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@@theatrejo -time yourself and measure. If you are eating for more than twenty minutes you are probably full. I would stick with hydration being you priority at this point. Yogurt is a slider so its hard for me to feel full on it at four months. I have pretty much been able to eat a 5oz cup from the first day of soft foods on 3 days post-op.

This early, I'm measuring everything - my stomach isn't going to tell me when I've had enough. One-third cup is a meal for me. Half of a greek yogurt container is a meal for me. Half an avocado.

You should be more afraid of dehydration than "over doing it." Just keep sipping constantly, slowly. Especially this early out, your signals about "full" and "hungry" are completely messed up (due to the surgery and your still-healing nerves and tissues), and you can't rely on them. You need to just aim for your targets in terms of fluid and protein and work as hard as you can to get there. Sip slowly, and take small bites of yogurt, and back off for a little bit if you get really uncomfortable.

I'm so afraid to over do it that I am no where NEAR getting in enough liquids. I am day 7 post op. I get hiccups but I get them whether I drink or not. So I can't use that as a tool to know I am full. I am just starting full liquids today. My Dr has allowed me yogurt and I am eating it very slowly. Im just having a hard time knowing when to stop and when to keep going. Oh and the thing I miss the most? Gulping down a drink! Sip sip sip sip sip!!!!

If it were me, I would call my surgeon. In the meantime, go back to things that are easy on your stomach. Mashed potato, pureed soup, mashed avocado, yogurt, pudding, scrambled eggs. I wish I could eat scrambled eggs. They make me sick too!

Anastasia, I didn't use the restroom for 5 days. It'll eventually happen. After I was banded I couldn't eat anything besides jello and maybe yogurt. A week post op, im now onto scrambled eggs and protein shakes. The gas pain will eventually go away as well. The walking really really helps, the pain lasted about 5 days for me. It will get better!! Good luck

Mine is very similar to yours. Breakfast and lunch can be a Protein shake (200 calories or less) or a 'Meal Replacement,' which is a protein Soup, either the brand the doctors' office carries or any other brand 200 calories or less. Dinner is a Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, etc. type meal of 400 calories. If the meal does not have enough calories, I am to eat something else to get to 400 calories, such as a side salad, green Beans, etc. I can also have two Snacks, between breakfast and lunch and after dinner - either a protein shake, piece of fruit, or yogurt. This is for 4-6 weeks pre-op.

I love fruit and it has many good Vitamins, but frankly, it is really just sugar in a healthy looking package. i eat very little - but do eat berries daily. As much as i love yogurt, if you are trying to control carbs - most yogurts have way high sugars and carbs. Consider eating plain/unsweetened yogurt (use those berries as sweeteners!) or buy a brand like carbmaster that has a moderate carb count of 8-9. Many yogurts are over 20 carbs. Protein bars are another high carb surprise. I moderate both - even now in maintenance. So, just a few suggestions, change the Breakfast to be more protein and lower carbs and I bet you will see a difference. I like to make egg beater omelette with veggies and low fat sausage - lots of protein an I get veggies in. Consider giving up ranch dressing and try something like a spritz of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (white is my favorite) - super low carb and olive oil is a very healthy fat.

If it were me, I would call my surgeon. In the meantime, go back to things that are easy on your stomach. Mashed potato, pureed Soup, mashed avocado, yogurt, pudding, scrambled eggs.

First, I would say don't beat yourself up. You really do have it in you to do this.... We all do! Second, stop drinking alcohol on the weekends. Especially 4-5 drinks. That is a lot of empty calories and heavy guilt. I completely understand the stressful job. I started carrying a cooler with me that has P3 Protein Snacks, Greek yogurt, Water and Protein shakes. If I get stuck or have forgotten to eat I have something healthy to fall back on. No matter the job, everyone is allowed breaks and meals. Is there a gym nearby you can join? Can you walk some steps or walk around the parking lot? Definitely log your food. I am absolutely overwhelmed with learning to eat a balanced diet, but like I said above, we can do this! We have it in us. The only other suggestion I can make is start over with a week of Clear liquids. Life is all about do-overs. I read somewhere once that we can't let failure define us, let getting back up and starting again and again and again and not giving up define us.

