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Maybe not enough protein is the issue. I would follow what your surgeon recommends, they should have given you a very specific plan. Greek yogurt is good and has a lot of protein but the protein drinks are really the best way to get it in right now.

Why aren't you eating solid foods for breakfast? Or at least mushies like Greek yogurt or oatmeal. Protein shakes are a slider, I would be hungry 5 min. Later and I'm at restriction. Also for me salad is a slider food. Are you eating 3 oz. Solid protein Lunch and dinner?

Well, glad you had the unfill. But, incase your surgeon's office did not say anything, you should stay on liquids for a day or 2 to let your stomach calm down. My surgeon recommends 2 days clear and 2 days full liquids after aboth a fill and unfill. Only one time did I break that rule, that was when I, also, had not had anything for a day. But, generally you need to let you swollen stomach relax. Take it easy!!!Karen PS:Even yogurt is hard to get to pass if you are swollen.

My doc suggests 3 meals and 2 snacks. I eat string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter(reduced fat), cottage cheese(for a change mix it with SF jello...it tastes like fruit/CC combo without the extra cals), yogurt, SF/FF pudding, half of a protein bar, 8 oz skim milk...

I've had a lot of challenges with the band, but I think I can offer you some support. I think what you are experiencing is normal. RIght after my surgery, I could not eat more than 1 6oz yogurt and it took me all day to eat it. I got through it by drinking apple juice mixed with water. By the end of my first month, I could eat exactly the same way I did pre-banded. I had no restriction at all after the swelling went down. I hope you start feeling better soon.

I also use myfitnesspal.com . I keep my calories around 1100 per day and try to get as much protein in as I can. I start my day with a protein shake to which I add a banana, greek yogurt and frozen fruit. Fills me for a long time.

Hi Silry, My stomach was gnawing and rumbling and so I went ahead and incorporated the sippable yogurt yesterday. Dr. Miranda said that this could be started as early as day 4. I did start feeling hungry again yesterday, but with three sips of the yogurt I felt full - AMAZING! Tomorrow will be the start of when I can do the Protein Shake and I am thankful for it! :biggrin1:

I am so sorry to hear the fills have been such a struggle. I had my second one yesterday and it seems to be okay. But I am feeling like it is pretty tight. I couldn't even eat yogurt this morning. So i am back on the Protein Shakes (yum, I know!). I am trying some that are in the refrigerator section and have more calories. They are more expensive but are much better than what I had before and its only for two days. I lost 3 more lbs since my last fill three weeks ago. So getting close to the 20 lb mark. I also read a very inspirational book called Lapband and Laughter. The author went through all of the ups and downs of her 3 year experince. I would recommend it for anyone needing motivation. Here's the link: http://lapbandsandlaughter.com.au/ All the best, Melissa PS I am going to the Bahamas in January and think that is a good goal for a little more weight loss.

It certainly seems slow to me! lol But the creamy soup is the only other liquid I can have. I can't have yogurt or anything else.

I was banded on May 12th and the first 4 weeks I couldn't even eat what they said to eat because sometimes it was to much. My doctor says you should be eating about 800 calories. I have noticed this week that I am getting hungry between lunch and dinner. I am going for my first fill on June 27th and I am hoping that takes care of that. I have a Protein shake for Breakfast. Lunch I eat a slice of ham (2 oz) and a slice of cheese (1/2 oz) with 2 crackers, a quarter cup of yogurt and quarter cup of fruit, or 1/2 a cup of turkey chili with 2 crackers, dinner is usually 2 oz of fish or chicken, 1/2 cup of potatoe or Pasta and a vegetable.

