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I'm really looking for some reassurance from people who are losing weight very successfully. I lost 17 lbs after my first 12 days post op, and I have not lost anything else in a week. I know about the early stalls and I keep telling myself that is probably what's wrong. I just want to make sure that what I'm eating sounds right to you guys, incase I should be eating more..or eating less. I started adding a very slow jog to my walk yesterday, along with some arm exercises, so I'm going to see if that helps. Each day, I have 2 protein shakes and a greek triple 0 yogurt. The 1st shake is bariatric advantage vanilla and has 25 g protein, 2 g fat, 4 g Carb and 150 calories. I make it with almond milk, which adds 30 calories and 3 g fat and 1 g carb. My second shake is Premier, ready made, and it has 160 calories, 1 g carb, 3 g fat and 30 g protein. The yogurt has 120 calories, 0 fat, 9 carbs and 15 g protein. Because I was really feeling hungry, I tried adding 1/2 tbs of peanut butter to a shake, adding 2 carbs, 4 g fat, and 2 proteins and 45 calories. I've also just started adding 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese, which is 70 calories, 1 gram of fat, 5 carb, and 7 protein. So that is a net total of 575 claories, 79 protein, and 13 gram fat, 22 carbs. Up until yesterday, when I increased my exercise, I was walking 1.5 miles on the treadmill, plus cleaning/cooking for 5 kids. Does this sound like the right amount of everything? Should I just keep doing what I'm doing?

My understanding was that more than 30 grams of protein per serving is kind of wasted, as you can't absorb it. However, especially early on in the process, protein shakes seem to be the most popular way to keep the protein up, with protein foods when you get to that stage . . . Greek yogurt is a good choice as long as the sugar/carbs aren't high (e.g., see this site for a breakdown of the protein and carbs/sugars in various yogurts: http://www.eatthis.com/best-yogurts-for-weight-loss) Good luck!

breakfast: Greek yogurt Lunch: cheese stick & 3 breakfast sausage links Dinner 3.5 oz chicken Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

OOps I forgot to mention this stage was liquids to puree stage not just pure liquids. It was on my diet that I could have nonfat greek yogurt ad sugar free pudding.

I'm still bit hitting my protein goal but some things I ate on pureed was Wendy's chili, taco bell pintos and cheese, and greek yogurt. Sent from my SM-N920T using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm totally jealous! I'm on clear liquids for the first 12 days, 14 days of full liquids, then 14 days puréed foods! Though, for better or for worse, at the 7 day mark I decided to start adding full liquids to my diet. The materials from the program say 7 days clear liquids, But my surgery couldn't do my follow up until day 12...so, there you have it. I decided to add a "runny" tomato soup and such to my diet for the extra 5 days. When I see my surgeon, I'll start adding Greek yogurts and such. As far as protein shakes...I honestly don't know what I hate more right now, chicken broth or protein shakes. I finally broke down and bought Isopure Zero Carb RTD (ready-to-drink). I'm not a fan of sweets, but if have found these to be pretty good. I pour about 4 oz at a time and I have it on ice...which I had to wait until the spasms stopped before I did ice, btw. It takes me all day, but I get 40g of protein that way. For my other 20...I add a packet of Knox Gelatine (8g/pkt) to every cup of soup, and I drink a small glass of milk (I don't like milk either, but it's better than a protein shake!) Tripe soup sounds divine!!!!! Looking forward to having more variety!

I have to eat with my vitamins otherwise I get nauseous. Eating every 3 hours has turned out to be very helpful for me. If I do feel hunger, I know my next meal is very soon. Here's what I started eating yesterday: 8am Breakfast: egg whites and 2 ultrathin slices of cheese 11am Snack 1 - yogurt 2pm Lunch: 4oz LF cottage cheese, 2oz apple sauce 5pm - Dinner: 3oz chicken. I made a small amount of potatoes but I couldn't eat them 8pm - Snack 2 - 4oz Halo top ice cream

Breakfast- GNC lean shake Lunch- tuna pouch with protein chips Snack- Greek yogurt Dinner- deli turkey roll up with cheese, lettuce and tomato slice

