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I'm 2+ years out. I've lost 95% of my excess weight. I have not had plastics - which would account for that last 5%. I eat a high protein, low carb diet and exercise 7 days a week. I eat roughly 1500 calories a day. I exercise at least 1 hour each day. A typical day is: Morning - coffee - black, greek yogurt (Skyr Icelandic provisions), 2 tablespoons of granola Mid morning - protein shake (1 cup fairlife skim milk, 1 scoop protein, handful frozen fruit in blender) Lunch - 3-5 ounces of chicken/turkey/beef, 2 cups of green salad mix, 1 tablespoon balsamic dressing mid afternoon - 2-3 ounces cheddar or other hard cheese Dinner - 3-5 ounces meat, salad or green veg and 1/4 c of a starch. I have had to increase my carbs to about 110 g daily due to my exercise load. I fence (en garde) 6-8 hours a week, do Cross Fit 3 hours a week and pilates and strength training another 1-3 hours a week. I eat about 110 g protein daily. I eat protein first. I drink close to a gallon of water a day. If I want a glass of wine or a cocktail, I have one. At my high point, I was over 300. I now sit around 152 with 29% bodyfat. I can deadlift 250 pounds and squat 235. I'm nationally ranked as a fencer in my age group. How well you do it up to you and your commitment to it. I've gone from a size 24 to a size 6.

I started my pre-op diet on Monday. I am allowed 6 Glucerna shakes a day, 2 yogurts, and all of the calorie free liquids I want (i.e. broth, sf jello). I have to say that now on day 3, I am not that hungry. I was starving yesterday when I had to cook something for my 11 year old. I finally had to tell myself to back away from the fish stick!:frown: I don't even like fish sticks, but I was ready to shove my son out of the way for one. My shakes smell/taste like medicine. I really hate the vanilla. I tried added flavoring to it, but you can still smell that awful mediciny smell. gross! I am going to keep going though. I don't want them to cut me open only to say "no surgery for you!" like Surgery Nazi (i know poor Seinfeld reference). Good luck to you all!:thumbup:

Nope. You didn't hurt anything. Next time you want to try foods, stick with the next foods on your list. Try a little oatmeal or yogurt....leave the pecans for a while down the road:)

Hello everyone - well, I'm 3 weeks out as of yesterday, and tomorrow or the next day Ramadan will start. Will anyone be fasting? Are there any issues in it? The doctor was fine with fasting and actually said that this Ramadan would be my easiest. I was too out of it to ask any questions... I know that I'm going to face a huge reduction in Water and Protein - and the problem is that I'm still healing. It takes me forever to finish a bottle of water or drink a cup of Soup. The maximum I'd be able to force down over a 24 hour period would be 2-3 cups of water, some hummous or skimmed yogurt, and a Protein shake. Will this be enough for me? I'm already dehydrated. Please help - suggestions please!

@@dmw0621 - yes, I haven't had a stomach discomfort at all, but my bariatric team modified my liquids so that I only drink water, clear broth, herbal tea and jello. I was told that for me, the blander the better but I'll let you know if anything changes tomorrow as I start my phase two which is shakes although my doctor isn't pushing the protein powder yet. I'll be able to drink non-fat milk, shakes with natural fruit , yogurt, thin cream of wheat or rice and pumpkin and sweet potato soup.

