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Thanks guys! I'm trying 15gm protein Greek yogurt watered down with ski. Milk to start getting protein. I just came home from the hospital yesterday, feeling much better.

I don't regret my sleeve. It IS the best gift I have given myself... at first it was difficult. and it was no easy thing trying to get through about the first two weeks... after that eating soft foods like beans and yogurt... and I did great..... But making major changes in life are always hard. But where I am now is not quite where I want to be weight wise... and I am in a stall which sucks... However I am half the size I was... People no longer look at me funny.. I am back to eating normal foods for awhile now. Its not easy at the beginning.... May I suggest for those struggling with liquids you try sugar free gatoraide... at first I had a lot of trouble tolerating water and still do sometimes... It IS WORTH IT! I swear to you... for those with nausea... have you let the doc know? they do have medications to help reduce the amount of nausea you have to go through. I was lucky had had little to know nausea... So take the colace or stool softener.... as soon as doc says so... it makes all the difference

I was on clear liquids for a week then 'full liquids' (which includes Protein shakes) for a week. Even then I was told 60-70 grams of protein a day. I got the Premier shakes which are 30g protein and just had 2 a day. (I added yogurt or other sources too). Luckily I didn't have any nausea and I still love the shakes. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@gowalking...this is long Ken is doing really well. No issues for him, with the band anyway. He's still suffering from the after affects of his car accident last year with torn rotator cuffs in both arms and back issues but he's pulling through and doing PT. I really hope they don't find anything when they do the upper endoscopy, but first to visit the GI Dr. and see what he has to say. I can't imagine what food it might be that would cause swelling like that but I guess it could be anything at this point. If they don't find any damage internally to or from the band I would leave it and keep working with it. I'm sure many of the issues are digestive they were even before I was banded...to be honest I'm not sure what they can do about that. I've been to GI Dr.'s before and they don't really offer much in the way of diagnosis and treatment. I have really been watching my intake since I had the pancreatitis seems any type of fat really sends my digestive system for a loop. It was making me really feel like I had food poisoning so now I pretty much steer clear of anything that looks even the slightest bit greasy. I knew it wasn't the band per se since I would get sick (nausea and sometimes have to vomit) an hour or more after eating. By then the food had already passed the band but would not pass much further and stomach pains would force me to want to get it out. We went to a Met game a while back and had the sausage peppers and onions...no bread at all. Cut that bad boy up small and no problem eating it didn't get stuck but about an hour and a half later I got so ill...it was not pretty we had to leave the game and I had stomach pains all night. I couldn't eat for 3 days after that from the irritation...just stayed on liquids. So I won't even touch sausage...not even turkey sausage. You would think I would have dropped lots of weight by now...living on cottage cheese, yogurt, and protein shakes oh yes an sugar free jello! I'm sure the ice cream I've been using as a crutch that keeps the weight on I switched practices for a while...and now just went back to the practice my original surgeon was at because the hospital is close to my office and Tuesday night I just could not take it anymore. I had to do something, I was sitting at my desk working like crazy and choking on my own body fluids. It felt kind of what I imagine drowning might feel like. I just texted my husband who was at work and drove myself to the ER. They did send one of the PA's from the Bariatric group down to see me in the ER and take the fluid out thank goodness because if they didn't I was about to grab a needle and do it myself I was that miserable!! The thing that I don't love about the group is that most of the Dr.'s and PA's that are there are all "new" to bariatrics. They are practicing in the field just over a year. Some of their surgeons as well, most of them were general surgeons and now working in Bariatrics. Not necessarily because that's what they want to do, but because that is where the hospital assigned them. I don't really like that. The director of the practice is one of the original bariatric Dr.'s that worked with my surgeon...but she's very difficult to get appointments with. They mostly give band patients to the PA, and they do ask you if you are interested in a revision. Not the first time I have heard this...and with all the discomfort I have been in I have said to Ken more than once I want to rip this thing out!!! BUT why fix what's not broken...? and to do a revision they remove the band surgically the same way it went in pretty much and then you heal for 6-9 months and need to be re-approved for the revised surgery...and then go through all the pre-op testing hoops again...so yeah I'm all for if it's not broken don't fix it only to rewire my insides...which are already driving me insane? No thanks. The one good thing is that this PA has worked in gastroenterology before working in bariatrics...so when I explained all the issues I've been having he didn't look at me like I had 6 heads. So I'm hopeful that they will figure out what's going on with me...and I can get back on track again. Maybe they have a magic pill now that they didn't have back then to keep the flair ups and swelling down and allow me to eat the way I need to for the band to work. I go to see that GI Dr. July 7th. So for now...it's protein shakes, cottage cheese, jello, and yogurt. Maybe next week I'll try some soft foods...and go through the phases again till I find out what the heck is going on in there.

