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Congrats smsm! You're doing really well and you have to lost weight to show for it. Yay! I ate some ice cream. Didn't help that we went to dinner at friend's house last night and guess what they had for dessert? Yep, ice cream. Wasn't too bad since I had been really good all day but it meant no weight loss for me today. Back in the saddle today, gonna try to make it all day on South Beach today. I need a jump start getting this worked out. I can already tell I'm gonna have problems since I don't have a simple, go to breakfast worked out yet. I just can't do eggs every day. I can have my yogurt, it's fat free with only 4 carbs but I usually have it with fruit. Guess I'll have to figure out how to eat it plain or something else to mix in it.

Wow welcome to all the joiners of this thread For the record I have 200 lbs to lose total and I know I can achieve that goal! A friend had bypass a litte more than a year ago and is now already fighting to keep from gaining her back. She lost 200 lbs in a little less than a year and will spend the rest of her life with an alterred body that may or may not be able to absorb necessary nutrients. It will take me a couple 2-3 years to reach my goal and that is ok. The band isn't for everyone and for some the bypass is a good choice, only you can ultimately decide that. I say try the safer first if it doesn't work well for you, you can always switch to some other wls method later. Dezadoo youa re in week 2 it looks like. Mushies at week 2, while I am not your doctor, I truly believe you are safe to move on to mushies, just always excersise caution, go slow and start with stuff like yogurt and move up to stuff like scrambled eggs and refried beans. As for hunger, you will be hungry till you get restriction Grats on being banded

1. Hummus. Despite being made from chickpeas, the average store bought hummus has only 1 gram of protein per tablespoon. Instead, opt for homemade hummus, homemade black bean dip or homemade Tzatziki (made with Greek yogurt) as dips for your veggies. All of these dips are significantly higher in protein when made at home compared to their store-bought counterparts. 2. Chicken broth. Surprisingly, the average store bought chicken broth has only 1-3 grams of protein per cup. For this reason, your bariatric team likely recommended you choose higher protein soups immediately after surgery (ex. milk based soups or pureed legume soups). Instead, opt for more filling thicker soups, such as a curried lentil soup, a roasted red pepper black bean soup or a hearty chili. 3. Cream cheese. Despite ‘cheese’ being in its name, the average store bought cream cheese has only 1 gram of protein per tablespoon. Instead, opt for ricotta cheese (with a sprinkle of sunflower seeds and a drizzle of honey!) or peanut butter on your morning toast. 4. Quinoa. Quinoa is a filling grain product not because of its protein content, but more because of its fibre content. While quinoa is the only grain listed as a ‘complete’ protein, it only has 2 grams of protein per ¼ cup of cooked quinoa. Always top your quinoa with a true protein source such as meat, fish, legumes, tofu or tempeh to make your meal truly balanced. Quinoa should not be the main event! 5. Almond/Cashew/Rice/Coconut milk. Despite these beverages having ‘milk’ in their name, these alternative milks contain on average a measly 1 gram of protein per cup. Instead, opt for cow milk or soy milk when you are looking to add an extra splash of protein to your cereals, oatmeal or smoothies. Moral of the story? Don’t let misleading product names or sneaky advertising fool you! Get the facts. Always double check the nutrition facts tables on the back of your foods to learn the full story. - Monica & Lisa

its been 15 days since surgery ...and pounds are comin off but really slow. i would say about 7 pounds so far. i had hoped for alot more.....considering im eating like 600 or 700 calories a day! but, ill take what i can get ....and its a hell of alot better than gaining 7 pounds! i ahve been starting softs..but have experimented with solids. chicken is a no no...but fish goes down really easy. i think full liwuids was easier cuz i didnt have to think bout protein...it was all there. im gonna continue my sjake for breakfast and yogurts as snacks...tons of protein that will help me lose fat and not muscle( according to my doctor). speak to you guys in a week or so and let you know my progress. jc

I have the "sliming" thing too...But, I've been told that occurs because of eating too fast OR too big of a bite and/or not chewing enough. The fills are to restrict you on how much you can eat and only give you the full sensation after a max of 1 cup of food...If you can eat more then 1 cup of food at one sitting then you need a fill. If you are "sliming" try slowing down and taking tiny little bites of food and chew them 20-30 times each bite. It is hard work - But so is anything we must do to lose weight. Good luck - hope this helps. As well, there are some foods that just don't go down nice no matter how much you chew - the slime comes (for me this is bread, pizza, and sometimes yogurt).