Day 2 of full liquids complete. Still feel great. I got more than my required water in again. My kidneys and bladder are thanking me. I have huge scarring and atrophy of 1 of my kidneys, so chronic dehydration from the days that I can't get enough water in really aren't good for it. I often wish I could just schedule and appointment for an IV bag... but my doctor doesn't do that. Because I have just done 2 days clear and 2 days full liquids I feel I am much better hydrated and it feels like I just did a kidney cleans. Maybe I should do this more often LOL (No... I am not serious... but it does feel good!) Like I said in earlier posts... I usually get my 64 ounces in.... but on the days I don't it really puts me behind hydration wise so I do my best to avoid it... but heaven forbid I am at work and step away from my desk and kept away longer than I intended... by the time I get back I am feeling it! Same with if I go into a store to grab just a couple things... if I forget my water in the car... or heaven forbid run out.... I feel it. And when I do I have a hard time making up for the missed fluids. I swear I can feel myself dehydrating when I am not actively sipping fluids. I also got more than my required protein in. My goal is 60 Grams and I got 102 grams in. That almost never happens... but I had protein shakes for my 3 meals plus a greek yogurt for one of my snacks. Again... this helped me feel good all day. (And again... my nutritionist adds the yogurt to full liquids so patients get more nutrients in). Today's weight is 127.1... so again, back to within my normal maintenance fluctuation range of 124-128. I am happy here. Upping my calories yesterday helped so I didn't drop too much. And today I advance my diet. Next stage is supposed to be pureed. I will include protein shakes and greek yogurt, as that is what my nutritionist builds my pre-soft food diets around. But I will add some other puree style foods to the list. But since my weight is already so low... I might be shortening and/or modifying this stage. Haven't completely decided how I want to handle it. I would definitely like a little more time to rest my pouch.... but I have to be mindful that I don't also keep losing weight. The max I am willing to lose is 3 pounds more... but I don't NEED to lose 3 pounds more. My challenge today? I am driving to see my son who is away at college. With that... my daughter will probably eat some sort of fast food in the car on the way there. She is always hungry during the car ride. And it will probably be something that smells really good. LOL And add to that... I promised to take both of them out to dinner. And of course, I don't want to just sit there and watch them eat.... so I need to be strategic with where we go so I can eat something too. This might be one of the times I have to "modify" my puree diet stage. If I can't find something of a good puree consistency... I might go for something in the soft diet range. Of course, I can do this because I am not recovering from surgery. But I also don't want to have left overs, and I certainly can't overeat.... so this will be a challenge. Next stage is soft foods... so really I will be eating a normal diet but picking foods of a soft consistency. So, will I do 1 or 3 days (3 days is suggested) of pureed first? I don't know! Again... if I am shortening stages a bit.... pureed is the one to shorten. Soft foods allow me to have a nice balanced diet, so there really is no advantage to shortening that stage. I like a lot of nutritious foods in the soft diet. And I can get my maintenance calorie requirement in with soft foods. But pureed is less of a balanced diet.... so if I am going to shorten stages to prevent too much weight loss, that is the stage I am going to shorten. And remember... I did an extra day of clear... so if I do 1 less day of pureed My diet progression is about the same number of days, and if I shorten by 2 days, I am only shortening the true "stomach rest days" by 1 day. Not bad. I think it will have the same effects.

Okay, I went and retrieved my patient manual. It says "Post-Op Diet for Gastric Band" Day 1 - Clear Liquids (48 - 64 ounces per day) add sf Gelatin, sf popsicles, diluted clear juice Avoid all other foods Days 2-14 - Puree diet Add mashed potatoes, cream of wheat and baby food (no peanut butter) pureed meats, veggies and fruits Everything must be a smooth consistency NO CHUNKS OR LUMPS Days 15-30 (Weeks 3 and 4) - soft diet Slowly add soft foods chew well Eat slowly Continue Protein supplemenet Dring 64 oz per day SLOWLY add baked fish, tuna (with no fat mayo_, toast or crackers, small amount of rice, Pasta, vegetables (except: celery, corn) and whole grain Cereal (granola bars, protein bars) Day 30 and after - regular diet Low fat/low car/high protein Begin introducing high Fiber foods, crunchy raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, etc... Here is an example puree menu: Breakfast: 1/2 c thin cream of wheat plus Protein powder (optional) Between Meal 3 oz unsweetened grape juice diluted with 3 oz Water Fluid: Mid Morning: 6Tbsp pureed cottage cheese with 2 Tbsp pureed pears Between Meal 1 c skim milk Fluid: Lunch: 1/4 c pureed lean chicken salad w/1/2 tsp mayo 1/4 c pureed peas Between Meal: 1 cup Crystal Light Fluid: Mid Afternoon: 1/2 c high protein sf/fat free pudding Between Meal: 1 c water Fluid: Supper: 1/4 c lean fish 2 Tbsp thin mashed potatoes 2/1/4 tsp reg margerine 2 Tbsp pureed green Beans /1/4 tsp reg margerine Between Meal: 1/2 c high protein "no sugar added" CIB (carnation instant breakfast) Evening 1/4 c cream soup blendarized + 2 Tbsp pureed meat + 1 Tbsp nonfat dry milk powder (or protein powder) 2 Tbsp blended sf/ff yogurt Between Meal: Sf popsicle Fluid: 1/2 c water

Oikos make greek yogurt dips that have good flavors. I used the cucumber dill in chicken salad. This way you could add more yogurt without that "yougurt-y" taste. http://www.oikosyogurt.com/greek-yogurt/oikos-greek-yogurt-dips.aspx

Per doc , I was on clear 1 week, full on 2nd week.... reality= I was on full after a couple of days so I could get in my protein. I also eat a very little bit of greek low sugar yogurt to get my icky crushed meds down.

