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I heard about adding hershey's cocoa powder and stevia to plain greek yogurt then freezing it. Has anybody tried anything like this?

I usually have a protein shake for breakfast. Since my band is tight in the mornings.or sometimes I will eat a chobani yogurt

I am a retired RN, but I know what your talking about....even being retired, I take a thermal tote with ice packs in the car with me because im only 6 wks out and eat small frequent meals...pack some yogurt, boiled eggs, string cheese..protein bars..jerky, pepperoni, etc....depending on your stage...I drink alot of arizona iced tea so i take the gallon in the car with me and carry a reusable double walled cup...hope this helped, good luck and congratulation on your surgery and your clinicals...

Thanks for the advice. I usually do try to mix it up but I was just giving her a generic run down of what I was having yesterday! I do mix turkey instead of chicken and tuna. But, for me, just so that I do eat Breakfast, I stick with the yogurt or eggs. Nothing else stays down. So, that I don't skip, I change flavors of the yogurt and Protein. That's all the variety I can take right now. Any other suggestions for a breakfast that will stay down or that will go down? Bars are a no go. oatmeal made me vomit before banding, I can only imagine now. I do work and need it to be quick as I'm on the road by 6:30 am.

Ok, those of us who had it today. How did it go, how are you feeling? It was a little more difficult than I had anticipated because of few factors: I got little sleep the night before, had tremendous anxiety, (unusual for me0, and consideredd jumping off the guerny and running for it when theythey were taking me to the OR. I don't ususally have pain from surgeries, and there is some pain, not unbearable though. It's a little better tonight . Did you get a stretchy band to where around your torso? Its so supposed to make you feel a litt more comfortabl but I'm not sure. I thinks its also supposed to help keep the swelling down. Being overly hungry causes me to be qweezy to nauseated (which I fear) and I experienced that before the surgery, which was making me more anxious. the Anesthesiologist gave me so anti-nausea meds before I went to the OR. I think it helped. After surgery, felt I needed pain relief. I panicked when they said they would be giving demerol, since I get sick from it especially on an empty stomach, but they said they do something with it where there's not that reaction any more, and they were right. And I'm having to walk for one minute every 15 minutes to prevent clot, whicih is not quite happening that often, more like every 30min-60min. I also have to blow in that plastic toy like thing to keep my oxgen up, once every hour 6-8 times. The muscles in my chest get sore from doing that but am able to get the number up to the goal level tonight. Was a little harder when still in recovery. The nurse at the hospital said something encouraging - that what ever pain or discomfort I'm experiencing, this is the worst it will be and day by day gets easier. I'll keep you posted. So in summary, more difficult than I thought but this was because of my personal quirks, better than it could have been. I've been drinking a little Water here and there, and 3-4 super small spoons of greek yogurt. When down fine, waited 10 minutes between each one. I did begin to 'feel' when I should probably stop, and I did. I can live with this! I was so worried I wouldn't know when to stop, and get sick.

As a bariatric dietitian and the Dietitian for Tropical smoothie, I must chime in that it is NOT recommended that people who had surgery (LAP band or bypass or sleeve) to be drinking fruit based smoothies, even sweetend with Splenda. Following a fill, I advise my patients to choose high Protein drinks that have “double digit” levels of protein (> 10 gms per serving) and a “single digit” level of total carbohydrate (<9 gms total carbs per serving). Tropical Smoothie Cafe produces fruit based smoothies that are are made with natural fruit, fruit juice and/or yogurt. These have naturally occurring carbohydrate/sugar and possibly added turbinado sugar. When a customer gets a smoothie with Splenda, they save the calories and carbs from the added turbinado sugar but there is no way of replacing the sugar in fruit or yogurt. If For surgery patients, it is not recommended to have natural fruit smoothies. Tropical Smoothie is aware of this and seeks to provide healthy options for all of their clientele. They are currently working on a high protein, low carb smoothie that would fit the needs of someone who had weight loss surgery.

Mashed potatoes with added Protein powder Blended soups with added Protein Powder Egg whites with cottage cheese, basil, garlic salt and pepper Puréed tuna fish with homemade mustard Unsweetened applesauce Plain Greek yogurt with puréed fruit (blueberries, peaches, strawberries) Plus all my liquid stage stuff.....protein shakes, Popsicles, broth with protein powder Gonna try refried Beans tomorrow

Today is first day I didn’t have a loss on the scale. Actually put 1/2 lb on 252!!!! As I’m reading this, I’m getting ready to go walk at gym. I had my 11.5 oz fairlife chocolate protein shake for breakfast. Water while walking. 1 cup of tomatoe vegetable(strained of course) soup for lunch . More water, Okios pro yogurt for dinner. Hot tea and jello cup for dessert. I still have 4 week before I head back to work. Loving the process so far, looking forward to phase 3 next week with purée veggies and chopped meat!!

