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My surgeon (not my insurance) wanted me to lose 10% of my starting weight before surgery. (I negotiated him down to "what if I do my best, but we schedule at the beginning of flu season, so I don't lose my surgery spot to the case of bronchitis I catch every winter?" And then, by a single pound, I actually beat his goal, anyway, on the day of surgery.) He makes all of his higher-BMI patients do that. I'm not sure how scientifically valid that extra requirement is, but he's one of the pioneers of the sleeve procedure and has done thousands of surgeries, so I guess he gets to cherry-pick for the most compliant patients. I felt like it was kind of cruel and unnecessary, for most of the four months it took, but honestly? In the last week before the surgery and the week since? I'm grateful that I had a chance to follow the "long-term bariatric patient" diet, with its focus on lean proteins and vegetables and fruits and (if those other things aren't filling enough, which eventually they won't be) complex carbohydrates. I learned that it wasn't especially hard, and I could follow it without tracking every bite (which makes me crazy) and without spending hours in the kitchen. I learned that there was room for "cheats"--for breaks from that protocol--and as long as I kept them to a minimum, with maybe a little stricter eating before and after to help mitigate it, I could be successful at following it and not feel miserably deprived. Now, like ... part of my problem is that I am always hungry (which is wild, when you're just a couple of days post-op; the belly gurgles, but it is lying, and oh how I hope this goes away soon). And to deal with that while still following the rules of the pre-op diet, I would do the normal things--drink and see if the hunger goes away, mostly--and if those things didn't work and it wasn't time for a meal, I'd have the smallest snack I could get away with, to stave off the hunger. Maybe it'd be a cheese stick. Or an ounce of peanuts. Or a Greek yogurt. Sometimes I could get by with just a sugar-free popsicle or a half cup of sugar-free Jello. It wouldn't make me full, but it'd take care of the hunger enough that I could focus on whatever it was I was doing. If that isn't the problem you're running into -- if it is emotional, say, rather than hunger-related -- my advice won't help much. (I won't claim not to have emotional eating problems. I definitely had some cheat days that were based around the news, for instance. But other than "don't do it often; be strong," I've got nothing for you, there.) I hope it helps someone, though?

I also tried it today. I made a smoothie with PB2, Dannon Banana Cream Greek Yogurt and Soy Milk. It was yummy and worth 25 Protien

Yoplait's 100 Cal Greek yogurt is some of the foulest stuff ive ever put in my mouth. Local store was giving samples and it tasted so chemically and not much different from their regular yogurt. Def didn't have the tang and thickness of real Greek yogurt. I like Chobani and Fage best. Voskos is a close second.

I havent tried those and I haven't seen the carbsmart yogurt. However the yoplait is 14g of carbs and contains sugar. That may be fine for most folks but my body won't let me get away with that too often. And I read that yoplait is being sued as to whether its regular greek yogurt is even really Greek yogurt, or yogurt at all for that matter. http://www.startribune.com/business/162301436.html unclear if this applies to the 100 calorie version that is new.

I get plain 2% Greek yogurt or make my own and then just flavor it with french vanilla stevia. Like another person mentioned, watch the labels. Some are not really Greek yogurt. All the label should say is milk and cultures. And watch for flavored varieties as well. They are usually sweetened with sugar.

A co-worker recommended Bolthouse Farms yogurt dressing. It has only 45 calories per two tablespoon serving, 2.5 fat, 2 g Protein (for the Caesar Parmigiano variety). It tastes great...not "diet" at all. I found this dressing at Meijer in the refrigerated section of the produce department. I use it as a dipping sauce for Costco's turkey patty (which has 35 grams of protein!)

I make my own (or should say made and froze ) my own cream soups and they were like heaven compared to canned. There's a bariatric app that I like that has some recipes and one was for broccoli soup. But yes, I hate everything too. I like the more fun flavors of light Greek yogurt like cheesecake and I mix in a little of my cabot whey power for more protein but it's still sweet. My problem is that I AM still hungry after surgery. I think it may be going away but I have hunger pangs when I shouldn't. I can have eggs and blended stuff like tomorrow but I have snuck eggs and blended chicken. Ok, 1 egg.

