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I started some shopping for pre and post Op yesterday and came home with bags full. I don’t have a pre-op diet, but I’ve decided to do a self-imposed one. I’m drinking protein shakes for breakfast and lunch and then a healthy high protein dinner. According to my NUT and surgeon I’m not supposed to drink protein shakes, EVER, as they are a slider food and go against the bandster rules of eating solid protein. I’m totally on board with that and actually love that their lifetime diet is exactly what I was looking for, healthy food, just a lot less of it…like I keep saying when I see bandsters still drinking several of these shakes daily years out, if I wanted to be on a protein drink diet, then I would have done that, not the band (one of my sisters did this, so did Oprah…they both gained it back). I don’t expect to use protein shakes very often at all, maybe after fills, but I thought it can’t hurt to do this pre-op and I can gather a list of the ones I like. I looked online but soon realized to compare apples to apples was going to take some work on my part. So, I did what I always do, I made a list. The confusing part is if you’re concerned with carbs. With the powdered shakes you need to figure out the grams (they only list percentages) of what is added add to it…like skim milk. Skim milk isn’t low carb, so these powdered ones can quickly become a high carb as well as high protein drink once you add the milk (ie. Unjury). Yeah, you could add water, but bleeech! I bought an assortment to try locally. Some I’ve found hard to find in the stores (ie. low carb Slim Fast). I quickly decided I don’t like the pre-made ones in cans…they have a metallic taste to me (ie. Target Brand). The low carb ones in cardboard cartons haven’t been too bad (ie. Atkins, EAS). You can even buy some powders in huge concrete bags amounts (better be sure you like it first)... I’m back to the stores today (once the snow stops, yes I said snow, several inches...is it April?!) for some low sugar/SF (ie. preserves for yogurt) and low fat/FF items (ie. Refried Beans) to have on hand as well as the GasX and other items suggested post-op. If you have any favorite items, let me know…and if anyone knows where I can get the big containers of plain 0% or 2% Fage Greek Yogurt north of Pittsburgh, I’m offering a reward (my eternal thanks). Product Placement/Marketing?! (that Special Dark Hershey bar is calling my name)...

pre op diet was high protein shakes, broths sugar fee jello, sugar free pudding, sugar free yogurt. diet soda, koolade etc skim milk. It actually made me full but became monotonous after 10 days. I lost 10 lbs. The anesthesia went fine. the whole surgery went fine. I was sore for a couple of days .I was driving within 24 hours.I walked at the mall but became easily tired and had to go home right away. Day five I was no longer sore. I did discover Im allergic to the steri strips that they close the incision with. I broke out and had to remove them. It is day 6 and I am now eating pureed food. I "never" got nauseous before or after surgery. My surgery so far has been textbook. I alswo have lost another pound

*waves* Hi, y'all. Long time no see Let me share my current experience with this. On Tuesday, I got a fill - from 1.75 to 2.5. I felt immediate restriction - all good - happy happy. Tuesday night I had Soup for dinner, slept like a baby. Wednesday, I had my Protein bar for Breakfast (not my brightest moment), yogurt for lunch and instant potatoes for dinner. I was still a little hungry after dinner, so I had a graham cracker, and my Water. I was up off and on Wednesday night with horrible reflux. Thursday, I had a Protein shake for breakfast, yogurt for lunch and really really runny instant potatoes for dinner. Had my water. Had a snackwell's chocolate cookie (ugh). Up most of the night with reflux. Still have it this morning. Now, I came to the board to read a bit because I'm thinking - this is too tight, not good. Then I realized...my period is due tomorrow. And when I have good restriction, I am always tighter a few days before and a few days into my cycle. And it's not just my stomach, I can feel it all over in my midsection, which says to me - you're bloated, Jill, get over it~ So I'm not panicing (thank you), but I am back on straight liquids, and I'll go get some Prilosec before I go home tonight. If this hasn't cleared up by mid week, I'll go get a partial unfill. Til then, I'm babying the band.

