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Here is the Liver Shrink Diet my Surgeon and Nutritionist gave me to follow pre-op: Liver Shrink Diet Remember: Vegetables ar unlimited on this diet. (except potatoes, corn, beans, and peas. Breakfast Protein Shake or Protein Bar (You may use any shake as long as it has 220 or less calories and 10g or less fat/serving) Mid Morning Snack 1 small piece of fruit (if you have Diabetes add 4 oz low-fat yogurt) Lunch Protein Bar (220 calories of less and 10g or less of fat) or Shake Mid Afternoon Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you have Diabetes) Dinner 3 oz meat (lean) - The size of a deck of cards steamed vegetables or salad with Fat-free salad dressing 6 unsalted crackers or 2 slices low calorie bread or 1 small baked potato 1/2 c fruit or 1 small piece of fruit Evening Snack 1 small piece of fruit (add 4 oz low-fat yogurt if you are Diabetic) (You may have non-caloric beverages on this diet) NO ALCOHOL!!!!!!!! Examples: Decaf. Tea, Crystal Light, Sugar-free Kool-Aid, Water Follow This 1 Day Prior To Surgery: Clear liquids only including Jello, broth, juice, and any beverages listed above. Jello can be congealed, but do not put fruit in it it. (NO RED JELLO) & NOTHING TO EAT PAST MIDNIGHT (of course). This is just what my surgeon and nutritionist gave me. Of course everyone's seems different but I just thought I would give you something to go on.

I don't weigh or measure. I eat off normal sized plates but put a lot less on. I know a lot of people use a side plate instead of a dinner plate. If you use a small plate imagine about 1/2 filled with Protein, 1/6 carb and 2/6 veg. My typical breakfast is 1 poached egg on a slice of wholegrain toast. lunch might be tuna, salad + crackers or something on toast or a slice of quiche etc. Dinner is the same as the rest of the family but a much smaller portion. I also snack on yogurt, fruit(not very often) and nut bars.

Well... I tend to measure by volume, not weight. A pound is 16 ounces. A cup is 8 ounces. So 4 ounces of meat is about 1/2 a cup. My Breakfast is usually a container of greek yogurt with 2 or 3 spoonfuls of Kashi GoLean Cereal sprinkled on top. lunch can be a small can of chicken (mine are 3 ounces) mixed with low-fat mayo, and I use 5 or 6 celery sticks to scoop it up and eat it. dinner... it's a piece of meat about the size of a deck of cards and a cup or so of salad.

I use baggies and ice cube trays to freeze small portions. Portion your meats to the serving size for you and anyone else who is sharing the meal. For example, I now pack my ground beef into 12 oz. packages. My husband has a 6 oz burger and I have two 3 oz burgers (raw weight). For chili, I freeze in 2 cup portions. Hubby has 1 cup, I have 2 1.2 cup portions. Same for Beans. You will need even smaller portions at first! For Protein post op I like: Tuna moistened with low fat mayo and honey mustard Greek Yogurt, sweetened with Splenda or made into a shake (add a splash of orange juice, 3 Tablespoons splenda, `1/2 cup Water, and a couple of frozen strawberries) Anderson Split Pea Soup Low fat lunch meat Low fat String cheese Low fat chili Soy Milk (8th Continent is 80 calories for 8 grams of protein) For other foods: For veggies, I buy frozen mixed veggies ( can just pour out a little for dinner) or just a dab of something fresh from the salad bar. Another option is a few pieces of broccoli, a single zucchini, or a handful of fresh spinach. For fruit, I buy an apple and eat 1/4 at a time. I just wrap the rest up. It turns a little brown, but I slice that part off. I also eat 1/3 of banana at a time. I just slice it in the peel so the rest stays good. I also like frozen strawberries in the yogurt smoothie I drink for Breakfast. I didn't really add starches back till I was further out. Now I have 1/2 piece of toast with breakfast (save the other half for the next day), a few crackers, a small red potato, or a little of whatever starch my hubby wants with dinner.

Sounds like you have pretty good restriction already! That's great! Or your stomach can be a bit swollen from the fill. Maybe try liquids, yogurt or pudding for a day and then try again. Eggs should be a food that go down fairly well. Try to wait a minute or two between bites and see if that helps. Sometimes it's not just small bites and chewing well but giving your stomach a little time for it to register. I doubt if 1 egg was too much, you should be fine with that.

