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Hi- I'm on clear liquids for one week and starting on week 2 can add full liquids- week 3 is purreed foods but still liquidy- applesauce, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc. I was told to get as many fluids as possible- need 64 oz per day after surgery- am constantly sipping- but I am feeling good- hungry but good- I five days post op and going to work today- Was anyone else feeling HUNGRY on weeks 1 & 2? I don't have any saline in my band- My dr. does a fill on weeks 4-6- so I wonder how everyone did on those weeks w/o a fill and felt hunger for actually food- not broth!!!! It is probably "head hunger"

If I've I had a bad day and I. for get to eat I'll make a vanilla protein shake and throw in a sugar free yogurt black cherry with I've it's sooooo good...or chocolate shake with a tsp of pb2

I didn't have a puree phase. I went from full liquids to soft foods. I ate a lot of: Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, turkey, tuna, soft fish, refried beans, chili, etc. Did your NUT give you a list of foods for this phase?

The flu shot i got on Mon early caused me to lose all my breakfast of 2 scrambled eggs & some turkey bacon. Since then, I have felt very weak & my stomach started hurting. by Fri I was calling the after-hours-for-thanksgiving-dr. resident at the clinic in extreme pain wanting the band juice taken out. But, I have to wait till Monday. I've had the band for 2 yrs w good success, 50% excess lost. A few months ago my stomach started hurting at the bottom part, so after a long wait, I got a CT scan & the endoscopy. By the day the endo came, I was in extreme extreme pain; could not drive or sign myslef in. Long story short: IF I had gone to the band dr. at the beginning I could have saved the ct scan & endoscopy, because all that told me was i had stomach gastritis, no infection or anything like that. So, I went & had the band emptied later that day and THAT got me out of the pain. After my stomach healed for 8 wks, I had some 2.5 cc approx put in the band, then 2 weeks ago, another 2 cc to put me where I had been for a long time with no problems. My band dr is the head of the UAB (medical center) Kirkland Clinic's Bariatric dept, and he told me last month, with stomach distress, the band can be the culprit. So, after not sleeping sitting up last night, I am better today. Started out with hot tea, and gulping water to get my few pills down. Then I progressed to applesauce, then yogurt; chicken boullion; and finally toast w peanut butter. All this just so you'll know the band can create stomach flu-like symptoms or make it worse or visa versa. But one piece of advice was wayy off for you--no solids until you are barf free, nausia free & pain free. Just go with squishy stuff & liquids. So I am rethinking if i need the band de-juiced. Have to wait & see how it feels after I let it rest another day. I go all through this because so many folks get discouraged when the band has to be released, but it's really for the better. You can get healed and refill. I may have to have mine removed if my stomach pain kicks up again. Dr says its the best thing to do, and he congratulated me for my loss (which has stalled for 9 mos); as most band patients do not lose 50% of excess. I am happy for what I have been able to do so far. It has made a huge difference in my lifestyle, outlook, & 65 yrs. ancient health. Hope this post helps in general, & stomach pain in particular.

When I stalled I would just up the calories from around 800 to 950 every other day (eating cheese or extra yogurt) and it has been working, I had only one stall for about week and a half and haven't had one is 6 weeks. I am 3months out and lost 47lbs, I feel better knowing that other people are losing like I am, When I first got on this site I was hearing 60lbs and more lost the first 3 months and I was thinking I wasn't doing well. Thanks you guys!

I usually have yogurt. Maybe a mini Babybel? I think you could eat anything if its not " breakfast food" if chicken or shrimp for breakfast sounds good to you do that. I bought some of the Quest Protein bars because everyone was raving about them. I had to track them down. I tried apple pie... Couldn't do it. The texture is like taffy...I don't know its just weird. Overly processed and it kinda grosses me out

ok glad to know I'm not alone in this. spent a lot of time last night looking up exactly what foods give me the biggest "bang for the buck" and will be sticking closer to them, less experimenting. yogurt, cottage cheese, meats basically. it seems I can do one goal or the other, just not both. depends on what I focus on that day, and maybe I'll go back and forth for a while til I can attain both.

