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You should be eating the amount recommended by surgeon or nutritionist. You don't want to feel full. Many of those foods are sliders. Be careful.I just thought my body would signal more. I don't know. Same goes with Protein shakes. No feeling of fullness. I have stuck mainly to eggs and cheese and protein shakes. Bc I know those hold more nutritional value and more protein than pudding or potatoes. He didn't give me a specific ounce per meal nor a calorie goal. He did give me protein goals and Fluid goals, obviously. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Your body won't send full signals until its too late. Protein shakes, yogurt, pudding are all foods that go quickly through your sleeve so you can usually eat more. My plan says 1-2 Oz's every 3 hours (eat over 20 mins or less). I don't know if that's the same as yours. That's only for food - not liquids. I would just be concerned of overeating and getting sick. You can really hurt yourself this early out. Congrats on your weight loss! Sent from my KFFOWI using the BariatricPal App

Could you stir a pinch of cocoa and some stevia into some yogurt?, the vanilla usually enhances the chocolate,taste. That's the first thing that comes to mind, I think maybe Hershey might make a sugar-free syrup, I know Smuckers makes a diet version of their caramel ice cream topping, so why wouldn't a big place like Hershey/Reese Cups do the same?

I’m doing unsweetened apple sauce, mashed potatoes (instant only made with water), plain yogurt (no or low sugar), and oatmeal.

I am very glad I had the Lap Band Surgery in September 2011. My weight loss has been slow and, but in the final analysis, I am 55lbs lighter than I was a year ago! In what universe would I NOT BE HAPPY to loose 55 lbs in a year. I read so many forum posts where people are literally expecting so much that they are unhappy with significant weight loss, but it has slowed down, or they are no longer loosing 4 pounds a week like in the first weeks after surgery. The nasty secret about loosing weight is that once you loose a sizable amount of weight (whether you think it is good or not), your body adjusts, your calorie requirements just maintain your new weight go down, perhaps your metabolism slows down, and you need to to consume still fewer calories to loose weight. Also, it is very important to realize (and truly internalize) that the band is just a tool. You still need to learn how to eat less, not snack excessively, and learn to find other things to do when you have the urge to eat. As the psychologist at my Bariatric center says, most of the time we aren't really hungry, we just want to eat. And we live in a very toxic food environment, where high calorie, low nutrition food are around us all the time. The band has made it easier to not eat Snacks (hot dogs, donuts, croissants, pretzels), that I see and therefore want to eat during the day. I've pretty much been able to cut out between meal snacks during the day, but still struggle at night. I seem to still want to eat after dinner while I'm watching TV or working at the computer. So I've devised some strategies to resist that urge to eat after dinner. I guess I'm successful about 2/3 of the time, and the rest I just let go. I don't beat myself up, call myself a failure, or think about it. To me that is self defeating and makes me feel bad about myself !!!! I keep a wide variety of nutritious foods such as greek yogurt, hummus, etc so if I do eat an evening snack it is not the end of the world. I'm just thankful to realize that before my band, I couldn't even resist unecessary eating 100% of the time. To me 33% of the time that is tremendous progress! To summarize, the band is only a tool. T0 be successful in the long run (and that's what I'm interested in!), you need to figure out your triggers, and how to deal with them. The band will not do that for you. Naturally, your weight loss slows once you've lost a significant amount of weight, and your body gets used to the band. I consider myself a real (and continuing success) ! I have more to go, but i'll do it slowly, without making myself crazy, which only made me eat more. Also, the bariatric psychologist at my center has been a real help in my journey. I began to see her when I realized I did not have a healthy relationship with food (soothed me when upset or anxious, or even when I felt bad about myself). She tells me that in times of stress (like the holidays, family illness, etc), just staying even is a big victory. If your center has a psychologist, I highly recommend you utilize them. I really think she has been the difference in my success, not just the band.