Such a learning curve... Now the hard part begins Who knew that eating a healthy balanced diet was soooo complicated?? Well not me. No wonder I've been overweight for 30 years. No wonder my children have no clue about nutrition. For some people, the surgery and recover may be the hardest part. Maybe even the low calorie count is the hardest part. As for me, the hard part begins now that I am eating a regular diet. I want to learn about balanced diets. I want to eat healthy. It's about so much more for me than just eating little portions. Trying to figure out how to get in the right amount of Protein, vegetables, fruits, starches, dairy, and fats. On top of that keeping an eye on calories, fat, carbs, protein, and Water count. Today I had nothing that I consider to be a high carb food, yet my carb count for the day was 110. I went back through each food to figure out where the carbs came in. I had a couple of salads today, fruits, healthy Proteins and fat free Greek yogurt, yet my fat count for the day was 43 gr. Way too high. I have been trying to get between 900-1000 calories and I was right at 920 so I decided to have a Greek yogurt after supper. Then I realize I forgot to log something snd my calories shot up to 1130 for the day. Please don't take this as complaining. I'm so glad to be going through this. I am so glad to have made this choice. And I LOVE to learn new things. It's just amazing to me what goes into this. Being healthy is tough!! Lol I learned a lot ever day. but the most shocking thing I learned today was that a margarita chicken flatbread from Chili's that they tout as being healthy, has 1,450 calories!!! Wow, I used to eat that for an appetizer. This was my meal for the day: BREAKFAST: 1/2 cup strawberries; 1/2 banana; 1/8 cup cashes; danon light&fit vanilla Greek yogurt LUNCH: 4 ounces mango grilled chicken breast; 1 cup fresco salad SUPPER: 2 oz pouch salmon with picata sauce; 1 cup salad with 1 Tbl of ranch Greek yogurt and 2 SF Popsicles through the day. I did take my supplements and got 64 ounces of water.

Dr Lopez called me within 1/2 hr of my initial inquiry. You can pay the deposit right through Bariatric Pal , You will also hear from Dr T who I think is an internal medicine Dr and reviews your health questionnaire. I know they are expecting or already have a new nutritionist. All your questions will be answered post haste. They will pick you up at the airport, get you back there and spoil you in between. The ice pops in Mexico are great and so is the liquid yogurt. Much nicer than ours. We you go back to recovery house from the surgical clinic you will have the best broth you have tasted.Had surgery approx a month after the initial contact. Did a two week pre-surgical diet. I am sure anyone at Bariatric Pall will talk to you any time you have a question including Dr Lopez. He is so nice, makes you feel right at ease. Have you looked up his FB page? I had surgery on July 17th and came home on the 21st. Two nights at the clinic and two at the recovery house. Since I got in late on the 16th I spent that night at the recovery house as well. So I guess that makes me almost 6 weeks post surgery. Anything else I can help you with just ask away,

Yay! Great job! And I bet that yogurt tastes amazing right now! Just remember, you may hit a stall here pretty soon, so don't panic! It's just your body's way of taking a little much needed rest after all that wonderful weight loss! Stay the course and keep up the good work!

Hi All! I had my VSG 8/14 and I'm down 21lbs in 12 days!! Doctor advanced me to soft foods and allowed a few oz of Pinkberry yogurt for a treat! Yummmm!!! I'm so proud of myself!!!

you have sutures inside that still needs to heal. you don't want to tear a suture or get food caught in the suture line. i was allowed on stage 2 to have soup that was emulsified so there wasn't any lumps in it. i even made my own using chicken beans and southwest flavors. i had 1 protein drink either vanilla protein with crystal lite fruit flavor or chocolate in decaf coffee for a poor mans mocha. a lite and fit greek yogurt and soup. ask your doctor about adding some soup to your stage 2. good luck

Mine was 2 oz lean meat + 1 oz green veggies (soft), or a poached egg over a couple tablespoons of refried beans, something like that. Or 3oz yogurt or cottage cheese.

