Search the Community

Does anyone have a favorite fat-free yogurt? I am trying to find one I like. I like Dannon low-fat vanilla, but I don't like the fat-free one and I need a fat free. Thanks for any suggestions.

If you are really tight, Protein shakes are great. However, I prefer at this point to eat solids. Since I am tight first thing when I get up, I choose to drink one bottle of Water and then one cup of coffee before my breakfast. Since I am one of these people who doesn't like the same thing day after day the following are some of the thing on my rotation. These have been approved by my doc. 1- Special K with 2% milk 2- whole grain english muffin with Peanut Butter 3- whole grain english muffin with an egg on it (here is my new recipe that is aweseom- toast a whole grain english muffin - add sprinkle of ff cheese - pouch and egg (I got a $2 egg poacher from wallyworld- crack and egg in it and heat in the mircowave - takes just a min)- add a thin slice of ham. I will make one the night before and pop it in the microwave for 60 sec and enjoy) 4- greek yogurt with fruit

I add Special K Protein to my Greek yogurt in the morning. If I feel I need an extra boost of protein, I add a scoop of unflavored Protein powder. Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

So I started working out on Monday. I feel sore but amazing. I havent worked out since I lost about 100 lbs so its amazing how much more I am able to do. I don't eat a lot of food. Basically three half cup meals which I sometimes do not finish and a nut/seed/fruit (very healthy) snack after dinner. I have come to accept I need to ad a shake and for those who know me know I hate drinking calories. My question is do I drink shake before or after workout? My trainer said to eat something an hour before which sometimes works with my meal time. If not I have a greek yogurt. I can not afford to see a nutritionist so was wondering what kind of ideas you all have and what do you do? Thank you in advance. Hoping to fly past 100 at next weigh in on Tuesday.

Yogurt and scrambled eggs were my favorite "mushies". Add some salsa to the egg... I still have one for breakfast once in a while. You're definitely not a lunatic!

What an awesome response!!! And true!!! How very nice of you to take the time to really encourage a fellow sleever! That is one of the reasons this website is so great! All the amazingly helpful people! Ms.DJ14 Ps my surgery date is Aug 10...everybody wish me luck (& prayers!!) name='pasquini' timestamp='1310838090' post='180326'] thx everyone, It is very sureal! Vickie: First let me say, congrats on your loss, keep perspective, when is the last time you lost 30lbs with no fear of regain? That is a huge accomplishment! so it is important that you do not get down about where you are. we are both on a journey to the good life. True i have lost a crazy amount, yet there are some variables. 1st i am a guy and do not have the hormone issues that women have to slow my loss down. that is such a huge factor, people dont factor that in offten enough and get discouraged when their loss isnt as fast as others. but you have to compare apples to apples and men and women are apples and oranges. similar to our trying to compare ourselves to naturaly skinny peoples ability to lose. Does that make sence? 2nd. I have a very very labor intensive job, I fabricate and install custom granite countertops So I am lifting and moving 100's of lbs everyday. So i have no doubt that is a factor for me since work is like a constant workout. Considering that it is not fair to yourself to compare your loss to mine. 3rd here is what i do, I eat between 400-700 cals a day. partly intentionally partly not. I do eat very clean, if i didnt the cals would be higher. I eat 1 greek yougurt and one cheese stick for Breakfast everyday that gives me 17 grams protien i dont worry about the carbs in them lunch: depends on where i am. general shrimp (about 3-4) for 20 gram protien of tuna salad for 20 grams protien no crakers no bread. dinner: some form of Protein that is not fried. chicken, fish, shrimp, or another yogurt or cottage cheese for 20 grm protein. I drink 40 oz low cal gatorade a day and then either tea or juice. i also drink coffee. yes i drink coffee everyday. My sister is a VA Psychologist that did the psych evals for bariatric patients and she has been a great resource. the nutritionist at her VA says that coffee doesn't really dehydrate you, the way you have to count it is dont count it. That so long as you do not include the coffee as liquid intake then it is a wash. I have 3-4 sf popcicles a day as well I also take a daily Vitamin, chewable (active kids complete from sams club. I take the adult dose) now if i want something i have it. if i want a dorrito i will have some, like 3 haha, I also go to the gym, about 3-4 days a week and play 45 min of raquetball i am just begining to do the treadmill and lifting as well. oh, and something that I think people forget is that you can go to all liquids for 3-5 days or a week and shock your system into obediance! rather than seeing that as a bad thing i see it as teaching my body to co-operate! Basically any loss is good, right? I think your loss is fantastic! 30lbs!! You are not going to regain it either! You will keep losing as you already are. Remember, keep perspective. You have chosen to better your life and it IS, IS, IS, working. You have made a hard, definative choice, a choice to lock yourslef in for the rest of your life to healthy choices that will reap amazing rewards for you and those in your life. Now is the time to Celebrate your courage, wisdom, and 30 freakin pounds that you kicked to the curb forever!!!!! So, Head up, inches down, and amazing adventure ahead!!! your are doing fabulous. Now go to your mirror and tell youself that!!! 10 times!!!

