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while I was getting adjusted to the green zone my doctor insisted I eaat 3 meals of solid food a day. now that I have reached the green zone eating isn't of concern. I told her that I have a green protein smoothie in the morning and she was all okay with it. lunch I frequently am not hungry for so cottage cheese, yogurt, protein bar etc. but I always sit down and have a good dinner. the only concern I have is getting the protein in that I need. sometimes though I am always hungry so I am playing mind games to get through the day.

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

Hey all! Last Tuesday, I reached the beginning of the Phase 2 diet. I've been told that I can eat eggs (boiled, scrambled), non-fat yogurt, non-fat jello (I'm honestly not sure if that includes the gelatin and pudding...any suggestions?); cottage cheese; pureed Lentil soup; cooked and canned vegetables and fruit; applesauce; mashed avocado; squash soup; and mashed bananas. I don't eat Squash and Bananas as I've always hated the taste. Did anyone else find this phase a bit, well, confusing? I legitimately can only eat a few spoonfuls of any of this at any one time. For instance today, I have had about 3 or 4 mini-spoonfuls of yogurt, a cup of mandarin oranges in 100% juice, cottage cheese, and a few pieces of warmed sourdough bread. Yesterday, I attempted to eat scrambled eggs with a cauliflower thin and it did not go well I'm also having a very difficult time keeping up with the correct fluid intake. Quite frankly, I'm sick of water. And the sweetness of Crystal Light can become overwhelming after a while. Next week I can begin eating (or trying to eat) shrimp and crab legs. I'm actually really excited. Despite these little obstacles, I have lost 29 pounds since my surgery date on 3/23 I really was just looking for a place to vent and accept any suggestions/positive feedback if possible.

The soup isn't too shocking, it's liquid, similar to yogurt. I can eat far more yogurt than dense protein. I ate a 5.3oz cup of yogurt this morning and was still hungry. For lunch I ate 2-2.5oz of meat and was full for hours. I can drink way over a cup an hour of water and I don't eat soup but if I did it would be the same. If you are following your "rules" sticking to the consistency recommended, starting with protein and eating vegetables if still hungry, taking your time, drinking a minimum of 65oz of water a day and taking in a minimum of 60g of protein a day and most importantly avoiding sliders than you are good. Maybe your loss isn't what you hoped for, but even if you are losing 2# a week you are doing great. Just stay consistent, watch your empty calories and sliders, stay hydrated and follow your rules. If you have access to a nutritionist utilize them, document on my fitness pal and get friends off here so you can see their food journals.

I eat every 2-3 hours and only eat around 200 calories or less at a time. When you're only eating a small amount, you get hungry faster. For example Breakfast might be coffee with sugar free cream and a greek yogurt, mid morning snack is 1/8 cup of trail mix. lunch is a low carb Lean Cuisine, like their steak and broccoli, afternoon snack is maybe 1/3 cup sweet potato. dinner is a 2oz piece of fish and maybe a scrambled egg. I end up eating around 1200 calories a day and have found that this works perfectly for me. Also, I don't really limit carbs on purpose, I just don't feel that great if I eat bread, rice or Pasta. The carbs in the yogurt and sweet potato seem to go down fine. Hope this answers your question but remember all of us are different. I agree with the above posters, we have to find what works for each of us. Good luck. Happy sleeving

I loved all my cream soup options, but other things I drank were drinkable yogurt, diluted and pureed split pea soup, protein shakes doctored with Mio and Dasani flavor drops, PB2, pureed peaches and mangos, and Torani syrups (nearly unlimited flavor options) . I also added unflavored protein powder to..... French onion soup base, miso soup, egg drop soup, lobster bisque, beef broth, chicken broth, Swansons tortilla soup base, hot and sour soup base.

I have moved on from Phase I and have added creamy soups, liquid yogurt, and protein shakes. I felt to unhealthy to do all clear liquids. I am still breastfeeding my son and have notice a HUGE decrease in milk supply so I decided today that I must add on the protein shakes. My doc said okay to add the yogurt and soups on day 4 if I was doing really well on all clears. They said not to start my Atkins shakes (protein shakes) until day 7. I am going against there advice because I really feel this is what's best for my son right now.

