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I was sleeved and haven't been taking probiotics but I eat a lot of yogurt. Your research sounds interesting. I would suggest that you talk with a variety of bariatric program nutritionists. They would be a great resource for anecdotal experience.

Yeah, right now on the first liquid phase it's so weird taking a half hour to drink a half cup of protein shake, half cup of yogurt and maybe a pudding.... I guess I'll be doing that yoga style eating when I switch to puree on Thursday (thank god), in other words "chewing" like 20/25 times each bite... after a lifetime of literally inhaling food this is a needed and healthy change. Like some above said, thanks so much for walking through this and sharing this info with us

@{member="It's Time"] I'm much better at getting my Protein than my fluids but I'm trying!!! I average about 75g protein and probably 32-40oz fluids. I find I do much better if I start my day with a Protein Shake - I get 8-10oz first thing and just keep going. I had a Gorton's Grilled tilapia fillet, the package said it was 89g so I'm not sure how many ounces that is... I also made a 'tarter sauce" using homemade plain greek yogurt, a little dill pickle relish and a ton of fresh dill - helped everything go down easier. @@Positive44 My scale is Lucifer... it still hasn't moved in days so I'm not going to weigh again until next week. I'm trying to get to where I only weigh once a week but I'm weak I know I'll climb back on it in the morning LOL edited to remove double post

My nutritionist has had me on a probiotic since I was pre-op. Also, the brand of shakes my surgical center pushes (Vitaleph) includes probiotics in the protein powder. Another thing to note is that most surgical programs really push yogurt, particularly Greek yogurt as a stable of your diet post-op.

Just going to chime in, once I was finally allowed to have soft foods, i.e my fermented pickles, I've been as regular as before. Not vinegar pickles, fermented only. I know some people would rather stick a rusty fork in their eye. But anything fermented, kimchi, (white kimchi if you don't want spicy food right now) might help you. But it has to be in the fridge section, say "live" on it just like yogurt or it's not retaining it's Probiotics and won't help you. So I sip some brine and eat 1 or 2 small pickles that I've peeled with a potato peeler. PS before I was cleared for those, I had to take Mineral Oil. When I started reading about Mineral Oil, I was more than happy not to take it! But that's what they suggested so ... I did it.

I have lost 35lbs since surgery... but.. I have issues getting water down. Liquids down and food down. If I have too much broth or yogurt or whatever it comes back up. Everything I take in has to go in very very slow including water. Or it huts like it doesn't fit going down. @@martytx07 I get what you are saying because I have thought... hell. No wonder I'm loosing weight when I try to drink or eat too much it hurts... so I guess I'm greatful for it just the same.

Oh and I love these new yogurt dressings by Bolthouse! I just found them and they are great. I have been using them baked with cheese on top of chicken for a great low-carb dinner option (3g). I am really fond of the Salsa Verde Avocado. YUM! http://www.bolthouse.com

Fage Greek yogurt. I use the 2%, but numbers are similar in the 0 fat and whole unflavored versions. 23g of protein per cup. Even better, no additives, just milk and yeast cultures.

I'm back to the basics of a shake for breakfast and lunch yogurt or nuts for snack and a normal dinner. Down to 184 today. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

Well I shortly lived at 183 from Sat to Mon morning when I weighed 185. I went back to basics of a shake for breakfast and lunch yogurt or nuts or snack and a normal dinner. Scale was 184 today. Shooting for 179 by Sun. Wish me luck! Hope your new challenge is going well. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using the BariatricPal App

Mokt I knew I had a structure since about week 2 and it continued to be an issue. By the time I was vimiting daily I decided to take matters into my own hands and have a GI guy take a look week 11 (my surgeon said it wld "go away"). Symptoms included feeling like the food got stuck at the back of your throat and vomiting after only 1-2 T dense solids. I never seemed to get my calories above 500 despite the fact that I would be either eating or drinking all day (volume was not my friend). Unfortunately many patients require redilation 2-3 times but it is a pretty simple outpatient procedure (you are sedated). So I am 1 wk post dilation and I have not vomited but I still very quickly get full in the dense foods (1-2 oz). Fluids, cheese, yogurt are much easier to consume. Good luck at your appt today!