Sweet, How far out are you? When was your last fill? and What size portions do you usually eat? Examples of lunch for myself would be: 1. Can of turkey breast mixed with lowfat mayo on top of a small bedding of salad and a greek yogurt 2. Today I had ham steak (approx 2 oz) and 1/2c cottage cheese w/ 2 diced grapes 3. Chili with some shredded cheese and ff sour cream (1 cup total) 4. On light days Im not super hungry is when I do my Soups 5. 1 boiled egg and 2 pieces of turkey bacon mixed w/ salad greens & dressing 6. Half a veggie burger with toppings (no bread) and bonne bell cheese and yogurt

I also find that the shakes don't keep me that full. Greek Yogurt is another. I only have them on occasion as I find I am hungry an hour later. And then I am having something like tea to keep my mind off of it. I try to eat every three hours. I do better when I stick to a schedule. Good luck- LA

I am was 280 a week ago and maintained that eating a lot of junk and Pasta. Now I am 286!! I feel bloated and gross and I have gained weight despite starting my preop diet! I am worried I am doing it wrong. I am having: 8am: 1/3 a cup of dry oatmeal for Breakfast with 1/2 cup skim milk and a splenda ~10am: 1 cup oikos greek yogurt (usually with a fruit on the bottom) 1pm: premade salad from my grocery store that says it is under 300 calories. I have been switching between santa fe salad (1oz chicken 1 oz corn/black Beans, and like a few tortilla crunchy things) and chicken caeasar (2oz chicken, 1 oz cheese) They do come with 1 oz of creamy ish dressing each, but the nutrition label says the calories (210-280 depending on the salad) 4pm: 1 skim milk string cheese 8pm: 8 oz of talapia or swai fish fliet and as much vegetables as I want. The other night I made collard greens with no added salt chicken broth and a small amount of olive oil and ate the whole pound. And before that I was grilling eggplant and zucchini on the grill or defrosting (with just water) brussel sprouts. I usually have a glass of skim milk somewhere in there too. I would guess this is around 150-350 calories per meal which is less than 2000 calories. I thought this would be a good diet!! but my body is fighting it!!! Help me figure out where I'm going wrong!!! I don't want my liver to be fatty/big when I have my surgery in 2 weeks. My hormones are not telling me to bloat right now, so what do you think is the cause? What was your preop-diet? DId you gain weight? CRAZY!

Hi GreginMI, The instructions that I got from my surgeon are as follows: "For the first month following surgery, make sure to drink at least 2liters of fluids/day and get between 60-80 grams of Protein from soft vegetarian sources, eggs, fish and seafood." This is followed by a list of acceptable foods (i.e. cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, eggs, Beans, veggies burgers, yogurt, soups, fish, rice, egg noodles, etc.) Of course he also told me to avoid foods high in sugars, fats, and alcohol. At the hospital he told me just to try things as I felt like it, but to really push and prioritize liquids, especially for the first three weeks. Some surgeons are like this I've been told. He's one of the best in the country and has own reasons for not having his patients follow a staged plan, I'm sure. There are quite a few people on this site who have used him and have nothing but the highest praises for him. Incidentally, he also doesn't make his patients do a pre-op diet. The only thing I had to do was a clear liquid diet and drink Colyte 1 day before surgery. However, I tend to find it easier to have stricter guidelines to follow, which is why I plan to discuss the plan Golden laid out above when I meet with my surgeon on Friday. To be honest though, aside from the one attempt at the meatball, I have been sticking to a strictly clear liquid diet, simply because I didn't feel like eating anyway. Right now, clear liquids are about all that I can seem to consume comfortably, and sometimes if I accidentally take too big a sip even the liquids make my tummy hurt. Sorry, I guess this is a really long answer to your question. But maybe it makes more sense now? Anyway, ever since my adventures in meatball land I've gone right back to clear liquids and am doing ok here for the time being Thanks everyone for your advice and concern!! I think I'm on the right track now thanks to everyone's input. I have to say, this is such a great site!

