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Hi Everyone, I just found this thread and am so happy to find others out there in my same boat. I need advice. I was just banded on 10/15/09. I'm still on the liquids until I graduate to mushies on thursday. For the first week the scale was moving....and now...for the past 4 days, it's stopped...and not only stopped, but starting to creep up and I don't know why? I'm doing the same thing I was....BUT the big diff is that for the past 3 mornings, i'm taking metamucil in a glass in the morning, and some light plum juice (60 cals) in the evening to help with the iron in the protein drink (if you catch what I mean). would this account for a 3 pound weight gain in 2 days??? So wanted to know if any of you out there had similar problems a week out of being banded. I know i'm doing things right...pureed liquids, 4 oz yogurt, pureed low fat soups, sf popsicles, v8 and apple juice...and tons of water. any advice you might have for me would be really appreciated.

Today I had cream of wheat with a little agave. Propel water, protein pudding, cup of half broth and half cream of mushroom soup strained of course, added my genepro flavorless powder, water, 1/2 Greek yogurt 1/2 applesauce. So far I'm at 55 grams of protein. I'm happy.

I know it's been so much easier than I anticipated. I'm feeling very blessed for that. My program doesn't have me starting protein until tomorrow. I won't have any problems because I love Greek yogurt, protein pudding, genepro flavorless powder for soup. Are you already doing protein? I am doing cream of wheat in the morning though. I hope you're doing better tomorrow. Are you on Pepcid?

Nykee, I know you've heard this before but I'm going to say it again. PLEASE try to get more Protein in! Do you like cheese? Instead of crap try eating cheese, cold cuts, yogurt, Beans, decent food. I can't imagine what your nutrition levels are like with what you say you're eating, and that probably has a lot to do with your lack of energy and inability to sleep normally. Why do you think you need a fill? If you're restricted so much that you literally cannot eat until evening, you do not need a fill. What you do need to do is get a decent assortment of food in your house so you will start giving your body what it needs to heal and improve. Designing a liquid diet for after a "nice, tight fill" just defeats what the band is all about. This is said with all the respect and affection I have, seriously, I know you can get control if you want to. You've come so far already and now it's time to get smarter about this process. Don't get a fill--change your shopping list. :hug:

Maude is right - I tend to add liquids (such as a Campbell's Select soup) or a little milk, or bouillon to get the right consistency. I have even added a little watered down unflavored yogurt from time to time - adds a little zip to the meat. Best of luck to you!

Janine, I also just started on regular foods. I try and eat things with lots of protein and it keeps me full for a really long time. Today I got a small Wendy's chili with cheese and onion and OMG it was SO good and filled me up for about 4 hours. Maybe if you went with more beans, cottage cheese and skim plus milk, which has extra protein, it might help your hunger cravings. One thing that has helped me in the morning are the 42g protein test tubes. I've never been a big breakfast eater, so on my nightstand i keep one of those protein test tubes and before I even stand up I drink half of it. This gives me about 90 calories and 21 grams of protein right off the bat. While I'm getting ready for work I try to drink 16oz of water and then I grab a yogurt of a smoothie on my way out the door. Dannon light n fit strawberry smoothies are great and are only 60 calories. For lunch I'll usually have one of those soup at hands and an applesauce. For dinner a lean cuisine meal. For a snack a sugar free pudding cup and then the rest of that protein test tube. It really seems like all I do is eat or drink. I love the pre-measured stuff because then I really can't overeat. What do you typically eat in one day? Virginia

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?

i guess the food plan i like is low carbs, high protein. i hardly eat breads and have about 5-7 crackers as a snack if at all in a day. i just dont know what i should be eating now. it seems like everything i mentioned to you got shot down:think. what about lunchmeat? i started eating 2 pieces of turkey pastrami as a snack. is that not good? i guess really, in a nutshell, i should just things i that i cook myself. make fresh food with the exception of yogurts, milk, cheeses and such. . i just need to feel satisfied.

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery Carla. I too am from Toronto. I wish my pre-op consisted of yogurt and cottage cheese. I was banded at the SWLC in Mississauga and their pre-op diet consists of 3 Optifast protein shakes and 225 calories of green vegetable a day. It was a rough time but at the end of it I had lost 23 lbs and it was well worth the struggle. As Susansilver said, once you're done the pre-op diete you tend to brag about your success. :clap2:

Wow I didn't know this. I thought after surgury you drink protein drinks which are dairy based? I guess yogurt will not be a soft food either. I need to find out what everyone is eating after surgury?? Any input for me? Susan - that is terrible for you. I hope it all works out very soon.

