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I make my chicken/turkey salad with Greek yogurt instead of mayo now (not as creamy, but still good!) with chopped celery and dried cranberries. Yumm

breakfast: Weekends I eat 2 scrambled eggs and occasionally 1-2 Hilary's sausage patties (veggie sausage). On weekdays I eat an Rx bar or a siggi's yogurt occasionally with fruit. I also have coffee daily, with half and half or milk. (Half and half accounts for my sat. fat) morning snack: If I have 1, it is fruit, a Siggi's nonfat yogurt, or a 100 calorie pack of almonds lunch: salad with red wine vinegar and a dash of oil or veggie soup(with lentils, chick peas, sunflower seeds, chicken etc. in salad or soup) afternoon snack: usually an apple Dinner: I have a health food store 5 minutes from my house that makes a variety of soups daily, gluten free and delicious! In my fridge currently, I have curry chicken with veggies, sweet potato 3-bean chile, and white bean and escarole. So I eat a cup or 2 of these most days. On non-soup days I eat a veggie burger or tofu salad, I am avoiding starches at all costs, with the exception of the occasional potato in soup. Bread is the enemy! I have also found if I eat a corn chip or piece of chocolate, I can't stop there, so I don't tempt it. It opens a flood gate! LOL! I should add that if I go much beyond 1300 calories a day, I gain. I am a WLS slug.

its actually not so bad as long as you get plenty of protein in....it has kept me fuller longer....sugar free Popsicle...jello...broth... ( i added in greek yogurt that wasn't on my plan...but has helped tremendously) Not that i want to sabotage myself by adding things not on my list...but i have asked around and lots of people were successful adding it in...and i really feel that if i dont add it in.. i will just blow it and cheat ( i know my flaws)

I don't understand how you could have been fed in hospital? Protein shakes? I was sleeved 1 week ago and I'm on only clear liquids, no yogurt, and only 6 ounces of protein shake a day that's about half a small container. Water, chicken broth, ice pops, that's it

Well my journey has finally started, day 4 of a liquid pre op diet....... soup and yogurt. Got 2 weeks liquid, then op on the 14th April and then the long hard road to a thinner, lighter and fitter me. So much I’ve read on here rings true and has been inspirational . Oh yes stats so far: HW: 306 lbs CW: 290 lbs

My pre op liquid diet is for 2 weeks. I can only eat cottage cheese or Greek yogurt 3 times a day. I have to drink 3 protein drinks a day. Unlimited sugar free jello, Popsicle or broth. And today, my last day was clear liquids only. At 4, I had to drink citrate of magnesia. And I have to be at the hospital at 530 in the morning. Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

I wasn't able to eat meat on my pre op diet. I was only able to eat cottage cheese or Greek yogurt. I couldn't have a meal except liquids. My Dr had free liquids like broth, sugar free Popsicle, sugar free Jell-O, and flavored water that I could have unlimited during the day. Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was sleeved the same day! And although I’ve been very good on the diet- there has been some processed sugar- yogurt- hard candy- smoothie. So no cake or cookies per say- but unless you over do it completely I doubt anything would actually happen. My mom had the DS with sleeve and it’s different for her. Things affect her bowells ALOT. So far for me- other than restriction when eating I’ve had no other side effects.

Are you having yogurt at this point? That helped get me through as well. Congrats!

