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If you frequently munch on energy bars, you should check you pantry to make sure you discard these popular snacks. The FDA recently announced a voluntary recall of Clif Bar Nuts & Seeds Energy Bars due to possible listeria contamination. The recall, which affects three popular flavors, comes as a result of SunOpta's announcement of potentially harmful goods earlier this year. Symptoms of listeriosis usually begin with diarrhea or other tummy troubles, and patients soon develop a fever and body aches. Those at high risk may also develop a headache, stiff neck, mental confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, which can be signs of fatal meningitis or encephalitis. Clif Bar & Company is not the only snack brand affected by the listeria scare. Kashi has also recently issued a voluntary recall of its trail mix and granola bar products, along with General Mills, which issued a warning for select Nature Valley products. SunOpta supplies sunflower seeds for use to all three of the brands. The list of flavors being recalled include the following: Clif Bar Nuts & Seeds energy bar with "best by" date range starting June 8, 2016, through Jan. 21, 2017 Clif Bar Sierra Trail Mix energy bar with "best by" date range starting June 5, 2016, through March 24, 2017 Clif Mojo Mountain Mix trail mix with "best by" date range starting June 16, 2016, through Feb. 2, 2017 Kashi Trail Mix Chewy Granola Bars (UPC Code/ 1862703000) Bear Naked Soft Baked Granola, Cinnamon + Sunflower Butter (UPC Code/ 8462310173) Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar — Honey, Peanut, and Almond with Pumkin Seeds (UPC Code/ 000-16000-47196) Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bar — Peanut, Almond and Dark Chocolate (UPC Code/ 000-16000-45724) Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar — Almond, Cashew and Sea Salt (UPC Code/ 000-16000-41301) Nature Valley Simple Nut Bar — Roasted Peanut and Honey (UPC Code/ 000-16000-46475) Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars — Chocolate Nut Medley (UPC code 30000 32241 and "best before" dates before 11/15/16) Quaker Quinoa Granola Bars — Yogurt, Fruit & Nut (UPC 30000 32243 and "best before" dates before 11/15/16) While there have been no reported illnesses tied to the recent recalls, Clif Bar, Kashi, and General Mills urge consumers to check their pantries for potentially harmful products and discard them immediately.

Great post! My advise is to start working on being healthier now. After surgery it's highly recommended that we stay away from carbonated drinks like soda or beer, fizzy Water, etc. So if you're a soda drinker, start to ween yourself off. I made the mistake of going out and buying a bunch of 100 calorie Snacks and whatnot once I started seeing my nutritionist in March of 2015 and didn't lose any weight that month. So then I stopped drinking soda and lost like 5 pounds in 2 weeks - crazy! I started going on walks. I was 355 pounds and only 5'5" tall and could barely walk a block at first, but by this time last year I was walking 2 miles at a time a few times a week and by July I was walking 3 miles at a time. I was reading health magazines and came across a great article about how to cut back on calories and lose weight. I did this by eating a yogurt cup and a small side salad about 15-30 mins before eating lunch and/or dinner. It curbs your hunger so you eat less during the meal. So I ended up eating a lot less carbs, because I started following the rule of eating my Protein first, then a veggie, and last a carb. It gave me a ton of energy! I actually lost 41 pounds by making those healthier choices before the surgery. That was extremely important to me, because our body loses weight MUCH faster in the first 12 months and after that it slows down quite a bit. For me it's slowed down from losing 10+ lbs a month to losing maybe 4 if I'm lucky. But if we follow the guidelines and use our sleeve (such a amazing tool), then we'll continue to lose the weight! I hope this was helpful! Sent from my A846L using the BariatricPal App

