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Thanks, I guess before I was able to eat chips and yogurt, it was easy and I did not PB. Now I tried to sip my morning cofee and i did not PB which is great. I have not tried any solid food. I am hoping by time I be able to eat solid food small portion and keep it. I do excercise and My goal is only 10 more lb. thanks for your respond it was truly helped me and gave me some piece of mind. I am trying to find center in san diego so I don't have to go to mexico for any adjustment. traveling to mexico is truly pain and time consuming. Thanks alot. Nooshin

Hi everyone. I'm almost a month post sleeve and have found a couple recipes for chicken I really enjoy. 1) Huli Huli Chicken (Hawaiian), the healthy way: Mix together in a bowl make the marinade: 1/3 cup sugar free peach or apricot preserves 1/3 cup low sugar ketchup 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup sherry 1 tsp minced garlic 1tsp minced or grated ginger Remove the skin from 4-6 chicken bone-in thighs. Put the skinless thighs in a large ziplock bag along with most of the above marinade. Reserve a bit for basting. Put in the fridge for 1-4 hours. Heat oven to 375. Remove thighs from marinade (do not discard marinade) and place in an oven safe dish and cover with foil. Cook until just done and cooked through but not dry, approximately 20-25 min. Remove the foil and add the marinade, cover with foil and let it sit for another 30 min. Fire up the grill. Grill the thighs to warm and give char marks. It won't take long since they are already cooked. Baste while grilling with the left over marinade. The original recipe calls for brown sugar and pineapple juice. I use the peach or apricot sugar free preserves instead. Sprinkle with green onions if desired. 2) Easy, healthy chicken salad Take a cup of cooked chicken, remove all skin and bones, and put it into a food processor. Pulverize well. Add 1/3 cup of plain, non fat greek yogurt, mix well. Add bacon crumbles to the top before eating if desired. Sorry no pic, but it's yummy! And I find it goes down better than a lot of other chicken.

How many grams of protien is in your shake? Premier has 30, one of them and you are half way there. You will gradually be able to eat more than 2 oz. at a time. Some people add unflavored Protein to Soup, yogurt, etc. Quest bars have about 20 grams of protein, you can try half in place of the cheese stick. Greek yogurt has much mor protein than regular. It gets easier. I never actually counted I just made sure I drank the Premier every day for breakfast(I still do) and make sure I eat meat and/or eggs for lunch and dinner and always eat all of the protein source before eating any veggies.

Sample of what I do, Greek yogurt (14-15g of protein) for breakfast. 2-3 ounces of tuna or chunk canned chicken mixed with very little mayo for lunch. 2-3 ounces of another meat (protein) for dinner. As a 4th meal I have another Greek yogurt. In between I have milk/ protein shake 2 times a day. Key is to get in a lot of protein.

Thank you tmf!! I am having a shake now, I could not even get a Greek yogurt down ...I am happy to know this is normal tho

I run the turkey day 5K each year since surgery. It's my new Thanksgiving tradition. The holiday is not all about the food anymore. It's family and friends, being thankful, living life and having new experiences. Not having a food coma every year is an amazing feeling. No weight gain guilt. Food plan: turkey, steamed french green beans with bacon and sliced almonds, roasted pumpkin, cranberries and apple. Desert is dannon light n fit pumpkin pie yogurt with 2 oz vanilla halo top ice cream. I plan ahead at potlucks. I bring deviled eggs or a meat and cheese plate. I make sure there is something I can eat. I pack my meals for work with healthy sweet and salty options.

I am starting to have a lot of problems with food. I was doing ok with tuna and chicken mixed with mayo, but today, I could hardly choak it down I chew slowely and a lot. I eat slowly and still it feels like a brick in my sleeve. It did not used to feel that way. I don't feel it backing up or not making it into my sleeve, just once it is there, brick city. It seems like almost everything I eat makes me feel a bit ill. I am going back to jell-o, popsicles and Soup for a few days. Maybe something upset my sleeve and it just needs a rest. I don't know, but I know this is not working, so time for a change. I have been feeing tired and weak also. I take a ppi two to three times a day, use dairy ease pills when I eat any dairy, take my Vitamins and added B-12, Calcium, etc. Maybe I will try some yogurt tonight and see how that goes down. I am in my 7th week from surgery.

