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It wasn't so bad for me, but my nutritionist included things like sugar free pudding, fat free yogurts and cream Soups with chunks strained out in our full liquid plan. They advanced me after one week, but I was so terrified to eat anything I even put off eating yogurt for two whole weeks and ate mostly broth!

Since you first started looking into weight loss surgery, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the importance of protein. You need at least 60 to 80 grams a day for the following reasons: It’s a filling nutrient that helps you lose weight by decreasing hunger. It’s an essential nutrient for healthy skin, hair, nails, hormones, and enzymes. It helps stop you from losing too much muscle while you lose body fat. Almost everyone needs protein supplements right after weight loss surgery. Protein shakes and powders give you the protein you need when you’re not allowed to eat solid foods. But which types should you choose? And should you keep using them when you’re eating solid foods and surgery is long behind you? Protein for the Liquid Phase of the Post Weight Loss Surgery Diet Progression After a day or two of sticking to clear liquids, you progress to a full liquid diet. You can be on this diet for a few days, if you’re a lap-band patient, or a couple of weeks, if you have the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Protein sources include the following. Non-fat milk, with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein per 8 ounces. Non-fat milk powder, with 100 calories and 10 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein powder, with 110 calories and 25 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein shakes, with 100 or more calories and 15 or more grams of protein per 8 ounces. Without supplementing your diet with protein shakes and powders, you’re not going to be able to hit your 60 to 80 grams of protein. Protein Powders and Shakes in the Pureed Foods Phase This phase is really a transition phase. You’re adding foods back into your diet, but aren’t yet ready to eat chewy, sticky, crunchy, or other solid foods. Protein foods include the following. Non-fat cottage cheese, with 12 grams of protein per half-cup. Non-fat ricotta cheese, with 5 grams of protein per half-cup. Egg whites, with 4 grams of protein per extra-large white. Non-fat Greek or regular yogurt, with 8 to 14 grams of protein per container. During this phase, your surgeon will probably have you start to decrease your use of protein shakes and powders, but will probably recommend keeping them in your diet to help you get to 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. You might need one or two shakes a day, plus powder in foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, or pureed potatoes. Be Wary of Protein Supplements in the Long-Term Protein shakes and powders can be convenient, but they’re not your best bet for long-term weight loss. As you progress from pureed foods to semi-solid and then solid foods, your surgeon will probably recommend that you stop drinking shakes and focus instead on solid sources of protein. They’re more substantial and satisfying than liquid shakes. They take longer to eat than drinking shakes. They’re easier to fit into a real-life eating plan. You won’t be “drinking your calories.” They have more natural nutrients than processed shakes and powders. Most weight loss surgery patients can get enough protein just by choosing one or two high-protein foods for each meal. You’ll get 60 to 80 grams with the following foods. Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg whites with ½ light English muffin and some fruit. Lunch: ½ cup fat-free cottage cheese and a green salad with 3 ounces of canned light tuna. Dinner: 3 ounces of chicken breast and steamed spinach. Snack 1: 1 low-fat cheese stick. Snack 2: 1 6-ounce container of plain low-fat yogurt and ½ cup carrot sticks. When Protein Supplements Are Okay Still, some weight loss surgery patients may still need protein shakes and powders in the long term. That’s often the case for vertical sleeve patients if your sleeve fills up too quickly to allow you to eat enough solid protein throughout the day. Talk to your surgeon to find out whether you should still use shakes and powders. Your surgeon might suggest that you include one or two protein shakes a day as snacks or mix protein powder into your yogurt, cereal or other foods. Protein supplements can still come in handy even if you’re able to meet your protein requirements on your daily weight loss surgery diet. If your routine gets interrupted, you might come up short. Consider the protein you can miss if you need to change your regular plans for a meal or snack. 10 grams of protein if you run out the door without grabbing your yogurt in the morning. 22 grams of protein if you forget to pack your tuna for lunch. 26 grams of protein if you’re stuck in a meeting instead of cooking your chicken dinner at home. When you’re stuck in the car or too busy to plan ahead, protein shakes can be lifesavers. On vacation, you can take protein powder with you so you’re always sure to have a source when you need it. You could also try Unjury Protein’d Cheese Sauce on steamed vegetables for an extra 21 grams of protein. Read the Nutrition Facts Panel to Find Protein Content The Food and Drug Administration lets food manufacturers call a food “a good source of” protein if it has at least 5 grams of protein. If a serving has at least 10 grams of protein, a food can be labeled “high,” “rich in,” or “an excellent source of” protein. That doesn’t do you much good if you’re trying to find a shake or powder with at least 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving. Don’t rely on a claim on the front of the label when you’re looking for a protein supplement. You could end up with a “high-protein” shake with only 10 grams of protein! Instead, check the nutrition facts panel to see how many grams of protein the food or shake has per serving. Check the Label for Calories and Sugar Protein shakes and powders can be high in calories and sugar. A bottle of Special K Protein has only 10 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 18 grams of sugar. A Pure Protein Frosty Chocolate Shake has 15 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 25 grams of sugar. A can of Boost High Protein drink has 15 grams of protein, 240 calories and 27 grams of sugars. No matter which stage of your weight loss surgery diet you’re on, you can’t afford to eat too many calories or too much sugar. The only way to protect yourself is to read the labels. Protein supplements can be great choices for boosting your intake to 60 to 80 grams a day. Shakes and powders can get you through the liquid and pureed foods stages of the post-surgery diet progression, and they can have a place in your diet even when you reach your long-term weight loss surgery diet plan. Just make sure not to overuse them if your surgeon is concerned, and to choose low-sugar options.

