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The big losers do not necessarily have more willpower or desire. The important difference between the big losers and the re-gainers may be how easy they find the journey to be. Surprisingly, you can control a large part of how easy or hard it is to lose weight. The weight loss journey is not just about changing your digestive system through surgery. It is also about changing your entire lifestyle to facilitate weight loss. Weight Loss Surgery is a Weight Loss Tool, Not a Cure Weight loss surgery is a tool. It can make you less hungry by reducing the size of your stomach by inserting a band around your stomach (Lap-band), removing the majority of your stomach pouch (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) or folding or stapling away the majority of your stomach pouch (gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and sleeve plication). The vertical sleeve gastrectomy reduces hunger by reducing the amount of ghrelin, a hunger hormone, that your stomach produces. The gastric bypass and duodenal switch reduce nutrient absorption. All of these surgeries can help you eat less and lose weight, but none of these surgeries are fail-proof. You can “cheat” by eating high-calorie foods, drinking high-calorie beverages, drinking beverages while you eat solid foods, and eating without measuring your portions. Successful weight loss requires good choices on your part, and making good choices is easier if you focus on your entire lifestyle, not just the part of your digestive system that was changed with surgery. The Influence of Your Surroundings on Your Weight Think about this scenario. You leave home without breakfast and order a muffin and ice coffee at the drive-through on your way to work. You grab a doughnut at your morning meeting, and go out for lunch with your friends. You order the lunch special with a salad, breadstick, fettuccine alfredo and cheesecake. You nibble on some chocolates from your secretary’s desk as you make your way to the vending machine for a soda in the afternoon. You pick up a pizza on your way home because you know that there is nothing else for dinner. Now compare it to this second scenario. You wake up early to meet your friend for a walk before you get home for a breakfast of scrambled egg whites and spinach. You drive to work and have yogurt and some fruit at your morning meeting. Lunch with your coworkers consists of a green salad with canned tuna, and you have a hard-boiled egg for your afternoon snack. You are able to get dinner on the table quickly when you get home because you only need to defrost the meals that you prepared earlier in the week. Which scenario do you think you can help you lose weight? The second one, of course. So why not make it a reality? Do Your Surroundings Encourage Weight Loss or Weight Gain? You have battled your weight for years, if not for your entire life before weight loss surgery. In all likelihood, your environment was set up for you to eat. Take a good, hard look at your environment. Is it more like the first scenario or the second one described above? You have the ability to make it more like the second one. Notice the following items from the two scenarios. Exercise was automatic in the second one because you planned to meet a friend – so you couldn’t back out. Preparing your dinners ahead of time meant that you could eat quickly without going to a fast food restaurant. Packing your own snacks meant that you did not have to eat a doughnut in your morning meeting or chocolates in the afternoon. Make the “Right” Choice Automatic The fewer tough choices you have, the less likely you are to make poor decisions. Set up your environment so that the healthier actions are easier. To make healthy eating easier: Prepare plenty of meals ahead of time so that you always have a ready-to-eat, healthy option to prevent you from opting for take-out. Throw away the take-out menus that you used to store in the kitchen. The extra time it takes you to look up the phone numbers and menus online may be enough to let you come to your sense and realize that you don’t want fast food. Keep your kitchen stocked with all kinds of healthy foods, so that no matter your craving, you have a healthy answer. Do not keep unhealthy foods at home. If they are not there, you cannot eat them. Make sure that the healthy option is the default option. For example, measure your cheese and cut and wash fruits and vegetables ahead of time so that it is easier to snack on them than on cookies. Also consider these ideas: Meet your friends for walks or shopping trips instead of for meals at restaurants. Park your car a few blocks away from work so that you have no choice but to walk those few blocks again at the end of the day as you leave work. Do not drive past drive-thrus if they are too tempting. Also, do not keep money in the car, and consider removing your car’s cup holders so that eating in the car is no longer an option. All weight loss surgery patients have their own struggles. Far from being wimpy, removing these obstacles rather than fighting them is the best way to overcome them. The weight loss journey path will always have speed bumps and potholes, but it will be a lot smoother if you set up your lifestyle to promote better choices all day.

I was banded on 12/15/11 and had my first fill on 1/15/11. I was going along fine until about a month ago. I just started to feel too tight, so I went into the Drs and had an unfill. Still too tight. I returned 2 weeks later and the removed all of the fluid, so I have an empty band. I can't keep anything down, not even pudding or yogurt. I don't really have any other symptoms besides a sore throat from all of the vomiting. Im going back to the Drs later this week to see what the next step is. Does this sound like a band slip? If I did have a slip, what are my options? Thanks!!

