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Yuck. I can't stand fat free dairy. It's like a sin to me. I do reduced fat everything except I do drink skim milk and ff fage Greek yogurt. Some stuff that helped me: scrambled egg wit milk in it and our some spicy stuff on it to waken up your taste buds! Made a three bean chili Soup and puréed it...from William sanoma and is delic!, making your own tuna salad is also really good cause you can put in the flavors you like. PB2 mixed with some greek yogurt or with some low sugar jelly. Good luck!

Casper, Im doing good. Im doing soft foods, only for a few days so far. I had some trouble yesterday with pain during eating so I am going to back off today and do Protein shakes and maybe some yogurt and try again tomorrow. Overall pretty good though. I am able to exercise-just walking- 45-60 minutes at a time and feel good with that. I am back to work half days this week and that is also going well. I do take a nap in the afternoon though. Next week I am back to full time and actually have to travel to a conference so I will need to do some planning this weekend for the food portion. What about you?

I think every pre-op diet is a little different. Mine was only clear liquids and the 4 protein shakes per day. My coworker's husband had surgery a month before me from the same doctor and he was able to have low fat yogurt, cottage cheese and certain veggies in addition to the liquids. I stuck with the liquid diet and lost 13lbs before my surgery. Check with your dietician.

There are two different types of measuring cups.....liquid and dry/solid. The liquid measuring cup is the glass one with a pour spout, they usually list ounces. Mine is made by Pyrex. You can get one at Walmart or Target. The dry cups are the ones that stack inside each other. pour your liquids into the measuring cup to measure before you eat. If you buy pre made sugar free pudding, they are usually 4 oz. cups. I would use the dry measuring cup(1/2 cup size) to measure out your yogurt. I drank Premier from the day I got home from surgery, wasn't too heavy. You can thin it out with some Water if it is too thick.

Are you on a clear liquid diet or a full liquid diet? My surgery was Monday and I am on a full liquid diet so I can have cream soups, fat free yogurt, thinned out cream of wheat, sugar free pudding. We have a September Bandsters group for people that were banded in Sept so we are all in the same stages for the most part. Good luck!

I didn't eat fruit (other than avocados) for a few months after surgery -- I was focused on protein, and the carbs were just too high for my plan. Not eating fruit didn't hurt me! I was eventually able to add it back in. Keep in mind that you will be eating very small portions of whatever you are eating. 25 grams of blueberries (a very reasonable amount for a sleever to add to some yogurt) has 2.5 grams of sugar.

http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20411588_last,00.html and if you have WaWa (or things like it (7-11, etc.) yogurt and cottage cheese and string cheese type things???

The pain is still there so my surgeon started me on protonix daily to see if it would help. He assured me it was just because I had all three surgeries at once. I have found that yogurt and popsicles feel decent and creamed Soup (ie: tomato).. although I can only take a couple bites of each at most. My staples are driving me crazy today. I have 24 on varies areas of my belly/sides and they are itching like CRAZY! Of course it hurts to touch them, so I endure it and keep thinking ... This too shall pass. Hope everyone else is doing well! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

If it is working, then why change it? However, our bodies do flourish with variety, especially with veggies and fruits. These are foods that provide our body with protective nutrients we need. Also, maybe venture out with some shrimp, scallops, beans, eggs? Getting your protein from food is ideal (vs. protein shakes/bars) once you can eat anything. I assume you are past the restrictive phase. I make my own "protein shake" with baby spinach, plain nonfat greek yogurt, 1/2 cup frozen cherries, 1/4 cup guava juice and sugar free torani syrup. Simply divine - a bit more carbs yes but full of many good things for the body and the protein!

Oh how sad for you realmccoy. I love food still. I have always loved healthy food. I just never knew when to stop eating. There are so many good healthy choices that you can make. Even as a dessert I can eat frozen yogurt. Its sugar free and 160 calories in a pretty big serving. Granted yogurt doesn't make you stay full for very long but i never seem to be unsatisfied. I don't obsess about food the way I used to. If I'm full, I don't eat. There used to be a time where I could have eaten and someone asked me if i wanted to go out to get something and i would. Uhh it grosses me out now thinking how I used to over indulge myself every single day. The lap band has saved my life.