I have 1 more week of the full liquid diet. How did you make it through. I am really wanting some else other than protein drink, yogurt, jell-o , popsicles and broth. Help please Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

I just had yogurt and cottage cheese so far, smooth sailing so far. The baby spoons help a lot. I was a huge food guzzler. Happy to hear you are feeling so well. Since its fresh in your mind, how did switching from clear to all liquids to purée go?? How has everything gone? I hope I feel as good as you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

June 12 gal here! Feeling great, ready for these staples to go though! Got in lots of liquids today...36 oz water, 12 oz shake, 6oz soup (split into lunch and dinner) and 5 oz yogurt cup. Energy level is also improved today!

Hey darling thank you!! Yeah the first few weeks are tough. All in all I have been pretty much just eating like sugar free pudding or jello or an egg here and there but even that goes down very tough. Low fat yogurts and soups. This really is a life changing experience without a doubt. I never imagined someone like me would struggle with eating 😂. I just want time to fly by so I can start a "normal" dietary regime and start going to the gym. But for now just soft puree protein foods and walking. I am stoked though because I have so far lost 16 pounds in 3 weeks! I have much more to go but its all just a work in progress 🤗🤗

hi I had my surgery on Oct 27th and have had an amazing recovery the only mistake I made was buying the wrong kind of nonfat yogurt! It wasnt sugar free and I hadn't experienced that "full" feeling either until I had about 4 spoons of that! Boy did I ever feel full and nauseous for the next 5 hours! !

Almost 5 months out... Greek yogurt 5 oz Premiere Protein shake 1.5 oz turkey deli meat, 3 slices light dry salami, 1 slice thin swiss cheese String cheese or Protein Bar 3 oz meat with a few veggie or chicken with some Beans and salsa, whatever but about 3-6 0z food for dinner Some type of high protein snack before bed, small 700-800 calories, 60-80g protein fusion bariatric Vitamins 3x daily, Biotin 2x daily, gummy Fiber 2x daily

I definitely agree with you about the liquid diet. I am on day 6 of 14! My doc has set this schedule up for me: Week 1 & 2: Clear liquids only- tea, sugar free Jello, broth, juice Week 3: true liquid diet - Protein shakes, fat free puddings, yogurts, cream -based Soups (strained!) Week 4 & 5: puree foods Week 6: Begin eating real food - trial and error - rule of thumb - stopand sip! I am so looking forward to being through these first 2 weeks. I just drink lots and lots of what I can. I haven't been getting light headed or anything yet. Good luck!

I am RIGHT there with you Vince. I had my surgery the same day, cheers. I lost about 15 pounds already. I want to encourage you follow your fast for as long as your doctor is suggesting. I have one of the most strict surgeons on this board. He recommends 30-35 days of liquid fast. CLEAR LIQUID FAST. Honestly, I don't know how I am going to make it, but I am encouraged by the fact that THIS is the most and the fastest weight loss we will encounter in this whole journey. So I will bite my tongue, get out of the kitchen, watch tv, play on the computer, get out of the house, anything to get my mind off food. Funny you should be posting this as this is by far the most difficult days for me too. I am thinking, only a little yogurt, only a smidge of something. But no, I just have to try my best to give this band a fair fighting chance to heal. It is only a short while and my surgeon assured me that out body is busy using our fat stores and supplying us with all that we will need. Let us know how it is going Vince. We are here for you. Paula, who is DYING to eat something, 9 days out now.

Today (following my monumental sobbing to my hisband) I’ve managed 200ml of water, a smooth banana yogurt, 1/2 a portion of a smooth pea soup comtaining protein & vitamins. I’ll take that. I’m going to try a peppermint tea for supper. Oh & I’ve had three trumps which I’m overjoyed about. #BabySteps

It sounds counterintuitive, but increasing your caloric intake with healthy choices can help to break a stall. I saw weight loss again after adding in an afternoon smoothie made with protein powder or high-protein yogurt like Fage. Your body needs to have a sufficient amount of calories to function properly. The stall is sort of like your body's way of taking a break after running a marathon. Try to be patient and keep the faith. Almost everyone has the "dreaded three week stall." For some it's very brief, and for others it lasts a month. Most of us do then resume weight loss.

Nurse - There's not too much you can do about it right now, but it will pass. How long are you on clear liquids? I had clear liquids for a week and then on to full liquids for a 2nd week. The 2nd week helps with the cream soups, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Before you know it you'll be eating regular food. It's definitely worth the inconvience of the liquid stages.