Breakfast- GNC lean shake Lunch- Chick-fil-a chicken salad cup Dinner- (going out to eat)... planning on grilled chicken breast and green beans! Snacks- Greek yogurt, quest protein bar

I sent an email to a new nutritionist this am. Unfortunately, they are out until Monday. I am not yet cleared for raw veggies. And I'm not sure if its too soon for turkey bacon. Today, I had a greek yogurt for breakfast, some cheddar cheese as a snack and I am currently making chili. I KNOW I'm not getting in enough protein, I'm hoping a new nut can help me with that. I can't wait to be allowed salad and nuts! Thank you for your advice! I have also been drinking Fairlife milk for protein. Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

I would add a couple of small snacks like 3 TBSP. of yogurt or cottage cheese.

I'm a tad confused about the puréed diet and would appreciate any advice. My diet calls for 3 oz meals 3 times a day. Ok, this leaves me feeling hungry, weak, and lethargic. My NUT's solution was to just keep it going (so disappointed in her 'advice.'). NF Greek yogurt, tomatoe and split pea soup, and applesauce were items that I was able to eat when on my full liquid diet. So my question is this: Can I still have those aforementioned full liquid items in addition to my 3oz/3 times a day?

I went for my final nutritional visit on Thursday. I didn't lose anything (no gain either--my weight was exactly the same) and my surgeon told me I was "really behind" and needed to "step up". Huh? Behind WHAT? There's no weight loss minimum for insurance, and even if there were like 10% I'm at 8% already, so...? If I could lose weight easily I wouldn't be seeking surgery! I commented on the fact that I've been super hungry this month, and she told me I should only be eating when I have physical signs of low blood sugar--shakiness, headache, fogginess. Everything else is just grehlin driving head hunger and not a valid reason to eat I always thought "head hunger" was emotional eating and cravings, so apparently I've been eating according to the wrong cues my ENTIRE life?? I'm supposed to go in for weekly weigh ins to get "back on track". It feels punitive. But anyway. So I went home kinda irritated and annoyed. About an hour after I got home her secretary called to say that my surgery is tentatively scheduled for July 27 (pending insurance approval)! Whhhaaaaaat??? Five weeks! OMG! I paid really close attention today and noted how I felt every half hour. I didn't let myself eat until I had physical signs I needed to, so...I didn't eat all day. I had water, of course. I had my vitamins. But I was super busy at work, at times I had 3 patients working and one waiting to be called back, so I discounted "tired" as a sign of low blood sugar. And I just never got any other signs. Then driving home I was feeling really tired--after a ten hour day, during an hour-long 40-mile commute. When I got home I took my knitting and sat on the couch to watch some tv. I decided that the foggy sleepiness was at least partly low blood sugar and tried to eat a triple zero Greek yogurt (fat free sugar free). Couldn't get past the aftertaste. Gag! Then I had a spoonful of peanut butter, and went to bed. So yesterday ALL I had all day was a spoonful of yogurt, and a spoonful of peanut butter. And 3 liters of water with crystal light. And my vitamins. So I'm 5 weeks away from surgery, apparently I have been following the wrong hunger cues all my life, and I have no idea when it's appropriate to eat. I don't have enough time to learn and practice! I'm really feeling scared right now. Can I really do this? Is surgery a mistake? If I can learn to only eat when I've got low blood sugar do I NEED surgery? Am I really not supposed to eat when ghrelin tells me I'm hungry? Isn't that why we HAVE ghrelin??? I'm so confused.

I mix my fruit with yogurt. And I'm not as strict with carbs as many are. Berries are high fiber and most are low glycemic.

I too am almost one week through, but mines a three week liquid, so two more weeks to go. I had a real bad day yesterday. Stomach cramped and burned all day. I really drank up the broth and had a Oikos triple zero yogurt which is thick and filling. The warmth from the broth and the thick yogurt really helped. Like Dale said above. Just get through today. Today has been pretty easy so far. My biggest challenge has been having to cook dinner and not get to eat. I planned menus my kids can make (their 14 - 21) , so i don't have to be in the kitchen much and plan crock pot meals I don't have to worry about either so much. this helps a lot. Out of site, out of mind... keep busy and the time will fly. Blessing on your journey.