Welcome to my world! I'm writing this as I am on a plane bound for SLC tonight. i will be working all day and flying back tomorrow night and will fly out again Saturday morning. Day started early so I was able to eat eggs at home, coffee Protein shake on the way to a client meeting, Quest bar at the airport, 1 oz of cheese from the "protein box" I bought on the plane (the one with very little protein), and will probably eat the dried edamame I'm carrying it's me once I land at 9 pm. I will have walked 2 miles by the time the day is over just running from one place to another and that will have to do for my exercise today. I have some Jerky that I may have to nom if I don't make my protein today, and I bought stuff to drink at the airport. I also have one packer of Protein powder that I will sweet talk a barista at Starbucks into making for me at some point I thus trip. You get used to planning ahead, carrying acceptable Snacks, and being utterly shameless about eating in the middle of meetings when NO ONE ELSE is eating! I often cook like a mad woman on the weekends and we eat that through most of the week,and rarely eat out more than once a week if I'm not traveling. I also know what I can eat at airports: Wendy's chili, the insides of any places sandwiches without bread, and SF geek yogurt. That's it really. So a lot more planning and forethought but totally doable.

Programs are different. I didn't have a pre-op diet other than the typical NPO 12/24 hours prior to surgery. It was recommended to increase protein and veg. So do not worry if you don't have a pre-op diet. Some of us don't. It's also not uncommon for programs to recommend transitioning to real food as soon as possible. A year out I still start most days with a Protein Shake, but this was my habit pre-op. I make my own concoctions in the nutra bullet before I go to the gym. When I do supplement it's with Isopure unflavored powder. I'm vegetarian so most of my protein is from eggs, Beans and yogurt. Shakes are a personal preference and taste. You have to consider whether you want powder or RTD, milk based or clear drinks. The major ones are Premier Protein, Isopure, Syntrac nectar and unjury.

I had my first fill two weeks ago. I was losing very well but eating in between meals and starting to not feel so full. (My surgery was May 5 and I have lost 35 pounds.) So they said I should get a fill..which was an absolute breeze...no problem drinking a glass of water...no problem with liquids day 1 and mushies day two...but solid food has been difficult. I have found myself the last day over the toilet after every meal. Crappy food goes down great...ice cream or crackers....but chicken, tuna, hot dogs, burgers...all of that will usually come back up. I am feeling sore today...so should I just go to liquids for a couple days to give my stomach a break? I am so afraid I caused it to slip...though I can still feel when the food "goes through". Needless to say I have not lost any weight this week. But I lost 5 pounds the first week after the fill...so what to do? I don't do protein drinks but I do Carnation Instant Breakfast for breakfast..and yogurt goes down well. I could eat almost a half of sandwich yesterday...and I kept it down. Yogurt stays...course stupid stuff like chips and popcorn will stay down. And I don't want to be eating those...I just feel like everything I am eating is coming up so maybe I am hungry. To be honest..right now I am not sure I can tell because I am a bit sore........ Thanks Cindi

My surgery was Tuesday the 26th no pain medication since leaving hospital. Alittle nausea here and there woke and did take a pill for this morning. Alot better tonight think I tried to hard to get clear liquid protein in last night ruff night very uncomfortable. Start stage 2 tomorrow can add yogurt and premier shakes which I really liked before surgery

I was banded on 2/10/11 and am on the soft meat stage. In 2 days i can go to regular foods. I eat a lot of eggs, chicken and lena greund meats. Turkey sausage is good too. Cooked veggies ( broccoli,squash, peas, carrots) and fruits. If I eat too many "sliders" (pudding, yogurt, jello) I get hungry too soon. I have lost 30 lbs and have not lost any in 5 days. But I know that untill I have a fill in a few weeks, it will prob be like that. EAS or Muscle Milk are good protein supplements, but they dont keep you full as long. Do whatever your doctor says to do as far as eating is concerned, but know that if you get a good variety of thing, you will not get bored and be tempted to cheat.

In Houston I've only been able to find the tiny containers for $1.99 but finally found a big container yesterday at HEB Market for $4.99 (it was by all the organic yogurt, they have an entire section). HTH

I'm doing mashed potatoes tonight with yogurt butter and skim milk. I'm excited about that. First eating my protein so just expecting to be able to have a few mashed potato bites.