There are plenty of other ways to add protein. We love tofu, mushrooms, greek yogurt and eggs in our house. You can also purchase flavorless protein powder to add to foods like mashed potatoes, oatmeal, spaghetti sauce, yogurt, etc. I also asked my doctor during a fill if I could talk to his nutrionists on staff for a few minutes when I was having difficulty understanding portion sizes. Don't stress too much. Try different things. You'll find out what works for you.

Carol & Suzanne... yes, cinnamon does work to help regulate your blood sugar. I used to work at a spice company in Canada and our US head office has done a lot of research (medical research) and it seems pretty clear that cinnamon is really good in helping to regulate it. You don't need to take capsules, you get the same benefit from the actual ground cinnamon. I put a sprinkle in my coffee, on my cereal or yogurt. I use about 1/8 tsp a day and it certainly helps me. I'm diabetic, but have controlled my BS now for awhile... running & diet mostly, the the cinnamon helps! Ok... I haven't run since the weekend due to really poor nutrition. Even though I've switched to a liquid pennicillin, it is upsetting my stomach a lot. I'm not able to eat much without feeling sick, so have no energy to run at all. I have to take it until Sat morning, but hope to be able to run a bit before then. On the challenge front... KMF (not sure who that is in Nike+ world) has joined his/her runs in with Whosya, so now Whosya/KMF have overtaken us Hotties!!! Comeon ladies... we've got until Tuesday to kick his butt!!!

I told hubby, of course (even though i am not 100% that he heard me explain "sleeve"...he speaks about it like it's a larger type lap band! LOL). anyway, i told my brother and his wife, and of course my docs know, emailed the news to my bestie and disappointed to say i haven't gotten a response. Otherwise, right now i'm leaning towards not telling. I used to get so annoyed at celebs that obviously did WLS, but wouldn't fess up (visions of Star Jones "pilates and yogurt".. Or Aretha Franklin "a procedure ")...but now...i can kind of see why. First i dont want to tell about it over and over, second..it's not that i am trying to pass myself off as a sudden Dieter Extrodinaire! But for me it's kind of embarrasing that i just can't do it on my own. Will see how i feel after surgery.

I see you don't eat Greek yogurt, but have you tried it with a bit of sugar-free pudding mix in it? It's so good!

http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ has a ton of recipes for all stages. I ate a lot of egg salad, pureed chili and a little thing I made up that tastes like a tostada... slice of pre-made polenta (available by the eggs) tablespoon of well whizzed taco meat pinch of cheese (nuke it) and top with dab of Greek yogurt dab of guac

I agree bobbyswife. I don't want to fail. I've invested too much with my life change. I know all of this. I guess I needed some reinforcement and encouragement. Plus some good ideas to combat the cravings. Right now all I have is fruit, light and fit greek yogurt, healthy nut crunch and protein bars.

My dietician recommended flax seeds (linseeds). I mix them in with yogurt or you can put them in Soups and on salads etc. I get the ready-milled kind which makes the fibre more easily available I think. It seems to help. I still have prunes occasionally as well. When I saw the bariatric clinician for my check up though he just emphasised drinking as much Water as possible to keep regular.

Okay, here goes my experiment! Today I will eat one egg, one protein shake made with water, one container of greek yogurt with walnuts, and one protein shot, for a total of 600 cals, 78g protein, 21g carbs. After work I will go for a 2 mile run or 20 minutes of intervals, and lift weights. If it works like I hope it will, I should be down 3 pounds by the weekend. Let's see what happens!

Hey everyone glad to hear everyone is getting along so well! I am 10 days post op and still a little sore but not hurting. I am to the point I want FOOD. Like maybe an egg with some cheese yummmm, or even yogurt. I was on a two week liquid diet before and lost 14 pounds and currently on a two week liquid diet. In 10 days I have lost 20 pounds. So a total of 34 pounds!! Less hip less hip hooray!!! I don't have much energy because I can't seem to get all the needed protein in. They are so sweet and I am just sick of sweetness!!!! 4 more days, is what I keep telling myself!

@@Karen Scott Im one of those strange people I guess that I like the tartness of the fage yogurt - but Ive tried it with not only the torani syrup but also crystal light flavors... or sugar free jello or puddings powders... changes the flavors - and there is a vast variety of flavors then. I leave for Mexico one week from today... Im all packed and ready to go... but mentally Im spinning out of control! LOL calm one minute, emotional the next... I have essential oils for calmness... been using that.. and it helps!

