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bring yogurt, pop top tuna, instant oatmeal or cream of wheat, sugar free hot cocoa

Most of my hunger is actually head hunger and not real. If I do notice myself getting real hunger it tells me I am not eating enough dense Protein and good fats. In between my 3 meals if this happens, I really have to really pay attention to the signs and take the following approach: 1. I feel hungry, am I really dehydrated? I start by drinking Water because it is the only thing I drink. Dehydration can actually cause hunger symptoms. If after 8 to 10 ounces that feeling is still there.... 2. Is this real hunger or am I craving something specific? I really think about this one. 99 percent of the time I am craving something specific and that tells me it really is head hunger. I then go do something to take my mind off of it. 3. After the above 2 steps, if I am still feeling hungry, I actually go have 8 ounces of milk. (This is what I should do everytime but of course I am not that well behaved). Milk turns to a solid in your tummy, fills you up and provides both excellent protein and Calcium. 4. If I just cannot get that 1 thing out of my head after the first 3 steps I might just give in and have a snack. 99 percent of the time I reach for nuts, cheese, jerkey, yogurt or pudding. 1 percent of the time I give in a have a bite of two of something I shouldn't knowing it won't kill me or make me gain all my weight back. This strategy seems to work for me.

I mix 1/2 scoop of protein with 1/2 container if Greek yogurt. And I also mix 1/2 scoop of protein win a sugar free fat free chocolate pudding snack.

I was sleeved on 9/11 and can just now tolerate about 4 bites of mashed potatoes. I've mainly stuck with soups because they go down easy. I feel like i'm not getting enough. I am going to try yogurt and soft fruit today to see if I can handle that.

Stop eating junk food. Why on earth would you do that? You had major surgery to try to help you get healthy - not just to lose weight and still eat total crap... time to get your head on straight, because this will hurt your health if you continue this path!! Losing weight because you are basically starving yourself is going to have serious consequences - you'll lose your hair, your skin and nails will look awful and you're going to be exhausted and have major Vitamin deficiency. You're losing muscle mass as well without enough Protein and other food building blocks. Proteins like fish, chicken, eggs, low fat dairy (yogurt, cottage cheese, skim milk). Then healthy veggies - avocado, Beans, green leafy stuff, broccoli/cauliflower, squash... there are TONS of things to eat that are good and good for you. Health fats if there is any room: cook with coconut oil, olive oil, try guacamole, hummus... light mayo can be added to some canned chicken or tuna (and I add in green onion and some spices) for an easy and protein packed meal. Try to eat something like a boiled or scrambled egg with a little shredded cheese on it for Breakfast. Drink a glass of milk or have a container of (low sugar - maybe try greek) yogurt an hour or so later. Fix a bunch of chicken breasts (using spices and citrus) so you don't have to think when it's time for a meal - have one of those with some veggies. Anything is better than what you're doing! What is your doctor/nutritionist saying about your horrible diet so far? Because they should be really, really concerned and trying to give you better menu plans to work with... otherwise start looking on here and online for decent sleeve menu/recipes ASAP.

I am still not able to keep full meals down all I eat is yogurt, and junk food but I exercise and the weight falls off but the correct nutrients are not being absorb am I hurting myself with not eating full Protein meals will my organs shut down I do take supplements and Vitamins and I do drink Water. no real protein I lost to date 70lbs which is awesome i just feel as though i am missing something at the dinner table.

Protein intake does not count as water/hydration intake. You must take in atleast 60-70 grams of protein per day, and also a minimum of 64 oz of water. Broth, and sugar free Popsicles are considered hydration. Yogurt and protein shakes are absolutely not considered fluid intake. I know it's hard but you must sip both protein shake and water all day. Also FYI and fore anyone else who doesnt know the Isopure flavored liquid protein doesn't count as hydration. Isopure is liquidy but is 100% pure protein and has no water in it.

I don't do artificial sugars of any kind. The trade off is usually higher fat or a science project of chemicals. I have taken greek yogurt, added protein powder or fruit or nut butter in them and put it in the freezer until it got really thick like soft serve ice cream. We all have our thing we miss. This hits my craving for ice cream without derailing my eating.

Sugar free ice cream is not allowed on my plan. It triggers cravings and doesn't have a lot of nutritional value. For treats, I like full-fat Greek yogurt with PB2 stirred in, or dried fruit, or nuts like sweet & spicy pecans or sesame-honey almonds.

My NUT told me that Protein shakes, and yogurt for that matter, can be included in towards Fluid intake. I was not told to wait after drinking shakes to drink Water.

