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@@Woodland4807 Ok, you asked us to keep you in check. That says to me you already know you are doing something you shouldn't be. #1 - you are likely not getting enough Protein in. If this is close to your daily routine, then you can expect to get sick down the road or lose more of your hair than you would if you were getting your protein. You are in control of this. #2 - I would not expect to see pizza on your approved foods list at 5 weeks post op. It is clearly not the healthiest choice for you right now. It does not mean that you can never have a piece of pizza again, but it will be sometime before your new tummy is ready for that. If you need a snack at this point, I would suggest either adding another protein shake in which would boost your protein count or stick with things that have a high protein value like lunch meat, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, nuts or seeds. Jerkey is also an excellent option You are doing fantastic! Steer clear of things that can make you stall like the carbs in that pizza. Many complications can be avoided from WLS by following the plan provided by your doctor exactly. It is fantastic that your exercise routine is so strong at this stage as well. Keep up the great work and you will reach your goals before you know it!

I was wondering why they were not around, maybe it's because they are gross :-D I have also mixed flavored protein powder into a 6 oz plain fat free greek yogurt, it was yummy. But I am pre-op and had trouble finishing it. .. It was very filling! Don't forget unjury broth protein mix, I have seen posts about their chicken broth. ..

Hi Sandy, sorry just saw your message. I'm 5 weeks out now and can eat soft foods now but not doing so well. Tried lean pork last night but hurt even after I chewed a lot. Ended up eating yogurt. I guess it will just take time. Stomach must be super small. I am still burping a lot. All in all I would do it all over again. How are you feeling?

Hi Cindy..Im eating tuna with a little lite mayo...yogurt...as well. I tried to eat lean ground beef, it didn't work out to well...i mostly eat soup

Yes. I am ashamed. I ate a cup of nonfat yogurt with 1/8 cup of brown sugar and cocoa. Boy was it good but it wasn’t worth it. I felt much better physically the rest of the day after that, but I got on the scale tonight and I weigh 5 pounds more than I did this morning. So now I have lost a net 7 pounds instead of 12 in 6 days. I’m not going to kick myself over it. For now I guess I’ve got to continue the keto journey even if i do not feel well most of the time. Because I’ve passed out once and almost again yesterday, I am going to call the general doctor tomorrow to schedule an appointment before surgery. Because I don’t think things are right with my body. The bariatric clinic says it is not the diet but I am not convinced of that. It may be that some people just cannot do well on a plan that has only 10 grams of carbs per day and 700 calories. I mean, I am 65 years old.

I'm a month further out than you and I have to watch the Snacks and drinks now. If I'm truly hungry and sometimes I am, I have to have some Protein or I get hungry again pretty fast. Veggie Soup is good with the lowest calorie dense protein you can get. Turkey or chicken breast is perfect. I found some good sliced turkey breast at costco. I also like Tuna mixed with a little light mayo. Sometimes I drink a V-8 with a low fat cheese stick and some Special K Crackers. I also like a yogurt parfait with greek yogurt and fruit. I start with the fatfree plain greek yogurt and add Splenda and Water to get the sweetness and a lighter consistency. Then I layer it with a little Breakfast Cereal and some cut up fruit. For snacks and more head hunger I like any fruit, sugar snap peas, and cherry tomatoes. At night, sometimes I get by with hot tea and a little Splenda. Period time is the worst! I'm glad those days are behind me, but sometimes the cravings still hit me. Lynda

There will be a lot of options for you. Most ships have a buffet with fruit and cottage cheese available, plus there will usually be a Soup option, seafood (lighter on sleeves than chicken or beef, IMHO), eggs, slices of cheese and lunch meat, yogurt, etc. Most cruises also provide in-room meals if you request, and you can order off of a menu and be very specific. I cruised in August and had an excellent and easy time finding appropriate meals. You'll have a blast!!

