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Was in the same boat but someone gave me this thread and I am following it my weight moving but slow but it's going down try this: wish u well Quote Someone on an old,old post shared how she jumped off her plateaus and went from being a slow loser to a steady loser by adding Protein here and there to her meals. I'll see if I can find the original post and link it back here. Good luck finding what will work for you. Couldn't remember where I had posted remembering an old post--I've ended up reposting this several different places! Oh well. Here it is. Newsho posted this a long time ago, but maybe her approach will help you. I copied her post and am pasting it below. Good luck. LENGTH ALERT! (This has very detailed tips and tricks, so this is not a short post. Just a "heads up") People asked me a lot how I went from Slow Loser to getting to goal. I did better my second year of banding and when the weight came off - it really came off. This is something that worked for me, and I recommended to other Bandsters. Granted, these are tips that's not in any LapBand brochure or doctor's manual, and YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY - but if you already think of yourself as a Slow Loser like I was, then maybe you will be open to trying something to shake things up a bit. When I needed a weight-loss push, I didn't cut down on calories much (if I'd recently had a fill adjustment, that's different) but in general: I *added* protein to every thing I ate. This helped me to lose steadily (although it sped up my weight loss, more importantly it kept it steady). And it worked! Some Bandsters in my same banding date were better at counting calories - I wasn't. Some were better at counting carbs, I wasn't, but I excelled at ADDING protein. And I did well and later, other fellow Bandsters were asking me for help and tips. How did I do it? I did not reduce calories or the amount I consumed (without a fill it wasn't much need to try that) and yet, I still lost. (I added a little bit of Beans, or a sprinkle of cheese (my favorite), or eggs - whatever I could. I didn't reduce what I ate, but I "upped my protein" - and it worked. With the band, if you eat more protein, you generally will find yourself eating less overall - it doesn't feel that way but you do. Every single time I added more protein to my regular Band-friendly meals, I lost more weight, even though I wasn't eating less calories sometimes. Sounds crazy - but in my particular case, if I didn't keep my protein levels up, my body held on to calories a lot more. Who needs their bodies "hoarding" calories? If adding a bit of food meant I would lose more, it was worth a try. It worked. And I paid attention to the TYPE of protein I ate. (Even before banding, I didn't eat beef or pork at all. And the band was developed in other countries where the pork and beef consumption is a lot lower than it is here in the 'States. I'm not a vegetarian, I just eat seafood and poultry only. My doc said this helped my weight loss a lot because the protein I ate was leaner, not fattier protein like pork/ham/bacon or beef/hamburger/fatty red meat. So I didn't have to regulate my portions as much as some Bandsters did. My can of tuna did more for me than a hamburger ever would have.) Also, I'm a single/childless Bandster who lives alone, so I eat out for almost every meal. If I could make it to goal - while eating out - ANYBODY can. How did I do it? Here were some tips. At breakfast, with my morning egg(s), I added a bit of cheese on top. Or I would have cottage cheese added. For protein and hunger reasons, cottage cheese did better than yogurt for me - unless