I found it at Walmart, they just started carrying it. You might try asking the store manager about getting it. The greek yogurt has more protein in it than the regular yogurt. Greek yogurt has more consistancy (sp). I can only find the plain in the large size (4.??) and the smaller size was in vanilla and plain(1.46). I use splenda and fruit in mine.

Butterly24, hang in there. I think a lot of us have been there also. I know I have. My suggestion would be to try drinking more Water before you eat. Eat items with more Protein and/or Fiber. Eat really slow too. Also, a favorite Breakfast of mine is 1/2 a cup of plain low-fat yogurt, 1 spoonful (about a tablespoon) of orange marmalade for a little sweetness, and a 1/2 to 1 full serving of a high fiber Cereal. Sometimes I add a few little mini chocolate chips or shopped walnuts and sometimes I do a different cereal, like one with flakes, almonds, 'yogurt' clusters, cranberries/raisins. I know when I have used the all-bran fiber buds, I only use about a 1/2 serving, because it would be too filling on a full serving. Anyhow, it's been something that I enjoyed eating and you can change up the ingredients. Anyhow, I told you this, because when I eat this breakfast especially, I have to eat slow. But the best part is it's fairly low cal and I usually work it off in the gym. Hang in there. Don't give up.

I was given my diet post op and it is pretty restrictive. I am three weeks out and I am allowed up to 3 meals a day, at a max of 4 oz of Protein per meal. I can also have a half cup of non starchy veggies. Also, all the sugar free, non carbonated beverages I can handle. I can't have fruit until week 8 and yogurt and milk for 6 months. Carbs are not allowed until 75% of excess weight is gone. Here is my problem, I cannot eat to save my life. I have no appetite and can only handle soft, or liquids. I could just not eat. I tell myself that is bad and I force myself to eat an ounce or two here and there. I see others mentioning applesauce, milk, yogurt, etc. and I WISH I had that option. I feel like at least then I could get something in that is kinda a solid. I think I drink 64 oz but protein intake is way under 60 grams. Any advice? Also, pills are equally as hard to take. Any tips? I feel WAY overwhelmed.

Same thing here. Sleeved 1/31 and I barely eat a teaspoon of yogurt and I'm full, teaspoon of tuna and I'm full and I can't drink a 1/4 of my Protein shake. I've been focusing on drinking Water and teas. I find that I generally sip on warm tea anyway and I can drink about 4 oz from a cup, so tea 5 x a day = 20 oz plus some water and broth and the shakes (those count as liquids) I've been tallying 40 oz of liquids. Not bad for someone that's just 3 days out. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Barbara, Congratulations on having your surgery date and I'll keep you in my prayers this week. I am 10 days post op and these are the things I can tell you from my experience. First of all, know that everyone's experiences seem to be a bit different as you can see from the posts. So it could be different for you. I did have on hand and made up prior to surgery a Jell O buffet (lots of different kinds) and lots of different caffeine free teas - loved the Almond vanilla and it made me feel better to think I could have more of a choice - after all how much choice is there with clear liquids. I also thought no problem eating this way for a couple of weeks, but it is taking its toll no matter how different kinds of Jello and tea I have - it's boring. I can hardly wait for some texture. I heard about the gas pains after surgery, but had no idea what to expect. Found it is not a good idea to be in a public place because of the screams they would cause me. They don't give a lot of warning either. My pains were mainly in my left shoulder area. Took a box of Gas X (not at one time) and it didn't seem to give me that much relief, but would recommend having one on hand. Walk around and getting your fluids is a great tip! I did go back to work the Monday after my surgery on Thursday. Take it easy - don't think you are Super Woman you will pay for it - one way or another. It's funny how your body will "scream" at you when you don't take care of it. I learned this by Tuesday evening I was on the couch by 4 pm in tears, exhausted, and wiped out. I rested a while and felt so much better, so rest when you can so your body can heal. I felt really pretty much back to normal by the 7th day. The port incision is still tender however. I also tried to get by without the pain meds when I got home, there is a reason they give you the pain meds so feel free to use them and not try to be a hero for the first couple of days. I hated the fact that they would make me fall asleep - but in hind sight, that's not a bad thing -helps in that healing process. I also found that using a straw helps me take a sip and drinking hot tea is another way to change any "gulping" habits. The other thing I wanted to share with you is that you may feel a tightness in your chest - right between your breasts - I couldn't tell if that was I was hungry, full, surgery, etc. But I guess it is normal from the posts I have found now, so check those out. It is crazy because there are times it seems I can't get full and other times I eat a half of a yogurt and feel full. So just start looking for the "full" feeling, you'll know it and I am practicing now not to push the bar for when the fill comes, I am not wanting to practice the PBing. I find it hard to also get in enough Protein and eat all that the nutritionist wants me to - so I would encourage you to get some high Protein shake or I got some Protein powder that I can add to my Instant Breakfast or pudding or yogurt - it's flavorless and not bad and gets me lots of protein, with no fat or sugar. Bottom line always follow your doctor's orders and you'll be on your way to a new way of life. The posts here are also very helpful and looking forward to using this resource to its full potential. Best wishes, Lisa Banded 12/9/04 13 pounds down