I'm 5 months out and have been able to eat a little more for a while. First month, a yogurt was my limit (5.3 ounces), now I'm around 8 ounces. This is actually a very good place to be. I can eat out and not be that obvious. For a while, I was splitting with my wife (who is watching her weight and has lost 20 lbs along with me). Sometimes I think I've stretched a little, but then I start to fill up after 4-5 bites. I think the key is to focus in Protein cuz it's a lot of work to get down 75 grams per day without liquid or powder. I also find that sticking to protein really kills my appetite.

I had my sleeve done on the 23rd also. I was on clear liquids the first two days, then full liquids. I have been doing ok on strained cream Soups, pudding, yogurt, Jello, etc. I am able to move on to puréed food this Friday, according to my surgeon, but I'm really nervous about it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had to be on the liquid diet for 2 weeks ???? are you on full liquids? I was able to have yogurt on the full liquids and that helped. Also, are you on a PPI? The hunger feeling could really be reflux. I'm experiencing it and my doctor swears it's not reflux because I'm on 40 mg of omeprazole but thats a low dose, I really think it's reflux for me.

Carrot chips- It's a carrot, it's a chip! Seriously though, I love these way more than baby carrots because I can put "stuff" on them like Greek yogurt dip or PB just as you would a potato chip but it's still just a carrot.

I have heard that Quinoa is really good and good for you. I am not sure what to do with it though. I guess I should google recipes with it. Chia seeds are weird. I soak mine until they get all plumped up and put them in yogurt. I should throw some in my smoothies too.

I'm a lazy cook as well. Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are standards for me. Salads topped with pre cooked meats work- my local supermarket sells 1.75 oz grilled chicken skewers, 3 oz baked salmon fillets, etc in the deli dept. I pack protein bars in my purse along with jerky and or prepackaged nuts. You will have to put some deliberate effort in for a couple of weeks but if you, these can become habits again. Please go get your labs done and best of luck.

Positive - I usually try to have a shake or a Greek yogurt. No one questions it because it just seems like I am watching what I'm eating. I think you will be able to eat with your team in the future. Once we have our food and protein under control, I think it will become easier. New day - I am missing salads also. I miss making my yummy homemade salad dressings [emoji57] but sooner than later we will be on salads again