I just had a fill or was very very filled or adjusted. The most filled I am, the less I eat in the mornings. So especially if you are not at your sweet spot, try Proteins that "stick" with you more to keep hunger away. Yogurt alone was not good enough of a breakfast for me, with the band it just went through, and wasn't really filling. Now if I charged up my yogurt with lots of nuts, seeds, and wheat germ - then BAM! I'm not much of a cold cereal eater (I prefer hot cereals) but if I had one I made sure it was a protein-packed one (I LOVE Grape Nuts cereal best. Go Lean is awesome, and several of the Oatmeals & Cream of Wheat cereals have good protein content. I also added a few nuts to those, too. If I had a yogurt smoothie drink as a snack, I had them had a half scoop of Protein powder (a full scoop can make it too thick sometimes) or some soy or nuts. Lunchtime was easy to get more protein in. I'd eat a scoop of tuna salad or chicken salad for lunch - and have them add some shredded cheese, some seeds and/or some nuts. I also love soup. Usually a cup is a nice start to my lunch if I'm having a scoop of salad or tuna. If it's my whole lunch I get a bowl of soup and eat what I can from it. My band will tell me when to stop. Almost any kind of any soup is great with a sprinkle of cheese or nuts added. Beans, too! With my dinner I always like a cup of soup to begin. Gets me going, jump starts & 'primes' my band and it's a great protein opportunity. Then if I could, I concentrated on seafood. ANY type of fish worked great with my band - From catfish to salmon to snapper to Tilapia. Or even shrimp or my all time favorite, calamari. I enjoy oysters in season and clams all year. The weeks that I ate more seafood, I lost more weight - across the board. Usually grilled is a good choice to be honest I even ate it fried (sorry, weight loss experts) and I still did well. And with my seafood, if I could I added beans to almost everything. With my steamed veggies, I added nuts and a sprinkle of cheese sometimes. I know it's not very It really does work! See when I restrict my calories or even when I try to cut down on fat - I usually just end up cutting down on protein. And no matter how "well" or how much less I eat, if I cut my protein my body won't 'burn' up the fat. It holds on to it. I know that protein is the fuel that helps the LapBand machine work and not trying to diet or 'cut down' was a blessing to me. I've had other Bandsters try this, and yes they are skeptical at first but when they start seeing inches lost (muscle really does weigh more than fat, so your clothes tell you before the scale ever will) then they get on the bandwagon. So don't just 'cut down' - ADD some food on your plate. That's right. ADD MORE nuts, boiled/diced egg, beans, cheese, seeds and other yummy forms of protein. Your body and your LapBand will thank you for it. Also adding protein allowed me to eat fewer carbs and save them for what was really a nice treat - a nice martini or occasional glass of wine, with dinner. Yes, I'm a drinking Bandster. All the successful European Bandsters I knew drank a glass or two now and then and they were my role models. I can't drink a lot AT ALL - a little goes a long way, but it was nice to get to goal weight without ever missing a Friday Happy Hour. I got the band to enhance my life, not take away some of the things that make it enjoyable. I eat out at restaurants, I go have drinks with friends - and I feel and look great. BRAVO! Good Luck to you. (And since so many people asked me the same question in private posts - that's why I am posting it on the Slow Losers board too...) Keep up the good fight. I did it - and you can too.