I had a bit of cooked spinach and was OK around 4 weeks. Just try a few bites and see how it goes (don't go crazy). You can always have more next time. Maybe blend it up with some greek yogurt or fat free ricotta or low fat cheese to make it creamed? Blending it first may help, too.

That's exactly it! I'm so bored! Tried strained cream soup (yuck!), tried canned chicken & mayo (eh!), tuna w mayo and egg salad was fine. Sooo sick of cottage cheese and I really don't like the yogurt I've been eating. Also choking down protein shakes!!!

The not being able to tolerate solid food sounds kind of normal to me. The guidelines my doctor gave me said soft foods only (pureed meats, mashed vegetables, scrambled eggs, refried beans, ricotta, cottage cheese, yogurt) until week 4. You're just barely past week 3. I'd stick to super soft/mushy stuff for a few days and see where you get. I'm coming up on 8 weeks, and I still have discomfort if I eat something that's too big or not soft enough. Be gentle to yourself and don't rush. We're all relearning how to eat

Happy Halloween from BariatricPal!#subject#> body,div,dl,dt,dd,ul,ol,li,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,pre,form,fieldset,input,textarea,p,blockquote,th,td { margin:0; padding:0; } table { border-collapse:collapse; border-spacing:0; } fieldset,img { border:0; } address,caption,cite,code,dfn,th,var { font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; } caption,th { text-align:left; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { font-size:100%; font-weight:normal; } q:before,q:after { content:''; } abbr,acronym { border:0; } address{ display: inline; } html, body { background-color: #d8dde8; color: #5a5a5a; } body { font: normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; position: relative; } h3, strong { font-weight: bold; } em { font-style: italic; } img, .input_check, .input_radio { vertical-align: middle; } legend { display: none; } table { width: 100%; } td { padding: 3px; } a { color: #225985; text-decoration: none; } a:hover { color: #328586; } div.outer { margin: 0 auto; padding: 14px; } table.wrap { max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; } td.logo { background-color: #0f3854; padding: 8px; } td.content { background-color: #fff; font-size: 14px !important; color: black !important; line-height: 150% !important; padding: 8px; } ul { margin-left: 25px; } Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy Halloween! It’s time to enjoy a few scares and spooks and a lot of fun, but how is that possible when you are trying to lose weight? This newsletter has a few tips that can help you enjoy yourself this Halloween and in the coming months, and keep the results from showing up on the scale. Here’s what we have: Surviving Halloween as a Weight Loss Surgery Patient Scary Good Treats from The BariatricPal Store The Start of the Eating Season (Or Not) Thanks for reading the newsletter and being part of the BariatricPal community. Don’t forget to login to share your healthy Halloween tips and get some healthy inspiration when you need it, and have a safe and happy Halloween! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Surviving Halloween as a Weight Loss Surgery Patient Halloween is one of the hardest times for bariatric patients. You’re sure to see candy nearly everywhere, and you may not see much else. How are you supposed to pass up the sugar while still having fun and getting in your Protein? It may not be easy, but you can do it. Go with a Plan Plan ahead, just like you do in the rest of your post-op life. If you are going to a party, plan to drink ice Water for most of the time. Set yourself up far from the buffet table, and talk to everyone you can to keep your mind off of the food. Also, remember to fend for yourself instead of depending on the party far. Bring a dish or two to share to make sure you have something healthy to eat for when you are hungry. These are some fun Halloween ideas. String cheese Fingers with half-sticks of string cheese being the fingers, and grape tomato halves filling in as the fingernails. Drizzle tomato sauce for blood if you like. Candy Corn Fruit Plate with three layers: each representing a color of the traditional candy corn. The bottom of the triangle can be a yellow fruit such as pineapple chunks; the middle stripe can be an orange fruit such as orange wedges or cut cantaloupe; the white tip can be banana slices or even cottage cheese for dipping. You can also make this with veggies! Banana Ghosts using banana halves for the ghost and blueberries, peanuts, or pieces of Protein Cereal for the eyes and mouth. Tangerine Pumpkins using a peeled tangerine for the pumpkin body, and a piece of celery stuck in the center as the stem. Stay Busy without Eating If you are trick-or-treating, there are all kinds of ways you can stay busy without diving into the kids’ loot. Keep yourself busy by helping out any children who need it, whether they are yours or anyone else’s in the neighborhood. Fix their makeup and costumes, help them cross the street safely whenever necessary, and hold the littlest ones’ hands if they get scared. Practice the One and Done Actually, practice it twice! For your first “one and done” trick, choose one piece of candy, assuming that you are up to eat solids foods on your post-op diet, and assuming you know that you can handle a sugary piece of candy without feeling sick or reaching for another 10 pieces. For your second “one and done,” remember that Halloween is one night. The leftover candy from what you handed out to trick-or-treaters or that your children collected needs to go on November 1. Otherwise, if you keep it around the house, you risk munching on it, well, possibly up until Thanksgiving! No, thanks! Donate the leftover candy to your local school or church. Throw unwanted leftovers away (really, the trash can wears the calories better than you do). If you allow your children to continue to eat their trick-or-treating loot, have them stash it away out of your eyesight so you are not tempted to eat it. Scary Good Treats from The BariatricPal Store Treats with a Little Trick Trick or treat! It’s fun to gather all kinds of candies, but you know the damage to your waistline. The calories pile on, the sugar leads to more carb cravings and possibly dumping syndrome, and the fat clogs your arteries. Who needs those kinds of effects when you can turn to treats from The BariatricPal Store? Our little trick is to change up the nutritionals to bump up the protein and dial down the calories, sugar, and fat. Instead of grabbing a candy bar next time, try one of these little treats: Caramel Coated Protein Puffs Snacks with 150 calories and 15 grams of protein. chocolate & Caramel Crispy Bites with 160 calories and 12 grams of protein. White Chocolate Dream Bar with 170 calories, 10 grams of protein, and 5 grams of Fiber. Peanut Butter and Smooth Caramel Crisp Bar with 140 calories, 15 grams of protein, and 10 grams of fiber. You may not even miss your favorite candy bar. Grab the Best Deals! We’re celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the opening of The BariatricPal Store, and you will come out the winner! We’re constantly increasing our inventory, so check our new products regularly. Are you new to our store? Just use coupon code BPNEWSLETTER10 when you check out for a 10% discount off your entire purchase cost! The Start of the Eating Season (or Not) On guard! Halloween marks the unofficial start to the holiday season. Festive though it may be, the holidays can mean trouble for your weight loss plan. Leftover Halloween candy in the home and office. Thanksgiving…a four-day eating marathon in itself. Christmas Cookies, fudge, fruitcakes, and candy canes. Holiday parties with friends, family, and coworkers. Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. And more… The bottom line is that there may be food wherever you turn, and you can’t give in each time if you want to stay on track with your weight loss goals. Here are a few tips to help you get through this time. Practice saying “no.” “No, thank you.” “No, thanks, my doctor says I can’t eat that.” “No, thanks, I’m not hungry right now.” Have your own healthy substitutes ready. You can save hundreds of calories by making yourself some Protein Cocoa instead of ordering it with your friend or coworkers at a coffee shop, or by munching on a Chocolate Wafer Protein Bar instead of a few squares of fudge. Eat regularly to keep cravings down. Instead of letting yourself get too hungry so that you risk overdoing it when it is time to eat, keep healthy and quick meals and snacks on hand. Canned tuna, washed and cut fruits and vegetables, nuts, yogurt, and protein bars are just a few ideas. Change your goals slightly to be more realistic. You may lose weight a little more slowly during these months, and that’s okay. Scour the table before serving yourself. Often, there is a high-protein choice that can work for you, such as roast beef or ham, even if it is not the healthiest in the world. Plan an occasional treat when you know something spectacular is coming up. It might be a cookie from your aunt’s annual Christmas delivery, or some cornbread stuffing. Plan to have a bite to satisfy yourself so you do not feel deprived or, on the other hand, go overboard. The holiday season is long for weight loss surgery patients, since temptations are everywhere and these are foods that you may have enjoyed in the past. Still, you can get through it right on track by being a little cautious and planning ahead whenever possible. Have a safe and healthy Halloween this year! Enjoy every minute of it, and come tell us about it on the boards at BariatricPal! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