So I had my surgery I week ago tomorrow. I went home after two nights in the hospital. Besides a little constipation I feel pretty good except all I want to do is lay around and sleep. I was hoping to get to the supermarket today but I was not feeling up to it. I'm off all the pain meds now (Oxycodone & Tylenol). I've been eating protein sakes & light yogurt but I'm really missing some real food like eggs or grilled cheese. What are the consequences of cheating with some Stage 3 pureed foods? Is it common to feel this weary one week post op? Thanks!

What works for me is regimentation, that is, repeating the same schedule every day. Weekends can be tricky, but I still try to stick to my schedule as closely as possible. Your menu may vary, but try to eat, drink, and walk on the same schedule. Below is an example I posted during my weight-loss phase. I found that the closer I stuck to it, the faster the weight came off. Good luck! As for carbs, mostly I get them from my shakes, Greek yogurt, and the very limited veggies I'm able to fit in after my Protein. Other doctors and nutritionists give you carb targets, but my doctor just says to limit them as much as possible. If you're not logging your food yet, I'd suggest using http://www.myfitnesspal.com/. It helps you keep track of your protein and fluids, but also can help you figure out if anything is going off track and affecting your weight loss. Okay, here's an example of my day: I keep a 2-quart jug and a 24-oz Tervis tumbler (with a handle) both at home and at work. I count my morning protein shake as a meal, not a Fluid. (30 grams of protein) 30-60 minutes later, I have a cup of coffee. (Count it as a fluid if you like.) After that, I drink a 24-oz. tumbler of watered-down, decaf, sugar-free iced tea, like Crystal Light throughout the morning. (Lots of frequent sips) Then I walk for 30+ minutes at lunch. Then it's lunchtime - tuna salad or chicken salad, or leftover protein from dinner. (16-22 grams of protein) and maybe a bite of veggies if there's room. About 45 minutes after lunch, I'll fill another 24-oz tumbler of iced tea and sip that throughout the afternoon, finishing by 30 minutes before my afternoon snack. At around 4:00 or 4:30, my afternoon snack is usually a Greek yogurt (12 grams of protein) or some leftovers. (This is also a good time to get in some veggies or a V-8 if you're getting enough protein at other times.) Maybe a cup of hot tea in the later afternoon. (Count it as a fluid you like.) Then dinner – again, getting 20-25 grams of protein from lean steak, fish, chicken, or pork, and maybe a bite or two of veggies. Finally, another 24-oz cup of iced tea or Water 30-45 minutes after dinner that I sip throughout the evening. If I'm hungry later, sugar-free Jello or sugar-free popsicles are good. And if I'm short on protein or still hungry, another yogurt or protein shake. (I'm not worried about the calories because this menu only provides 700-900 per day.) So that's 70+ grams of protein and 72+ ounces of fluid, with some exercise as well. If you have a regular enough schedule, you can follow it every day. If not, maybe a modified version will work. The big trick is in pre-planning your meals and your fluids, especially if you're going to be away from home or work. In those cases, I always make sure there will be something I can eat, or I bring along a Protein shake or some kind of meat to carry me through. I've also gotten pretty good at restaurant eating. I avoid the bread and salad, order chicken, steak, lamb, fish, or pork, trade in the starch for a second veggie, skip the dessert.... and end up taking half of the meat, and almost all of the veggies home. I know we need to learn to eat "normally", but I'm not there yet – especially when it comes to carbs. When I get to goal weight, I'll work on finding my new low-carb "normal". Hope that helps! Rog

