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I'm not familiar w/ either doctor. Mine's in Houston and I love him and his office staff. You will need to be careful w/large pills after banding. Are these prescription meds.? If so, your dr. can probably prescribe another brand that's smaller or in liquid form. Time release meds. aren't good and need to be replaced w/ regular meds. A lot of solid pills can be broken up before swallowing. Capsules can be opened and mixed in a little yogurt or applesauce.

Try protein drinks like Unjury or Isopure. I also ate fudgsicles as well as popsicles, sugarfree on both. V8 filled me up better. If your doctor said yogurt and milk, he wasn't sticking to clear liquids.

I was banded 9/26, 10 days ago. I have been on protein shakes and broth (and 1/2 cup low carb yogurt once) ever since. I am getting weaker and now feel even shakey. I know I am supposed to go on mushies Monday but I think I really need to eat something. I have to work and my students are not the easiest bunch (teens with emotional issues). Does anyone know if there are rules and guidelines to mushy foods? Anything that I can puree? or ??? Thanks.

Okay, get this. I posted above about WW points and how I had eaten 21 points out of 25 by 4pm. I'm thinking "OMGosh, I'm sunk! Only 4 points left for the day!!!" but, know what? That thinking is all wrong. I only NEED 4 points for dinner. It's GOOD to have eaten that many points that early in the day. I had no trouble with overeating that night. My thinking IS off! I'm so blasted worried about using up all my points and that's the GOAL!!! And the earlier in the day, the better! Why would I be so idiotic as to save 10-12 points for after 6pm? Hellooo!! So, today I didn't count points. I did the Richard Simmons food Mover. (yeah, I still have all this stuff from my former unbanded life). Last night I got it all ready and slid in the card for 1200 calories, closed all of the empty windows, closed those dumb affirmations, and read up on what to do. this morning I start closing windows, 1 protien, 2 veggies and a protien, a fruit, another fruit, a dairy...blah blah. So at dinner I still had 3 starches left (huh?) and 2 protiens and 2 veggies. Wow! Oh! Plus a fat and my "extra" window! So for dinner I ate a fairly large salad...2 cups? iceburg lettuce, onion, 1/2 an avocado, chopped, some salad sprinkles for crunch, and 3 ounces of grilled chicken breast. I added a balsamic vinaigrette dressing and had a toasted roll. I don't know what food groups that falls into, but I closed 2 starches, the fat, the extra, 3 protiens (ate 1 too many), 2 veggies, whatever. I guess I had a dairy and a starch leftover for the day. Wow! Here's the kicker. I told hubby...wow, that was pretty easy doing the 1200 calories. I'm surprised and happy!! I wonder if I should turn the card over and do the Blast Off Week side? It doesn't say but I'm guessing it's 1000 calories? Guess what...it was already on the Blast Off Week! And it was easy!! What I learned today...I need to choose better. If I hadn't had the windows to close I never would have eaten that 1/2 banana, the small apple, or the yogurt. I have been complaining of beign hungry in the afternoons and I need to be eating! Not drinking coffee, sneaking halloween candy, nibbling crap. I need to eat! Real food. Earlier in the day. I love my band even more today. There was no way, pre-banding, I could have handled the Blast-Off Week card and gone to bed satisfied with my food intake for the day. I DO have a band around my brain! I can do this!!!! My band helps ME do it! I have been leaning on my band-and fighting my band- and now I'm going to use it well and do the work myself. Thanks Richard.

i hope nobody will shoot me with what i ll tell you but i think one week of clear liquids is enough! i could't stay 2 weeks in liquids diet so the 2nd week i added some yogurt and cottage cheese in my diet.

I think I recall reading somewhere when we eat yogurt it needs to be plain ??? Or can it be flavored I bought light Greek strawberry yogurt .... It dosnt say in my meal plans from the dr.

You can also flavor the plain yogurt with sugar free seedless jam/preserves. I did that with blackberry and raspberry and it was great!

Pb2 or protein powder added to Greek yogurt works good, tastes great and lots of protein.

