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At 7 weeks out, my dietary restrictions were gone so it was "whatever you can tolerate". That said, I am the WORST about remembering ANYTHING, but I will list a few of my fav's below. I will say that I was still really sticking to Protein at this point. String cheese sticks, pepperoni stix, salmon, shrimp, lunch meat/cheese roll ups, Fage greek yogurt (w/ fruit mixed in....couldn't stand the plain any way I tried it), chicken salad, tuna salad, eggs, eggs, eggs! I ate boiled eggs, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, deviled eggs....(picture Forest Gump talking about shrimp...tee hee). Eggs were my friend during this stage and thankfully they agreed with me b/c I loved them. Now that said, I did eat anything else I wanted in moderation and just tried little bits and pieces of what hubby and kids had (after I had eaten my protein) mainly to see what I could tolerate. Slowly came to realize that there wasn't a lot that I couldn't have. Just came down to getting in protein and Water and then making sure I was stopping when satisfied and not getting stuffed.

Hi Emlefe; Sad that this has not been an easy recovery thus far. Good news is that you are reaching out at all. Remember you are not alone. I too had a lactose intolerance (I love cheese) but grew out of it at about month four. Looking back, I can tell you that those first couple of weeks, I thought - "Did I know VSG was going to be this difficult? Was I really prepared for the changes?" Things you need to understand - things are different now. Your taste buds have changed, what you can eat has changed, what you can tolerate has changed, your body has changed - in reality you are searching for a new normal. Total assurance that you will find a new normal. Most likely this will take several months which is why we call this a journey. Have you ever had a horrid vacation and now you can look back and see the humor or at least laugh at how you survived? Equate this with the VSG journey. Some bad days or weeks and some good days. You are still healing, so you are eating to survive. You are eating to allow your stomach time to heal. I used the lactose free milk in my decaf tea. In time slowly a new normal will emerge. You will be able to eat non sickingly sweet foods. You will be able to have tuna, vinegar, tomatoes and all else your brain is screaming for now. Call your doctor in the morning and see if you can move to the mushy phase. If yes, puree the (*^% out of some tuna with a little plain greek yogurt - if your diet plan allows to satisfy your tastebuds. Also - have you tried just eating some plain chicken broth? I used Lipton Chicken Soup - the dried kind and threw out the noodles. Added in roasted chicken for addl flavor and then pulled it out. NUMMY after all that fake sugary thick shakes. If you like Starbucks and surgeon okay's - try a Decaf Latte, soy milk...or if too costly make your own version at home. There are some good online replacement foods besides sugary stuff. Google Barriatric foods. Expensive, but a lot cheaper than groceries. Lastly, do you have any VSG diet plan from your doctor? Google VSG diet plan and a whole bunch will come up. Read those for tips before talking to your doc tomorrow and see what you can have that is not on your diet plan. In a few months, try adding back in a food like dairy. The sun will come out soon. At 6 months it was as if I almost never had surgery minus the totally new body. Give yourself time to heal and don't think what is happening now is forever. Hugs to being willing to open up. Hope my words have comforted you in some small way.

A bad case of the blues is really common at your stage! The anesthesia and pain meds mess with your system, and as you start to burn fat quickly, that sends stored hormones coursing through your bloodstream, so you're going to be MOODY with a capital M. Hang in there, it gets so much better! Many people also find their tastebuds go through an adjustment period as well. You may find you can tolerate things later that taste like yuck now. You might try diluting the shakes more so they're not as sweet. I also add some salt to mine, which helps to cut the sweet. Adding plain unsweetened yogurt (well diluted) might also help. If you're thinking you might be lactose intolerant, try almond or soy milk. Can you add unflavored protein to well thinned soup? One of my favorites in the liquid stage was cream of potato soup. Hang in there, it gets so much better!!

Sugar / carb. I'm so down with yogurt bites.

Im going to share something I discovered, which you may not know if you don't have children. I've read several people on here in the soft/liquid/puree phases who miss texture and crunch. In the baby section there is something called "yogurt bites" basically its little wafers of freeze dried yogurt. They are crunchy BUT dissolve on your tongue and melt. So, it may help satisfy that need for something crunchy. They taste YUMMY by the way. Also would be good for those further along who just want a healthy crunchy snack. 1/4 a cup is only 30 calories!

