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I haven't been on this web site in almost a month... honestly... because I am ashamed of myself. I researched bariatric surgery for nearly 10 years before I finally had all my kids (5 beautiful red-heads) and the military insurance (Tricare) would cover the lapband instead of only the RNY, which I thought was too invasive for me.....but now... ugh...I had my lap-band on 26 March. It is an 11cc band (that's larger than most). I was 252 and I am honestly scared to death to step on a scale to see if I have lost anything. I know I am eating less than I was before, but I read books about people eating 1/4cup yogurt for breakfast, 1 soft egg for lunch, a protein shake for a snack and a light dinner, maybe 3 oz of shrimp and 2 BITES of sweet potatoe... and I am JEALOUS of these people... I want to feel full after eating almost nothing... but I honestly eat almost anything. I am scared. I bought a couple books with low carb/high protein recipes in it and so far - they are pretty good. It ain't Gramma's Chicken casserole, but it's good food. One book, Before and After, has been very helpful. The author had RNY 6 years ago, so some of the info (the no sugar and dumping info) doesn't apply, but the rest has been at least helpful enough that I don't feel completely alone. I eat too much. My surgeon is in the states (I live in Italy) teaching US doctors how to do the surgery - so I can't have my follow-up with him till at least 1 May. I will beg him to fill the band as much as possible... I didn't go into this surgery lightly and I desperately want it to work. I try to stick to 85 (at least)grams of protein a day and no more than 25 grams of carbs. I drink constantly (except around meals) and track what I eat most days... but the fat jeans still fit well... :rolleyes2:

Hi Linlayni me too i don't think i chew enough especial with chicken, im ok with soft food yogurt's soup but when i eat solids and dont chew enough i get that feeling in my throat think its our band letting you know when it doesn't like its, its all a learning curve, i agree with you about the weight its very slow and frustrating im sure we will all get there in the end slowly but surely lolx:smile:

My post surgery diet is clear liquids day 1 & 2. And day 3 &4 full liquids. So today I am on full liquids. I took my painmeds this morning with my Protein drink this morning. yesterday was the day I ate crackers. I didn't have any problems. I chewed them until they were mush. Since I am now on full liquids I can eat yogurt, pudding, oatmeal..... Why does it sound like everyone has a longer clear liquid diet???

I'm in the same boat as you Becca. I'm 6 months out and I can eat more. I have yet to stay the same or gain since I've had the surgery, and I really hope to not break that trend on Thanksgiving week. We are having Thanksgiving at my sister-in-laws, but my husband and I are cooking most of the dishes. I am making everything I usually make, but I will not be bringing chips and dip as I usually do. I am not going to eat everything from dinner. For example, I won't be wasting room on dinner rolls or mashed potatoes. For Breakfast, I will have my usually yogurt and a Soy Latte. At lunch I will eat the turkey liver and 1/4 cup of macaroni salad that I am making for dinner. Dinner is early in our family, around 3 p.m. I will have turkey with a bit of gravy, cranberry sauce, and a bite of stuffing. Later in the evening I will have a bite of pumpkin pie and maybe a piece of sees candy. I will be working out Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday Thanksgiving week. The next day for lunch and dinner, I will have turkey and a little something else, but not as much as on Thanksgiving. My goal is to eat Protein first, limit the bad foods to 1/4 cup or less of only my favorites, and to NOT GRAZE. If I limit the number of times I eat during the day, I will automagically have more portion control. Additional goals are to limit the indulgence to Thanksgiving and the day after and to work out as many days as I can that week. I'm looking forward to a fun family holiday. I'm toying with the idea of adding a new craft for the day: Maybe a little branch and a bunch of paper leaves. People write what they are grateful for on the leaves and then tape them to the tree. My family may find this too hokey. Other possibility is some little Christmas craft I can do with my nieces. They are in their late teens now, but sometimes still like to make a craft. Lynda

