Search the Community

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.

I'm 12 days post op and I'm having a hard time getting my protein in. I'm so over the shake any other ideas? Would it be gross if I put some protein powder in my yogurt or pudding?

What about berries pureed with yogurt, then?

I'm so sorry. Take the meds religiously. They tried to get mine to heal for 6 weeks before surgery was the plan. The constant contracting pain is the hardest part for me. And I struggle to eat anything and when it started at 2 month post op I was doing great. I got to where I could eat anything with no issues. I'm living of milk with protein powder and yogurt now :/ Good luck. Feel free to pm me! My bypass revision is scheduled for Monday 2/20.

Almost 8 weeks out, down 26 pounds from 271 to 245 So I got my first fill last week, and I am REALLY tight. So much so that I've lost 5 pounds in 6 days! I am finding it extremely difficult to eat anything in the morning. I even feel stuck just trying to drink some water or juice in the morning; warm coffee seems to go down much more easily. I had a particularly bad day this last Saturday: so let me first say that of course I recognize that no one who is trying to lose weight has any business eating anything at McDonald's. However, every so often I allow myself to indulge, and Saturday morning was that occurrence. I was soooo excited about eating some of that sausage biscuit, let me tell you. I was going to be taking a quick road trip of about an hour on Saturday morning, and I figured with this great restriction it would practically take me an hour to eat about a quarter of that delicious biscuit. Well, I think I managed to eat a total of one normal sized bite, taken in teeny tiny little pieces which just REFUSED to go down. UGH! Never has a human being been so disappointed. I cursed the band, let me tell you! I wanted to eat that damn biscuit in the worst way! And, to showcase my food addiction even more - instead of throwing the blasted biscuit away when I reached my destination, like any sane person would.....I wrapped it up and saved it, thinking to myself, maybe I'll loosen up later today and I can still eat some of this later!! I tried, not once, but twice more throughout Saturday to eat some of that biscuit, and EVERY time I tried it was worse. Waaaahhhhhh!! I also had my first PB (productive burping) episode on Saturday. I now know that it was precipitated by the biscuit incident in the morning, but I wasn't smart enough to be worried about that when I sat down to lunch with my husband and some friends......I unrolled my chicken salad wrap and picked out a tiny forkful of tender shredded chicken. I chewed and chewed and chewed until it was liquid, and when I swallowed, at first I thought it was OK, but after a few seconds I got that awful pressure feeling in my chest. So I sat there and talked and waited for it to subside and eventually decided to take a bite of my fruit cup - one tiny cube of mushy peach, which I chewed up to nothing and then swallowed. I immediately got the stuck feeling, and my mouth started filling up with saliva. This has happened to me before many times, but somehow I realized, luckily, that this time was different. My husband's colleague was in the middle of asking me a question, and I literally jumped up from the table, completely cut him off mid-sentence, and was barely able to choke out 'please excuse me' before I was running to the ladies room. As soon as I got in there, up popped the peach, and lots and lots and lots of saliva. BLECH! I thought I would feel immediately better, but I didn't. I stayed in there a while trying to regain some composure. In previous episodes where I would get that stuck feeling, and would "slime" for a while, at a certain point I'd feel things settle down and go through, and I'd be fine and would actually want to resume eating. This time, however, there was no way I was going to try to eat anything else for a while. I had to be really careful even drinking water for the rest of the day. I finally had a very few morsels of dinner (a couple bites of mashed potatoes and a tiny piece of husband's soft and gooey chicken quesadilla) many hours later, around 8:30pm. They went down OK, but I was scared bc we were in public at a bar, and I did NOT want to have to race off to the bathroom again, so I didn't push it. Sunday morning there was very little change, I still felt extremely tight and had to be careful even swallowing my yogurt. But, by lunchtime I had loosened up and was able to eat half of a turkey sandwich with no problems. So, on Saturday I was feeling a little panicked, and thinking - maybe I'm too tight?? Maybe I should get a slight unfill? But, now, a couple of days later, I've realized that there's something to be said for being this tight - it absolutely forces me to take tiny bites, chew properly, not drink after eating......it basically forces me to be accountable at all times to the band. I think as long as I'm careful and don't PB all the time, maybe I'll just deal with it?? Because you know, of course I'm loving, loving, loving watching the scale drop each day! The only thing I'm worried about right now is how to explain my sudden bird-like portions to friends. This weekend when someone made a comment, I just said, "Oh, you know me! I'm just trying to lose some weight....AGAIN, ha ha ha..." I just wonder if someone is eventually going to catch on to my secret! I really, really, really hope not.