I finally get to start mushies.......today! (Drooling!) My doctor gave me a rather abbreviated list of approved foods: Refried Beans Scrambled eggs Mashed potatoes Applesauce Yogurt Cottage cheese Cream of Wheat/ oatmeal pudding I'm wondering what other wonderful morsels you all have found to add to the above list that made this stage more enjoyable. I'm particularly interested in forms of Protein. I'm so excited..........I'm actually going to use a FORK!!!! LOL. Thanks! B

Honestly, the liquid diet is agony. There is no way around it. I cheated 3 times, and I will not do it again. And on full meals, not just a little something to tide me over. We are addicts, and our bodies are purging carbs/sugars/caffeine and whatever else is in our diets. Headaches and lethargy seem to be par for the course. The first few days were the worst by far, and I found that after I ate real food I was back at square one. So, if you stick to the diet it will get better. I am begrudgingly on day 5, one week to go. I do miso broth for lunch, or get bone broths that I season with a little Worcestershire or spicy seasonings, lime, lemon, you name it. Anything to make it more bearable. You can also get unflavored Protein to add to soups if you prefer. I have no experience with them, but a lot of folks including my surgeon has recommended them. My diet does not include yogurt, cream of wheat, meat, veggies or any food other than Protein shakes and clear liquids. Blows. Its suckiness is unavoidable but YOU CAN DO IT. Just power through. Get your warrior swag on and swallow those shakes! If they are truly unbearable talk to your nut. I also use almond extract, cinnamon, and vanilla extract to make them more palletable. I even used pumpkin pie spice in a vanilla shake and it was pretty darn good. Also Thom Kha and Thom Yum thai soup broths are indeed mighty tasty - but steer clear of Tom Kha, it is made with coconut milk which is very high in fat/calories.

Are you on Clear Liquids or full liquids? I'm post-op and still on full-liquids. I really wanted savory today. You can do Soups (or broth). I had some Thai Tom Yum Kha Soup broth for my dinner. For Breakfast and lunch I made a concoction of cream of wheat, plain Greek yogurt, and a pinch of dill and seasoned salt. It reminded me of Tzatziki sauce, and hit the spot. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I stocked up on (enough for 2 weeks) Cream Soups, broth, SF Popsicles, 0 cal flavored water (this has been a life saver), yogurt, protien powder, carb countdown milk, SF Jello. Make sure you have liquid tylenol (I got adult strength at WalMart), a heating pad can also help with gas, Gas-x chewables. Set up a comfy place to sleep if you have a recliner bring your pillows and blankets down to it because it was really more comfortable during the first few days - especially if you wont have anyone home to help you out of bed when you finally wake up. I brought a book and magazine to the hospital but was to spacy to concentrate on it for long. When you get in your room if they don't provide you with mouth swabs ask for them - they were great to get rid of the dry mouth, lips and throat from the breathing tube. You might not be allowed to drink anything until day 2 (I wasn't). Good luck,

Hey hey hey are we making excuses..... you haven't even tried any of them. Well I live in MD and I will be glad to show you skills in cooking. Everyone has liked those things that I have prepared. My feelings are hurt. You would be surprised at how good the coolwhip and yogurt is. You don't have to use graham crackers just do the coolwhip like icecream. Mix in your favorite yogurt. Lemon, strawberry, peach or banana are all so good. I am going to get the yoplait chocolate whip and try that one.

Hi Ramona - I just had the surgery August 3. I ate sugar-free pudding and Jello, chicken broth, and yogurt, mostly, and drank coffee, tea, and Water. Around day 3, I got really bad heartburn and gas problems that kept me from eating or drinking much of anything from day 4 through 7. Today, though, is day 8, and I'm feeling back to normal (thank goodness.) My energy is almost back, I have no more heartburn at all, and I'm able to eat solid foods again. And, by the way, I've lost 11 pounds already, so I guess that's the best news of all. Good luck to you!