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

AAAH, Summer time my absolute favorite time of year!!! So with Memorial Day weekend being the official kick-off to summer my weekend was packed full of BBQ's, pool time and hanging with friends and family. I love everything about summer, the sun, water, bbq's and just the overall laid back feeling you get during this time of year. However, this will be the FIRST summer I've been healthy in like 11 years so I've been planning away and our schedule is looking pretty busy:-) I've learned some lessons this weekend in regards to needing modifications for my new life. During all the festivities of this past weekend and when looking at my upcoming calendar I realized some modifications have to be made for me to stay on track and be accountable. It comes down to the fact that I simply wasn't properly prepeared. When we have get togethers we go all out and by that I mean endless spreads of BBQ, buckets of potato and pasta salads, baked beans, chips & dips, and desserts galore. I found myself surrounded by wonderful food and friends which is great but I quickly realized that if I'm not careful and not properly prepared this could be a very difficult time for me. The lesson learned is that it's much easier to get distracted about what's on your plate when you're comfortable and when everyone is setting around the table talking you're not paying as much attention to how quickly you're eating or as concious of what you're putting on your plate. I knew all of this going into it I was the one planning the menu for goodness sake, and I thought oh no problem, I've been around all this before and did just fine, but I learned I can't wing it like that. I have to be better prepared. I planned it so that I saved a majority of my calories for the dinner. I had a yogurt for breakfast and a protein bar for lunch and then we had a late lunch/dinner. I had some BBQ meat, my recommeneded amount, a TLB of each of pasta salad and beans, which I think is all fine, BUT the thing that I think got me the most is that I found myself later that evening picking on things as I would walk by, not making a plate, but you know 4-5 chips here or there, a couple M&M's here and there and then later that eveing was dessert, so I made 4 different kinds of mini cheesecakes and think I handled it "responsibly" by taking 1/4 of each one on my plate to make a whole (these were the mini muffin sized cakes). Again, I think this is fine everything in moderation, HOWEVER, I can see that I need to be better prepared, I can't do this every weekend for the whole summer, that's NOT moderation. Today, I feel terrible, stressing out in fact even though I didn't eat nearly the fraction of what I would have without the band I know I could have made better choices. This isn't typical fo rme and I don't like the way it makes me feel. I've come too far!!! I don't want to have to worry about every little thing I put in my mouth but lets be honest we have to be accountable for every little thing we put in our mouths because if we don't before we know it, it sprials out of control. I'm not one who likes to be restricted by the band, meaning I don't want to be so tight that I'm getting sick to stop eating. I have very little fluid in because I want the band to give me that full signal but not the full restriction so I have to take full control of the situation now and start making a pre-game plan which means, Making some menu modifications now and then (at least for myself) by grilling leaner meats like chicken, turkey and shrimp vs. pulled pork and pork ribs, pork pork and more pork:-) Modifying my side dishes like coleslaw without the "typical" dressing more like an asian coleslaw that is a much lighter dressing, instead of potato salad maybe a veggie tray, or a tomato, cucumber salad, instead of crazy desserts how about some fresh strawberries or peaches with a dab of cool whip etc. Again I know it's about everything in moderation and I don't think I did terrible and I feel it's ok to treat yourself ONCE IN A WHILE but if I see this in my every weekend summer schedule then these changes have to be in place. Whewww ok now that that's out there, how did you kick-off the summer?

So, I just got back from my first ever trip to Trader Joes.... Awesome little store. Although small, it had a ton of variety. I got some stuff for the family that I wouldn't normally buy for my self (cookie butter, triple ginger snaps), but I also got some good food at good prices. nuts, dried fruit, prosciutto, mozzarella, greek yogurt kale dip, artichoke hummus, and some frozen veggies (soy Beans, spinach). told the check out guy that it was my first trip, and was rewarded with a free reusable bag!!! awesome.

What do you add to your chicken and tuna salads? I thought of adding sour creme? or maybe unflavored yogurt, then again the low fat mayo would probably be more to my liking. Do you add veggies to it..like onion, pickles, eggs?