Every doctor has a different requirement. I was just sleeved last Thursday. My doc kept me on clear/very thin liquids for one week. This included Protein drinks, broth, Jell-O, crystal light, etc. I progressed to mushy foods Thursday evening and had mashed sweet potatoes (about 1/2 a cup and it took me 45 minutes to eat). I ate a scrambled egg with a very little amount of mozzarella cheese yesterday for Breakfast and again, it took me about 45 minutes to eat. I am able to eat about 1/2 cup of pretty much anything mushy and be fine including cottage cheese, fat-free greek yogurt, oatmeal, etc. I will stay on mushy foods until next Friday and will be able to progress to canned tuna, shredded chicken, etc. at that time IF my stomach can handle it. I haven't had any problem with nausea and foods yet but I do get "bubbly" if I eat to fast. I haven't had a problem with hunger pangs but I do get head hunger if I am watching cooking shows or my husband brings home fast food for himself. My doc doesn't recommend any carbonated beverages ever because the carbonated gas can expand the stomach. I have found that if I am not thinking about food, I just don't get the urge to eat. I have to remind myself to eat something every couple of hours. I am only able to get in around 650 calories a day but I do make sure I get in at least 90 grams of protein per day and try to keep the carbs below 40. Like I said, every doctor will have a different requirement. Your body will also tell you when it is ready to advance. Best of luck to you and I hope your surgery goes well. Dawn

I agree with the above statements. Because you had complications your stomach may need a little extra time to heal. Mashed potatoes can be kinda rough going down, I would try yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, and jello. Gradually work your way upto more dense food as time goes on. Best of luck to you.

I haven't posted in awhile because I have been so disappointed in myself & my journey so far. I have seen other people post about struggling & have seen a lot of people criticize them. I don't need that right now as I am already hating myself. I thought that I was prepared for this journey, but the reality has hit me hard. I had a large part of my stomach removed & I am never getting it back. I will never be able to eat the way I used to again. This should be a good thing, right? The first couple of weeks were the easy part. I went down 31 lbs. in the first 2 weeks & that is exactly where I have stayed. I am still 381 today. This is not a stall. I did have a stall during week 3 where I was completely on plan, but not losing anything. I actually gained. Then the small amount I gained came off & I haven't moved at all now for 2 weeks. This is completely my fault. I haven't been exercising. I haven't started my vitamins. I don't get in all my water every day. I don't follow my nutritionists guidelines. So, I am obviously not expecting that I would have gone down anymore. I have read so much on this board about people not being able to tolerate foods, sliming or vomiting. I know that is difficult for those people & I am not wishing that I would be sick. It's just that I have been able to tolerate anything & everything that I have tried. My offices food guidelines are very strict & I have not kept to them. According to my nutritionist my diet should be Breakfast: 1 protein shake, Lunch: 1 protein shake, Dinner 3 oz. of protein, 3 oz. of vegetable & 3 oz. of salad, Snack (if needed) 1/2 a piece of fruit or 1% cottage cheese. Period. No drinking milk (not even in tea, coffee or protein shakes) though I am allowed cheese & yogurt & no carbs except what naturally occurs in the aforementioned dietary outline. I need to total 60-70 grams of protein a day, less than 20 grams of carbs per day & at least 64 oz. of water per day along with my vitamins & exercise. I do not know what is holding me back from following the program except my own mind maybe. I want to be able to treat myself. I want to enjoy my food. So, that is what I have been doing. I have been having flavored lattes multiple times per week over the past two weeks. Today I spent over 4 hours getting 10 chicken nuggets & a large mocha frappe into my stomach. I had nothing before & I know that I won't have anything until tomorrow. I have also been allowing myself 2 cigarettes a day. I am sharing all this for different reasons. One reason is there might be others going through the same thing & I want them to know that they are not alone. Another reason is that I need massive encouragement. Before anyone suggests professional help, I have already set that up. I am seeing my nutritionist again in 2 weeks instead of 4 because she knows that I am struggling. My surgeon's office also has a psychiatrist on staff that deals specifically with bariatric patients pre and post-op & I have set up an appointment with her. For years I have lost & regained the same 30 lbs. over & over again. I have not been below 380 in about 3 years now. I knew that getting sleeved wasn't going to "cure" my obesity. I just thought that I would have a longer period of time before I would be able to tolerate different foods & that I could resolve any other issues before then. I am feeling so sad & just beating up on myself. Yet, I keep giving myself a reason to beat up on myself every day. Every day this goes on the worse that I feel about myself. This should be incentive enough to stop, but I haven't. I have so many reasons to treat my body well and I am not. Has anyone else experienced anything similar to this or know anyone else who has? Do you see something that I don't? Any words of encouragement? Any hope for me?+31

Ramen noodles wouldn't be the best choice. I'm on day 3 of my pre op diet and have only felt hungry once. Try a shake followed by a bottle of Water. Then have a creamy Soup later with a bottle of water and Crystal light. Eat some Greek yogurt and cottage cheese for Breakfast. There are several different options.