I know this has been discused before, but this is more about kids consuming these products, this was passed to me in an e-mail and I thought I would share it here..... ARE SYNTHETIC SWEENENERS SAFE FOR KIDS? THE FEINGOLD ASSOCIATION WEIGHS IN According to a new Grocery Manufacturers Association survey, almost half of all grocery shoppers now look for product with reduced sugar, and last year, the food industry introduced 2,225 no-sugar or low-sugar food products, including diet sodas, cerealsfruit juices, Cookies, ice cream, bread, flavored milk, maple syrup and even bottled Water. With so many low-sugar foods available, the Feingold Association (www.feingold.org) has found that many parents are increasingly concerned about whether synthetic sweeteners are safe for their children. "I've never seen as much interest and confusion over sweeteners as I have recently," says Jane Hersey, the association's Director. "New sweeteners are coming on the market, manufacturers are slugging it out, and most parents are having a hard time keeping track of what their options are. We're offering the 'real skinny' on these sweeteners." *NutraSweet, Equal (Aspartame) According to Hersey, the Food & Drug Administration has received thousands of reports of adverse reactions to aspartame (NutraSweet) since its approval in 1981. (It stopped collecting these reports in early 1996.) The Feingold Association has also received many negative reports, leading it to add aspartame to the list of additives eliminated on the Feingold Program in 2004. Aspartame, which is 200 times as sweet as sugar, is the most profitable synthetic sweetener ever used. It is estimated that over 100 million people in the United States, including a large percentage of children and adolescents, drink aspartame-sweetened drinks on a regular basis. It is also used in low-calorie foods, pediatric medicine, and other products. "Unfortunately, some parents try to help their kids lose weight by giving them sugar-free foods and diet sodas that are sweetened with aspartame," says Hersey. "This is a huge mistake, because aspartame has been associated with hyperactivity, irritability, aggression, and concentration problems - not to mention brain tumors." Aspartame has a long list of critics, including government scientists. After investigating the industry-funded studies, FDA toxicologist Dr. M. Adrian Gross found that at least one of them "established beyond any reasonable doubt that aspartame is capable of inducing brain tumors in experimental animals." According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, the first safety study of aspartame produced a rate of brain tumors in the aspartame-fed rats that was 25 times higher than would be expected to occur naturally. The studies on aspartame were so fraught with irregularities that the FDA Chief Counsel recommended a grand jury be convened to investigate them (the first such request in the agency's history), and a public board of inquiry found they were inadequate on the issue of brain tumors. Three FDA scientists called the studies into question just weeks before a new FDA commisioner approved NutraSweet in 1981. The irregularities included surgery to remove tumors from the test animals and failure to determine if they were cancerous. From 1973 to 1990, there was a 67 percent increase in brain tumors in people over 65, with a 10 percent increase in all age groups. (The greatest increase started four years after aspartame's approval - in 1985, 1986 and 1987.) Aspartame is made of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine, as well as methanol, also known as wood alcohol. Products that contain aspartame are required to include a caution for people who cannot tolerate phenylalanine. According to Hersey, some manufacturers hide aspartame in foods, supplements, and medicines by simply saying "contains phenylalanine." The most frequent complaint attributed to aspartame use is migraine headaches (see www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/44/10/1787). *Neotame As its patent for aspartame was running out, the manufacturer developed a new, more potent version of the synthetic sweetener. By adding 3-dimethylbutl (a chemical the Environmental Protection Agency lists as hazardous) to aspartame, scientists drastically increased its sweetening power. Hersey also weighs in on the controversy surrounding the FDA's approval of neotame, including some critics' claims that some of the industry-funded studies had few subjects, flawed protocols, and were extremely short-term (as short as one day). Evidently, some subjects reported headaches after ingesting neotame, but the industry researchers concluded that they were not related to neotame ingestion. (The fact that migraine headaches are the most commonly reported negative reaction to aspartame in the FDA's files was not mentioned in their report.) Hersey points out that although the FDA approved neotame in 2002, Europe has still not accepted it. Neotame is not marketed directly to consumers as a tabletop sweetener but is used in several hundred different food products (including baked goods), often combined with other artificial sweeteners. Because this sweetener is 7000 to 13000 times as sweet as sugar (and 30 times sweeter than aspartame) only a tiny amount is needed. "Unfortunately, it's possible that neotame could be used in some foods without being listed, since the FDA doesn't require labels to include ingredients that make up less than one percent of a product" says Hersey. *Splenda (Sucralose) The no-calorie sweetener Splenda is made by treating sugar with chlorine, which appears to prevent the body from metabolizing it in the same way as sugar. The result is 600 times as sweet as sugar. Hersey points out that McNeil Nutritionals, the company that makes Splenda, is now embroiled in controversy over its slogan that it "is made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar." Both the Sugar Association and Merisant (which now makes Equal and NutraSweet) claim that McNeil's ad is misleading, giving consumers the impression that Splenda is natural. The Texas Consumer Association has asked the FTC to investigate McNeil's marketing campaign. Other critics claim that animal studies have shown that sucralose can cause shrunken thymus glands, as well as enlarged livers and kidneys, and call for long-term human studies on its safety. They also question the manufacturer's claim that it does not break down in the digestive system, saying that it decomposes into small amounts of 1,6-dichloofructose, a chemical that has not been adequately tested in humans. According to Hersey, although Splenda does not deteriorate in high temperatures, it can be difficult for home cooks to manage. She reports that when the San Francisco Chronicle challenged pastry chefs to use it in their creations, they were all disappointed with the results. *Shugr (Tagatose and Erythritol) Shugr, a brand new sugar substitute, may pose serious competition to the diet products now on the market, although its cost ($10.00 to $13.00 for a 3.4 ounce bottle) may be a drawback, according to Hersey. Marketed under the name Swiss Diet Shugr, this sweetener is made from erythritol and tagatose. Although Tagatose (also called Naturlose) is derived from milk, it is reportedly tolerated by people who are lactose intolerant. It looks and tastes like sugar, and can be used in the same ways. It is 92 percent as sweet as sugar but has just one-fourth of the calories. Like yogurt, it contains beneficial bacteria. In addition to being used in Shugr, Tagatose has been added to a few of Pepsi's and Kellogg's low calorie products. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol, but unlike some of the others, large amounts do not cause digestive upset. It has the appearance and texture of sugar, is 70 percent as sweet, does not promote tooth decay and has almost no calories. *Sugar Alcohols Sugar alcohols are also known as "sugar polyols" and "rare sugars." They include sorbitol, manitol, xylitol, and maltitol, lactitol, and isomalt, erythritol, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (a blend of several sugar alcohols). Hersey points out that there is a potential for adverse reactions from these sweeteners, including diarrhea, flatulence, and damage to various organs, if they are consumed in large amounts. "My advice would be, don't go out of your way to consume sugar alcohols, because they're probably in many of the foods you're already eating. They're often added to packaged foods like sugar-free candies and cookies to add bulk and moisture, as well as sweetness." *Sunett (Acesulfame-K) Sunett was first approved in 1988 as a tabletop sweetener and is now also used in baked goods, frozen Desserts, candies and beverages. This noncaloric sweetener, which is 200 times as sweet as sugar, is stable under high temperatures and is often combined with other sweeteners. "In order to hide acesulfame's unpleasant aftertaste, it is now being teamed up with aspartame in some products," says Hersey. "The scariest thing is that it's not clear if aspartame will need to be identified, because the small amount needed might allow it to get in under the radar. This is a common problem with synthetic sweeteners." Critics claim that the safety studies required for Sunett's approval were badly flawed and that there is evidence that this sweetener has cancer-causing properties. *Sweet'N Low, Sugar Twin (Saccharin) Saccharin, which was discovered in 1879, is 300 times sweeter than sugar. When a 1977 study showed that saccharin caused bladder cancer in rats, the FDA tried to ban the sweetener. But after a public outcry (fueled in part by media reports that the lab rats were fed the equivalent of about 800 diet sodas daily), Congress passed a law placing a moratorium on the ban while additional safety studies were conducted. The law also mandated that any foods containing the sweetener carry a label warning that it "has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals." While some scientists contend that animal studies don't always predict how a substance will affect humans, in the late 1970s, the Food & Drug Administration and the National Cancer Institute conducted a study finding "suggestive evidence" that heavy saccharin users (those using six or more servings a day) may have an increased risk of bladder cancer. The requirement for warning labels was lifted in 2000 and saccharin continues to be widely used in soft drinks, baked goods, jams, canned fruit, candy, and dessert toppings, as well as a tabletop sweetener in restaurants. *High Fructose Corn Syrup "Although high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has become the major sweetener used in soft drinks and is commonly found in 'Fruit Drinks,' most people know little about its side effects," says Hersey. These side effects can include loss of Iron, magnesium, and zinc, as well as interference with the heart's use of magnesium, copper and chromium. Critics contend that HFCS may also contribute to childhood diabetes. In addition, HFCS has been linked to obesity, according to the April 2004 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition article entitled "Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity." The authors note, "The increased use of HFCS in the United States mirrors the rapid increase in obesity ... The digestion, absorption and metabolism of fructose differs from those of glucose." *Traditional Sweeteners Hersey encourages people who are nervous about the risks of synthetic sweeteners to use traditional sweeteners, such as granulated and confectioner's sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, and pure maple syrup. Those looking for a no-calorie choice can use stevia. Some health-conscious consumers prefer to use less processed forms of sugar, including evaporated cane juice, cane sugar crystals, and raw sugars such as Turbinado. Other natural sweeteners include barley malt and rice syrup. "The Feingold Association is not anti-sugar," says Hersey. "Some people have vilified sugar so much that it has backfired to the point where parents are giving their kids foods loaded with synthetic sweeteners like aspartame, assuming that 'sugar-free' means 'healthy.' We recognize that most people eat too much sugar, which can lead to cavities and other health problems. But that's the point -- we know what sugar does. We don't know enough about these synthetic sweeteners, and what we do know is very disturbing." "Any new chemical that is added to our food should first have to pass rigorous testing by independent laboratories (not by the manufacturer) to ensure that it is safe. Much of the 'testing' now taking place is being conducted on millions of unwary consumers, including our children." The Feingold Association The Riverhead, New York-based Feingold Association (www.feingold.org) was founded in 1976 by parent volunteers to help families of children with learning and behavioral problems, as well as chemically sensitive adults. The charity's advisory board includes medical professionals from a variety of institutions, such as Johns Hopkins University, the University of Rochester, Stony Brook University, and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. The Feingold Association offers a dietary program developed by the late Benjamin Feingold, M.D., Chief of Allergy at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco. The Feingold Program eliminates certain synthetic food additives and foods that have been shown to trigger hyperactivity, attention deficits, and other problems. Many studies back the link between diet and behavior/learning problems (www.diet-studies.com/adhd.html). The Feingold Association researches brand name foods and provides members with information about which foods are free of harmful additives. Its Foodlists contain thousands of acceptable brand name products and its newsletter, Pure Facts, provides monthly updates. Members of the association also receive a book on the Feingold Program (which includes recipes and a menu plan), a Fast Food Guide, Mail Order Guide, e-newsletter and product alerts, as well as access to telephone and email help-lines. An online message board, recipe board and chat room are also available. Jane Hersey A former teacher and Head Start consultant, Jane Hersey has been Director of the Feingold Association since 1985. She is the editor of the Association's newsletter, Pure Facts , and author of Why Can't My Child Behave? and Healthier Food for Busy People , both of which have been recommended by The Washington Post. Hersey has frequently lectured at educational associations, universities, hospitals, medical groups, and other organizations and has testified before the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the 1980s, she helped initiate a low-additive school food program that lasted for several years in Fairfax County, Virginia, which has one of the largest school districts in the country. She has been interviewed by Woman's World, Baltimore's Child, the Des Moines Register , Cincinnati Enquirer, Fort Myers News-Press, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Charleston Post and Courier, ABC's Nightline, and countless radio programs. Her articles have appeared in publications such as Mothering Magazine, Welcome Home , Fostering Perspectives , and New Living.