I was banded on 12-29 and have been eating between 600 to 1100 in calories per day. Lost 20lbs in the first 6 1/2 weeks. Pound up or down for the last 6 1/2 weeks. I see where people list what they've eaten for the day & it seems like it is so much less than what I've eaten. I can eat 1/2 to 1 cup of greek yogurt for Breakfast or cottage cheese, Soup, etc but others list "I can only eat a few bites" or 1/4 cup of whatever. I do measure all my food so I'm just concerned that I'm eating too much volume instead of watching my calories like I've been doing. Had 3cc in band from surgery & I requested a fill last week since I could eat pretty much anything. Now have 4 1/2 ccs and am eating softer foods for a few more days. Opinions?

I am 5 weeks out. Have been cleared for pureed/soft foods, and I don't really eat a lot. I am down 43lbs since surgery and am losing about 1lb a day. Daily Ill eat 1-2 yogurts, a couple of bites of cottage cheese and maybe a piece of lunch meat. Ill have some hummus or a pickle from time to time as well Not a lot. Im supposed to get in about 60-70 grams of Protein in a day, but I am only getting about 30-40. Doctor isn't worried about the protein, the key is fluids!! Water and fluids help break down the fat and that's what I most important at this stage!

I'm pureed now so I'm eating poached eggs, refried beans, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, cream of wheat, frozen greek yogurt bars, beechnut turkey baby food, split pea soup, bean soup, applesauce unsweetened, sugarfree pudding, sugarfree ice cream, and peanut butter.

I'm almost a year out - Protein shakes to this day are my most filling staple. Tuna Yogurt Fruit Lettuce Seafood- fish, oysters, shrimp, crab. Also all work too - but NOTHING gets me like a Protein shake. Sits in me like a brick.

R the Dannon Light n Fit yogurt sugar free as well or how many grams of sugar? Omg u really gave me ideas thank you so much.

Weight Watchers is bringing out a brand new program in the New Year here in Australia - are they doing so in the States too? I have the entire home point program - I dont like the meetings much, I've got better things to do than sit around discussing how satisifying it is to mix jelly crystals in natural yogurt if you're after something sweet, lol. Puhlease! It just doesnt replace a Mars bar does it? Hehehe. But I love the concept of points, whereas I hate counting calories, go figure, it's basically the same thing.

I'm 11 days post op and I'm mostly liquid. When does your nutritionist let you move on to something soft? I'm up to two teaspoons of plain yogurt. I'm taking an antibiotic because I've had a fever so to avoid a yeast infection I'm doing yogurt for me 3 "meals" this week. Have you eaten Jello? That gave me the sensation of eating while being on the liquid portion of my plan. I also like Popsicles because it's almost like a bite.

Lisa, your just starting so don't be frustrated. Your most likely still retaining some of that Fluid from the hospital as well as still swollen. I didn't step on the scale for almost 2 weeks after surgery. liquids will go away. I'm 5 1/2 weeks out and eating things that I can chew. I'm down 33lbs and loving this whole thing. food no longer controls my life, I don't worry about what I'm eating and when can I eat it. Once you can start pureed you'll start to feel better about everything. Even being able to eat something like yogurt gives you hope, do don't be depressed or sad. Time goes by quickly and before you know it you'll be eating yummy stuff again. I actually went out to dinner for the first time tonight, granted I only had a cup of awesome chili with cheese and onions, but more importantly I felt like I was a part of the human race again.