OK, I drink when I eat. I drink all the time. However, I only sip, and slosh it around my mouth with the food, and usually only with meats or dryer food. I don't ever need it with my yogurt, cottage cheese, or other soft foods. I figure this is a good start. If I swallow after a glob of meat goes down, it hurts. If I use the liquid to separate the particles in my mouth before I swallow, it is very helpful. Especially earlier in the day. For Breakfast and lunch I am still on soft solids. I can get anything down by dinner time with very little trouble. I know what my doc says, and he is right. I get fuller faster if I drink when I eat, and am hungrier faster as well. As far as stretching out the stomach, yes you can stretch it and yes it will go back down, but not as much as they let on- it is more mental then physical. (I asked about the stomach stretching myth a long time ago the first time I dieted in high school). If you overeat for a period of time, then your stomach gets used to that extended feeling and you will get hungrier faster and more intensely. However you can retrain your brain (and stomach) by eating less for a while after that. We are trying to eat less though, so continually eating until you are stuffed is bad- no matter what.

When you start on soft foods. Eat one thing at time. Don't mix things. If you eat just chicken, you would know if your issue is chicken. If you eat just yogurt you would know it is yogurt.

Ok I have some of my usual digs at costco or TJ but Im sure I'm overlooking some great finds and Protein opportunities. What's your "must haves"? Here's mine: Costco: Tortilla Crusted Tilapia (frozen. 18g pro. So good!!) Chobani or Dannon Greek yogurt packs Fage yogurt Light babybel Premier Protein Persian cucumbers (my new "chips") Turkey meatballs (frozen. 2 fill me up) King crab legs (expensive but my fav food) Ceviche Mozzarella cheese The El Torito salad kit TJ vanilla yogurt No Pudge Brownie Mix Stuffed bell peppers. (So tasty) Black bean Indian spiced veg patties Frozen fruit mix

I cut 3/4 mushrooms and sauted in evoo. Then I added 1/2 cup egg beaters (=2 eggs), 1 slice of lowfat cheese..when finished I put 1/2 c plain greek yogurt and some salsa....YUMMY!!!

9 gr. is what is in the Greek yogurt I am using - is that a lot?? I am so glad you asked!!! Tell me what a lot is. I am not sure what to look for, even though I have not had surgery yet, I am watching the carbs, but neither my husband or I are sure WHAT is considered a lot. Also, about the Stivia, I have used it and like it but currently I am using something called Sun Crystals, it is stivia and cane sugar. 5 cal. per packet. Is that something I should give up after surgery? Thank you in advance!

If you want to build muscle, always consume a power drink that is rich in whey Protein and carbohydrates after your workout and include it in your weight training diet. Try using the following drink for your post workout meal. ? cup low fat yogurt 1 scoop(2oz) vanilla natural whey Protein powder- 30 grams protein 1 tbsp honey 1 ? cup low fat or 1% milk 1 cup orange juice 5 grams creatine monohydrate Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Includes: 590 calories, 45 grams of protein, 93 grams of carbohydrates, and 6 grams of fat.