Becky, I am exactly like you If I eat breakfast I am more hungary than when I do not. However, on those days I have to have breakfast I will eat a banana and peanut butter or a yogurt. I am usually really tight in the am as well>

It really is all about calories in calories out; you need to burn more calories than you eat or eat less calories than you burn. No specific list of foods is going to guarantee weight loss. I'd suggest sticking to eating your Protein first, especially chicken, turkey, and fish. Try to get 3-4oz each meal. Eat vegetables and fruits as well, and if you're still hungry eat a little bit of starch. (ie. corn, Beans, rice) On a daily basis I am eating eggs, turkey bacon, oatmeal, chicken, beans, rice, mixed vegetables, fruit, cheese, protein (on weight-lifting days), cottage cheese, Protein Bar, greek yogurt, broccoli, carrots, etc. I believe variety is important. Find what works for you.. Good luck.

If you just had another fill 2 days ago, cucumber may not be a good choice. When I get a fill, my doctor requires that I do liquids for two days, then soft/mushy food for 2 days, and then slowly adding solids. If solids get stuck right away, he says go back to liquids for another day or two. Your stomach swells after a fill and will be tighter than it will be after a few days, when the swelling goes down. If you get something stuck and vomit, that is going to irritate your stomach and cause even more swelling. You will then get into a vicious cycle and probably need an unfill. I would think you should go back to liquids for a few days until your stomach/swelling can calm down. Then slowly add soft/mushy like yogurt and see how it feels.

I have been reading a lot of posts tonight and I am noticing that a lot of people are not that far out and are already on solids or mushy solids..... I was sleeved June 9th, and started my full liquids yesterday.. which I have to continue for 5 weeks. That seems WAY longer than I have been reading anywhere else I am already running out of ideas of what to eat. Yogurt, pudding, Jello and boring creamed Soup I can only stand for so long. Any input??

I know I know... it just seems like way longer than i been hearing! I did get all my protein in today I split up one serving between my yogurt, and the rest in my pudding.. the other 2 servings I did with Water and was able to have each in 30 min. so not bad I think. I saw my dr today for my first post op.. and have lost 11lbs since I saw him 2 days before my surgery - so 7 days ago. I am pleased so far and he said i am doing great. The only issue with drinking im having now is the freakin water...... it just doesnt wanna go.... so he said mixing with juice or Crystal light is fine. So im sticking to that Thanks!!!!!

I'm surprised your doctor's office didn't provide you with a list of full liquids. Mine did and on my list are non-fat yogurt and sugar free/low fat puddings and jello.

There is also greek frozen yogurt at the store too, it's by the 'healthy' frozen meals sections...even has 5 gm's protein and 100 cal per single serving.

I am 3 weeks out, can we have frozen yogurt from a yogurt store? I know they are fat free just not sure about the sugar content.

Thanks guys!!! I do light exercise. I'm eating a Greek yogurt right now 12g of protein

Eat the carbs before working out as they are burned first before hitting muscle. Eat Proteins after workout. Supplement with Protein shake (130 calories and 23 grams protein) Protein Bars (low fat like Power Bars about 205 calories and 14 grams protein). Fat free cheese (25 calories and 5 grams protein) Fat Free Milk, 1cup (90 calories, 9 grams protein) Greek Yogurt (160 calories, 14 grams protein) Fat Free Cottage Cheese. 1/2 cup (80 calories, 13 grams protein) Mix up routine. DO NOT just do Zumba. Your body will adjust to workout, memory has muscle as well as brain. Incorporate some weight training, running, bicycling. Try a personal trainer for a few weeks help break up routine and give instruction on how to burn the fat, not the muscle.

I drink Premier Protein that you get at Sam's Club. They are pre-made in chocolate or vanilla. Do not get the vanilla, gag. 30 grams of protein per 12 oz. drink. I do not LOVE them, but they are the only Protein Drink I have found I can tolerate. I drink one every morning to get a good start on my protein. They are very convenient, no mixing powder, no washing blender bottles etc. They come in a little milk carton type box and it has a plastic screw on lid so it does not feel like gross cardboard when you drink straight out of the carton...very portable. I have also started making my own smoothies in my Ninja blender. I crush the ice in the blender first until it is fine. Then I add one Greek yogurt (any flavor) with 14 grams of protein, some Smart Balance milk (11 grams of protein per cup), and some almond slices. Blend until smooth. I am really enjoying these. Yesterday I used a vanilla Greek yogurt blended with the ice and some International Delight Iced Mocha coffee light (in a carton next to the milk). It made a great frappe.