Well just wondering how those of you who have started their pre-op are doing? I don't "officially" start until Monday but, I did try it today and whoah boy was it hard! I think my biggest problem is drinking plenty of water. I'm not an extremely busy person but I am VERY forgetful and I plain forget to drink. My pre-op diet is not as strict as some I have to have 4 servings of protein drink 2 w/ milk, 2 w/out. The ones not mixed with milk are TOTALLY disgusting I have to choke it down! I''m also allowed low carb yogurt, SF jello, SF pudding, unsweetened applesauce, tomato juice, certain raw veggies, and cream of wheat. I can't do tomato juice or the cream of wheat, I've tried and it's just nasty. I was starving and ended up eating dinner with my kids. It's no biggie as I'm not supposed to officially start until Monday but am worried I won't make it without cheating and I REALLY don't want to cheat but DAMN I was starving most of the day today! So I was wondering how some of you are doing and if you making it through and HOW?!LOL!

Breaking the need to eat something crunchy is a bit odd for me on this diet. I am a crunch-o-holic. I am hanging in there because the end result will be well worth it but crunchy would be nice. My diet is mostly liquid with a bit of fruit, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Rather boring but doing the trick.

Here are some really great ideas especially the gingerbread one Creamsicle: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz Water + 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder + 1/2 cup mandarin oranges, drained + 2 skim milk ice cubes + 1 packet Splenda. chocolate Cherry Delight: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop chocolate protein powder + 3/4 cup frozen cherries + 2 skim milk ice cubes Peanut Butter Cup: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop chocolate protein powder + 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter coffee Lovers Delight: Blend 8 oz skim milk + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 2 skim milk ice cubes + 1 Tbsp. instant decaf coffee + 1/2 tsp. vanilla + 1 packet Splenda Mocha Java: Blend 8 oz skim milk + 1 scoop chocolate protein powder + 2 skim milk ice cubes + 1 Tbsp. instant decaf coffee + 1 packet Splenda Almond Delight: Blend 8 oz skim milk + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 2 skim milk ice cubes + 1 Tbsp. instant decaf coffee + 1/2 tsp. almond extract + 1 packet Splenda strawberry Shortcake: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 1/2 cup frozen strawberries + 1 packet Splenda. Gone Bananas: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + small frozen banana + 1 packet Splenda.(Hint: when bananas start to get brown spots, slice and store in freezer baggie for use in future smoothies) My friend sent me these ideas and they are all fabulous Mango Mama: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 1/2 cup frozen mango cubes + 1/2 banana + ice Eggnog Bliss: Blend 8 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + pinch of pumpkin pie spice or vanilla + 2 pinches allspice + 1/4 tsp. rum extract + 2 frozen skim milk cubes Gingerbread Man: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 1 graham cracker + 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon + 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract + 2 frozen skim milk cubes I LOVE this one it taste like the season) Pina Colada: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 1/2 banana + 1 frozen OJ cube and 1 frozen pineapple juice cube + 1/4 tsp. coconut extract Pumpkin Pie In the Sky: Blend 4 oz plain nonfat yogurt or skim milk + 4 oz water + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 1/2 cup canned pumpkin + 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice + 1/2 cup frozen butternut squash.This is a Winnner!!! Super low cal protein shake recipes Dreamy Creamsicle: Blend 8 oz (flat) diet orange soda + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + 4 frozen lowfat vanilla yogurt cubes (only 150 calories!) Cherry Pie: Blend 8 oz (flat) diet cherry soda + 1 scoop vanilla protein powder + ice (This one only has ~100 calories!)

I have mentioned it in other threads, but I will add it here. My Pumpkin Spice Protein shake. I mixed canned pumpkin, vanilla yogurt, vanilla protein powder, a small amount of milk, packet of Splenda, ice and cinnamon. It is so yummy!

Foods I tolerate well are greek yogurt, tilapia, salmon, scrambled eggs, pea soup w/ham, chili, cheese, meatballs if they're moist, shrimp, chowder, hummus, and Peanut Butter. Fish has been my 'safe' food - it rarely bothers me. Foods that make me painfully sick are tuna (three miserable times - I'm giving it up for a while), pot roast chopped in the food processor and moistened w/broth, wonton soup, re-heated anything, and pills bigger than a small tablet. Everyone is very very different. Introduce new foods slowly, small bites and chew-chew-chew, and learn to recognize when to stop. One last little bite will mean the difference between satisfied and suffering. Always follow your own doctor's advice. We all can give advice but your doctor knows YOU better than we do. :-)

I started really watching what I was eating again back in February, and couldn't lose a pound no matter what I ate. I met with the nutritionist and we figured I needed to change things up a bit.. also a suggestion from a post lap bander too..well, it worked.. I was in a rut, eating the same things almost every day, yogurt, Cereal, salad, chicken.. Now I eat low sodium and fat Soup, Protein shakes, cottage cheese, lean deli meats along with the other stuff and dropped 7.5 lbs!!! in 3 weeks.. One of the big things was eating a little something between lunch and dinner.. but.... my biggest accomplishment is getting my stress and worries under control. I don't know how it could make that much difference, but for 3 weeks I have been seeing a therapist and I am so much more in control of my emotions I feel different. Life is far from stress free or perfect, but being able to sleep at night and not think of a hundred things that are going on is so much better. I have one more meeting with the therapist before she signs off for me, and said she would be there if I ever needed to see her again, and that is very important to me. I want to be able to check in should the need arise. I'm not even upset that it has moved things back for me anymore, it has made me feel stronger!

