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I was sleeved on the 7th also... my first purée food date is the day after Thanksgiving. The surgeon gave me the ok yesterday to bring in yogurts & sugar free pudding a few days early (I was supposed to begin those tomorrow) I've been following his instructions unless he told me otherwise. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had mine Nov 7 as well. I'd ask your doctor. I'm supposed to be on shakes until Nov 22, but when I went into the surgeons appointment I asked and he said I could start cottage cheese and yogurt to see how I handle it. I've only had the cottage cheese so far, but literally it was the best thing I've ever eaten lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Mix 4 scoops of unflavored Protein powder with 4 oz milk (I use cashew milk) you have 84 gr of protein. Add it to everything. You can get all the protein you need in a very small volume. Add 3 TBS powdered Peanut Butter (8gr) to every shake. Mix 2 scoops of unflavored Protein Powder to a full container of yogurt and cottage cheese increase the protein to 18grams per cup. The vanilla proved is tasty in the yogurt.

I would actually make chicken noodle Soup and just drink the broth. It had more flavor then chicken stock. When I did have chicken stock, I added garlic salt and pepper to it. I would also cook it with carrots, corn and celery in it, and then stain it. It gave it a different flavor that way. I relied more on yogurt with Protein powder, as I found it to not be as sickly sweet as the Meal Replacement shakes, puddings, hot chocolate.

I did those imagine brand soups lots of great Flavors and added fage Greek yogurt In which taste like sour cream to me... I also bought a Protein powder by g6 sports that I find very yummy sweetened with stevia My favorite soup is tomato during that time I mixed my powder in nonfat milk which taste better then Water and add protein

hello there. I got sleeved on November 11th. had a great surgery and recovery. I started my week pre diet with Protein shakes, it actually wen great. My problem right now is that i cant stand those shakes i am actually gagging on them, having a very difficult tine finishing them , and the chicken broth and and greek yogurt gives me goose bumps just listening to the words. i would like any kind of ideas on how you managed to go thru that liquid stage. thank you!!!

Soup, yogurt etc Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

Is your 4 weeks all liquid? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App Mostly. unjury shakes, V8, SF pudding, SF Jello, unsweetened applesauce, light yogurt and plain cheerios or plain oatmeal. In restricted quantities for everything. 1000 cals, 115 g Protein and less than 100 carbs daily. I have been diabetic for >20 years, so they want to be good and sure that I have a lean liver at surgery. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was sleeved on November 8th. I started full liquids on the 11th and will be moving to pureed on the 25. I can have low fat greek yogurt, any cream based soup strained, chicken broth, vegetable broth, beef broth, watered down oatmeal, cream of wheat, Protein shakes, and any low calorie caffeine free carbonation free drink. I can't tolerate many of the Protein drinks... They are way too sweet. I have added the unflavored protein powder to oatmeal and cream of wheat but it kind of tastes like baby formula. I have my postop appointment tomorrow, so hopefully my doctor will have some better ideas on how to get my protein in. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

@@Shanrom I had my surgery on Halloween and am still not allowed to eat all the stuff you are eating. It's fine with me, just getting my Water and Protein shakes in fills me up, I can maybe do a small amount of Jello, Soup, or yogurt on top of that and that's all I can fit. I have felt sick to my stomach twice since surgery. The reason was the same both times, not enough WATER. My guess is you are eating several times a day but not getting enough water. Dehydration makes you nauseated. My surgeon says get 64 oz of water and 60-70 grams of protein in a day. IF you have room for anything else the food is just for fun at this point. Also, I would only add one new food per day if it were me. I did egg drop soup last night (maybe a fourth of a cup?) but didn't do anything else new yesterday or this morning. That way if I feel bad I know what caused it.

From what I know, the hunger feelings you think you are feeling right now is most likely just acid in your stomach. Drink Water or broth to make that better, but do make sure you are taking your PPI right now. I got hot and sour Soup from the local Chinese place and strained out the veggies and drank the broth. It was like heaven! LOL Ditch the mashed potatoes as soon as you can, and get on Protein forward (Ricotta bake, cottage cheese, some yogurts, mashed Beans, hummus). The sooner you get rid of the carbs, the less likely they will turn into cravings as you heel up. And brace yourself, because your brain will convince you of so many things once you start eating! Be good, and go protein forward, and don't even mess with carbs and simple sugars while you're trying to lose

I am also transitioning. I can have a ounce of a tuna packet or deli meat and cheese. That's the extent of my eating right now in addition to a couple spoons of yogurt. I was planning to take Protein shakes for sure. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

are you on solid food yet? at 4 weeksI was transitioning from purees to "soft" solid food. The flavored tuna and salmon pouches were a big part of my diet at that stage. They don't require refrigeration either so they would make a convenient road trip Protein snack/meal. If you can take a small cooler or insulated bag - maybe some string cheese and yogurt? and lots of water/noncaloric beverages.

Day 3 here in U.K. I started with the milk diet. 3 pints of milk and two yogurts daily but I just couldn't choke it down so I've a food diet. Far far better. I've lost 5lb so far Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Glad to hear this. I am having problems realizing what doesn't make me feel rotten after eating. Meat is not settling well, I can eat soup, cottage cheese and yogurt without a bad feeling afterward. Good to know this isn't abnormal. I'll be patient.

