powder (any flavor) 1/2 tsp real organic vanilla extract 1 ½ tsp real organic chocolate extract 2 tsp Xylitol (or to taste) ~blend well~ Egg Nog 6g protein 6g sugar (from milk) (drink only half at one sitting) Blend All: 1 raw, organic and cage free egg 4 oz organic skim milk 8 drops liquid Stevia Extract Dash real sea salt 2 dash organic nutmeg 1/4 tsp real organic vanilla extract 1/4 tsp rum extract (optional) Healthy Cocoa Mint Protein Shake 1 cup organic skim milk Real organic mint leaves or real organic mint extract 2 tsp real, raw & organic cocoa powder 2 tsp raw, organic Maca Powder (This is a Super Food from Whole Foods Market or online. This is used often with real cocoa because it tastes great together and the minerals in both works together to balance the Calcium and magnesium found in them.) 1 serving organic weigh protein powder 6 drops Liquid Stevia Option 1: Boil 1 cup skim on stove top with ¼ cup of real organic mint leaves. Strain, then add other ingredients to milk. Blend & let cool. Drink ONLY HALF and save other half for another meal~ Option 2: For COLD & FAST shake, take 1 cup skim, add 2-4 drops mint leaf extract, add the rest of ingredients and blend. Drink HALF right away and save rest for later~ Almond Coco Joy Protein Shake 6oz skim (or almond milk) 2 tsp coconut extract (or 2 oz real organic coconut milk to add creaminess) 1 tsp Almond extract 3 tsp Real Organic Cocoa Powder 1 tsp real organic chocolate extract 2 tsp Organic Maca Powder (Super Food from Whole Foods Grocery or online. This is used often with real cocoa because it tastes great together and the minerals in both work together when combined.) 1 serving Organic Vanilla Whey Protein Powder 6 drops Liquid Stevia (if using almond milk instead, use only 4 drops) ~ blend well. Drink HALF right away and save rest for later~ Rice pudding Shake 6oz organic skim milk (or organic vanilla rice milk) 1 serving Organic Vanilla Whey or Organic Rice Protein Powder 2 tsp Organic Cinnamon 1 tsp vanilla extract 6 drops liquid Stevia (unless using organic rice milk) ~Blend & enjoy!~ Vanilla or Maple Protein Greek Yogurt 4oz Plain, full fat Organic Greek Yogurt Plain or Vanilla Organic Whey Protein Powder 5 drops Liquid Stevia 1/8 tsp Vanilla or Maple Extract ~Mix all ingredients together with a spoon until thin with no lumps~ Peanut Protein Power (high fat recipe) (Drink only HALF at one sitting. This is an extremely filling shake and you may get uncomfortable if you drink too much) 1 tbs creamy, raw, organic with no salt added peanut butter 4oz Organic Skim Milk 1 tbs real organic & raw cocoa powder (optional) 1 serving organic whey protein powder ¼ tsp almond extract ¼ tsp real organic vanilla extract 10 drops liquid Stevia or 2 tsp Xylitol ~blend all ingredients together VERY WELL~ Vanilla Orange Dream 6oz organic skim milk 1 serving organic plain or vanilla whey powder 1/8 tsp orange extract 1/8 tsp vanilla extract 8 drops Liquid Stevia ~shake or blend all~ Coconut Milk Protein Shake (high fat) 1/3 cup pure organic coconut milk 2/3 cup organic skim milk or rice milk ½ tsp vanilla extract 5 drops of liquid Stevia (or to taste) 1 serving organic whey protein powder 1 tsp almond extract (optional) 1 tbs raw, organic cocoa powder (optional) ~Shake or blend all together~ DOUBLE CHO-COCOA COVERED banana 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate whey protein powder 2 1/2 tbs cocoa powder 3 tsp chocolate extract or 1 tbs organic chocolate syrup (contains pure cane sugar) 8 drops Stevia extract or Truvia replacement sweetener (same as stevia only in a crystallized form) 1 cup organic skim milk 1/4 very ripe banana 1/4 tsp almond extract (optional) 1 tbs creamy organic peanut butter (optional) ~blend well and enjoy!