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Do you ever use Greek yogurt for the dip instead, I'm not up on cals. Does sour cream have less? Also, have you ever tried the 100 cal packs of wholly guacamole ( I actually like the walmart brand better). It is excellent for dipping veggies in and a good fat. Yeah, I do the lower cal lean cuisine or smart one meals a few times a week too. Like 230 cals or so since I'm 3 plus years out. I eat Special K Protein cereal with soy or skim milk ( just enough to "wet" it. some mornings I love mini babybel light cheeses. 50 cals. And sometimes just grab a couple of these for breakfast.

I'm on day 5 of my post op (had it on the 10th), and I find I get hungry more frequently. I'm still doing liquid, but now with the yogurt, sugar free pudding, Soup, etc. I get through about 1/2 or so of the yogurt and it makes me satisfied, but about 1/2 hour - 1 hour later, my tummy is growling again. Is that normal? I feel like I shouldn't be having a growling tummy already LOL I hope this isnt an indication for what is going to come. I don't want to go back to how I was eating before....

Any suggestions for the "Creamy" stage? I move onto that tomorrow. Looking forward to some scrambled eggs with shredded cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese but would welcome any suggestions. Tired if this full liquid stage already. I'm post-op day 16. Thank you in advance!

I haven't posted here since I joined this group and wanted to let everyone know that I am 1 week post op and I'm feeling great. The first few days were a little tough, not really that painful but just uncomfortable and lethargic. I started feeling a lot better yesterday and today even better. Tomorrow I'm seeing my surgeon and he is removing the drain (thank god - the drain is the worst part). I have lost 7 lbs in 7 days, which is nice. The first few days just even sips of liquid were hard to get down. But every day I'm able to ingest a little more. I am in the full liquids stage and I am allowed Protein drinks, yogurt (plain or vanilla or anything whipped without fruit chunks), cream of wheat (not a fan), pudding, Jello, ice pops. When I first came home the doctor told me to make hydration my priority and nutrition second. Today is the first days I could say that I have taken care of both. I had 2 Protein shakes and a plain greek yogurt which adds up to 78 grams of protein! I make my Protein Drinks with powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury (20g/protein) and Smart Balance Lactose Free Milk (10g/protein). I have also drank some Water with lemon and some decaf coffee. I really feel good. I have no hunger at all, but I do miss food a little bit. But I truly couldn't possible ingest anything if I wanted to so that makes it rather easy. Today I even went to the supermarket and walked up and down all the aisles just to get in some extra walking (while picking up a few things that I needed for the family). I just made dinner for them also and the food doesn't bother me or even appeal to me at all. Anyway, for all of those who are almost at your surgery, or are a few days past, I wanted to tell you that it is not that difficult to get through and it really gets better everyday. Just say what i say to anyone who asks how you're feeling....Better than yesterday, not as good as tomorrow! Take care sleevers! You can do it!

I was told by my surgeon that basically after the band is on, it is filled a little bit already. She doesnt think I will need a fill, but I most likely will get one. My surgeon had me eating yogurt without seeds, and tomato soup, and protein shakes the morning after surgery, because she needed to make sure that I could swallow and what not. I would say, if your hungry, eat a cracker, and make it really musy, or even eat an egg. I know its hard, but remember, its a short period of time before its too late, and express to your surgeon that look, your breastfeeding, and it takes a lot of energy for you to do so. Tell him or her that your feeling lightheaded or something to express the fact that this is really hard for you. I told my surgeon it was hard for me to be on a skim milk diet for 3 weeks prior to surgery, and she told me to eat a yogurt, or a cracker when I took my pills, I did and I still lost 19 pounds. So, hang in there, and were all here to support you.

20-40 grams per day if I'm on the high side it is because of yogurt.

I tried the activia cottage cheese. I HATED the consistancy. It was thick and pasty, but the yogurt wasn't bad. I haven't tried the yogurt again since being banded. I too have a problem with constipation. My doctor said I wasn't getting enough water. So I upped my water. I also learned that lemon water is helpful. Doctor also asked if I was eating citrus. I said no, I had cut it out because of the sugar and the pithy parts of the fruit. He suggested getting fresh grapefruit. Only 3 - 4 sections at a time or serving. Slice off the pithy part where the seeds are and peel off the fibrous part and eat them peeled. I started doing this at breakfast every morning. The last two days I've had a MUCH easier time going to the bathroom. It was like pre-band days. No effort or strain. What a difference!! I will try the activia as well. there is nothing as miserable as irregularity.