My pureed phase started yesterday, Day 18. I am now allowed purees, greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, pudding, chicken/tuna salad, and soft oatmeal. Prior to that it was: Day 2-4: Clear liquids (Water, gatorade, crystal lite, broth, strained clear soups) Day 4: Added drinkable yogurt Day 7: Added Protein shakes Day 10: Added strained cream Soups On Day 28 I can start soft foods, including ground meats, legumes, canned veggies, canned fruits, and soft whole grains.

Meds with Water, go shower and dress, then hydrate with a cup of herbal tea. 1/2 hour later, 6 oz of Kefir. 1/2 hr later, another cup of tea. Mid morning, 6 oz of greek yogurt or one cooked egg. More hydration if I don't get distracted with work. lunch is 4 oz pasta-less lasagna (cooked chicken, ricotta, spaghetti sauce mixed together) or 4 oz tuna salad (albacore mixed with zucchini relish and mayo). More hydration. Mid afternoon snack is a string cheese or 3 oz of hummus. More hydration. dinner is the lasagna or tuna salad, whichever one I haven't eaten yet that day. More hydration. Evening snack before bed is another 6 oz of Kefir. Protein is averaging 60 grams/day, calories around 700-800.

I've got 15 oz of water ..one shake..2 oz of tomatoe soup..and a half of a SF pudding all day..I need more protien..I think I will add a scoop of my vanilla shake mix to my evening yogurt..I need more water. I get distracted I forget it is a job..lol...feeling good..

Hi, All! Sleeved 11/9, so I am 11 days out. Or 12. Whatever. I've been on purees/mushies for four days now. Well-blended chicken salad, egg salad, scrambled eggs, soft cheese, yogurt. Everything goes down just fine. My frustration is I am still really hungry all the time. Keep hoping it'll go away soon! I would love to eat tomato soup and/or spaghetti sauce, but I was told no acidic foods until 3 weeks out, so 10 more days.

I CANT STAND GREEK YOGURT BY ITSELF EITHER...ADD SPLENDA AND ITA YUMMY

I am 5 weeks out and average around 600 calories per day. I just recently added an evening snack of protein. I am getting 70-75 G of protein every day and eating very few carbs- no bread or crackers of any kind at this point. I eat cheese, refried beans, ground chicken, cheese, yogurt, low fat sliced turkey/ham, tuna, baked fish, eggs- all protein/all the time:)

I'm only 3 weeks out and in the purée stage and it's hard!! Hard to find the tasty purée food that won't make me feel yucky. I'm still eating cream or thick vegetable Soup (no chunk) and Greek yogurt with fuits purée. Only train my stomach with egg or fish once a day because I find it's difficult to get in and I can eat very tiny amount, sometimes is less than 2 tablespoons. Today I tried 2 new things for dinner though, grilled chicken purée with caviar of eggplant, absolutely yummy but still, I cannot finish 1 tablespoon of each.

I did not like the fage yogurt even though it has 18grams protein taste so bad but I read a few threads and have now bought the sugar free syrup and used some in it. Delisssshhhhh. Mmmmmm!!! Try it guys. 18 grams of protein can't beat that.

No idea what you have in the house or whether you're willing to hit the store. Yogurt, plain or flavored with more fruit added, maybe SF applesauce. If plain yog & applsc, add sweetener to taste, a shake of cinnamon and a coupla drops of vanilla. Or flavor up any yogurt with complementary seasonings/extracts. Cottage cheese, if you prefer. (For eons I thought of cottage as something to eat only when I was ill, but, after banding, added it to my snack rotation.) SF fudgesicle. I think it's the brand "Popsicle" that makes me happy. They also make ices pops that are packed in boxes that look very similar, so look before you leap. Put a banana in the freezer; eat as much as suits you. Same for seedless grapes. Do you have SF syrups, such as Torani? A pot of coffee sweetened/flavored with the chocolate flavor or whichever you like. If choc or vanilla or similar, put some cinnamon in the basket with the ground coffee. This often satisfies me. I've been told that evap FF milk, if put in freezer and cold enough, will whip up; can't vouch for it myself. A bit o' PB with a spoon or two of the Torani and some banana slices, all mushed up, is one of my fave treats. So much that a small amt satisfies. I've been profligate for so long that I can't recall all of my old tricks. IF anything else comes to mind, I'll be back. You are honor-bound to report back with whatever you end up having.