Well, I hope I am back for good! My computer is up and running again. What a fiasco with Tech Support! Sugarbear: I had surgery the same day as you. You could have written my lapband story! As Pam said I ended up with hernia repair also. I had the same "gas" pains as you and in the same location. I kept denying they could be gas pains way up there! I talked to Pam and as she explained, they are not what we know as "normal" gas pains. It is much better now. I still don't have much of an appetite and I have to keep better track of what I am eating. I think I am missing the Protein intake by a bit. I am going to do better starting today. Dr. Pam says that protein is very important for me to heal. And...not to skimp on my pain meds. (Thanks Doc!) I have lost about 13 pounds since starting on the liquid before surgery. Sue in Russia, I have some protein stuff from Wal-Mart. It tastes cruddy with just Water. Yesterday I mixed it with skim supreme milk and a little crushed ice. I added about 1/2 tsp of Crystal Lite (strawberry kiwi this time), thru it in the blender, it was excellent. At least it will not go to waste and it has alot of Proteins per serving. I have been eating the Campbell's microwaveable Soups, yogurt, cream of rice, knox Jello bars, sugar free fudsicles. The soups I only eat about 1/2 serving and then refrigerate the rest for another meal. They are very soothing. Best wishes to all you already banded Marchers and for those of you coming up, we are watching for you and sending good wishes your way! Gail

I know TMI. But for everyone with a yeast infection, try douching with live yogurt as well, seriously!

WOW...such varieties--I think I've figure out that its gas and surgery pains. I only wish I was burping more...then I might at least feel like the gas was escaping...my tummy is hard as a rock and bloated like crazy...more at times than at others. I've had no trouble walking--some pain when I first stand up but then it usually subsides. I take the liquid vicodin about twice a day rather than every 4 hours. I'm walking to mailbox several times per day and then went to WalMart and even Home Depot. Took Milk of Magnesia to get a BM going--wow...that worked...but still bloated. Never had shoulder pain--lots of back pain that same day of surgery, but after that, it's been okay...thankfully. HOT TEA is a GOD SEND to me!!!! Soothes heartburn, gas pains, aches, etc!!! EARL GREY with a touch of lemon is making me feel human again!!!!! Diet for Post Op weeks 1-3: Choose 2 oz. of cream of wheat, creamed Soup, pudding or yogurt for break, lunch and dinner. Throughout the day, try to get in 8 oz. of Protein drink. Also, can have 2 oz. of broth, tea, Water, coffee, crystal light, sf Jello, sf popsicles, etc. about 15 min after anything else. I'm definitely not starving...but geez, missing food at times :0( but I know I'm not doing all this for nothing!!!:thumbdown:

I agree that most cereals probably aren't a good idea (nutrition wise) but I have seen a lot of high fiber/high Protein ones out now. Personally, cereal and I do not like one another now (and I used to love it). I don't know if it swells up like bread or what but I am very uncomfortable eating cereal. I can do granola w/ my yogurt in small quantities though. I do better w/ the crunchy varieties.

I love Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal. I put 1/2 cup on top of my yogurt and strawberries.

Potato chips and corn chips are no longer a slider for me. I'm too tight for them to be a slider. No matter how much I chew them up they cause pain. I think sometimes it is a texture thing too. Anything that will melt like icecream or chocolate is for sure a slider. I do not avoid all sliders or I would suffer from malnutrition or starvation. My band is pretty tight and even tighter in the mornings. Some foods that may be considered sliders are on my regular menu......yogurt, cream of wheat, soup ...... I just try to stay away from the high cal. ones like icecream.

I feel great today. Finally turned that corner. Yinfec is under control & I can totally sleep on my side now! Thursday I went to bed (the 1st night I was able to sleep on my side) and I woke up 14 hours later! I needed it. We have been blessed with BEAUTIFUL GORGEOUS weather today. I'm sitting here at my computer, ate my prune yogurt, drinking my coffee, have the patio door open, birds are chirping, my windchimes are chiming, the smell of burning sage is in the air and all is right with the world. I may even be able to talk DH into walking at the zoo today. Nasvhille has a really beautiful zoo and I have a membership. I hope no one has been discouraged by my whiny post, I just wanted to be as honest as factual as possible because I like to know what's up before hand. Now that I'm on the other side of things, I know I've done the right thing and I'm really excited about my future. I have a normal to small sized husband, he married me at almost my top weight, so I'm excited to see where this takes our relationship as we are able to do more outdoor activites together. Mary, know that I will be thinking of you. Hang in there and stay strong sister :hug: I hope no one has been discouraged by my whiny post, I just wanted to be as honest as factual as possible because I like to know what's up before hand. :girl_hug: Tracy

i am so glad i posted on here thanks to everyone .. my problem has always been portyion although i can make bad food choices my bigger issue is how much i eat . i thinkim a real food addict which is why therapy has been a big part of my process.. i mean sure yogurt is great for you but when you eat 5 conatiners ..not so great beforei strated this it was not unusual for oen meal to roll right into the next befor ei was done eating oen thing my mind was already planning what i would eat next . i dont have that issue now the long period of strict pre surg diet cure dthat soo farrr anyway . thank you all i love this site !!!!