Has anyone tried the frozen entree by Angelo's that is Eggplant and Chicken Parmesan? It is so good! I eat 1/2 for lunch one day and the other 1/2 the next day. I usually have a yogurt with it too. My doctor said the Lean Cuisine's are okay, but its hard finding some without pasta or rice.

Hi Beverly, Welcome to LBT! Of course the answer to your question is "follow your doctor's instructions"! In my experience, though, if you're already on protein shakes that means you're in the "full liquids" phase. That would include pretty much anything that goes through a straw--soups, smoothies, yogurt, puddings--things like that. To my mind that definitely allows for putting a banana in a blender with liquid. So what do your doctor's instructions say?

Sugar free frozen yogurt, make a smoothie, if you go to a medical store or health food section you should find sugar free cake for diabetics, and a little piece of that wouldn't be bad. I can not lie I went to the frozen yogurt place in town and about 2 oz of the REAL deal for a treat for my birthday. Just the yogurt, no toppings or anything. It was a nice treat, although I did get a sugar headache and wolnt do that again for a while!

So, I got a speeding ticket this morning. Isn't that super awesome!! :thumbup: Honestly though, I was going 76 mph in a 60 mph zone, so I totally deserved it. The only thing that makes me mad about the whole thing is that that motorcycle cop is there EVERY morning and I KNOW BETTER! Oh well, it is what it is. I'm feeling much better today! The respiratory infection has faded for the most part. Jazzercise was tough last night, but I definitely felt better when it was over. It is nice to be in enough shape that I don't feel like I'm killing myself the first day back after a break! Today I'm taking it up a notch and I'm doing my 2 mile hill run at lunch and Jazzercise tonight. I only have a non-running lunch work out tomorrow (maybe the bike?) so I should be able to push it out today. I was hungry yesterday. After breakfast, it didn't take too long until I was hungry for lunch. We went to Mi Cocina to meet my parents and I was worried that I would need to eat too much. But my mom & I shared a nacho plate and I ate three nachos with sour cream and guacamole. So, not too bad. In fact, it held me until very late in the afternoon and I didn't get hungry until about 4pm when I had some greek yogurt. I was a little hungry when I went to Jazzercise, but it wasn't horrible. When I got home, I fixed goodies for dinner. (My niece's favorite meal is what she calls goodies, which is bascially a collection of snacks, like apples, pretzels, peanut butter and cheese.) I had just less than a 1/2 c of potato salad, a boiled egg, 10 crackers and 5 pieces of cheese (roughly 3 oz, I think.) I finished the potato salad and egg, but I left 2 crackers and a piece of cheese. I didn't seem to have any "restriction" in the sense that there was no issues with anything going down, however, I did have "restriction" in the sense that I was full after eating a reasonable amount of food. So, I did well yesterday. The trick is stopping when I'm full. I've not been good at that historically and is something I need to work on. So, goals for the week...drink water! And stop eating when I'm full. PS: My new item of the day that I'm wearing...electric blue flats with a row of sequence around the top. Very flirty, but practical too. Have a great day!!

Milk products contain milk sugar (lactose), so they will not ever be completely sugar-free. In yogurt, most of the lactose has been converted to lactic acid, which is what gives it the characteristic sour taste...the carb count stays the same but metabolically, lactic acid does not cause as much of an insulin increase. As long as you are staying away from added sugar (i.e. stay with plain yogurt), you are fine. Most folks here go for greek yogurt for the added Protein. I mix berries and a little splenda in mine, however, fruit has natural sugars as well.

King Soopers/Kroger makes a low carb yogurt. I ate it while I was healing.

Thank you all very much for the quick replies and the advice! God, I hope I don't have to crush them but if I do, the jello and yogurt is a good idea. Ellie, congrats on your surgery and good luck on your weight loss!! I can't wait to get mine done next month. Jack

My new favorite high protein is the Greek Yogurt! It comes in a variety of fat levels (non-fat, 2%, full fat, etc). The interesting this is that the non-fat varieties tend to have more protein! I am currently munching on Oikos brand Honey flavor Non-Fat greek Yogurt. 5.3 ounces for 13 grams of protein, no fat and 120 calories. Perfect for breakfast. I have also tried the blueberry. Also the Fage brand is good too.... just make sure to get the 2% or non-fat version. The full fat version has 12 grams of fat!! Craziness.

Here is the interview I heard: http://www.npr.org/2016/08/18/490432969/eating-yogurt-is-not-enough-rebalancing-the-ecosystem-of-the-microbes-within-us

So sorry you're having a rough time, but it does get better. I had terrible diarrhea my first 6 days postop & I still have no idea how I managed to stay hydrated. It was awful & I felt so weak! My doc ended up adding kefir (liquid yogurt) into my diet & it made a world of difference for me. Hang in there...this too shall pass!