Oh fun!!! My daughter and I did a kayak trip down the Peace River (we are in Florida) a month after my surgery. We camped on the banks one night and had a blast. For food I was still taking it super careful with my sleeve so Protein shakes were the easiest for me. I also made a big batch of ground beef with Ruffled Pasta and sauce that we warmed up over the camp stove. I ate a few pieces of meat and it was heaven! I think your plan on bringing yogurts is great for something sweet. I also love the idea of the egg in a bag with mayo from a convenience store in it. This may be a good place to confess the other day we were in chick fil a and some low fat mayo and mustard packets may have fallen into my bag along with some Petes hot sauce. With those I can make anything!! I also like the hummus cups you can find everywhere now. Good, filling and portable. Breakfast was a shake for me, Peanut Butter sandwich and fruit for my daughter. Worked really well. Just remember to bring lots and lots of Water to stay hydrated while you are having all that fun. If you come up with any other tips please share them. This is a great topic. I can't wait to hear about your trip, here is a picture of our camp. Not too bad huh? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi all! I am about six weeks out from RNY surgery and doing great. My family is planning a three night tent camping trip over July 4th weekend. Anyone camp after surgery and have some food tips for me? I'm not too worried--I plan on eggs or Greek yogurt for Breakfast, and there are lots of Protein options for lunch/dinner. We always do s'mores when camping, but I think I'm just going to have to resist that. Maybe take along a piece or two of sugar free chocolate to nibble while others have s'mores. If you are a camper, do you have any tips for camping after WLS? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

You should be able to fly without issue (I think there are others that did), but I will warn you that you may be tired. I think it is totally doable, but be sure to find a shake now that you can tolerate as you will definitely need to supplement that early out. (I still drink 1 Premier Protein ready to drink shake per day at 1 year post-op to hit my protein goals, plus I have come to really enjoy them.) You will only be able to eat VERY small amounts at that stage and possibly need some pureed / soft foods, so maybe you can prepare your family for those - refried Beans, laughing cow cheese (or other soft cheeses), MAYBE thinly sliced deli turkey, greek yogurt, etc. It is so great that your family is supportive, but know now that it will be a little difficult being around family and all that food at that early out. It will not be impossible, but just expect it to be a little hard and give yourself a little grace and a little time alone if you get overwhelmed. Good luck and have fun!

I'm 1 month post op laparoscopic gastric bypass, and I am miserable. I am struggling. 85% of what I eat/attempt to eat gets vomited back up. Everything I attempt to eat is allowed on my soft food diet or pureed. So far I haven't thrown up from yogurt or my Premier Protein drinks. My nutritionist says I'm very calorie deficient. I'm not getting in enough Water or protein. My nutritionist says that since I'm a tall girl, she wants me getting in at least 72 g protein, and I can get nowhere near that. I used to be able to drink the full 11 oz bottle of premier Protein shake post op, now I can manage to drink a half of one. I constantly don't feel good, get nauseas a lot. Oh and on top of this all, I have issues with falling asleep at night because I can't stay still. Is it possible I have a stricture? I'm not scheduled to see my surgeon until June 17th. Thoughts?....

So frustrated! Tomorrow is the last day of work before my surgery on weds. I have a bunch of work I have to do with my leave because my work did not get the fax from the surgeon. Of course they are closed on weekends. I'm really anxious now about the surgery and my liver. Ive had a few slip ups of eating more solid Protein or vegetables than I should. If I've had carbs I've had very very little tiny pieces very seldomly. I know it will all be worth it.. Soon you all will be hearing me complain about how much I hate yogurt. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Ok, first off the hunger is probably real. Mine was. I was hungry right after surgery and didn't stop being hungry ALL THE TIME until about 2 weeks post op, then things got better. This is different for some people, the lucky ones are never hungry, the unlucky have to deal with hunger. That said, I get so frustrated reading posts from people who cheat early after surgery. This is a hint at epic failure down the road. If you cannot control yourself while healing from having your *stomach cut out*, you are going to be hard pressed to control yourself once the hard healing is over. Seek professional help instead of cheating. There are plenty of ways to alleviate hunger without making stupid (sorry but crackers, chips, crunchy anything, hard to digest meats, things with seeds, popcorn etc are really freekin' stupid) choices. I can't believe some of the things people decide to shovel down their throats while their bellies are healing!! STOP IT ALL OF YOU!!! I thrived on yogurt, pudding, and cream Soups. I made it through, so can anyone. Really, if you feel you must cheat, see your team psychologist. If you don't have one, find one. This is possibly the single most important thing you can do in terms of getting a handle on long term success NOW.