Hi all: One of our fellow Bandsters, called me yesterday excited about an awesome and informative show on "The View" yesterday. There was some excellent information and the featured guest was Joy Bauer, who wrote several cookbooks and nutrition books, the latest being "Cooking with Joy". Read below what the show was about! She said it was EXCELLENT and wished she had taped it!!! Maybe we can catch the re-run. ******************************************* The View Tue., Aug. 16: "Weight Loss" special Tuesday, August 16th (Originally aired 6/20/05) Today's show was all about getting in shape! Since recent studies have expressed that eating dairy may actually help you lose weight, we recruited nutritionist Joy Bauer to explain exactly what that entails as well as to disclose other foods that also vow to assist in shedding those extra pounds. Below you will find a brief description of the topics discussed on this morning's program. For more nutritional advice, pick up a copy of Joy's latest book Cooking with Joy. This publication is now available through the ABC TV Store. Fiber Insoluble fiber takes a longer time to chew and provides volume to food without adding a lot of calories. All-Bran Cereal Low-Carb Bread Wheat Bran Soluble fiber helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, which ward off hunger and cravings. Strawberries Apples Pears Steel-cut oats oatmeal Chickpeas Black Beans JUICY FOODS Fruits and vegetables with a high Water content "built in" helps to fill you up resulting in eating less collectively throughout the day. Drinking straight water separately does not have the same effect since it leaves the stomach more rapidly. Watermelon Lettuce Tomatoes Cucumbers Mushrooms Grapefruit Cantaloupe LEAN Proteins Lean proteins can slightly rev up your metabolism after ingestion. To calculate your daily personal requirements, multiply .50 x your body weight in pounds to find out how many grams your intake should be. chicken breast Canned light tuna Shrimp cocktail Turkey breast Tofu Turkey burgers DAIRY There is some evidence that ample dairy can help promote weight loss. Stick with low-fat or non-fat sources and reap the other benefits from Calcium as well, bone health, colon protection, alleviate menstrual cramps and help manage blood pressure. Non-fat yogurt Part skim string cheese Skim milk Low-fat or fat-free cottage cheese Low-fat or fat-free cheese SPICY FOODS Capsaicin has been shown to increase fat oxidation. However, studies have yet to prove that hot spice can promote weight loss. On the other hand, studies have reported that people are often satisfied with less food when the meal is spicy hot. Plus, you automatically eat slower and drink more water. Chili peppers, jalapenos Habaneros Hot salsa Spicy vegetarian chili Stir-fry veggies with chili peppers DIET SODA A study from The University of Texas has shown that people who drink diet soda are more likely to become obese because they are over compensating and give themselves permission to eat high caloric foods. Bottom line is you must be accountable for the calories you intake and drink water! Next, Jorge Cruise, weight loss expert and author of The 3-Hour Diet, showed us how the things we do in our daily routines, such as brushing your teeth and going to the mall, can actually burn calories and help us lose weight. Below you will find a brief description of the topics discussed on this morning's program. For details on how to set your metabolism in motion and for a free weight-loss profile ($40 value), please visit 3hourdiet.net. Furthermore, The 3-Hour Diet is now available through the ABC TV Store. The Ultimate Calorie Countdown Brushing Your Teeth 2x a day = 46 calories = 322 calories per week Getting Dressed 10 minutes of extreme activity = 100 calories maximum a day = 700 calories per week Pushing a Stroller Working with the stroller (i.e., opening, closing, picking up the baby) 3x a week for an hour = 1,800 calories per week Sitting and Eating If you eat 400 calories of food per meal you will burn 100 calories from chewing and digesting, 3 meals (at 400 calories each) and two Snacks (at 200 calories each) per day = 2,800 calories per week HOUSEHOLD CHORES Vacuuming 3x a week for 10 minutes sessions = 300 calories per week Doing Laundry Vigorous activity once a week = 600 calories per week Cleaning House Deep cleaning for an hour once a week = 600 calories per week Grocery Shopping Vigorous activity for an hour once a week = 600 calories per week THINGS YOU DO FOR FUN Playing with your Kids 3x a week for 30 minutes intervals = 1,400 calories per week Sex 2x a week for 10 minutes = 200 calories per week Shopping at the Mall Actively moving around the mall once a week = 400 calories per week THINGS YOU DO FOR EXERCISE Swimming Biking Jumping Rope Running Pilates or Yoga Weight Training Each individual activity 3x a week at 30 minute intervals = 900 calories per week Then we met two women, who each lost more than 130 pounds through weight loss surgery, who felt that while the physical results were what they expected the emotional results put a whole new weight on their shoulders.

