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Hi there, banded on the 15th! I have 2 incisions, used a back massager for the gas pain, had a good post op visit, and have been moved from liquids to mushies. I've been feeling better each day. I am trying to figure out exactly how much mush food to eat. I ate too much yogurt and had an awful over-full feeling for a few hours. My incisions are healing nicely, but they are sore today.

Split. Pea or Lentil soup is high protein. Cottage cheese, Vegetarian retried beans, Broccoli and Cauliflower mixed with broth for flavor. Gerber baby food, meats and vegetables only. Non-fat, sugar-free yogurt if it Has fruit in it make sure you use a blender.

Yes, we are. :confused: Hello. As of this date, I can't say that the band has yet to KICK in. I think we are at the "on your own" stage right now. But I'm trying to stay good. I look forward to the first fill cause I'm hungry. I try to eat 6 small meals a day to keep the edge off, :hungry: (cheese stick, yogurt, apple, low cal dinner) but when the evening comings my old habits have resurfaced--SWEETS CRAVINGS. I got some Healthy choice fudge bars, 90 cals. ea They are really good. But this weeks i started eating 2 or 3 in a row. :omg: These have put my Calorie Count past 1200. Bad girl! Seem to be losing more inches than LBS. Hubby notices. Old cloths(size 22) are resurfacing too! How about U?

Nathalie-- When I spoke of "yummy" things.....I was talking about the food she's eating now. I've been allowed to eat drinking yogurt, ice cream, milky drinks, soups (not all clear) so long as they are thin and of consistency to pass through a straw. I know why I did it, in the first place. I was just trying to express that I'm having a hard time right now and need to talk about it. I thought it would help to talk to people.

That will definitely be the challenge. I went on a strenuous hike Saturday - lost of steep terrain, both up and down, 4 1/2 hours, approximately 1800 cal burned. I am starting to hike/train for a rim-to-rim in one day Grand Canyon hike (24 miles) that is 1 mile down and then 1 mile up. The training hikes alone will burn so many thousands of calories, I can't imagine eating enough, so I think for me, I will have 500 cal days, 1200 cal days, and then 2000-2500 cal days (hiking days). I hope the book will help give some tips for this. I think I will also end up on an elimination diet for a while if this EE comes back positive. (No wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, fish/shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts). Then add 1 at a time back. Only the soy, peanuts, and tree nuts will be hard, as I have already eliminated the others, for the most part. Salad, soup, seeds, grains, and veggies, with pea protein powder. Yum Yum. Do-able. I found oat milk yogurt the other day that is pretty good! Never knew it existed, and amazingly, more fiber, less carbs, and just as much protein as soy yogurt, with live cultures! Who knew?

I am never going to be able to maintain my weight with the little I eat argghhh Today I've only had one yogurt, 3 wings, a packet of protein chips, and a packet of dried seaweed. My plastic surgeon saw me today and said I looked awesome and not *gaunt* like some bypass patients end up.... but I'm on that path. Making turkey brats w/ coleslaw for dinner. Yesterday I ate straight JUNK knowing I would get sick but it was a lot of calories and I felt desperate in the moment to "stop losing". I did get sick, not shockingly. I'm about to have my plastics so I have GOT to get the cals and protein up for recovery. Big unf. I tried eating some beef veggie soup my stepdad made that *gasp* had TINY cubes of potato in it and it made me sweaty and nauseous. Edit: Just reading the few above comments. I DO know my BMR and it's 1350 (give or take). Which is comical since I eat about 600-700 cals tops (and obviously a lot less today).

@RHCD. I love to cook and bake, too. Are you experimenting in your kitchen laoratory to redo recipes to make them "approved" for your new lifestyle? I have been adding collagen hydrolysate protein to most things, subbing applesauce for all or part of the oil required in recipes, and using less sugar and my own version of Zing - 1 cup sugar + 2T Sweetleaf stevia gives the equivalent of 2 c sweetness. 1/2 t = 8 calories. Also working with cottage cheese in recipes, too, blended smooth. Really adds a lot of protein, about the same as using greek yogurt. It's an adventure!

