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I like them.... you can buy just one and try it. So when i started my journey i purchased this small travel blender. It worked perfect. I still use it all the time. Also, sometimes if you go the a local health store, if you purchase their protein powder they will give you one of those cups with the metal ball in it... I personally don't care for it. i have at least 6 at home. I like the electric one because i like to blend in fruit and ice and yogurt (reg. not fat free) with my p.powder. but again i have to drink fast or i can forget it... after it warms up i throw it away. This is why the liq. shot works great for me. I know exactly what i got and what i still need to get. Hamilton Beach 51101B Personal Blender with Travel Lid, Black by Hamilton Beach3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (344 customer reviews) |Like(69)List Price:$21.99Price:$15.44

Ok this is a great post!! I am also vegetarian and it has been a struggle to get in all my protiens. I have a gathered a list of high protien/low fat options with my diatition................Would love to add to the list if you guys have suggestions. True most veggie meats are off limits but I have found a few................ Also tofu, cottage cheese, eggs and Beans. Beans are a starch though so you have to limit them. Tofurky meat cuts are high protien, low fat. Greek yogurt is good...............Loma Linda meats .........some of those are ok............... My surgeon doesn't like protien shakes but I use them sometimes. I also sprinkle protien powder on cream of wheat and stuff like that................. Any more suggestions welcome. My doctor would prefer I eat some meat but so far so good.............only thing is I think I lose slower this way.

I am being banded at the tlbc and this is their pre-op diet recommendation, remember...the reason that you do this is not necessarily to lose weight, it is to shrink your liver, you want to make it as easy as possible for the surgeon to have access to your stomach. The TLBC says this diet works best and it's cheap. For me its 10 days *quantities are not specified, you can have as much as you need of the following items. You may also have foods that have negligible caloric or nutritional value such as the following: coffee, tea, diet drinks(crystal light), sugar free jell-o and salt & spices. This is the diet Cottage cheese -choose low fat or non fat varieties Yogurt -Opt for low fat or non fat yogurt. Flavored yogurts are acceptable, as long as they are artificially sweetened Milk -Drink 1% or Skim, flavored or sweetened milk is NOT a recommended option Water -make sure you drink a minimum of 1.5 liters a day. Hope this helps you. Financially, its cheaper. And it works, its time tested on TLBC patients.

Some bandster friendly food bargains I saw today. At Costco through Sunday, Chobani fruited yogurt $1.25 off 12 count (.75 which for my areas is a great price). At Demoulas MA/NH grocery chain Pure Protein brand bars (20 g size) 2/1.00.

Listening to your body. Many of us got where we needed surgery by pushing past that fll feeling. If you are concerned about hitting your protein, switch things up. Add a bit greek yogurt to your Protein shake. *Flavor your Water with a Protein Drink like Isopure NoCarb or Syntrax Nectars. Plan for 3 meals and 2 Snacks instead of 3 big meals. It will allow you to get in more protein without pushing your limits. *Isopure Nocarb drinks are 40gms of protein for 20 ounces. I divide the bottle into 3 parts. I use my 24 ounce water bottle. I try to drink 24 ounces 3 times a day. I add the Isopure and carry my bottles everywhere and sip whenever I am not eating. It makes meeting protein & Fluid goals easy.

You could try Beans. They will add carbs, but they are a good source of Protein. Lentils, black beans and split peas have the highest protein. You can blend them in a Soup or eat them whole. I sometimes have black beans with a sunny side up egg and a slice of avocado. Lentils I like in a soup with onions and mushrooms. Split peas I make a chunky soup and garnish with pepitas and a scoop of Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Good thing about beans is they won't make you constipated Be careful of bananas - they are high in sugar. I think Apples & bananas have the highest amount of sugar, but I'd have to google to confirm. I also added raw spinach to my smoothies early on. Since they were pulverized they weren't hard to digest.

I'm about 13 days post op I'm still on my full liquid stage idk if this is gas, or I'm actually hungry...I go to drink water or eat some yogurt but about 30 mins later...that same rumbling its driving me crazy bcuz..I'm craving some solid foods...any body having the same issues!?

Why are you tempting yourself by going off of your plan? This change you've committed to won't take place by itself. If you're taking a cooler pack tuna, cottage cheese, yogurt, ricotta,oatmeal, protein shakes pre-made, milk etc. You CAN live your life, just don't mess with a good thing, you were given a 2nd chance to be healthy, embrace it!!