Sugar free jello, Popsicles, protein chicken broth ( Unjury brand is yum) Greek yogurt whips, sugar free pudding. Life savers.

Heres the thing; The only time I've both felt healthy and was able to maintain my weight, I was vegan. I miss it. My first priority RIGHT NOW is to lose weight (40lbs by October), but I'd like to do it without eating meat and my system is sensitive to dairy, so while I can eat certain things (hard cheeses, yogurt and cottage) without too much problem, I can't have a lot of it. The surgeon wants me to go on a ketogenic diet. I'm ok with that but really upset with the amount of meat they are suggesting. I don't want to drone on and on, because I don't want people to think I judge them for their dietary choices, it just really bothers me to eat meat and the amount that they are suggesting is ENORMOUS! (most meat has no carbs and is high protein) I spiritually can't do that. I'm willing to give in and eat meat several times a week in order to add variation and follow the diet more easily, but that is the most I can do. Does anyone else on this diet have any suggestions of other things I can eat? Because right now the list is dark leafy greens,mushrooms, seitan(if made with vital wheat gluten and not flour) and tofu. I can do a lot with these, but if any one has anything to add, I'd deeply appreciate it.

Well its certainly nice to know that I am not alone. I thought maybe there was something wrong with me because I constantly feel as though something is caught in my throat after I eat, even if its not 2oz. I am just now on mushies and everything that is not yogurt makes me feel this way. Is this because I am eating too much? I often feel as though I need to have something to drink right after cause its caught in my esophogas but maybe I just need to not eat so quickly or chew better or not even eat the 2oz. Everyone sure is right though about sometimes it tastes so good that you don't want to stop. Does anyone know if string cheese counts as a soft food or is it a solid?

I'm hoping that I still have a very swollen stomach and that is why I can't eat/drink a lot. I've tried 5 different Protein drinks and after 1 or 2 ounces (takes over an hour to drink) I am so full that I can not drink or eat ice chips for hours afterwards. If I try to drink anything even an hour later, I vomit and it is not easy. It's hard, forceful dry heaves and then foamy Protein Drink comes back up. Protein powder, premade shakes...they are all the same reaction. I'm on creamy Soups, refried Beans, chicken salad etc..this week. I have not cheated or eaten anything that isn't on my list from my doctor. I am not hungry at all and nothing even looks appetizing. This is what I've had today & yesterday and that has been basically what I've had everyday for 2 weeks. One day I had shredded chicken mixed with plain greek yogurt & eggs to make a runny chicken salad. 1/4 cup mashed potatoes & gravy 16 oz bottle of Water (working on bottle 2) 3-4 spoons (reg size spoon) of creamy tomato Soup (blended with Greek plain yogurt & a piece of babybel cheese) 16 oz cup of ice chips 3/4 of a sf Popsicle (the type in the plastic tube) Yesterday I ate 1/4 c refried beans with 1/2 tsp shredded cheese 2 bottles water 1 cup of ice chips 1 chunk of carrot & 1 chunk of potato mashed and mixed with gravy from homemade beef stew 5 spoons of Greek vanilla yogurt I can't take any of my medicines (they still need to be crushed) I mix with applesauce and nibble slowly but I have thrown up every time. I quit everything last week and I'm hoping my doctor will allow me to swallow pills tomorrow. I'm having bad fibro flares, my RA is acting up, I have Sjogren's Syndrome as well so being off meds is really bad.