You might be just a bit too tight, so you're compensating by eating easy to eat foods during the day, which leave you famished by dinner and snaking in between meals. Just a slight unfill of .2cc might make the difference, but then you're also going to have to work on eating more solid foods and fighting the urge to snack that you've re-established. If feel like you have the right level of fill, and the tight daytime restriction is normal for you, it's going to be important for you to find foods that stick with you during the day, but aren't hard on the band. One soft food that works for me is Greek yogurt with all bran Cereal mixed into it. Adding the cereal makes a world of difference on the level of satiety I get from that simple snack/meal. (I found myself overdoing the Snacks..I mostly ate healthy snacks, but the calories were adding up..when I wasn't quite at the right fill level. I had to make a point of turning off my head hunger and let the band do it's "magic". Once I was eating properly and at the right level of restriction, it wasn't hard to get back into the groove of three 1/2 cup meals/day + one healthy snack.) Also, if you have several hours between lunch and dinner, a healthy Protein heavy snack might be in order at that time, only if a snack is included in your plan, since some doctors recommend larger meals and no snacks.

At three weeks out, I was only on thick liquids. I had things like cream of chicken Soup, mushy tuna salad, cottage cheese, greek yogurt. I would not even think of anything with breading until a ways in. I have just started (at 4 months) trying to experiment with one nugget and I scrape most of the breading off. If you eat too little, your body will think it is in starvation mode and will not work with you. What I would try to do is have three meals a day. For example, breakfast have a soft scrambled egg - a bit later have a Protein drink (Atkins or Muscle Milk light) - lunch have some cream soup (chicken, tomato, mushroom). Be sure to drink Water in between. For dinner have some cottage cheese, yogurt, tuna - something like that and if you are still hungry, have another Protein Drink. I would eat canned fruit only in its own juice (not with light syrup). Watch the smoothies as the skins from the fruit can bother you early on. You have to start being really careful now and get into the habit of thinking about every thing before you eat it. You will do fine, just watch carefully what you eat.

I didn't have to do liquids but I had to do a 2 week high protein, low carb diet they gave me. I have been sore but the pain from surgery has not been as bad as the gas. I was on full liquids until yesterday, then I started mushies. Yesterday I ate yogurt and some pintos and cheese from Taco Bell. I have no nausea but I have been taking it very slow with my eating. Feel free to contact me anytime and I wish you the best of luck.

Stock up with lots of low carb, sugar free, high protein snacks. That way you are still sticking to the plan. My surgeon explained that the sugar intake is the biggest thing, because it allows your liver to shrink and reduces risk during surgery. I did portioned out mini containers of t good foods, and it really helped. Some favorites were - Cottage cheese cups, sugar free jello, triple zero yogurt, cooked chicken, moon cheese, healthier popcorn, P3 Protein snacks. All easy and fulfilling.

K I'm 3 weeks out Tuesday. The first week n half were hell. Went to the dr and he cleared me to do the purée diet or eat what I can tolerate. Well I have days where I'm sick n can't or don't wanna eat ne thing. Then I have my days where I'm hungry and I eat like a yogurt for breakfast lunch tuna or chicken salad and tonight I made a minni veggie pizza and ate the hole thing w no problem. I can tolerate pretty much everything I been tryin. This SCARES ME TO DEATH!!! I can eat sugar free ice cream no prob althou it's a couple spoon fulls. I'll eat nuts no prob. Am I over doing it? Am I gunna stretch my pouch? What do I do? HELP ADVISE???

It's 19 days since my surgery. I had an all night into morning bout with reflux, (been taking the prilosec 2x per day along with regulan (anti nausea medication that my surgeon says "helps to push food through" the digestive system.) I had some yogurt with applesauce, and chicken broth with a very little bit of cottage cheese, as well as the usual protein drink/s and waters all at times according to instructions. So you can imagine how disappointed and uncomfortable I was. Today I was hesitant to eat and just sipped and had a bit of protein (brand name "naked") which I find tasty and tolerable. However within the confines of my chest I could feel air bubbles and/or liquid not quite making it's correct passage through. Not getting in enough nutrition does indeed create anxiety for me as I have been a healthy eater and with a strong immune system, which I feel will surely break down if I am not soon able to get enough protein and nutrients to sustain me. Losing a pound every 2 days doesn't excite me in the least when I feel my over all health is being put at grave risk. At this point I'd rather have the pounds and continue to grapple with them in more traditional modes. I am feeling very sad not because I can no longer gorge myself but because I can't seem to even enjoy those things I must even at a minimum i am having difficulty. I wish this would not create such overwhelming anxiety but it has and today it was not until I took an anti anxiety medication that I was able to relax. I suppose I will need these drugs temporarily and then be weaned off when things truly physically improve for me. I am trying really I am. I just mushed one hard boiled egg with mayo and ate about a teaspoon of it over 10 minutes in tiny little portions which I further mushed with my tongue. I am going to put the rest away since I'm not sure if I will suffer repercussions. I also bought papaya digestive enzymes today to see if this may help. My mother bought me a bottle of pepto bismol, but I'm not sure if I should take it. Well that is my current status.

High protein snacks! Cottage cheese, ham and cheese rolls, a few bites of a quest protein bar, It am almost three months post op and my monthly cravings are awful I eat bad each time. Next month I am going to make a fruit and yogurt smoothie and see if that helps my sweet tooth because cookies and chocolate will kill me in the long run.