Hi All, Well there is definately a difference between my first band surgery and my revision. There is no fill in the band at all and I am STARVING. I've been on Clear liquids up until I had some tomato Soup this evening (same consistency at Slim Fast) and that finally took away the terrible hunger pains I was having. I mean, it was actual PAIN. And it's only been four days since the surgery. I am surprised I am so hungry even though I don't have any fill. Anyone else here had a revision have the same experience? The doctor did mention to me I didn't have to be on the clear liquid phase for as long as normal because I would be hungrier, but this is bad! Hopefully when I add yogurt to my diet tomorrow that will help some. Any thoughts? Mae

I am a week banded and I have some major difficulty drinking. I thought the my NEW stomach or pouch would be just like my old stomach but much smaller. Does this get better? please help !!!!! I am here because it seems like u guys have all been through the early stages. I am still on Liquids only, w/ the exception of yogurt. I tried oatmeal the second day by mistake and boy did that SUCK. I am deff a bit scared to try any kind of mushy foods can u guys give me some insight into the first foods u guys tried. Thanks soooo much Tom

Hi, I was banded 7/3/09 and it took a couple of days for me to be able to burp well. Now, it seems like I burp all the time, much more than I did pre-surgery. I do find though that if I need to burp but have trouble doing it that if I stand up it will usually happen. I'm trying to be really careful about not taking in too much air when I sip, but I guess I still do. I'm on my last day of clear liquids, I get to start drinkable yogurts tomorrow and full liquids on Sunday, so hopefully that won't change my ability to burp. I would check with the doc too, maybe he/she can give you some hints. Good Luck! Tish :thumbup:

Hi Mindi: I was banded the day before you, by Dr. Ortiz, and am doing great. Have lost 17lbs. and am not eating yet! Still on liquids, broth, jello, juices and yogurt. Will have my first "real food" in a few days, can't wait! I have had no problems yet, and hope that continues. What are you eating? Are you chewing really well? Can you feel your Port? I am not sure where mine is! Did you see that Dr. Ortiz' new book just came out, can't wait to get one.

Yes, it's pretty normal to have diarrhea early on. You're only taking in liquids, so most of what you eliminate will be liquid too. Also, you've likely also had massive doses of strong antibiotics which wipes out the naturally occurring bacteria in your digestive system. Without those little bugs to help regulate things, your system will be torn up. Try mixing in some probiotic containing yogurt (activia or another brand). It helped me out. Bryan

I am only 2-weeks post op, but giving my very limited experience, I would say your body did not like what you ate. I tried cottage cheese the other day. 1st time since surgery. My intestines felt like a racetrack. Must have been NASCAR with all the bumping and rumbling going on. Very much as you described. So maybe your insides didn't want Greek yogurt? Good luck.

It's been a few days since I've been here to post. I havent been strong enough to lift myself to the desk nevermind type a coherent sentence. I made it thru thursday... I even drove myself home from work. Friday, I went to work. I am on the mashed tater stage so thats what I have for lunch. Now, I work for a doctors office, we get drug rep lunches weekly. I get to the break room and its Boston Market. Out of laziness I decide to eat those mashed taters instead of my own.. I figure instant is instant. Yeah, not so much. Those taters were heaven. By 12:30, I wanted to die. Now I'm already not feeling well and I go and eat catered fast food taters. Brilliant idea. NOT. I go out to my car to relax.. aka not puke. I get back to my desk at 1pm and silently wait for my boss to return at 1:30. I wussed out and went home. Now I dont know if the taters made me feel worse but something did me in. I get home and have my period 2 weeks early.. that may also play a small factor in my all-around ickiness. So it's Friday night... hubby is out again with Tony, I am up from my nap flipping thru the tv for something to watch. Wouldnt ya know it.. I get caught up watching some food network show that may have been diners, drive-ins and dives... something to that effect. The first show is all BBQ. Not a fan so I watch cuz its interesting and I'm tired of channel surfing. The next show (kill me now) is all burgers. I like burgers but I dont LOVE burgers. Watching this show made me drool so bad. I'm the girl who goes to Red Robin or Texas Roadhouse and gets a salad. I could have killed for a burger after that show. I had some water. I got up saturday, had b-fast then a cup of tea. Suprise suprise, I went back to bed. I got up had lunch and got dressed again. Went to the parental units with the husband and Spooky (he needed to get out of the house). My Mother is not the most lucid/coherent people on the planet. I told her that I'd lost 13 pounds so far and she said that my tummy was all wrinkley all ready. Okay, sure. When Mom started to cook dinner I vacated... she was making burgers. (see above). Hubby and I took a trip to the local Wal-Mart.. got our shit and got out. Went back to Moms to get the cat and then went to Big Y. I got some yogurt and hubby got some junk food for himself. I must confess. I got cheese. Anyone who knows me knows that I have been DYING for cheese. I couldnt find what I really wanted so I got one of those bricks of mozzerella. Got home and had me 1oz of that for dinner. 30 minutes later, I cracked open a diet snapple raspberry iced tea and have been wide awake since. I forgot about the caffiene involved. My diet sheet says I can have diet snapple so I did. Damn it. lol. Now, I cant sleep. Thank good tomorrow is technically Sunday. I can sleep in once I can sleep. I have decided that I truly have no support system. The support system that I thought I would have posted trash talk about me on another blog/lap band forum and I found it. Now I dont have use for that in my life but since she had the procedure done a few months ago, I have a zillion questions and would love to ask but I have no need to talk to her. The other person I know is the office manager for the physician side of work but only I know that she had it done and when she talks to me it's about her "friend". She is 2 years out and eats nothing but crap. Thats not much of an inspiration to me. When I asked if the tired icky feeling would get better she said "eventually." Yeah, no help. So I am on my own. My husband, who say his own nutritionist this week, went all day today without eating then polished off some chicken fingers and mac n cheese and something else. I think he knows better than to do that but he claims he doesnt want to eat infront of me. I think thats why he has been hanging out with tony so much. Speaking of food and the hubby... he wakes up this morning, looks at me and says, "I'm sorry but I want the buffet." So I respond, "I'm sorry but so do I." I really think this is going to be a big issue in the upcoming months. I do not blame him for my fatness but he doesnt like to eat at home. If I cant/wont go out to eat all the time, it may cause problems. Everything we have ever done together has in some way revolved around food. We'd go run errands and the first question once in the car was where are we going to eat? Food has been the center point of everything for us. I hope he understands that I'm not playing that game any longer. I cant kill myself one cheese fry at a time. Under all this pale white fatness is a petite girl dying to get out. I have shut her up with chocolate for far too long. Okay, I have rambled for far too long and I need water....