I am getting banded next thurs too! I am allowed to eat cream of wheat, yogurt, milk, juice and sf carnation inst bfast for breakfast. Lunch is soup, milk, juice, sf pudding. Dinner is the same. I have snacks of either milk or yogurt in between. After dinner I have a protein shake or carnation inst bfast. I have to be on pre op diet for 2 wks. Thats nice you get to start yours later. I have been doing ok on it, been tired and muscles ache. It gets old, but its better than drinking shakes all day. Good luck! Hopefully you will find out what your diet consists of soon. I have lost about 7 lbs since on pre op diet in 1 wk. You lose weight, but can be exhausted.

B- 1 egg w/ 1/4 toasted Thomas Lite Multigrain english muffin & 1 strawberry S- Boiled egg L- 1/4 c. chopped broccoli/cauliflower and swiss cheese w/ Boathouse farms Ranch Yogurt dressing S- 2 oz barbecue babyback ribs D- NACHO's-6 tortillia chips w/ a few tbsp. taco meat, salsa and sour cream Lots of Water w MIO Kelly

yes everyone please keep this going....I know dr's are all over the board about what to eat and when so it also helps to see where ya'll are in your journey....like.... 2 mos out ....or 6 mos out.... then we can kind of see how it all progresses....lets get this going again. I'm only 10 days out but heres my day b- protein shake from v8 strawberry/banana smoothie with 1 1/2 scoops of unflavored powder l- Yoplait greek yogurt d- 1 egg with turkey sausage bits and cheddar cheese.... I'm so sorry about this post... I can't make the spacing and new paragraphs work....idk!

I used to hate cottage cheese until my daughter told me to mix it with yogurt. I really like that now. There is a brand here that comes already mixed with pineapple that's pretty good too.

hey these are really great ideas. I am like Jachut in that i used to buy a 'tub' of it, let it spend a few weeks in the fridge then toss it before it changed life forms. I couldnt get around it until recently. I found they sell it in small containers similar to activa yogurt in four oz individual containers and I LOVE THOSE, they are so fresh. I just put a packet of splenda in it and grab my baby spoon and im good. Something about KNOWING each serving is fresh matters to me for some reason. Maybe im weird.

For protein I'm going to keep the unflavored protein on hand in the hopes that I can at least boost the protein in yogurt or soup if needed.

What is everyone eating? I'm lucky to reach protein and not enough water intake. I've been try a 4oz Greek yogurt for breakfast, then soup or some 1/2 wrap and finally chicken for dinner. I'm not hungry or thirsty.... Looking for help.

I eat something always with in 30 mins of getting up ...my nut says for me thats what i need...most days its just a greek yogurt with flax seed.....then I do try to eat a lunch and dinner...because I like to sit down with my family for meals...during the day if I am hungry I do eat...something of protein......for the most part I dont need snacks.......good luck !

This is the one I've used, and found when trying to find something without rice or noodles. I added some creole seasoning to the chicken when I was pan searing it in some EVOO before adding it to the casserole dish. I'm a big fan of changing flavor profiles, and change this recipe by using different spices on the chicken breasts. Seasonings/spices I've used have been lemon pepper, creole and cajun seasoning, garlic pepper, and even some of the italian seasonings (thyme, basil, oregano). . . http://www.freequickrecipes.com/recipes/cream-cheese-broccoli-chicken.php I sub nonfat, plain Greek yogurt for the mayo, and only use 4 chicken breast halves, and use broccoli florets instead of spears because I hated chewing the "stems".

Dry meat for me too....I made some pork meatballs with ginger, garlic and chili a couple of weeks back. I mixed in a couple of tablespoon of breadcrumbs and bound them with an egg to keep them soft, browned them in a dry pan then baked in the oven. When they were hot they went down fine, but the next day I took them to work cold and boy did they hurt. I made up a non-fat yogurt dip with lemon juice and paprika and that made it much easier. Same with chicken - if I have some kind of dressing or sauce it's fine. I'm going to become an expert at lo-cal sauces!

