Search the Community

I am week three post op and have been feeling very bored with my foods. Soups Cottage cheese Ricotta Cheese Cream of Wheat Yogurt I've tried pureed chicken & gravy, refried Beans, pureed meatball and sauce but those foods are too thick and I feel very uncomfortable trying to get those down. Today I ate an entire scrambled egg! It was so great to chew and swallow a bit of food and it did not get stuck or make me feel stuffed. It was one of the first times that I've felt totally satisfied without any discomfort after eating. I am super excited about this.

My surgery is on the 28th (UK) I'm on 3 pints of milk and 2 yogurts only, I would give anything to have even just a teaspoon of cottage cheese! Lol

I'm in Sheffield. No shakes at all just 3 pints of milk, 2 low fat yogurts and 2 litres of water

dhrguru, Great topic! Let’s see…I have learned to love: Life! So cheesy, but so true. I love life for living’s sake, and not for the sake of the food that comes along with it. Healthy food. I like Greek yogurt, blueberries, salmon, and so many other healthy foods. I like their taste, and I like the feeling of knowing they’re good for me. Unhealthy food: I say I have learned to like it because now I can crave it, enjoy a reasonable amount of it, and get over it. Before, I just ate it. Exercise. Yes, I love running, lifting weights, biking, and being active generally…and not just because it feels good when it’s over (although I like that feeling, too). It lowers stress and makes me feel strong and powerful.

I had my sleeve on Oct 14. Up until about 2 weeks ago (3 months post op), I felt like I couldn't eat more than 3-4 bites of anything and I was full, sliming, throwing up. I feel like I have finally turned the corner and can have a small, but normal meal. I have even dined out a couple of times and been able to order a small entrée or an appetizer, and eat a decent amount of it vs taking it all home in a to-go box. My normal routine: Breakfast: 1/2piece of toast with 1/2 yogurt Lunch: small sandwich, piece of fruit Dinner: usually some sort of meat (palm sized portion) and 1/2 baked potato or about that much In between meals....lots of Water, water, water.

Diarrhea is the plague of my life. After surgery it was bad, but I attributed it to the whopping dose of antibiotics they gave me. That's a major problem for some people. Yogurt is a big help. I ate some every day and was better every day. There is also some sort of dried form you can sprinkle in liquid. For some reason yogurt was on my list of "full liquids" so I just nibbled on a little at every "meal"

Dr. Aceves has his patients on 10 days of clear, then 10 days of full liquids. That should be where you are now. You can have Soup that you put in a blender to get rid of all the chunks.I blended tomato soup and cottage cheese to get more Protein. You can also have the egg flower soup from the chinese places, and of course any kind of Protein Drink you can stand. There are also drinkable yogurts. Hope that helps!

I think I may be the exception here. I can't eat meat yet, at all. I can eat fish and shrimp. Shrimp actually go down really well. My typical day is: Morning: Decaf coffee with 1 cup low fat soy milk, and either yogurt or egg beaters with goat cheese Mid Morning snack: Babybel light cheese Lunch: Greek Yogurt (mix regular and fat free) Afternoon snack: Small Protein drink Dinner: Shrimp and avacado I met with my nutrionist last week and she told me to cut out the applesauce and juice I was eating/drinking because it had to many carbs and that can cause a stall (which I am in..I think I may be starting to come out of it.) But she told me otherwise, to just keep what I was doing. Also that she didn't anticipate that I would be able to eat meat this early anyway. I have to say I was looking at my husbands steak last night, longing for a bite, but still had no interest in actually taking a bite because I knew it would just get stuck and hurt. Oh and ice cream...yeah that's awful. I almost threw up when I had some last week. It was one indulgence that I gave myself in the 4 weeks post op. I won't do that again. I felt the worst I have since surgery because of it.

This is the pre-op diet: DIET: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner should be low calorie protein shakes or Non fat yogurt. We highly recommend a company by the name of REVIVAL SOY http://www.revivalsoy.com or go to a health store and look for a low calorie protein shake. The rest of the day or if you are still hungry at meal time you can have clear liquids. You should drink about 8 glasses of water or more a day. And Jell-O the low calorie kind is a clear liquid. Other clear liquids are beef and chicken broth, apple and grape juice, nonfat milk, and cranberry juice.

Breakfast is either 1% cottage cheese with fruit, plain non fat Greek yogurt with stevia and a piece of fruit, 2 pieces of turkey sausage or bacon with a sunny side up egg or my "treat" once a week is old fashioned oat meal or cream of wheat with cinnamon.

