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I am so happy with my sleeve!! That is an understatement!!!! --Surgery with Dr. Garcia on 4/2 --starting weight preop 238.8 --surgery weight 228 --current weight 1 month out 204.6 --34.2lbs one month out plus preop --I'm mainly concentrating in low carb/high protein and liquids... Not so much on calories but still only eating 600-800per day per fitness pal......As far as exercise I have started the gym yesterday at one mile and light lifting will increase to 2 miles in a week and so on.....will go 3-4 times a week is goal.... My fiancé has now booked a date on July 23rd with Dr garcia for sleeve surgery!!! She is tired of yoyo dieting and over being scared as she has watched and taken care of me on my recovery she is amazed and inspired!....she also wants to do this lifestyle change and commitment with me and feels like we can help eachother through it!! I told her to just be aware as everyone's experience is different...my recovery has been smooth and uneventful and I am very thankful/grateful for that! --Things I'm eating daily... These three items alone guarantees 72g protein per day... --Two protein shakes a day pre made pure protein from Costco... will continue until I'm able to get more from foods in a few months then will I probably will have one a day eventually...30g protein each! Two=60 --Dannon light and fit Greek yogurt 12g protein!! (One a day for me as the protein is awesome--only 80 calories and low in carbs....vanilla strawberry and blueberry best!!) --Snacks I have on hand at all times.... String cheese, SF Popsicles (2-3 per day and they help with liquid intake), flavored water crystal light bottles, eggs for eggs salad, tuna salad, chicken canned for chicken salad, shredded mexi cheese as its lower in fat, refried beans, plain greek yogurt as sour cream substitute... Sliced turkey and deli meat from deli, Cracker Barrel light cheese squares, sf jello, sf pudding, peanut butter, stuff for ricotta bake in muffin tins recipe, babybell cheese circles, Gatorade, cream soups, Lipton chicken noodle soup....today...I'm going to start on soft/solid food and look into emilybites.com for the wonton recipes that are sleeve friendly! Pizza bites, lasagna bites, taco bites, BBQ chicken bites, Hawaiian chicken bites, buffalo chicken bites etc.... I'm also go to try crab this week and ground beef to see how I can do with it!! Anyway just wanted to give an update as I used this site preop and post to get me through!!! It's important to me to give back, so if it can help even one person, it is worth it!! I am committed to this forum and to myself for making this decision and promise to follow up as I progress!!!! Happy Sleeving!!!! No regrets!

My husband had this from taking a particular type of antibiotic for an ingrown toe nail. While they were giving him antibiotics to get rid of it, we made sure he ingested as much yogurt or other yogurt type drink containing active s. thermophilus. He could not get rid of the diarrhea until he added that. The little 'shots' of probiotic drinks often contain it, but he made sure to drink as much as he could. Sorry to hear about all these troubles. At least you have a specific issue that can be fought and fixed. Good luck!

I keep trying not to eat to much at a time (even though I know i could) and am just adding in "snacks" even though doc wants only 3 meals a day I figure a snack is better then overeating and risking slippage of stretching... and its usually something like a fat free string cheese and calories are still hovering around 1000 a day so yeah ... 8 more days... btw I am at work and bored cause the kids are watching a movie but one decided to act up last nite and has to be restricted to his room all day so I have to be in the front administrative part of the building to monitor him so I'm by my self up front and there is a locker FULL of snack food calling out to me and my 6 oz. of yogurt for b-fast are LONG gone and now im just counting minutes till lunch... argh... I babble and whine yet some more

Hi Everyone tomorrow is two weeks and I have moved to Stage 3. Tonight was the best so far, mashed potatos with pureed chicken, a tbsp of gravy and creamed spinach. My finance who is a week behind asked me to eat upstairs LOL. Doing fine with 3-4 meals oer day. Yogurt, egg, smoothies, purred carrots, peas, spinach, peaches, creamer soups. Purred chicken salads. And drinking liquids in between. Starting exercising today and was able to sleep on my stomach last night!!! I think I might go get a massage this weekend :wink2: First fill is July 28th, looking foward to it but I am afaird it is going to hurt, I hate needles and the fear of the unknown is getting to me. Those of you who have had their fill please tell me about it. Kiki220