~ Simply Nanners! 1/2 very ripe banana 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 8 drops Stevia extract or Truvia replacement sweetener (same as Stevia only in a crystallized form) 1 cup organic skim milk ~blend well and enjoy!~ Banutty 1/2 very ripe banana 1 tbs organic creamy peanut butter 1 scoop organic vanilla or plain whey protein powder 1/4 tsp real organic vanilla extract 1/4 tsp almond extract 1/3 cup organic skim milk 1/3 cup organic almond milk (adds sweetness and nutrients) 1/3 cup organic hazelnut milk (adds sweetness and nutrients) 4-8 drops liquid Stevia ~ Mixing milks is optional, but will add a much richer and sweeter flavor. Blend well and enjoy!~ Full Liquid SNACKS Note: Have these ONLY after you have gotten your required amount of protein in for the day and are still hungry. These will fill you and add extra nutrients to your daily diet. These contain higher fat and may slow down weight loss. Mix cream Soups with water for better results. Cream Soups Meijers Grocery & Whole Foods Market carry an AMAZING Organic Cream Soups collection, Imagine & Pacific brand, where you can poor it right out of the carton! Most of the soups have no chunks in them (chunks have to be strained). You can also choose the LOW SODIUM flavors which are very good and (optional) add real sea salt from Whole Foods Market to them later if you want. Choose any flavor and enjoy! My Faves: Organic Creamy Tomato Organic Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Organic Creamy Sweet Potato Organic Creamy Acorn Squish with Mango ( I like it as is) Organic Creamy Cashew, Ginger & Carrot Organic Creamy Sweet Pea Organic Creamed Tomato Soup (Whole Foods & Meijers Grocery)<br style="mso-special-character: line-break"> <br style="mso-special-character:line-break"> Poor 4oz of soup in mug and heat for 1 min in microwave. For turning this into pizza SOUP add: 1 sprinkle oregano 2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese (stir in well after soup has cooled for 1 min. DO NOT MELT in soup) 1 sprinkle garlic powder 1 sprinkle onion powder 1 sprinkle real sea salt Organic Creamed Red Pepper Soup (Whole Foods & Meijers Grocery) Poor 4oz of soup in mug and heat for 1 min in microwave. 2 tsp grated Parmesan cheese (stir in well after soup has cooled for 1 min. DO NOT MELT in soup) (This is high in Vitamin C) Organic Creamed Sweet Potato Soup (Whole Foods & Meijers Grocery) Poor 4oz of soup in mug and heat for 1 min in microwave. Sprinkle real sea salt Add ½ tab REAL ORGANIC butter Egg or Avocado salad 1 Hard Boiled Egg Yolks (no white, since it is unable to blend smoothly) = 3-5grms protein (This recipe CAN BE SUBSTITUTED WITH AVACODO for other daily nutrients. Use the equivalent of one egg yolk. Just remember that it is higher fat and lower protein. BUT, not to fear!... it’s GOOD FAT. Avocado contains monounsaturated fats and oleic acid which helps lower cholesterol! ONLY eat this as a snack if you have gotten all your protein in for the day.) 1/2 TBS Kraft Olive Oil Mayo (or organic options from Whole Foods Market) 1 Tsp Mustard (look for brands with no added sugar) 1/2oz water Sprinkle of Paprika Sprinkle Garlic Powder (Optional) Sprinkle Opinion Powder (Optional) Sprinkle Dill (Optional) ½ Sprinkle Celery Salt (Optional) ~Blend EXTRA, EXTRA SMOOTH until the consistence of fat free yogurt to make a thin creamy paste, eat slowly with baby spoon and enjoy!