I couldn't tolerate protein powders/shakes postop (Or now!) I lived off of milk, drinkable yogurt, and protein kefir for a week or two until purees.

I used to make homemade pudding pops and yogurt pops for my kids when they were little (tight budget). I used small Dixie cups for the mold. Kids loved them and budget loved them. :-)

I have taken zoloft for over 10 years and would never stop taking it--life is too miserable without it. Unfortunately, about a month ago (banded 8 months) I had a bad episode with my daily zoloft dose (OMG the intense pain is unbearable!) and haven't been the same since. I wish I had found this thread earlier on in my lapband journey! Lessons learned on my own: 1. DON'T break the 100 mg pills in half--that just exposes the medication to your pouch. 2. An empty stomach doesn't make it easier for the pills to get through the stoma to your bigger (hardier--imo)stomach. 3. Something creamy like yogurt or pudding can help. 4. Saltine crackers seem to encase the pills and protect the pouch and stoma from the disolving pills. 5. Hot water/tea/coffee/soup doesn't relax the stoma and help the pills move through easier--it just helps disolve the pills faster= more intense pain. 6. Finally, your doctor can prescribe 50mg pills (you just take twice as many) and because they are so much smaller they do go down easier. Still, since my worst zoloft episode about a month ago, I haven't been the same. I'm getting stuck/pbing almost every day. Every meal/snack feels like a game of Russian Roulette. It's like I've had a big fill and am way too tight--though I haven't had a fill in over three months. I've begun to wonder if the stoma has been damaged in some way or is still just inflamed and irritated? I do have an appointment to see my doctor next week to have everything checked out and perhaps to get a slight unfill.

I love salmon.But I can eat way too much of it.I dont really fill up on it so now we make salmon patties with all kinds of green,red,yellow and orange peppers with onion in it and I can only eat 3 oz of it. Soft fish goes down like yogurt for me.But shrimp or prawns are solid and it really fills me up nicely and for long. Dont worry about it.Test yourself with chicken breast,that will show you quickly how little you can really eat.

I can eat about 2oz yogurt right now, I'm 9 days out and just started pureed.

Yogurt is a great vehicle for crushed pills!

I definitely know full..it squeezes and hurts and comes with hiccups and belching sometimes...lol...but the yogurt today..maybe I just ate too fast

I will definitely call my surgeon and pharmacist and see what the deal is. My largest pill is generic Neurontin, gabapentin. It has a half score on it. But wouldn't the sharp edges from the cut pill(s) be a potential harm to the stapled pouch? If not, then why are we straining things like plain yogurt? I'm on full liquids upon arriving home. I still hate to crush. I also take bupropion, which seems like it's coated. But I'm not understanding how we/some can take pills when the pouch is so "sensitive" that we go on special diet protocols to avoid hurting it. I like your ideas on how to take crushed pills, and like even better that some people swallow whole pills. Again, I do what my surgeon says!

I just ate a whole cup if Greek yogurt..and looked on the side and realized that's 5.3 oz! Can you guys eat a whole one?

Hey Tina, You had mentioned Kristi in your other post and I thought you were referring to my sister, that is the exact same way she spells her name and you met her, but you're talking about the dietician! That's funny. I have researched the lap band for 2 years now. I just find it interesting how each surgeon has a different protocol for doing things. I'm happy you are doing well. :couch2: I just made the assumption I would be doing normal stuff like walking and showering, which I am, I think I actually may slow down for a couple of days. Incidentally, I had 2 oral surgeries last year that were much worse than this, thank goodness! EDIT: By the way, after reading my questions and the other posters, I was thinking, I must have missed something along the way! LOL I emailed Dr. Feng and talked with him and I DID! I missed the entire part of my post op material for "General Guidelines: Liquids and Solids." Geez, how flakey is that! Okay, that material has completely answered all of my questions. The whole creamy/yogurt question really confused me. Take care, Kelli