Not sure it is related to age. I am 61 and had my surgery two years ago with Dr. Aceves in June. My goal was 145 and I stay around 140. I am not strict about what I eat and lately realized I was eating too many carbs and went back to drinking a Protein drink most days. I do still love sweets I just can't eat much. I can eat more than I could the first year but am still very restricted. I can only eat a half sandwich for example, or a container of Geek yogurt at one time. I think that working keeps me so busy that sometimes I forget to eat. The only thing I can no longer consume at all are milkshakes (which I love) every time I try to drink part of one I feel nauseous and once had dumping. So I don't try anymore. Ice cream does not bother me. in response to the question about loose skin. I do have loose skin. My face looks fine but my upper arms and abdominal area especially are pretty yucky. Also because I am older my skin was not as elastic so i have more wrinkles all over my body now. If i had $30000 to throw away I would get plastic surgery but at this stage of life I am more interested in retirement. It does not interfere with me socially. I don't wear a 2 piece bathing suit and when I wear a sleeveless top I put a little sweater with short sleeves over it. If I was 30 I would do something about it but if I was 30 it probably would not be as bad, LOL. I just posted some before an after pics. I lost 90 lbs.

Hey there - I am feeling really good, a bit sore on the belly and still some shoulder pain from the gas. My doctor pumped tons of liquid through my IV so the discharge nurse suggested not weighing until tomorrow morning to give the Water weight time to dissipate. Getting the water in will forever be my challenge. Unfortunately, my doc has me on full liquids for another week. I'm dying for yogurt or something substantial. Head hunger has me a bit cranky.....but I knew that this would be my challenge. food is a major source of entertainment for our family - so re-training my brain is the focus! Glad everyone is doing well!

Hello all, I had my sleeve surgery Dec 28th and did great until I got home 2 days and then was due for my cycle of the month. My blood pressure shot way, way up. I wound up in a hospital in the town of Wickenburg where we moved. I am finally getting my BP down some and have been eating cream of wheat, premier drinks, egg drop soup, Yogurt, popsicles, baby foods and my favorite Scandal less Vanilla( because it taste great plus has great quality of protein. My Dr is known for a slim sleeve without a pre op diet. So it will take a little to attempt the harder foods for me as some of you are trying. I started 313 and I'm down to 299.5 at 5'8" .

I am so glad I bought a package of baby spoons from the dollar store right before I started my second week. Since I'm allowed to have up to 2 tablespoons of applesauce, light yogurt, mashed potatoes or oatmeal for each meal 3 times a day. The baby spoons not only make it easier to eat over 20 minutes, the smaller spoons I think will trick my brain into not wanting bigger portions like before surgery. Sent from my SamsungGalaxy using BariatricPal App

hi!! my surgery is friday and im very excited...not nervous yet....prob will be by thur night! lol .....going shopping tomorrow for post op things....i finally found gasx strips in walmart,after looking everywhere else for weeks! so,stocked up on those....on my list: tomato soup,protein shakes of course,chicken broth,yogurt,diet v8 splash,sugar free hot chocolate...my only worry(besides the gas),is that i'll be starving...even though i've done well on my 10 days of liquids,i would kill for a burger or a slice of pizza!! lol my paperwork from the surgeon actually says to avoid tv for the first 10 days after surgery,because of the large number of food commercials!! good luck to you!!!!

Okay ladies (and gentlemen), I need some assistance. I am dealing with the clear liquids okay. I can get through the next 5 day of that -- what I don't think I can get through even one more day of is crushing my medication and mixing it with water ... every time I do that gag and it's all I can do to keep myself from throwing up. Any suggestions on how to get through the clear and full liquid stage and still be able to take my medication? I have to take my BP medicine, my nexium and my effexor (2x a day since I had to switch from the XR to the regular)? I'm hoping once I'm on mushies I can mix them with a bit of yogurt or applesauce and get them down that way ... Also, HOW LONG do I have to take them crushed? PLEASE HELP!!! I'm gagging here!

It might be too soon fro you. Even though the food stages exist as guidelines, they just mean you can TRY those foods at those times, not that you HAVE to be eating them then. Everyone heals at a different rate. Have you tried drinkable yogurt (the stuff for kids?). I actually started that before moving onto thicker yogurt.