I love my Magic Bullet too! I just made fruit & yogurt smoothies yesterday morning for my son and I with it. I like that you can pulse it or all out blend with it. That way you can leave fruit chunkies, or blend it smooth. Cheers!!!

Okay, I get the ledge. I replied to a post by Lins...leeme find it in a sec, that was about perfectionsism. Perhaps that is the culprit? You set a goal, you want to go about it well, even perfectly, and the mind game begins. It's the food demons, it's the "set myself up for failure just to prove myself right" thinking (as if fat is better than wrong?!but at least right is good? better than nothing, and easier to prove). Just some thoughts. I'd love to dig into this more with everyone. I'm right here with you. Here's that thread...see if any of that rings bells for you? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7972 Another thought about excuses...speaking form personal experience, of course. I think in excuses. All day. I'm justifying. I'm managing, problem solving, making excuses for what isn't good enough...not enough time, other priorities, whatever for ANYTHING! Didn't sweep the kitchen floor, didn't take a shower until the last minute and now I'm late, didn't prepare the nice dinner I intended to and now it's chicken pot pies from the freezer for hubby and kids...you get the deal. All day excuses. So I munched the almonds, made me hungrier, worked the yogurt into my calorie budget, set myself up for failure by challenging myself. I THINK what helps me is a good dose of putting myself in my place. Since when do I have to be perfect? Who requires all these excuses? ME? Hello, it's MY LIFE ANYWAY!!!!! So who the hell am I arguing with?! OMG!!!! And I find some peace and calm and a bit of self-love and sigh...breathe...let it go...slow...peace...it's okay. And maybe I'm not so hungry after all. I can decide to not eat for another hour and a half. I don't have to create stress to create an atmosphere of excuse-making in my life in order to justify my band rage. Wow, that was good for ME! Thanks!

