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I'm going through Ready4Achange and going to see Dr. Garcia in Feb. This message will be a bit long but I'm going to paste in the pre-op instructions that alma sent. I'm also going to add in some things I've found alot of users posting about just in case it helps. Most suggest bringing some gas-x strips to help with gas pain after surgery. Bring some chapstick for dry lips and biotene mouth spray for dry mouth for those times where you can't drink before and immediately after surgery. I've also seen some suggest that you bring neosporine and a few extra bandages for the hotel stay and to have for the flight or drive home. I've also seen some suggest that you bring a small bottle of dial antibacterial body wash for shower times to help prevent infection of the incision areas. lol think that's everything best of luck! Just think, your life will be different by the end of this year! --------------------------------------------------------------------- PRE-OP INSTRUCTIONS START THIS DIET 7-14 DAYS PRIOR TO SURGERY Use any prepared canned or powdered Protein Drink. You may purchase these in any health food store or many grocery stores. Please be sure it contains at least 15 grams of Protein per serving. 1 protein drink at Breakfast 1 protein drink at lunch Dinner: salad with Protein (chicken, fish, egg, etc), small amount of low fat dressing, or fat free dressing or olive oil and vinegar. 1 protein drink in the evening if needed You may also take 1 Metamucil capsule per day if needed for hunger. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Start this phase 3 days before surgery: Take a laxative (any laxative that you usually use). Take only Clear Liquids after that. This consists of broth, Jell-o, sugar-free juice, any clear liquid You may have nothing to eat or drink after the midnight preceding surgery or 8 hours prior to your surgery. If you are a Same Day Surgery arrive with an empty stomach. If you are coming in a day prior you may have dinner but nothing after midnight. You may take needed medications (such as heart or blood pressure medications) with sips of Water the morning of surgery as directed by our Doctors. Do not take any aspirin, Advil, Nuprin, Aleve or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for 7 days prior to surgery. These medications cause unnecessary bleeding after surgery. This includes baby aspirin and most arthritis medications. If you are not sure, please check with our Doctors.. For Headache or minor pains you may use Tylenol. You may restart these medications the next day after surgery. Do not take any herbal medications for 7 days prior to surgery. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bring comfortable shoes and slippers to Mexico, you will be asked to walk several times per day. Please bring your medications in properly labeled pharmaceutical bottles for documentation of dosages. You will be on a liquid and soft food diet for two weeks after surgery. Stock up on sugar-free liquids: Crystal Light, sugar free fruit juices, apple sauce, yogurt, sugar-free pudding, sugar-free jell-o, thin Soups and caffeine-free teas. If you do not like the flavor of chicken broth, make chicken noodle Soup and strain out the solids. Avoid all carbonated beverages (fills the stomach with gas). Avoid sugar (extra calories that fight against weight loss). Caffeine makes you urinate more and can lead to dehydration. You will need to drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration after surgery. Sport drink bottles with measurements on the side will help ensure you are drinking enough liquid. You will need to drink at least two quarts (2,000cc) per day to prevent dehydration. You will not be able to gulp liquids so you will want to drink small amounts throughout the day.

Dear Veteran Bandsters, I am trying to add more calories to my daily meal since I have been stalling for about 3 weeks. I found out that I was eating too little about 700 calories per day and need to be between 1100 -1200 per day. Could you please check and sees if this is ok? Breakfast - 2 eggs and 3 slices of turkey bacons Snack - Light yogurt (100 cal) lunch - 12 thin slice of deli turkey (total 140 cal) Lettuce 2 slices of Low Fat cheese 1/4 cup of blueberries Snack - 1/4 cup of almonds dinner - 5 0z of Salmon and 3/4 cup of cauliflower When I write it down it seems alot to me since I normally eat like 3 meals a day with Protein first, then veggie and if I am still hungry then I eat some fruit. My doctor said to aim at 1/2 -3/4 cup per meal but if I do that I will not get the calories that I needed. Please give me some advice because I am only 2.5 months out and I am stalled already. Thanks for your help, Alisa