Hello... I use Pure Protein Vanilla Creme & mix in sugar free jello's or puddings to make different flavors..some of my favorites are s/f chocolate pudding with 2 tbsp of peanut butter or s/f pistachio pudding with almond flavoring added to 12 oz of water, some ice and 1 scoop of the protein powder...Have tried many other combinations like s/f orange jello (creamsicle), s/f lemon pudding...this morning I tried s/f chocolate pudding with a packet of chocolate raspberry truffle instant coffee and it was really good...you can also add greek yogurt to boost protein from 25g to 39g...Prior to my nutrition appointment I always used Atkins but I found this to be much less $ and more tasty and doesn't leave the after taste.

Update Post-Op Day 11: YES scrambled eggs are the BOMB!!!! Add some FF cheddar cheese on top and POW! I cried yesterday as I ate it. Have to say something about My Fitness Pal (MFP) app. IT IS A MUST FOR ME!!!!!! I can't say enough about how easy it is to use and how it keeps me on track for Water too. I use it every meal and it helps me decide if I need anymore Protein which isn't always easy to track. I also will put in a meal and then save it as one of my meals and then I can easily add all the items at once instead of individually adding each item. Using the UPC scanner to add food is awesome. I just hit the UPC button and let it scan my yogurt and BAM information is added! If you don't use it give it a try and you will be glad.

I’m exactly one week post-op and pretty tired of being on a liquid diet, starting to hate the taste of yogurt lol. I feel pretty good and have had very little pain, nausea and I'm feeling like I can move on the pureed foods already. I been eating mashed potatoes but been craving pureed meats, but I’m afraid that I may need to stay on this liquid diet the doctor wants me on post-op for another week. I feel that I have recouped very well and possibly faster than others from surgery so far and feel my ability to start on the purred diet is possible even a week after surgery. I guess I want to get back to eating solids ASAP. So my question is can I or should I start experimenting with purred foods only one week after surgery or is this a no no?

I had to same problem. I do my workout 5 in the morning. Its too early for me to eat so I just drink my protein shake. But I will have kind of fruit (usually a banana),milk and either yogurt or peanut butter for more protein. Once I started this, I was fine. My NUT told me it was my sugar levels. I needed eat something.

I dunno...do I just cut an paste the code created on LilySlim.com? Well, here goes.... <a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swlf.lilyslim.com/NkNXm8.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight loss tickers" /></a> <a href="http://lilyslim.com/"><img src="http://swlf.lilyslim.com/NkNXm8.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="LilySlim Weight loss tickers" /></a> If anyone can lend some advise on how to put this ticker in my blog, profile, signature or wherevers, I'd be grateful. Well, it has been one week since my VSG surgery on 1/17/12. I stopped pain meds night before last. Feel really good. Can bend over and pick things up off the floor with out too much abdominal discomfort. Slept well without meds last night. I feel the need to get moving! Will go for a nice long slow walk tomorrow and even drive tomorrow. So excited. So glad, so happy. I put beneprotein in everything, well except water. However, the only 'everything' I've had since surgery is protein shakes, yogurt, strained miso soup, and tonight my buddy gave me a packet of dried hot sour soup, which I strained, and I put 2 scoops in 8oz. Have only drank 4 ozs of it for one meal today (saving the rest for next meal). Not at all physically hungry. Mentally hungry? No not much, but heck I wouldn't dare jeopardize anything to thwart the success of my weight loss goals with my new sleeved tool! I would like to thank having to take chewable vitamins for getting to chew and crunch on something.

Hi I To Used Dr. Spivak. He Made Me Wait 1 Month Before My First Fill. Before That I Felt I Had Liitle If No Restriction. I Even Had A Slice Of Pizza. But Then I Had A Fill 1.3 The First Time In A 4cc Band. Always Ask How Much In Your Fill. It Worked Good After About Three Days. It Was Tight And I Was Limited In How Much I Ate. Yogurt. Cream Of Wheat Vegetables. Then 7 Weeks Later I Had Another Fill. I Asked His Assitant To Be A Little Aggressive With The Fill Since I Had Only Lost 16 Pounds. From 217 To 201. She Granted My Wish And Again After A Few Days I Was Extremly Tight. Only Able To Drink Shakes And Soup Or Creamed Veggies. I Know Some To Not Think This Is A Good Idea But My Daughters Wedding Was In 6 Months So I Really Wanted It. I Am So Happy That I Did. It Was Not Up Until Then Did I Realise That Before I Did Eat Alot During The Day. Grazing. I Really Believed I Did Not Eat That Much. I Also Learned To Chew My Food And Eat Very Slow. I Also Learned What Slim Means An Pb Means . I Am Down 71 Pounds With Only 6 More To Goal Weight And I Have Done It Since Jan. 25,2006 I Really Thank Dr. Spivak For His Help