I'm two weeks post-op and haven't had this particular experience, but lucked into something while trying to maximize my Protein. This is very dessert-like, and even my husband thinks it tastes really good, so it's something you may want to try. Use two scoops of the best-tasting Protein shake powder you can find, add 1/4 C each non-fat evaporated skim milk and Greek-style yogurt, and just enough skim milk to make a slightly thin pudding consistency. Add a drop or two of a complementary flavoring (I like cherry or mint flavoring with chocolate protein mix, but you could use marshmallow, berry, toffee, or any flavoring you like with vanilla mix) and blend until thoroughly mixed. It tastes a lot like cheesecake, and with many protein mixes having around 20gm of protein per scoop, you end up with a tasty treat that has a total of ~48gm protein that can be split into two Snacks. This can help with the desire for something creamy, and crunchy things will come in a few weeks, they say!

Yes I can. I bought some but haven't had it. I did have split pea yesterday. I pureed it with Greek yogurt to add protein and it was so good I added the unflavored to cream of wheat and I could taste it. Ill have to try it in soup tomorrow. I found that the Chike brand of protein isn't too sweet for me and you mix it with only alittle Water or milk, so its a lot of protein without a big drink!

Hey I'm from the UK and I had yogurt in my 2nd week it's a slider food so will go down nicely. I'm coming up to 3 weeks post surgery and I'm on soft food I must admit I skipped onto soft food few days earlier I shouldn't have but I did I got soo bored of liquids. The American plan seems so much stricter than ours. Sent from my SM-G901F using the BariatricPal App

Today makes one week since my surgery I'm not set to see the doctor till tomorrow but I cannot deal with Clear liquids any longer anyone else going through this? I would really like to try some yogurt I've watched him videos on YouTube of people it seems that they are all from the UK and they said they were given yogurt in the hospital so I'm thinking yogurt maybe OK to try and I do have some in the fridgeis anyone else eating yogurt after one week Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is a great time to learn to be able to do things that we think we can't take. You have made a huge decision to change your lifestyle and your postop diet is part of it. At least call your surgeons office and ask if you can add yogurt. You really don't need strangers approval to do what you want to do. I know for me, it was important to be able to meet my Protein and liquid goals and follow my plan. I found each stage to get tiresome because I wanted what was coming next. It is a very small sacrifice in the big scheme. And that first scrambled egg was the best ever! You will get there. This!Omg you are sooo dramatic that's what I hate about this site alot of the Americans act like your gonna die if you eat something. She hasn't asked for a McDonald's or KFC or pizza hut it's a yogurt for gods sake. I'm not telling her to eat anything I told her of my experience and what I did. I did eat a yogurt before I was suppose to both happened my nurse said it's a slider food so nothing with happen or get stuck. You need to realise everyone's experiences are different and accept that!!! Sent from my SM-G901F using the BariatricPal App

I would toss a little shredded cheese in with my scrambled eggs. Also, finely mashed (with a fork) egg salad or tuna salad. I'm not a refried Beans person, so I didn't try that. (It's a texture thing for me.) The Ricotta Bake is amazing. I think I lived on that for the first week I was on purees. Also, Oikos Triple Zero Greek Yogurt (15 grams protein) - personally, I love the coconut creme and salted caramel flavors. Just had a strawberry one for breakfast today. You'll find your way. You may find that stuff you liked pre-surgery, you don't like now.

Hi Hun idk if this may sound good to you or weird but if you take the cottage cheese or low fat ricotta cheese and put a little bit of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon it's delightful , I'm not really a big egg person eaither I never really was idk why. Also idk someone was telling me about the laughing cow small lowfat cheese are Also a good way to get Protein and are soft . Also I do a lot of yogurt . And almond milk . emoji33] Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You should have a specific list from your surgeon and/or your nutritionist. However, stage one is clear liquids only, while stage two generally includes protein shakes, sugar-free jello and popsicles and fudgesicles, and cream soup (without any pieces or chunks of food--blend it if you have to). Sugar-free yogurt might be allowed; check your list.