I use fat free ranch or lite vidalia onion sometimes. It's pretty good, but not as good as mayo in my opinion. I've also done low-fat plain yogurt with a chutney of some kind like mango. That's yummy!

I replace all mayo based recipes with plain yogurt or sour cream. Sometimes if its really hot and I have a craving for chicken salad I will use fresh lemon and lime.

I am a avid reader and wondered if anyone here had read my favorite series (Author) The Crosstitch /Outlander series .... http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/g/diana-gabaldon/ Its tha absolute BEST .. I have just finished re reading it before I read the latest book Echo in The Bone..... My next Favorite Author and series is.. Sara Donati`s The Wilderness series .. http://www.saralaughs.com/ I am going to re read the complete series before I read her new book in the collection ...The Endless Forest.... I am off to my sons to have a BBQ (or not to have a BBQ but thats what everyone else will be doing ) I will play with my 2 grand-daughters and eat yogurt..:frown: Have a great weekend all..............:frown:

I eat so slow that I pretty much eat throughout the day. It's not like grazing because I pack my lunch in a little bento box. I have 2 oz of cottage cheese, 3 oz of meat and/or cheese, sunflower seed crackers, 2 oz of fruit and maybe a Greek yogurt dip. It seems to keep me busy at work until it's time to go home. On the weekends I'm so busy that I usually have to remind myself to eat and then grab a quick meal. Is eating through the day unhealthy in the long run?

I litteraly am dying. Trying not to laugh as hard as I have been becuase my partner is asleep next to me and the bed is shaking. I am making myself eat the greek yogurt not only for the protien but also for the probiotic element. If I dont watch it sometimes I too will call the demons back to hell with a little bit of sludge.... Good luck

Welcome to the forums! Congratulations on making the decision and getting your date! That is awesome! Every surgeon is different in their requirements for food plans. Follow the directions that your surgeon gives you as they know what is best for their practice. When I was on my pre-op diet, I could have Protein shakes as well as "real food" items like salads. That made it more bearable. A full liquid only diet would consist of clear fluids - Water, crystal light, Isopure, broth, sugar free jello; as well as liquids that would fit through a straw - milk, yogurt, Protein Shakes, pureed Soups, etc.

Sorry..hit a button and off it went to be posted before I was ready. Anyways, Can you guys give me an idea of what kind of things that you are eating. I am only eating/slurping yogurt drink, yogurt, Soups, Water, and crystal light. I have tried to take some Multivitamin and Calcium but they really made a mess of my tummy. Maybe because I wasn't eating enough. What do you guys think?

I got my band on 3-9, I am on full liquids--Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink (no surgar added), High Protein Slim Fast. I use the powder with skim milk. My doc says no 1% or 2% as it has to much fat. No sugar popciles, crystal light, tea and water. I can have apple or grape juice that is cut with water. I plan to have some egg drop soup next week as I head into the mushies just because I miss something that has a good taste. I can add yogurt and cottage cheese next.

Hi Everyone... I had my 2nd post-op visit today! I lost another 5 1/2 lbs this week! I am very excited. Dr. Kwon said I can have yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, and clear broth Soups this week! I am in good spirits and very exited. I am down 16 lbs total post-op. I cannot believe it! Since 8/10!!! I am dancing around my house! Now I just have to get myself motivated to excercise again! Lisa

i remember the first 6-8 weeks and it was hell. i was still hungry and i had to do all the work (not much help from the band). my suggestion would be to write down what you eat (or use dailyplate.com) and change it. i would eat less and just suffer through it because i promise it will get better. a typical day for me then was: b: 1/2 cup yogurt or oatmeal OR Protein Shake with 1 teaspoon Peanut Butter (skim milk) l: tuna, chicken, or egg salad with 2 tablespoons of mayo (1/2 cup)--i ate it without bread OR deli meat rolled up with a piece of cheese d: Protein based meal (1/2 cup total). After 6 weeks i was allowed to eat a cup at a time. Good Luck!