~ Greek Yogurt Full fat or fat free PLAIN 2 oz = 2 gm protein ~Eat 2oz. plain, or add 2 drops almond extract & 4 drops of liquid Stevia to give it a “honey nut” flavor. Eat slowly with baby spoon~ V8 or Organic Tomato juice 2-4oz ~Add salt, pepper, onion powder & garlic powder to taste (optional). Eat slowly with baby spoon~ Organic Apple Sauce 2oz. plain or cinnamon (to help you “go” if you get constipated.) Chai Tea 2oz water 2oz Skim Milk 8 drops Liquid Stevia 3 shakes cinnamon 3 shakes cardamom 1 shake clove ½ shake cayenne 2 shakes ginger 1/2 shake black pepper ~Can sip this all day when you’re in desperate need of flavor!~ RECIPES #2 DOUBLE CHO-COCOA COVERED BANANA (High Fat & Calorie) 1 scoop vanilla or chocolate whey protein powder 2 ½ tbs cocoa powder 3 tsp chocolate extract or 1 tbs organic chocolate syrup (contains pure cane sugar) 8 drops Stevia extract 1 cup organic skim milk ¼ very ripe banana ¼ tsp almond extract (optional) 1 tbs creamy organic peanut butter (optional) ~blend well and enjoy!~ Simply Nanners! (High Calorie) ½ very ripe banana 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder ½ tsp vanilla extract 8 drops Stevia extract or Truvia replacement sweetener (same as Stevia only in a crystallized form) 1 cup organic skim milk ~blend well and enjoy!~ Banutty (High Fat & Calorie) ½ very ripe banana 1 tbs organic creamy peanut butter 1 scoop organic vanilla or plain whey protein powder ¼ tsp real organic vanilla extract ¼ tsp almond extract 1/3 cup organic skim milk 1/3 cup organic almond milk (adds sweetness and nutrients) 1/3 cup organic hazelnut milk (adds sweetness and nutrients) 4-8 drops liquid Stevia ~ Mixing milks is optional, but will add a much richer and sweeter flavor. Blend well and enjoy!~ BERY, BERY SUPER FRUITY (Low Fat) 1 tsp Raw, Organic Acai berry Powder (Superfood) 1 tsp Raw, Organic Lucama Powder (Superfood) 1 tsp Raw, Organic Pomegranate Powder 1 ½ TBS Strait Pure Organic Goji Berry Juice (Superfood) 1 ½ TBS Strait Pure Organic Cranberry Juice 10-12 drops Liquid Stevia 1 serving organic Vanilla Whey Powder 1 tsp Pure Raspberry extract 1 cup skim milk ~Blend well and enjoy!~ strawberry CREAM DESSERT #1 1 TBS strawberry extract (Bonus if you find a natural version of this) Or 2 ripe organic strawberries (must strain shake of chunks and seeds after blending well) ½ tsp real organic vanilla extract 8 drops Stevia extract or 1 tbs Xylitol 1/2 cup Organic Skim Milk 1/2 scoop organic vanilla whey powder 1 tsp Real Organic Whipping Cream (optional) ~blend well (Strain) and enjoy!~ Chocolate Cover Strawberry 2-4 ripe organic strawberries (must strain shake of chunks and seeds after blending well) 2 TBS real organic cocoa powder 1 tsp organic Maca powder 1 TBS organic chocolate extract 1 scoop organic whey vanilla whey powder 1 TBS Xylitol sweetener 5 oz organic skim milk ~blend well strain and enjoy!~ Cinnamon Covered Almond 4 oz Organic Almond Milk 2 oz Organic Skim Milk 2 TBS Real, Raw & Organic Honey 1 TBS Real, Organic Cinnamon 1 Scoop Organic Vanilla Whey Powder ~Shake very well and enjoy!~