Yes, omeprazole. I had read all the stuff and how to take, I was doing all 4 at once. Now I take PPI about an hour before I eat, then take antibiotics about a half hour before I eat and it seems to help. Not going to bathroom as much, and not as much gas gurgles. 10 more days after today. I have always used yogurt/kefir (sometimes I make my own), but making sure I drink kefir and eat a yogurt daily, and continue with probiotic I have always used. I hate that antibiotics kill all the good bacteria too.

How interesting to look back over the last 4 weeks! I can't believe how "ready" I was for a fill... not just mentally, but physically. I feel like I truly experienced restriction vs no-restriction, so-to-speak. In the beginning, I really felt what it was like to have "restriction" (induced from post-surgery swelling, but still restriction none-the-less). Small amounts filled me up and kept me full for long periods of time, liquids took longer to go down, hunger wasn't an ever-present issue, etc. But as time passed and the swelling went down, I definitely noticed a huge difference, especially in the last week! I went from being satiated after eating a yogurt (which used to take me all morning to eat), to having a yogurt and a Nutri-Grain bar; then a yogurt, Nutri-Grain bar, and a Soup... and so on. It's pretty much only been my willpower keeping me from eating everything in sight (and that willpower of mine has not proven to be a trustworthy adversary in the past). When I spoke with my doctor this morning, he just laughed at my frantic, ensuing panic. He said it's totally normal, and that it's my body's way of telling me I'm ready for a fill. So, now I'm 1 1/2 cc's fuller, for a total of 5 1/2 cc's (apparently I had a relatively substantial fill to begin with at surgery time). It's back to liquids for the next few days (boo! but worth it, lol). I'm excited to see if there's any difference, though also prepared for needing additional fills before I find my sweet-spot.

Hi all, I am 5 months out and have lost 88lbs which is AWESOME. The whole time though I have been constipated, trying EVERYTHING just to be able to "go" every other day or so but nothing has worked. So I have been using laxatives every weekend to "clean myself out" as I work Monday thru Friday and can''t take them during the week.So unfortunately I can go like 6 days without a BM which is not good. An issue I'm having is the past few weeks, I am not losing like I was the first 5 months and I'm going out of my mind! Example: I weigh myself in the morning when I get up and say my weight is 177.4lb.s. OKay, fine. So I eat a 6oz. yogurt and a few mini rice cakes.And weigh myself say a half hour later (just for this purpose) and my weight goes up to 178.2lb.s!!! This is NOT normal for me! Usually after eating that, my weight wouldn't move at all, or go up maybe an ounce. But now it goes way up, even if I drink a protein shake or water! What's the deal??? Is it because of the constipation and being "FOS" literally?? (I also walk 2 miles a day on top of a very active 8 hour job.) Another example is yesterday, I weighed 177.6lbs in the morning. I had 2 protein shakes,water and 8oz. oatmeal throughout the whole day. I weighed myself that night around 10pm and my weight was 179.2lbs! Now I know weight fluctuates during the day and that's fine, but this is NOT NORMAL for me. Can someone PLEASE help me figure this out?? I'm losing faith in myself and having any more weight loss and I have 47lbs still to lose! PLEASE HELP! DESPERATE! thank you Source: 5 months and HOPELESS! Please help!