100 oz is the high side of the goal but it's the standard goal for everyone at the bariatric clinic I attend. I do have an active job however it's in doors so heat isn't an issue. I drink one Protein shake a day and am working on adding another it just sits so heavy on my stomach. I also eat a Greek yogurt . Those combined bring me to 45 for protein. Pretty much any protein food I've tried such as eggs tuna and canned chicken make me foam. I don't think it's dumping. It feels like it gets stuck right in the center of my chest and my mouth fills with saliva and eventually I vomit slime/bubbles. This happens no matter how small or far between my bites are. I'm hopeful this phase will pass sooner than later! While it is miserable I haven't regretted my decision and I'm ecstatic that it has made me break my relationship with food ???? Sent from my SM-G900F using the BariatricPal App

I'm 4 weeks post op and can't meet my liquid or protein goals. Pretty much anything I eat with the exception of yogurt gives me the "foamies" for hours! Obviously while I'm puking I'm not eating or drinking. When I can eat I'm not supposed to drink 30 minutes before or after. I'm suppose to eat 6 times a day and I might eat twice. The goals are 100 oz liquid and 80gr protein. On a good day which is few and far between I might get 45 protein and 70 liquid. It's very frustrating. I think I'm being punished for having an amazingly easy surgery and recovery. Anyone else finding it impossible to meet their goals??? And yes I am chewing and eating super slow! It takes me almost an hour to get down 4oz of soft food.

I use unjury protein powder. I find that if I make a shake with the powder and milk that it doesn't agree with me. It tastes better to me and doesn't make me feel ill if I use unsweetened almond breeze with the powder. Also like to mix the unjury chocolate powder with 8 oz plain decaf coffee and add some ice. I only use plain Greek yogurt with less than 5 g sugar. Chobani and Sigi Icelandic. Are both good. Make a smoothie with the Greek yogurt (1/2 cup) and 1 cup frozen mango and 1/2 cup water.

There are a few brands of Greek, Icelandic, or Bulgarian yogurt that are high in protein, low in carbs, and tasty. Fage is readily available at most grocery stores and Target. Trader Joe's has a plain Greek yogurt that is excellent, but you have to be careful to check the labels and make sure you're picking up the right one because they make several, and some don't have as favorable protein to carb ratios. Plain, unsweetened kefir also makes a good base, as does Fairlife milk which is higher in protein than most other brands. I began making smoothies using a high-protein dairy as a base with some lower-carb frozen fruit like raspberries. Acai is also lovely. Del Monte has no sugar added fresh peach cups that only have 12 carbs and are excellent in smoothies. Trader Joe's makes frozen sweet potatoes cubes that actually have less carbs than fruit, and I'll add a couple of them to a smoothie with milk and cinnamon. I also have made smoothies using unsweetened cocoa, PB2 or Peanut Butter, ice, and high-protein milk. Dr. Matthew Weiner is a bariatric surgeon who has recommended the "set point smoothies" to patients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MxZYAwzPuk When I was really struggling to meet my protein goals, GENEPRO gave me a boost. It is flavorless, odorless, and dissolves very well into hot or cold liquids, as well as into applesauce, yogurt, soup, and the like. Some are rightfully dubious about the claims that it has 30 grams of protein for a tiny serving, and I wouldn't recommend it as a primary source of protein. I only used it for supplemental purposes. I cannot have whey protein, and most plant-based Proteins were unpalatable to me. You can buy it on Amazon. I love Dr. Weiner's videos. I thought I'd watched all of them, but I missed this one! I'm definitely going to try his smoothie recipe. Thanks for posting that!