Call your nutritionist and discuss alternatives. Greek yogurt is a high source of Protein, smashed Beans or refried beans may also be acceptable if you thin them out with a bit of broth. Just call the nutritionist and brain storm. That's what you paid them for.

If you are having to chew, i dont think that qualifies as pureed, jmho. Greek yogurt, refried beans, scrambled eggs, that type of thing that doesnt require chewing really. Also, you didnt mention how far along you were?

I am 7 wks out and on solids now. I don't know what stage you're dr has you on, but here is my answer to other similar questions: My favorite things to eat right now are the Sam's Choice Stuffed chicken Breasts, they are filled with various things like cheese, mushrooms, spinach, bacon. 34-37g Protein each but I can't eat a whole breast. I make 2 meals out of one. I also like eggs, boiled or scrambled. Pure Protein Bars. Buffalo chicken with greek yogurt and a little bleu cheese dressing. Cottage cheese. String cheese. Refried Beans w/ qeuso mexican dip cheese, shredded colby monterry jack cheese, verde salsa, and greek yogurt. I am getting stuff to make bacon wrapped shrimp soon. Also will be making meatloaf and looking for an easy asian meatball recipe as we speak lol. On the meatloaf and meatballs I am going to freeze a lot for future meals in ziplock bags in small portions. Also I am at my sis's for 4th of July weekend. I have eaten Pork BBQ with white sauce, baked beans, brunswich stew, grilled hotdogs(no bun), etc. All in small amts of course. I can do well with just about any meat as long as it's not dry and i have a sauce or dip for it. I hated dry or overcooked meat pre-op too. I also make mini cheese cakes that I use 2 pkgs cream cheese, 3 eggs, vanilla, and artificial sweetner. My daughter loves these too, because she just had her wisdom teeth cut out. Here's a recent grocery list of mine, I posted in another thread: Eggs String Cheese Provolone cheese slices Swiss cheese slices Shredded cheese(colby-m jack) Cottage cheese Fage Greek yogurt Tuna Chicken(both frozen & canned) Meatballs Sams Choice Stuffed Chicken Brst Refried beans Queso cheese dip Ground chuck Ribeye Shrimp Bacon Taco mix Hidden valley ranch mix au jus sauce (for meatloaf, stews, etc) Cajun spices Pure Protein Bars Bacon Mini pepperoni Cubed Ham Cream cheese Stevia or truvia Peanut Butter Babybel cheese Laughing cow cheese Lipton Diet Green Tea Citrus

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks for me and I'm also not feeling so great, but I'm managing. I actually felt better last week. I'm able to swallow pills, but it is true that warm liquid is very soothing and goes down easier. I actually find puddings and yogurts go down easier than liquid. My doctor also told me hydration is priority right now, nutrition is second. I do start my day with an unjury Protein drink with milk and I warm it for 40 seconds in the microwave just to get it a little warm. It goes down easy and I am getting 8 oz liquid and 30 grams of protein all down at the start of my day. The rest of the day I'm sipping liquid, I also make sure to have a chobani yogurt a day as they are really tasty and slide right down and there is another 18 grams of protein. My biggest issue right now is the incision sites. One in particular, the big one where the stomach came out. It is in such a bad spot and it is killing me every time I move or bend. The other incisions don't hurt at all but my entire stomach area in general hurts. Have you every done any ab workouts like crunches or something? My stomach feels like the day after doing 100 crunches. I don't know why but that is the exact feeling. Weird. I'm sure we'll all feel good soon enough. Stay strong everyone! It will all be worth it in end!

