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Finally I joined this forum because I need others help I had surgery January 30,2014 I'm three weeks two days out I have lost nearly 30lbs in two weeks ( not sure from where yet lol) but I see my hubby my kids eat and I just want to eat but all I have is water water water! I need recipes I'm over broth , soup, and yogurt!! I'm so depressed and already had severe depression and bipolar before surgery! I feel alone and weather doesn't help and I don't want to fail at this I'm tired of failing!!!!! But all I want is to eat, quit crying, and lose even a lb or two but all week stuck at same and I don't eat ugh

I'm a full fat kinda girl. Real cheese, real butter, real salad dressing, real mayo, real sour cream. I do drink skim milk because I like it, and I buy light Greek yogurt because the kids prefer it. Full fat tastes better and keeps me full longer. Much more satisfying.

I've been doing the light fairlife milk, light mayo, 100 cal Greek yogurts, reg cottage cheese and cheeses, and substituting plain Greek yogurt for sour cream. Just trying to cut out where I can without sacrificing taste!

I don't stuff food down at all. It seems the little that I eat is getting stuffed down and this is very little like soup , yogurt , etc. Im' three weeks out and no fill but I think I need to learn how how to take baby portions and chew better.. I will use the dime on the spoon/fork and chew until its baby like rule for now on!

I can't recommend one or the other but here are my thoughts: Advice for those researching Lapband: Ask what your doctor's experience is with removing lap bands. How long can I expect to keep my band before it needs to be removed? (Bands are being removed anywhere between 2 years out and onwards. I personally know of only 3 people who have had their bands 5+ years and one of those is on band #2.) What long term negative effects have your patients experienced with Lapband? Lapband is a high pressure system. The band creates a great deal of pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. The esophagus, in attempting to move food into the pouch, puts tremendous pressure on the LES, as well. Over time this causes damage and the sphincter fails to open. This creates a feeling of being "stuck" but your food hasn't even made it to the pouch. This situation is becoming more and more common in the banded population and causes permanent long term damage that cannot be reversed. This is what is called "difficulty swallowing" on the disclosure. It's actually band induced achalasia. Often on the various wls forums or social media groups, people will speak of random tightness, difficulty with swallowing yogurt, liquids, etc, regurgitation of meals despite cutting their food, chewing thouroghly and eating only 1/2 cup meals. What's your practice's re operation %? (Re operation following Lapband is upwards of 50%) any claims of lower % might mean your doctors patients are seeking help elsewhere when problems arise. How many of your Lapband patients have reached goal weight? (Average EW loss is in the 40-60% range...if you have 100 lb to lose, you can expect to lose 40-60 lb.) What do you consider compliance? -attendance at support meetings? -weighing, measuring, logging food intake? -adherence to a particular diet? -steady weight loss? -monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual band check ups? -what is the protocol for fills? (Many doctors consider failure to lose 1-2 lb per week noncompliance despite their patients claiming to adhere to a strict protocol.) I hear a lot about certain complications such as: achalasia, gastroparesis, adhesions of stomach to liver, erosion, band slips, band tightening without a recent fill. What's your experience with these issues. (More and more banded patients are experiencing these complications starting as early as 1 year post op and as long as 9-10 years out.) Will you band someone with autoimmune disorders? (This is a mixed bag...my personal experience is that having a foreign object in my body exacerbated my IBS) Do you screen for contraindications using EGD, esophageal manometry and upper GI? (These tests should be done to evaluate your ability to tolerate banding) If I have a hiatal hernia, what procedure do you use to repair it? What type of sutures do you use? (Nissen fundoplication and pledgeted sutures are never used in conjunction with bariatric surgery to repair existing hiatal hernia). As a final warning, recently there have been increasing reports of cardiac issues following banding...irregular heartbeat, arrhythmias, palpitations, etc. The heart and the esophagus lie sued by side in the chest. The vagus nerve(controls heart rate, breathing and GI tract) is also in the same area. Food retained in the esophagus puts pressure on the nerve and heart. This is not good. I'm posting this because although I lost over 100 lb while I had my band, I now have permanent esophageal damage, cardiac problems and I'm on additional medications to manage the complications caused by my band. I was compliant with diet and lifestyle changes. Part of the problem was that my hiatal hernia was repaired using a nissen fundoplication and pledgeted sutures. Also, upon removing my band it was found to be placed very high on the stomach. I didn't have esophageal manometry testing prior to my band placement. (My band doctor was recently named as one of Seattle's Best Bariatric Surgeons for 2013.) 3 years later I had 0% motility when tested. I never had swallowing problems before banding. I still have difficulty with many foods. Bands are a money maker for doctors who are still implanting them. They get paid to put them in, fill them, empty them and remove them, then revise their patients. Many reputable medical institutions will no longer implant a band and many who still do, consider it a short term device and remove within 2-3 years then revise to gastric sleeve before permanent damage is done. I thought the band was least invasive. I have 15 incisions on my belly I didn't have when I started this. 3 surgeries, dozens of diagnostic, invasive tests, $150,000 later and I don't have a WL tool. I have a cardiac condition I didn't have, esophageal dilation and achalasia + 3 new meds costing me $150/month out of pocket. Do your research and be open to hearing the "negative" along with the positive...it might save you from years of suffering.