ACK... my mouth is still on fire. I've had four doses of the prescrip stuff so hopefully it will be better by this afternoon. Back at work today and will probably leave this afternoon when I start to get tired. I can tell the swelling is starting to go down now cause I'm hungry more often. I had 3 ounces of chicken breast this a.m. then a 15 g protein shake around 9 and then a sf jello a few minutes ago. I forgot to bring my chicken to work so I'll do another drink I guess for lunch plus I brought some kefir probiotic yogurt smoothie stuff too. My mouth is so friggin' tender that just about anything I eat or drink hurts... i think I'm ssssin' my words too. Tongue feel swollen. Soreness is SLOWLY but surely diminishing each day. I feel like I've been in a wreck every a.m. when I wake up and try to get out of bed. I haven't had any ibuprophen yet today but may break down and take some here in a few minutes. Surgeon and other fellow bansdters say I should start feeling about normal around Friday. Considering I am one week to the day today from the operation I'm doing GREAT. Driving myself to work and everything.

Hello everyone. I'm a band to sleeve revision scheduled for May 16th! Getting here has been a long and often miserable road. I am so excited to be beginning this new journey. I really messed up by not being prepared when I had my band put in and that is not going to happen again. So, I spent some time today compiling of list of things to get in the next month. It's suited to my tast so there is no pudding and only vanilla flavors (no chocolate or strawberry). Also, everything is pre-packaged (making it more expensive) because I have two kids who keep me extremely busy and a husband who works all the time. I quit drinking carbonated beverages and caffeine a couple of months ago and gave up alcohol (almost completely ) in January. I never though I would be able to do that (of course I am really fightin replacing with eating)! Anyway, just in case this may help someone here it is: For Day of Surgery Ear plugs Eye mask Chapstick Warm blanket Ear buds for TV Gas X (couple of different forms) Slippers or Socks Belly Binder Nightgown Belly bear or pillow Phone charger Milk of Magnesia For Weeks 1 and 2 May 16th – May 31st 21 Carnation Instant Breakfast Vanilla (Pre-made) 28 Fat free or low fat cream Soups (strained before eating)(see list at end) 28 No sugar added Greek Yogurts 3 Cartons chicken broth 3 Cartons beef broth 1 Carton skim milk 14 Jello snack cups 6 Cans crushed pineapples in Water or light syrup (for smoothies) 7 Bananas (for smoothies) 1 Carton OJ (for smoothies) 6 Mangos for smoothies For Weeks 3 and 4 June 1st – June 14th 1 Large box of quick Quaker Oats 14 Fat free cream soups (see list at end) 21 No sugar added Greek Yogurts 14 HMR or Healthy Choice etc. frozen dinners (to put in blender) 1 Spinach (to put in blender w/ frozen meals) 1 Broccoli to put in blender (to put in blender w/ frozen meals) 1 Box of instant mashed potatoes 14 Prepackaged snack cups of unsweetened apple sauce 4 Cans of chicken for chicken salad 1 Jar of Hellman’s low fat mayo Vitamins and supplements Mulit-Vitamin – Bariatric Advantage Convenient Daily Packs (30 day supply) Biotin – Nature’s Bounty 5,000 iu Protein – unjury unflavored, Unjury strawberry sorbet, and Unjury chicken Soup Vitamin D – highest dosage (I'm African -American (so my Vit D is always low) but with enough other stuff mixed in that my mom has osteporosis. Go Figure!) I also already have every heartburn medicine (both OTC and prescription) at home but if you do not probably good to have it on hand. Tylenol - liquid or chewables if I can find them. I get migraines so I am sure one will hit me. Cream soups may include from Campbell’s Brand – FF Cream of Celery, FF Cream of Chicken, FF Cream of Mushroom, FF Broccoli cheese, Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese Soup, Cream of Potato Soup (sparingly)