So.....your diet is weird to me. Mine way WAY different and a lot more gentle on my new tummy. Week one, full liquids. Protein drinks, I used EAS carb advantage rich chocolate as they were not as sweet as most. 120ish calories 20ish grams protein. It took me an hour to drink one and I could drink 2 over the day if I was lucky. Usually 1 and 1/2. Also broth Soups, strained. Gatorade, watered down. Week two, purées. Refried Beans, loosened with Water. Hummus, guacamole, greek yogurt, Peanut Butter -- warmed, cream soups -- all a tablespoon max per sitting. Gatorade watered down. Week three, soft foods. Puréed chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad, all heavy on the mayo for moisture. Crab cakes -- no filler, mashed sweet potatoes with butter, scrambled eggs -- very wet loosened with milk, half an egg at most. Two tablespoons was pushing it. Gatorade watered down. Crystal light. Through these phases, I had nothing to chew. I could barely get 30 oz fluids, and water was not an option. Watered down Gatorade, Crystal light, and ... yeah -- nothing else was an option. I never hit my numbers, but I tried. Focus on liquid, not food. You can live without food, but you need water in whatever form, you just don't know it yet. pizza and nuggets at three weeks is a recipe for disaster.

Hi marcescobar22@hotmail.com, Yes, it can be super tough to get in your protein right after surgery! It sounds like you’ve got a good start with the protein powder in your broth and with your yogurt. I think adding a couple of shakes to your day should help you hit your goals. You might also look for a low-sugar protein shake (or protein powder). If you’re interested in “all-natural” foods, look for a shake labeled “natural” or sweetened with stevia instead of artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose. These are some suggestions: Pure Protein Whey Protein (vanilla or chocolate), About Time shaes (http://tryabouttime.com/), MRM whey concentrate, Jay Rob Protein, Terra’s Whey. If you can get in a couple of shakes a day, plus some protein in your broth, plus a yogurt, you should be pretty close to hitting that 60-gram goal. Also, remember to take your time. It’s not going to be easy to get protein down at this point so early after surgery. It can take 30 minutes or more to get a shake down. I hope that helps! Natalie

Hey all, Can you all tell me how you are getting in your Protein. Now that you are on solid foods? I am a month post op and I can not even finish a yogurt. I eat oatmeal as well but can only eat 2 or 3 spoons as well as not finishing a whole egg. Any recommendations

Some natural/Greek yogurt? Maybe with a drizzle of honey?

Had my surgery Aug 20th. Hate hate hate the clear liquid stage. Looking forward to pudding and yogurt on Thursday. No real pain other than up in my ribs and back. Hard to take a deep breath. I think this is from the hiatal hernia repair though. I went back to work AUg 24th. Tired mostly. ANd I am not coming close to my Protein or liquid intake. Hope Im not making myself sick because of it.

@@OKCPirate @@McButterpants I did some googling and there are some great trade in places near me so I'll try and see if I can trade in my bike for either a hybrid or a road bike. How heavy is your hybrid @@McButterpants? I live on the second floor and have to carry whatever bike I get up and down a narrow flight of stairs. That's part of the hassle with my cruiser. But I do like idea of being able to ride on rougher terrain at some point. @@catfish87 I did the yogurt this morning and didn't have any nausea but I was also drinking the Water with the electrolyte tab at every stop light. I have a couple cyclist friends who swear by Gu but I don't know if it's worth it for only an hour bike ride. Have you had any experience with it?

@@Indieflickers Yea, I'd skip the yogurt and see if that helps....dairy and exercise does not go together for me. I'd say since you're gonna be on asphalt and concrete, go to the bike shop, get fitted for a hybrid or a road bike. I live in a pretty big metropolitan area and there are TONS of used bikes available. My first road bike came from a bike shop....it was an aluminum frame Trek road bike. I put several thousand miles on it and then upgraded to a carbon Fiber bike last year. You should be able to find a good, VERY good slightly used bike for around $300-600 range depending on what you want. Maybe cheaper. Bike shops take trade-ins and should be able to steer you towards a good one. After you know the style and size you need, craigslist is a resource you may desire to look at as well. So many people buy one and don't ride it. And then theres always new....I see good Hybrids from $450 up. Road bikes will be more and carbon fiber = Much more. And really consider that heart rate monitor... I personally use a Garmin 310xt that works well for biking/running/etc. I would highly recommend it as a somewhat entry level multi-sport device that has a lot of info available. You'll be able to know for sure, just how hard you're working/distance/calories/etc. And edited to add: Make sure you get some good padded riding shorts/pants/bibs. After a long ride, you'll be glad you did.