It's a matter of taste. I like it and add it to pretty much everything. Soups, tea, my yogurt, etc.... If you don't like Ispoure Genepro and Syntrax Nectar also make and unflavored version. Remember unflavored doesn't mean flavorless, it just means there's no added flavorings or sugars. Adding stronger flavors to it helps. I add a dash of hot sauce to my soups or a bit of lemon to my tea.

It's not so much solid or soft food that will make you gain. Actually solid foods will help you loose cause you won't have to eat as often. If you are really worried track your calories and stay in a certain range. For me it is 1200 + what I earn exercising. Here's a snap shot of my normal day: Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee, eggs either fried or in a "muffin" (cook them ahead of time in a muffin pan with sausage, peppers and cheese) Snack: Greek yogurt Lunch: piece of turkey lunch meat wrapped around a slice of cheese, carrots or apple, crackers Snack: nuts Dinner: chicken breast with BBQ sauce, veggies Hope this helps

If I am out and about, I can do Wendy's chili. small is enough with a few crackers.. keeps me happy for 3-4 hours.. sometimes I take a protein bar, quest or adkins with me in case I get stuck somewhere I can't get food.. At home I eat yogurt greek - cottage cheese with fruit sometimes.. lunch is either chicken with veggies or salad sometimes I eat tuna salad or chicken salad.. I always prepare, since being banded I don't want to be out and get super hungry.. then you make bad choices...

It could be the lactose since it's whey protein I suppose, but I eat yogurt, cottege cheese etc... with no problems. I was thinking it could be the sucralose in some of the shakes, I don't really eat a lot fake sugars, but the whey protein powder has none. I just have to get through the next week and I can eat mushies for my protein!

I had my surgery 5/9. I’m on stage 2 diet already because my surgeon does that for most of his sleeve patients the day after surgery. I started out with some jello and yogurt and now am eating part skim ricotta. What I’m struggling with now is that I don’t feel hunger or fullness and I am worried about overeating.

Our pan calls for 3 meals, and 40oz of shakes. I eat yogurt, cheese, and put protein powder in my coffee. I also eat a lot of canned chicken. Buffalo chicken dip, or add canned chicken to my soup. Plus, protein water is useful. If I have a good day, I will have 1 premier protein, but in the beginning, I had to have 2. Sent from my XT1254 using BariatricPal mobile app

I would say follow your surgeon's plan...it seems like every surgeon has his/her own methods for the immediately before surgery pre-op diet. Mine has cottage cheese, yogurt and v8 juice but not oatmeal or grits. I don't think the preop is all about losing weight....it is about cleaning out the system, shrinking the liver and the stomach...or so I've been told

depends on what you will have available.. refrigeration? cooler? are you planning to cook ? I pretty much have turkey sausage and eggbeaters for breakfast.. if all else fails take some good high protein shakes or drinks with you. I also use protein bars if I am where I can't cook. greek yogurt is always a good food to keep your protein level up.. cheese sticks, sometimes jerky if you can tolerate it.. any kind of soup or even chili would work as well.. have fun..

Muller lite is a yogurt , I'm in the uk so we have a few different things here I guess ? I have it all down on paper it's all clear soups and slim fast shakes and at least 2 liters of water a day , which is hard going , I never drank that much before lol xx

@@redgoddess I love the unflavored UNJURY. I add to coffee, salsa to put on scrambled eggs, yogurt to bump up the protein...excellent stuff!

I can't believe it either. I lost 25 on the pre-op diet alone. I'm trying to be really , really good. Made a Protein drin this morning - Yogurt, banana, Peanut Butter, skim milk, and strawberries. OMG - It was so good.

:clap2: Surgery was on 8/28, and I am feeling better and better. I am still having a little referred pain in the shoulder...really hate that :car:, but it is getting better. All the pain medicine does is make me sleepy, but the lady from the surgery center said that is what it is supposed to do...help you sleep it off. I have not had that much trouble with eating except for my pet peeve...too much sweet stuff. Everything that is on the list is sweet...protein shakes, jello, baby food fruit, pudding, popcycles, apple juice, yogurt, etc. I have found that I can put a spoon of potato flakes in my beef or chicken broth which makes it a little less dull. I am really having a lot of trouble with the protein shakes...YUK :help:All suggestions are welcome. I know I have to drink them for the protein, but man are they bad. I did really great with the pre-op (see below), but I was already tired of the sweet so it is hard. I asked if I could have V-8, but they said it might be too much acid right now. I can't wait till the 3rd-4th week to get some soft foods in. That is when I can get away from so much sweet stuff. I always knew that I was not a sweet tooth, but it has really come out more now that I have been on this diet. I'm getting tired so I will sign off and get some sleep. I still can't believe that I have finally done this. I have wanted it for so long. I am so happy!