Oh, I don't know if there is anything there worth driving 21 miles for. I buy, the above mentioned soup, boxed lentil soup, chicken and beef broth, ff greek yogurt, canned chicken (when I was in the soft food stage), various condiments like whole grain mustard, fish sauce, olive oil, vinegars, hot sauces, marinara sauce (good and super low cal), turkey meatballs, lunch meat, various cheeses (so good!), various "burgers", like mahi , lime chili chicken and masala, soy ginger cod, Kettle Cooked Chicken Soup (refrigerated section), produce like romaine lettuce, cucumbers, shredded cabbage, zucchini, nuts (like flavored pistachios), cheap but decent wine (for guest I like, not love, lol), spiralized carrots (frozen), frozen gyoza (when I get an asian craving), Green Goddess Salad dressing (refrigerated), chicken sausage. I'm sure tons of other stuff I can't think of right now. They are actually really good at less healthy food too, for your family. Their Mandarin Orange Chicken is better than any restaurant I've tried, for instance. In general their products are very high quality for a very good price, while having a lot of interesting and ethnic options.

I had to do pre-op twice....2 full weeks of 4 Protein Shakes a day! They tasted like poop! You can do this..I did and so have others....Get it together girl! This is the real deal......lol You get to eat broth, yogurt, etc!....Oh if I only had what you get to have!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday I went to my sweet little 3 year old neices b-day party. George D. Band allowed me to eat a hamburger, which was very yummy. That night on the way home (1.5 hr drive) I called to see what the hub wanted to do for dinner, since I was getting home late, I wasn't in the mood for cooking. He said come home get me and we will go out. He wanted to go to our place, On the Border, a mexi resturant that we went on our first date at. We both love mexi/southwest food, so it was always a fav. I hadn't been there but once since surgery, so wasn't really sure what to think. We order southwest tacos. While it comes with the sides of refried beans and mexi rice, I didn't eat those- no room. I ate two of the three tacos they brought and didn't want anything else. The hubs ate my remaining taco. By the time I got to the car my tummy was screaming. It wasn't a pain of being stuck- it was a presure pain. I've never had that pain since being banded. It felt like my tummy was blowed up like a balloon. I got home, went potty, no relief. I laid and belly ached for a while, it took about an hour for the pressure/pain to subside. I have no idea what caused that- but it was no fun. I worry that the pain/pressure whatever it was could have caused a problem with my band. Since Saturday night I have had no problems. Typically morning tightness, the remainder of the day normal yesterday. I seem to have slight indigestion this morning, not sure what that is from. My breakfast was greek yogurt with a sprinkle of granola. On the weight side of things- I contiue to weigh in daily- my weight each day bounces between 187.5 and 189.5 in the morning. I so wish it would drop lower, but I know stress effects weight and I have had my fair share of that of late. Thankfully, my hubs told me this weekend that I he thinks I look awesome and he is very happy with it that I feel great to him. He said he doesn't want an anerexic chick, in his words I still have a little chusion for the pushin- LOL. I am titering between a size 12 and 14 size pant and large shirts. Some large shirts are to big depending on cut. Some pants that were a little snug a month ago are loose now, so I must be firming in places, even though the weight isn't moving. Just praying today that George D Band is happy and healthy.

YOU BETCHA! i'm hungry often. . i used to think it was just head hunger and would ignore it, then i started "listening" to my tummy, you know stop listen and see if it really was hunger and sure enough . . . unfortunately for some of us the hormone isn't taken away completely and we're left hungery, . . very dissappointing, but it's not as bad as before. . .what was suggested here by Carolyn24 was every time you feel that hunger thing, have 4oz of a protein. . . i tried it, and it really works. . . I'm 5 weeks out and so what i do now is have my Protein shake for Breakfast, at lunch 4oz of either tuna, or salmon (no mayo or mustard) which feels me up forever, and for dinner something really light, like ricotta cheese, or yogurt, or cottage cheese. . . then for a night time snack Jello or a popsicle. . . It really works. . . but yup the hunger thing is real, just hang in there and since its something you really want, it'll work for you! Good luck. . . oh and one more thing. . . because we are hungry we tend to want to gulp our food. . . DONT DO THAT! It really hurts and gets extremely uncomfortable. . . i mean it happened to me and i would rather be really constipated then have that bad feeling ever again. . .eat slowly and chew no matter what it is. . or you'll be really sorry. . .