I'm on day 8 of my 2 week post opp diet. Yah it's hard. Ive been having tomato Soup and peace and ham . Just feel like it's a meal more than a shake or yogurt. Think of the long term . Your body needs these 2 weeks to heal. Good luck Sent from my SM-G925F using the BariatricPal App

Well it's only 5 days to go now. I am doing really well on my liver shrinking diet, and am having no trouble at all managing on what is allowed. I can have 2 shakes a day, plus a Lean Cuisine meal. If I am hungry I can have a yogurt of 100 calories or less, a boiled egg, or a salad with 1tbl of dressing, SF popsicles, SF Jello, or clear no-carbonation SF beverages. The first three days I was ready to eat the packaging, but it became easier and easier after that. The trick to this whole thing seems to be cleaning sugar from your system, including carbs that turn to sugar. I am a sugar addict, and that was tough for me. Since doing it, everything is easier. I just have to stay away from them to keep from sliding back into my old habits! It took 3-4 days of no sugar to get me feeling better. It is worth it though if you are really serious about losing weight. You need to give up Carbonation and Caffeine BEFORE surgery and even before your pre-surg diet! It is hard enough to deal with cutting down on calories without dealing with the other stuff too. I weaned off of caffeine slowly to avoid the headaches. Coffee is my vice of choice, so I began by making half-caff for awhile. Then I would rotate half-caff with decaf and finally all decaf. I can't tell the difference now. Sodas were easier as they weren't my favorite thing anyway. I did drink them occasionally, but don't touch them now. Crystal light is a good substitute for them.

When I feel the desire to snack I eat Greek yogurt and P3 protein packs from Oscar Meyer. Don't give up. 60 pounds is wonderful!

Cottage, yogurt and cheese are fermented milk I believe. Reg. milk bothers some, not others.

Maybe try crushing it and mix with some yogurt or Sugar free pudding?

Yes, I wait 30 minutes before and after, I have to eat, shaved deli meat, cream cheese, string cheese, greek yogurt, fish, any seafood, and eggs. Have an app that I enter all my food intake and usually make it to at least 60grams protein in food daily.

It depends on your doctor - full liquids on my doc's diet included creamed soups with no chunck - I had yogurt pudding & fudgecicles -

Has anyone wondered if lack of dietary fat can cause hair loss? I am a vegetarian and all of the dairy products that I eat are fat free or low fat--0% Greek yogurt, low-fat cheese, low-fat ricotta, soy products, etc. My surgeon always says not getting enough protein the first 2 weeks after surgery (or on an ongoing basis) is the biggest reason people have hair loss a few months later--so I was diligent during the first 2 weeks and after that about getting mine in. However, I am still losing hair. I take Biotin and I'm not sure if it's helping (surgeon said it might not help, but it can't hurt). My hair loss isn't awful--only I really notice it..my part still looks ok etc. But it's embarrassing when it comes out during the day on my clothes or on a table etc. It was enough that my stylist noticed it. I had my hair colored a darker red yesterday and also had a few inches cut off. I also bought some Nioxin shampoo. I am seriously considering adding even a TBSP of good fat to my diet a day--maybe some olive oil on veggies or half an avocado, etc. Any thoughts?

I did measure everything during my weight loss phase. In maintenance mode, I'm less strict about it, but I strongly recommend it because I'm terrible at "eyeballing" a portion. For example, I cut a piece of chicken that I think is 2 ounces, but when I weight it, it's 4 ounces, therefore twice the calories. How much you should eat per sitting depends on your surgeon's guidelines. Some surgeons say eat no more than 1/2 cup, others say 1 cup per meal. How much I can eat of a given food depends on its texture. So I could eat 1-1/2 cups of yogurt, but only 1/2 cup of chicken. Here's an example of portion sizes from the weight loss food plan my dietitian gave me way back when. Breakfast: 1 slice whole grain toast, 1 egg scrambled Snack: 1/2 cup fruit Lunch: 1/4 cup veg, 1/4 cup starch, 1/4 cup protein Snack: 1/2 cup fruit Dinner: same portions as lunch Snack: 1 cup protein shake or 1/2 cup SF pudding