Hi all...I am almost 5 weeks post op! Wow the time has flown by! Sorry I have not been on here in a while giving an update or posting about something I have kinda been in what some people call a "stall" for the past two weeks. Kinda puts a damper on things. The first week I was really pretty ok with it. I had just lost 40lb in 2 months and was just stoked to start seeing the changes in my body and in my attitude/personality. Then by the 2nd week it just started to get depressing, I even gained 1 pound... I started getting a little mad and was trying to figure out how to amp up my loss again. I had just started adding solid foods back into my diet but I was not getting over 600-700 cal a day. (which I thought was good) I was having a little bit of a hard time with my protein and liquid intake. So I figured that must be the problem. Last Tuesday I had my first WLS support group meeting with my supper awesome friend Tina. By some amazing divine appointment God had them focusing on PROTEIN! She had a ton of samples to try from different products and gave us a bunch of ideas on how to add bits of protein to our diets through out the day. Apparently just about everyone in the group had been struggling with some kind of stall recently and so that was the topic of focus! How perfect for me And because I know how common it is for us new VSG'ers to have a hard time with proper protein levels I thought I would share what I learned, my new favorite products, and a few new ideas on how to use protein. First, my new best friend is "Big Train". I have always loved this brand but had no idea that they had a bariatric friendly line of protein powders. So now I can have my love of coffee and drink it too I do live in Seattle... Its almost against the law to not like coffee over here... lol Here is the link for the Big Train drinks. I love them! The cool thing is, I can not taste the protein in them at all! I have tried the vanilla and the espresso (both are fantastic) and have just ordered the sampler pac to try the rest before purchasing in bulk... http://www.bigtrain.com/coffee-protein-drink-mix-powder-fit-frappe-c-143.aspx My 2nd new brand of protein is Chike... I had never heard of this brand till my meeting this week. I tried the coffee flavor and again it was really good! I ordered the sample pac of this brand also. I really like being able to take a little packet of powder with me rather than mixing up a whole days worth at once. I need to find some kind of little container that holds one serving though, because it is so much cheaper to buy the tub rather than the packets... Anyway, here is the link for Chike. http://www.chikenutrition.com/buy-chike.html Third... I know most of you guys know about Unjury. But recently I have made a few friends who had never heard of it. For all of you newbies out there here is an awesome product! Unjury is said to be one of the best forms of protein. One of the best on the market. Its protein has really good absorption into the body. I have been told some of the cheaper proteins don't benefit the body as well as others. I totally get that, most food now a days dose not benefit the body at all so I am sure they cheat on this kind of stuff also... Anyway, Unjury makes a "non-flavored" powder that you can put in just about anything from soup to pudding, to drinks. I have been adding it to my Crystal Light or Mio drinks. When you add it to a fruity drink it kinda turns it into a cream cycle taste. Not bad when it is giving you 20+ grams of protein in each scoop... I also put some strawberry lemon-aid into a vanilla powder and it was pretty good too.. http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/ I also found this website http://www.bariatricchoice.com/bariatric-protein-shakes-smoothies-drinks-12.html It looks like it has a ton of different high protein options including Nectar (which I have ordered the sample pack but have not tried yet) It might be a cool place to get some extra ideas from. (And by the way I just started loosing weight again! I dropped 1 pound yesterday. I really believe its because I am drinking more and added more protein) So, to give you an idea on how I get my protein and liquids in... In the morning I start out with either a mixed fruit and veggie shake with a scoop of Unjury in it. Or, I have a coffee drink with either the Big Train or the Chike. Rite there in that morning drink I have just got 20 grams of protein in... As a snack I will have a cheese stick or cup of Greek yogurt. (6-12 g protein) Then for lunch I make sure to have some kind of meat, eggs or cheese. All of which are low in carbs. (remember we like low carbs During the day I will have a "snack" by putting one scoop of protein powder in with a beverage. There is another 20 grams. For dinner I have been trying to get in some veggies with my meat. So weather I have 1/2 a hamburger patty or a few ounces of fish, I try to get in either salad or another green vegetable. If I work it good like that, I am over 70 grams of protein. Plus the shakes alone have given me about 30 ounces of water so I only have to concentrate on another 30 through out the day. To tell you the truth, its the liquids I am still having trouble with. It is really hard to drink that much through out the day. But I am trying... I hope I was able to help some of you guys... I know I was really struggling with ideas on how to get enough every day... Good luck to you all! And let me know what you think of my ideas. Also, If any of you have some products or mix ideas for me please let me know! I am always looking for something new to try. Later all!!! "HUGS" Amber

I understand increasing the walking and the speed, but what exactly do you mean about increasing the complex carbs? these are the things my doc said to eat on the mushie part. I can eat yogurt instead of the SF pudding and increase the water instead of the Crystal Light w/artificial sweeteners. He doesnt have me on vegetables yet, although I have been eating 1/4 to 1/2 c of mixed carrots and peas occasionally and making sure they are chewed well. Occasionally I eat oatmeal (instant plain) instead of the protein shake first thing in the morning or occasionally Cr of wheat (plain) Not sure what else to eat at this point. V8 juice?

I know it is kind of weird I'm on liquids for two weeks (which I'm still on) but could have yogurt and sf pudding. Every doctor and nut are different.

I bought some of that flavorless stuff and mixed it with sugar free koolaid and it wasnt good. It changed the texture of the drink and was very odd. I think it would be fine to mix with some yogurt or sugar free pudding or something thicker, but liquid just made it to "odd" for me.

I would ask if they make the sauce (if not ask if they will tell you the calories listed on the container). If they do make it ask whether it's made with low fat yogurt. Full fat Greek Yogurt has has much fat calories as ice cream. Trader Joe's was giving samples of their full fat French vanilla Greek yogurt. I said to myself this tastes like melted ice cream. Well when I read the container it had the same calories! Also often the meat in the Gyros are a mixture of ground up meats. May not really be that healthy. Most Greek places will have chicken Kabobs, I would probably say that would be a MUCH better option.

i was banded on 2/22 and called my Dr on monday worryed the scale wasnt moving and i was really sticking to the diet of liquids and walking lots....she told me to start on mushies 3 days early......and today i was down one more lb !!! so far today i had breakfast 1 greek yogurt and for lunch I had a pack of oatmeal...I have drank 64 oz of water...and plan on making a pro shake here now ... Good Luck everyone...