Drama, drama, drama......story of my life these days with two teenagers in the house. My 16 year old got grounded, so I took her phone away from her, well, she thinks she is smarter than me so she sneaks around and buys herself a "trackphone" or "pay as you go phone" so I wouldn't know about it. I'm not stupid, everytime in the past I have taken her phone, she beggs me for it back, does extra chores etc. This time, she didn't say a word, I could tell it didn't even bother her so I figured she snuck around and got her a phone. Last night I found it hidden under her pillow. SCORE 1 for me! Well, being the concerned mother, I find a lot of text to this one boy that we have forbid her to see, and let me tell you, IT WAS NOT PRETTY AT OUR HOUSE LAST NIGHT! I don't think my daughter will be leaving the house until she is about 20 years old now. I've pretty much grounded her for the rest of her teenage years. Needless to say, with all this drama, I didn't make it to the gym tonight which even made me more mad! Tonight we are having a meeting with our daughter and our Elders from church to finish up our little discussion, so I doubt I will make it tonight, but I might.....depends on how long it last and how emotionally drained I am afterwards. Kids are wonderful, but teenagers........can we shoot them? lol. Wt - 164.8 Menu: Bfast Weight Watchers Mexican Meatloaf - (I know, but I was hungry and this sounded good) Lunch Weight Watchers Mexican Meatloaf - (I can't help it, I love it....and I made it last night so I have leftovers......yum yum) Snack yogurt granola Dinner Weight Watchers Mexican Meatloaf green beans Below is the recipe for my Weight Watchers Mexican Meatloaf: Weight Watchers Mexican Meatloaf – 4 pts per serving 1/2 lb raw extra lean ground beef 1/2 lb raw lean ground turkey breast 2 large egg whites 2 ounces cornbread stuffing mix (about 1 cup) You could also substitute with oatmeal too – I usually do half stuffing and half oatmeal 1 medium onion ½ diced bell pepper 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 4 ounces canned green chili peppers, diced 8 ounces red enchilada sauce Directions Preheat oven to 375 Spray broiler pan with fat free cooking spray. In large bowl, mix all ingredients except 4 oz of the enchilada sauce. Form into a loaf shape with your hands Place on broiler pan. Cook 1 hour Top with the rest of the enchilada sauce. Cook 5 minutes longer Slice and serve. Serving Size 1 (171g) Recipe makes 6 servings Calories 185 Calories from Fat 56 (30%) Amount Per Serving %DV Total Fat 6.3g 9% Saturated Fat 1.9g 9% Monounsaturated Fat 2.4g Polyunsaturated Fat 1.4g Trans Fat 0.2g Cholesterol 53mg 17% Sodium 301mg 12% Potassium 458mg 13% Total Carbohydrate 13.7g 4% Dietary Fiber 2.4g 9% Sugars 2.5g I will for sure get my protein in for today!

Hey everyone! My surgery will be July 22. I start my pre-op diet on July 12 and it is 4 Protein shakes a day plus some yogurt, cottage cheese, Jello, and that's about it. I am terrified of the pre-op diet... I think more so than the surgery itself, LOL.

I got a 6 pk of Isopure Protein drink and have bought them at least 3 more times, drink them even now..I didn't use any of my pkgs of SF Jello, but did stock up on homemade chicken broth - ate the chicken from it later as I chopped the meat up fine and added them to the diet as i progressed. Yogurt and fatfree cottage cheese worked well for me, poached eggs after a couple of weeks, and, like Tiffy, loved the babybel lowfat cheeses (could nibble them to mush slowly early on) I bought way too much protein powders, and have most of them still sitting here 3 months later, so go slow on those, wait til afterwards. Canned broths or soups you can strain out the solids for week 2 are great. Crystal lite - banana strawberry orange is my fav, as we all seem not to enjoy plain Water for quite a while, but do dilute well as they will be too sweet at first. Grape juice and unsweetened applesauce are good at first too! Hope this list is a help!