Have your tastes changed after surgery? I didn't gain my weight from sweets and can't stand all those flavored protein drinks, bought some unflavored and put it in some soup. It was so gritty. I am going to try some of the vanilla protein in some super tart plain Greek yogurt to see if they will balance each other out.

It took a good 3 weeks before I really started having energy. My taste buds have changed. I can eat yogurt where I hated it before I love greens where I didn't before. Only 7 weeks out so I haven't tried much yet.

I ate mashed avocado or guacamole, hummus (with a spoon), cream cheese, Greek yogurt, mashed potato and gravy (allowed once a day 1/4 cup), cream soups blended like black bean or chicken and stars, pudding with protein powder, refried beans with a bit of water to thin, tuna salad blended to purée, peanut butter...

On puree's I ate mostly greek yogurt lots of protein there, cottage cheese, sugar free pudding and Jello, Protein shakes and scrambled eggs of course. I did try some flakey fish towards the end of my puree stage and chewed it like it was nobody's business lol. It went down fine. My NUT just says to be mindful of my Water intake, don't miss any Vitamin dose and try to get protein in, she said there is no way with my tiny tummy I could expect to meet hard and fast goals at this point. So far so good!

Before my surgery I would only have protein shake for breakfast or protein bar, early snack yogurt fat free with fruit,lunch protein shake or protein bar,mid day snack which yogurt fat free with fruit ( fruit had to be size of tennis ball). Dinner 3oz of meat any unlimited vegetables but no starchy vegetables. And if I got hungry at nite I could have any vegetables that were not starchy or fruit. And of course I could not put any butter or any fat to season food.

I use vita-vim chewable vitamins, they might be jamieson brand. I got to see a dr today. He gave me a prescription for a different antacid that I'll try tomorrow. Also got a scrip for anti nausea, tried it 15min ago and its staying down alright. I was getting to the point where water was even making me nauseous. In the past 4 days I had 2 bites of banana, 2 tbsp yogurt, half cup soup and maybe 5 cups of water. Was drinking some g2 Gatorade trying to get electrolytes.

How many calories/carbs/proteins are you eating? I have been sticking to 800 calories, under 100 carbs & 100 g protein. It's been a total liquid diet for the past week and I have lost 12lbs. I can have protein shakes and 1-2 cups of creamed soups strained or a low fat Greek yogurt.

Sorry, Fanny! LOL! As for me, I'm trying to cut back some on computer time. It doesn't always work but I'm trying. And trust me, my life usually has NO drama and I prefer to keep it that way, so I'm no fun to live vicariously thru anyway!!!! Not a dumb question at all! I shop at Raley's and they have only one brand and about 3 flavors including plain and that's it. They keep it on the very top shelf above all the other yogurt. I know where to look and it still takes me a minute to find it! Other stores may have it in their Natural/Organic Foods section, whatever they call it, and again near the regular yogurt. Trader Joe's, if you have one near you, has a huge selection of Greek Yogurt. Their prices are very reasonable, [i can actually get more for $40 there, than I can at Raley's!] and you don't have to buy the big carton at Costco. I love Costco but there are just some things I can't buy there. I'll never eat it fast enough! Whole Foods would have it too, if you have one of those near you. Watch them tho, they're pricey for regular shopping. Great selection, but Yikes! I don't like most yogurt and only a little at a time. I really LIKE greek yogurt! I understand it's very rarely like TRUE greek yogurt, but I don't have the texture problems with it like I do the regular. Hope this helps. And I hope you can find some. It's really worth a try! Oh and another thing, if you do smoothies and such, go ahead and get the big carton of plain at Costco and put it in your smoothies. You can also just have a bowl of it with some fruit and a smidge of honey along with some granola or dry cereal and have a great breakfast. You can also use plain greek yogurt in place of recipes that call for regular plain yogurt or sour cream. Like when making dips and stuff. Oh! Oh! Just remembered this! Made this awhile ago and had forgotten about it. Take plain greek yogurt, chopped/torn cilantro, little chili powder, lime juice and mix to your taste. Makes a great add on to fish/shrimp tacos. Would probably work with shredded chicken tacos too. And it's pretty healthy! And one day I had left over shrimp for lunch and instead of cocktail sauce, used this dip and it was SO good! Would be good on salad or other veggies. Ohhhh, cucumber slices! UGH! Too bad I didn't think of all of this at the STORE! Not going back til next week!!!!!!! Anyway. PJTP: Got the grocery shopping done and walked out with only 3 bags and not even full ones at that and it still cost over $80!!! Yikes! $12 in chicken alone! I've gotta make a run to Costco. I buy the frozen bags there and then I have chicken whenever I want it and am not paying regular store prices for it! On a good note tho, I have meals planned thru Wednesday. Well, that's it for my boring life! LOL! 'Night all!!