Full liquids. Mean full liquidsbroth, Tea, Water Gatorade zero. sugar free popsicles, yogurt non fat,Lentil Soup strained, sugar free Jello, Good luck I start my liquid diet on Nov 30th Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Well besides all the other stuff on this page, at some point (when, where and how it fits your post surgery plan is on you and your dr) you can fill half an avocado with tuna or chicken salad to make it a full meal (yum). Thanks to the internet, you can find all kinds of crazy tricks like subbing mayo with Greek yogurt for less fat. Yay. Best of luck.

Yep! Embrace the stall. It happens. Stalled eating 800 calories a day for 20 days. Would not have believed it if I had not experienced it myself. Just Stalled up/down 2 lbs for 3 weeks. Then dropped 4 lbs in 4 days. Just keep following the rules. I also tried switching more animal Protein for milk or yogurt and that may have played a roll. Keep at it. You will succeed! Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

Tuna salad, deviled eggs, cottage cheese with mushy fruit, like canned peaches, refried Beans with melted cheese, yogurt, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, Malt-O-Meal or cream of wheat, mashes potatoes, potted meat, applesauce, cream of chicken Soups, cream of mushroom Soup, banana baby food, sugar free pudding. Hope that helps ☺ Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using the BariatricPal App

I am 2 weeks today. I am required to have 60-70 grams of protein a day. I have 2 protein shakes and my water, not much else fits. I can do a couple of ounces or soups, jello or yogurt and that's it. I do hear gurgling but I just keep going, SLOW. As long as you are getting your water and protein everything else is just practice eating, but if you are worried ask you medical team. I have had 2 follow up appointments already.

OK I should have taken a picture, I forgot! Tonight I grilled Greek chicken Kabobs. (Kebobs kotópoulo). The marinade was so tasty- yogurt, lemon, balsamic, rosemary, oregano, feta, and white wine. I also marinated olives, bell pepper, mushrooms and onion, and added them to the chicken skewers. I made a Greek dipping sauce with yogurt, lemon, dill, diced onion, fresh thyme, and a pinch off garlic, olive oil and salt. A bit of fresh black pepper on top. The kids loved them too, they had white rice with them, I just had half a kebob. Delish!

I walk 4 days a week, for about 30 minutes. I have fibromyalgia really bad so too much puts me in bed for days at a time. I'm still only eating about 800-1000 calories a day, 1000 is really pushing it. My dr wants me to be eating 1200 but it's just not possible. I usually have about 50 grams of Protein. I do not drink my protein. The shakes killed my stomach I tried every protein recommended by my dr and other people and then some, it all made me really sick. I had found some really good ones but they made me so sick I couldn't keep drinking them. Tuna, chicken, Greek yogurt, and cheese are my go to Proteins. I get around 50 carbs a day (Drs recommendation). I still drop pounds from time to time. But it's not like it was in the beginning. My dr actually told me at my one year appointment I could only lose 10 more pounds before they would start getting worried about losing too much. So I'm trying to just stay where I'm at. I don't really do anything in particular to lose, I just follow my Drs plan. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Thanks for your reply. I am doing exactly what u do but I am able to drink my protein so i am taking in about 80g a day. I can not go to the 1200 cal either but since i was moved from 800 to 1200 i actually gained 11lb. I work out about 30 min every 2 days. Hmm,....I wonder what else I could do to make this weight-loss start up.... Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App

I walk 4 days a week, for about 30 minutes. I have fibromyalgia really bad so too much puts me in bed for days at a time. I'm still only eating about 800-1000 calories a day, 1000 is really pushing it. My dr wants me to be eating 1200 but it's just not possible. I usually have about 50 grams of Protein. I do not drink my protein. The shakes killed my stomach I tried every protein recommended by my dr and other people and then some, it all made me really sick. I had found some really good ones but they made me so sick I couldn't keep drinking them. Tuna, chicken, Greek yogurt, and cheese are my go to Proteins. I get around 50 carbs a day (Drs recommendation). I still drop pounds from time to time. But it's not like it was in the beginning. My dr actually told me at my one year appointment I could only lose 10 more pounds before they would start getting worried about losing too much. So I'm trying to just stay where I'm at. I don't really do anything in particular to lose, I just follow my Drs plan. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[awesome info!!!!quote name=Lilee84" post="2285395" timestamp="1332967880] DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references. How do I embed the weight loss ticker? Click on the My Tickers link under your settings in the top right of any page on here. What can I have during liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc… When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows: Day 1-7 Clear Liquids Day 8-14 Full liquids Day 15-21 Purees Day 22-50 Mushies What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed. Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs. How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day. How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest. Best protein shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy unjury. What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods) How long will my surgery last? Typically about 45mins assuming there are no complications or other procedures (ie: hernia repairs) being done at the time of your surgery. Every surgeon is different so for a more accurate answer you should consult your respective surgeon. Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside. What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching. What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between. What do all these acronyms mean? In no particular order: WLS – Weight Loss Surgery NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…) NUT – Nutritionist PCP – Primary Care Physician VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy TOM – Time of the Month SF – Sugar Free WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off. What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own. When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity. When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home. What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink. Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however. I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses. I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon. Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy. When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks. How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay. Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign. Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling. What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult. What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases. Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases. Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.

I am, liquids are a huge part of everything but I have added yogurt and cream of anything Soup. I was hoping the dairy would slow it down. Not yet... I find it much easier to unplug myself rather than stop diarrhea. I have no veins left, everything was blown while I was in the hospital and I have an underlying condition that makes me an impossible stick so going into the hydration clinic is a horrible thought unless they give me a pic line. This so frustrating. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App