I used premiere protein shakes before surgery and Atkins shakes for my prop diet, I would put nutmeg and cinnamon in the vanilla shake with a little splenda, tastes just like eggnog. I got some baby foods like sweet potatoes, a little peaches but most of all we just need to use these until we can eat regular foods and then we just need to always remember protein. You can purchase "six star protein powder unflavored you can put into yogurt, drinks they sell it at Wal- mart. Its also good in SF, FF, Pudding. Sent from my N9519 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm a tad confused about the puréed diet and would appreciate any advice. My diet calls for 3 oz meals 3 times a day. Ok, this leaves me feeling hungry, weak, and lethargic. My NUT's solution was to just keep it going (so disappointed in her 'advice.'). Anyway, can I still have the 'full liquid' diet between my 3 meals? Full liquid such as split pea and tomatoe soup, Greek yogurt, applesauce, etc?

Hello, I hope everyone here is doing well on their weight loss journey! I'm posting this because I've been having some serious mental health difficulties after surgery and I don't know what to do. I just need to reach out to other people here who understand the struggles of bariatric surgery and who would be so kind as to offer any words of advice or support. I had VSG surgery 9 months ago on Sept. 19th, 2016. I started at 285 pounds before Opti and I'm at 180lbs right now, putting me at a total loss of 105 pounds so far. At my ultimate highest weight I was 310lbs. My ultimate goal weight after surgery is 150lbs (I'm 5' 7") and I'm trying SO hard to try and make it there. A little too hard in fact. I was actually diagnosed with an eating disorder by my psychologist at my last follow up and my NUT is concerned with my eating habits. I've been dealing with a lot of bodily dysmorphia, which I know is definitely normal for bariatric patients due to loose skin or just in the process of getting your mind to catch up with recognizing the physical changes in yourself that everyone else sees. But I'm so unhappy with my body still. I know I've lost a lot of weight, but I still feel so huge and ugly and fat, and I'm so distracted with the way my body looks and with the fact that I still don't feel thin enough. Because of that I've been restricting my meals a lot in an effort to try and lose the rest of the weight faster, thinking it'll make me feel better. I've been skipping meals sometimes, going hours without eating, weighing myself multiple times a day on 3 different scales I have at home, and I've been restricting my calorie and carb intake as much as I can. I know it's unhealthy and a sign of disordered behavior, but I just can't seem to stop doing it, no matter how much I recognize that it's a problem. I track everything I eat on myfitnesspal everyday and I weigh my food using 2 different food scales, and sometimes several times. I'll log say, 15 grams of cheese on myfitnesspal, but only weight 11 grams of it to make sure I'm always eating at a deficit and that I don't accidentally eat too many calories. I've set my calorie goal in myfitnesspal for 900 a day but I never hit it. I have a mental barrier in my mind at 800 calories and most days I feel good when I eat around 700-750. I feel really proud of myself on days I eat closer to 500-600 calories, actually. Other things I'll do, is when I use a spoon to scoop and weigh my Greek yogurt from a carton into a bowl, for example, instead of just using the same spoon to eat my bowl of yogurt I feel obliged to aggressively wash it or just get a new spoon because I don't want to eat any extra calories from the yogurt residue on the spoon. If I don't do that sometimes I'll just lick the spoon and then spit it out whatever was on it into the sink. It's messed up... I know I know this behavior is really unhealthy, but I can't seem to get over this huge fear I have of food now. I'm honestly so terrified of food. Especially carbs. I had my original limit on myfitnesspal set at 20 net carbs a day, but I'll adjust my daily macros by eating 5 grams less here and there to round it out to 15-16 net carbs a day, because I'm so scared of 'hidden carbs' I may be eating accidentally. As I type this I have a plate of chicken breast that I weighed and logged in myfitnesspal already just sitting beside me because I'm too scared to eat it and I want to cry. I read all about patients who regained everything after surgery and I'm so scared that'll happen to me. A little voice in my head keeps telling me "if you don't weigh out this lettuce at a slight gram deficit from what you've logged, or if you eat 19 net carbs today when you really should be eating around 15 to make up for any hidden carbs, then you'll just go right back to being 300+ pounds again and miserable with your life If you can't control yourself now, then you won't ever be able to control yourself again and there's nothing stopping you from regained all your weight back". And that's the thing... while in general I'm dissatisfied with the rate at which I'm losing (I can't help but feel extremely jealous of those people who reach their goal weight at 6 or 8 months postop), and while I hate the fact that my stomach hasn't flattened out yet and I still have a belly that prevents me from wearing the clothes I want, and while I hate the fact that my body feels so disproportionate now, and while I hate the fact that I still have 30 pounds to lose and even if do I reach my goal weight it won't feel like enough......I know I'm MUCH happier after having had the surgery. I like the person I've become, how my personality has changed in subtle ways, and how losing weight has allowed me to be the person who I truly want to be. I always felt that with being fat, you don't get to be the person who you want to be or who you feel you truly are on the inside because you're always hiding from the world. Maybe that's a bit too abstract of a feeling to put in words, but that's how it's been for me at least. I know I'm much happier and confident now, and all my family and friends are so proud of my weight loss. I feel like I can't allow myself to let them down. I keep telling myself that once I reach my goal of 150lbs that I'll allow myself to eat more calories/carbs for maintenance, but in reality I know that my disordered behaviors are only getting worse and in the state I'm in right now I'll never want to stop losing weight. I've wrestled with the idea of trying to get down to 135-125lbs if I can. If I gain back any considerable amount of weight I'm worried I might become suicidal. I know that's a really extreme statement, but I absolutely cannot allow myself to gain weight or I know I'll be completely devastated. I don't know what to do now. Every time I go to weigh my food or track my meals it honestly just turned into such a mental battle with myself and I keep wanting to lose as much weight as possible. I want to be able to eat normally and responsibly, and not feel like food is the enemy, but I just can't help feeling the way I am now. Food has prevented me from living the life I wanted for so many years and I feel like I'm just not emotionally ready yet to begin to eat normally. My physical health has suffered a lot as a result sadly, and I'm always incredibly tired, fatigued, and my muscle strength is totally non-existent. Even just walking up the stairs in my house has gotten considerably more challenging than how it was before surgery. Exercising is something I really want to do but I honestly just can't with the energy levels I have right now. My blood pressure and blood sugar are always both pretty low too (around 80/50 range and 3.5, respectively). I really just can't seem to get over these mental struggles unfortunately. It's been quite rough. And that's why I'm desperately seeking your support right now. I'm just looking for some support/encouragement/advice or any kind words in general, because we WLS-ers are all in this together, for both the NSVs and the challenging parts of our respective journeys. If you read this far, thank you so much for listening! I really appreciate it