A lot of weight loss surgery patients struggle with weight for their entire lives before deciding to get surgery. The same is true for Michele Elbertson. The difference is that Michele was only 23 when she hit 427 pounds and got her wake-up call. She got the lap-band, changed her lifestyle, and dropped 260 pounds. She’s run 6 marathons in the past two and a half years, and is training for her first Ironman triathlon this spring. Bigger from Birth…And Then College Hit Michele was always big. She was at the top of her height and weight charts from the time she was an infant. She remembers times in her childhood when she couldn’t or wouldn’t participate because she was so big. She didn’t like physical education or sports, and the other children teased her. Food was a comfort. Michele describes the situation as a vicious cycle. The more kids teased her, the worse she felt. The worse she felt, the more she ate. The more she ate, the more she weighed. The more she weighed, the more she got teased. College was a disaster in terms of her weight. Forget about the freshman 15. What about the freshman 40? And the sophomore 40? Add to that the junior 40, the senior 40, and, for good measure, the super-senior (fifth-year) 67, and you now know how Michele Elbertson got to be 427 pounds at the age of 22 years. A Young Weight Loss Surgery Patient with New Relationships Michele made the decision to get the lap-band on her own. She needed a tool to help her control how much she ate, but understood that it was up to her to control what she ate. She only told her parents about her decision after she was sure about it. They were supportive, and have been since then. Michele has taken full advantage of and responsibility for the band. She has lost 260 pounds – 260 pounds! – in less than four years. As she says, she’s a determined person who will accomplish anything she sets her mind to. Michele began to “eat to live” rather than “live to eat.” As her relationships with food and exercise changed, so did her relationships with some friends. She lost some friends whose relationships centered only on food. She gained many more, though, through her new activities. She says the friends she’s gained through running and fitness far outweigh those she lost by changing her lifestyle. An Athlete Is Born Michele ran her first 5k after losing 100 pounds – when she was still 327 pounds. She was hooked. She loved the training, the atmosphere of the race, and the accomplishment. She has never looked back. Since then, she has run countless other races, including 38 half-marathons, 6 marathons, and a 50-miler ultra-marathon. She has also competed in triathlons. Now at an athletic 159 pounds, Michele has her sights on even greater challenges. In the near future, she wants to run a 100-miler and complete an Ironman. Both are feats that most people wouldn’t even dream of. Marathons, Ultras, and Ironmans Now, not everyone’s a distance runner or triathlete, so to understand Michele’s accomplishments, here are a few facts about these endurance sports. A marathon is 26.2 miles. All marathons are 26.2 miles. An ultra-marathon is anything over 26.2 miles. Michele’s recently completed ultra-marathon was 50 miles, and she is training for a 100-miler. A triathlon includes swimming, biking, and running. An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon. Fitting It All in Every Day Michele works out 6 days a week. Currently, she’s training for an ulta-marathon and is running 5 days a week and lifting weights 3 times. She also does Zumba classes. She takes a rest day once a week. Michele has built her life to be able to accommodate her training schedule. She recently quit her teaching career to focus instead on helping others achieve their fitness and health goals. She is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Working at a gym is pure genius – it leaves her with no excuse not to get her workout in! Eating Like a Bariathlete How do you have energy to train like an athlete and work full-time while losing over 200 pounds in 4 years? Ask Michele. Here’s how she eats and works out in a typical day. 7:00 a.m. breakfast: almonds and yogurt or eggs/romaine lettuce 9:00 a.m. snack: protein bar Workout, such as running, lifting, or group fitness class, such as Zumba or bokwa Noon. lunch: soup or salad, usually the largest meal of the day 2:00 p.m. snack: cheese and crackers or something small, equivalent to 200 calories (may include a fruit or vegetable) 4:00 p.m. snack: hot tea 6:00 p.m. dinner; lean protein, veggie, possibly a carb 7:30 p.m. snack: lemon water/hot tea. The number of calories Michele eats during a day is 1,800 (her resting metabolic rate) plus half of the calories she burns through exercise. So, if she runs 10 miles and burns 1,200 calories in exercise, she’ll eat 1,800 plus 600 calories, or 2,400 calories. She allows herself an occasional treat meal with junk food, but still counts those calories. The Accolades Michele is more than your typical bariatric patient, and she’s been getting the recognition she deserves for her extraordinary achievements. These are a few recent examples. Runner’s World magazine Cover Contest Finalist. Makeover on the Rachel Ray Show. Local feature on 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia. Dealing with Negativity – Don’t Worry About It One of the most striking things about Michele is her drive. She has worked very, very hard to get where she’s at today. She’s lost 60 percent of her body weight through being very disciplined every day. And, she has run marathons. Anyone who has run a marathon can tell you that it is was harder than they had ever imagined. Anyone who hasn’t run a marathon cannot imagine how difficult it is. But with all the publicity, Michele has receive a lot of nasty comments. How is she supposed to react when people slam her? They say she hasn’t accomplished anything, that the band has done it all. In fact, they basically say what a lot of weight loss surgery patients hear all the time from people who don’t know any better. So how does Michele react to negativity? She doesn’t want to respond directly and add “fuel to the fire.” She knows they don’t know anything about her, and she’s probably done more exercise and worked harder than they ever have. So, she just goes about her business. Leading by Example Michele says she hopes her successes and story will give others hope. She describes herself as a “real person” and “very down-to-earth,” and she hopes others will see that they can accomplish what she has. In the future, she would like to travel to seminars as a motivational speaker. In the meantime, we congratulate her on her amazing story and wish her well in her 100-miler this spring!