I've hit my stall and will try this. I am hardly ever hungry and have to force myself to eat, but I brought my yogurt and fruit to work today and will be snacking every 2 hours to see if I can get out of this rut!

Casper, Im doing good. Im doing soft foods, only for a few days so far. I had some trouble yesterday with pain during eating so I am going to back off today and do Protein shakes and maybe some yogurt and try again tomorrow. Overall pretty good though. I am able to exercise-just walking- 45-60 minutes at a time and feel good with that. I am back to work half days this week and that is also going well. I do take a nap in the afternoon though. Next week I am back to full time and actually have to travel to a conference so I will need to do some planning this weekend for the food portion. What about you?

I'd just stick with what does sit well in your stomach for now. I've been officially cleared to try any food, still focusing on protein first of course, but it's been easiest to just stick with soft foods for the most part. Lots of tuna, chili and yogurt. Good luck, it isn't easy that's for sure!

People have probably already listed this but I think some good Snacks would be a few pieces of lunch meat, maybe a boiled egg. A cheese stick, some frozen Greek yogurt or frozen berries covered in Greek yogurt. A piece of beef Jerky, a small handful of nuts (ones high in protein) just some ideas I'm pre bag, can't wait to officially start my journey. I ment vsg lol

All is well here...did not do Bueno on supper last night. Today I've had B yogurt L bean burrito S Apple D gonna grill last nights steak & cauliflower I am jealous of some of that fall weather I'm hearing about. It got up to 90 here in Texas today!

Hi guys so happy to have found this... It is my second time to loose weight with the lap band - first time i was too young/overeating to the point that the band would flip over so i removed it and got it again this year - a question to you - what do you eat? I find it very difficult to figure it out - i have it closed to the extent that i can only take liquids/yogurt/soups is this the correct way?????

@@tacycakes Loved your post on your relationship with food. It was wonderful to read because I too do the same things. I look back on all the food funerals I had before surgery. They were really food funerals for the person I was back then. They are not for me now. The person I am now is not that hungry. Yes, I enjoy eating but something light and refreshing. Blueberries and greek yogurt are heavenly. A bite of some thing sweet is all I need. I would never have ever dreamed that a chocolate bar could last 2 months. I ate it all but one tiny bite at a time. Remember the days when a favorite desert would barely last a day? Now it sits like your chocolate eclair in abandon and neglect. How dreamy is that. I think we (I certainly did) used food as a blanket of protection. It was our friend it loved us because it made us feel good. In part deep inside we needed love but we didn't know how to get it or nurture it. We substituted with something that felt good. Food will do that, then, it became a habit. Now food is not a blanket, it's just food, that what we need to live. That's what food is supposed to be. Now we can move on to some other way of nurturing our inner child. That fragile human being that needs love and acceptance so very desperately - mostly from ourselves. Really, it is not until we can love ourselves that we can be free. For me, loving me will be a life long pursuit, I am sure but I am well on the road to recovery. I am a "Recovering Obese Person." That's a thing and we know it!

At first, just the broth. After about 2-3 weeks, I started eating a little bit of the noodles. I needed something to "chew". Broth was not filling me up. Once I got on yogurt, it would satisfy my hunger a little. When I got onto Cream of Wheat last week, it was like a dream come true. The doctor and NUT told me that this week I can start eating Beans. Today I had a Black Bean burger patty. It was soooo delicious. I just ate the patty with a little ketchup on the side. I was half way through it and said to myself that I could eat the whole thing. Two more bites and it started hurting. So I ate a little more than half. Do you know people that have had the surgery and have received advice from them? I knew 4 people that have had it so they told me what to expect. I'm from the New Orleans area. Grew up in Metairie. Work in New Orleans. Now live in Slidell.