I've had 2 fills, the first 3 cc in June and 1 cc in August. I think I may need another 1-2 cc but it's pretty close to right. I think I can still eat too much "because it's there" but I'm trying to retrain myself that I can save it for later. I am the "go box" queen. Portion sizes are really wayyy too big but u don't feel like u are wasting money if u can eat it 2-3 times. Chicken is the number one food on my list...grilled, baked or fajitas. I have also found the wraps with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein. I don't eat much bread and am usually giving pieces of the wrap to my dogs. As far as a sandwich or burger at least 1 bun's worth will be picked off. Some veggies but I spend most of my food allowance trying to get in the 60 grams of protein. Some junk but just in a smaller portion, the 100 calorie bags are my friend. Fried stuff makes me feel bad, usually diarrhea. I eat yogurt or cottage cheese for breakfast...not a breakfast person at all, really don't want to eat in the mornings much, but u have to. I use the WW or LC meals as backup in case there is nothing I want to fix or there is nothing at work that will work. I try to shut down the food by 6 pm and make myself some decaf if I'm feeling deprived or try to get the rest of the day's fluid in. I try to keep a running calorie count in my head and try to put the brakes on at 1200-1500 calories. Hope this helps....the weight loss is slowing down and it looks like I must make friends with exercise. Surprise....it doesn't hurt as much as it used to and I'm trying to go the gym 2-3 times a week. My exercise is simple at present, 20 minutes on the treadmill and 9 of the machines, 40 reps at whatever weight for that exercise.

Isn't great to enjoy real food flavors again. i was also lucky to get a reprieve from the shakes and start mushies 2 days early. What a gift! Its almost 3 months since I started mushies, and I haven't had a shake since. You may want to try some Grrek yogurt on your backed potato. To me, it tastes like sour cream. Fage has a 0% G. yogurt that has 10g of Protein in 1/2 cup. Good luck on your journey. Joan

The band can seem very fickle at times, giving you restriction riddles instead of restriction answers. How can we solve those riddles? RESTRICTION RIDDLES Restriction is the holy grail of bandsters, but even when you find it, it may not cooperate with you all day every day. Its fickle nature may allow you to eat one food on Tuesday but not on Wednesday. It may not show up until 2 weeks after a fill, or it may disappear 2 weeks after a fill. You end up puzzling over riddles like delayed restriction, disappearing restriction, and/or variable restriction. DELAYED RESTRICTION Although the fluid injected into the port during a fill travels immediately to the band, it can take several weeks for you to notice an increase in restriction. This may be because you spend a few days after a fill progressing from liquids to purees to soft to solid food, and then you're extra careful when eating: on the alert for more restriction. When we relax this vigilance, careless eating will eventually remind us (again) that we have a band with more fill in it. Delayed restriction is frustrating, I admit. You get a fill and want instant results. But all you can do is pay close attention to your body's signals as it adjusts to the tighter fit of the band. It is pointless to try to judge your restriction in the two to three days immediately after a fill, when you're on a liquid or pureed diet, because optimal restriction is experienced when you're eating solid foods. DISAPPEARING RESTRICTION At times during my weight loss surgery journey, I have asked myself, "Where the heck did my restriction go? Did thieves sneak in during the night and steal it?" In addition to thieves and elves, the following things can make your restriction seem to disappear overnight: 1. A few days to a week after a fill, the swelling and irritation caused by the fill calms down and the fit of your band feels looser. 2. In the first few weeks after a fill, you re-learn your band eating skills and unconsciously adjust to the new fill level so that you experience fewer negative symptoms. 3. As you lose weight after a fill, the visceral fat around your stomach shrinks, so the fit of your band doesn't feel as tight. 4. The position of your band against your stomach subtly changes due to normal body processes (see below). 5. Your band loses fluid due to evaporation, leakage, or inadvertent removal during a fill. Please note that in #1 and #3 above, I said that the fit of the band feels looser or tighter. The band itself does not loosen or tighten by itself. Only a fill, unfill, or manufacturing defect can do that. The band is not like a rubber band that stretches out over time and eventually snaps. WHY IS RESTRICTION SO VARIABLE? Sooner or later, every bandster discovers that the band is a fickle mistress. In the course of a week, it can feel too loose, too tight, or just right (kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears). The food that worked fine on Monday may get stuck on Tuesday. On Wednesday you can hardly eat at all, and on Thursday you could eat an entire wedding banquet all by yourself. Friday you're back to Square One. These variations are maddening but fairly normal. The stomach is living tissue that expands and contracts to aid digestion. It's affected by weight loss, the time of day (morning tightness is common), the time of month or fluid retention, medications, illness, dehydration and stress. The pressure of the band against the stomach can cause the stomach wall to thin out, so the band feels looser. And although the band and the stomach are sutured together, the position of the band can shift enough to affect your experience of restriction. Remember: the #1 factor affecting the amount of food you can eat is what type of food you eat. You will feel more restriction when you eat solid food (like animal protein), less when you eat soft food (even healthy stuff like yogurt and cottage cheese), and virtually none when you drink liquids (even healthy ones like protein drinks).