Adding to this - not trying to steal anyone's thunder - I'm about 20 months out, down about 110. Sometimes, I'm losing, sometimes not, because my concentration right now is on building muscle mass and reducing my overall body fat before plastics. I'm answering because I'm not vegetarian in the hopes that I can provide other answers - 1- On an average day, I eat about 100-120 grams of protein. I start most mornings with a shake because it is easy for me time wise to get out the door to work. I use Fairlife skim milk, a scoop of protein powder, a handful of frozen fruit and two tablespoons of Oikos triple zero vanilla yogurt. That accounts for 39 grams of protein and makes it pretty easy to get the rest in. For a morning snack, I'll have a container of Oikos Triple Zero (another 15 grams). Lunch is usually salad greens with chicken (usually left over from one I've roasted) about 4 ounces of chicken for another 30 grams of protein. So at this point in the day, I'm at 85 grams without too much trouble. In the afternoon, I'll have some cheese or some nuts - but I'll get in a 10-15 gram of protein snack. Dinner - is usually whatever I cook for the family - but again - I'll make sure I have another 20-30 grams of protein. Usually my calorie count is under 1500. I eat what I want. Some foods, my tummy doesn't like. I can only eat a little bit of pasta or I will feel ill - same with very sweet stuff. A few bites and I'm done with it. I have a cocktail or glass of wine when I want to. I always stay under 1500 calories - so if I dont' have extra calories for a glass of vino it doesn't happen. I drink at least 64 ounces of water a day - closer to 100 on days I fence because I will drink a quart of water while fencing. Exercise - I fence (as in en garde) - started doing that a year ago. I burn on average 900 calories doing 2 hours of fencing. I fence roughly 5 hours a week (Monday and Wednesday - 6:30-9 pm). I work with a personal trainer once a month to keep my routine in the gym fresh and I lift weights/do strength training at least 2 hours a week. I do Pilates for another 1 or 2 hours. I make the time because getting in shape is important - and like I said - I''m trying to drop my body fat in the range of 28% before I have plastics. (I"m at 31% right now, with is pretty good for a 56 year old menopausal woman!) Excess skin - for me - I couldn't. I have bat wings that make noise and I'm going to have to have a tummy tuck done. If not for the excess skin on my abdomen, I'd be wearing a size 6 or 4 pants rather than the 8 I'm wearing. (I really shouldn't complain - that's down from a 24). I'll probably have the abdominoplasty next year. I'm fortunate - my insurance will cover it. How do I feel - Like a new person. People don't recognize me sometimes. My knees don't really hurt any more. My only regret was waiting this long to do this.

well my pre op diet is supposed to be protien shakes, broth and jello ( with protien powder added) for 2 weeks It was so hard to stick to on the first day because i was starving to death by the time i had eaten my protien and calories for the day. So this time...i added greek yogurt...just to help make me feel full. i am really excited about surgery and want to make the most of this pre op diet. Thanks for the input!

i started my pre op diet today...my surgeon gave me a meal plan that is practically NOTHING. I dont want to set my self up for failure.... but he is wanting 1000 cals/80 grams of protein. I tried broth, jello and shakes for a day and i felt like i was starving to death. I ended up cheating so bad. I dont want to set myself up for failure so this time i added plain greek yogurt to keep me full. I dont want to fail at this....am i already sabataging myself?

Greetings, First time post, occasional lurker I had surgery 3/5, and I feel like I'm so far off base in terms of my choices, and/or behavior, and/or expectations that I could really use some information, affirmations, or consolations. So quick rundown: After I followed the post-op diet for nine days exactly as given. For me that was low/no fat Greek yogurt, tomato soup made with milk, protein shakes, and water. After losing my IV weight I continued on for the next week and a half to lose a little more than 10 pounds. After that I've flatlined, and it's going on three weeks. I'm starting to panic. To be fair I currently have a really stuffy headcold and I finished my period (sorry, if that's TMI) about 10 days ago. I know that I fluctuate weight-wise when both of these things happen, but even between the cold and my lady-times I've been relatively stable; but taken together with the amount of time that's passed and that my water weight is usually only +/- 5 pounds, I feel like I really am at a standstill. My current diet is something like this: Weekdays - protein shake for breakfast, either a yogurt or some low-fat cottage cheese as a snack (90-130 cal) - if I'm especially hungry I'll sometimes have a "little plate" usually a prepackaged cheese/nut/meat tray (~160-220 cal), variable lunch (sometimes egg beaters with fat free feta, sometimes creamy soup, sometimes leftover dinner, (today's a leftover dinner day - salad with goat cheese, apples, and crispy onions with fat free dressing). I usually have another snack, same as the morning snack after that and dinner is usually some animal protein, though last night I had the previously mentioned salad and some lamb. Weekends are more variable, but I try to stick to similar meals. I'm usually getting my 60 oz of water, but lately with my sore throat, I've been falling short. I'm hitting my goal of 60g of protein almost every day. I haven't had any rice or bread, but I did have noodles in soup once, and in a frozen dinner (leftover from my pre-surgery diet). I'm incorporating raw vegetables now, so far without any problems. I don't eat candy, anything caffeinated, or carbonated, and haven't for two months. I've tried reaching out to my nutritionist and she keeps telling me that the important thing is that I hit my protein and water goals. She also told me that avocado might be a bad choice for my diet, so I haven't had those for a couple of weeks. Still I feel like I'm somehow failing this stage, and I could really use some input. The only hopeful thing on my horizon is that I'm cleared to do more physical activity this week, so I plan to join the gym here at work. I'm on a big campus, so it isn't going to be convenient, but I'm going to try to get there twice a week to start. So, forum collective, any thoughts? I'll appreciate anything that you can suggest. Thanks.