I am 2 1/2 post op.. I am trying new foods daily, but sometimes the thought of food makes me want to vomit... I can't eat eggs, rice, certain types of grilled chicken and beef makes me sick just by the smell.. I can eat grapes, bananas, yogurt, soups, baked snack food... Anyone please tell me, what I can try to eat, as I am tired of the items I listed. Any advice will be great.. Hugs from Alabama...

You two sound like this failed and you're only a Lil bit out after surgery. When was the last time a yogurt took u 10 min to eat? Never! Get up and out and excercise!!! This isn't a miracle it's a tool so use it right!

Hi... Dont feel discouraged. I too feel the same exact way! Have had those same thoughts and keep thinking "what if i'm in that % where surgery doesnt work?". I bought a 2pz measuring cup and measure my foods, sometimes i feel i can eat a whole yogurt but stop myself. I too have tries unhealthy things to feel "normal". And it didnt hurt or kill me. But the guilt sets in and I walk it out. Hang in there! You'll get through

I would like to start posting more on the food I eat now at 9 months out. This is what I had yesterday: 5:10am 1/2 banana and 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter 6:30am coffee with Splenda and fair life milk (this is the reason I couldn't keep dr Weiner diet) I really need my coffee and it needs to be with Splenda and milk. 9:00 3 egg whites with turkey sausage, veggies, and cheese 11:30am premier chocolate Protein shake and 1 cup of veggies 2:00pm coffee again and nuts 5:30pm 1 cup of fage Greek yogurt 0% with a crystal light packet. 7:00pm watermelon and some more nuts I haven't been tracking my food in my fitness pal! I guess I need to. My weight is still at 169-170. I bumped up my exercise a lot more this past week and have every intention on keeping up with exercise. What I found out that is much easier if I do the exercise in the morning - get it out if the way as early as possible . So far within the past 8 days I have done 4 boot camp classes and one Zumba and walked on the treadmill 2 times for 45min. I hope I start seeing the scale move, however I will be happy as long as I feel good and see that my clothes fit better! Hope everyone have a great day!

I may have ate a little too much...creamy soup about 2 oz., Smoothie Yogurt (4 oz.) and then I had some mushy zucchini..not all at the same time but probably within 30 minutes and all of a sudden the back of my neck and my upper back started hurting really bad...but I didn't feel stuck or anything. Does being stuck or eating too much come in different forms? I don't know it was just really strange...I'm 11 days post op...

[quote name="meggieo79" post="3789051" Meggio, I feel everything at umass was great! I didn't have dr Kelly but he spoke at one of the support meetings I went to. They set me up with dr perugini and I really liked him too. I had a six month wait because of my insurance requirements, but when I look back, I needed it to mentally ready for these changes. I had no problems with surgery...a little nausea for the first day but was up walking to the bathroom while in recovery, because I waited several hours for a bed on the floor. The nurses were great though everywhere I was. The have you drinking a Protein drink the next morning and I was discharged by 330 that afternoon. For a couple days, everytime I drank, whether it was Water or carnation instant Breakfast, I had spasms in my belly for 5-10 seconds, but when I called, dr perugini called me back within 20 mins...it was all normal and it actually was gone by a week out. My incisions healed up nicely and I have no complaints!! I go today for my fist follow up and really hope I can add yogurt and cream Soups...yummmmm.