There are a few brands of Greek, Icelandic, or Bulgarian yogurt that are high in protein, low in carbs, and tasty. Fage is readily available at most grocery stores and Target. Trader Joe's has a plain Greek yogurt that is excellent, but you have to be careful to check the labels and make sure you're picking up the right one because they make several, and some don't have as favorable protein to carb ratios. Plain, unsweetened kefir also makes a good base, as does Fairlife milk which is higher in protein than most other brands. I began making smoothies using a high-protein dairy as a base with some lower-carb frozen fruit like raspberries. Acai is also lovely. Del Monte has no sugar added fresh peach cups that only have 12 carbs and are excellent in smoothies. Trader Joe's makes frozen sweet potatoes cubes that actually have less carbs than fruit, and I'll add a couple of them to a smoothie with milk and cinnamon. I also have made smoothies using unsweetened cocoa, PB2 or Peanut Butter, ice, and high-protein milk. Dr. Matthew Weiner is a bariatric surgeon who has recommended the "set point smoothies" to patients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MxZYAwzPuk When I was really struggling to meet my protein goals, GENEPRO gave me a boost. It is flavorless, odorless, and dissolves very well into hot or cold liquids, as well as into applesauce, yogurt, Soup, and the like. Some are rightfully dubious about the claims that it has 30 grams of protein for a tiny serving, and I wouldn't recommend it as a primary source of protein. I only used it for supplemental purposes. I cannot have whey protein, and most plant-based Proteins were unpalatable to me. You can buy it on Amazon.

@@debd80 at 11 days i was only drinking liquids, broth etc (per my NUT) Protein Shakes obviously help satisfy the need for protein they are/can be filling your new little tummy is less than 2 weeks old it just had major surgery, tummy is hurting and a little angry at you for messing with it LOL most NUTS have different rules per their programs I was on a mushy/puree foods for a few weeks then soft phase (yogurt, cottage cheese etc) FINALLY solids you are allowed solids at 11 days!!! in my case at that early time, no way would i eat 2 or 4 oz but that's just my case per my NUT "Maybe I'm doing this wrong..." i would talk to your NUT maybe you misunderstood about your eating plan?? just saying.... at 11 days, if there is a problem with your eating you should be able to fix it, learn from your NUT (unless this is what your NUT prescribed!!) good luck kathy

Im definitely not getting my Protein but am always trying lol I can't eat jerky yet because it upsets my tummy. A lot of lunch meat, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Im so over it though lol Sent from my LG-LS995 using the BariatricPal App

I'm pre-op too, I've been doing Protein no carbs... Got to say trader joe's is my go to place to get easy things to make... For lunch I do grilled chicken, tuna or chicken sausage... I'll cute them up add cheese, black olives, spinach etc... I work so I tend to learn towards things that travel easy... I'm trying to drop a few pounds before surgery... Down 7 since May 25th, it's a struggle... I think your lunch choices would depend on what you like... A Greek yogurt with fruits and hemp seed is another I have for lunch... "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them" Einstein

@@steph1514 Go back to basics. Pack a little cooler to bring to work. For a snack - you could pack a greek yogurt, cheese sticks, some almonds, a protein shake, a protein bar, etc. For your "lunch" - pack some grilled chicken, veggies, chicken salad, scrambled eggs with cheese, crustless quiche muffins. Is Subway in your Walmart? Are they open at that hour - you could get a salad with meat/protein. You can pack anything - it just takes time to prepare and make sure you have good options. I would also recommend therapy to deal with the old eating habits.

I am post op day 10 now and haven't even started eggs or yogurts yet. I'm jealous. I'm on Protein shakes, sf Popsicles, Water and more water and broths and tomato Soup....haven't tried anything else yet. I have a follow up with my surgeon June 8th and he said at that time I can start mushies. So far though the only problem I'm having is when I drink or I get the sharp gas pain that I can feel all the way through to my intestines and it goes away. No other time do I have gas. I wonder how long that will last. Oh yeah and LOTS of LOUD GAS with the drinking but nothing else when there is nothing in my mouth. Weird. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Im 15 days post op, i started at 196lbs, and lost 10lbs up till now. The scale hasn't moved for 5 days though. I understand i will stall, but just feel a little defeated. Eating is a new ball game, im on the soft stage and the pressure and tightness after eating a few bites is really tough. Some things are going down well, yogurts, banana and liquids but i vomited up eggs today. After a week on softs im adjusting but please tell me there is hope. 6months or a year later, has that sensation of tightness and pressure gone after eating? can you eat normally ? a regular meal albeit a small portion but can you comfortably eat a small meal and feel ok? Can you go the restaurant and enjoy a small meal ? I just feel a little overwhelmed at times, did i do the right thing? I have a lower BMI but have been overweight all of my adult life and my family history in health is really bad i wanted this to help me lose weight with consistency. I can't tell you how many times i would diet to only fall off the wagon again and again. I want to be proactive and make a positive change for the better. I would appreciate any advice and guidance This site has been so informative for me