That’s sort of what I have been doing. A premier protein when I wake up, then my three meals have been either a yogurt, apple sauce, or soup. And then another protein shake at night. But I’m at 68oz water not including protein shakes... some people count that into it. I have been setting timers for drinking and eating. I am wondering if this is a cautionary thing my doctor suggests just to start? 1-2 oz every 10-15 minutes. Water or protein shake or food. I’m at 2 oz water/ protein shake per ten minutes and it goes down fine. [emoji1303]

That's about how mine is. Except in my 2 week pre op, I can have cottage cheese lowfat and low carbs Greek yogurt. But only up to 3 times a day and 1/2 cup of cottage cheese. I have to have clear liquids throughout the day. The day before I can only have clear liquids and take citrate of magnesia around 4 pm. But the rest is exactly the same. Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

By my calculations, a person needs about 10 ounces of protein (fish/chicken/beef) a day to hit 65-75 grams of protein -- more if you are adding yogurt/cottage cheese/eggs/beans.

The question could be any of these: How soon? how much? and how fast? My doctor and nutritionist cautioned about taking protein shakes and even any other supplements before all the nausea fully subsides. The thing they mentioned is that when having any problems with any new intake that doesn't go well wait a week before trying that one again. I sleeved 3/28 and as to protein I had a half scoop last night mixed with thinned greek blended yogurt and again protein mixed with baby oatmeal and both went down just fine. Just had a protein shake made with water that went down just fine, but only 4 oz and sipped slowly. But everyone is different. Good luck!

Now that I am on pureed, I notice that my tastes have changed. For example, I really like Greek Yogurt now, whereas before surgery, I couldn't stand it. I bought some shaved pepperoni and ended up throwing it out. I hated the way it tasted and I used to love pepperoni. It's really interesting how things have changed. Even eating is still mechanical and brings me no feeling of joy. It's just eating to live now and I am grateful for it. I wonder if this surgery could be a cure for an eating disorder?

I feel like I know all of the information, I started the process 10 months ago but due to my insurance being so strict I had to attend many classes, seminars, appointments, clearances, over the phone courses, etc. So I feel like the knowledge is there, however from joining this site I am learning new things every day, especially when looking at the post op forums. I know unexpected things will pop up and am prepared for the stalls including the famous 3 week stall and some initial weight gain from water immediately after surgery. Vitamins are something I definitely need to work on. My vitamin D was previously low but I am working on that. Iron is also another issue that I need to be prepared for as I am borderline anemic. I've heard of many post ops being hospitalized and having health issues from not keeping up with their Iron. Working in healthcare I have access to the providers and their knowledge on the subject. One thing with multivitamins is if you overdose on Iron that can be an issue too that can cause issues with your can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and in extreme cases liver failure. Therefore, I am going to be in constant contact with my provider and request routine blood work on all of my levels. Since we have surgery in April, most of us will be meeting our deductibles and out of pocket max so aside from any copay's we can get as much work done that our insurance deems as medically necessary. This includes blood work and labs on nutrition and vitamin levels. For instance, my deductible is $750 and out of pocket max is $3000. Since my surgery is around $30,000 I met my out of pocket max of $3000 and can get as much work done as I need to for the remainder of the year. Again, copay's still need to be paid for each visit. If I get blood work done by my primary care provider my copay is only $10 compared to the $50 to go to a specialist who will do the same thing. So in general I feel like I am pretty prepared when it comes to the aftercare and communication with my provider's and insurance policies to make sure I can keep in touch with my body to know where I am deficient and what vitamins I will need to increase during the weight loss. I still have a lot to learn about the vitamins. I just cannot get past the taste of chewable vitamins. I tried the Flinstone Chewables my surgeon's office recommended and they are absolutely disgusting with an aftertaste that returns all day. Therefore, I think crushing my pills and putting them in yogurt might be my best option. One tablespoon I do not think will be too hard to get down. I have to take anxiety medication anyways so this won't be too hard I think. In regards to protein, I am currently doing Premier Protein and I am in LOVE!! They recently came out with new flavors such as Oreo & Cream, Peaches & Cream, Caramel, Banana & Cream, along with their traditional of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberries & Cream. The reason I chose this was it has 30 grams of protein in 11oz so even if I cannot consume much in a day, 2 shakes meets my minimum protein for the day and can also double as liquids so will at least give me 22 oz of that. It has 1 gram of sugar per shake, 160 calories, 24 vitamins and nutrients, 5 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fat, so it works perfect for the traditional Keto Diet. Along with this I will buy myself a rotisserie chicken and slowly pick through that throughout the week. Seems like a pretty cheap diet and I can treat myself to steak every once in a while. My nutritionist wants me to get my protein intake for the day before I move to vegetables, and then carbs which I will rarely be able to ever meet during the weight loss period. After surgery I am prepared for the possibility of not being able to consume Premier Protein anymore. A lot of people say dairy becomes hard to consume after surgery, in which case I think the clear, non dairy Isopure would be a great substitute. Popsicles made from protein drinks also sounds like a fabulous idea. I'd love any other suggestions anyone else may have, and am SUPER excited to get to meet some fellow April Sleever's. I'd love to keep in touch so we can all help each other on our journey!!