I'm not post-op yet, but I have done a ton of research on nutrition over the last few years (and I have a science background). It IS true that if you eat too little, your body thinks it's starving and slows down your metabolism. When I did strict low carb eating, I could eat 1800, sometimes even 2000 cal per day as long as my carbs were 25 gm or less and still lose weight easily. It's not a simple "calories in, calories out" equation like we've been told for years and years. Carb calories trigger insulin, which triggers storage of those calories. Certainly, eating too much is just as bad, but don't discount the idea that you might be eating too little. You mentioned yogurt - depending on the brand it can have a lot of sugars - both added and natural fruit sugar - you might want to look at labels and make sure you are getting a lot of carbs that way. If you use milk for your protein shakes, milk has pretty high carbs, esp skim milk (remove the fat, it automatically has more milk sugar per cup). I've switched to almond milk for the last 2 yrs - the unsweetened only has a few carbs and it has more calcium than dairy. Otherwise, though, try not to obsess too much over the scale. Measure yourself weekly or every other week and celebrate those losses. One thing I am doing to prepare for WLS is that I've made a big list of the things I hope to achieve with it. Not one of them has to do with a weight or clothing size. Most of them are activities that I've been too heavy to do for a long time. Some will be after a lot of loss, like snow skiing again. Others are much simpler - climb our basement stairs without getting out of breath. Try making a list like that and check them off as you obtain them!

@@genise82 - It's taken me 4 mths to find a Protein powder I like. I finally tried Isopure Naked whey. Also known as unflavored protein. The only ingredient is whey protein isolate (26 gms per scoop). I mix it in my hot tea, in my soup, in 50/50 diluted apple juice and in my greek yogurt. I even mixed it in Water. It made it cloudy but didn't change the taste.

I tried Greek yogurt for the first time this morning since it is listed on my full liquid list. I was so worried about how it would settle that it took me over an hour to eat it but oh my god it was sooo goood! And I didn't have a single stomach cramp like I do with liquids. Of course now I'm behind on my liquids since I spent over an hour working on my yogurt. I'm glad to be able to add something else that I can eat! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

At 4 days post-op, really focus on getting your Fluid volume in vs Protein grams. You'll be okay for a while with less protein as long as you're getting close to your Water goal. Going forward, I second getting some unflavored Protein powder. There are many brands, I'm a GENEPRO fan but there are other brands that others have had good luck with. Find one, because once you get to pureed/soft foods, that powdered protein will be the key to your success. I put it in cottage cheese, refried Beans, yogurt, pudding...anything soft and moist. I'm over 6 months post-op and I still put a scoop in my coffee every morning. Good luck!

So, to me, that does seem like it's a bit more than one would expect from an immediate post-op diet. That said, I only have my own experiences from which to speak and if this is the diet that your doctor prescribed, then they may have a reason. For comparison, here is the diet I am on currently (I hit 10 weeks post-op tomorrow), which is not really standard for most programs that I've seen: 2 times a week: Breakfast - 9am - 2 scoops of Celebrate 4-in-1 in 8oz of unsweetened almond milk + 2 tsp Benefiber (185 calories) Lunch - 1pm - 1 scoop of Celebrate 4-in-1 in 8oz of unsweetened almond milk + 2 tsp Benefiber (115 calories) Snack - 4pm - 1 protein bar (18-20g of protein -Think, Pure Protein, or Built Bar) (160-230 calories) Dinner - 7pm - 1 protein bar (18-20g of protein -Think, Pure Protein, or Built Bar) (160-230 calories) 60+ ounces of water (usually Crystal Light) (40 calories if all Crystal Light) 1 time a week: Breakfast - 9am - 2 scoops of Celebrate 4-in-1 in 8oz of unsweetened almond milk + 2 tsp Benefiber (185 calories) Lunch - 1pm - 1 scoop of Celebrate 4-in-1 in 8oz of unsweetened almond milk + 2 tsp Benefiber (115 calories) Snack - 4pm - 1 bottle of Premiere Protein protein water (20g of protein in 16.9 ounces of fluids) (90 calories) Dinner - 7pm - 1 protein bar (18-20g of protein -Think, Pure Protein, or Built Bar) (160-230 calories) 4 times a week: (up from 3x/week as of this week) Breakfast - 9am - 2 scoops of Celebrate 4-in-1 in 8oz of unsweetened almond milk + 2 tsp Benefiber (185 calories) Lunch - 1pm - 1 scoops of Celebrate 4-in-1 in 8oz of unsweetened almond milk + 2 tsp Benefiber (115 calories) Snack - 4pm - 1 protein bar (18-20g of protein -Think, Pure Protein, or Built Bar) (160-230 calories) Dinner - 7pm - 3-4.oz of allowable soft foods (I've had ground chicken, ground turkey, pureed chicken salad made with hummus & greek yogurt, ricotta bake, baked/steamed whitefish, scrambled eggs) (210 - 250 calories) So I think there would be room to make adjustments to your diet plan, as long as you would still be hitting your protein goals, but that is definitely a conversation you would want to have with your doctor. Simply be upfront with them about your concerns about the slow weight loss and ask for guidance on how to make changes to your diet plan to facilitate better results. Some times you have to make those changes to the diet plan in order to keep your body on it's toes!