I seem to be exactly that, except its not like I get crazy bm's. But I experience pain and nausea when eaten. Milk, powder milk, yogurt, hurt! But cheese is ok.....i was sleeved 12/10. Is it LI?

Ill have to let u know later on...cuz Ive only been on solids a few days - have lost two pounds in the last two days so far. BUT I am lucky to be able to get in 900 calories - I am working on it. I feel full quickly and it last about 3.5 or so hours. I make myself have some yogurt between to get some more in. Ill try to remember to post again in a few days I wouldnt worry about it too much - though I know its hard... just make sure to follow ur surgeons advise until u get your first fill!!!

Hello, I'm Ldyshecat. I just had my surgery on Oct 10th. Thankfully my body has been with me 100% throughout this journey. In order to have my insurance cover the surgery I needed a pysch eval, 3 mo doctor monitored diet and a cert from my regular physician saying I was OK for surgery. When I started my diet I weighed in at 295lbs...after the three months were up I weighed 254lbs. I still chose to do the surgery though, even though I'd proven to myself that I could lose the weight on my own, because I wanted to make sure it stayed off and I think the surgery will help me take my weight to my goal (125) as well as maintain it. So...for my facility (Rocky Mountain Assoc. physicians) they required about three classes prior to surgery and a 1k diet started 10days out from the date of surgery. That was difficult...but I had a few Snacks and things set aside I already knew were low cal as well as that I liked them. The day of surgery was scary as hell since I had never had a surgery before in my adult life, but my husband stayed with me as much as he was allowed. When I woke up the first thing I did, when I was allowed, was to get up and walk...and I normally did this once every few hours...when I was awake. I also tried really hard to drink the 1oz of Water given to me every hour. As a tip for anyone that hasn't done it yet... If you feel a lot of pressure anywhere after surgery (from the air they pump into your abdomen) holding a cold pack of ice against it works great to break it up...same with walking. I had little to know pain during my recovery at the hospital...but I also used the pain pump as often as I remembered and was awake. I didn't want the pain to get a foothold. I was released the day after my surgery and told I had been a star patient and done everything I was supposed (the others that had the surgery the same day had to wait at least another day and were told they would probably go home on oxygen). The liquid diet...was agonizing. My stomach tolerated it fine, but I got bored and didn't have an appetite for the broth or the Jello...it also made me very jealous of everyone else getting to eat normal food. I'm now on the semi-liquid diet (cottage cheese, yogurt, strained soups) and again my stomach has been fantastic in working with me and accepting new foods. I have found that the more gourmet type foods I get the less likely I am to feel deprived. So I got some yummy butternut squash bisque, Progressive Tomato Basil Soup and some Protein rich Greek yogurt that I love (Dannon, if anyone's interested). At this point the hardest thing I'm finding is that my stomach is not very happy with water...I get bloated and gassy feeling after only a few sips no matter the temperature. In the program I'm with they allow herbal tea as a water substitute and I'm getting by on some yummy Blackberry vanilla tea until I can figure out water that works for me. Well, that is where I'm at right now....if anyone having surgery soon has questions about anything I did or didn't do, please ask....and the same goes for anyone else....this is all very fresh in my mind right now for this stage of recovery. ☺ I was released the day after my surgery

Yoplait makes a lowfat fiber yogurt that's pretty good. It's also under 10 grams of sugar per container. The key lime pie is my favorite flavor. Yum.

What I am eating is not that different from the pureed foods, except that I'm not pureeing them. Today I brought to work: Greek yogurt, cooked fish, and I have "back up" foods like canned white meat chicken and some lentil Soup, plus I keep one serving of Protein powder around. Tonight at home I have Chicken Cacciatore in the crock pot, and you know how the crock pot overcooks things--so it will be nice and soft when I get to it.

I am also newly banded and was diagnosed with PCOS in my early thirties! My doctor is pretty aggressive with me... After my surgery on July 24 ... He gave me a fill Tuesday at 2 weeks post op! With 3 cc's in my band I feel restricted bit haven't hit my green zone yet... So I am focusing on my proteins and trying to omit the sugar from my diet! I love yogurt and fresh fruit ... so that has proved a bit challenging for me! Good luck ladies in your journey!

At one week I was drinking protein shakes, sugar free popsicles, jello, maybe a few bites of yogurt. No way thinking of getting a chicken bowl. Call your surgeons office or doctor cause your food plan is nothing I've ever heard one week after surgery. Sent from my Z970 using Tapatalk