If weight loss surgery is in your future, you’ve surely heard of the “liquid diet.” You may have heard of a clear liquid diet and a full liquid diet. You may know they come sometime before and after surgery. And beyond that, it may be a little hazy. Doing your liquid diet right can help you succeed with weight loss surgery. It can help you heal faster and lose more weight. So here’s the scoop on the liquid diets: what they are, when you follow them, and why they’re so confusing! Clear Liquid On a clear liquid diet, you only drink only clear liquids, that is, liquids you can mostly see through. Examples include water and flavored water (such as Crystal Light), sports and electrolyte drinks, diluted apple, grape, and cranberry juice, decaf tea, sugar-free juice drinks such as Kool Aid, broth and bouillon, and sugar-free popsicles. A clear liquid diet does NOT include protein shakes. It also excludes orange juice with pulp and carbonated drinks. Your surgery may ask you to go on a liquid diet a day or two before surgery. After surgery, you’ll be on a clear liquid diet for 1 to 2 days. Your surgeon may have you stay on it longer. When you get the clearance, you can begin your full liquid diet. Full Liquid The full liquid diet is more nutritious than the clear liquid diet. It can keep you nourished for weeks or months at a time. You may be on a full liquid pre-op diet for a few days or even weeks before surgery. A full liquid diet includes all the liquids on a clear liquid diet, plus milk. Your surgeon may allow watery cream of wheat and thin yogurt. A full liquid diet DOES include protein shakes. That’s key because it’s where you get most of your nutrients from. After surgery, you’ll stay on a full liquid diet until about 1 to 2 or more weeks post-op, depending on what your surgeon and nutritionist recommend. Then you’ll move to a pureed foods diet. The sooner you move from clear to full liquids, the sooner you can give your body important nutrients like protein. Still, don’t rush it! Giving your pouch, sleeve, or stomach more than it can handle is a sure way to develop complications, whether you’re shortly post-op or you just got a band fill. If you have the lap-band, you may be on a full liquid diet after a fill or adjustment. This may last a day or so. What’s the Point? Why go on a liquid diet? It’s a way of keeping you hydrated – and nourished, on the full liquid diet – without eating solid foods. Pre-op: It shrinks your liver, so the surgeon can see better and your surgery is safer. It also makes surgery safer because it helps you lose weight. Finally, it Post-op: It lets you stay hydrated without harming your surgery scars or getting in the way of healing. Your body uses some of the protein on a full liquid diet to help heal your wounds. After a fill: It lets you stay hydrated and get some nutrients even while you may be a little sore from the fill. What About Nutrients? Ask your surgeon or nutritionist what your daily goals are on the diet. You’ll probably be asked to have a minimum of 64 ounces of fluids, PLUS (if you’re on the full liquid diet) at least 65 grams of protein per day. You might be able to meet your nutrient needs if your protein shakes are fortified, but you might also be asked to take vitamin supplements. Liquid vitamins can help you get your vitamins without swallowing pills. Nearly all bariatric patients should take a multivitamin both before and after surgery. You might also need liquid iron, sublingual or liquid vitamin B12, and liquid calcium with vitamin D. If you’re among those weight loss surgery patients who are worried about losing hair after surgery, you might also want to consider a liquid biotin supplement. Ask Your Surgeon or Nutritionist! If you’ve done your research on liquid diets, you’ve probably noticed something: they’re all different! Ask five different experts or visit five different sites, and you’ll probably get five different sets of guidelines on liquid diets. They can vary in when you follow them and what you’re allowed to have. Why so different? For one thing, there’s a certain amount of risk and reward to weigh. Everyone agrees, for example, that you shouldn’t have celery and sunflower seeds the day after weight loss surgery. The risk of getting it caught in your band or ripping your surgery stitches apart are too great. But what about something less obvious, like decaf coffee? Some surgeons forbid it, claiming the acidity is too much of a risk. It can increase risk of heartburn irritate the stomach, which can slow healing. Other surgeons allow it. They may reason that the benefits of allowing it (hydration!) outweigh the risks of it doing any harm. There’s no single right answer; it’s a question of your health professional’s judgment. Another reason for different guidelines from different surgeons is that we don’t always know what’s best for YOU as an individual. Some patients respond differently, and there is no way to predict. So, some surgeons are conservative and forbid many foods, while others are more likely to allow you to experiment with a wider range of liquids. So, that’s all there is to it. The clear liquid diet is a short-term plan that can last a couple of days, while a full liquid diet can keep you going for weeks or more. Do your best to follow your surgeon or nutritionist’s guidelines, and you’ll be doing yourself a big favor!