Avo would be because of the fat. It is fine to eat so long as it is only a small portion and not the whole avo. I didn't eat a lot of fruit before being banded and eat even less now. I think it has something to do with the slippery texture, it makes it hard to chew and it is too easy to swallow a big bit. Melon and mango(which I love) definitelly slips past without being chewed. Kiwi fruits have all those pips in the centre which make me uncomfortable. Other stone fruits need to be peeled as there is nothing worse for me than having bits of skin stuck. These days if i do eat fruit it is usually tinned or cooked in some way. Strawberries lightly poached over greek yogurt are great. With veg I can eat most veg but being a Brit I prefer my veg soft! I cannot stand it when you go to a restaurant and they serve you green Beans and carrots which are still hard. Raw carrots are good though in salad or on sandwiches - the easiest way to eat them is to grate them or cut very thin pieces using a potato peeler.

I start purees tomorrow as well and go back to work. I have stocked up on baby food (no judgement!! It's easier and convenient, and on SALE!), pudding, Greek yogurt, and apple sauce.

Yogurt is only my list from my surgeon, but I don't know how...it has so many carbs!

One week post op and I feel really good. Barely any incisional pain left. I feel like I can bigger drinks of water, well more than a sip. I've just been eating soup, yogurt and protein drinks or shakes. My daughters birthday is the weekend and we are having a party tomorrow. I had to go into Subway (smelled like heaven) and GiGi's cupcake to order food and cupcakes for her party. She has to have surgery to remove her Thyroid on Thursday so it will be really hard to to stress eat with a 4 oz pouch. I need to take food with me to the hospital because she'll be in a few days. Hope everyone has a good weekend! HW 229.8 (pre-op) CW 211.4

I figured you did add me and that was you. I'm glad you have me on there though. I am so jealous that your gonna be in Florida and on the beach. Where are you going? I am supposed to start the purees tommrow but I've been eating actual foods. The liquids aren't keeping me full at all. I don't think milk settles with me that good so cream of soups aren't good for my stomach. I've been doing smoothies and I've been eating some fruits. I've been having lactose free yogurt too. Even though that has milk, it's low fat and barely in there. I've actually tried chilli too. Lunch meat and cheese. Everything is sitting with me. It was hard at first because I need to learn to eat smaller bites. I've been in a funk the last couple days where I don't really want food. It's bad for me not to follow the diet we are on but if I'm hungry and can't get full on liquids, then I'm gonna try new things. I am at 241 exactly today. So I've lost 15 pounds within this month and with the 10 pounds lost on pre op diet would make 25 pounds all together. Me working and walking more is definitely helping.

Today is the first day of my pre-op diet: cottage cheese, yogurt, chicken, sole, fresh vegies. It's just 3 days, so it shouldn't be a problem. My surgery is Thursday! :biggrin2: I plan to attack each phase after surgery as an individual entity/challenge: 4 days of clear liquids, etc.

Does anyone know, when chris says to eat 5 meals a day, can they be light snacks spaced out every 3 hours instead? (example: small light yogurt, light string cheese etc) Thanks in advance

