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Love the idea of using it foe salad dressing. I love "creamy" dressings but I won't them anymore due to calories/fat. I'm going to try the greek yogurt with lemon and maybe some herbs as soon as I can eat salads. thanks for the idea! Add chia seeds for a Caesar feel! Sent from my SM-N930V using the BariatricPal App

Love the idea of using it foe salad dressing. I love "creamy" dressings but I won't them anymore due to calories/fat. I'm going to try the greek yogurt with lemon and maybe some herbs as soon as I can eat salads. thanks for the idea!

I use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in my guacamole, veggie dip, salad dressings, etc. Great protein source, same taste to me!

I've used Greek yogurt in place of a lot of different things and it works out quite well. Try it with lemon juice as a salad dressing, add lime and cilantro to put on cheese squares, in place of mayo for deviled eggs, I could go on but the point is get creative, it is fun!

Some soft foods I have had: Rotisserie chicken Sashimi Greek no fat yogurt Lean deli slices Low fat cheese Slow cook crock pot Turkey chili (yummmmm) Cottage cheese Artichoke cooked soft. These and Premier Protein shakes are pretty much all I eat now while on soft foods. This week I am going to try and implement some soft fruit and more veggies.

I probably not doing enough protein. I have one shake in the morning and some yogurt in the afternoon and a string cheese as a snack. dinner is usually soup or oatmeal or cottage cheese. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I make both at home and they are not the same. Greek yogurt is simply regular plain yogurt with the whey removed. You can make it yourself by buying a good plain yogurt and dumping it in a muslin lined colander (strainer) and setting it in a bowl to catch the whey for 24-48 hours. then put it back in the container and you have Greek yogurt. Sour cream is a culture you can make by using a bit of sour cream and half and half then let it sit and ferment for a day or two. One has a higher calorie content than the other. Both are pretty good!

I am convinced! I have used it in the place of sour cream a few times now and can barely tell the difference!! Sent from my SM-N930V using the BariatricPal App

So I'm on soft foods for another 2 more weeks. However, I have been trying some other foods such as spaghetti squash, salmon, tuna etc. And I've been good. But for the most part I drink Protein shakes, eat Jello, Soup, cottage cheese, yogurt etc. The problem though is I don't feel satisfied and find myself getting hungry within 2 hours is that normal. Also, I've been getting this strange sharp pain in my upper chest that just hits hard and goes away. The funny thing is that when I feel this pain it seems to hurt straight down to my groin area. I know right? Maybe it's all in my head. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

Im trying to add some variety. I don't like the Protein shakes either. But Premier Protein Shakes are about the closest I've come to tolerable shakes. Today I had: 8am: coffee, small 9am: Oikos Zero yogurt, 5 oz, eaten over an hour 11:30 half of a Quest bar 12:30 Half of a Premier Protein shake. (If you drink them really cold, they are ok-ish). 2:00 Tuna salad, 2 oz 3:00 cardio workout 4:00 1/4 cup cottage cheese 5:00 1 oz of rotisserie chicken (I keep fresh rotisserie chicken in the fridge when I want a quick fix) 7pm 2 oz of ground turkey with tomato sauce 10pm 2 or 3 oz of oikos yogurt (eating as I type this :-) 60 oz of Water drank throughout the day According to my fitness pal I consumed 75grams of protein and 28g carbs for the day.

I really like Fage Total 0% greek yogurt - plain. I'll mix it with onion dip mix or ranch dip mix to make a veggie dip and eat with some cherry tomatoes and cucumbers ... tried carrots but my pouch isn't quite ready for those yet. I can also make it "sweeter" rather than savory and mix it with one of my sugar free Torani syrups and just eat it. Sometimes I will mix some oatmeal into it. 1c gives you 23g of protein! I can't eat 1c at a time, but i can eat it throughout the day to get the full cup. It's been hard for me to really EAT much. I have been relying pretty heavily on my Premier protein vanilla ready made shakes. I mix those with coffee flavored protein powder - I've tried Fit, Click and Chike. I like both the Fit and Click brands best. I use the vanilla latte flavor in both brands. I mix that in with the vanilla shake, my benefiber and my miralax and drink for breakfast - it actually takes me all morning at work to drink it, but it gives me like 50g of protein. Sometimes, I add a little salt just to take away the "Sweet" flavor...just depends on my mood. Egg whites, if you can tolerate eggs, are also good protein. Non-fat re fried beans are good protein. I eat those mixed with some reduced fat shredded cheese - good protein. I find that i need to add in some of the organic chicken stalk to them though - to make them a little easier to get down. One thing I was doing for awhile was taking reduced fat cheese slices, cutting into four little pieces, place on a baking tray and bake for like 5 minutes to make cheese crackers. So good, but do that sparingly!! Lots of fat if you eat too much. Check out the world according to eggface website - she has SO many great recipes, ideas, etc. I lived on her site for the first 6 weeks after my RNY surgery. She's on pinterest too. Good luck!!