I was also told not to lift anything heavier than about 5lbs for 3 months. Or lift weights or do abdominal exercises. Walking and light arm weights for exercises are fine...the little ones! Also, due to infflamation you should have some restriction...I know i s till do have some and it has been since Nov, 7! I am just now getting down a few very mushy foods, but mostly still on anything I can drink through a straw. I do not feel real hunger because I am eating lots of Protein now,,,I add extra Protein powder to my shakes. smoothies and smoothie ice creams that I make. I also add protein to unsweetened yougurt and a bit of fruit and stevia to sweeten...yummy and good for you! If you can get the low fat greek style yogurt it feels like you are really sinning! I also have added a bit of powdered unsweetened cocoa powder to yougurt or smoothies and feel like I am sinning , but I am not! So now that I am at 60 grms of protein or a bit more...I feel good:clap2: Also, I am using a baby spoon to eat these things and it takes time and I feel satisfied. Anything too chunky I still cannot eat...and I am not supposed to... so hang in there you will do great!

Hi Bullit - I hope your port area is feeling better. My port is about 4" under my left boob, seems low to me - I hope it doesn't drift to my thigh as I get thinner! Yes, I also felt weak the 1st two weeks or so - our bodies are in shock, and having hardly any carbs or calories does make you weak, that too gets better as our bodies adjust, adding just a bit of soft foods (tofu, hummus, yogurt) has helped me. Are you drinking your protein? You should try and get at least 60 gms a day. I've been doing pretty good on drinking my water, and you will find as your post op swelling goes down it is easier to swallow, though I think the post op swelling gives us a feel as to what a fill will feel like (?) I know when I go back to work, next week, getting all my water in will be harder to do. I was banded in Mexico (DR. Rumbaut) and have my follow up/fill Dr. Fox, not too far from me in Tacoma. Hang in there - We are doing great!!!

The pill that is "stuck", may actually be stuck, or it dissolving may have caused some serious irritation. I would try a sip or 2 of warm liquids, see if that helps it. If it stays down, then wait another 30-45 minutes, and try a couple more sips. At that point if things stay down, I'd try some yogurt, or SF pudding...to maybe help coat things a bit. If you bring up the fluids, or are still hurting, it might be time to call the Dr. for advice. Most times when I eat something that I get stuck it is not the food that was offending, it was me and how I ate it. Think big bite, chew chew swallow. NOT a good bandster!!! When I do that a few sips of pineapple juice usually help it break down and pass on through. Getting stuck, is when you have too much food, or too big of a bite, or the food has worked its way into a form that will not pass through the stoma---the part of the stomach where the band is placed...the tightest area. My list of cannot eat foods is short---the only thing I won't try again is a yeast donut....I took one bite, it grew to be the size of a dozen donuts it felt like!!! I PB'd that one! Have no desire to repeat that! I have foods I need to be careful with. Watermelon, I have to take itsy bitsy tiny bites, and can only eat a little bit. I think it is too much like eating and drinking together! If I eat Pasta, I have to eat something with it. I cannot sit down for instance and eat more than 2-3 bites of a bowl of fettucine. But if I add some grilled chicken and veggies, I can eat 3 times that. I think it is because as Tracy said early on, the glutens break down and get gummy, and then swell up...the other foods give it something to work with as it digests. So yes I eat pasta and rice, just carefully. Actually eating these foods keeps me in line and eating properly! I have no problem with meat, when it is freshly cooked, reheated it is usually just not moist enough. Most snack foods are fine, popcorn included. Bread, I can eat, but choose not to eat a lot of it. I have to do it like my pasta, with other things. I cannot (I guess, never really tried it!!!) eat a plain slice of bread, but can eat a sandwich. I can in no way eat a whole sandwich though, so choose to add most of my meat and cheese, and fold over, and still manage about half of it. Now please don't any of you take this the wrong way---it is meant as encouragement for you too. If you scroll back through the last few pages as an example, and scan through the posters, many of them are newly banded. Not all, but many. I had times through the 2 fills I have had, where I was tighter, and had more issues with food. I have found what I believe to be my sweet spot now, and have restriction, but am able to eat most anything in moderation, and do just that. I would imagine, as each of you get further along in the banding experience, you can and cannot eat lists will change a bit. As has been mentioned sometimes it changes from morning to night!! Hang in there, and you will find out what YOUR band likes and doesn't like---today---and will work on tomorrow, tomorrow! Kat

