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I haven't had any problems with foid but I've played it safe! I went from liquid to puree. I stuck with greek yogurt, tuna fish, occasional refried Beans. When I went to "soft" foods...I ate a lot if fish.

Gee I have the opposite problem, too much energy LOL. Are you all eating your protein? That may be the problem. I upped my protein and I feel a lot better. I have 70 grams a day, I cut back on my starches. Just protein and veggies now. A little bit of dairy, cheese and yogurt and fat free milk.

Here are my Top 3 Healthy Fillers: 1. Cottage cheese with herbs 2. Trader Joes Plain NF Greek Yogurt - Put sweetener in it or fruit (2x the Protein of other yogurts) 3. Chocolate/Banana pudding in a cup

I am four days out from having my Lap-band Surgery. Today I have been having something that I think is Reflux. What does it feel like? I have had to burp more today and what ever it is it is located where you would have heart burn but it isn't heartburn. What can I do for this? It feels really tight in the upper part of my chest and I can burp and help it a little? I am still on a liquid diet but tomorrow I can start adding things like yogurt , pudding, protein shakes. Please help me!!

Hi all! I have all my paperwork for what to drink/eat for my clear liquid & full liquid phases. What I don’t have is an idea on how much to drink/eat during full liquids. I know I can have thinned Greek yogurt, thinned applesauce, thinned & strained soups, etc. But, hypothetically, could I sip on soup or eat yogurt all day long as long as I got my protein in? (I wouldn’t actually do that) In the purée phase & beyond I’m told how many ounces of each category to have in a meal. I just need an idea on how much to consume during my full liquid phase. Any advice is much appreciated!

I was nauseous when taking my meds in the hospital (not just pain meds). I started taking them with a drink they gave me in the hospital and now that I'm at home I take them with a bit of sugar free yogurt.

So since my fourth fill (4cc's) I have been throwing up every day. Its been 3 weeks - the first 2 I could only hold down liquids and mushy foods. I was able to eat a half deli meat sandwich a few times and not throw up but then other times I try that and I do throw up. Some days are much worse than others. But on the average I throw up at least one meal if not all meals every day. All my friends keep telling me to go get Fluid taken out. But I am concerned maybe its just me - I had practically no restriction with 3 cc's. I can usually eat - f/f cottage cheese, greek yogurt, crackers, toast, light non-chunky Soup, belvita Breakfast biscuit I held down a few times (but tried again and vomitted) - tuna salad sandwich, turkey sandwich (could only eat half a sandwich though), scrambled eggs Vomitted a bunch after eating - cooked mustard greens and chard, baked potato, chicken breast, steamed broccoli, brown rice I have tried all sorts of different things even from switching to wearing and underwire bra to a sports bra, waiting till 10a to eat even though I am starving in the morning. I watch my time and I chew for at least 1 minute and wait 2-3 minutes between bites. I am not over eating at one sitting because I can only eat about 4 bites of a solid food before I have chest pain and I try to keep my bites small and chew till mush. This constant vomitting, hunger, headaches - its all affecting my work, school and personal life. I don't want to abandon progress - I have lost 14lbs in 3 wks. But I feel like I am now a bulemic except not by choice. What do I do?

Up that protein, have high protein Snacks, string cheese, greek yogurt, meat. Make sure you are getting all your fluids in and take all your Vitamins. I believe that you either lose hair or you don't and even when doing everything you are suppose to be doing it can happen.