@@shel774 - My nutritionist got me hooked on the Oikos Triple Zero yogurt too. I love it! I've never heard of True Lemon. I'll have to look that up. Thanks for the tips.

What phase are you on at 4 weeks? At 4 weeks I was still eating a lot if Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna, turkey, fish, refried Beans, etc. I was cleared to get in the pool once my incisions had healed over at about 4 weeks post-op. Swimming is my favorite exercise and I have been in the pool ever since!

Yeah I was hoping someone had found some GOOD yogurt in a tube! And yes I tried to Answer for future thread readers as well as the OP. Two weeks out I would drink Water in a movie. It's the time to break old habits (movie = snack) and create new ones. Really we can go through a two hour movie without food.

Initially you will only be able to sip a small amount at a time. That means you will probably want to cut your shake portions in half as well as possibly split that serving it into two cups. As far as shakes and Greek yogurt go, they are fine as sources of protein but initially you may only be allowed clear liquids the first few days. Please refer to your Bariatric paperwork and dietitian for guidance.

My surgery is July 27th. I'm in the process of ordering some different Protein powders. I needed some that didn't contain artificial sweeteners and you guys gave me some suggestions. I just got thinking about the size of a Protein shake. To make them the way I really like, I use a bunch of crushed ice in the blender and it fills up a big cup. Even if you just mix them with Water or buy the pre-made. They usually are like 12 ounces. How does that work with a newly sleeved person? I was thinking I can get my protein in because I like Oikos Triple Zero yogurt and Protein shakes. How does that work? Does it take forever to get one down? I can't imagine sipping on the same shake for hours. Just curious!

Have you found any low sugar yogurt tubes? The only ones I find have a ton of added sugar. I would love to know a brand that doesn't!

@@BigViffer is right on! That's my standby too (learned about them here). In fact I just had one with my Syntrax Matrix mint cookie powder because I realized I hadn't hit my 90-100g for the day. I don't always use non-dairy creamer, I use Water or sugar free torani syrup. And I often put Fage Greek yogurt as "frosting" or another no sugar added Greek yogurt. I also like to smash up a half banana into it for moisture. It does take work for me to get there as well. Constant vigilance. And I can't get it all in without supplementing. I do either a shake or a cake or a Quest or power crunch bar daily. Sometimes like today I do two. And I'm 2 1/2 years out! Greek yogurt is another stand by in general for me. I eat at least one a day (good for the bones too). Jerky (just make sure it isn't one like Krave that adds a LOT of sugar) cold cuts rolled up with a squirt of mustard and thin sliced cheese. Tuna with mayo or mustard or (again) plain Greek yogurt. I get frozen pre cooked shrimp with a little cocktail sauce.

GNC sells a natural (no artificial sweeteners or flavors) total lean protein shake. The best part is that they sell it in a individual serving pouch so you can try it to see if you like it. I like the vanilla one. I never thought about the artificial sweeteners in vitamins. I try to limit artificial sweeteners as well. I noticed that everything that my Nut wanted me to eat after surgery had artificial sweeteners in it. Some of the other products that I love and use daily without artificial sweeteners are True Lemon (instead of crystal light) and Oikos triple zero Greek yogurt with 15 g of protein.

What are yogurt tubes? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi guys, I am to be sleeved on July 12th. My surgeon wanted me to do three weeks of liquid diet. From the first appointment till now I have been eating right, walking and have not cheated at all! I take a medication that makes me hungry...bad! So, I have been doing the shakes, one eggs in the morning, greek yogurt for snack and half a piece of fish, with steamed veggies (small portion/no butter). I've lost a total of 32 lbs. With my current state of hunger it is very difficult to eat only liquids. I am ready to do it after the surgery, for sure. But I get so hungry I want to vomit and am nausious quite often. I guess this is normal and should buckle down and do it! Thanks

I would smuggle in a shake or some yogurt tubes. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I am on the liquid diet as of yesterday. I have been doing a modified version for 2.5 weeks, two shakes, a yogurt and a high Protein meal. I lost 15 lbs in 2.5 weeks. I have a lot more to lose though so I think it is hard to compare. You will lose weight on the liquid diet don't obsess about the number, just rejoice that it is going in the right direction. Good luck!