Donna, Be careful with fast food. The McDonalds fruit and yogurt has tons of calories, its awful. I looked it up and I remember its real high. When in doubt, order brothy soups, no creamed soups, lots of fat. Good luck.

Seems like every other time i have a "meal" my stomach hurts when i take a small bite or a few seconds after the bite. Tomorrow i will be two weeks out and can start pureed foods. So I'm on yogurt blended cottage cheese, Soup, Water.. you get it. Did it take anyone else a while before they stopped hurting during meals. I'm starting to think I'm never going to be able to eat without being in discomfort.

I drink up until my first bite as well and typically wait at least 45 minutes before drinking anything more then a sip to rinse my mouth. Immediately post op for the first month I used the Bariatric Advantage Protein powder, but have after I got on soft foods, I switched to a single ready to go Protein shake (Premier Protein from Costco) which I drink halfway between Breakfast and lunch. I didn't puree anything either (puree actually wasn't on my plan) - for me it was 3 days of Clear liquids, then 2 weeks of full liquids, then 2 weeks of soft foods, then back to regular food as tolerable. As far as Snacks, at this stage I find I do need to snack a bit between meals in order to get in my recommended protein. A snack for me is usually something like a cheese stick or a Danon Light and Fit yogurt (12g protein,80 cal!) My surgery team didn't outlaw caffeine out right, just to cut back. Immediately after surgery I didn't have any caffeine until I was on regular foods. At this point I usually have one Americano every other day or so. I use Crystal light powder or other flavor liquids in my Water.. post op I find I can't drink water as well when it is plain. For movies, I only get a water, and maybe take in a Protein Bar and eat half of it. I'm staying away from popcorn until I get to my goal.

Sophiespo, don't beat yourself up. You are not bteaking up w food, just changing the abusive co-dependent relationship w it. There are plenty of healthy softer foods that can go down too. Greek yogurt, soft cooked veggies, veggie soup, boiled meat(like the meat in mexican restaurants), stews, tuna fish...etc.. I cannot eat any of my favorites any more since my last fill. And I am a food lover, my whole family is. You will mourn but when your britches feel loose and you start to feel a collar bone, or like me, when I sit on the back of my bike and I'm not squished all over my husband, and he notices, then that starts to taste really good, alot better than my pizza & porkchops. Oh yeah, baked, mater sauce, mozzarella, boiled ground sausage tastes really good, and is easily swallowed too.

Funny you should ask... just today I tracked 1/2 cup yogurt (not a big deal) AND 1/2 a clementine! Yes, 1/2 a clementine, which I might add, had no protein but is yummy!

You could also try Greek fat free plain yogurt with extract and Splenda. I've tried vanilla extract, but there are sooo many flavors out now. Skim plus milk has a lot of Protein, I've used it in ff/sf instant pudding, and baby food Cereal (I've always loved baby food cereal, I get the whole grain ones) Egg beaters can be used raw as they are pasteurized, so can be added to smoothies. There is also an egg white Protein powder, supposed to be tasteless, only 1g carbs and 24 g protein. I'm getting unflavored but also comes in choc./vanilla. If I'm figuring I could use it in anything, even sprinkled on whatever I'm eating. I haven't tried it yet, but will, next week, when my local Vitamin shop gets it in. Just some ideas that helped me in that phase, hope they help someone else, too.

Thank u guys, I am on mushy foods n I have been eating beans, mash potatoes, yogurts, jellos, puddings, teas, water, broth, cheese,bananas, n eggs even sf popsicles n sf ice creams. But i feel like I need more. I made chicken soup for dinner but i can only drink the broth