Ok, so here's the deal, I had my surgery on Thursday of last week. The surgeon told my family that I did great in surgery, a text book case etc. I did ok from Thursday till Sunday on my clear liquids except I was starving, that's normal I suppose. I was having a lot of gas pressure and pressure in my chest but it had mostly subsided by Monday and I felt like I was good to go back to work. And even as a 'treat' I let myself have some cream of potato soup Sunday night even though I wasn't suppose to start full liquids until Monday. I felt fine after I ate it and better b/c I was starving. Well Monday I fixed myself some SF Carnation Instant Breakfast to drink on my way to work, I drank all of it and felt ok, then I got to work and about a hour later I started to feel this weird feeling in my stomach, almost like really strong hunger pains, so I though, hmm maybe I'll have some yogurt, thinking that I was just really hungry from being on clear liquids so long. I took a good long time eating that (45 mins) but the feeling persisted and maybe even got worse. I thought maybe I just wasn't used to having the full liquids after being on clear for 5 days. So about 2 hours later I thought maybe I would try drinking half a protein shake. That didn't help. And then about an hour later I fixed some tomato soup and sipped on it. I was in tears from the 'pain' , if thats what you want to call it and I couldn't stay at work so I came home and called my doctors office, they said that it was normal to feel that way after starting full liquids. I also called the office coordinator who does all the seminars and nutrition classes and she also has a band. She was concerned because once that feeling starts I really can't drink anything because it makes it worse. She though that maybe I was trying to eat too much also, which that could have been but she wanted me to talk to the nurse in the doctors office so she had her call me. After I explained to her all of this she said well maybe your band is a little tight from the swelling due to surgery, I could give you a steroid pack but I really don't want to if you are still able to drink. But she said to call if I didn't feel better and let her know. But later on that night I got up the nerve to try some more soup so I fixed some very thin cream soup. Ate with no problems and felt ok. So today I got up and drank about 3 oz of low sugar oj and when I got to work I just sipped on water all morning. I started feeling this 'pain' around 11 but it was not bad, just barely there. So for lunch I thought maybe I can have something since I hadn't ate all day. Well I ate some chicken noodle broth and by 2 I was doubled over in my chair at work. The only way I can describe the pain is to tell you that it feels like bad stomach cramps or really severe hunger pains. My stomach grumbles and growls like if you have an upset tummy. The pain also kind of pulsates, it gets a little better but then comes back worse. The pain is in the lower part of my stomach not where my band is supposed to be. This has lasted from 2 until now and still going and it's 10:30 my time. Also earlier I felt like I was having some pain start in my throat towards my sholder. I am really getting to the point where I just can't take it anymore. If anyone has any idea of what this might be, please let me know. I plan on calling the nurse back first thing in the morning but I am just reaching out to see if anyone else has experienced this b/c I have never heard of anything like it. Please help if you have any ideas....

I agree with all the above. But I also loved warm chicken broth, yogurt tasted good after a few days. I think it is important to take the medicine around the clock also, and make sure you have a heating pad for the gas pains. I had Isopure frim GNC to make sure I was getting enough Protein. I am one week out now and still use these things. Also, I tried to sip Water all the time to keep hydrated! And orange Crystal Light. Good Luck susan

OK.... I need some opinions! lol For the first 11 days I stayed on liquids. Then for 2 days mushie foods and then I just skipped to soft foods, mainly becuz my blender sucks and I had to chew the food anyhow. So I went ahead and tried soft foods and chew until its liquid in my mouth. Yes liquid! lol.. so I really honestly dont get the mushie stage.. if you chew it until its liquid, isnt it still the same thing? The biggest thing is trying to figure out what is giving me horrible gas? lol, I cant seem to pin point which foods. I eat, scrambled eggs, yogurt, pudding, Soup, cottage cheese, coffee, carnation sugar free Breakfast drink, 1%milk and for the last few days bad cramping gas. grrrr What the heck is causing this gas? I eat extremely slow, no liquids 30mins after I eat. I eat small bites. Anyone experience this?