I had my 4th fill 2 weeks ago when i went into my Dr.'s office and had only lost 2lbs. i am now filled with 2.5cc in a 10cc band. My restriction is good but i CAN NOT eat breakfast. I can only drink a protein shake or smoothie and sometimes get away with a yogurt or cottage cheese. Yet, as my day goes on i am able to eat more solid food and soups with pieces in them, and by the end of the day i can get in apx. 3 oz of meat and 2 oz. of veggies. Does anyone else have this daily constriction problem ?

I bought some oikos greek yogurt under the impression (b/c i didnt read) that it was fat free. it was not but it was the best yogurt i have ever eaten in my life and it has like 15 g of protein in it. (toasted coconut vanilla and cafe latte). it has 4.5 g of fat in it and im not even sure about sugar. anybody on here eat this? about how much fat do you eat per day?

i love the coffee flavored one too, but my nutritionist only allows dannon light and fit. the oikos has too much sugar (like 19g, i think?) so she said to take a few spoonfuls and mix it with regular greek yogurt so i'm still getting the taste, just not the sugar.

*~Otherwise known as "Hopeful One Day, Scared The Next"~* :hungry: Reading through erosion posts, pictures of infections, stories of slippage and removals, I sally forth to my meeting with the Psych doc and nutritionist, with what amounts to this month's rent money in hand to pay for this visit. I don't take this surgery lightly. I was actually able to have this done by a different surgeon back in the Fall. But I needed more time to make sure I was doing the right thing. Let's be honest, going under the knife to be able to lose weight is a huge step, and a serious one. I went to a support group meeting of this other surgeon and I was shocked at how quickly and without real research these people went and had this done. I was asking questions that we discuss here in the meeting none of them had a clue about. That shocked me. I guess for some the promise of being thin is enough. Not me. Yes, I am terrified of the actual surgery, going under anesthesia. (will I be that 1 in 1000 that won't wake up?) but my fears center more on what is going to happen after the surgery. Will I heal? Will I become infected? Will I get pneumonia? Will it be freaky because there is a freaking device wrapped around my stomach? Will I become dehydrated? And farther out: Will I pass out from PBing? Will I have terrible pain in my chest like some people? Will I erode? Will complications from erosion in my stomach kill me? Emotional: Will I enjoy life without my food? Will I ever be able to enjoy food again? What will life be like without being able to just drink and eat whenever and however like before? What will I do with my time without it being centered on eating and cooking? What will I do with my thoughts and emotions that can't be comforted with food anymore?? So, my first hour is with the nutritionist. I am completely overwhelmed and set on edge by this meeting. If the seriousness of this surgery didn't hit me before, then it did now. I am a vegetarian, so getting protein is going to be paramount. The fact that I will have to be on a low carb diet was not what I expected. As a vegetarian, I eat carbs in beans, whole grains, etc. From the food choices I have, it seemed to me that food enjoyment is really going to be out the window. Yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, protein drinks. And water. That will be my diet. I was prepared for a change, but not this drastic. What unsettled me the most was the water bit. I can hold off drinking at meals, but I guzzle water. ALL DAY. I used to be very athletic and I drank and still drink over a gallon of water a day. And I chug it. When I don't get my gallon in, I feel dehydrated and can actually feel sick. SO this is a real concern for me. I just don't see how I can keep up the levels my body is used to all these years with a sip, sip ,sip sip all day. So coupled with all that I have written above, and the fact that now I am just waiting on a surgery date has me up at night. Am I doing the right thing? Will I be doing my body more harm than being fat if something goes wrong? Anxiety and fear is riding me out. But every once in a while during the day I'll see a woman who is slim and I think "I can be that now. I actually have a chance at achieving that" or see an ad for travel and think "I can vacation now and not be miserable that I am so fat" But most of all this is about getting healthy again. I can feel my body struggling and getting sick with this weight on, and I'm only going to get bigger because I am a food junkie and I have PCOS. To be continued.....