I have chicken, but honestly I havent been cooking in awhile and that could be my problem. When I was cooking, my weight was going up but very slowly. Now since I havent been cooking, its been going up pretty fast. I want low-prep foods, so I think Ill stick with yogurt and the shakes. I dont trust salads because at costco theres these premade salads for 300 calories and I can have two of them easily...

Sounds like you are getting on track. Some of the foods that helped me at this stage included cottage cheese with no sugar added applesauce, light & fit Greek yogurt, ricotta bake (google World according to eggface for recipe), refried beans and guacamole. There are lots of options and like other posters have said advance planning at this stage is very helpful. Track your protein and water to know that you are getting in enough each day and you'll do great. :-)

1. Hummus. Despite being made from chickpeas, the average store bought hummus has only 1 gram of protein per tablespoon. Instead, opt for homemade hummus, homemade black bean dip or homemade Tzatziki (made with Greek yogurt) as dips for your veggies. All of these dips are significantly higher in protein when made at home compared to their store-bought counterparts. 2. Chicken broth. Surprisingly, the average store bought chicken broth has only 1-3 grams of protein per cup. For this reason, your bariatric team likely recommended you choose higher protein soups immediately after surgery (ex. milk based soups or pureed legume soups). Instead, opt for more filling thicker soups, such as a curried lentil soup, a roasted red pepper black bean soup or a hearty chili. 3. Cream cheese. Despite ‘cheese’ being in its name, the average store bought cream cheese has only 1 gram of protein per tablespoon. Instead, opt for ricotta cheese (with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds and a drizzle of honey!) or peanut butter on your morning toast. 4. Quinoa. Quinoa is a filling grain product not because of its protein content, but more because of its fibre content. While quinoa is the only grain listed as a ‘complete’ protein, it only has 2 grams of protein per ¼ cup of cooked quinoa. Always top your quinoa with a true protein source such as meat, fish, legumes, tofu or tempeh to make your meal truly balanced. Quinoa should not be the main event! 5. Almond/Cashew/Rice/Coconut milk. Despite these beverages having ‘milk’ in their name, these alternative milks contain on average a measly 1 gram of protein per cup. Instead, opt for cow milk or soy milk when you are looking to add an extra splash of protein to your cereals, oatmeal or smoothies. Moral of the story? Don’t let misleading product names or sneaky advertising fool you! Get the facts. Always double check the nutrition facts tables on the back of your foods to learn the full story. - Monica & Lisa

Craving sushi? You likely will not be able to tolerate your favourite sushi rolls because of the rice and seaweed wrap, however there are several other equally satisfying options on every Asian-style restaurant menu to consider. Indulge in an order of tartar or sashimi. These rice-less options are easier to digest. Don’t be afraid to ask if your favourite sushi rolls can be made with a cucumber wrap instead of the traditional seaweed wrap. This is often a ‘low carb’ option on sushi menus. Order a side of edamame beans. These soybeans are not only a good source of protein, but they are also rich in fibre. Try a protein rich Asian soup. Asian-style restaurants often have a traditional soup with eggs, tofu, chicken, and/or shrimp. Prioritize the solid pieces and leave most of the broth behind. Salmon or tuna salad. Most sushi restaurants have a simple green salad with a seared piece of fish and a flavourful salad dressing. Sandwiches & Wraps· Choose a sandwich on toasted bread. If it is a large sandwich, remove the top piece of bread. Great options include: chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad and deli meats. Wraps are also a good option. Opt for baked chicken rather than crispy chicken. Breakfast egg sandwiches Choose a breakfast wrap or a toasted english muffin sandwich. Skip the bacon and sausage. Salad Almost all restaurants now have a green salad with chicken. Again, opt for grilled chicken instead of crispy chicken. Other high protein options include: taco salads, chickpea salads and bean salads. Chili Whether you choose the vegetarian or meat version, chili packs a lot of protein. They are also very easy to digest making them the perfect option if you have recently transitioned to solid food. Here are some other helpful tips to challenge those old fast food habits: Skip the combo option… yes, even if it’s cheaper! Don’t order a drink. You will be less tempted to drink and eat at the same time if you don’t have a refreshing beverage staring you down during your meal. Eat in the restaurant instead of in the car. If you are driving and eating, food is more likely to block. You can’t be mindful if you are multitasking! Choose foods described as: grilled, baked, sautéed, broiled, steamed, boiled, etc. more often. These cooking methods are lower in calories. Many corner stores and gas stations now have ‘grab and go’ options in their fridges such as sandwiches, salads, protein shakes, yogurt parfaits, etc. Next time you get gas, make a mental note of 3 appropriate meal options you could choose if you were in a pinch. Bon appétit!- Lisa & Monica