Clear Liquid On a clear liquid diet, you only drink only clear liquids, that is, liquids you can mostly see through. Examples include water and flavored water (such as Crystal Light), sports and electrolyte drinks, diluted apple, grape, and cranberry juice, decaf tea, sugar-free juice drinks such as Kool Aid, broth and bouillon, and sugar-free popsicles. A clear liquid diet does NOT include protein shakes. It also excludes orange juice with pulp and carbonated drinks. Your surgery may ask you to go on a liquid diet a day or two before surgery. After surgery, you’ll be on a clear liquid diet for 1 to 2 days. Your surgeon may have you stay on it longer. When you get the clearance, you can begin your full liquid diet. Full Liquid The full liquid diet is more nutritious than the clear liquid diet. It can keep you nourished for weeks or months at a time. You may be on a full liquid pre-op diet for a few days or even weeks before surgery. A full liquid diet includes all the liquids on a clear liquid diet, plus milk. Your surgeon may allow watery cream of wheat and thin yogurt. A full liquid diet DOES include protein shakes. That’s key because it’s where you get most of your nutrients from. After surgery, you’ll stay on a full liquid diet until about 1 to 2 or more weeks post-op, depending on what your surgeon and nutritionist recommend. Then you’ll move to a pureed foods diet. The sooner you move from clear to full liquids, the sooner you can give your body important nutrients like protein. Still, don’t rush it! Giving your pouch, sleeve, or stomach more than it can handle is a sure way to develop complications, whether you’re shortly post-op or you just got a band fill. If you have the lap-band, you may be on a full liquid diet after a fill or adjustment. This may last a day or so. What’s the Point? Why go on a liquid diet? It’s a way of keeping you hydrated – and nourished, on the full liquid diet – without eating solid foods. Pre-op: It shrinks your liver, so the surgeon can see better and your surgery is safer. It also makes surgery safer because it helps you lose weight. Finally, it Post-op: It lets you stay hydrated without harming your surgery scars or getting in the way of healing. Your body uses some of the protein on a full liquid diet to help heal your wounds. After a fill: It lets you stay hydrated and get some nutrients even while you may be a little sore from the fill. What About Nutrients? Ask your surgeon or nutritionist what your daily goals are on the diet. You’ll probably be asked to have a minimum of 64 ounces of fluids, PLUS (if you’re on the full liquid diet) at least 65 grams of protein per day. You might be able to meet your nutrient needs if your protein shakes are fortified, but you might also be asked to take vitamin supplements. Liquid vitamins can help you get your vitamins without swallowing pills. Nearly all bariatric patients should take a multivitamin both before and after surgery. You might also need liquid iron, sublingual or liquid vitamin B12, and liquid calcium with vitamin D. If you’re among those weight loss surgery patients who are worried about losing hair after surgery, you might also want to consider a liquid biotin supplement. Ask Your Surgeon or Nutritionist! If you’ve done your research on liquid diets, you’ve probably noticed something: they’re all different! Ask five different experts or visit five different sites, and you’ll probably get five different sets of guidelines on liquid diets. They can vary in when you follow them and what you’re allowed to have. Why so different? For one thing, there’s a certain amount of risk and reward to weigh. Everyone agrees, for example, that you shouldn’t have celery and sunflower seeds the day after weight loss surgery. The risk of getting it caught in your band or ripping your surgery stitches apart are too great. But what about something less obvious, like decaf coffee? Some surgeons forbid it, claiming the acidity is too much of a risk. It can increase risk of heartburn irritate the stomach, which can slow healing. Other surgeons allow it. They may reason that the benefits of allowing it (hydration!) outweigh the risks of it doing any harm. There’s no single right answer; it’s a question of your health professional’s judgment. Another reason for different guidelines from different surgeons is that we don’t always know what’s best for YOU as an individual. Some patients respond differently, and there is no way to predict. So, some surgeons are conservative and forbid many foods, while others are more likely to allow you to experiment with a wider range of liquids. So, that’s all there is to it. The clear liquid diet is a short-term plan that can last a couple of days, while a full liquid diet can keep you going for weeks or more. Do your best to follow your surgeon or nutritionist’s guidelines, and you’ll be doing yourself a big favor!

I have been experimenting with Chia Seeds and Quinoa based on the recommendation of the people who did my blood work. My doc has signed off so I'm starting to put these in the mix. So far I'm just putting Chia Seeds in my yogurt (tablespoon) and mixing Quinoa with beans for a high protien starch. Any known problems? Any weight gain after adding them to your diet? Any improvement in blood work? Bang for the buck in terms of protein seems really good, but always looking for other people's experience.