I am new to group first day. I am in the pureed stage but can not visually handle what it looks like so I chew everything I eat up really fine and have not had any issues. Things like scrambled eggs, beans, fish and other meats ( can't be dry). I still have protein shakes and Greek yogurt. I go see my surgeon on Monday will let you guys know how it goes. I'm 4 weeks and 1 day post-op bypass. I am so thankful for this group. I

Hey Kim87 - *hey I graduated in 1987! LOL * Anyway - I'm 13 days post op and I felt exactly the same as you. I had some regret there thinking - will it stay this way? - but on day 7 felt so so so much better! I'm better everyday - can bend over just fine and sleep so much better in this last week. I'm really struggling staying on a full liquid diet - my Dr said 3 weeks liquid diet after which mean I'd be on full liquids until 3/31. I'm still trying but have eaten some mashed potatos, refried beans - that sort of thing bc I really felt like I needed it and wanted to listen to my body. I also am eating yogurt to help me feel full. I need to do more water and protien drinks - I feel like if I did that - maybe I'd feel fuller longer. I'm consuming approx 900 calories now - but I've not lost any weight in the last week. I'm hoping its b/c of all he sodium I'm consuming eating so much soup. I want to get to 1000-1200 calories and more protien as I've read so many times that people began losing once they upped the protien. What are you eating currently? you're in the mushy food stage right? What is working for you and are you doing any exercise yet? I'm starting treadmill today and going back to personal trainer next week with weights.

Conetha, My surgeon has us on Clear Liquids for the first 7 days (with the addition of protein powder and/or protein drinks or soups that are clear (ie. Bari Wise Chicken Broth- has 15 gm of protein). We were allowed "no added sugar" fruit juice, like apple or white cranberry. (but in limited quantities, and organic if possible). Then weeks 2 & 3 "full" liquids- which includes skim milk, yogurt (no fruit chunks), sugarfree/fatfree custard or pudding, thicker lowfat cream or other soups (no chunks though- have to strain it), & V8 juice and pureed stuff that was thin (one recommendation was baby food, stage 1 & 2- but I had to pass on that!). Then week 4 is soft mashed. This could be mashed sweet potato, soft scrambled egg, egg salad finely chopped, tuna finely chopped, , soft poached fresh fish, Soft veggies mashed a bit, apple sauce, mashed banana, anything that was pretty much chewed up for you. Then week 5 full regular diet.. but with the addition of only one new food a day... to be able to see if you tolerated it or not. So basically, the analogy is that we are learning to eat just like a little baby. Gradually increasing the textures. Now that I am on regular food, I am feeling so much better. I am feeling some fullness after meals. Not sure if it is the band, since there is no fill... or if my stomach just "shrunk" from not eating real food for a month. Where are you in all this? Are your week 1 or 2, when did you have surgery? In my opinion, if you are doing ok... it is ok to start something a couple days early, but they don't want your stomach having to digest too much too early.

As Mis says stomach growling does not = hunger. Mine growls all the time. Yogurt and almonds are slider foods they will not sustain you for very long. You also say that you are so tight that you are having a hard time getting anything down. I think that you may be too tight and may need some Fluid taken out. That might sound counterproductive but then you would probably be able to eat more satisfying foods such as chicken and meat that should sustain you for longer. Contrary to popular belief tight is not the best way for a band to be.

The first thing I had was Taco Bell refried beans. I couldn't finish half of it. I eat a lot of Greek yogurt with PB2, cottage cheese, smoothies, protein shakes, and soup.

I think you are doing fine. I probably could eat more calories, but since I have quite a ways to go, my nutritionist and I agreed to keep my calories low. I don't however eat diet food of any kind. The closest I get is 0%Greek yogurt. Otherwise, cream, butter, etc.... are all eaten in moderation. You work out also sounds pretty good. You are getting your heart rate up and it sounds like you are working out at least 30 minutes a day. Part of this is learning our bodies and how it responds to the changes in diet and exercise we are making. Once you figure that out, the weight loss will happen.