I love Cereal! Some are good some are evil. I guess when it comes to eternal life it's stuck somewhere in the middle. I'm not talking about hot cereals or oatmeal. I'm talking about Corn Flakes, Cheerios, etc. These things can be hit or miss I'm finding. But if you pick out the good ones, you can get satiety for hours and get some good wholesome grains, Fiber and Protein from the milk. Calories really aren't that bad either for the hours and protein you get in exchange. But... there are some cereals out there that taste great and tout low calories and health and whatnot. The problem is these same cereals will have me ravenous only barely an hour later! Not good so... I have a little list going in my head here. First for the goods: I have Shredded Wheat. Yum! I love the flavors, and yes I do eat the frosted. So what? It tastes good. I guess I could just buy plain and put splenda, but I like the crunch of the frost. It cures that sweet tooth of mine too. Whatever, but it does last in my belly a good while. Sticks to the ribs if you will. Next I noticed that Cheerios does a good job with lasting too. However not as long as SW, but good enough for an honorable mention. I prefer their flavored varieties rather than the plain, but plain rocks too. Raisin Bran or Raisin Bran Crunch. Of course the plain is much better for you than the RBC. The Crunch is loaded with Sugar and more calories than probably what we should be eating for a small bowl of Cereal. I do avoid this cereal but sometimes its a good burst of flavor when looking for something sweet. Sure beats ice-cream! Anyway for my good list that's all I have for now. I need to venture out! Bad list: Any Special K. Low in Calories? Yes. Lots of Vitamins and things our body needs? Yes. Healty option? Yes. Satiety? Yeah, well that gets a big fat resounding NO!! I'm hungry and hour after eating a bowl. The bad thing is they make some great flavors! Even the plain to me has a good flavor. I especially love the Fruit & Yogurt. This one does last a bit longer than an hour but not much more. Kellogg's Corn Flakes. Again, my body burns this like a flame sweeping through the Sierras! I cannot eat because the flavor makes me sick: Anything Kashi. Period. Tried it, hated it. I thought I was eating the cardboard leftover from my last move. Some like it, I don't. End of story. So any ideas on what I can try? I'd love any suggestions! I've found that adding a bowl at least five days out of the week has helped my regularity, and I'd enjoy trying some new flavors.

Ok, I started my preop diet yesterday and have been nauseous and light headed. Is it the protein laden drinks? The nutritionist has us drink slim fast type drink 30 minutes before breakfast. Breakfast is mushies ( oatmeal, milk, yogurt) Another slim fast prior to lunch and dinner of soup and applesauce and yogurt. Isopure at night. Help? Is it the protein? This is yuck! :confused:

No I've never tried that but Fage Greek Yogurt is great! Very high in protein per serving and it's creamy for your stage after clear liquids. I'm not sure what your Dr. recommends after surgery, but mine was clear liquids for the first 48 hours, then pureed for 2 weeks, soft for 2 weeks then to normal. I even ate pureed Wendy's chili and it was delicious. Applesauce, protein drinks, SF puddings etc... Congrats on your surgery. The band is my best friend.

Hi folks, I'm sure this question is probably answered somewhere in this vast sea of topics. Forgive me if I'm repeating it here. Had my 2nd fill yesterday. Still not sure I'm getting much restriction, but instead of whining about it and using it as an excuse, I've decided it's time to just "act as if" until it kicks in (next fill in 4 weeks). When I go in for a fill, I have a questionaire to fill out. It asks how much Water and Protein I'm getting per day, if I'm snacking between meals and if I'm hungry. Then, when I get my release paperwork on the way out, there is a list - says to get 60 grms. protein, eat 3 meals a day with no Snacks. (Also lists water, but that's not a problem). Here is my questions about this: Is 60 grms of protein a day normal? What does "hungry" mean? No no - I'm not stupid. But if I eat lunch at 12 (say a protein shake), and dinner around 6, I'm getting hungry about 4! I'd consider that pretty normal! I just wonder what the right answer is. For those of you who have found your sweet spot, when you eat until you are full - even if it's 1/2 cup of something - how long does that last you? When are you hungry again? Right now, with little restriction, I'm having a yogurt - then feeling kinda hungry again in a couple of hours. I will check with my dietician later this week, but wonder what you guys do. Thanks in advance! Mary

So today I went to U.S. Bariatrics in Ft. Lauderdale for my first fill. While I was there one thing they talked to me about was my diet, which I know I haven't been the best about, but they threw me a real curve ball in something I thought I was doing good with. No More oatmeal for breakfast! Ok so that really threw me off. They said that the oatmeal tends to turn into bad carbs so for now they don't want me eating anymore oatmeal in the mornings for Breakfast. Now here comes the real dilemma for me. I have been having oatmeal almost exclusive during the week for breakfast and I do get sick of eggs quickly. So now what do I have???? So far all I can think of is the following: cottage cheese with some fruit scrambled egg with cheese and ham yogurt with some fruit Any ideas? Please help if you have some!!!