Everyone is different - 1200 is often enough to nourish most women and allow them to exercise. However, i just cant run well if I dont eat carbs. Protein doesnt do it for me. I dont need 10 slices of bread a day or anything but I *REALLY* need oatmeal or something for Breakfast, just a moderate serve of good carbs a day seems to be enough. But I do also struggle with this with a band and I find that without hunger to guide me, I undereat chronically. My idea of what makes a meal these days has changed a lot and I'll eat a yogurt and call it breakfast. I dont get hungry because of the band but the CRAVINGS!! Oh boy. i really find I have to concentrate very hard to eat the right balance of protein and carbs and add healthy Snacks even though I'm not hungry or I get to early afternoon and I'm obviously running on empty and I start to just pig out on carb foods. Obviously that's how my body tells me it needs food now, rather than actual physical hunger. Are you noticing anythng like this? but like you're trying to do, I'd suggest working to eat MORE. I never needed to drop below 1500 to lose all my weight and I didnt need a tight band to do that, so I was able to eat that much. And I need about 1800 to 2000 a day now to maintain it. Hard to do with a lapband but when I make the effort, my weight stays low and steady becuase obviously I can et MORE calories than that if I'm slipping in Cookies, chocolate etc.

Welp, tomorrow is the big day! Arrive at the hospital @ 6:30 for surgery start @ 8:30. I'm not really nervous yet. More excited than anything. Weight has been a lifetime struggle for me, and finally I feel like I have a team on people on my side cheering me on. By far, the liquid diet has been the worst part of this experience. I didn't like soup before the diet, always been a salad person before a meal. About four days in, just the thought of having more soup turned my stomach. Sugar free jello, lowfat yogurt, and protien shakes really saved me here. I am sitting here at work just patiently waiting for 5:00 pm to hit. My bags are packed, all thats left is the showers with those spongy things and arrival. Before I know it I'll have a new tummy. I hope everyone else going through this experience has just as much excitement when they get to this stage as I do.

I am newer.....almost 7 week. The post op phase is easier than you think. Just have a plan in place. I did a lot of Protein drinks and split pea Soup. The hair, I read it was a similar loss as a women has after child birth. With you already having 2 kids you know......it isn't "that" significant. So that is what I am expecting. I had a hard time feeling hungry at first. I always a pure Protein Bar in my car now JUST incase. If I forget to eat I get sick and sleepy. Like I said I am 7 weeks out....I feel like I have several options to eat. I honestly can't wait until I can have raw veggies and fruit....that will make me VERY happy. But otherwise...........LIFE IS GOOD! Best decision ever. My treat daily is a healthy choice frozen greek yogurt. Loose skin is something I am also concerned with as well I don't have an answer for that. GOOOOOD LUCK and welcome.

I am trying to eat very small bites and chew thoroughly, but I'm having problems with PBs with EVERYTHING except grits, oatmeal, yogurt, and soup. Anyone else? I am really, really frustrated. Especially because I am up 4 lbs. WTH??!

Most surgery centers provide a detailed meal plan, I would suggest using that as your guide. Its always best to follow your surgeon's recommendations, if you can. If you still feel like you need more info, reach out to their dietician for help. But most puree stage diets include things like strained soups (tomato, butternut squash, etc.), yogurt, refried beans (probably need to be thinned out a bit), applesauce, very thin masked potatoes, etc. Things that you can easily swallow, do not have chunks of any kind, and do not require any chewing.