A yogurt with too much sugar. 9 carbs once you subtract the Fiber, and 15 grams of Protein. Not really worth it, unless you are adding Protein powder to balance out the carb content.

“I want to lose weight and get healthy this year.” That’s what we all want, but that’s not a solid resolution. A resolution says what you will do and how you will do it. It is clear. It has purpose. Taken together, all of your resolutions can add up to losing (or maintaining) weight and getting healthy. Here are our picks for New Year’s resolutions and why. “I’ll Make the Call Now” Are you considering weight loss surgery? Are you worried about an odd feeling in your throat after getting the lap-band? Do you have a question about whether a certain protein powder is safe after gastric bypass? Get help – now! Too often, we have a tendency to delay. It may be phoning all the surgeons in town to gather WLS information, calling your nutritionist with a diet question, or being on hold with your health insurance provider to find out whether the gastric sleeve is covered. Whatever the call is, make it now. Don’t put it off. It’s a way of prioritizing your health, and the good habits will rub off in the rest of your journey. “I’ll Eat 5 Servings of Vegetables Each Day.” Does this one come as a surprise? Did you think we’d start with protein? Here are our reasons for including a veggies resolution near the top of the list. Most people don’t get enough veggies – but they do get enough protein. Even weight loss surgery patients tend to get enough protein after a few months, while they don’t get enough vegetables. Vegetables are low in calories and super filling. Long term, it’s veggies that will reduce hunger so you can keep losing weight and eventually prevent weight regain. Eating more vegetables is linked to lower risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, some cancers, and even dementia. They’ll help keep you regular because of their fiber...and that’s a big benefit for weight loss surgery patients! Unless you’re on your pre-op or post-op liquid diet or you’re having trouble swallowing, there’s no reason not to aim for 5 servings of vegetables. You can have salads, raw veggies for snacks, and steamed veggies on the side. You can also sneak them in, whether you add pureed eggplant and grated carrots to turkey meatloaf, double up on tomato sauce when you have low-carb pasta, or whip pumpkin puree into protein pancakes. “I’ll Drink 10 Cups of Water Each Day.” That’s 80 ounces. The standard recommendation is at least 64 ounces, but we think more is better when it comes to water. It helps you recover faster after surgery. When you’re even a little bit dehydrated, you can get headaches, feel weak, and lose energy. Plus, your metabolism slows. Go for plain water or low-calorie, sugar-free alternatives. Have them available throughout the day, whether it’s a water bottle in your car, a mug of decaffeinated green tea on your desk at work, or a pitcher of water in the fridge at home. “I’ll Use the Tools I Have.” The sleeve, bypass, or band is one tool for weight loss, but are you using all the other possible ones? Here are a few that are at your disposal. Nutrition labels. Do you really know what’s in the food you eat? If you’re not reading labels, you might be very wrong about the ingredients, number of calories, and amount of sugar in your food. Tracking apps. Research shows tracking your food helps you lose weight and keep it off. It holds you accountable and helps you make better decisions. There are so many apps now that track calories, protein, fluid, and anything else you can think of, and it takes only minutes a day. Measuring cups and spoons and a kitchen scale. If you’re guessing about your portions, you’re probably guessing wrong. Don’t put in all the effort of losing weight, only to be disappointed by the scale if it turns out you were eating more than you thought you were. Measure your food. Smaller plates and bowls. Smaller dishes help you take smaller portions. Smaller spoons and forks. When each bite is smaller, you eat slower, and tend to eat less naturally. You don’t have to use them all at once, but you might as well give each of them at least one try. They may help you lose weight without much more effort. “I’ll Eat My Protein First.” Don’t worry, we weren’t going to skip the protein! It keeps you full for longer, helps you maintain your lean body mass, and lets your immune system stay strong. It’s also helpful in preventing hair loss after surgery. Think of protein first when you plan meals and snacks, and eat it first so you don’t fill up before you get to it. Go for lean proteins, such as skinless chicken breast, fat-free cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, canned tuna, fresh fish, tofu, and beans. Skip processed and fatty options, such as bacon, ribs, and sausage. “I Will Exercise Most Days.” It burns calories, reduces stress, and keeps you focused. It improves mood, lowers disease risk, and gives you confidence. What’s not to love? If you really don’t like exercising, keep trying! There are so many types to try, from boot camp and Zumba classes to walking around the neighborhood to exercise DVDs to rock climbing to sports leagues. If none of those appeal, hire a personal trainer to give you more ideas and match you up with something you love. We’re convinced these resolutions are do-able and useful. If you implement some of these, we’re sure you can make good progress towards your overall weight loss and health goals for 2016. Put them together with your own resolutions, and keep us posted on your progress this year!