Well I was getting in 80 g of Protein a day and I still lost my hair. :party4: You want to get the protein so you don't lose muscle mass and so you have a lot of energy, though. But the first two weeks or so, it can be hard. What helped me was: -Protein hot chocolate from Nashua Nutrition/Healthwise -Clear fruity Protein drinks -Isopure RTD (40 g protein, 20 oz. liquids) -Adding protein to everything - South Beach Tide Me Over in my Water, unflavored Protein powder in the broths and Soups, etc. -Make the shakes with ice cubes in a blender so they have the consistency of a smoothie and go down better. -If you try whey protein powder and don't like them, try soy protein powder. Don't the soy? Try whey? Heck, Jay Robb has some made from egg protein. Just keep trying samples until you find one you like. -Using greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt (less carbs, more protein) -Using "bariatric" foods such protein soups, protein sloppy joes, protein oatmeal, etc. (Popular companies: WonderSlim, Nashua Nutrition, Focus28, ProtiDiet, Healthwise/Healthsmart, SmartForme)

Welcome! In general, I’d say have a little more Protein and veggies to fill up on fewer calories. 1. Breakfast: Maybe have a smaller serving of bagel and have some protein, like a hard-boiled egg white or some cottage cheese. Or have a little less Cereal and mix it with yogurt. Depending on how hungry you are, you could have some fruit, too, because it’s filling and not too high-calorie, and can tide you over. 2. Lunch: For eating out, a green salad is usually safe. You can get the dressing on the side and have grilled chicken (protein) on top, and try to order it without fatty extras like salami and mounds of cheese (a little is okay). You can also go for chicken breast and a side of veggies. 3. Snack: Protein Bars (if you like them) keep in the car. Almonds are good, as long as you keep the serving small. You could also go for pouches of tuna or canned sardines or macerel. 4: Dinner: It’s a pretty safe bet to go with a protein and a cooked veggie or side salad, plus a starch if you need more. For example, chicken, fish, or a veggie or turkey burger, plus broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, etc., plus a small amount of sweet potato or winter squash or brown rice. If you’re willing to cook a little, you can do chili or stir fry – a mixture of protein and veggies. 5. Snack: Yogurt, cottage cheese, protein pudding, fruit. Good luck!

1. Breakfast. I often workout in the morning so I tend to make a Protein shake. My favorite is greek yougurt, Protein powder + a tbsp of almond butter. Occasionally I switch it up and add fruit and spinach instead. On non-gym days I eat eggs w/ cheese, hardboil eggs or make overnight oats 2. lunch. My favorite lunch is a salad w/ either romaine, spinach or baby greens, black Beans, a hard boiled egg, shredded cheese, and with salsa or olive oil as dressing. I'll toss in avocado if I have some on hand. 3. Snack My go to are 1 ounce packs of nuts, Usually pistachios or cashews. 4. dinner. Most days soups. Sometimes I do a stir fry with seitan or tempeh. You can sub any lean protein. 5. Late night snack. I'm not a late not snacker. For one I eat dinner later than most, around 7pm most days. I'm also typically trying to get the rest of my Water in. Most often I go for a cup of tea if anything. However if I am feeling munchie. I like sliced cucumbers with a splash of lime and sriracha. It's the crunch and spice I often crave and next to no calories. If i'm feeling hungry, I eat a hard boiled egg, a string cheese or a small bit of yogurt. The small amount of fat usually fills me up.

I am feeling fine...just CRAVING FOOD! Has anyone else gone through this! I know I am not hungry but its just the norm to put food in my mouth! I am on the full liquid diet right now every half hour water..protein drinks cottage cheeese jelllo or yogurt. i am fine with it just sucks to be around real food ! Any way i have no pain other than acid i think and thats it a little bit sore but not on any meds. Its hard when you have kids and they are snacking and eating and i cant..i know its mental!

I was banded Aug 6th too and I had to do clear liquids for a week...which was sugar free jello, watered down cranberry juice, broth and water and crystal light. Now I am in my 2nd stage (week) and I have to eat pureed foods...I put in the food processor chicken small (very small) potato, veggies and broth and mix it smooth, snack is sugar free pudding, applesauce, nonfat yogurt, smoothie, oh and protein drinks and powder which I have to add to my meals and snacks. Water all day long about four five glasses. I did good my first week...this week I just feel like I am not doing anything right and I feel like a fatty. I weight my food only 1/2 cup with each meal. I am still sore and can not excrise or lift anything over ten lbs. I am walking around the block now and going to start two blocks tomorrow. I am reading all this stuff and 3 days in and someone is mowing their lawn ? How? Lisa

today is my 4th day and this is probably the first time in 40 years i haven't cheated on a diet. it is gettin easier. yesterday i had: protein shake hand full of carrots 5 slices of turkey weight watchers yogurt apple lean cuisine fat free/sugar free pudding pretty good for someone that was eating about 3500 kcals a day.