I have been on Clear liquids since Thursday afternoon of last week. I'm so glad I bought some Isopure clear Protein drinks in the 8 oz. size because after the first few days I felt weak as if the broth and Jello weren't enough. After I drank the Isopure drink on Monday with the 15 grams of protein---I felt a lot better. I haven't had a trip to the bathroom yet---I hope the higher protein content doesn't constipate me. Broth only has a few grams of protein. I've been getting my 64 oz's of Water so I hope I'll be OK. I never thought I'd so look forward to cottage cheese and protein shakes!!!!! But man do I. I can mix some of my Protein powder with my fat free cottage cheese and my fat free, low sugar/carb yogurt. SO GLAD I bought some sample packs with all these kind of fruit flavors in the protein powder. They should taste good with the cottage cheese and yogurt.

By Sally Wadyka You walk by your colleague's desk and there's that candy bowl, singing its siren song, You know better, but you just can't resist. Little detours like these can derail the best eating intentions, and the disparity between what Americans want to do and what we actually do is enormous: While 85% percent say that diet and nutrition are important to them, a 2002 report reveals that only 11 percent get the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables (sorry gummy bears don't count.) So whether you're an all-day nibbler or a Breakfast skipper, try these expert strategies to transform the way you eat. "My greatest delight is to take a good bite" - Dylan Thomas, "the Song of the Mischievous Dog" How to eat healthier if… You’re a serious snacker The fallout: You may end up overeating. A healthy snack or two between meals is fine. They can keep blood sugar steady as well as allow you to rack up more servings of fruits and vegetables. “It’s when you snack in place of eating meals that you’re more likely to lose track of how much you’re eating.” Says Tara Gidus, R.D., an Orlando, Florida – based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Of course, what you eat matters, too. Typical snack foods (chips, Cookies, pretzels) aren’t that nutritious or satisfying, so it’s easy to overdo them. The Fix: To keep your energy up and hunger at bay, allow yourself two Snacks a day of 100 to 300 calories each. “Rather than a cookie or a candy bar, opt for something that feels like real food—half of a small sandwich, whole-grain crackers with cheese, a handful of nuts, baby carrots with hummus, or yogurt sprinkled with Cereal,” says Gidus. You’re a speed-eater The Fallout: Gulping fod may set you up for stomach troubles (PR: or a spasm of PBing) “you take in excess air, which can lead to bloating.” Says Leslie Bonci, R.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh medical Center. You also might not be chewing well. Saliva begins to break food down, and too little time in the mouth leaves more work for the rest of the digestive track. This may contribute to indigestion, says Ellie Krieger, R.D. host of the Food Network’s healthy Appetite. Finally, speed eating doesn’t give the brain time to catch up to the stomach; it needs atleast 20 minutes to get the message that your stomach is full. A recent study found that women who ate a meal in 30 minutes ate 10% fewer calories compared with those who wolfed one down in barely 10. The Fix: Try to slow down. Avoid finger foods, and instead choose items you have to put on a plate and eat with utensils, such as stir fries and salads. Pause often, and drink Water throughout meals.( PR: in the case of our fellow bandsters do not drink 30 minutes before or after your meal) You eat your way out of a bad mood The Fallout: It may be soothing in the moment, but feeding your fears and frustrations, instead of confronting them, can lead to a cycle of more bad moods as well as steady weight gain. Many people turn to carbohydrates, in particular, which produce tryptophan, a type of amino acid that is used by the brain to manufacture serotonin. When the brain makes more serotonin, your mood improves, but only temporarily, says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet (Rodale Books). The Fix: Stop to think about what’s bothering you before reflectively opening the cupboard. Then try a nonfood mood booster, such as taking a walk, seeing a movie, or calling a friend. If nothing but carbs will do, get the serotonin boost without triggering a binge, says Gidus. Opt for a whole-grain treat so atleast you get more Fiber and less sugar. Healthy rehabilitation ideas: “We started stocking some of the jars in our office with organic fruit instead of candy. So now I grab a plum, an orange…” “Every Sunday night I boil eggs. I eat one every day for breakfast during the week. I can eat it on the go, and it’s a good way to get some protein…” “Whenever I have party leftovers, I send them home with the guests so I can’t binge..”