Eating on the go Friday, but I think I’m ready. Here is what I am planning to have. Breakfast: Greek yogurt with strawberries and a whole wheat mini bagel Lunch: Probably Subway. I’ll probably go for a salad with turkey breast and provolone. I’ll bring my own apple. Dinner: Looking like dinner with some friends, probably at an American restaurant (nothing exotic). Hopefully I’ll just find a chicken salad with light dressing or get some chicken or fish with veggies. Let’s have a little Friday fun and remember – if you post your menu each day this week (Monday through Sunday), you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card to The BariatricPal Store! Don’t worry, you can still be entered into the drawing if you go back and post your earlier menus if you missed them already!

For about 5-7 days, you will be on a clear liquid diet. Weak tea, broth, gelatin, sugar-free popsicles and zero-calorie, non-carbonated drinks. Make sure it is at least 45 ounces. The second week after surgery, you will go to full liquids for about a week such as watered down cream soups (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, etc.). This also includes yogurt, watered down mashed potatoes and watered down cooked cereals. I say watered down but you can use low-fat or plant milk. All foods must be at room temperature. You can have sugar free popsicles too. Of course, you must remember your protein shakes. The three most important things are protein, water, and supplements. The third week after surgery you are on protein shakes and pureed (like applesauce) meat and veggies but no more than 3 tablespoons at a time. At this stage, you might want to get a baby plate and spoon just to make you visually more comfortable with how little you are eating. Again all foods must be at room temperature. There are medical transportation companies around that will pick you up, get any post-op meds you need and get you settled in your own bed. Check to see in your area. Mine is going to do all that for me for $75.00 which to me is well worth it. I would also either hire a dog walker or board your dog with a reputable person for a few days. Even the little ones tug at the leash which will not feel good on your suture sights. By the way, don't forget to buy your vitamins (liquid or chewable but not gummy bear types) that you will need. Do you have a pillow to hold against your abdomen for coughing and sneezing? Also, you need to walk and cough then walk and cough some more to avoid clots and adhesions. My doctor has written a couple of books that you might find informative or look up some of the books mentioned in FAQ.