I am 9 months out. Breakfast - I'm super tight, usually have a yogurt about 10:00am, or sometimes a piece of fruit. if I'm not hungry I don't eat until lunch. Lunch - usually a salad with lots of raw veg (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onion, radish, cucumber - its more veg than lettuce) with chicken, turkey, roast beef, steak, whatever left over meat I have. Sometimes a Lean Cusine or chicken salad on a sandwich thin. Supper - 4/5 oz of meat, veg and salad. sometimes a starch added in there instead of the salad because I can go several days without rice or potato and then I just really "need" it. Late Night Snack - if I have one it is usually a yogurt or a weight watcher raspberry/dark choc. ice cream bar, or a 100 calorie pack of Cookies... lol which i don't do often cuz one usually leads to two. (cookies are my weakness)

HELLO EVERY ONE TODAY IS THE FOURTH OF JULY, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I,VE EATEN, SO FAR I,VE HAD 2 HAMBURGERS, TURKEY BURGERS, ONE HOT DOG I THINK I DID VERY WELL, I,M DONE EATING FOR TODAY. JUST GONNA DO YOGURT,DRINK TEA THEN I,M ALL SET,I DIDN,T COOK ANY RIBS,OF CHICKEN NOTHING LIKE THAT ON THE GRILL,MY YOUNG ADULTS WENT OUT WITH THEIR FRIENDS, SO I REALLY DIDN,T COOK MUCH. IT,S 4:19 IN THE PM MAYBE I,LL READ ME A GOOD NOVEL. SO EVERYONE OUT THERE WHAT DID YOU DO FOR THE HOLIDAY. :tt2::shades_smile:

The last time I wrote I was getting ready for an upper gi because my surgeon suspected that my band had slipped a little. I went for the upper gi and despite not really being able to eat, vomiting a lot, and everything that I eat hurt when it hit, apparently everything is perfect. the change in positioning was either a fluke or it fixed itself when they removed all the fluid. So here i sit, just over a year down the road, 90 pounds lighter, not where i want to be and questioning if i can pull off the last 40. i'm trying to cut back on my calories as much as possible, as well as up my exercise. i need another fill, my 2 cc isn't doing much of anything. i find i do better portion wise if i eat like 6 meals a day. not at all what they want me doing, but i get sooo hungry. and i can control it a little better if i eat more meals (small ones) more closely together. sadly since having the fluid out, and only 2cc put back in i've gained 2 lbs....i was up 4 but have since lost 2 back. hopefully i can get back on the horse and get a good rhythm going again with the weightloss. has anyone else had the problem where they can't seem to get a good green zone? i thought i had mine, dare i say i did. 5.5 cc. but i just had to get that stupid tomato stuck and since then (july '09) i haven't been able to get a GOOD restriction like i had! i mean before it was ....maybe 4 tyson chicken nuggets, or a side salad, or if i were particularly hungry the kids steak bites from texas roadhouse with a sweet potato, plain with butter on the side....that was fantastic restriction!.....i could get a serving of greek yogurt then and be good to go, even when i got back to 5.8 cc yogurt went right thru! not to mention everything else too!.. is it just me? or has anyone else out there had this problem too??? i can't fathom having gone into such tremendous debt to pay for this to have me possibly have blown it in the first year and be doomed to never see my finish line. meanwhile...i'm still going to the gym, farm work, and contemplating taking a belly dance class for the heck of it.

I was sleeved June 19. I'm eating soups, yogurts, hummus, tuna, canned chicken, eggs, avocado/guacamole. My fat ass had the tiniest bite of my husbands burger the other day. Keep us updated when you all level up to new foods. Keep truckin!

You are very hungry because you are not eating much at all if you are only having 2 Tbsp of jello. Pudding is not a bad choice if you make the sugar free and fat free pudding. You can get them in any store sugar free and make them with non fat milk. They are a good choice but a Greek yogurt is better. The Protein will help to keep you fuller and not have so much hunger. Think about spreading out your shakes and pudding or yogurt so you are having something every few hours to start and in between sipping Water.