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Mother’s Day from BariatricPal! For everyone who is a mother or is a mother figure, thank you for all that you do! For everyone else, I hope you will take this opportunity to thank your mom and any other mother figure in your life. You moms out there do a lot for us! This newsletter is all about treating yourself, treating yourself, enjoying your family, and becoming healthier together. Here’s what you’ll find: A Mother’s Day Meal to Celebrate Be a Great Mother: Be Good to Yourself Time-Savers for a Healthy Family Have a great Mother’s Day, and enjoy the newsletter. Then spend some time with your family, and don’t forget to logon to BariatricPal and discuss family, recipes, and whatever else is on your mind. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Be a Great Mother: Be Good to Yourself Mothers often find themselves putting everyone else first. You might feel so busy you can’t squeeze in a quick workout. You might cook your family their favorite meals while you depend on nothing but canned tuna and hard-boiled eggs to stick to your WLS diet. You might skimp on sleep so you can take care of the house and get the kids ready for school. And the idea of losing yourself in a good book or spending a few hours at a day spa? Those may be distant dreams. Are You Putting Yourself Last? Too many mothers feel they need to put others first. After all, taking care of your children and maybe your spouse and parents is your job, right? Add that to possible duties of housekeeping and holding down a job, and your time and energy are easily accounted for. Weight loss surgery magnifies the problem. You may feel guilty about surgery, especially if it was expensive for your family. You may worry that WLS pulls you apart from your family, since you need to eat a new way and set aside time to prepare food and work out. You may fight the guilty feelings by trying to put everyone else’s needs and wants behind yours – and that just doesn’t work. The trouble is, you can only give so much for so long without taking care of yourself. You need to make the time to recharge regularly and to keep up with your own emotional and physical health habits. If not, sooner or later, you will not be able to give your best to the ones you love. You’re Not Selfish; You’re Smart What happens when you think about putting yourself first? What feelings come up when you think about making your own meals before you make your family’s, or going to the gym in the evening instead of coming directly home from work, or postponing the housecleaning so you can meditate? If you’re like many weight loss surgery patients, you may feel guilty. That’s not fair or productive. When you take care of yourself, you are in a better position to take care of others. You will be stronger, happier, and more cheerful when you are healthy. Take some time to identify what you would ideally do if you did not have family responsibilities: which foods would you eat, what kind of workouts would you do, and which hobbies or relaxation activities would you pursue? Then figure out which ones are necessary for your long-term stability and work them into your life – even if it means making some of them a priority over less important things. Really, it’s okay to skip the dusting for now if you need that time to plan a few healthy meals. Take Care, Mother or Not By the way, being good to yourself so you can be at your best is not just for moms. No matter who you are, you can give your best if you are at your best. You’ll be better father, friend, son or daughter, and coworker. You’re not being selfish when you take care of yourself. You’re putting yourself in a position to give your best to the world. A Mother’s Day Meal to Celebrate After weight loss surgery, holidays are about more than just food. You can focus on family and on other fun activities besides eating. But the truth is, you’re likely to end up around the table at some point if you’re celebrating Mother’s Day. Almost all family gatherings tend to revolve around food, so instead of fighting it, you might as well make the best of it. Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed If your Mother’s Day includes a little pampering at home…lucky you! Fresh fruit salad, cottage cheese with raw veggies, and Greek yogurt pops with fruit are some of the easy and healthy options you might want to ask your little helpers to serve you. You can also enjoy breakfast in bed or a more luxurious brunch at home with the help of The BariatricPal Store. We suggest whipping up a batch of instant Protein pancakes in chocolate chip, golden delicious, or blueberry flavors. Serve them plain or with fruit or Greek yogurt for yourself, and let your children make their own feasts with toppings such as whipped cream, syrup, Peanut Butter, and fruit. For an early morning or mid-morning treat while hanging out with your kids or spouse, everyone might enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or cappuccino – protein included! Mother’s Day Brunch Out Are you going out for Mother’s Day? Lucky you! While that buffet or 12-course menu may look like a disaster at first glance, there’s a good chance there are plenty of healthy choices for you. Look past the breakfast pastries such as muffins, danishes, and doughnuts, doughy options like bagels, pancakes, and waffles, and fatty options like bacon and breakfast sausage. Think that doesn’t leave you with much? Think again! Check for any of the following. Omelets and egg white omelets with add-ins such as vegetable and natural ham. Fresh fruit. Seasonal fresh vegetables. Simple protein items such as cottage cheese and yogurt. Smoked salmon. Freshly carved turkey breast. The rules of your weight loss surgery diet hold here, too. Keep portions small, eat slowly, and You’ll have even more to celebrate than Mother’s Day when you realize you just got through Mother’s Day brunch without losing control. A Time to Reflect and Be Grateful We know not everyone celebrates Mother’s Day or approaches this day in the same way. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t take the time to reflect and be grateful. Any opportunity is a good one for realizing all that you have, even though life can get tough sometimes. You may be grateful for the opportunity weight loss surgery has given you to get healthy and have a new lease on life. Maybe you’re thankful for your family and friends who support you and make life worth living. Maybe you’re happy to have a job that puts (healthy) food on the table and a roof over your head. These things are simple and basic, but remembering to be grateful for them can truly make you appreciate them and be a happier person. So, have a wonderful Mother’s Day, and keep working towards those goals for weight loss and health! BariatricPal is there for you at every step of the way, so we hope you will keep contributing to the forums. Thanks for all of your support!