Good morning all, My last post (about a month ago) was about hair loss, a major stall, and some female issues. A month later, and nothing has changed, except maybe getting worse. The female issues are *hopefully* being addressed at an appointment next week, though I'm not sure what will happen. I'm still stuck at 181 and have been for almost two months. At one point, I got down to 178 for a few days, but I suddenly shot back up to 184 and have been bouncing between 180-183 forever now. It's SO depressing! My hair is falling out at a rapid pace. I know this is a common side effect, but I wasn't prepared for it to be this bad. I literally now have small, nearly bald patches and the texture of existing hair is like fine straw. 😞 Not only that, but it doesn't seem my hair is growing at all. I had it colored two weeks before Christmas, and no new growth is visible. My surgeon's staff keeps telling me I need to be better about getting my protein in, and I need to stick to three meals and no snacks meals. Well, that's difficult for me. Even a tiny meal takes me forever to eat...can't tell you the last time I finished a hot - or even warm - meal. And I feel like I get far less protein in. I find I do better eating small snacks throughout the day. Snacks include mini cucumbers, raw bell peppers, string cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, a couple of slices of low-sodium lunchmeat, tuna pouches, V8 juice, Builders Bars, beef jerky, etc. I add Unjury Powder (yuck!) to just about everything. I've also tried to make sure everything is SF and low sodium. When possible, I eat lots of chicken & fish, but I'm getting super tired of those things. I've come to realize I no longer enjoy food, whatsoever. I don't miss junk food (not that I ever really ate much of that anyway), but I miss going to a restaurant and ordering a meal to enjoy with my family. I take a couple of bites and am done - such a waste. My husband is a great cook, and I miss the meals he makes...I can't finish even the smallest filet, can only have a few bites of salmon, etc. I feel terrible when he cooks a beautiful, healthy meal and I can only have a few small bites. Anyway, sorry for the long post...just having a mini pity party for myself today.

Your Dr will tell you what meds you should continue, or discontinue for a few days. Mine said if they are smaller than a pinky nail you could swallow them. But I chose to crush mine just to be safe. I crushed them and put in a spoonful of pudding or yogurt.

I agree with Dooter--it will happen. Stalls suck, but they're temporary IF you stick with your program. If you can't do the protein shakes, make your own from "real food" items--use Greek yogurt, milk of some sort, flavorings, and ice cubes. I added nonfat milk powder to mine to up the protein, but you could also add Egg Beaters (they're pasteurized) to up the protein--you can flavor to your heart's content with sugar-free syrups, cocoa powder, instant coffee, sugar-free pudding mix, sugar-free jello, whatever floats your boat... and you can get it all at a regular grocery store. Be sure you're getting enough fluids--dehydration will stall you out super fast. Hang in there!!

I pulled this list off a different thread. Hope it helps! ' LAP BAND SURGERY SHOPPING LIST NON-FOOD ITEMS: BBQ or Toilet tongs, for a good reach in the r.r. 4.98 Heating pad(12inx24in) 16.88 Flexible ice pack (hot/cold 12inx16in) 14.44 A few books or movies(your choice, I spent about 70.00us) xx.xx Squishy pillow for car ride for seatbelt (shoulder pad) 16.88 Make sure you have a good blender 19.97 Kitchen timer (first few days, sip every 15 mins)(analog) 2.88 Kitchen timer (digital – better for travelling) 3.47 Pedo-meter(depending on the one you get – don’t forget to adjust to your stride) 4.88 PHARMACEUTICALS: Liquid Tylenol/Motrin (Check early in case pharmacy needs to order in advance) 4.98 Chewable or liquid gas-x(I got strips, you will pay more than shown here) 3.60 Gauze Pads 4x4 6.57 Paper/bandage tape 2.57 Wet Wipes 2.64 Pill crusher 3.89 Chewable Vitamins 8.97 Hospital Medicine cups (I got 3oz/88ml cups – 100ct) 1.48 Cough Drops(Halls big box) 6.88 Stool Softener (Dr. asked me not to get this, if needed talk to him) xx.xx Moist and nice tasting Lip Balm(got chapstick – cherry – 2for deal) 0.88 food ITEMS: Protein shakes(these vary from 22 – 55 dollars depending on quality and quantity) xx.xx Plenty of water(bottled Water for me 3cases 16oz. bottles 10.00) 10.00 broth or stuff to make broth(several flavors but all about the same cost) 2.98 sugar free popsicles 2.66 Sugar free Jello 0.50 Sugar free breath mints (chewable) 1.33 Crystal Light "On the GO" assorted flavors(I don’t like CL so I got store brand/price per box) 2.50 Bouillon(several flavors but all about the same cost) 2.07 Cream of Wheat 2.92 Creamy soups 0.66 Applesauce 1.82 FAT FREE yogurt 1.76 Soup-at-Hand - soups - for creamy stage(on sale) 1.25 pudding cups (SF/FF) - helps w/ taking meds(got instant, more flavors, price per box) 0.50 Sugar free hot cocoa 1.87 Decaf tea(got regular, decaf is a little more in cost) 2.12 CLOTHES POST-OP: Loose fitting, easily removable(one size larger than I wear, sweats, top and bottom) 15.88 Buttons downs or pullover(sale rack found $5.00 per, one size larger) 5.00 Thong shoes/slip-on so no bending and tying(make sure they are a good pair) 12.88 Sports Bra! Sutures will be hurt by under wires(I have a daughter and wife that helped here) 6.88