Unfortunately many parents don't realize the damage they do to their children in regards to weight. Especially around 8-10 years when children are a little more self conscious of their bodies and don't know any better that they're still growing! i was a skinny minny growing up. I do recall my mom calling me fat out of sheer jealousy when I was 16 or so. That lie led me to start believing I was. So I delved into exercise/nutrition. Kept it off till about 8 years ago. My grandmother did the same stuff to my mother, as yours did. So young in age, she put my mom on diets. My mom is still morbidly obese with stage 4 cancer, diabetes, and neuropathy issues. I can honestly believe that if the parents were to not have made weight the issue, or suggest bikeriding (as you said), you and my mother would have turned out quite different. I don't do this with my kids. They're young, 3,7, & 12. I heard my stepdaughter mention something about calories in a yogurt. I told her she had no business worrying about that because her body is still growing. I make it a point to not share my struggles out loud or with my kids as well. They don't even know about my surgery. I'm sorry you had to go through that. It hits hard for me because of where my mom is in her life that started in childhood.

If I never have anything chocolate or strawberry flavored again it'll be too soon :-/ lol. I'm doing OK, I'm on day 5 of 10 day pre-op liquid diet. I can have fat free cottage cheese, yogurt, & sugar free Popsicles too, and broth. I find myself getting excited about some broth & cottage cheese, lol.

I have lost and gained the same 3 lbs since my 1st fill in the end of September. Of course I'm due for TOM in 4 days so I can already feel the bloating. Is it ridiculous that I'm worried I'll "get in trouble" for not losing when I go in tomorrow? The thought of being scolded my the dr. makes me cringe. I've quit doctors for that kind of thing, and I really like this group! I haven't been 100%. I've been eating more than I should. Not necessarily "bad" foods, just too much. We do have pizza once or twice a month, and I make sure to order it with half veggies so I can have 1 slice that's loaded with veggies. But 3 meals a day at 1 cup each isn't holding me, and even a lowfat cheesestick or fat free greek yogurt between meals doesn't make me get through. I am worried that my split sleep schedule is making the recommended meal times unrealistic for me. I'm up at 4am and at work by 5am. Have Breakfast when I get to work at 5am. So by 8 or 9 am I am really hungry. I have a cheese stick. Then an hour or 2 later I'm really hungry- loudly gurgling and feeling sick to my stomach from the hunger again. If I drink a big glass of Water when I'm feeling like that it actually makes the feeling worse, after 5 minutes I'm twice as hungry as I was before. So lunch at about 10am. Home at 1pm, snack of another cheese stick or 1/2 cup of chili or something like that. Nap until 5pm. dinner with the family around 6 or 630. Then by 9 I'm super hungry again. I'm about cheese sticked out. I'm up until midnight so I've got to have a little something or I toss and turn and don't get sleep because of the gurgling stomach/nausea from hunger. I'm getting 1000 - 1200 cal/day. Drinking my water. Just hungry. And if I let myself get too hungry it's so easy to eat too fast or not chew enough and then ouch. so I've been going down and up and down and up by the same 3 stinking pounds. I've got to re-vamp the way I'm doing something, just not sure how to exactly. Anyone else have a ridiculous schedule that can share advice with me?

Beverly, Thanks for the compliment. My typical day is: Breakfast shake w/ 2 scoops of protein mix, 1 Dannon fit and lite yogurt and 3 oz skim milk which is 325 calories and lots of protein, around 59 grams Lunch is normally a can of tuna, the snack size (3oz) with ff mayo and pickle relish 155 calories Dinner protein shake 2 scoops, no yogurt, 3 oz skim milk 265 calories 2 sugar free popsicles for snacks and 2 gallons, yep 2, of crystal light/water Not real exciting, but it works for me.