Many have trouble with eggs. Try some cottage cheese, yogurt, refried Beans with cheese. Small tiny bites - and slow. I ate a little too much for lunch today and wanted to die.

I'm on day 5. I thought i could handle Soup and it gave me terrible diarrhea. I'm going to Back to Clear Liquids for 2 days and then I'll try yogurt maybe. Sent from my SM-J320P using the BariatricPal App

If you have a cooler, pack shakes, string cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese (in the individual cups), P3 snacks...

Good luck kicking the habit. I'm 8 days out and had my follow up with the Dr. yesterday. I was given the go ahead for a very limited amount of foods. Luckily for me mashed potato's is one of them. Others include pureed soup, yogurt without fruit & soft scrambled eggs. As much as I love chicken I'm too afraid of nicking a staple or choking to even attempt eating one. Also, so far I haven't really craved any food. I spend so much time trying to get in my Water and protien most of the day is filled with that. Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

There's also Greek yogurt and if you eat cheeses, cottage cheese as well as eggs all have lots of protein. Using protein powders and they have ones for vegetarians too. All kinds of beans out there to make soups, chili and food with, also hummus is a great goto snack

I was sleeved 9/2 pre op weight 197 sw 189 today 166 I'm feeling great and my clothes are getting baggy:) I eat egg whites for Breakfast with veggies, sometimes a slice of spam, or turkey bacon. I love breakfast!! lunch might be cottage cheese, yogurt, fat free Soup or a string cheese. dinner is usually some kind of meat. chicken, salmon, beef, pork, tuna. I like mexican food so I put chile Verde on my eggs it's so good. My favorite is a chuck roast or tri tip in the crock pot. I found that always having some kind of meat cooked in the fridge or boiled eggs helps me as a go to if I get the munchies. My portions are really small and I have 2 shakes a day with 30 calorie almond milk. I struggle with Water I might get an average of 40-50 oz a day. My dessert is usually once a week and it's a sugar free chocolate/vanilla pudding or a sugar free fudge popsicle. My crunchy snack is chile pork grinds with cream cheese. Don't knock it till you try it, It's pretty good. Lol oh I also made chicken strips with a light sprinkle of shake n bake. Hope this helps someone. I've lost a total of 31 lbs in 2 months so I feel I'm doing something right. I exercise 3 to 4 days a week too nothing too strenuous just walking anywhere from 4 - 6 miles with my friend it's in hour and half of girl chat???? Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

It took me a year to make the decision..I went through the process, read, researched and got approved,,then I chickened out but my health continued to worsen and I finally realize I needed to do something drastic...this is it....got sleeved on the 24th, I'm scared it isn't going to work but much of what I feel, I've heard others say so that's comforting...I'm craving chocolate like mad..sticking to chocolate yogurt but even that had to much sugar so not to much. I worry about this. Still I don't regret...I believe I did the right thing and I lost 18 pounds in the pre op diet so that gave me hope. All in all I'm happy with my status and glad I did it

Ptotein cakes are real simple to make. One scoop of your favorite WHEY protein powder. Don't use any other kind but whey. They will suck! I personally recommend Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard just about any flavor or Protozyne Peanut Butter cookie powder. Add just enough soy based creamer to make a batter. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, not soda! Nuke that for about 25-30 seconds for a warm gooey lava cake. 40-45 seconds for a cupcake. I will also add a tablesppon of peanut butter before microwaving it and "ice" it with plain fage yogurt. The macros vary depending on what you make it with, but it will be at least 25 grams protein. There are tons of recipes scattered throughout this forum and on the web.