No,Nibble the Super-Surgery- Chick,is not firing on all cylinders. Dr Needleman took me to Stage 3 at 6 days. I now do not agree with him. In the last 2 days I have kept down 6 protein shakes I premier protein , I AdvantEDGE soy 4 muscle milk 6!8 sugar free jello 5 tropical,sf,popsicles 1C low sodium V8 in 2 oz portions applesauce Musselman low sugat assorted water and no cal fluids to make Q.S. 1/4 c pureed vegetable soup Things I puked, urped or otherwise forcible up check cottage cheese both small curd and pureed greek yogurt thinned pureed flounder pureed soft roast pork 2 T scrambled egg creamed wheat thinned out to runny Do,you see a pattern ,,I am not ready

Highest weight 254 12/4 started preop diet 244 12/17 surgery 234 Current weight 204 I'm in a stall but okay with it. At least I'm not gaining and food doesn't control my life in the way it did. I actually finding it difficult to find anything that I enjoy eating. Greek yogurt is the only thing that doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. But I really don't enjoy eating anymore. It is more of a check mark on my to do list. I wonder if that will change.

I have been really lucky to lose so much, I don't eat a lot of variety though. I usually eat taco cupcakes or one kind of like manicotti for at least one meal a day. I eat at least one protein bar a day sometimes a baby bel or two and a handful of nuts I also get almond crackers and the laughing cow wedges too. I also sometimes have grilled chicken or steak for dinner with a few veggies. I occasionally have some frozen greek yogurt too. Not much variety but it works for me right now.

I usually have greek yogurt or cottage cheese. For mid morning break I have some dried cranberries with cashews and almonds.

I've actually used bananas as a replacement for Desserts I ate in the past (rarely ever Oreos, but occasionally), but have them sparingly. For me the biggest benefit is that bananas are more filling and satisfying, whereas I could graze on processed Snacks and not reach the point of being full. For those who do like bananas, this "ice cream" is surprisingly good and simple to make: http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-creamy-ice-cream-with-just-one-ingredient-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-93414 During my active weight loss phase I had either Trader Joe's or Dole's chocolate covered bananas almost every night as my treat. If memory serves they have around 15 carbs per serving. It's not really low carb, but it's not outrageously high in carbs, either. It was just sweet enough to keep me from obsessively craving a brownie or some other indulgence that has thrice the carbs and calories. I think the list the OP provided of lower-carb fruits is definitely good to reference. I love, love, love carbs, and lower-carb fruit smoothies (made with high Protein Greek yogurt) have helped me to have a moderate amount so I'm happy with what I'm eating and happy with the number on the scale. Weight loss on a lower-carb but not strictly low carb diet has been much more sustainable for me.

I think I over did it yesterday. I haven't been able to drink as much today. But I did have a quarter cup of yogurt that sat very well. But when I take a deep breath I get this dull pain that wasn't there before.

You probably just need to wait a bit longer before progressing to soft foods. Different surgeons have different post-op diets; mine didn't start soft foods until week 3 (scrambled eggs and ricotta bake are soft foods, not purees). Can you eat pureed foods like yogurt, pudding, refried beans (when I was in the pureed stage, I was told to puree even refried beans in a food processor until completely smooth)?

I just learned of this app. Exactly what I’ve been looking for. I am one week post-op from RnY. So far, so good. Minimal pain, minimal gas. Had my first “meal” after one week of solid liquids. I slowly ate 3 ounces of nonfat plain Greek yogurt. It was awesome to have something other than broth and sugar-free popsicles. Good luck to all of you who are still waiting for your surgery. I am 65 years young and anxious to be healthy. Down 12 pounds.

So it’s getting very real, did my pre-op appointment today. Signed everything I needed to sign giving them permission to perform my surgery. I am only required to be on my liquid diet for 10 days. Down side(s): 1) found out that I didn’t need the isopure after ordering the isopure that my nutritionist insisted that I needed 🤦🏽‍♀️ 2) I have to take lovenox injections. I absolutely HATE needles so I have no idea how I’m gonna pull off injections for 10 days. I have ONE more appointment before surgery. On the 20th I go to the hospital to meet with the Anesthesiologist. After that I am all set! Oh and my pre-op diet is three protein shakes and two 100 calorie yogurts a day. Doable, I happen to like protein shakes 🤷🏽‍♀️. Anyway, that was my update. Sorry about being long winded, lol

My liquid diet isn’t too bad. 3 protein shakes a day and they asked that I also eat 2 yogurts but I can only manage 1. Your liver must not need to be shrunk much. Lucky you! And same about the nothing after midnight. I don’t mind the not eating food part but I LOVE water and my surgery is late in the day (3:15pm, have to be there by 1:45pm) so I will be parched for a while, lol