I asked about carbs because I was higher than most gals here but that's what worked for me. I started out no higher than 40 but once I adjusted to 75 or so a day I was losing at the same pace but felt a million times better. Mentally and also with that desire to graze/binge I get due to a diet that makes me feel deprived. I ask because everyone is different so if your body can handle more carbs without a setback and without it triggering you, I'd eat more. Why restrict more than you need to? This is a huge reason why 1) I track religiously and 2) I give each diet adjustment at least a week or two before declaring it a success or loss. If you know exactly what you're eating and you're weighing regularly you can see how the two work together. I lost no differently on higher carbs. In fact, in maintenance I eat 120-140 a day on normal days. It makes no difference to my body - I still lose at a poky pace if I restrict down to 40 a day, so why go through that if I don't need to? So, when I asked about your carbs, my concern was that your desire to do the sliders might be due to deprivation or that you might be one of those few that needs a different mix to lose effectively. Don't be afraid to experiment. What works for you is probably not what worked for me, or the next person, either. Figure it out and go with that - there is no perfect answer or we'd all get to goal in a flash and stay there forever. Good luck, ~Cheri And for the record? I do the real deal on everything - but I can do that without going ape on junk food (usually!) so my yogurt is the Chobani and it just happens to be fat free but it's definitely got carbs.

I agree about the greek yogurt. Some of them are loaded with sugar. Make sure you are eating one that is sugar free, or, like Oregon said, buy plain and sweeten it yourself (that's what I do).

Easy? hell no! Not here anyway For snacks, I still eat yogurt, but like I said plain Greek with stevia and a bit of frozen blueberries does the trick. Snacks are also things like low sodium lunch meat. Or a bit of cheese. If I need crunch I do kims magic pops with hummus.

Hi, I am 6 weeks post op and I am unsure on whether I am getting enough calories on a daily basis. I usually have: meal #1 - 1 cup of oatmeal, 120 cal meal #2 - 6oz. yoplait light yogurt, 90 cal meal #3 - 4oz. del monte peaches, 60 cal meal #4 - 1/3 cup deli sliced turnkey, 150 cal meal #5 - 4oz. filet of salmon, 150 cal under 600 calories on a heavy eating day. All liquids are Water, I am not doing any Protein drinks at this time. (is this my answer?) I am at that stage where I can start exercising again and the last thing I want to do is pass out in the gym. Thoughts? Suggestions? misspelled calories, that's embarrassing!

Three days is nothing. My MX dr required liquids and yogurt. I started slamming protein drinks also. I was at a lower BMI too and I don't think that has anything to do with it anyway. It's prep for surgery regardless of what you weigh I think that's what you were saying/asking?

I am 1 month post op and feel the same way. I am at my breaking point today because whatever I try to eat grosses me out from the smell. I am struggling with meat and can not eat cottage cheese or eggs which I use to love. I am snuggled in bed knowing I ate yogurt for Breakfast and a tablespoon of mashed potatoes for lunch. I attempted chicken for dinner and couldn't get through the first bite. Please say this gets better?? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I come from a family of overweight people. Parents, siblings, and now nieces and nephews. Due to infertility my children are both adopted and neither have the genetics the rest of us battle. Just the same, I have made a huge effort to ensure food is never a reward. The kids have a junk/snack drawer with everything from holiday candy to fruit snacks and granola bars that is just always there, so it's never really a treat or abused. They can go to the drawer or the top shelf of the fridge where their yogurt, applesauce, jello etc. is. Most times they puck the fridge. I think it's a combination of genetics and behavior. I'm not saying I am parent of the year, but in the area of nutrition I am proud of the foundation my kids have and hope they never struggle like I did.

I put benefiber in all sorts of stuff. It's not gritty and it works like a charm. I agree with Jacqui. Our bodies need fruits and veggies. I don't want to end up with colon cancer. I also eat fiber one Cereal. Sometimes I put it in yogurt. That and Kashi cereal have very high fiber content. They are whole grain so they are considered good carbs.

Husband took me out for sea food tonight! Was DELISH! Just got home with low carb high Protein yogurt, 2% milk, 1% cottage cheese, fruit cups in light syrup, sugar free Jello. I've got my deli meats and will go get protein for shakes tomorrow! Yay for the next 10 days!! M-W working, off thurs, Friday, off for the weekend, work Monday then have dentist in afternoon, pedicure after that. Work Tuesday and surgery is Wednesday! I'm doing this!!

I had my band placed on Aug 26th and for the first week i had a difficult time as well that is why i drank only Clear liquids even my Protein Drink was clear from Isopure. I too had a lot of loose bm's I just took a Fiber supplement and that helped. If the yogurt makes you feel ok then do that to get your nurishment just make sure there are no chunks and that it is the drinkable kind...Dont give up things do get better!