Make Sure There’s Something for You to Eat The worst-case scenario is sitting down to eat, looking around the table, and not seeing one semi-healthy food that’s on your WLS diet amidst the mounds of candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, dinner rolls and butter, green bean casserole, and sausage stuffing. Don’t let this happen to you! Whether you’re hosting or you’re a guest, you can always make sure there’s at least something for you to eat. Just make a big enough batch to share with the table. You can never have too many salads, sides, and desserts at Thanksgiving, so consider one or more of the following. Acorn or butternut squash roasted with garlic, rosemary, and chicken broth for seasoning. Roasted Brussels sprouts or green beans with Dijon mustard. Spinach salad with cranberries, chestnut pieces, and cubes of cooked sweet potato. Cabbage and roasted beet salad. Fresh fruit salad. Baked apples with cinnamon and sprinkled with chopped walnuts or pecans. These dishes can save your diet and dignity, and they’re pretty simple! You don’t need to aim for fancy dishes and give yourself any extra headaches in the kitchen at Thanksgiving. Protein and Veggies…You Know the Drill You know how to eat right after WLS. Thanksgiving dinner is no different. Protein comes first, then come veggies. A serving of starch can fit in, and watch out for the condiments. That sounds easy enough, and it’s what you do every other day. Ready to put it in place on Thanksgiving? Your lean protein is probably skinless turkey breast, unless you’re vegetarian or having a non-traditional Thanksgiving. Whether you have tofu, crab, chicken, ham, or venison, you can make a small serving of lean protein the center of your meal. Take mustard and only a dollop of cranberry sauce, which is high-sugar. Veggies come next. Load up on green salads, sautéed broccoli or kale, and anything roasted, such as carrots, green beans, and onions. Watch out for creamy corn and green bean casseroles and buttery vegetables. Finally, garnish your meal with a little bit of starch. Sweet potatoes are healthiest, but you can also opt for a small serving of mashed potatoes, half a dinner roll, or even a spoonful of stuffing. Pick One Special Treat You don’t need to deprive yourself completely on Thanksgiving. If you don’t let yourself have any treats, you might eventually break down and eat way too much later. Better to enjoy a few bites of pumpkin pie now and feel good about it than to cave in to the entire pie later and feel sick and guilty. Give yourself permission to choose a special treat that you love and look forward to every year. Whether it’s your mom’s sausage and apple stuffing or your brother-in-law’s homemade biscuits, let yourself have a few bites of that special treat. Savor every bite. Think about its flavors and texture, and what it means to you, and how proud you are that you can enjoy it and be satisfied with that portion. Practice Eating Slowly Eating slowly is essential on the bariatric surgery diet. Thanksgiving is actually the ideal time to practice your skills. When else do you get the pleasure of good company sitting around the table for hours? Take advantage! Engage in the conversation, and focus on the people, not the food. If you stick to the rule of not talking with your mouth full, and you put your fork down and make eye contact when you’re listening to someone else talk, Thanksgiving dinner will fly by, and you may find you enjoyed it more than ever while eating less than ever. Good deal! Don’t Let Leftovers Weigh You Down The dinner’s over, everyone’s left the table, and the house is quiet again. It’s not yet time to let your guard down, though! The leftovers can be even more dangerous than Thanksgiving dinner itself. Pack them up and get rid of the ones that are trouble – like chocolate cream pie. There are plenty of healthy ways you can use leftover turkey. One is to simply freeze it in small portions and defrost them when you need them. You can also try any of these ideas. Turkey wraps with shredded turkey, mustard, and leftover roasted veggies wrapped in lettuce leaves. Turkey soup with a base of chicken broth, onions, carrots, and celery, plus any veggies you want. Turkey curry with cauliflower, eggplant, peas, and Indian spices. Turkey salad with cooked cubed turkey, halved cherry or grape tomatoes, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, diced pickles, and black pepper. Green salad with turkey, avocado, and black beans. There are so many healthy ways to use turkey, you may not even be sick of it after you finish the entire turkey! With these hacks and a little discipline and creativity, you can get through Thanksgiving dinner and beyond feeling healthy and confident, not stuffed and weighed down. That confidence is worth a lot, and it can carry you through the holiday season as you keep working towards your goals.