HI all, back finally! good to read the comments. Miss Joany, I hope your infection keeps getting better! eat lots of live yogurt while you are doing those antibiotics. So I am curious, doing a bit of a survey. sort of long. Just curious about some of this stuff howdy there. so I'm taking a poll, let me know. I hope you all are doing well. 1. how many cc's you have in your band 2. do you feel you have restriction- what does that mean for you? 3. are your calories tending to stay below like 1600 (or what are your calories generally.) 4. what is your weight loss like. 5. are you hungry between meals. 6. are you exercising, and how much 7. how much water are you drinking? I'll start. 1. how many cc's you have in your band<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> 4.5 from OCC. I'm planning on going back, for 1 more fill, maybe depending on what people say with restriction about how they feel. But it won't be till after the holidays.<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> 2. do you feel you have restriction- what does that mean for you?<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> last week, there were things that I felt were cool, like I would get a tiny nasal drip, and I took that as a soft stop, and I wasn't getting hungry between meal. I feel like this weekend I ate till I felt very full, and never got the nasal drip. this was the first time since my fill. so maybe that sign is not happening. I will see today if I get hungry between meals, if I'm able to keep at 1200 cals per day, and not feel hungry between meals I will be happy with the way things are. we shall see.<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> 3. are your calories tending to stay below like 1600 (or what are your calories generally.)<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> generally yeas, below 1300-1200. but I don't count everyday, I also do some days where I just do what Miranda said for portions. I feel Sunday I went over my goal. but I didn't count, I need to get better with keeping track and knowing even when my schedule is strange.<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> <br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> 4. what is your weight loss like. I've lost all the weight plus 1 lb that I gained from Thanksgiving weekend. I started 298 I am now 266 my surgery date I was 280 so since surgery I've lost 14 lbs in basically 10 weeks. that is not my goal, I'd really like 2 lbs per week, would still be happy with an average of 1.5 per week. I'm at 1.4, I guess with the holidays in the mix maybe I should still feel happy. but I would like it to be more, of course. <br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> <br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> 5. are you hungry between meals.<br style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> I feel I am mostly not hungry between meals, as time goes on since my fill, my hunger has increased between meals, but I am still able to deal with it, with my yogurt or piece of fruit, which is part of my daily food plan and staying under 1200 cals. so I am ok with that. Once I went to bed, and my belly was grumbling. but I drank some water, I abated and I fell asleep. 6. are you exercising, and how much this has not been that good this last week. I have a goal to walk somewhat briscly for a mile each day. This is 20 minutes of exercising a day. I'd like to add to that, but haven't yet. and last week durning hunting season, I did not walk at all. 7. how much water are you drinking? besides exercise this is a huge obstacle. I am trying to drink 64 oz a day, I am pitifully below that. If I could drink during meals I could jack that up. but I don't so I need to increase this a lot.

Lisa, I'll give you the run down of my typical week exercise and nutrition-wise. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - lap swimming for 35 minutes at 5:30 am, 30 minute walk around 12:30 pm, 35 minute walk with the dogs 4:30 pm, 60 minute zumba (all except Friday) 6 pm Tuesday/Thursday - 30 minute walk 12:30 pm, 45 minute walk with the dogs 4:30 pm, 3-5 mile run 6 pm, 45 minute video - either kickboxing or some other cardio Saturday - 60 minute boot camp 9 am, 60 minute walk with the dogs (sometimes longer) Sunday - 60 minute walk with the dogs, run and/or video As far as my diet goes, it's pretty monotonous, especially during the work-week. It generally looks like this: Breakfast 10 am - fat free plan greek yogurt with .33 serving of Protein powder mixed in (146 calories, 26.6 g protein) Snack 1 pm - Protein shake (30 grams protein, 160 calories) lunch 3:30 pm - 1 hard boiled egg, 1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese, 2 oz raw veggie (cauliflower, broccoli, or carrots) (about 132 calories, about 14.4 g protein) Snack - 6ish pm - protein shake and one serving PB2 (115 calories, 18 g. protein) dinner - 8 pm - large salad with either tuna, salmon, edamame, bun-less veggie burger, or tofu - salad includes 3 oz romaine lettuce, 0.3 oz alfalfa sprouts, 2 oz broccoli, 2 oz cauliflower, 2 oz mushrooms, 1 oz celery, 1 oz green or red pepper, 1 oz carrots, 1/2 tablespoon greek dressing - 88 calories for salad without protein, protein ranges from 60-100 calories. Lately I've added in a small amount of fruit - 4 oz peach, 1 small plum, 4 oz mango, 6 oz apple, or a large tomato. I take one chewable multi-vitamin per day, 1200 calcium - one at breakfast, one at dinner, 2 times a week, I take a B12, and 2-3 times a week, I take 1000mg D3. (my multi-vitamin and calcium are an extra 30 calories per day) I just had my blood taken last Saturday in preparation for my year appt on the 20th. I'll know better then how my Vitamin levels look, but I'm really strict with taking my Vitamins. Eventually, when I'm in maintenance, I'd like to up my calorie intake to somewhere between 1000-1200 per day, but for right now, I'm sticking with the range I've been eating. I hope that helps!