Hello. Fellow 9/19 sleever here. All-in-all it seems like I've had a pretty non-eventful recovery. Day +1 in the hospital was tough to get in all the liquid the dr. wanted (about 10oz). But every day I've been feeling better by leaps and bounds. Came home on Tuesday (9/20) evening. Pain & discomfort are completely manageable. Haven't had the need to use any of the prescribed pain meds since I've been home. I did use liquid tylenol on a couple of occasions, but I think the last was on thursday. Only real discomfort now (and it's pretty minor) is at the main incision site when I get out of bed. The incision sites seem like they're healing up, because they're starting to itch like crazy. I work mostly from home, and for the past couple of days I have been able to spend as much time as I need to at my desk without feeling uncomfortable. Only issue on that front is the energy level. I've taken more naps in the last week than I have since my kids were babies. Up to about 48 oz of Water a day, and able to do 3 Protein shakes plus a couple of other smooth/liquid meals (soup, pudding, yogurt) per day. Walking around fine, and the energy level is finally starting to increase. I feel like I'm ready for soft foods, but I'm not doing anything until my Dr. tells me to at my follow up visit on 9/29. sleeping was a little tough at first, but now seems pretty good. And last night I was able to actually sleep on my side for a while (I'm a big side sleeper). Had some issues with gas early on, but found that the Gas-X strips do a great job managing that quickly. First poop was on Friday, 9/23, and I've been pretty regular since. Biggest challenges now are getting the liquid and protein in and increasing the amount that I'm walking. The liquid diet is getting a little boring, but I'm hopeful that I'll get the thumbs up on Thursday and I can go until then with no problem. HW 348, SW 321, CW 312.

I am also loving shrimp and I'm 8 weeks out! I even take just 4 boiled shrimp with some lemon for lunch because it doesn't take much planning! Throw some Greek yogurt or a boiled egg with it and I'm ready to go! I've also been grilling it and trying it with different spices, my whole family loves shrimp so it is a win, win!

I eat very similarly to Jacqui except I'm not quite that good. I still can't stand plain Water except in summer and it has to be icecold so I sometimes have a diet soda or Crystal light. The rest of the time I drink tea with skim milk. I don't buy lots of processed foods and when I do I no longer buy the diet versions - I just buy the standard version as I am eating less of it anyway.E.g I always buy full fat Greek Yogurt. However there are some things that I cannot stand unsweetened and then I use a small quantity of Splenda or whatever. I use it on my oats even though I cook them with raisins and also on my yogurt along with some cinnamon. The quantities are minimal and I do not believe that it makes me crave sweet foods more. Most things are OK in moderation it is when you overdo them that they become a problem. Lets face it even too much water is dangerous and can lead to death! Interestingly for years fructose was pushed as a healthier alternative to sugar - its also natural , is low GI and I'm not sure but it may be lower in calories too. They have now discovered that fructose actually causes problems similar to the ones your NUT told you about for the artificial sweeteners! It's actually quite hard to know who and what to believe when it comes to nutrition as they change their minds so often. For example.We have had fats being the villian then sugar then fats again then carbs, told not to eat more than 2 eggs a week, then told we can eat them daily, told soy is great then told that that causes problems............................................................................

I was sleeved on Mar. 2, 2011, by Dr. Zorn in San Diego, CA. It went fairly well. I needed very little pain medication. At the time of the surgery I weighed 238.6 lbs. Now I'm at 223.5 lbs. and I've hit a plateau. I've stayed there since day 12 (today is day 16). That is when I started soft/pureed foods (cottage cheese, yogurt...). I've been under 500 calories each day which includes my protein drink. I am up to walking 2 miles a day and have my mile down to 33 min. My goal is to walk the mile in 30 min. I walk 1 mile 2 times everyday. I'm getting a little worried. I don't want to continue to go through this plateau forever!! Help!!!!!!!!!