I am 5 days post-op sleeve. I was originally approved 1 year ago and cancelled surgery about 3xs for various reasons (fear, wanting lose weight on my own, timing at work, etc). Hwevr, I attended many free support group meetings facilitated by the program RD offered by my hospital so that I could get first hand knowledge and learn tips and strategies. This helped sooo much! The 1st couple of days in the hospital post-op was a little rough, but nothing unbearable. I also had a haitial hernia that I was unaware of that my surgeon repaired during the surgery, which Ive learned is very common for wls patients. Since coming home, I have had a lot of diarrhea, but Ive learned that many sugar-free things, including a couple of the bariatric vitamins have sugar alcohols (sorbital, sucralose, etc) that does not agree with my system. Im in the full-liquid stage til next week and today was the first day w/out diarrhea bec my RD said to start full-liquids and include hot cereals and yogurt (cream of wheat, grits, etc), which stopped it completely. I know im a post-op newbie but I have no regrets at all so far. Physically, my knees no longer hurt and I already have a diff kind of energy than before surgery that is a great feeling. I have no desire for sweets or fried foods or anything unhealthy. It may be bec im still sore and jst trying to get all of my basic proteins and fluids in, but I feel much better knowing that im finally on the other side of my wl journey [emoji4]

AVOCADO! It is high in calories and healthy fats. Poach chicken breasts and shred them, smother them with avocado and it helps the chicken go down easy. At 5 weeks out I could also add a little cheddar cheese and taco sauce. It was delicious to me cuz I was tired of all the artificial sweet stuff...shakes, Jello, yogurt, pudding...blaaaa! (poached salmon will really up the protein)

It depends how I'm feeling.. I could start my days and work my way up.. 8oz decaf instant sf coffee made with skim milk.. Egg and sliced turkey on one slice of rye toast with cheese Small Shrimp and chicken cubes with green Beans 12oz Protein shake with 60g protein made with skim milk and ice.. Greek yogurt Cottage cheese String cheese I measure everything and can only eat 2_3oz in one sitting but i take my time so I'm able to enjoy everything.. These are just some of the things that I'm eating now.. What i do make sure is getting in my 32oz of plain or flavored Water.. Sent from my SPH-D710 using VST

Hi, I am wondering if anyone started full liquids at 5 days post op? I have had no problems with my sleeve so far and I'm drinking like it's going out of style, but I'm tired of clear liquids. And I'm so hungry. I just want to try a yogurt or protein shake.

Menu - Bfast 1 cup fiber one cereal - 3 pts 1 cup of skim milk - 2 pts 1 bannana - 2 pts 1 pc WW candy - 1 pt Lunch WW Quesadia (sp?) - 4 pts 100 cal strawberry cake - 1 pt Snack sliced strawberries - 1 pt Dinner 3 oz of chicken breast - 3 pts green beans WW yogurt 1 pt Low on points today, but will probably add more, just need 2 more. Exercise 10:00 am - 15 min on elliptical 3:00 pm - 20 min on elliptical 8:00 - gym - 1 hour, missed my gym last night, so will be doing circuit training and doing upperbody work along with cardio. Wt - didn't weigh today.....

Well the good news is its never too late to get started. I also recommend joining my fitness pal, it makes me accountable to myself. Also there is a 5 day cleanse on this site specifically for the VGs I think it was posted by littlemissdiva. After that the eatting pattern you should follow is protein first, then veggies, and if you have room then you can have carb, more than likely you won't have much room for much carbs. Choose smarter snacks, string cheese, greek yogurt, fresh fruit. Also I really recommend getting really involved in a support group, wether online or physical one is up to you. Best of luck, and please don't give up.

Thanks for your posts. I'd really like to hear from folks that are 2-3 years out of surgery. There are different challenges then. The Hunger and cravings come back, you've tried the same recipes and tired of learning new ones. The excitement of fitting in clothes or in an airplane seat is now something you take for granted. Your support system is less and there's a social and cultural expectation for you to go back to eat "normal" again. You've become active and have switched to a number exercise routines. And the reality hits that it is low fat cottage cheese and Greek yogurt as your primary diet for the rest of your life. In short, the thrill is gone and the hard work is really up to you

I had a huge waist too. I'm also at a 36 now. The only Greek yogurt I can eat is oikos triple zero. Yes nuts are the devil. I have issues with just eating away like it's nothing with them too. Glad your getting back on track. I weighed in at 193 today.