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.

Protein is good for your kids, too. Plan your shopping and your meals a week ahead of time. If grocery money is an issue, look for what is on sale and plan your meals around that. Have one day a week for batch cooking, like Rachel Ray does with her "week in a day" process. For example get a couple of whole chickens (You can buy the roasted ones from the deli because they are already cooked.) One chicken you can use right away for dinner that night. Steam some frozen veggies and throw some melted cheese on it. Dessert? Maybe apple slices and Peanut Butter. Sometimes I thaw out some frozen berries and mix it with vanilla Greek yogurt, Take your other chicken and tear it apart and make a casserole with it or a family pot pie. When it is time to eat, just don't eat the crust. Take the carcasses and loose bits and make a big pot of Soup. Take a dozen eggs and make a big pan of scrambled eggs and throw in some ham and cheese and whatever veggies you like. In this house itis mushrooms, peppers, avocado, and tomato. Or you can mix your scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese and make a dozen Breakfast burritos. When you eat yours, just don't eat all of the tortilla. or you can use store-bought pie crust and make a beakfast quiche just don't eat the crust. If you take a large beef roast, you can have roast beef one night (with your veggies), save some back to make stew or soup in the crockpot, or take some shredded and re-cook it in some beef boullion and Italian seasoning. Put that on buns, maybe with some melted provolone, and you have an Italian beef sandwich - just you don't eat the bun. If you get creative in the kitchen, you can get a lot accomplished in one day, and the rest of the week is just heat and serve. If your boys are old enough to help, they should be helping and learning how to cook and clean a kitchen. You can get them involved in the process by having a little sit down meeting once a week to discuss the plan ahead based on how to adjust their favorites into something healthy the whole family can eat. Maybe let them help with the shopping and pick out one crap item apiece They can have spaghetti and meatballs, just you don't eat the Pasta. Meatballs with sauce and parmesan hits the spot and I don't miss the spaghetti at all. Yes, you can have pizza. You just won't want as much as you used to eat. Thrown some veggies on your slice, maybe even extra meat and cheese, and then - don't eat all of the crust. I may have two bites, and then scrape the rest off and eat it that way. I have made fake-out buckeye candies by blending chocolate Protein powder with peanut butter, roll it into balls (about the size of a chocolate covered cherry) and dipping them in melted dark chocolate. Shoot, you can even dip strawberries in melted dark chocolate. You could make a huge pot of chili and it will last all week. Taco salad is good and skips the chips. You could make a dozen hamburgers with cheese ahead of time. Kids like hamburgers. So, find something they like and cook it all in one afternoon. Get creative. i

But if you’re hitting your protein goals without them and you hate them, why bother? On those days you’re not quite hitting your goals maybe do a yogurt or string cheese or cottage cheese or any type of protein you actually like. This road is rough enough without having to force yourself into something you truly dislike. But I do get how easy of a grab and go they are. Have you tried any of the protein waters? The brand I was drinking pre op makes me gag now (so I totally get it!!) Good luck and let us know what you find!

Hi honey... gosh, I sure wish the two of you a speedy recovery. You’re both in my thoughts and prayers! So ideas for extra protein: Fairfield milk, yogurt, powdered milk, ricotta, bone broth.. I also YouTubed some ideas and there are several recipes for the full liquid diet, I can only imagine there will be tons for the purée diet. ( I’m just not there, yet) You’re doing great and keep up the amazing work!

so the idea is the protein that's it ! i don;t get the 60 per day i now can't handle shakes or even yogurt with high protein i also don't eat Breakfast i only eat once a day i don't want to eat more i even can't handle more than once i so pissed of since the surgery which was on the 27th of july i lost 37 pounds i am so mad of myself don't know what to do You can't possibly do well post-op if you only eat once a day. That is a recipe for disaster. You have to eat breakfast. Even if you don't want to eat you just have to do it. The way I understand my surgeon's instructions, you should consume no more than 20-25 grams of protein at a time. So for me, that means I need to eat at least four to five times a day to reach 100 grams. That can be 3 meals and 2 Snacks.

yogurt, cottage cheese, soup i love the adkings shakes.