I love both!! I just made sf jello and stirred the nonfat cottage cheese into it--tastes great. I have used yogurt plain for sour cream bases, like topping baked potatoes, in Mexican dishes and salads, also as the milk part of a serving of granola or cereal. The taste grows on you--did not know if I would like it with some foods, but after trying them I find I really do like to eat it as part of a meal. The nonsugar fruit jams are great mixers for the plain yogurt.

It is very mild, i guess similar to mozzarella cheese. Without anything added in it is not sweet, sour or tangy. It is very neutral which is why some people like it paired with fruit and jellies or jams, while other people (me!) like it with salty stuff like crackers. Now, unlike cream cheese or yogurt it is not a smooth texture but I really like it that way. Just try it! If you don't like it then you know

Cottage cheese with seeded cucumber n seeded tomatos with salt n pepper is the BOMB!! Also, I used plain non-fat greek yogurt with a bit of sugar free jelly is delicious!!

My Dr says no fruit or yogurt etc in the pre opp! It's very strict, water + protein powder + anything sugar free flavoring wise & then 4 oz of meats, cheeses or eggs.

You don't have to do protien powders. You can use tofu, milk, and fruit to make a shake. If you are drinking milk or eating yogurt and eating fish/lentils/meat, you may be already getting enough protien

I am about 2.5 weeks post-op and started 'mushies' this past week - scrambled egg chopped up, tuna salad chopped up, tilapia chopped up, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, yogurt (plain or vanilla), sugar free or fat free pudding, creamed soups, creamed spinach, baby pastina, cream of farina, ricotta cheese... They told me to put whatever I was eating in a 4 oz dixie cup and then dump it on the plate to eat. I barely finish 1/2 of it but most is staying down...

Hi All! I am scheduled April 30th and am supposed to begin my pre op diet tomorrow. I swear, I am going to go back to school and become a dietitian. I had my pre op appointment last week and she told me to start the liquid diet "around the 22nd, a week b-4 surgery". She was not entirely clear about it and the whole day was alot of info to absorb. So I called today, b/c if I start on the 22nd, it would be 9 days, but a week is 7 days, and you know - PLEASE, DON'T MESS WITH A FAT GIRLS EATING!! If I did 9 days, and found out I had to do it for only 7, well that would be tragic! When I called today, she said I should be on it for 10 days & to start today! I still need to go to the grocery store!! So, I think I would like to go to school & become a dietitian, so I can get a job at a weight loss clinic to advise people like me! Because I get it! Any way, here is my pre op diet: 4 Protein drinks daily Include 6 servings per day from the following: 1 cup tomato or v-8 juice 1/2 cup hot Cereal 1 cup sugar free pudding 6 ounces low-sugar yogurt 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce fat free raw vegtables Water or sugar free beverages as needed HMMMM... the hot cereal would include warming up some coco krispies?? I could handle that haha!! Oh, I hope I can do this! I am so glad that others feel the same!! and are being successful too! it is so encouraging! Everytime I have doubts I come to this web site ! I love it too! good luck to all! :rolleyes2:

hi guys - don't be scared. i was as well, and pearly girl makes a point that i once made -- if we were so in control of what we eat, we wouldn't be getting the surgery. be creative in what you make -- i lived on Water, ensure, Soups, and yogurt & fruit smoothies. another thing that might help you through it is that you can't think of this like the end of eating. when i was on my liquid diet, and on the days before i started it, i felt like... oh my god, this is it.. i had better eat everything i want to before the surgery... but you'll get to eat stuff after the surgery. the only thing i'd say to get in if you're really in love with it are big bready things and maybe some sticky rice dishes. though, before your first fill, you'll probably be able to eat a lot with no problem. everyone is different. good luck!