I have the fol guidelines. On rising drink 1 sm glass of Water with the juice of 1/4 lemon - this helps open the band and aids in digestion. Breakfast - 1 Protein, 1 grain, 1 dairy 1 sm fruit eg - 1/4 - 1/2 c Cereal with 1/2 cup 1% or skim milk, 2 tbsp nuts/seeds (and/or 1/2 scoop dry Protein powder can mix with a little water), 2 tbsp berries OR 1-2 egg white omlette with veggies, 1 serving whole grain, 1/2 tangerine, 1/4 mango/papaya OR Meal Replacement or self made protein smoothie (incl 1 scoop protein powder) with1/2 c 1%/skim milk or 2 tbsp yogurt and 1/2 c water and 1/2 c fresh or frozen fruit Snack - 1 sm - 1/2 med fruit, 1 protein or 1/2 dairy eg - 10 grapes, 1/4 - 1/2 c low fat yogurt, add 1/4 - 1/2 scoop dry protein powder (can mix with a little water) OR 1/2 c fresh or frozen berries, 1 oz low fat cheese OR 1/2 sliced apple, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 rye crisp lunch - 1 protein, 1 grain, 1 sm salad or 1 veggie serving eg - 1 c lentil Soup, 1 rye crisp, 1 sm salad OR 1/2 c chili (with chicken or beef), 1 rye crisp, 1/2 cup steamed veggies or a sm salad OR 2 tuna melts on rye crisps, sm salad Snack - 1 sm - 1/2 med fruit or 1/2 serving of veggies, 1 oz protein or 1/2 serving of dairy eg - 1/2 apple, 1 tbsp hummus, 1 rye crisp OR 1/4 - 1/2 c fresh or frozen fruit, 2 tbsp nuts/seeds OR 2 dried dates and 2 dries apricots, 1/4 c soy nuts dinner - 1 protein, 2 veggies or 1 veggie and 1 salad eg - 3 oz chicken. 1 c steamed asparagus, 1 baked tomoato OR 3 oz baked sole, 1 c stir fry veggies OR 3 oz beef/ground chicken or turkey meatloaf, 1/2 c steamed cabbag, 1/2 cup grilled peppers. They also not for optimum weight loss, avoid grains and starchy veggies after 5 PM. I hope that helps you on your journey. I too am pretty leary as to the introduction of "real" foods. I start this stage tomorrow.

Hi contemplating. I too, started "regular" foods this past week. I have some smaple menus from my doc that I can share. However, I am not able toeat nearly half as much as suggested. Sometimes I am close, but somethings just don't go down that easily. Tuna was fine at first...now when I eat it I get a lump in my throat feeling and so I have stopped it for now. So, anyway, I think it is also a learning process...this new stage we are in...but here is the doc's recommended menu suggestions. 8 am B:1 scrambled egg 1/2 c. cantaloupe 10 am Snack: 1/2 c. fortified skim milk 12 noon L: 1/2 c. chili 1/2 c. stewed apple with cinnamon 6 pm D: 2 oz. baked chicken, no skin 2 tbsp. lo fat gravy 1/2 c. squash or 1/2 c. string beans 8 pm Snack:1/2 c. sugar free yogurt 8am B: 1/2 c. cooked oatmeal 1/2 c. unsweetened pears 10am Snack: 1/2 c. fortified skim milk 12noon L: 3oz. tuna 2 tbsp. low fat mayo 1/2 c. watermelon 6pm D: 2 oz. poached fish 2tsp. diet margarine 1/2 c. boiled potato or 1/2 c. steamed carrots 8pm Snack: SF Swiss miss hot cocoa with skim milk Hope this helps.

What is your favorite unflavored Protein powder? I'm looking for something I can add to Soups, yogurt, etc. We have GNC and Vitamin Shoppe both here in Chattanooga, but something from WalMart or Sams Club would be fine also (actually better if it is cheaper). thanks in advance for the responses.