I’m doing unsweetened apple sauce, mashed potatoes (instant only made with water), plain yogurt (no or low sugar), and oatmeal.

I put myself on a modified "liquid diet" ... I had a Protein drink for breakfast, a greek yogurt for snack, a cup of soup for lunch (pureed, all liquid like tomato, cream of broccoli, etc), a Protein Drink for snack, and whatever protein and vegetable my family ate for dinner. I also filled the rest of my day with Water (crystal light flavors or Powerade zero flavors) .... at least 64-76 oz per day. I stepped up my walking to 2 miles every other day. I lost 26lbs pre-op. Good luck!!

@@Anabean I'm 5 weeks too and I too struggle to eat more than 1/4 cup I do two 30g Protein drinks a day premiere protein and I also usually have a cup of homemade chicken broth in the afternoon. dinner I get some fish and I might snack on one egg in the mid morning or cottage cheese or yogurt like 1-2 tbsp. Down 40 so far never ate so much protein in my life lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

As long as he's getting plenty of water, I wouldn't worry too much. He's drinking Isopure, so he's getting protein. There is also milk, sugar free popsicles, and jello. For the mushy stage there's pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, any kind of soup is good. There are tons of cream based soups, surely there's one he likes out there. If it's a chunky soup, just puree it or mash it up really fine. Right now is a healing time and this is only his 3rd day post-op. As long as he isn't getting dehydrated he's fine.

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?

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.

Try putting your whey protein in soup. I would usually put 1/2 scoop in it. If you are able to eat yogurt, put some in that too. Both of those solutions are what helped me get my protein in for the day. I'm 15 days out and still can't drink the protein shakes either. I've seen where people are taking their protein shakes and freezing them like a fudgesicle. I haven't tried that one yet. Good luck!

I'm 1 will out from surgery. I'm doing well except I'm very weak. My surgeon said only eat if hungry. I'm never hungry! I eat yogurt, protien enhanced jello, protein shakes and strained soup. Was just able to drink water today without pain. Loosing 9 lbs in a week seems extreme. I just have no appetite! Is anyone else having this issue?

I was told three meals and one or two snacks,and that they should total 1,000-1,200 calories. 300 per meal 100 per snack. Although I find I'm eating a little less for meals than that,especially breakfast. Breakfast is generally 100 calorie whole wheat English muffin with cheese or almond/peanut butter, prunes and for me coffee. Lunch is a protein,fruit and veg, supper is protein,veg,maybe a starch.Then I generally have a yogurt for a snack or a fruit. Hard boiled eggs for protein too. Sometimes, crackers or wheat for thins for a snack.