Since you first started looking into weight loss surgery, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the importance of protein. You need at least 60 to 80 grams a day for the following reasons: It’s a filling nutrient that helps you lose weight by decreasing hunger. It’s an essential nutrient for healthy skin, hair, nails, hormones, and enzymes. It helps stop you from losing too much muscle while you lose body fat. Almost everyone needs protein supplements right after weight loss surgery. Protein shakes and powders give you the protein you need when you’re not allowed to eat solid foods. But which types should you choose? And should you keep using them when you’re eating solid foods and surgery is long behind you? Protein for the Liquid Phase of the Post Weight Loss Surgery Diet Progression After a day or two of sticking to clear liquids, you progress to a full liquid diet. You can be on this diet for a few days, if you’re a lap-band patient, or a couple of weeks, if you have the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Protein sources include the following. Non-fat milk, with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein per 8 ounces. Non-fat milk powder, with 100 calories and 10 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein powder, with 110 calories and 25 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein shakes, with 100 or more calories and 15 or more grams of protein per 8 ounces. Without supplementing your diet with protein shakes and powders, you’re not going to be able to hit your 60 to 80 grams of protein. Protein Powders and Shakes in the Pureed Foods Phase This phase is really a transition phase. You’re adding foods back into your diet, but aren’t yet ready to eat chewy, sticky, crunchy, or other solid foods. Protein foods include the following. Non-fat cottage cheese, with 12 grams of protein per half-cup. Non-fat ricotta cheese, with 5 grams of protein per half-cup. Egg whites, with 4 grams of protein per extra-large white. Non-fat Greek or regular yogurt, with 8 to 14 grams of protein per container. During this phase, your surgeon will probably have you start to decrease your use of protein shakes and powders, but will probably recommend keeping them in your diet to help you get to 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. You might need one or two shakes a day, plus powder in foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, or pureed potatoes. Be Wary of Protein Supplements in the Long-Term Protein shakes and powders can be convenient, but they’re not your best bet for long-term weight loss. As you progress from pureed foods to semi-solid and then solid foods, your surgeon will probably recommend that you stop drinking shakes and focus instead on solid sources of protein. They’re more substantial and satisfying than liquid shakes. They take longer to eat than drinking shakes. They’re easier to fit into a real-life eating plan. You won’t be “drinking your calories.” They have more natural nutrients than processed shakes and powders. Most weight loss surgery patients can get enough protein just by choosing one or two high-protein foods for each meal. You’ll get 60 to 80 grams with the following foods. Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg whites with ½ light English muffin and some fruit. Lunch: ½ cup fat-free cottage cheese and a green salad with 3 ounces of canned light tuna. Dinner: 3 ounces of chicken breast and steamed spinach. Snack 1: 1 low-fat cheese stick. Snack 2: 1 6-ounce container of plain low-fat yogurt and ½ cup carrot sticks. When Protein Supplements Are Okay Still, some weight loss surgery patients may still need protein shakes and powders in the long term. That’s often the case for vertical sleeve patients if your sleeve fills up too quickly to allow you to eat enough solid protein throughout the day. Talk to your surgeon to find out whether you should still use shakes and powders. Your surgeon might suggest that you include one or two protein shakes a day as snacks or mix protein powder into your yogurt, cereal or other foods. Protein supplements can still come in handy even if you’re able to meet your protein requirements on your daily weight loss surgery diet. If your routine gets interrupted, you might come up short. Consider the protein you can miss if you need to change your regular plans for a meal or snack. 