Lifechange Ok you messed up - now pick yourself up and dust off your butt and get back on the Band Wagon - You must follow your doctors orders and only your doctors - not someone else who allows them to eat right after surgery.. The whole reason for not eating is to allow your stomach to heal around the band where it was stiched - you don't want to cause a slip. You ate Beans with yogurt ??? OMW that sounds just gross:tongue: - you must have been desparate - but that's still no excuse -:smile: can you have creamed Soup - potatoe soups & creamed soups were a life saver for me - Can you have sf fudgecicles - popcicles those you do bite and sort of eat - you can make a pot of beans - after they cook take the beans out run them thru the blender and add them back to the broth - you have cream of bean soup and it is really good and satisfing You can do this - please know that even with the band you do have to have will power - the will power to change your eating habit and follow the rules.. You can do this - just but on your big girl boots and keep on stepping in the right direction..

It is really hard around the holidays and I get alot of support from home and co-workers etc. But I think it is a little more difficult in this month due to celebrations and festivities. My husband is supportive, but I do not think it is fair for me to change their diet and cook "differently" for them. Its hard enough that I am not as festive as usual and choose not to travel. So I just carry on as usual and when its mealtime, I go in my room with my shake and a diet soda:rolleyes2: I tell my husband to throw away all leftovers down the disposal when they are finished eating so I am less tempted to take a bite of the leftovers. What is everyone's pre-op diet? Mine seems extreme (shakes, yogurt, and clear liquids). ~Jackie~

Nana -- I was banded the same day as you and am facing the same boredom. Luckily my doc is a bit more liberal with the full liquids: anything thin enough to go through a straw, but no chunks. You can maybe call your doc and see if he/she can loosen up the restrictions a bit? Yesterday I tried mixing not-fat plain yogurt with fruit juice to make a kind of smoothie. It was much more interesting to drink than the Protein shakes. the mad frog lady.

Trying to think back to yesterday. Breakfast 2 slices bacon dry fried, 1 egg poached in Water. lunch - was out shopping made some bad choices. A nut bar and a small (18g) packet of crisps. Mid afternoon. 1 slice bread with ham & cheese. dinner. 8 garlic prawns, small serve salad, dessert spoon of Pasta in sauce. Snack. Greek yogurt with cinnamon and splenda.

<div> <div>This is the general guideline I was given by my NUT.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Phase I Clear Liquids</strong> (Weeks 1 and 2)</div> <div>IsoPure</div> <div>Broth</div> <div>SF popsicles</div> <div>water, decaf tea</div> <div> </div> <div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; border-collapse: separate; orphans: 2; widows: 2; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><b><font color="#8600a4">Phase II Full Liquids</font></b><span> </span>(Week 3 -- 500-600 calories)</span></div> <div>runny Protein shakes<br /> Low-fat soups (strained / pureed)<br /> runny cream of wheat<br /> Non-fat milk<br /> Sugar free/fat free ice cream</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#328712"><b>Phase III Puree</b></font><span> </span>(Week 4 and possibly 5 -- 600 - 700 calories)</div> <div>Baby food<br /> sugar free/fat free pudding<br /> pureed cooked meats with broth<br /> pureed cooked beans<br /> low fat cottage cheese<br /> nonfat yogurt<br /> low fat mashed potatoes *<br /> pureed cooked veggies *<br /> unsweetened pureed fruit *</div> <div>* add protein powder</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#fa7a00"><b>Phase IV Soft foods </b></font>things that can be mashed with a fork<span> </span> (Week 5, possibly 6 -- (700-800 calories)</div> <div>scrambled eggs<br /> steamed or poached fish<br /> low fat cheese / string cheese<br /> skinless chopped or ground meat<br /> soft canned fruit<br /> well cooked veggies</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#3665ee"><b>Phase V Regular Diet</b></font><span> </span>(Begin week 6, 7 or when ready -- 800-900 calories)</div> 3 meals, 1-2 Snacks or 5 small meals the first few months<br /> each meal 4-6 oz (always start meal with eating protein)<br /> High Protein, Low Fat, Low Carb and avoiding simple carbs (concentrated sugar), alcohol<br /> Add one new food and record intolerance</div> <p> </p>

It really depends on the Dr. I was on clears for 2 days post op, then on soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce and the like for 4 more days. On day 7 I was allowed to add in deli chicken or turkey, canned chicken, any seafood, soft cooked veggies, canned fruits, Babybel cheese, oatmeal, etc... about the only restriction I have is to stay away from red meat, pasta, rice, and potatoes until 2 months. When I had my 1 week meeting with the Dr. he just said to progress my diet as I felt comfortable but at 2 months everything would be completely healed and I could eat just about anything.