Happy Halloween from BariatricPal!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Halloween! It’s time to enjoy a few scares and spooks and a lot of fun, but how is that possible when you are trying to lose weight? This newsletter has a few tips that can help you enjoy yourself this Halloween and in the coming months, and keep the results from showing up on the scale. Here’s what we have: Surviving Halloween as a Weight Loss Surgery Patient Scary Good Treats from The BariatricPal Store The Start of the Eating Season (Or Not) Thanks for reading the newsletter and being part of the BariatricPal community. Don’t forget to login to share your healthy Halloween tips and get some healthy inspiration when you need it, and have a safe and happy Halloween! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Surviving Halloween as a Weight Loss Surgery Patient Halloween is one of the hardest times for bariatric patients. You’re sure to see candy nearly everywhere, and you may not see much else. How are you supposed to pass up the sugar while still having fun and getting in your Protein? It may not be easy, but you can do it. Go with a Plan Plan ahead, just like you do in the rest of your post-op life. If you are going to a party, plan to drink ice Water for most of the time. Set yourself up far from the buffet table, and talk to everyone you can to keep your mind off of the food. Also, remember to fend for yourself instead of depending on the party far. Bring a dish or two to share to make sure you have something healthy to eat for when you are hungry. These are some fun Halloween ideas. String cheese Fingers with half-sticks of string cheese being the fingers, and grape tomato halves filling in as the fingernails. Drizzle tomato sauce for blood if you like. Candy Corn Fruit Plate with three layers: each representing a color of the traditional candy corn. The bottom of the triangle can be a yellow fruit such as pineapple chunks; the middle stripe can be an orange fruit such as orange wedges or cut cantaloupe; the white tip can be banana slices or even cottage cheese for dipping. You can also make this with veggies! Banana Ghosts using banana halves for the ghost and blueberries, peanuts, or pieces of Protein Cereal for the eyes and mouth. Tangerine Pumpkins using a peeled tangerine for the pumpkin body, and a piece of celery stuck in the center as the stem. Stay Busy without Eating If you are trick-or-treating, there are all kinds of ways you can stay busy without diving into the kids’ loot. Keep yourself busy by helping out any children who need it, whether they are yours or anyone else’s in the neighborhood. Fix their makeup and costumes, help them cross the street safely whenever necessary, and hold the littlest ones’ hands if they get scared. Practice the One and Done Actually, practice it twice! For your first “one and done” trick, choose one piece of candy, assuming that you are up to eat solids foods on your post-op diet, and assuming you know that you can handle a sugary piece of candy without feeling sick or reaching for another 10 pieces. For your second “one and done,” remember that Halloween is one night. The leftover candy from what you handed out to trick-or-treaters or that your children collected needs to go on November 1. Otherwise, if you keep it around the house, you risk munching on it, well, possibly up until Thanksgiving! No, thanks! Donate the leftover candy to your local school or church. Throw unwanted leftovers away (really, the trash can wears the calories better than you do). If you allow your children to continue to eat their trick-or-treating loot, have them stash it away out of your eyesight so you are not tempted to eat it. Scary Good Treats from The BariatricPal Store Treats with a Little Trick Trick or treat! It’s fun to gather all kinds of candies, but you know the damage to your waistline. The calories pile on, the sugar leads to more carb cravings and possibly dumping syndrome, and the fat clogs your arteries. Who needs those kinds of effects when you can turn to treats from The BariatricPal Store? Our little trick is to change up the nutritionals to bump up the protein and dial down the calories, sugar, and fat. Instead of grabbing a candy bar next time, try one of these little treats: Caramel Coated Protein Puffs Snacks with 150 calories and 15 grams of protein. chocolate & Caramel Crispy Bites with 160 calories and 12 grams of protein. White Chocolate Dream Bar with 170 calories, 10 grams of protein, and 5 grams of Fiber. Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp Bar with 140 calories, 15 grams of protein, and 10 grams of fiber. You may not even miss your favorite candy bar. Grab the Best Deals! We’re celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the opening of The BariatricPal Store, and you will come out the winner! We’re constantly increasing our inventory, so check our new products regularly. Are you new to our store? Just use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 when you check out for a 10% discount off your entire purchase cost! The Start of the Eating Season (or Not) On guard! Halloween marks the unofficial start to the holiday season. Festive though it may be, the holidays can mean trouble for your weight loss plan. Leftover Halloween candy in the home and office. Thanksgiving…a four-day eating marathon in itself. Christmas Cookies, fudge, fruitcakes, and candy canes. Holiday parties with friends, family, and coworkers. Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. And more… The bottom line is that there may be food wherever you turn, and you can’t give in each time if you want to stay on track with your weight loss goals. Here are a few tips to help you get through this time. Practice saying “no.” “No, thank you.” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that.” “No, thanks, I’m not hungry right now.” Have your own healthy substitutes ready. You can save hundreds of calories by making yourself some Protein Cocoa instead of ordering it with your friend or coworkers at a coffee shop, or by munching on a Chocolate Wafer Protein Bar instead of a few squares of fudge. Eat regularly to keep cravings down. Instead of letting yourself get too hungry so that you risk overdoing it when it is time to eat, keep healthy and quick meals and snacks on hand. Canned tuna, washed and cut fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt, and protein bars are just a few ideas. Change your goals slightly to be more realistic. You may lose weight a little more slowly during these months, and that’s okay. Scour the table before serving yourself. Often, there is a high-protein choice that can work for you, such as roast beef or ham, even if it is not the healthiest in the world. Plan an occasional treat when you know something spectacular is coming up. It might be a cookie from your aunt’s annual Christmas delivery, or some cornbread stuffing. Plan to have a bite to satisfy yourself so you do not feel deprived or, on the other hand, go overboard. The holiday season is long for weight loss surgery patients, since temptations are everywhere and these are foods that you may have enjoyed in the past. Still, you can get through it right on track by being a little cautious and planning ahead whenever possible. Have a safe and healthy Halloween this year! Enjoy every minute of it, and come tell us about it on the boards at BariatricPal! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