Hey, I chose the place because after seeing this forum, i realised what was important in a banding centre. At first i had a consult (in person) at the toronto cosmetic clinic. Then came on here, figured i might as well get another consult on the same day so i wasnt wasting my time travelling to toronto. Looked like TLBC was a good one, so i chose it...i still didnt really have too much info. So anyways, i fill out the forms for the TLBC consult (which they could do over the phone, which was great!) And they needed forms filled out, info and such, whereas toronto cosmetic clinic didnt require anything, and wouldnt do a consult over the phone. I slowly realised that tcc wasnt the best choice because they didnt seem to be as organised and specialised like TLBC. It wouldve been nice to go to the consult in person i think, but its ok. So yeah, i dont know much about SWLC (Dr. C/Dr. Mumford) I didnt do a consult...plus theyre farther away for me...so..whatever, but i'm sure theyre great and people who have gone liked them i think. But anyways, one week out, i feel really good, I was out walking yesterday...took me a few days before i wanted to walk but its better now. I'm glad i did it so far, because i now feel like there is an end to the weight issue that has been plaguing me now for the last 10 years (half my life). I'm sure i'll be more happy i did it once i start eating regular food again. I TOTALLY know what you mean about not being able to eat lots, i think its normal, i think thats our addiction to food...i know i was addicted to food, i'm happy to read many posts that once you start feeling satisfied with food, and not always have to feel full your perspective changes...but i'm not there yet. Yeah, i'm doing good...i lost a lot in the pre-op diet...now THAT is a hurdle. *also to compare the 2 best places in toronto, at the TLBC the pre-op diet is cottage cheese(i hate it) and yogurt, whereas the SWLC is opti-fast (I THINK, not 100% sure) which is pretty expensive, like i think it will run you 400$ for the pre-op diet. Whereas my yogurt for the 10 days probly cost me under 100$. But yeah...Read lots of posts, if there was a counter that said how long i was on here just reading posts taking it all in....i'd have a lot stacked up. Also....dont just read the good stuff...its great to check out the before and after section, but also go in the complications sections, see what can happen. I'm still a newbie in all this, so i still have more questions than answers but hopefully it was helpfull.

Regular foods is kinda a misnomer I guess. I've been on straight liquids for several days and only deviated from that for some grits/polenta. Other then that its been pudding, yogurt, frozen popsicles (yummy!!), jello, and protein drinks. You sound like you have about the same driving restriction as me. I have a lot of books, but I'm still feeling very restless.

I was only required to be on a low-fat diet prior to surgery, but also chose to do a pseudo liquid with protein drinks, yogurt, and a protein bar per day.

Hello! Everything went well! I'm one week post op today and down 28.5 pounds since November. Probably about 5 since surgery. Everything gets better every day. I wake up a little stronger, less pained and more encouraged. I worked from home yesterday and plan in going in today. Have to drive to Santa Cruz from San Jose so a little concerned but its reverse commute and I will just take my time! No pain meds since Saturday so I am good to go. I can start some yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce today so I'm happy about that. No problem keeping things down I just have to remind myself constantly. How are you doing?

Well I have a high white blood cell count...had to rush to hospital to get lab work done so i can get on antibiotics before next week's surgery...it turns out I have bladder infection.....the pre op diet is really hard i'm eating more cottage cheese than I think I'm allowed, but I'm drinking bouillon cubes, broth, protein shakes and lots of sf popscicles and sf jello and light yogurt....so hopefully my liver will shrink from me just eating that stuff..what do you thinK?

I haven't at all. I am still progressing my diet as my doctor orders. They have a strict method of gettimg back to all foods. So far, no nausea or vomitting. I eat cottage cheese, soup, eggs, pudding, yogurt, oatmeal, etc. Much better than clear liquids! I add things back in every week. Jill

Im also about two weeks out. As far as feeling full i have read on other threads a lot that you dont really have the fullness feeling till your on solid foods. My full liquid diet sample meal plan has me eatting something every 1-1 1/2 hours and water inbetween. But that changes when you are back on solids. I just work on my liquid intake and vitamins and have soups, pudding or yogurts as meals. Also i left the hospital on stage three full liquids. Aldo have a nutribullet that works wonders on soups so my stomach has work.

I am 3 weeks post op and on day 2 of soft or what I call real foods. Started yesterday with 1 oz tuna with a little reduced fat mayo. I had to use a tsp for consistency and even then it found it dry. Probably doesn't help that my mouth has been very very dry despite all the liquids. So this morning...giving Morningstar veggie sausage patty a go. Starting with a half. The good news is that I like it even though I disliked them a lot pre surgery. The odd thing is that I am finding them spicy. And these are the regular ones, not special flavor or spicy. I suspect heartburn might result. Anyone have suggestions for what was the best tasting, easiest to digest foods to start with? I know everyone is different. I had such an easy time with yogurts, refried Beans and shakes and I knew more solid food would be different. I laughed when I prepared the 1oz of tuna and the 1/2 of a pretty small veggie sausage patty but it is truly about as much as I can eat. Its what everyone said and advised yet still...It's amazing and shocking.