I'm 6 days out and am on essentially full liquids: Protein shakes, tomato Soup, broth, smooth yogurt, Water, are my staples. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You will get through it... We had to loose 10% of our weight before the insurance company would authorize payment. It was a sign of good faith and intention. Surgery is a tool not a cure all like I it went in thinking (like lipo or something like that) lol. I learned processed foods have no business in my house, let along in my body or kids. Also, I am a pretty awesome cook. Something I forgot after having a bunch of babies and letting my husband start cooking lol. Now I didn't give up food just food with no real purpose. You need to get ready to take in at least 60g+ of protein a day in a tiny tummy. I did have random cheat days but knew what the goal was. Oh and cheat day i mean BBQ =extra proteins lol. An example of my dinner before would be baked chicken breast Cup of broccoli with a bit of Italian dressing in it (kids live it) and only a couple spoonfuls of Rice o Roni (carb are bad). I gave up soda pop a while ago and I'm glad I did. I can only imagine what pain I'd be in if I drank it today. Breakfast heck I ate bacon and eggs (egg whites are less calories) and bacon but only 2-3strips not half the lbs like before. Yogurt and Greek yogurt were good for snack for lunch I had a bunch of light Progresso Soups and salad or sandwiches. Keep in mind some of the store bought salads can have as many calories as Burger so watch the calorie content. You're better off making it yourself and can probably do it better and dress it up by throwing your own grilled chicken or steak from the night before....I'd Google some 1400cal diet recipes and go from there. You got this

This post is common - I have no idea how you can eat a 14 oz steak after this surgery I am lucky if i can eat 4oz. You are at a crossroads, same position most of us hit. You are head hungry not really hungry, sorry seems brutal but once the shock and awe was over you are losing the battle in your head not your stomach. My view is you need a nutritionist or a deep study into nutrition. The surgery is a tool it shrunk your stomach by 85% and removed the nerves that made you feel hungry. Couple of things you did not mention you should be filling up on Protein Shakes Loaded with vitamins and supplements. This will make you feel incredible without calories. I am out about 120 days and there is not a chance in hell i would try and eat steak or any solid hard food. I suggest you set a daily routine - If you read around here there are a ton of people who have posted there Routine. here is mine set by a Paid Nutritionist 1. Breakfast - 10 oz protien shake 30g protien 20 Calories, Two heaping Yogurt spoon fulls Vitamin Powder and Supplement Powder. I also add a few pieces of fruit for taste - 8 blueberrys or 3 cut peaches or a few strawberrys- You drink this over 30 min and no way you are hungry! 2. 10:00 Am - A Protien Bar - High end good quaility Bar - If i need it usually dont 3. Lunch - This is a tough one for me due to work so usually - Handful of peanuts, granola or maybe some chuncked fish or turkey 4. 2:00 Here comes another Protien shake - Usually add Peanut butter or some other funky Yogurt etc 5. 5:30 By dinner i am whipped so really have no desire to eat, usually skip about half the time - Scallops, Shrimp, Fish or a simple protein, Side is usually some small veggie 6. 40oz water a day - I CAN SAY I HATE WATER BUT IT IS A KEY TO FLUSHING OUT AND KEEPING THE KETOSIS GOING. i have this down where i can adjust my loss from .05 pounds per day up to 3/4 a day - I am also very active so that really helps me out. Summary - You have completed step one the surgery - Step two is the diet and intake - The mind is brutal on this surgery and head games to me are harder then the dang surgery to me - You said size i have gone from a size 50 pants to 42 currently and this is the reward! We all were food addicted no doubt - THe US is freakin disgusting with how we eat, Huge portions, all processed and filled with sugar. Good luck and you will get it - I have stalled a few times due to Vodka and M and M's so its not like your alone

Yogurt is listed under mushy on my post op list. Dr's are different so definitely double check w yours

your dr. must have a different definition of liquids. yogurt was also a mushy/pureed food per my post op list. just to be sure, call the office to confirm that applesauce is ok.

Hi, that is my day too. My sister and are both scheduled for March 24th. 10 day pr-op diet today. Sounds like between some of your, 3 protein shakes and up to 2 cups of cottage shees, yogurt, applesauce, etc. Nervous!