I am 7 weeks post op and am having difficulty with vomiting after eating meat or fish. I will chew it for at least 60 seconds and even after a bite or two I will throw up everything and it tends to continue for a few hours. I grill my meat or broil it with no oils and I do not understand why I can't keep it down. I can't even do protein shakes as they make me sick so i'm living off of yogurt and i have oatmeal in the morning. My doctor put me on meds but it's making it worse. I'm not losing a ton of weight. I have to add that my surgery was a revision to 2 previous nissen fundoplications so I also had work on my esophagus . Can anyone recommend anything else I can eat to get my protein? Also, any suggestions on incorporating fish or chicken without getting sick. Ren

listen to your trainer. you are burning fuel and then you have none left essentially. try some greek yogurt before a workout or a smoothie. you work out more, you burn more, you eat more. you will lose more inches than lbs, there is an almost 2 month "lag time" from inches lost to lbs lost. but it will catch up. i have been told and read that eating more protein will help you lose the weight as it builds muscle.

Ok March sleevers, I was sleeved on 3/15. I was on a clear broth/Gatorade/yogurt diet until Thursday..I went back to work and needed more energy so started my protein shakes. So now I am on protein shakes and yogurt...the question I have is I tried making my shake with skim milk this morning and it's giving me terrible heartburn....what are you eating? I have seen a lot of people sleeved around the same time I was who seem to have moved on to more foods...anyway, just kind of wanting to check and see what others were eating.

Stolen from MFP, but it makes a ton of sense and something to keep in mind when going grocery shopping or eating in general. ============================================================================================================================ Oh, how happy all of us "dieters" were the day Skinny Cow candy bars became available! We can have chocolate! Peanut butter! Caramel! Gooey caramel and chocolate in one little bag! And not feel guilty! Yum! I have realized I cannot have them in my house. Why? They're a sensible treat, at only 110 calories (give or take depending the delicious flavor you finally decide upon). It is the completely sabotaging comfort of "SKINNY". Oh yes, you can have one. Enjoy one! Fondle it in it's pretty wrapper and delight in the first crunch. But I cannot stop at one. That is the same eating behavior that got me to 240 pounds in the first place. If one is good, two is better. Hell, three is 3x better! And guess what, it is guilt free because it is SKINNY! Don't get me wrong, 110 calories is a lot better than the 245 or 300 or 500 of a regular candy bar or chocolate fix. But I get so wrapped up in "ALLOWED" because they're lower in calories, they are no longer on the forbidden list. I need my forbidden list. It keeps me safe, and hopefully thinner. And "light" products are doing the same damage. Light chips - heck yes! I'll have more please. In reality, I would never even think a chip is ok while I'm working so hard, but hey, they're LIGHT! Safe, OK, Allowed, please indulge. Don’t even get me started on the sodium "Light" yogurt is the worst offender, in my opinion. Yummy, creamy, dessert flavored yogurt - healthy! Sweet and almost like pudding! And yogurt is healthy right? Oh not so fast... Many have HFCS, which for me, makes me crave more sugar. I think nothing of snarfing down a carton of yogurt as a "healthy" snack, because it is "light", "healthy" and yummy. In reality I just ate a bunch of ingredients I can't pronounce, and I'm not really satisfied. In fact, if there is aspartame in it, I’m probably going to crave more sugar in about 8 minutes. There I am, sabotaged by “light”. Yes, I admit I have eating issues (most of us do or we wouldn't be in this battle) and I have a hard time saying no. But it is a whole lot easier to say no when it isn't available, and no matter the "light" label, if it looks like a (chocolate) duck and quacks like a (chocolate) duck, it's a chocolate duck. So I'm cleaning out my cupboards and fridge, at least for now. Out go the "light" chips, granola bars, cookies and yes, the Skinny Cows. Into the trash with the "light" yogurt and mayonnaise and salad dressing. If it isn't naturally low in fat, sugar and calories, I'm not interested. At least for now. Apples, baby carrots, whole wheat crackers with fewer than 25 ingredients that look like a piece of the periodic table. Salad dressing made from olive oil and vinegar. Beautiful berries and oranges when I'm really craving something sweet. Because I personally cannot be trusted. And I'm not going to buy into anything "Skinny" unless is a new pair of skinny jeans that finally fit.