There's a thread pinned to the top of this forum entitled, Share Ideas, What Did You Eat Today? You can get some daily menu ideas from the posts on that thread. I'll start a separate thread here on the Food & Nutrition forum entitled, A Week's Worth of Dinner Menus, and will try to post a new thread with new menus once a week. For general purposes, my typical daily menu is: B: Click vanilla latte protein shake S: skinny latte S: protein bar, or Greek yogurt w/ fruit L: leftovers from the previous night's dinner S: trail mix D: a protein, a non-starchy veg, and a starch S: fruit, or SF pudding

I didn't do protein shakes once I could eat real food. All of my protein came from the real food. I made jello with fruit flavored protein--Jay Robb Pina Colada protein goes great with lime, orange or raspberry jello--but a lot of the protein came from eggs, which I ate every day in one form or another; plain Greek yogurt, Fage, which tastes like sour cream; nonfat cheese; various meats; nonfat refried beans; and the like.

Have you tried non-whey Proteins? I've seen pea Protein and egg protein supplements. Garden Of Life makes several protein products with sprouted seeds as the protein (gluten free, soy free, dairy free. Syntrax nectar and Isopure are whey-based but may go down better than the powders. Warm liquids like unjury chicken broth went down easier for me in the beginning. Have you tried Greek Yogurt? Refried Beans? Puréed split pea Soup? eggs? PB2? Milk? Soy milk? Almond Milk? Soft cheeses like Velveeta or laughing cow?

Protein, protein, protein! Plus a little fruit or veges if there is room. So, eggs, chicken, turkey, cheese, greek yogurt, etc. Love things like chili and soup. And low-carb tortilla with all kinds of fillings. Best recipe is lasagna cups, found on this website. Speaking of pizza, I had a piece of hubby's pizza the other day. It tasted wonderful, but I was hungry an hour later. Not enough protein, I suspect. You can eat a wide variety of foods, in moderation. It's a wonderful journey!

They can give you some medicine for the Thrush that will clear it up pretty quickly but in the mean time, eat plenty of yogurt or even get some Kefir and just hold it in your mouth as long as you can. It should help until you can see your Dr.

Hi kmerton, my surgery date is September 11th! My pre-op diet is liquid with some dairy allowed (light yogurt, lf cottage cheese). I have to be on the liquid diet for almost 4 weeks and start on August 14th. How about you?

I had the worst time with Protein when I started on food. I drink a Protein shake in the morning. I have had trouble finding one I could tolerate. I can drink ISO 100 chocolate, Dymatized Elite Cinnamon bun and PES Snickerdoodle. That's it, it's all I can drink. I add 10 ounces of a protein enriched milk so it gives me 40 grams off the bat. I drink a Syntax nectar - Fuzzy navel before the gym another 23 grams...woohoo now that's 63 grams for 2 drinks plus it gives you some Fluid -win/win. I get the remaining amount from high protein foods like tuna, chicken, greek yogurt, cottage cheese..etc. It took ma a while to embrace it and learn to get my protein. I down loaded a protein tracker app on my phone. Good luck! It takes a while but you will find your groove!

Greek yogurt is always good as are cheese and scrambled eggs. I try to have fish or chicken for dinner as they both have quite a few grams of Protein. I also have a hard time getting in all the protein so I still drink Protein shakes every day or 2.

@@Sandy, your story is similar to mine. I turned 60 last May and was 311 lbs. decided to do something about it and was sleeved November 26. I can't get much in either. I like the chocolate premier protein from Costco. They have 30g of protein in 11 oz. I drink 2 per day. The calcium citrate I use is opurity chewables. They taste ok to me. I can only eat 1 egg at a time. One baby bel cheese and 1/3c of yogurt is another meal. I am always under 500 cal per day. My doc says he doesn't care the quantity but to make sure I get 70g protein per day and under 30g carbs per day. Enjoy the weight loss now because it will slow more as we get more in out new tummy. My water is only about 32 oz per day. Best of luck to you!