Wow, I have one month of pre-op diet to do. Here is mine. Week 4 before operation: Breakfast: Protein shake Snack: No bread. ONE SERVING of raw fruit, raw almonds or nuts or string cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese (all low fat). Lunch: A meal of meat and vegetables (no root veggies) that is less than 300 calories. Snack: Same as above Supper: Same type of meal as Lunch Snack: 1/2 protein shake 64 oz of water or zero-calorie, non-carbonated beverages. Week 3 before operation: Same as week for only one of the meals is replaced with a protein shake. Weeks 1 and 2: 8 oz protein shakes for meals 4 oz protein shakes for snacks. Some doctors want you to be on a clear liquid diet the day before surgery. Didn't you have to go to a nutritionist before you were cleared for surgery? I had to get to have 4 months of medically approved and documented dieting submitted to my surgeon, approval from my insurance company, a psych evaluation, met with a support group at least once, meet with a bariatric nutritionist, general blood work, Resting Metabolic Rate test and a test for h. pylori. I also was highly encouraged to read at least two books on WSL. Guess that is the difference between doctors.

I thought it was too early to start food, but my dr was pretty sure. I am only eating food once a day. I fill in the rest of the day with yogurt and stuff like that. I have lost 28lbs including the pre-op diet (15 post op) hopefully that keeps up!!! Sent from my SM-G930T using BariatricPal mobile app

It might seem like a contradictory action to take, but you may want to experiment with increasing your calories and healthy fat with good choices and see if that makes an impact. There was an article in The New York Times a few months ago about a long-term study of the contestants on the weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser," and how extreme dieting and exercising permanently damaged their metabolisms. Eating too little can be detrimental to your weight loss in the present and the future. When your body isn't getting enough calories to sustain your lifestyle it sort of freaks out to try to protect you. With the amount of vigorous exercise you're doing, you're not really consuming enough calories. So when you're not getting enough food, your body thinks you're going to starve and slows down your metabolism to try to protect you. It's an adaptation method the human body evolved to have back when our ancestors were going through famines. I broke my first month-long stall simply by adding in a daily afternoon latte made with whole milk. I broke my second stall and actually lost weight at a more rapid pace when I was on vacation with my family and not tracking what I ate. I was still being mindful and making reasonable choices, but did have frozen yogurt and the like at times. I think my body took to the extra calories like a car with a tank nearing empty being filled up. Your body can also just stall out because it needs some time to catch its breath. I've had several lengthy stalls, but had exceeded my goal weight by the one-year mark. I then lost another 15 pounds, and have been maintaining that for six months. Slow and steady seems to have helped me with keeping the weight off. Congrats on your weight loss thus far. You lost more in three months than I did in nine.

Do you take vitamins every day? That will help with your energy. Also, if you lose your breath after walking a couple minutes, you should have a check up with your doctor just to make sure you are OK to start a walking routine. Cut out all breads and sugars. Stick with meats, eggs, and veggies (or protein shakes) for your meals. Have nuts and greek yogurt for snacks. No more sweets. No more grazing. There's nothing wrong with drinking decaf iced tea for your fluids. I know it's hard. We have all struggled with food. Get your eating under control and I think you will start to see some changes.

I did not have a barium swallow done. I didn't have GERD issues before surgery just minor heartburn/indigestion caused by what I was eating (which was basically fast food and other crap). I was just saying that I've experienced heartburn before so that's how I know what it feels like. As far as what I eat now - I'm still in soft foods so eggs, fish, chicken (though I havent tolerated it well), yogurt, jello, soups, protein shakes, almond butter, string cheese, lean turkey lunch meat and sweet potatoes. That's about all I've got in rotation these days. I only drink water or watered down gatorade G2. No eating and drinking together. I plan to go to my doctor, I was just wondering if anyone else has had these experiences and if it turned out to be GERD