Danielle I am also 5 weeks tomorrow post op with a sleeve and I am the same Like today my lunch was 1 cheese stick and 4 slices of Landofrost turkey and maybe 1/2 of the cup of yogurt. I opened a progresso can of Lentil Soup Saturday night and was only able to eat 1/2 cup Saturday and last night. I still have a whole cup waiting for me to eat tonight, if I can get it down. Like you 4 to 6 teaspoons of something and I am done. I have no desire to eat, let alone eat out in a restaurant. However I know it is important to eat to get the 60 grams of Protein, so my Breakfast is a 30 gram Protein shake. Hopefully some Weight Loss Veteran will be able to answer that question for us. The pleasure of eating is gone for me too. Wondering if it that will ever come back. I am very happy for what I have lost but feel I should be eating more by now. But then I realize my tummy is still healing.

Hi @@Kim Smith. When your doctor says you need 150gr/protein/day; it doesn't matter how much your body is absorbing. We all need a great deal of protein each day. I probably eat about 150gr/protein/day and I'm almost 11 years out. I don't eat shakes, bars, etc. Haven't for years. Just food. That's the best way a DSer can get his/her protein in. I would be so hungry if I were doing shakes or bars to replace food. I eat every 2-3 hours (even at work). eclecticwingtips has a good idea. I cook every few Sundays: turkey burgers, inexpensive steaks, lamb chops on sale, hamburgers (80% fat). Then I freeze them and just heat them up in the microwave when I get home. I take tuna to work, or get a double meat sandwich in the cafeteria (I generally don't eat the bread, though; too filling and I don't want the carbs). I also buy a cooked roast chicken. It's isn't costly and I get 3-4 lunches out of it. I have nuts with me at all times. I keep Greek full fat yogurt (plain, I add what I want), cold cuts and cheeses in my refrigerator. I don't eat many carbs. Besides making me gain weight, I get foul smelling gas and I don't want that in public. When I do eat carbs and sugar (and I do!) it's done in the privacy of my apartment. Really, what you need to do is cut out those carbs and substitute protein. You'll feel better and lose weight. Try this: As I take classes, too; I often go to McDonald's or another ff place for a snack. I get a triple with catsup and cheese. I don't eat the bun (too filling and too many carbs) but I eat inside the bun. So I'm full, happy, satiated, don't feel deprived, etc. Also, when did you last do your bloods? You said you're not feeling well and it hasn't gotten better. You need to known your Iron, zinc, etc. As you said, you really shouldn't be giving plasma. I used to give blood 2x/year, but was told by my surgeons that ended with the DS.

@@ErinMarie how much fill do you have in your band right now? I would start by taking a breath. You just had a baby my friend and congratulations on that! Being a new parent (even if this is not your first child) is an awesome task and breast feeding is demanding. I can understand why you may be having an issue with proper band eating mechanics. That said however, you really want to be sure that you are not hurting yourself by getting stuck to often. So the first thing I would want to do is to take some time if you are able to check on your band. To make sure that things are all sitting right and working well. Once you have done that, give yourself a few days of liquid diet to help "reset" things, and give your stomach a chance to heal. If you have gotten stuck even just once, your stomach could be swollen and the space in your stoma could be smaller than you think it is and this could be another reason you are getting stuck more often. Before taking that step to switch to Protein drinks for a few days, consult with a lactation specialist and get their advice. As well as the advice of your pediatrician to be sure that your not feeding the baby anything that could cause an issue. After all a cranky baby is not going to make you feel great If all is well go on a liquid diet as you did pre-op and/or post op and supplement with some non fat greek yogurt, make some sugar free fat free pudding etc. Give your band a break and let it heal and reset, you will start losing weight and most importantly you will feel better. As for your hubby, it's nice to see that he is concerned for your health and well being. Show him that you are concerned for yourself and your family as well by taking the time to check in with your band Dr. and baby Dr. and take the next steps to make you both happy and healthy!! Let us know how it goes!

@@lifeofblair - I was asked last night going into and again going out of Bonos if I wanted GS Cookies (in my head I was thinking YES!!!). My reply was a "no, but thank you..." Dosidos & Thin Mints!!! I had a cup of greek yogurt last night about 2 hours after I ate...darn cookies.....