Hi Bored, Are you able to tolerate Greek Yogurt? I am really relying on it right now because it's so high in Protein. I've never been a milk drinker but I am hoping that small amounts of cheese will be fine once I get to that stage.

Thanks Carol. It's interesting that I'm fine when I eat greek yogurt and cream of wheat w/soymilk, but as soon as I add in Optimum Nutrition Whey powder or Chike, I go off again. I haven't had any cream soups, except Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato soup and I think I was ok with that. It seems to be the Protein powders that do me in. I'm hopeful that I'll soon be on pureed foods, just another week or so, then I can get my protein from better sources. I'm glad I'm not the only one in this boat, but that said, I'm sorry it happened to you as well. I'm glad yours cleared up. I'd hate to not be able to eat cheese etc.

@@BigViffer is right on! That's my standby too (learned about them here). In fact I just had one with my Syntrax Matrix mint cookie powder because I realized I hadn't hit my 90-100g for the day. I don't always use non-dairy creamer, I use Water or sugar free torani syrup. And I often put Fage Greek yogurt as "frosting" or another no sugar added Greek yogurt. I also like to smash up a half banana into it for moisture. It does take work for me to get there as well. Constant vigilance. And I can't get it all in without supplementing. I do either a shake or a cake or a Quest or power crunch bar daily. Sometimes like today I do two. And I'm 2 1/2 years out! Greek yogurt is another stand by in general for me. I eat at least one a day (good for the bones too). Jerky (just make sure it isn't one like Krave that adds a LOT of sugar) cold cuts rolled up with a squirt of mustard and thin sliced cheese. Tuna with mayo or mustard or (again) plain Greek yogurt. I get frozen pre cooked shrimp with a little cocktail sauce.

Cream of wheat or thin mashed potatoes are on my approved list along with greek yogurt and strained soups. I really can't wait till I can just puree some meat and vegetables though cause these foods seem so carbs to me I guess that's why I'm only supposed to eat 2oz

Iced tea? Oikos triple zero yogurt. Then you get protein in also!

Both Yogurt and Sugar Free Jello/pudding was on my list for "Full Liquids" Are you only supposed to be on clear liquids? If you get a clear idea from your surgeon or Nutritionist what you can have it might open up your options and make it easier to stick with the plan they laid out. I'm also of the opinion that we should stick with what the doctors have instructed. It is confusing and at times frustrating that some progress faster, but none of us have the entire story as to why the doctors instructed another patient to do what they do. You can do it, Good luck!

I was sleeved on January 5 so I'm 8 days Post op . I drink 3 protein shakes a day , suga free jello, today I had cream of brocoli soup, and also tried Greek yogurt . Got sick of broth , just couldn't do it anymore . Sugar free pudding Also I'm down 15 pounds and do a lot of walking . I'm supposed to be on broth and liquids . I've been fine with all this soft food , is this too much too soon ?

I'm 12 weeks out tomorrow. My life has been super stressful and I have been eating ALL day long.... A Protein bar here, a yogurt there, some berries here, oatmeal all to the tune of over 900 calories and I haven't had dinner. I know saying I'm stressed is an excuse and I am accountable but I don't know how to just jump back on the wagon. I haven't had this type of "binge" since surgery and I'm scared.

I take the bariatric advantage capsule ones (opened and sprinkled on yogurt for the first 2 weeks---yuk) and such pain...it is the closest I have came to throwing up in this whole process. I now take one at a time, wait 30 minutes and drink at least 8 ounces of water and then take the second one. Much better. P.S. Looks like we are ticker twins

Hi everyone. I am almost exactly 3 months post op. I am worried a little tho. Currently I can eat maybe 2 bites of anything, soft cheese, yogurt, banana, but I get so much pain when I eat. It's like that's all my body will allow me to eat. It is so frustrating and annoying. I am hungry. I feel hungry but yet I do not want to eat anything at all because I don't feel like suffering for the next 30mins while my stomach tries to digest. So my question is... Will this pain every go away? When will I get to eat more than 2 bites of food without suffering? Thank you all so much!