Lisa.. can you recommend a brand of powder you like?do you ever do shakes? Sent from my XT1585 using the BariatricPal App If I'm doing a shake powder, it is usually the Syntrax Nectars. I've come to like Caribbean Cooler as its flavor is very mellow- just above neutral. I always add a half scoop of an unflavored powder to it, as well. Brings those 8 oz up to around 35g of whey isolate. There is a RTD product called Protein2O that I love as well. Over 20g whey isolate in it as well. Flavors are EXCELLENT!!! And no whey -forward taste at all. Pretty clean flavors. Again, no milk to it which I prefer. As for the unflavored...I really like Unjury, but it needs to be ordered, so I keep a stash of other brands at home to use if I run out. I add it to anything I can- usually by the half- scoop. Works well in my Oikos Triple Zero yogurt!!! I'll add it to coffee, tea, you name it. Hope that helps!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App It does! Thank you. One more question...is there one site where I can purchase samples first instead of buying in bulk? I would hate to be stuck with it if the taste wasn't for me. Sent from my XT1585 using the BariatricPal App Don't know about specific sites that allow you to purchase single packs, but i DO know that the Vitamin Shoppe stores sell them for most brands- which, by the way, is exactly what I did when I first began this journey. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My plan is going to allow oatmeal and yogurt as a “full liquid” which I found interesting

So sorry you are going through this! I would suggest adding a Protein shake, a yogurt, a Protein Bar, or at least a handful of nuts to carry you through a workout. I am diabetic and I know first hand that low blood sugars are no fun. Even a glass of milk would be helpful--good carbs and protein. Your body is telling you you need more. Maybe just 16 oz. of milk would be enough? I know you're an expert at all this stuff, so I know you know all the answers, but what is your weight goal including plastics? Does your medical team agree? I know you will come through it all!

Thanks for the info Kindle! I love those tips. I'm surprised you found all the cream flavors! Lol Maybe I just don't pay enough attention to that section of the soup aisle. The drinkable yogurt sounds like a great option, as well. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Just wanted to post an alternate experience, though I'm still relatively "young" in this process. I could eat a lot of food early on - within 3 weeks I could easily eat 1000 cals - and that of healthy foods (who knows what damage I could have done with cookie dough!). The folks who could only eat 1/4 cup or 500 calories for months on end completely befuddled me. I felt like I was a total outlier. I am now about 11 weeks out and I get around 800-900 calories per day, though it would be very easy to eat more, I can tell you. I do Protein first. Lots of Water. Low carbs, less than 50, usually closer to 30, and then only with what comes with yogurt, veggies, nuts, etc. No bread, Pasta, rice, flour, sugar, etc. Strawberries are the only fruit I eat at present. I try not to eat processed foods and I do eat a lot of healthy fat - full fat yogurt, macadamia nuts, avocado, cream, butter, mayo, etc, which I know not everyone does. I had a stall early on, but I started losing pretty well after the first month, slowly but surely. For the past 3 weeks though I've been losing like crazy and I can't figure out what the difference is. In any case, like one of the posters said, I think there's some trial and error involved, but I'm in general agreement that carbs make me hungrier and I try to stay away from most of them, esp simple ones.