Thanks for the encouraging words! I am still trying to wrap my head around everything I think. Before surgery I felt like it was taking forever to get her, now it all seems like a blur. I guess just time will help me realize this is all real. You would think the pureed diet and eating less that 600 calories a day would do it. I don't really ever feel all that hungry, so it makes the diet more tolerable. I would have been miserable to try to eat like this before. Maybe I have always just assumed I had to suffer to lose weight, that I would have to feel like I am starving all the time. So it's nice to not feel like I am starving even though I am eating so little. Not that I haven't had cravings for real food. I have, but I also know that there is no way I could eat it and it would just make me feel bed. It hurts to take too big a bite of yogurt so I know a bite of a cheeseburger would be horrible! haha Still getting used to that mindset. Good luck to you all in your journey as well!

Today started my 7 days of mostly liquids. I can have 4-5 Protein shakes (less than 5g carbs), 3 dairy items (milk or yogurt), 1 cup raw veggies in the afternoon and 3 glasses of Benefiber. The shakes and Benefiber drinks go towards my required 100 oz of liquids. I'm sipping Water all day too but have to get used to not using a straw. No more of that after surgery. FYI - my doctor allows Stevia for a sweetener. Isopure makes some flavored drinks with zero carbs which I found at the Vitamin Shoppe. Anyone have other good drink ideas?

I did pretty well at Easter dinner. My husband bbq'd chicken and he leaves the sauce for the side. My Mother had a plain fruit bowl, so that was my meal. While everyone else had brownies and ice cream, I had cherry yogurt. My brother's boys are 3 and 14, so of course we had an Easter egg hunt for the 3 yr old. Beautiful day! The highlight of my day was a call from my nephew, the marine. He is a gorgeous specimen at 6'7" and of course in excellent shape....he and his wife both! I had responded to an email from his wife and included a recent picture. He told me on the phone yesterday that when she showed it to him, he said, "that is not my Aunt!". He told me how proud and excited he is for me and just went on and on! It was just fabulous and he genuinely meant every word. I adore him and he is such a wonderful young man. We are very proud of him! The son I never had.... :wub:

Kaiser Fremont, where I had my surgery, uses a 40 bougie. As you can see from my stats, I have had good weight loss. Not sure where the sleeve will top out for food consumption. Right now, I eat a max of 3 oz. of firm Protein with about 1/2 cup of veggies and a bite or two of a starch. At Breakfast, I eat 1 cup of greek yogurt, a slice of toast, and a little fruit. I am hungrier lately, but I think it's due to some bad snack choices I've made in the last few weeks. I find eating empty carbs makes me hungrier. Lynda

I know it's common to have aversions, post-sleeve, to foods you previously enjoyed. And, I know that milk is a common one. But, I LOVED MILK, loved it, and now I can't tolerate it and I'm sad. Yogurt too and Protein drinks - all staples pre-surgery. (but, I can eat cheese?). It's hard to get all the protein in with out my babies. So, my question, will I ever be able to love again? Will my organic 2% ever be part of my life again, not to mention Greek yogurt? Please say yes people.