Hi there, I'm in mushies stage and was told/allowed to eat 1/4 c of cottage,ricotta cheeses. One egg cooked any way and 3 ozs of yogurt. Best to you.

Hi Salsa, I've come to the point where I'm not surprised anymore to see that not one of my symptoms belongs to me alon-LOL. Yup, I count everything as Water. Even the popsicle I had yesterday. It hits the stomach as water. The water thing may or may not get better, but most of the time I don't mind having tea or decaf instead. The good news is everyday is better, and if I feel overstuffed at 700-800 calories a day, this is working. I have been told that as time goes on I may not get hungry much and may forget lunch, etc. but for now, I'm still healing and want to not lose muscle, so I eat very slowly but get the Protein in. This morning, I am not hungry or thirsty, but I'm slowly getting in my greek yogurt (5 oz container) and when I'm done I'll slowly start water or coffee. I'm just happy I haven't gagged, pb'd, etc, as yet. My BIL said just take it very very slow at each meal. I'm saving the fun for when I start to add new foods. Take care.

cheese, eggs, Nuts, seeds, and Peanut Butter. meats (beef, chicken, and pork). Fish. Yogurt made from whole milk. Beans, peas, and lentils. Tofu. Personally I crave eggs & chicken!!! :frown:

I would never consume my daily calories in alcohol. But I want to enjoy my life. I also tend to work out longer on days I do to make up for it. And yes I even log every drink I take in myfitnesspal. Yes I consume alcohol and yes I eat ice cream, well delicious frozen yogurt sometimes. Everything in moderation, that was always the problem I had before the band and it has helped make amazing changes to the way I choose to live my life.

I use one scoop of Unjury chocoltate splendor, 1 tsp unsweetened chocolate powder, 1/2 cup unsweetened greek yogurt, some frozen blueberries, a frozen stawberry, a quarter of an apple, 3 ice cubes, ans about 1/3 cup of skim milk. YUM i tastes like a milk shake! total it is about 230 calories and 35g of protein.

I was sleeved on June 14th and have lost 35lbs, so far! I drink Water or zero carb Isopure, coconut flavor, pretty much constantly. Chobani and Yoplait Greek yogurt, Lucerne Protein plus milk w/ unjury chocolate Protein powder, and split pea Soup make up most of what I consume every day.... Occasionally I'll have a poached egg or some salmon sashimi, but my diet is still pretty basic. I walk 1- 1.5 hours everyday, with 3 lb ankle weights on both legs, and and am doing some light strength training 3-4 times a week. If I'm watching TV or working on the computer, I sit on my stability ball to try and strengthen my loosey goosey stomach muscles.....

Thanks for all of the compliments everyone, it really has been a great journey. Yeah, I am down over 90 lbs but to be honest, it doesn’t feel like it. It wasn't until I posted these pics that I realized how much of a difference there really is. This was the first time I have put before and, I guess you can call it "After" pics together. I use the term "after" loosely because it just hit 2 months over the weekend. The funny thing about this journey is that I didn’t realize that all of my aches and pains were the result of carrying that extra weight around on a frame that had always been sub 200 lbs. Well, except for the left knee issues but that is a sports related ACL tear problem. But, even with the ACL tear, the weight loss has nearly stopped the knee pain as well, only when it is over used does it hurt. It is definitely nice to be on normal foods now! It is actually easier when I am at work because I pack the right foods in the morning and that is what I eat all day. Still eating about 5-6 times a day but the meals are so small, just enough to take the hunger away without feeling uncomfortable. Lots of Greek yogurt (Chobani Apple Cinnamon is amazing!), low fat or light string mozzarella cheese, EAS Protein drinks, and then usually a lean meat of some sort throughout the day and I am good!!!! I just returned from a weeklong vacation in the Outer Banks and traditionally, I gain 10 lbs from that week. There is so much food in the beach house that all you do is graze all day. Even if I tried, I couldn’t this year, it was awesome! I actually came back 1-2 lbs lighter and I was not too careful about what I ate (it was vacation!!!!). Now that I am back, I am back to being very disciplined once again, the sleeve makes it very easy to be disciplined! I am not exercising like crazy though; my schedule just doesn’t permit the time to go nuts in the gym. But, I am riding my stationary bike daily and I walk a lot at work since our building is 1/5 of a mile long. Now that winter is coming and the days are getting shorter, I will dust off my Bowflex machine and start hitting the weights a little more, at least that is the plan. I am also mountain bike shopping although that may wait until spring as I don’t want to have to sit and look at it for the next 6 months waiting on the weather to break. For those not sure, or on the fence, the sleeve is an amazing tool that when used correctly provides outstanding results. Less food, increased energy, and a renewed lease on life are the upsides. The first day or so following surgery weren’t what I would call "awesome" days, but barring complications, the recovery is quick. I highly recommend having it done robotically if you have that option!!! I had surgery on a Monday and could have easily returned to my desk job by Wednesday or Thursday, but instead, I had to wait until I was cleared at my 1 week appointment. The worst of this whole process....the drain tube. I would not say it hurt; it was just weird, especially them pulling it like a rip cord when it was time to remove it at my 1 week post-op appt. Ok, sorry for the rambling mess that this probably comes across as but I just wanted to share my experience to this point.