Hello! I was on liquids for 3 weeks, then I progressed to yogurt, cream of wheat and lots of soups! I then started adding salads and chicken. I am 10 months out post-op and pretty much still eat alot of soups. I try to make them homemade and then blend them into a thicker consistency. I also do alot of chili and beans. If I go out I usually just order an appetizer or I share with my hubby. My favorite snack is kettle popcorn. My best advice is to always eat slow and chew chew chew! If I get overly hungry and dont go slow, that is when I run into trouble. I also wait 30-45 min. to drink after a meal, it can be pretty scary and painful if not! Best of luck to you in your new lapband journey!

Well I rec'd my lap band in 2006. I have had fills and unfills trying to find that sweet spot or fullness filling and still struggling til this day! I may be that person that may never experience either one... I had an unfill 12/31/09 because I started boot camp on 1/1/10 and was not eating enough for energy. I believe my body was in that survival mode too. I did well for about 4 weeks and then I kind of ate more and more unhealthy foods untill I gained 18 lbs. Decided to go for a fill on April 13, 2010 and now I am having a hard time eating again. Eating is now a challege for me. I have tried to eat oatmeal, yogurt, eggs, etc. but breakfast will not go down at all. I drink 2 cups of coffee from 5:30 am till 10:30 am. Most the time I have to eat lunch at the office and then it may not go down either or it may take me from about 1pm to 3pm to finish lunch. Dinner time is usually an easier meal but I eat late due to my son's baseball activities (next bootball, then basketball) and by that time I am so hungry and may not make the best choices. If dinner doesn't go well, forwhatever reason I can eat ice cream. Not a good habit to fall into at ALL! But seems to be a common thing with lap band patients. Then it is bedtime. I have lost 5 lbs but maybe could loose more if I could choose and limit my dinner meals and go back to boot camp. I AM starting on my new plan today. With the Lapband Talk and God's help I will succeed!! : ) Everyone's support is very much welcomed and appreciated and hopefully I can inspire others in my future!

I spent a while last night researching little things I can do to increase my weight loss with out feeling like I am giving up anything and here are some of the things I found: - Say no to empty calories (drinks with calories are useless- they do nothing to fill you up and only add to your waist line. If you need flavor in your drinks there are a great deal of water flavor packets you can buy with 0 calories) - 3 meals a day isn't always the best (I use to think if I stuck to breakfast, lunch, dinner I would be ok- not so much. If you eat a big meal 3 times a day, your metabolims looks like a roller coaster. If you eat small meals- like our 1 cup meals- and add in protein/fiber rich snacks your metabolism keeps trucking along, which helps you burn more calories) - If you are going to eat a carb, make it complex. (Fruit has carbs, go ahead check behind me, but they also have water, nutrients and fiber. So mix a little fruit in with your protein- like grapes and cheese, blueberries or strawberries in yougurt or oatmeal) - Moving burns calories. (Any movement will burn calories. Shake your legs while sitting at your desk, walk to a co-workers office rather than calling, park further away from the store, walk to the mail box rather than driving (yep I know people who do this), Shake your grove thing while cooking (the hubs love when I do this), laugh, clean your house, wash your dishes instead of putting them in the dish washer. The point is MOVE.) -Develop a meal plan for the week. ( This will keep you on track and will help the budget, because you won't buy things that you don't need. Put your plan on the frige- this really does make things easier, when you have a busy life). -Take Vitamins (Nearly all American Adults have low Vitamin D levels. When mine was just tested it was 19, it should be 50. Your body must have Vit. D to break down fat, I didn't know this, but have found out, this can cause weight loss slow downs. Make sure you are getting your levels check at least yearly and you are supplimenting where needed). -Spice it up (By adding a little heat from pepper to your meals you can boost your metabolism. This may not be a huge boost, but if you are like me I'll take what I can get. Sprinkle a little chili powder on different foods- spice up chicken.) -Eat fruits and veggies. (Yes, protein is very important, but a person can not live by protein alone- well they can, but you get my point. It's summer, hit the local farmers market and try veggies. There are thousands of healthy ways to prepare veggies- hit up google. Try new and diffrent fruits and veggies. For a indulgent desert- grill a halfed peach and put on spoon of greek yogurt on top (it is so good!!). Fruits and veggies give you nutrients, help your digestive system, satisfy a sweet tooth, gives you water- so add a fruit of veggie to each meal.) I planted a small garden out back of my house which I go out and weed and water nightly -moving- and I get fresh organic veggies- so double the good for me. Little things may seem little, but together they add up. I have found over the last year, sometimes it is the little things that can make a big difference.