Missy is right I'm afraid. I honestly don't think I'm in the green zone yet and I'm 10 months post op, not sure how much I have in my band, sorry but some days I can eat chicken and some days I can't, some days I can eat eggs and some days I can't, same thing with toast. 2 days ago I tried eating pulled pork BBQ and either ate too big of a bite, didn't chew enough or the stringy mess just slid down but I got stuck BIG time and ended up sliming, and then vomiting up everything I ate, a forceful vomit, not PB'ing which was not good for me at all. Am I afraid of trying BBQ that I have left in the frige, no, I will try it again but will be mindful of cutting it up into tiny pieces and chewing, what has really helped me is what someone else posted on here not too long ago, chew and say the alphabet. Most of my food intake is healthy choices like chicken, fish, oatmeal, cereal, tuna, cheese quesadilla grilled in a nonstick skillet with low fat cheese and for dessert greek yogurt with fruit on bottom or fresh fruits. It just so happen the other day I was craving pork BBQ and got some and well that night it didn't agree with me. I try to stay away from chips because I can't stop at one, however I'm a popcorn freak and I will eat that once a month as a treat but only a little. Be a little more creative in your food choices. Chili is good, loaded with protein, actually I love Wendy's chili, I get their small and eat it and its all I can do to eat that amount. However with that said when I go to Cracker Barrel and order a bowl of beef stew I can pretty much eat the whole bowl, go figure, I'm sure that is more than a cup worth which is what we are suppose to go by, eating 1 cup of food at each meal or at least by my surgeon's directions. I wish you well and good luck, you can do this.

The following is a few cuts from an article written on the website "Web MD" regarding "Restaurant Traps." Eating out can be a challenge those of us who eat bariatric style......restaurants don't make it easy, do they......... :ohmy:Applebee's doesn't want you to know:That many of its "low-fat" items have more than 500 calories. (In fact, its low-fat chicken quesadillas have 742 calories and 90 grams of carbohydrates per order.) :eek:IHOP doesn't want you to know:That its Omelette Feast has 1,335 calories and 35 grams of saturated fat. (By the time you finish eating this behemoth Breakfast, you'll have consumed 150 percent of your daily fat requirement and 300 percent of your suggested cholesterol intake.) Said IHOP's director of communications, "We do not maintain nutritional data on our menu items, so I am unable to assist you." :unsure:Dunkin' Donuts doesn't want you to know:That each of its medium-size fruit-and-yogurt smoothies packs at least 60 grams of sugar—more than four times the sugar in a chocolate-frosted cake doughnut. The fruit purees used in the smoothies are mixed with liberal doses of sugar and/or high-fructose corn syrup. :blink:Baskin-Robbins doesn't want you to know:That, unlike Jamba Juice's all-fruit smoothies, the top four ingredients in its Blue Raspberry Fruit Blast are Sierra Mist soda, Water, sugar, and corn syrup. :scared2:Maggiano's Little Italy doesn't want you to know:Just how many calories and carbs you're consuming in those massive Pasta portions. (As the menu puts it, "Family-style service or individual Entrees are available...Whichever you choose, you'll have plenty to share or take home.") In Italy, a standard pasta serving means 4 ounces of noodles with a few tablespoons of sauce. At Maggiano's, a large order of pasta translates into 2 pounds of noodles piled high on a hubcap-size dinner plate (15 1/2 inches in diameter)

How much Protein are your trying to consume? I have no trouble getting in 60 grams over a whole day. I do not freak if it's say.. 50 one day and 70 the next.. or even lower than 50...as long as I'm AVERAGING 60 grams a day. Breakfast is usually 1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt which will have 10 to 15 grams, depending on brand. Then I add a little bit of Kashi Go Lean Cereal .. more protein and it's CRUNCHY.. yes!! and a bit of fresh berries (blueberry &/or strawberry). Sometimes I'll add a little protein powder.. sometimes I won't. After my morning workout, I drink protein.. either skim milk or 1/2 scoop Syntrax nectar. lunch is 3oz of protein of some kind (chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, etc.) which is usually about another 20 grams of protein. Don't forget that veggies & grains have small amts of protein in them too. Late afternoon, if I get a little hungry and it's going to be a while before I can have a sit-down meal... string cheese is a favorite hunger-stopper and has 6 grams P. dinner.. another 20 grams in 3oz of beef, chicken, turkey, etc. It adds up. My question to you is what are you eating? Are you eating about 3oz of some kind of meat at each meal? Maybe if you listed what you are eating we could suggest where to make some changes.