I was banded Monday 2/22/10 as well... I am very hungry!!! I am totally sick of the liquids... I hope I can start on mushy food next weeks. I haven't had the cream soups, they want us on thin liquids. No puddingm or yogurt.

If you have never tried it, vanilla yogurt with a spoon of peanut butter stirred in is wonderfull!

Epic failure today trying to mix the vanilla flavor with some greek yogurt. I have it in the freezer with hopes that if I make it like ice cream or frozen yogurt that I'll be able to tolerate the taste. I took 3 bites, and I wanted to throw up.

I am on full liquids, my problem is I dislike anything milky so I can't do Protein shakes or yogurt without vomiting. Looking for new ideas or suggestions I may not have thought of. I'm allowed cottage cheese, pudding, applesauce and cream of Soups. These were the nutritionist suggestions. Thanks!

Day 4, and I got a 6 oz yogurt in over a span of nine hours. I'm elated to be back on food. I've been on Water for days! After the yogurt, I heated up 4 oz of a broth concoction that I cooked weeks ago in advance. I'm in heaven. This broth is chicken Soup from scratch, greek yogurt, mashed potato, and minced onions. mmmmmmmm

Well, before I had my first fill I could almost eat anything...breads, pizza, chicken...ect but 3 weeks ago I got my first fill. ever since I am having a hard time finding things that my band can tollerate. Chicken always gets stuck no matter how much I chew it and then I start sliming. I have almost been living on a thick soup for lunch and dinner and skipping breakfast unless I have a protein shake. Most times I get hungry I try little chicken or somethng and about the second bit im in agony and then cant eat for several hours and just have something like soup or yogurt. on my first fill they only put 1.5cc in my band so I dont have much in there (i do have a 4cc band though) I cant just go back to the dr because it is done at a hospital 2 hours away and costs $250 each time I go there. I'm not really complaining because other then only eating mushies I do feel great. Just wondering if anyone else has problems with chicken?

Those of you successfully losing, can you give me specifics of what your waking hours are in terms of food/drink/exercise? And if you give me feedback, tell me why I shouldn't believe that my NUTs tell me. LOL I have been a slow loser in this process. I am currently 204, been here about 3+ weeks. I was 296 Dec 5, and 256 on my surgery date March 11. Basically 90 pounds in less than 10 months which is awesome, but the scale just moves so slow for doing everything right. Its beginning to really upset me. I have gone from a 24 to a comfortable 18, 3x to XL/L which is awesome. My NUT at my surgeons office says don't count calories, count protein of which I am getting over 80 grams a day via chicken, greek yogurt, cottage cheese and a GNC protein powder in my water 30 mins before working out. I round that out with various fruits and veggies - lots of variety here and no starches. I get 64+ ounces of water daily. And working out - I walk 2.5-3 miles at lunch in about 45min to an hour. And I do weights every other day via machines in a gym in the evening. Sometimes, I do additional treadmill or elliptical cardio in the evening for 45 minutes to an hour. I don't track my food because its so similar everyday and when I was doing MFP I was getting about 800-900 calories a day. I am becoming OCD about what I eat. I won't dare cheat and saboage this but its becoming emotionally exhausting because I am blaming myself that I must be doing something wrong and I know stress is horrible for weight loss. I am doing exactly what I was told to do and its not working. It's $74 for 30 minutes to go back to the NUT. I can't afford that right now :-)