So, I just came from my surgeon and NUT appts. I signed my consent form, and I saw my NUT. Now only thing I have to do is call my PCP tomorrow and get clearance from him. I was given my pre op diet and I asked when can I start it. I almost hit the floor when I was told tomorrow. Hopefully I will have my surgery date by the end of the week, and have to stay on the diet until then. It's honestly not too bad. It consists of 3 protein shakes per day, For my snack a cup of sugar free, fat free/low fat yogurt and a piece of fruit. Plus a sensible meal that is 6 oz of meat, 2 servings of bread/starch 1 cup of veggies, 1 cup of salad greens with two tablespoons of low fat salad dressing. Considering what alot of other people pre-op diets are, this is really great. Well it sounds great, let us see how it is when I start it*lol*

yes, i count my shakes as a meal - especially b/c of the calorie count. I also blend in 4-5 ice cubes, a small yogurt and some times a banana. then i pour it into my tallest reusable coffe mug w/lid from DDs and leave it in the freezer until i'm walking out the door. That way, i can drink it "like coffee" in the morning...in the car or at my desk at work. Works like a charm!!

The Smart-Balance fat-free milk is 110 calories and has 10g of Protein. A few more calories BUT it tastes like 2% so is good in recipes, tea, coffee and smoothies. I am also using Research Power Designer Whey powder... tasteless (really, I don't notice it) that has 100 calories and 19g protein. I add it to smoothies and Greek yogurt. Whih brings me to that which has (thank heavens) replaced my protein drinks. I like the Brown Cow, Oikos, Chobani, Fage, and now Dannon has joined the club. I do not like the Yoplait which is sour...more like traditional Greek yogurt. The ones I like are more like regular yogurts but with almost twice the protein. The first two come in smaller portions of 100 calories so if you add the whey powder it is 29g of protein for 200 calories. Good deal. When I have calories to burn I make a smoothie with the yogurt and powder plus fruit and a half cup milk. If you keep an online food diary you will probably be surprised at how much protein can be had from your foods. Then a few brand substitutions as you start to really read food labels and protein isn't the overwhelming problem it once seemed. (Whey powder can go into stews, sauces etc)

Cold cuts/thin slices cheese roll ups w/pickle or avocado in the middle. Grilled or cold. Celery w Peanut Butter or cream cheese. Cucumber w goat cheese or laughing cow cheese Beef or turkey jerkey No sugar added Greek yogurt (Damon light and fit, oikos triple zero, etc) Pre cooked frozen shrimp take and let thaw and use a touch of cocktail sauce Protein mug cake (search here for recipes) Berries w plain Greek yogurt Veggies w dip made w plain Greek yogurt mixed w hidden valley ranch powder/mix

My doc said to use the 3-1-1 formula. 3 bites protein, 1 bite veggie, 1 bite carb until you're full, or eat your 4 oz. or protein, then veggie, then carb. 1/2 cup protein, 1/4 cup veggie, 1/4 cup carb. A carb can be brown rice, sweet potato, corn, etc. OR since fruit is high in carbs, you can eat the fruit with your meal instead. This seems to work for me except on the mornings when I eat yogurt or oatmeal or cream of wheat. It doesn't quite come out that way. I buy Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal and add half a scoop of unflavored protein powder. If I do that I usually have like 3 strawberries or 3 - 4 peeled sections of grapefruit or a narrow slice of melon. If I don't eat fruit, I don't have a BM. Period. I personally couldn't go without eating it.

I have only told 2 people in office at this point and like you there is a group of us who work closely and some of us eat together in the cafeteria everyday. The pre-op diet hasn't been bad, I have just been saying I am on a doctor supervised plan, with high Protein and I am telling them how much I lose each week. I haven't given them the opportunity to speculate about it. My surgery was originally going to be the 11th but the doctor wanted me to continue the pre-op for a few more weeks. The challenge for me is going to be returning to work while in week two full liquids. I can always bring yogurt or cream Soups or broth and they may not question it along with my already standard Protein shakes. I know it must be hard in such a small office but if they see you doing stuff pre-op with protein shakes and whatnot and you just come out and say you are on a diet supervised from your doctor, they may not think anything of it. I too said I was going on vacation and when I come back and continue to lose weight perhaps they won't be surprised since they knew I was trying and was losing beforehand. Your situation is definitely more complex because of the roommate. Stay positive and don't let it worry you. And if they do find out or you do decide to tell them, their opinion or comments don't matter. All that matters is you and you should be comfortable with your decision to do this. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about it.