Going through my fitness pal app, here is what I've been eating. Some foods go down way better than others. Breakfast (workdays): Premier Protein shake Late morning snack: Oikos Zero Yogurt, or a cheese stick, or low fat cottage cheese Lunch: 1 or 2 oz canned tuna or rotisserie chicken with a dab of mayo mixed in, and a small pickle. Late afternoon snack (if I worked out): 1 tbsp all natural Peanut Butter along with a tsp of no sugar added apricot preserves. Or, 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese. Dinner: Sashimi (about 3 oz), or baked salmon, or mahi mahi, or chicken, or crock pot turkey chili, and often I have artichoke with it. (a few leaves). That's about it so far. I'm looking to add more variety as time goes on.

It depends what is on your plan right now. You can mix Protein powder with greek yogurt, sf pudding, Soup (not too hot), mashed potatoes (if allowed), etc. I'm on mushy foods and added it to roasted butternut squash (puree). I'm allowed veggies and fruit on my plan - but it's not as low carb as some want to be.

Thank you both.... I did call in and turns out I started puree to soon, not due until Thursday!!! Doh!!! Still even soup can bring on pain but not as much as long as I'm slow. I ate butternut squash soup with fage Greek yogurt in it this morning and tummy was happy. Water still causing near nausea ..they suggested infusing it. I'm thinking a vat of cold peppermint tea might be nice with some stevia drops. @@Hiraeth and @thenewkel thanks again

I was sleeved 4 weeks ago. I have been having a hard time eating. Same pain as you describe. After 2 small bites, well chewed soft foods, I start getting pain. Only one exception and that is when I eat plain sashimi. That goes down perfectly and no pain. I have recently been reverting back to a lot of liquids (soups, yogurt, and protien shakes) simply due to this pain after eating .

Drink a Protein shake in the morning on the way to work. Eat a Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt around 10:00 Eat 2-3 oz of chicken or turkeys around 1:00 Eat about 2-3 oz pouch of tuna around 5:00 Eat about 2 oz protein with some roasted veggies around 8:00 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App