Good luck Love! Seems like it took forever to get to this point, but I guess it's only been 4 weeks since you and I last chatted. I'm on regular food again and tomorrow is my first fill. I'm not really nervous about it, I'm just REALLY ready to start losing weight. I'm scared something's wrong with me since I recovered VERY quickly and honestly feel like nothing's changed. I have had no restriction for two weeks and because I was on yogurt and liquids for three weeks, when I was allowed to eat again, it was like the last supper, relived, with a vengence. I did end up getting a very little infection at my port site. It was weird because it wasn't the incision that got an infection, it was the actual port. I had some redness and it was warm, so I didn't mess around, I immediately went into the clinic and after a bit of an ordeal (the nurse said she hadn't seen anything like it before, which was not comforting, and the doctor wasn't in, so they called him at his other clinic, and he said to give me antibiotics, without even seeing me! ) I was prescribed antibiotics for a week and it went away. It never hurt, so my advice to you is to keep an eye on your belly for the first few weeks. I'm not positive I even had an infection, I could have just irritated it by wearing tight jeans a little too soon, but I figured a round of antibiotics (which, oddly enough, the pharmacist thought was prescribed to me for a bladder infection??? Honestly, just a weird situation all around!) couldn't hurt, so I took them and have been fine ever since. The only issue I have is that I've been eating like a cow and I'm so positive I've gained a huge amount of weight, I've stopped weighing myself.... I can't wait for tomorrow's first fill. I really really really need some restriction to kick start my efforts... Good luck with the surgery and KEEP ME POSTED on all of your success!!!!

When you pack your own Snacks to bring to parties and your friends houses, such snacks include a Water bottle, 3 or 4 crystal light to go packs, your own spoon, and a 6 oz. yogurt that will last you all night. That reminds me! I left my spoon at my friends house last night! Damnit!

Weighed yesterday and I've lost 72 lbs! It's weird, cause I stalled for 3 weeks.. Then ate a bunch of stuff I shouldn't have.. Broke the stall. Now I'm super motivated again! Exercising and eating good, and I started using miralax every morning and adding all bran buds to my yogurt in the mornings. Man fiber makes a difference! So lots of fiber and protein and stay away from cake! Lol. Keep going guys! U can do it!

lol! If I had a nickel before every time I wish I said I could eat more I'd have well, not even a nickel. Now, I'd have at least enough for a cheap pedi. Really though, if you can stomach the Isopure, that does't sit as heavy in the stomach as the milk based shakes. If you can get even half of one per day that's an extra 20 grams of Protein. I was on only liquids for 3 weeks so yogurt and pudding were off limits for me. At 3 weeks I did start making spike pudding and that helped with the calories and protein. You are rocking it my friend, keep it up! Dang on the straw though, thought I was gonna get to yell at you and get all judgey. Now I gotta go find someone else to pick on.

I was just cleared to take my arthritis medicine. It's really been too painful to walk much without it. And I live upstairs so even a walk to the car and back has been difficult. He told me I had to take some food with it so I usually eat yogurt.

Hi all, Well we went to casino yesterday and I had bad stuff for dinner and couldn't face drinking my Protein drink after I got home at midnight.On Friday I missed my protein drink and nighttime Vitamins because I was super tired and fell asleep at 8 p.m. so actual calories and protein for Friday were 43 grams protein and 445 calories. I feel pretty drug out today, but I am on track with food and vitamins and catching up on the Water. July 31, Sunday: Breakfast: Yogurt Smoothie (3/4 C. Fage 0 Plain Yogurt, 1/8 C. OJ, 1/4 C. water, 2 strawberries, Splenda): 15 grams protein, 115 calories Lunch: 1 oz. lunch meat, 1 oz. baby bel lite cheese, 1/4 avocado, 5 whole wheat crackers 11 grams protein, 185 calories Planned Dinner: 2 oz. steelhead trout, 1/4 cup mixed veg.: 14 grams protein, 125 calories Planned Snack: 1 scoop French Vanilla Gold Standard Whey Protein, 1/2 C. Starbucks Via Decaf Italian Roast, 1/2 C. plain soy milk: 27 grams protein, 155 calories Planned Protein, 67 grams, Planned Calories: 585, Water: Need to step it up- only downed 3 so far. Vitamins: Took my lunchtime calcium today! Exercise: Planning to do 1/2 hour taped sit and be fit after lunch today. July 30, Saturday: Breakfast: Yogurt Smoothie (3/4 C. Fage 0 Plain Yogurt, 1/8 C. OJ, 1/4 C. water, 2 strawberries, Splenda): 15 grams protein, 115 caloriesLunch: 2 oz. lunch meat 10 grams protein, 50 calories Dinner: 1/2 oz. chicken wing meat,cheese and sour cream from potato skin, 1/2 fried zuchini stick, 1/2 onion ring inside and 2 bites fried outside, inside of a pork pot sticker: 5 grams protein, 200 calories (guestimate) Snack: Decaf Soy Latte, saltine cracker, 1 t. peanut butter:7 grams protein, 150 calories Protein, 37 grams, Calories: 515, Water: Got it all in. Vitamins: Missed lunchtime calcium Exercise: None today unless you count walking around the casino for 5 hours :-)