Few other things I'm going to add the list in the morning but Dr Sosa requires us to do liquid for a month or so then puree for another and then on 3 month we can have crackers but yeah every doctors diff about strict diet , I cant wait till I can chew ..... We can have 48 hours prior to surgery chicken,veg and beef broth , sugar free jello, g2. 80 g of proteinx, and specific multivitamin specifically made for gb patients,Water, diet cranberry ,diet cran grape ,white grape juice all must be all natural and nor from concentrate and fruit popsicles but AFTER SURGERY CONT ON THAT ^ UNTIL we see nutritionist a week after who says now we can have fat free pudding, plain low fat yogurt,Greek yogurt, sugar free fudge popsicles,baby food solid ,g2, diet cranberry juice, diet cran grape,white grape juice all Must be Not from concentrate, well strained cream of chicken,cream of broccoli and mushroom fat free from can Campbell's and protein must still be 80 g of proteinx yes proteinx is the name of the protein we must uSE FOR NOW well that's all I know of , of yeah apple juice same all natural not from concentrate and we must not have any chucks of fruit or meat in yogurt,food ,popsicles or cream soup

I love strawberry lemonade this time of year, but I just can't enjoy it as much after surgery. I came up with a recipe yesterday morning for a strawberry lemonade Protein smoothie. It was very refreshing and I can't wait to have it again! Recipe: (Makes 1-2 servings) 1 cup Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt 1 cup Fresh Strawberries, stems removed 3/4 cup ice cubes 2 tsp. lemon zest 1-2 Tbs. Splenda or stevia (to taste) (Optional) 1 scoop Unflavored Protein powder (or flavor of your choice) Mix all in a food processor or blender and enjoy! For the full post and a picture, check out: http://newlifeforemmy.blogspot.com/2013/03/strawberry-lemonade-protein-smoothie.html

I am 15 months post WLS and have not had any issues with diverticulitis. I used to have flare ups periodically and needed to be on those two nasty antibiotics when experiencing those painful symptoms. I eat nuts, seeds, berries, apples, popcorn, all without any repercussions. I do make sure I eat Greek yogurt every day and I take one Florastor (very expensive) probiotic daily. I do not use fiber supplements and don't need them. Based on my experience I think the WLS improved the climate in my bowels. I have also heard great things about keffir.

Premier Protein water, sold at Sams Club, is pretty good and is 20 g protein. I didn't like the shakes either but you are going to have to choke them down for the next few months because you just can't get enough protein from food in the beginning. If you are using protein powder to make shakes, use Fairlife milk to mix them for an extra boost of protein. I went home on the pureed stage so I could have plain yogurt. I started putting SF Hershey's syrup and SF Peppermint Paddy coffee flavoring syrup in my shakes to change up the flavor. Hang in there it get's better every month!

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

I've never worried about calcium. I get plenty of calcium through food (yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, etc)

Hi everyone! So glad you're here! Sounds like everyone is doing well. I just had my first appt. with Dr. Pohl this morning. I'm on my way and I'm so excited. there was a lady in the waiting room that I spoke to for quite a while. She had gastric bypass three years ago and loves it! I had so many questions, omg I asked her question after question but she was so nice. She was there with her husband who is getting the surgery now. Kristen - funny - I had two C-sections too. Keep doing well! Tekara - Heyyyy back! Good for you - 45 pounds GONE! Amazing! keep in touch - you're not that far away in beautiful NH! Little Red 30 - no Dr. Phol is not a big talker but he's the best and that's what I care about from him. You'll be eating that yogurt in no time! Baby steps ljperez - Nice to know we have a Bostonian on board too. Have you already been sleeved? LessofKelly - welcome!

Anca, I can NOT believe he filled you at 2 1/2 weeks post op! :rofl: The ONLY thing that helped MY hunger was a small mcdonalds shake. Not protien shakes - only the mcd's! Id have one a day. Before I started having this daily, I was doing some serious cussing... b/c ALL my tummy did was growl! Like Ive said before, mcd's shakes are made with yogurt, not just plain ice cream. It may be a mental thing, but they sure helped me!

Yogurt, mayo, butter, salad dressings, etc. ? I've heard that lap banders should eat low fat but full fat always keeps me fuller longer and keeps my sugar levels more stable. Just curious if anyone does indeed eat full fat products. TIA

I at a ton or soups, yogurt, protein shakes. It does get better. Good luck and congrats on your surgery.

Strawberry and rhubarb Icelandic yogurt (low carb, high protein, yum) and cold brew coffee with whole milk.