I have gone thru the same thing. What has helped me is Isopure drinks add crystal lite and it changes the flavor but now have no problem getting in my water or protein. Isopure has 40 grams of protein. I pour Isopure in a 32 oz bottle, crystal lite and add water to 32 oz. mark. Another is I take 1.4 c of fat free greek yogurt and a snack pack of sf vanilla pudding stir together and add pumpkin pie spice to add some more flavor. But try and stay with what the doctors tell you to eat so you won't harm your stomach.

I swear, I must be an idiot... EVERY morning...EVERY...I eat a yogurt...I can't eat any solids.... My kids have bananas and Cereal with milk. They don't eat the entire banana and I take a bite because I LOVE bananas and I think...hey, these are mushy, I'll just take a bite...Even though I KNOW I can't eat anything solid in the morning...And EVERY morning I sit with a lump of banana in my mouth. WHAT IS MY PROBLEM??? I seriously don't understand my dysfunction...And yet, that banana is in my mouth faster than you can say stuck as hell. I don't slime or anything, (Well...I'm lying, I did the other day)...I just get it stuck for a few minutes... What is my problem??? Besides obvious stupidity??? Rain

I'm transitioning off soft foods into regular now so for the last few weeks I was having: Breakfast - greek yogurt or low fat cottage cheese or scrambled/hard boiled egg lunch - pouch of tuna or salmon or 2oz low sodium/low fat lunch meat and a low fat string cheese dinner - tilapia baked in a foil pouch (keeps it moist and soft, change up the flavor by adding different herbs/spices), ricotta bake, canned chicken, shrimp and if room an ounce or so of soft cooked non-starchy veg - carrots, green Beans etc I still did one Protein shake a day to make sure i got enough protein.

I was sleeved may 23, 2012. And have lost 40lbs! I have started running, riding bikes, and finally have enough energy to keep up with my three little ones. I have not had many negatives with this surgery except I'm so bored with the food choices ( yogurt, soup, eggs, sugar free pudding). And I'm sick of people's negative feed back like well you look great but I bet you could of done this with out the surgery, can't they just he happy for me. I kinda just think their jealous. Maybe I should bag up my fat clothes and give it to them! How do you deal with the negative comments?

Every doctor has a different diet post-surgery. The key is to make sure you know what it is! I had to go through so much education that there wasn't a doubt in my mind what I was going to be eating from day one right on through the first month. But not all doctors are that informative, from what I've seen on this site (hard to believe you'd do gastric surgery on someone then not tell them what to eat). I'll tell you mine just to give you an example and then you need to find out from your doctor what he wants and follow what he tells you. I was on clear liquids from day 1 (day of surgery) to day 4 On day 4 I started 'soft proteins' which included chicken, turkey, fish,eggs,cottage cheese, refried beans, low fat cheese, low fat/low sugar yogurt. I stayed on soft proteins until my first fill. After the fill I had to do clear liquids for 3 days. Then, I could eat normally! (well, normally for a banded person!) (again, your doctor will tell you what that is)

I have days when my band is tighter than others. Breakfast for me is usually greek yogurt or maybe eggs over easy. I really can't tolerate any "real" food until I've been up and going for a few hours. Part of that is the band and part of it is just that I've never been much of a breakfast eater anyway. By lunch time, I'm usually fine and can eat anything I want without difficulty. There are some days when it just seems to be tighter than others but I can usually trace it back to a specific cause such as being sick or stressed or the occasional "stuck" episode.

I start my 2 week diet on Jan 5..I have 4 protein shakes a day plus sf popsicles..jello..yogurt..low sodium soups/broth..and I get unlimited veggies. My surgeon says they added the veggies because patients missed the "chewing". I am going this week for my supplies