July 7 and I cannot wait. I am so excited. I am on full liquid as of yesterday but just realized I didn't need to start it until tomorrow. Doh! I have been doing a modified for the last two weeks...two shakes, yogurt snack and high protein meal. Had a last weigh in with the nut today and am so happy I am down a total of 30lbs from my highest weight and I am hoping for another 7lbs before surgery date.

I have a lunch bag that looks like a purse.. They never checked it for food. I went to the movies during my pre-op liquid diet and I took yogurt, unflavored applesauce and my Protein drink. Not sure how long the movie is.. I went to see the Revenant (a very long movie). Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@MissB1982 - I'm not too nervous about the surgery itself. I have had other surgeries and usually tolerate them quite well. I am a little nervous about the diet immediately after. I'm such a picky eater and can't do artificial sweeteners. I won't do pureed meat. ICK! I picture myself eating yogurt and drinking Protein shakes for weeks on end. I guess I can do that, but it sure will get old. I'm also worried about what other people think and having them find out. I don't plan on telling anyone, but my husband said - you really have to learn to be OK with other people knowing if they find out. He doesn't want me to get torn up inside if/when someone brings it up. I see his point. Why can't something like this just be my business though? :-) I'm also thinking about the foods that will be leaving my life, at least for awhile, or maybe never eaten the same way again. I do want to change forever, so I know some of them may never come back again. I feel like I want to make sure I get some of them now, but I also want to continue to lose weight over the next month leading up to the surgery too. Everything in moderation, I suppose.

I do a couple of eggs and meat in the morning, but I put pipingrock.com unflavored Protein powder in my coffee. I do a greek yogurt around 10:30 with more powder. If you do that, it will get you around 25 more grams per day. A few ounces of meat 2 hours before or after dinner will get you to that goal.

I use both PB2 and another brand peanut powder. Love it in shakes, with cottage cheese, or yogurt.

I personally don't like the Syntrax nectars. There's a weird aftertaste or it makes the Water have a weird quality to it... I can't handle it. I think you should just try out different things until you find something that works! I had to try out several different powders before settling on GENEPRO. You can get samples of everything at GNC, and everything is heavily reviewed on Amazon. Another thing you can experiment with is mixing powders into different foods. I can mix Genepro into yogurt, pudding, even Beans and cheese and it tastes good! You can mix it into soup, tea, coffee, anything that has cheese in it, or that would taste good if it had milk in it. I think you can do the same with unjury as well. The thing that I liked more about genepro was that it was slightly more tolerant of warmer temperatures (not too hot though!) and there was more Protein in a smaller serving. Our lifestyle change is hard, and it's going to take a little bit of experimentation to figure out what works.

Does anyone know how long you can store a food with Protein powder mixed in? For example, I like greek yogurt mixed with vanilla Protein Powder enough that I'm thinking of mixing up a few days' worth to have for Breakfast. Is the shelf life the same as the base product (i.e. the yogurt) or does the protein make it spoil or separate or whatever, faster? Also, I know you can't add protein to hot liquids but could you mix the protein with say, cold broth and then heat it up later? Thanks in advance for your sage advice!

I went to Star Wars about 4 days after surgery (missing it wasn't an option) and took a protein drink in my purse. At that point hydration was important. There is nothing purée friendly at a movie theatre. And 7 months out there is still not anything appropriate for me to eat.... So I don't eat at theaters. I have a meal before I go and they only last couple hours. My best advice is don't eat at movies because it is the definition of mindless snacking. If you have to have something take a Greek yogurt or a protein shake.

I can't imagine there will be anything suitable there. Besides, snacking may not be the greatest habit to pick back up. Maybe focus on learning to enjoy the movies without snacking. If you are really concerned that you will be so hungry that you will be unable to enjoy the movie, smuggle in a Premier Protein shake or a small container of Greek yogurt. Good luck!