10 grams of protein if you run out the door without grabbing your yogurt in the morning. 22 grams of protein if you forget to pack your tuna for lunch. 26 grams of protein if you’re stuck in a meeting instead of cooking your chicken dinner at home. When you’re stuck in the car or too busy to plan ahead, protein shakes can be lifesavers. On vacation, you can take protein powder with you so you’re always sure to have a source when you need it. You could also try Unjury Protein’d Cheese Sauce on steamed vegetables for an extra 21 grams of protein. Read the Nutrition Facts Panel to Find Protein Content The Food and Drug Administration lets food manufacturers call a food “a good source of” protein if it has at least 5 grams of protein. If a serving has at least 10 grams of protein, a food can be labeled “high,” “rich in,” or “an excellent source of” protein. That doesn’t do you much good if you’re trying to find a shake or powder with at least 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving. Don’t rely on a claim on the front of the label when you’re looking for a protein supplement. You could end up with a “high-protein” shake with only 10 grams of protein! Instead, check the nutrition facts panel to see how many grams of protein the food or shake has per serving. Check the Label for Calories and Sugar Protein shakes and powders can be high in calories and sugar. A bottle of Special K Protein has only 10 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 18 grams of sugar. A Pure Protein Frosty Chocolate Shake has 15 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 25 grams of sugar. A can of Boost High Protein drink has 15 grams of protein, 240 calories and 27 grams of sugars. No matter which stage of your weight loss surgery diet you’re on, you can’t afford to eat too many calories or too much sugar. The only way to protect yourself is to read the labels. Protein supplements can be great choices for boosting your intake to 60 to 80 grams a day. Shakes and powders can get you through the liquid and pureed foods stages of the post-surgery diet progression, and they can have a place in your diet even when you reach your long-term weight loss surgery diet plan. Just make sure not to overuse them if your surgeon is concerned, and to choose low-sugar options.

I have been really lucky to lose so much, I don't eat a lot of variety though. I usually eat taco cupcakes or one kind of like manicotti for at least one meal a day. I eat at least one protein bar a day sometimes a baby bel or two and a handful of nuts I also get almond crackers and the laughing cow wedges too. I also sometimes have grilled chicken or steak for dinner with a few veggies. I occasionally have some frozen greek yogurt too. Not much variety but it works for me right now.

@@Jen - a work in progress what yogurt are you eating? I'm on Fage 0% total and I don't get that much Protein from mine and I'm kinda low even though I'm eating protein (seafood) for 2 meals a day!

Just three days out (I was 10/10) I was able to handle some no sugar added applesauce. Now I'm 16 days out... I can't handle eggs of any kind yet. Scrambled, hard boiled, I tried eating yolks from fried eggs... all sits too heavy. Non fat Greek yogurt also didn't sit well. Cream of chicken Soup, diluted slightly more than directions, was good. Sprinkled in some unflavored protein. Same with split pea soup. I think any souls you dilute with Water are good... the milk ones are too heavy for me. My fave Protein shakes are also too thick, so I'm stuck with stuff I'm getting sick of. Hope this helps some...