Hello everyone!!!! Im new to this forum even though I have been reading some of the topics before and after my surgery but today just decided to finally join and be part of the group Well My story is im a 25 year old single mom and back in December of 2013 I had the Lap Band surgery at my all time weight of 265 lb , by November of 2014 i had dropped to a low of 215 but there were some issues with the band and the doctor had to remove almost all the liquid and well with the holidays that made me gain almost 20-30 pounds easily. By this past summer I went to go get my band tightened but it had moved so much it was no longer accessible so my doctor suggested to get the Gastric Sleeve after removing my band. By this time I was back up to 240 lb Thankfully my insurance was quick to approve the surgery and had by surgery a week ago on September 23. Surgery weight was 233 and today im at 224 lb. Is this a normal weight loss? Is it too quick, too slow?! I left the hospital 1 day post op, not much pain, ive only had to take the liquid tylenol I was prescribed, nothing stronger. I do get weak and tired after walking around. Ive been able to go to the grocery stores and the mall for a bit but not too long (My poor toddler was getting cabin fever LOL) . My doctor did send me home on a full liquid/puree diet. I feel like that just so advanced compared to most who stay on a full liquid for a few weeks. Obviously I can only eat 3 or so spoonfuls before getting full. I mostly eat yogurt, crystal light, eas shakes and drink as much Water as I can. Today was my first day back at work, but my job was aware I would have to work sitting down and not usually on my feet all day like im use to, they've been great!! Well I am glad to be on this forum and get to know you all and your stories. I hope that this time around I can loose the weight and keep it off! My goal is really 180 but my doctor said I could get down to 155 lb. The day I step on the scale and im in the 100s I will literally cry and then have a party! HAHA!! Good luck to you all! PS- What has been your normal weight loss post op, like for 1 week-1 month? Thanks guys!

Fage plain yogurt (not vanilla) and mix it with a bit of any sugar free coffee syrup. Caramel and/or coffee liqueur are my favorites at the moment.

1. I don't cook much. Neither do I. I get a lot of pre-cooked meats from Trader Joe's and frozen veggies. I also used things like cans/pouches of tuna and salmon, canned sardines and mackerel, bags of peeled and hardboiled eggs, cartons of yogurt, string cheese, etc. There is no rule that says you have to become a gourmet cook! I can't be bothered. 2. I work at night and the options for ordering in are limited. I realize it will be better to bring my food most of the time anyway, but as I said - I don't cook much, so this will be new. Get some tupperware type containers. Add in a few ounces of meat (pre-grilled chicken breast, packet of flavored tuna, etc.), an ounce or two of thawed frozen veggies, and a tablespoon of salad dressing. shake. Or bring in yogurt or a hardboiled egg (you can buy bags of hardboiled eggs at Trader Joe's and other places). If you don't want to turn your life into slaving over a stove, don't! 3. I've never been one for chewing my food thoroughly. I tend to swallow my food in large quantities and one reason that accompanies that, though certainly not an excuse, is that my teeth aren't great. If there is any way you can, start working on getting your teeth fixed. Just as a general rule, this will be great for your overall health. If you can't do that, then at least practice taking in smaller quantities. Your teeth should not be too much of an impediment there. One additional reason you may want to look into getting your teeth taken care of -- many surgeons and anesthesiologists will not do any elective surgery on someone with a tooth infection or a loose tooth. So if those are issues for you, you may *need* to get them taken care of before your surgery, and preferably as much before the surgery as possible. 4. I have an over 2 liter a day of Diet Coke habit. I actually think I can kick this one This isn't a "think I can kick this one" item -- this is a "I will kick this one." It isn't optional . . . start practicing good mental habits now as well as good physical habits. Don't debate with yourself whether you can make the changes necessary. Tell yourself it isn't up for discussion and come up with a plan as to how it will happen. 5. I love food!!!! - I feel like I'm giving up my best friend, but it does feel similar to other addictions and I do want to be healthy. I can see myself in a new lifestyle regarding food - though, for me, it will mean changing everything. I think that's true for everyone here! We can all relate. We all love food and had to change how we expressed and indulged in that love. So make the best use possible of your medical team as well as resources like this forum and hopefully we can all learn and change together. Good luck!

Damn! I was just going to recommend that! That is my new favorite flavor too. It mixes awesome with yogurt too. If I can't find plain fage at the store, I will by the next best plain yogurt and add that to the container. Freeze it and you have awesome "ice cream".

@@Rani Summers. I had my vsg 9/23 but I'm on liquids for 4 weeks. What have you been eating? I can have yogurt and smooth soups but that's about it.

I drink 64oz exactly it takes so long to drink, I hate crystal light stuff, I hate fake sugar, but I started putting lemon in it and I drink a lot more and I've tried the turkey jerky and that went down ok but that was a one time thing. Meat has been really hard to eat it grosses me out sometimes but I try to eat it at least once a day 2oz but I eat beans and cottage cheese and yogurt, cheese stick. My calories range from 500-700 but I was told also not to worry to much about that just protein and low fat.

cottage cheese, canned meats, yogurt, beans(any kind). At three weeks I was still on full liquids. How long have you had your purees a few days? Also you really are not starving! Find something else to do besides thinking of eating, you need to get your head in the game!! Good Luck!!