I do incorporate a snack into my meal plan. Especially when I'm working since i work overnight shifts and go an extended period of time awake. For breakfast I like low fat granola with yogurt and fruit. Either a piece of fruit or a serving of berries mixed in. I usually incorporate fruit with breakfast. A common snack for me is an apple or banana with creamy, natural Peanut Butter. A well planned out snack is ok. It's when you a mindlessly eating that you can get into trouble.

I don't snack either, and I eat fruit. It's all about ratio's. Because it is so important to get enough protein, you should always eat that first. I was taught to eat 3 bites of protein, then 1 bite of vegetable then, if I had room, some fruit. It doesn't always work out to eat that way, obviously, that is just a guideline. Remember there are lots of ways to get fiber without fruit, too~ I eat a lot of vegetables and legumes and that helps get the fiber in. One of my favorite breakfasts is fruit (especially berries) with Greek yogurt. It has 20 grams of protein in a cup and no fat! I sprinkle a little splenda on it to sweeten it up a bit and it makes a good high fiber breakfast. That takes care of the fruit, the fiber and the protein.

My nutritionist likes to say there are no "bad" foods, just foods you shouldn't eat as often as others. I tend to agree. I also like to look at this as a lifestyle change and not a diet- I do track calories as well, but just so I know I'm getting enough Protein and sticking to lower calorie. I was also told to have some calorie wiggle room, such as 1000-1200 a day instead of a set number like 1000. Some days you are physically hungrier and need more food than others. Yesterday I was physically experiencing the painful hunger pains even though I had already eaten dinner. I chose to have a yogurt and my hunger was gone.

Copied from http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2012/01/frozen-protein-drops.html Tons of interesting recipes I want to try on this blog. Frozen Protein Drops A quick and easy, weight loss surgery friendly frozen protein snack... Shelly's Frozen Protein Yogurt (or Pudding) Drops 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (or sugar free Pudding) 3-4 Tablespoons (to taste) of any Protein Powder Mix together till well combined. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and drop tablespoons of the mixture (yields about 25 drops) or fill an ice cube tray. Freeze till solid about 2 hours. Store in the freezer (up to a week or so) and pop a few in your mouth whenever you want a frozen protein treat or add to smoothies for an extra protein boost instead of ice. In this batch I used Celebrate ENS in strawberry & chocolate Milk. I had weight loss surgery in one of the hottest summers on record. I would have LOVED these that summer. I kept hearing the music of the ice cream truck driving by the house and it about drove me nuts.

Aug 21 sleeved down 20 lbs as of today.. 1 week 20lbs lol. Drinking powerade zero, pure protein already made from costco, panera bread tomato soup yum yum. And never hungry weird. Feel good. I dont count anything. Also have yogurt. Probably not drinking enough and protein but feel good. I havent been 276lbs in 10 years lol

I Did clear liquids for a week after (really 5 days), then full liquids for a week, now I'm at soft and probably won't get the go ahead for more regular foods until at least my one month check up. I did have a lot of gas pain the first week or two. Now at three weeks and am just getting part of that hungry feeling back. Usually it is just my tummy telling me to drink more water! Or at least that's what I'm telling myself. Lol. Just realize that your stomach is probably swollen and tender and so you have to be kind to it. I think I had yogurt as part of my full liquid after a week though...

At 3 weeks, I was eating cottage cheese, yogurt, applesauce, well cooked veggies, eggs, cheese and beans. At 3.5 weeks I was also able to add fish and nuts. By 4 weeks, I was eating chicken. I am 4.5 weeks out now, and I no longer need protein shakes. I can meet my daily protein goals by eating all real food. It was the chicken that really gave me a protein boost to get off the shakes. Also, I was told not to worry about calories right now. My focus is 60g of protein, and at least 64oz of water. The protein is no problem for me anymore, but the water is like a full time job trying to get it all in every day!