Jude Glad to here that it wil be sorted out for your mom. You have had a hell of a go of it. I hope the endorcinologist also is a huge help to you and can get things going so that the weight loss is not so frustrating for you. I think your doc could have gone a little easier on you. I think if I couldn't get anyhting down and my mom was in hosptal, I would have had icecream, WAY more times than three, so you're under stress with too much restriction. It is understandable. I haven't been on her much so hello to all of you. I have gotten my first fil yesterday and only eaten oatmeal since, so sorta scared about what can and can't get in. I also seem to have a whole new outlook which is kind of wild. I went back to school and am now a university student again..lol. I am far from the youngest now! The couses load is huge,my time next to nothing now and the only thing I am doing now is school and gym, that is it and it takes up all of my time. Problem is what the heck can i eat? I am at school ( right now) all day til 10 pm tonight and am starving. My backpack is already packed with books etc and water but sandwiches can get stuck, I can't carry a thermos too to keep stuff cold like yogurt, but I am afraid of something getting stuck and embarrassing myself. I amnot down much more. I am now 294 but i will take it. I feel helthier, more confident and i can now do 45 mins on the treadmill without keeling over. I think of you guys often as you were there for me from the get go and even if I do not write I still read what threads are sent to my email every day. kim

would it be ok to crush the ones i take already. They are great vitamins and very potent, they dissolve immediately in a cup of water. Could I crush them and take them with yogurt or something?

Drink water, go exercise, eat only something like yogurt or cottage cheese. Remember eating too close to bedtime may encourage nighttime reflux. You don't want this this early on/or ever. Don't stay up late - go to bed instead.

fresh homemade pesto chicken breast over pasta!! yum, maybe some yogurt with berries and granola

If you have the desire to lose weight you need to start eating healthy. Frosties are nothing but sugar. Eat some yogurt. I think you may be sabotaging yourself. Remember your band is just a tool to help you eat less but your change of diet is the most important for you in the long run. I know it is hard to change a life time of bad habits but you need to nip it in the bud. You may even enjoy eating healthy foods if you give yourself a chance. Trust me, it will work if you are on the right track. Josephine 251/136 Surgery Nov. 10, 2005 No Fills

It is a salem occation today as it is the final day of people food for me ! I must start the Pre op diet as of tomorrow.:violin: I have had pretty much all the foods I like in the last 3 days. I had a lunch at eastside marios, I had fish and chips at a local Joeys, H&D rocky road ice cream, m&ms, and a nice peanut butter sandwich. :high5: Tomorrow I feast on Yogurt and Cottage cheese (bacteria filled milk and it's by-products) for the next ten days!:faint: This also means that in 10 days I will be turned to the banded side. I may have to change my name to something like "Darth Bandito" :bandit or "Chewawacca" :hungry: or "Luke soothimaker" or how about "Band Solo" Knaw... I'll just stick with Mr. Yoda... 3 more sleeps till the M rs :clap2: is back!!!

Here I am on day 6! So far, I have lost about 9lbs, that is not unusual for me. I retain water so that is what most of it is. BUT!! I will take it!:thumbup: Today has not been too bad. We did some running around and right now I am taking a break from my Saturday chores. I had a pretty big bfast. Eggs and a sausage. I just had some grapes, yogurt and chicken for lunch. Gotta go! I am going to surf the web for a minute and then start cleaning again.

Day 2 pre-op....i have barely eaten anything....only about half of a big yogurt container....i dont really want to eat anymore (yogurt that is). The only thing i hunger for is i'm really craving a subway sub....jeez this is so hard.

1/2 yogurt for breakfast the other 1/2 for snack lettuce and tomatoes for lunch meat + vege for dinner no Snacks at all and 5 days of aerobic activity a week It's no wonder they lost a lot of weight eating that diet. I would venture to say that's about 600 calories a day at most. If the goal is to lose weight fast, following that diet would do the trick. However, I need to follow a diet that I can live with for life. If that means a slower rate of loss, so be it.

HeatherGurl - If I may ask, did you follow the diet I recently read about Dr. Spivak's most successful patients follow - your weight loss is tremendous! I read most of his patients who have lost over 100lbs eat: (sample) 1/2 yogurt for breakfast the other 1/2 for snack lettuce and tomatoes for lunch meat + vege for dinner no Snacks at all and 5 days of aerobic activity a week No doubt that would work if you can stand it but was wondering if you did that?? I'm dumbstruck if you lost all that weight without counting calories, etc.! I'm sorry for others too that report slowed/stalled loss - unfortunately I can't offer any advice as I've tried it all too (except the above which I'm willing to give a shot at)