I just got banded on Dec 14 and I feel great! I was out of work for a week, I'm still a little sore at the incision area, but otherwise feel fine. The 2 week pre-op liquid diet is a KILLER! After 3 days of protein shakes I was dying for real food! But I hung in there, lost about 10 lbs pre-op. The first couple days after surgery were a little painful, but not terrible. You feel a little bloated from the gas and weak from the pain, so you're not that hungry anyway. Just make sure to drink as much liquid as you can get down so you don't dehydrate. I had the surgery on a Monday, and only by the following Sunday was I starting to feel even the least bit hungry. So the first week of post-op liquids was fine (my doc makes us do 2 weeks of post-op liquid). On Monday when I went back to work, I was feeling a little hungry so I had a fat free yogurt diluted with skim milk to thin it out. Other than that, I'm feeling good and excited! Good luck to all you upcoming bandsters!

I'm not getting frustrated yet but do stay a little bit hungry at times. My banding date was Dec. 30th. I feel like I could eat almost anything - BUT DON'T This is from the nutritionist & NOT the Dr. but he follows her hand out. Now I'm on a clear liquid & semi-liquid diet for 2 weeks. The meals should be high in protein and low in carbs and as of today I'm down 25 pounds.:thumbup: I eat an average 850 calories and 70 gr of protein each day & drink a lot of liquid. The next two weeks (3&4) can now be pureed high protein low carb food. The first pureed food to add should be chicken/fish, then pudding & yogurt, Then pureed vegetables and finally add back pureed carbs such as mashed peas, sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes. Only 1/2 cup at a time. I can start this on 1/13 & never thought I would be looking forward to pureed food - of any kind but I am. The goal of the week 3&4 diet is to eat when hungry or eat to prevent hunger. If a snack is needed choose a high protein options like 3 tablespoons cottage cheese, 1 cup liquid protein drink, or 6 tablespoons sugar free instant pudding made with 1 scoop of protein power. Week 5 post-op I can go to soft food ~ preferably high protein and choose a healthy choice side item like fruit or veggies. I don't know what happens after week 5. Maybe a fill and back to pureed food - yum..... It is not easy but we can all do it. This thing will work for all of us - don't give up. There have been to many in front of us that have succeeded and they had the same problems. We can do it.

K banded on friday- don't remember much. My mom came and got me and took care of me for the last 2 days... I strictly stayed on the 48hr post op diet. Today I had yogurt. Then I got daring and had a couple of pinches from a piece of pumpkin bread, then 2 deviled eggs, then a teaspoon of all of the following: mashed potato, stuffing, green bean casserole, jello salad, and a bite of turkey. Yes it was "turkmas" at my house... and I ate basically a bite or two of everything with no issues. I intend onn having pumpkin pie later too.. The surgery was quick and annoying (the nursing staff and anantheisiologist) and I don't remember friday, yesterday was sore and gassy. Today was less sore, more gassy. But I woke up hungry and wanting to eat, not a lot, just eat something of substance. So far so good. I know I know post op diet.. you do you, I'll do me :thumbup:

Hi everyone...I am in my final week before I have to do the two week pre-op liquid diet. My husband is overseas so I went ahead and began the day he left: Thanksgiving. I discovered after reading through alot of these posts that sugar free cremora is actually low carb. I could not find it but SAW A liquid cremora in with the milk products. I was looking for Hood dairy beverage...well. I looked at the listing on the non-sugar free liquid cremora just to see how bad it was, and it was only about 20 calores and 2 carbs, so I got it. I got coconut creme, and I cannot tell you what a little tablespoon of it does in my liquid prpotein shake. YUM I am going to get the Irish creme one, because I know I LOVE that. With these two, I can go on a long time. I am just about ready to stay on these liquids for the full six weeks after the banding, because I need to drop 150= lbs to get down to my normal weight. I am now walking 2 miles in the gym every day, and doing Water aerobics. Other little stuff in the gym like ab crunches and upper body to help my posture a I walk, to help hold up this fat stomach. I am in my thiurd day of liquid prtoein...loving it. I got the EAS and the Adkins shakes, and also got the Boost Glucose Free. Pricy, but I figure I can use one a day to boost my Protein intake up above the 60 that my Protein Shakes afford me. The good thing about my protein (it is called ProCal, and it has 7 carbs per packet, so I don't recommend it) is that I can take three of these packets, add a cup of yogurt (whole milk plain yogurt has 15 carbs/cup and skim milk fat free yogurt has 19 carbs/cup!!! go figure) I add in the three prtoeins and the one cup of yogurt, and add it to a gallon of water. Yep. A gallon. Then I add the cremora (not too much) and it tastes really good... I drink it as I walk the track...being this much overwieght (330 lbs) I sweat alot on the indoor track... I have to sit down about every 7-10 laps depeneding on how early in the day I get over there...I wear a wet towel around my neck, (which keeps the body temperature low) and I just do it. A month ago I could not even walk 3 laps. I now am walking 32 laps every day...IN ONE MONTH!!! The good thing about exercise is that it rewards you almost immediately. Much faster than cutting food, altho your body welcomes the chance to "heal" itself when we go to liquids. I see the voereating as an illness that the body is trying to constantly rid itself of. Getting on the pre-op is like giving your body a rest from all the digestion gesticulations it has been going through for years, sometimes 24 hours a day, if we eat before we go to bed. I feel really good this thrid day of my liquids. I recommend to everyone to start walking. My knees are bad, don't give me that. I also have arthitis and am going to be 64 years old...I weight 330 lbs and am 5'8". Anyone who does not believe they can do it can write the big engine that could at sara3t3t at yahoo dot com. I will give you lots of encouragement because I am where you are and it is G-d who is pushing me and helping me. love to all of you...Hope to be banded around Dec 14th...getting my firm date in a few more days.

And do you reallllllllly think you're the only one who ever cheated and ate something they should'nt have ?? No, most of us just dont tell on ourselves ! A week or 2 out of surgery i could'nt stand one more liquid, so i ate a couple of spoonfuls of tuna mixed with a little mayo. Heaven !!!! Nobodys perfect, we all probably did it, so dont beat yourself up over it. I love my sweets too, so i keep a couple of sf chocolate pudding cups , or TCBY frozen yogurt bars or weight watchers ice cream bars in the freezer for when i HAVE to have ice cream. Having a couple of emergency healthy treats in my house for when the cravings hit has been a big help. good luck !

Hi all. You are right Joany, you can eat all the icecream and candy you want, no restriciton will stop it, to bad we don't have a quick super fill, close the whole up when you are near stuff like that, then let it out- ha ha. The other problem with the sweets is they make me even hungrier once I've had the sugar. my instinct diet book is big on desserts with fiber and fruit and protien- all three if you can, so you feel more full and satisfied. My favorite one is a 100 calorie- light and fit vanilla yogurt (the low cal kind- with aspertame or whatever, my yogurt during the day is a live active yogurt, and has more cals, but this is dessert) high fiber cereal, frozen raspberries, and melted dark chocolate- the portions work out to 100 cals- and it is so satisfying - and feels like a real dessert. not really pretty, I wouldn't serve it at a party, but for me it's great. so Joany I am self pay, no coverage- I have an HSA that I use for this, I hope the IRS doesn't mind. This blind fill place I think should be good, I hope, and if not they are close enough to not be a problem. I guess some blind fill places say if you have to come back for adjustment within 2 weeks it will be 50$. so hopefully that will be the case. I love the OCC dr's in Tijuana, very professional, and they do a great job. Thier fills are tops for sure, wish I lived in the area. But for me it's a day off work, babysitting, plus probably like 500$ in flying, parking, ground transport and other fees. I know some places charge almost 400 for a fill, so this 150 place is exciting prospect and I won't have to take off work or get a sitter. well have a great day all