Im 15 days post op, i started at 196lbs, and lost 10lbs up till now. The scale hasn't moved for 5 days though. I understand i will stall, but just feel a little defeated. Eating is a new ball game, im on the soft stage and the pressure and tightness after eating a few bites is really tough. Some things are going down well, yogurts, banana and liquids but i vomited up eggs today. After a week on softs im adjusting but please tell me there is hope. 6months or a year later, has that sensation of tightness and pressure gone after eating? can you eat normally ? a regular meal albeit a small portion but can you comfortably eat a small meal and feel ok? Can you go to a restaurant and enjoy a small meal ? I just feel a little overwhelmed at times, did i do the right thing? I have a lower BMI but have been overweight all of my adult life and my family history in health is really bad i wanted this to help me lose weight with consistency. I can't tell you how many times i would diet to only fall off the wagon again and again. I want to be proactive and make a positive change for the better. I would appreciate any advice and guidance This site has been so informative for me

One of the first things they do when you get to the hospital is you have to change into a hospital gown.....you can't have anything on under it. :-) As far as pain control while it the hospital it was wonderful!!.....I had a little button I could push and it would automatically give me really good pain medication....I could push it every 8 mins....well I could push it all I wanted to but it would only give me some every 8 minutes. They will want you to get up and walk just a few hours after surgery....You probably won't want to....but do it anyway! It will help you heal faster.....walk as much as you can! Your surgeon or bariatric team should have given you a food plan that tells you how and when to progress through each of the food stages....if they didn't then make sure to ask for it. Raw veggies are usually one of the last things you'll eat.....here's what my plan was Nothing the day of surgery Clear Liquids the day after surgery Full liquids day 3 through day 10 (full liquids included creamed soups, and yogurt, and cream of wheat, sugar free pudding) pureed cooked foods starting on day 10............and progress to soft foods as tolerated.

Sonic makes a junior Breakfast burrito that is egg, cheese, meat. The eggs are actually light and fluffy and the junior size is more than I can finish -- I would say at least two eggs. The menu says sausage, but I generally ask for bacon or ham and they are happy to do it. My kids say I eat it like a banana, I peel the tortilla off as I eat and dispose of it. Wawa gas station has great options if you are lucky enough to have one. Cups of yogurt, cheese sticks, fresh fruit, cheese and pepperoni mini plates. They also make awesome breakfast burritos all day with any veggie fillings you'd like. Their subs are also very good and you can load them up with all the veggies for free. I order the 4" and remove the top half of the bread. I still can't finish it.

depends on your surgeon but mine would not allow anything by mouth until they did the leak test the next day.....so that night in the hospital until they did the leak test the next morning was tough! I don't think my mouth has ever been so dry!!! If your doctor does the the same, mouth wash helps....the hospital staff kept bringing me these little bottles ....lol I think I went through 4 bottles.....also brushing your teeth will help too. once I passed the leak test they brought me a tray of liquids.....I sipped on everything and it all seemed to go down fine and then they released me to go home........... Home was another story! It was like as soon as I got home EVERYTHING tasted terrible!....I couldn't take my pain meds, because it tasted too bad, gas x strips tasted terrible, my nausea medication were these little pills you had to let dissolve in your mouth....well those made me want to throw-up..I had to resort to using a suppository! .LOL.....even tooth paste was awful!.....it was very bad I couldn't drink near enough Fluid and no Protein at all............this lasted until day 5.....On day 6 it was like a miracle! I woke up and everything was back to normal. During this time I was in close communication with my nurse coordinator and she had me focus only on fluid for those days.....she told me to just sip as much as I could and to keep an eye on the color of my urine and to not let it get dark.....that was easier than trying to get in a certain number of ounces... But like I said day 6 everything was back to tasting normal and I was able to drink 64 ounces of fluid and close to all my protein....took me a couple of days to build that up. I didn't really start feeling good and more like myself until I was able to eat real food....pureed Soups, and yogurt....tuna salad........Real food makes all the difference in the world!!! Good luck with your surgery! Feel free to ask me any questions!