Three weeks post op Challenge weight: 203.4 Last week's weight: 199.4 Today's weight: 192.8 (down 6.6 pounds) Goal weight: 180 (down 10.6, 12.8 to go) Starting to each purees and I'm shocked by how little I can eat! But I love having tuna, scrambled eggs, yogurt, and refried beans. Yum! This beats a liquid diet any day. To get off the rest, more liquids, more protein, and stick to the exercise. Doing well on tasks but need more fluids and protein to really meet this goal.

You and your husband look great! You've done so well! Be sure to take time to realize how much you have accomplished. My only question is how are you doing on drinking your Water? Are you getting in at least 64 ounces a day? It can help you feel full, and your body needs the water/fluid to lose weight. I started off losing quickly, but I am now a slow loser (9 pounds lost since February), but I am still losing. I find that I need to constantly reevaluate my eating choices. I have recently been eating a lot of Oikos Greek yogurt, and then I read a thread on here about the yogurt and someone mentioned the sugar content. I realized I hadn't even looked at the sugar content on the label. It was a reminder to myself that I needed to make sure I wasn't eating anything with more than 6 grams of sugar in a serving. I will have to go back to a different flavor of Greek yogurt. Looking back, I realized that I made the choice to buy the Oikos brand not based on the food label but based on the price. It was on sale for $1 per container (5.3 ounces), so I grabbed it. This experience made me reevaluate what I was doing, and I ended up losing a couple of pounds. I realized I needed to stay aware of what I was eating and doing even when I think I know.

Of course you can have ham. Just purée it. Same with chicken. You probably should have blended the eggs too. Eggs are not creamy (I assume you scrambled them). Smooth peanut butter would have been better. I don't have a problem with a but of mashed potato but add some cheese or protein powder. you can have cottage cheese, I bet. And yogurt.

I just tried "Oh Yeah"bars and they literally taste like a candy bar. they are not the best for Protein (180 cals for 14-15g of protein) but if nothing else is working it is better to get some than nothing at all. I also really like the unjury chocolate splendor with skim milk, ice, frozen fruit, unsweetened chocolate powder and plain greek yogurt. YUM It is a little higher calorie becaue of the fruit but it is about 240 cals and about 30g of protein. Sorry you are having so much trouble, I did too in the beginning. I regretted getting the surgery. Now 6 months later I know it was the best decision i ever made. For me it started to get better at about a month and a half. I hope it does for you too, good luck!

Can you have yogurt yet? I was able to have the greek yogurt cups from day 1 and found those really helped me during the liquid phase. It feels more like eating rather than drinking. I too am one of the unfortunate ones to have hunger from the get go. The nice thing about the sleeve though, is that hunger and craving gets satisfied very quickly. It's funny because I'll be hungry and then weigh out around 100g (3-4oz) of ground turkey (or something similar), and then only be able to eat 1/2 of it because I get full so quickly. I wouldn't worry about it as long as you make good food choices (Protein, protein, protein) before choosing to eat anything else (veggies/carbs).

I would say to follow your doctor's order. Eggs might be fine, but there might be a specific reason why he/she doesn't want you to have them. After all, a liquid diet is a LIQUID diet. I did an all liquid diet for 4 weeks, and I was fine. I think that you will find that if you are consuming protein shakes at least 2-3 times daily, sipping on broths, and snacking on yogurts, popsicles and jello, you won't really get hungry. You will also lose lots of weight before surgery. You should be on day 4 now with 6 days left to go. You can do it.

Starting my liquid diet today. I'm SO jealous of those of you who can eat veggies and regular food on your pre-op diet. I'm on yogurt, broth, water, popsicles, protein shakes......yayyyyyy. Lol!