Hi there. Yes. Full liquids. Tried yogurt. I have to try different soups to give me more variety. I am missing meat. That’s the issue. I want to eat meat and I know that’s not happening.

Food

Is this within the norm? I'm 3 weeks post op, and following guidelines from NUT. I'm eating Greek yogurts, protien shakes, soft chicken, pudding consistency potato, babyfood carrots, getting my fluids in (mostly anyway.. terrible Water nausea!) I've been having horrible continuing bouts of very loose (Liquid consistency) diarrhea for about a week I'd say. I've been cleared to eat plain oatmeal and cream of wheat, but haven't yet. Is this common, or am I destined to have a continuing affair with the bathroom. It's Sunday, so can't call....anyone now if we can take Immodium or anything else that could help?? Advice...personal experience, please!?

I'm 9 days post op band to sleeve revision. I have been on liquids such as Atkins shake, Jello, ice pops and yogurt and broth.. Tonight I attended a friends party and I ate very little guacamole and some fresh mozzarella cheese.i had no discomfort and chewed it well.. ? My doctor has me on liquids for first three weeks before moving onto purée or scramble egg, mash potato. Was this a mistake?

Height 5'3" Age 32 Pre Op (July 2013): 312 Day of surgery(9/11/13): 297 1/22/14: 230 I have noticed chairs getting roomier. Oh, and bathrooms! People in public (strangers) actually will talk to me now..Im no longer a total outcast from society. I wasn't expecting that so soon, as I haven't been treated well in public in a long time. Not that anyone (other than maybe 2 or 3 TOTAL rude a&$hats) was outright rude to me. But, people will now sit by me on a bench, stand close behind me in a line, strike up a conversation with me in line etc. I didn't realize how my weight had affected so much of my day to day until the last few weeks. Im more of a "normal" weight again I guess..fat yes, but not 300+lbs. fat. I now eat for a reason. A reset button has been pushed, and I feel like a child learning how to eat again. This time it isn't full of fast food, butter, and endless carbs. I don't feel guilty if I have a treat anymore because I don't do it often, or overeat (thank you sleevey). Im enjoying my day to day life again in a lot of ways. I overheard my son (on my birthday a couple weeks ago) tell my mom he was proud of me Im having to face how I ate before, and how I taught my son My son is learning the right way now though, and I've watched his habits begin to change. My habits have completely changed. I now eat a yogurt almost every day for Breakfast. (Pre surgery...I had maybe 3 yogurts in my life). And, it's not that I particularly love the stuff...But Im eating it for real reasons...and those reasons don't include it tastes good (the only reason I are what I ate Pre surgery). (I have always been heavy. I sat around 225 from 7th grade until I was in my early 20's..when I went way up) One of my elderly clients (I've worked for her for 4 years) doesn't recognize me until I get close to her because Im so "thin" now lol I'm actually scared to see what I will look like thin, because I haven't the slightest clue what I really look like (how absurd lol). I have a long journey ahead. I'm struggling with cross addiction. I began smoking a few weeks ago. (I quit about 4 mos. before surgery). I started blowing up at the drop of a hat..It got so bad that I almost lost my job. That day I started smoking, and my temper tantrums stopped. I am however in the process of getting counseling through an addictionologist. I cannot lose my job, so for now I smoke. I will be looking for new employment when I get down another 50lbs. Interviewers will take me more seriously with a good résumé and not being grotesquely fat. Yoga is HARD! But now that I feel so much younger, I can attempt to actually do it without hurting myself. My 12 year old and I chase each other around the house now for more than 10 seconds. I am driving my husband insane by wearing all of his clothes all the time. (But, secretly...he thinks it cute) My husband can't keep his hands off me lol having a good support group is essential to succeeding. My husband and son have been fantastic support for me, and I'm so happy I can pay them back by being happier and more involved (not afraid to go into public...will I fit into the seat at the theater etc...). Cuddling is much more comfy the smaller I get. The sandwich was my dinner tonight. I had the bottom bread toasted, 6 slices of orange bell pepper, 4 oz. ham, 2 tsp. light mayo. I always eat sandwiches without the top now.