I have done eggs, both scrambled and over easy. The over easy went down better for me. I've done avocado. I just did tuna salad for the first time and it was just meh. I miss the crunch of onion and pickle. I did some pickle juice and onion salt instead with a ton of old bay. I've done flounder which was good. I'm having trouble with veggies so I just do V8. My mains are cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. I'm boring. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My dermatologist told me that whey Protein frequently exacerbates acne in those who are prone to it, and can even cause breakouts in people who've previously had clear skin. Dairy products can also worsen hormonal acne in some people, so using milk as your base can compound the risk of a breakout. Fortunately, for me I can use milk, kefir, and yogurt in shakes without fearing an eruption on my face, but it's definitely something to be mindful about. This helps to explain some of the reasons for why whey protein can lead to acne: http://www.acneeinstein.com/whey-protein-acne/ I've had better luck with plant-based Protein Shakes rather than whey. I also loved GENEPRO. It's a Protein powder that has been heavily criticized on this forum for it's "too good to be true" claims about having 30 grams of protein for a small serving of easily dissolvable, tasteless and odorless powder, and for being so processed, but it's been fantastic for me. I used it for four months without experiencing any ill effects. I only stopped using it because I was getting adequate protein from food sources once I was fully healed. My husband is a physician, and a friend of his who is an oncologist told him that some of his patients going through chemotherapy have sores in their mouth that make eating difficult, so they have used Genepro as a supplement to add in more protein to their diet. He approves of it, which made me feel a bit more confident. It's definitely not an ideal food source, or something to make as a staple for your diet, but it can be useful as a supplement when your options are more limited. It can be added to broths, hot and cold drinks, and various foods. If you look on YouTube you can find videos by a bariatric surgeon named Dr. Matthew Weiner who advocates what he calls a "set point smoothie." It's made of high-protein, low-carb Greek yogurt (such as Fage), frozen fruit, and kale or spinach. It's a bit too much for immediately post-surgery, but a week or two down the road you should be ready for it. He encourages his patients to only consume protein powders in the first few months post-surgery when they cannot yet eat better, more natural sources of protein. Vitamins and supplements can also cause breakouts. I took Biotin a couple of years ago when I was regretting a hair cut and hoping for more rapid growth, and ended up with a war zone on my face because of it. I have PCOS and am very sensitive. Excessive B-12 also lead to painful breakouts. I do not take an additional B-12 supplement because of that, but do take a Multivitamin that has it in a smaller quantity. The vitamins I've responded to the best are Garden of Life's Vitamin Code Multi-Vitamin for Women, and Flintstones with Iron (one or the other, not both). As for topical treatments, my esthetician I see for monthly facials (and can recommend to you if you happen to live in LA) as well as my dermatologist recommended La Roche Posay's products, and specifically their Effaclar System. It's usually $29 for the set, which includes a face wash, clarifying solution, and treatment, but I spotted it at CVS earlier this week for $19. If you buy it, start off slowly because it can lead to peeling if you use it too often. I wash my face with the cleanser at night, and use the solution a couple of times a week. I put a very thin layer of the treatment on spots when needed. In the morning I either use Lush's Let the Good Times Roll, or simply rose Water. This routine has definitely helped my skin. My dermatologist told me to stay away from any anti-aging products because they are way too heavy for my skin. I turned 30 last year and freaked out about it, and went overboard on products. He said that water is my best anti-aging "product." It's true that any wrinkles I have go away once I've gotten properly hydrated. If you're older, that might not be the case, but regardless of age water can help to improve your skin's clarity and tone. You might also want to be careful about any laundry detergents, shampoos, conditioners, and toothpaste you use because fragrances and ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can trigger acne in some people. I use Seventh Generation's fragrance-free detergent for sensitive skin, and no fabric softener (white vinegar works just as well, and doesn't cause your clothes to smell like you might think it would), and I change my pillowcases three times a week. I stick with SLS-free toothpaste that doesn't have whitening ingredients (Tom's has one), and SLS-free shampoo and conditioner (Loreal has a good line). Best wishes to you!