Alex, take a good, long look at me and bomb the yogurt joint instead of walking in. My entire problem started with one bad decision. You've done this amazing job, so stick with what you've been doing. You can have frozen yogurt some other time when you don't want it so bad, okay? Does that make sense?

If you look carefully, not all salads are a good choice anyway. The blt salad at wendy's has like 50 gms of fat! I get fast food at work too, but I throw out the bun and toppings, and eat just the meat. I can't do french fries so no issue there, I eat the innerds of things, and skip mayo, and/or cheese when I can. I like taco bell for the zesty chicken bowl and pinto's and cheese, I like the yogurt parfait from Mcd's, and the grilled chicken off the sandwich... if you look carefully you can find semi-decent choices at most places.

I did that with full fat yogurt not too long ago. That is most definitely an NSV . Congrats!

Talk to your surgeon when you see him. You should be allowed to have soup...not just broth in the next few days. My regimen went like this: 1 week clear liquids (broth, watered down juice, water & protein shakes), 1 week full liquids (all of the week 1 + soups with nothing in them, like tomato soup or chicken soup with no noodles/meat, tomato juice, coffee (no cream)), 1 week of pureed foods (all previous, then blended soups, like bean or veggie, plain yogurt, baby food (low sugar), unsweetened applesauce), 2 weeks of soft food (all previous, scrambled egg, blended cottage cheese, hummus, and the like), and finally ease myself into regular food. I am 8 weeks out. I can eat anything at this point, but in very small amounts. I can eat only about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of most foods, and less of some heavy foods, like meat.

No bread. I'm 7 1/2 months out, and I'm just now able to tolerate bread. Broth, creamy soups, yogurt, jello these things wont hurt your tummy, or make you slime like something heavy like bread!

The recovery from the swelling varies from person to person. My surgery was 10/25 and I am mostly on puree but can do mushy if I chew it to puree. I am full on 3 oz.And I am still getting 3/4 of my Protein from protein powder. I like the unjury unflavored mostly I just blend it 1% milk but I also blend it into cottage cheese, you're and no added sugar pudding. I have a hard time with smells and the powder really grossed me out for a while so I mixed the powder right into the yogurt and cottage cheese so it's ready to eat when I want it. I add 2 scoops (42gr) per large tub. The smell doesn't bother me now, now it's just bacon, car exhaust, wet dogs, teen bys laundry...

I get mine from farmers market. He makes sheep’s milk Greek yogurt with fruit and no added sugar. It’s so much better than anything from the grocery. The sheep’s milk makes it so creamy and incredible.