Well well well I realized I was manipulating my portion sizes. I was eating more than 4oz of meat and 3oz of veggies per meal. I stopped weighing my food. I would eye the portion size and eat till I felt full. Needless to say I have started weighing my food again. I had to go back to basics again. I now weigh 4oz of meat and 3oz of veggies for lunch and dinner. I measure 2 cups of dry cereal now for breakfast. Only 2 eggs and 2 strips of bacon with 1 slice of whole wheat bread with PB2 powdered peanut butter on it instead of butter. I also have to watch how much fruit I eat at each sitting. I will have like 1 banana and 1/2 of an apple for example per snack twice a day with breakfast and and after dinner. I realized I was getting excited happy at the prospect that it was meal time and it began to be an activity for me again. This kind of food behavior disorder will lead to compulsive eating again. So I stopped it and went back to basics. I only want to eat to nourish. Eat to live not live to eat. I had my surgery nov 11 2013 so I will have 1 year come November. I now weigh 145.2 lbs. surgery weight was 296. I am 5'8". Medium frame. I don't eat much carbs. No potatoes, pasta, rice. Only carbs I get is from greek yogurt, fruit, milk, dry cereal, whole wheat bread when I make the occasional sandwich with ham. I am weighing the cold cuts for the sandwich also. My health is good. I don't have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. I don't have severe sleep apnea any more either. So I have a new lease on life. Being in good health I feel I am more marketable for employment opportunities and dating. So my food plan is more important than anything else. It's true if you are in poor health because of your eating habits that tells a lot about the individual to others. If you can not care for your own health how can you care for others and if so that is part of the eating disorder for sure.

Yeah I feel tight in the morning when I drink my pills and eat my yogurt. But by lunch I'm good. And if I don't chew good then my band screams at me to slow down. This is awesome for me. I am excited to get on the scale every morning. I'm never hungry anymore Like I was In the beginning. I love my band.

I’m 2 days away from 3 weeks post op. I have been following a plan of protein shakes, jello, purée veggie soups with Greek yogurt and water. Today I made the mistake of indulging in more solid food. I chewed to a purée consistency and made sure to not eat more than 4 oz. I had no issues other than the crazy guilt and worry I’m now experiencing. Did I ruin my sleeve?

Soup, shakes (been doing plain powder or diluting with almond milk last couple of days as the artificial sweetener taste is getting to me). Experimented with HCG chili recipe and went down well, mashed potatoes, I did cream of wheat and it was too filling, Greek yogurt mixed with soup mix for something savory. Not proud but was out and had some grilled shrimp chewed really well. Out of everything I've had, the one thing that made me feel like I was going to barf was sugar free fat free pudding. You'd think that would be the least of my issues. I used to crave sweets but now craving meat and seafood although surgery day I told my bf I wanted a steak before I got too loopy. Sleeved 5/20.

Egg white protein powder mixed in with Greek yogurt ( any flavor )

I often have a hard boiled egg mushed up with cottage cheese and spring onions on a bed of shredded lettuce. Another favourite is a veggie burger with some beans on top. But having said that, the beans in the US are not nice like we get here in Australia. I am a little tight at the moment and am eating a 1/4 cup of muesli with low fat yogurt a fair bit.

I am 8 days post-op, and I go to start eating my light Yoplait Yogurt again. Before surgery I always thought that it was sort of tart, but now after surgery it taste like eat full fat icecream it is so sweet. So I can totally relate!