Sleeved 3/28 and starting my first full day of Full Liquids. Just had breakfast: Decaf coffee followed by Baby Oatmeal, 4oz of the oatmeal and 4oz of fat free milk to make it well thinned. Added 1/2 scoop of vanilla protein powder for protein and flavor. It was great to have something warm with a tiny spoon besides broth. Had some Oikos 000 greek yogurt thinned with fat free milk last night for dinner. So far everything I have tried has gone down well and getting plenty of liquids down. Today I'll have my first protein shake and work on getting protein intake up to where it belongs. While I resumed my prescribed meds yesterday I am holding off on my diabetes med (glipizide xl) because my blood sugar has been in the low 90's the last two days.

I was sleeved on 03/26 and I’m so impressed by how much protein you are getting in! Well done! I can get a protein shake in over the course of 45 minutes to an hour, just under 32 oz of water (sipping all day), and roughly 2 oz’s of nonfat yogurt. I’m really struggling with that pressure sensation after I drink water, so I’m relieved to hear you have that too. Thanks for sharing and well done!! HW: 420 SW:320 CW: 286 GW: 185 Sleeve: 03/26/18

I would love some fruit or meat, I think I just want something to chew. I can have cottage cheese or Jell-O but the cottage cheese only up to 3 times a day and Greek lowfat yogurt up to 3 times a day. So far I haven't noticed any hair loss and I don't start taking vitamins until a week after surgery. I also have dreads so I only wash my hair about 1-2 times a week and don't brush it. Sent from my Z983 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm not sure about you but shake never make me feel full or satisfied. Your restriction sounds like its doing it's job. Some things to try for hunger: Eat all the veggies you want. The bulk and fiber will give you the sensation of full also keeps your calories low to keep you in weight loss mode. Eat five to six meals. ( I eat about every two to three hours) Logging and staying within your calories/macros for the day. Raise your protein goal. keep healthy snack in the house to curb cravings - Example Salty and sweet - Beef/turkey jerky for salty. Dannon light n fit yogurt for sweet. Its work getting back the old discipline that you had in the beginning. It can be done. Wishing you the best, Jenn

3 Weeks out as of yesterday. On Puree stage now. Started work again on Monday and everything is good minus feeling dead tired by the end of the work day. 2 shakes plus a little protein like yogurt, cottage cheese. My goal is about 90g of protein and my 64oz of water. Besides that, all is good and getting in about 2 miles of walking in the late evening.

I'm April 10th as well, I am on day 4 of Liquid diet and feeling pretty rough. I had my endoscopy last week, I am not sure if it is the endoscopy or the diet, but dealing with a good bit of heart burn. I am prone to anxiety/panic attacks which haven't been too bad. Very light headed, at the end of the day I am super tired. Definitely feeling this right now, pretty grumpy and not very sharp mentally. I am on a Premier Protein/Greek Yogurt diet, no solids. (About 800 Calories, 120g of protein and less than 50g of carbs, sugar free, caffiene free, etc) I add some bone broth or broth just to have something hot every now and then, just tried that yesterday and was nice. Grabbed some sugar free jello, but not really craving sweet as the Premiers are pretty sweet themselves. I can say I am just hungry, not really craving anything in particular. I watch the clock like a hawk for when I can intake next amount of calories. I was pretty nervous about the surgery, but now that it is getting closer, focusing on soldiering through this diet, which on day 4 seems monumental to have 10 more days of it, especially with Easter weekend coming up. I sit and have my shake with my family for dinner, that hasn't been too bad as far as craving. But definitely struggling during the work day and by the end of the day pretty wiped out. I really hadn't joined any of the support groups or this forum until today, I thought I could just power through on my own. But reading things here has been very helpful.