I had the same problem.... I ended up having to crush my vitamins and mix them in with my protein shake in the morning or greek yogurt. My surgeon said that the chewable vitamins expand in our stomachs and thats why they don't work for some people. Try mixing them, but if it doesn't work hold off for a few days and try again. You will have a lot of trial and error over the coming months. Good Luck!

I am going to be banded on August 12th 2008! I been trying to get approved since Janury 10th when I first met with the Surgen Dr. Castro in Staten Island NY. He has the best track record I can find any where in NY so I know he will take care of me. I'm so nervous and scared out of my mind right now. I'm afraid that I gained weight in the last two weeks since I got my surgery date. I am supposed to be on the special diet where you practically starve yourself and since I got my date I have not been following it very well at all.. I replaced most of my snacks with either fruit or low calorie yogurt but I have been eating larger portions than I was before I got the date. My boyfriend says he thinks I'm eating ok but then again he didn't think I ate a lot to begin with, if that's the case how did I get to the point of surgery right?! I should have bough a scale to keep track of myself... Deff gotta put that on my TO - DO - LIST! My sister had the gastric bypass 3 years ago and she was over 400 lbs at the time of surgery, she is currently only 120 lbs and has skin hanging all over. I think she looks scary looking and terrible. She also has vitamin problems and can't keep any food down. She has her good days but they are few and very far between. That's why I chose the lap band:thumbup: Much less risk of all of those things and more. Also I dont want to be a bag of bones the way my sister is now. I like a lil meat on me... hopefully in the right places! If anyone is in the Brooklyn NY area E-mail me, Things like this are easier if you have a friend going through it with you. much love to everyone out there who is going for the band! -Jinx

I have a suggestion about the Isopure - don't buy a case, or even more, until you try them. I bought a case (12 bottles for $50.00 at GNC) and I cannot drink it. I drink the shakes... no problem.... liquids for weeks... no problem... but those things taste sooooo nasty to me. I forced 2 of them down, but going to see if they will take the rest back. Not everyone has the same taste buds, and I know lots of people drink Isopure, but just buy one or two until you see if you like them. I bought some unflavored whey protein powder at GNC, and it has 21 g. of protein in each scoop. I mix it with my yogurt and can't even taste it. I too think it is hard to get in so much protein when you aren't eating much food. Good luck to you!!! Becky

Wow they let you have full liquid and yogurt so soon. I have to do 1-2 weeks of clear liquid, 2 weeks of puree and 2 weeks of soft then get to go to regular food but will have to chew 25 x and wait 2 minutes between bites. Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes! Thanks for being 'upfront' and brutally honest! I was banded 4/15..losing..very happy thus far..and am learning the 'signals' this ring is telling me. Some days, I think it's the ring from Lord of the Rings with the pain, and other days, is docile and does it's job. The learning curve/trick, is listening to your body. I had some scary pains that I even went to the ER about, and it was just the band doing it's thing. Greek yogurt is still too 'stiff' the second week..so the stoma being stretched gave me chest pains that radiated to my shoulders. Good luck to all, and keep up the excellent posts! :thumbup:

Thanks for your response. I've read here lots of people use the Isopure and love it. I generally enjoy most protein shakes, but opted to buy unflavored for after surgery. Thinking I could mix it into broths, yogurt and creamy soups. Luckily, GNC gives 30 days to decide if you don't like it to return.

I've gotten creative and have not minded it at all Chile - lean ground meat/beans/ pomi/ spices I do blend this and I don't mind it. I sometimes melt cheese on it for an extra treat (I try and stay within 35 grams of fat but sometimes i will go up to 60). I LOVE the lemon sole - I do use 1/2 tbspn butter and a lemon and pan fry i can live on this blended chicken is pretty gross i agree - i bought some Soup and added that into the soup so that it seems more like mashed soup. i have done it with vichysoisse soup and avgolemono fat free refried Beans, cheese melted and also flax seed meal (good for your hair). fage 0% yogurt and honey get lo fat ricotta - and mix some tomato or marinara sauce and melt mozzarella on it (this one i screwed up and got the skim version and its too much fat so I don't eat it too much).

I miss pizza!!! But I make homemade pizza using a zucchini crust. I also do mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, I use non fat creek yogurt anytime something calls for sour cream or cream cheese. I also make veggie Pasta, and I use ground turkey anytime you would use ground beef.

I am day 4 of my Pre-Op diet and I am beginning to question the purpose for a full liquid as opposed to high protein/ low carb diet. I am aware that the main purpose is to decrease the glycogen stores in the liver hence causing it to shrink. You are also suppose to loose some fat around the liver for a safer surgery. My issue is you can do the same without having to suffer such a limited diet the full liquid offers. My liquid diet allows me to have creamed soup which has 4g of carbs and 160 calories, as opposed to a can of tuna in water that I used to make a tuna salad using yogurt instead of mayo wrapped in lettuce leaves. That tuna salad meal was a total of 2g carbs and only 120 calories. Let me tell you, it tasted like a steak dinner after all the soup and broth consumed over the past 3 days. If I was allowed to eat like that for 2 weeks, the pre-op diet would be a piece of cake. You will also loose weight because your body will start to burn off its own fat stores when the liver's fat is used up. But to limit a person to all liquids for two weeks seems like a punishment, when there are more desirable choices that offer the same results. Why don't these doctors use the high protein/low carb diet as opposed to the full liquid? Is there another reason I'm not considering?

I had a spell after one fill when I couldn't stand coffee! I am having one cup in the morning now. Being a creature of habit my breakfast is one low fat Greek yogurt (80 calories) with a cup of blueberries mixed in. Not much calories, but I do not feel hungry for more in the morning.

well i traveled to my fill doctor on tuesday for my second fill. Before the fill I could eat without getting full. what a horrable feeling! so I went in, I already had 1.5cc in and he added .75cc to bring me to 2.25cc in a 4cc band. I am still on liquids till about lunch time (but I did break down and have a yogurt last night after church, I was hungry). I just want to get to onederland before thanks giving. I have a lot of family coming in and want to show them a big healthier differance. Im sure I can get there it is only 24 more pounds! Oh but still having a little trouble with my fills. My first fill they couldnt do becasue they thought my port was flipped over. Then I went to a differant doctor who did it under flouro and after an hour of trouble he told me my port was turned sideways. He layed me down and pushed extremely hard on my portsite to lay it down and then was able to do the fill. Well this time he imediatly had me lay down and said it was still on its side so he still had to push extremely hard to lay it down and then still had problems with the angle and bent the needle but did get it in. He recomends I have the port resutured to my stomach because he said some of the sutures that tie it to the stomach have come undone and I will continue to have problems with my fill. Im not sure if I want to go through with surgery again or put up with a more difficult fills. what would you do if you were in my situation. by the way I am self pay and would have to pay out of pocket to get it done. Look forward to your input!:w00t:

I don't feel hungry. But I do feel weak. Im working on getting in my Protein and fluids. I'm doing okay with the liquid diet, Im just tired of it already and have never liked shakes and smoothies,... so I sometimes just don't have them. I freee them into pops though and I can have them that way. It's a battle any way you slice it, as we all know. My doctor was never specific on any of this, but it is really bothering me. im supposed to sip all day between meals, but if I can only hold a few oz, how is that okay? also, when do I stop eating? I can eat about 4 oz before I really just dont want any more. i am not full sick, or sick at all, i just cant bare to take another bite. is that mental? is that my body telling me im full without a physical sign but a mental one? there are no signs that i am full, but at about 4 oz, i just shut off i guess? head hunger is hard. i had a few bites of cooked ricotta cheese and sauce from the lasagna i made today. (i'm on fll liquids and doc okayed easing into soft foods, so technically not a "cheat" but i feel guilty) it was yummy, but i feel guilty. when am i supposed to eat? i wasnt given a meal plan. i dont want to eat a "meal" because i want something to do. i need a schedule but i dont know what is appropriate. the nutritionist didnt give me a post op example for the 600 calorie diet, only the 1 year post op diet. for example today i ate 2 oz of a Protein shake, then three hours later, 4 oz of yogurt, then two hours later, 2 oz of sauce, then three hours later 3 oz of Soup. it was about 250 calories. obviously that is not 600-800 a day. am i supposed to eat more?

@@drew's mom congrats! I have some pain on my left side too. Probably just bruised from surgery. Keep on sipping and try soup and yogurt! Popsicles are good too! Good luck !

It's interesting how this surgery affects people so differently. Yes, a hot dog probably wasn't the best choice, but honestly, you could have had this reaction to anything you ate. I was on clear liquids ONLY for the first week, and when I had my first protein shake WOAH - it gave me serious gas, weird indigestion gurgling sounds and mild pain in my stomach. And that was something that was liquid! I'd say part of what you're going through is just your stomach saying "WHAT IS THIS!??!?" because it's been on the liquids for so long and is getting used to digesting what it's had so far. Then you over eat this dense food and your tummy is just letting you know it's not ready for all that! What helped me were gas-x strips - really helps with the gas, and fast! Also, walking around helps too. Drinking too much water on top if the full tummy sounds good in theory, but it doesn't always work like that. With how small your stomach is, the water could really 'over fill' your tummy and make it more painful. Try to get moving if you can! I hope it works itself out soon. I'm 17 days post op and I'm eating lots of stuff. I don't know if I have one of those sleeves of steel, but I haven't been sick once. No nausea, vomiting or pains - aside from the protein shakes, which still give me some gas, but not pain like the first time - and I'm having deli meats, low carb flat bread, yogurt, cheeses, cottage cheese... lots of stuff. I plan to try some fish this week, and canned chicken, then in a few weeks I'll try some veggies (coincidentally, my local farmers market will be open then, yay!) I certainly didn't have this surgery to be on a diet for the rest of my life. I like hot dogs every once in a while and plan to have them when I'm ready for it... so I'm not shaming you there. But considering we only get so little in us in the beginning, I'm trying to make it as good as possible. Deli meat isn't something I would normally have that often because of the salt and nitrates, but because it's something that I can tolerate now, I'm having it. While I am able to eat all these things, I can't eat much of it, and that's the key for me. So what if I had deli meat, it was ONE SLICE! I never thought I'd be completely full on just 1 banana for breakfast. The shakes are saving me with protein intake, because I really don't eat much. But when I DO eat, I can handle everything I've tried so far... I guess that's just lucky on my part. I definitely hope this passes for you soon!