Ebonie, Try going to the store and purchasing you a couple of the 100 calorie snacks and limit yourself to one a day or just when you have a craving, I wouldn't exceed two packs in a day though. You can also try yogurt as that is a snack or make a homemade low cal smoothie. No sugar added popsicles are good to. Try the slim-a-bear and the weight watchers. My Doctor said I can have snacks that a sugar free and don't contain more than 100 calories, but not to exceed 2 in a day.

Hang in there. It does get better. I am almost 8 weeks and I noticed that I started to feel so much better once I started to eat some food. Yogurt, beans, cottage cheese (since I am vegetarian) really helped a lot. I think that it is super important to find a protein drink or powder that you can tolerate. I've tried so many of them. Even the unflavored Unjury didn't agree with me. I did have good luck with using high protein milk and Unjury Chocolate Spendor and Syntrax Nectar Latte Cappuccino. Also using sugar free syrups to alter the shake flavors helped me. Now that I have a system down that I can tolerate, I have been feeling much better. I feel better than I did before surgery.

Don't forget our old stand by, protein shakes. Frozen greek yogurt is great. Trop 50 + pureed fruit+plain greek yogurt=awesome smoothie

It depends on how fast I eat it. I also like Fage yogurt because it's thicker than the Chobani (though Chobani apple cinnamon is omgnom). If I sit there and take like... 30-40 minutes to eat a container I have no problem eating the whole thing because I space it out. If I inhale it? I have to stop halfway through.

I'm 6 months out but I've been able to eat a 5oz container of yogurt since 4 weeks...I didn't try it sooner but I'm thinking you shouldn't worry. You will hurt if you hurt your sleeve. Congrats on getting sleeved

I mixed veg broth with unflavored Protein and pureed Beans and mixed with veg broth for a sort of soup. I also ate a lot of FAGE 0% greek yogurt. I would do a shake in the morning that I added whey protein to. The combination of the Protein powder and the yogurt was over half my protein for the day. I would then do another Protein Shake or more greek yogurt at lunch and could usually do a pureed veg or bean soup in the evening. Another thing I would do is have the orange creme Liquid Protein in a cup of herbal tea for Breakfast, again do the whey powder/yogurt for lunch. Then have the pureed veg or bean soup in the evening. My goal just became to get in my protein by lunch so I could have something svory in the evening.

Is it normal to not get full from four ounces of Greek yogurt? It's chobani non fat vanilla which is not really think? I am only eating what my doctor told me to but I thought I shouldn't be able to finish four ounces.

If you have emotional ties to eating you should consider counseling to help support you on this journey. That being said, I had mine 8/31 and have felt deprived at all yet, probably because I battled more pain than expected. I don't know if you started on clear liquid or full liquids but I started on full liquids and tomato soup made with milk has been awesome when I feel hungry. I try and sip protein shakes throughout the morning and evening, drinking 1/2 a premiere shake at a time. Also smooth light yogurt is helpful, but I can eat more than I think I should (1/2 a container). Hang in there, things will normalize for us and the weight loss and health will be worth it. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Khrissy....I had mine done at TLBC as well and had to do a 2 week pre-op diet. Frozen yogurt was definitely out of the question!!! But if you want a "concrete" answer, call or e-mail Nisrine and run it by her!!!! You're almost there.....don't give up!

I flew last week without getting an unfill. I did swell up a little but it wasn't as bad as the swelling I had just after my last fill. I tried yogurt the morning following my flight, and it was painful to get down but no pbing, so on my return flight I stuck with liquids for first 24 hrs and I was fine. However, everyone is different and if you are concerned than go get an unfill.

I am right there with u, I have exactly 6 days until my surgery and I am doing my Protein shakes, but the diet they gave me includes yogurt, canned fruit, bananas and broth. cottage cheese, pop and fudgescicles...so i am not totally starving. but it sucks watching my honey eat manicotti and chicken breasts, which i cooked for him, cause i figure i have to get used to the smell of good food around that i cant have. i have been struggling with my choice to have the surgery and questioning if i should wait awhile longer and get my heart blip checked out or not, and get some psychological counseling first, well last year i had gone to a seminar and the doctor i really wanted to do my surgery wasnt taking my insuracne at that time, but this morning of all times, they call me and tell me i am on his list of call backs and hes taking my insurance now and am i still interested. i am more confused than ever now.

I think it depends on what stage of food you are on. In the beginning, jello and yogurt would constitute a meal for me. Now, jello is more like a snack for me. Same goes for popsicles. I can still have a yogurt as a meal for breakfast but I prefer something like cereal or scrambled egg whites.