hang in there everyone! i know this is an older thread but reading it helped a LOT as i start my 2 wk pre-op tomorrow. 4 Protein shakes daily, and then 6 very specific servings of any combo of the following: SG yogurt, jello, pudding, cottage cheese. Unlimited raw veggies, broth, SG popcicles and water. i know i have it much easier than most, being allowed to have some 'real food'. so i'm not complaining, just scared. going from probably 2800 cals a day to that. wow. i am already planning out my work breaks so that i am not around others when they are eating. it's got to be my strategy since my department has quite luxurious lunches almost every day this week!

They make a peanut butter flour that is called "defatted" - essentially the yummy Peanut-Ness without the calories/fat. I've had it mixed with Greek yogurt or to flavor smoothies. HW 420 SW 347 CW 334 Sleeved April 10, 2017

I'm only a week post op but I'm going crazy. I haven't eaten regular foods in like 3 weeks, I'm so bored. I'm on the liquids now so I can have soup, yogurt, pudding, applesauce, cottage cheese. I was lactose intolerant before surgery so all this dairy isn't going over well. Any suggestions?

That's is true . Also if u take Greek yogurt and drain it overnight and add a little evoo the next day, you'll have labaneh . It's our version of yogurt in the "Arab world" lol

One of the things I am doing in anticipation of my VSG surgery is experimenting with foods that will be allowable after the procedure. A few nights back I was taking my walk and found myself craving something sweet. When I got home I took care of the craving by eating 6 ounces of Chobani plain Greek Yogurt. It was one of the most filling things I've ever eaten and the nutrition is good. The taste, however, was not all that good. It reminded me of sour cream, which gave me an idea. Today at the grocery store I picked up some onion Soup mix and when I had my yogurt I tried adding some, effectively making the yogurt taste like onion dip, albeit much more healthy. It was delicious. The onion soup mix does have some carbs so that requires accounting but it's not much and the flavor boost is tremendous.

Greek yogurt is a main part of my diet because it has double the protein. You can add a tiny bit of jam to it and it will taste delicious. It goes down very smoothly and is filling....so I still eat it even though I am on "full foods".

My diet plan is 2 shakes a day has to be below 25 carbs, 2 cups of milk a day 2% or Skim, 1 cup of fruit juice, 3 dairy products a day to include( Light Yogurt, sugar free pudding, 1/2 cup cottage cheese) 2 fruits a day ( a small fruit or 1/2 cup canned), 2 fudge sycles (no sugar added) 2 cups of veggies a day ( can use italian dressing on these) all the soup broth i want and all the popsycles, crystal light i want. I know ppl keeps having issues with this diet and i know i am only on the 2 day but for me its been pretty easy. The worse part is the shakes only found one i really like alot. But the rest of the day i am eating eating eating and feel good. I hope this helped.

My list is this: Calcium (1000-2000mg) B-12 (dissolve kind) Protein shakes Isopure drinks broth Low fat Greek yogurt Carnation instant Breakfast, sugar-free I already have the other Vitamins, pill crusher, comfy clothes for the hospital, Protein powder, timer to wear, and it am sure a few things that I am forgetting.

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.

Most greek yogurts have fairly equal protein levels. I eat a 2% fat one, you can also get 0% and you can get higher. The key is to stay away from the flavored ones. Typically, they are sweetened with sugar and higher in calories and carbs. I buy plain and sweeten it myself with sugar free syrups (torani, davinci) and a little liquid stevia. You are early out, take this time to learn new ways of eating. I am a firm believer that if you do not change anything, you will not be successful in the long term. However, you have to make changes you can live with for a lifetime. Good Luck!