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I still feel new to this but I definitely have a few favorites: Greek whips yogurt Tuna Unflavored protein powder Torani syrup Pb2 and peanut butter Greek yogurt&mayo combo(my own) Cauliflower Cheese of some sort-cream/sliced/hard/string I feel like there is more but Always have these!

Greek yogurt-I like to hoard this. I have a problem haha Beef jerky Different kinds of cheese-love cheese! Carb balance tortillas Deli meat Nuts-I make a trail mix with all kinds and throw some dark chocolate morsels in for a little bit of sweet Quest bars & chips Combat Crunch Protein bars Crystal light Tuna Fresh veggies-especially brussel sprouts Fresh fruits oatmeal There's probably a few more foods but that's the basics.

I keep reading every where how it's important to have good carbs before a workout. I've been eating what I call my Cherry Garcia concoction (0% plain Greek yogurt with a few cherries & dark chocolate chips) an hour before my workout, but it occurs to me that that may not be enough? Here's the nutritional breakdown: Cal: 107 Fat: 3g Carbs: 13g Sugar: 10g Fiber: 1g What has worked for you? I've discovered I can't do anything to heavy or I'll have to wait more than an hour to exercise.

I agree with everything you said. I was 296 when I started and my lowest was 169. I had surgery May 21, 2012. It has been three years. My husband passed away in June of 2014 with cancer at the age of 48 which most of you know. I started gaining back after diagnosis from drinking frappes and lattes which gave me a high from the sugar and caffeine. He was very ill and I was his sole caregiver. I hardly ate but drank ready made Protein shakes and coffee. I started gaining back and by the time he passed away, I had gained up to 189 from 169. Now since, I gained to 224 and was able to get back to 207 then gained back to 215 where I am now. It is so hard and we aren't like normal people. You are so right. It gets really hard after the first year and it takes more work than people realize. SO, newbies be very careful because you will be able to gain easily and you will be able to eat more as time goes by. The full feeling is there but not as in the honeymoon stage. liquid calories is the devil. So be careful. I'm so scared that I will continue to gain if I don't stop with the stupid sugar in coffee. I will say that I think if I hadn't had this surgery, I would have gained a lot more by now. SO it is worth it with all the complications I have with severe GERD, esophageal spasms, bile reflux, and almost drowning in my own bile while sleeping because I had yogurt too late at night. I'm doing my best to get back on track but it isn't easy.

A few replies to this topic made me wrinkle my brow a little so I'll just quickly touch on them and voice my opinion. 1. Yes, losing the weight is the desired result of any WLS procedure. "What's the problem?" the problem is starvation isn't going to result in healthy long term weight loss and at only 300-600 cals a day, the body will begin to starve. Fat will be stored, not lost. 2. Calories in = calories out is an archaic way of thinking when it comes to weight loss. It seems that easy, right? Well if it were we wouldn't need to put any other nutrition facts on food labels and doctors and nutritionists would need to set guidelines for fat/protein/etc.They'd just say "Eat this many calories a day and burn at least this many a day and you'll lose this much weight." It doesn't work that way. 100 calories worth of skinless chicken breast will do a different thing to my body than 100 calories of full fat ice cream. All calories are not created equal. 3. The first few weeks after surgery I couldn't manage to get down much more than about a half a yogurt and a Protein shake once or twice a day. It was stressful. I was frustrated. I was tired. Walking my dog down the front path of my apartment complex wiped me out. That was temporary. I'm now running 4-6 miles 3x a week, and exercising for 90 minutes or so in the gym lifting relatively heavy weights on days in between. I very rarely break 1000 cals a day in food, but I've worked out 1100 calories in a run. My Fitness Pal diary entires are skewed because I track my food as it's served to me, and 99% of the time, I don't finish ANYTHING. I dont try to increase my calories if I'm not hungry. That's why I had surgery; to stop me from cleaning my plate and the two next to me. If you're not hungry, it will be harder to increase your calories. Mass gainer will defeat the purpose of what you're trying to achieve from surgery. 4. You will eventually begin to tolerate more food. Your eating frequency may increase due to exercise and your capacity for eating at one sitting will increase. A month post op 2 tbs of Beans and an egg would be all I could tolerate at once. Now I can eat a hamburger patty and apple slices for lunch without much trouble (kids' meal size but still LOL). I agree with some of the suggestions above such as adding yogurt, avocado, cottage cheese etc to smoothies/shakes. Use greek yogurt on foods where you would normally use sour cream; it tastes the same but you're getting protein and less fat. Make your shakes with milk. Try Fairlife; it's filtered milk that has a lot more protein than regular milk. A tad more expensive for a jug but definitely worth it. Add banana slices to your yogurt if you can tolerate banana and if you're allowed fruit. Bananas are naturally a bit fattier than other fruits and have a few more calories, but are still soft for someone who's still pretty new out from surgery. I know exactly what you're going through; I didn't workout to my own satisfaction for over a month after surgery because I was too tired and low on food intake and my body was still very busy healing. You'll get there, i promise.

I'm down 44 lbs since my surgery (June 9) and a total of about 65 since I first went to my doctor. Good protein shakes, yogurt with a lot of protein, sugar free jello and Popsicles are also great

Hi I'm LeAnn in Newport News, VA 0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? Realize Band 11cc banded July, 2011 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? I reached goal in July, 2014. Been maintaining below goal weight for a year. 2. What's your current height and weight? 5'7" 140-145 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? 900-1200 depending on the day 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? Protein first and most- I aim for 60-80 grams daily; the rest of my calories come from vegetables, dairy and complex carbs. 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? I don't count carbs... I did the first year, kept net carbs below 30. Now I focus on protein and produce. 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? No tricks! I eat the same way I did dirtying losing phase. I weigh and measure portions and I focus on protein and produce. No more than 1/2 cup of food per meal. If I want a snack, I choose protein like cheese, hummus, boiled egg, yogurt. 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? Sugary desserts; cereals, cakes, Cookies, biscuits, breads and Pasta because they don't support my health and I still get stuck when eating them. 8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? 5-6 days weekly walking and running; I began distance running this year and train for longer races. 9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? The first year I was in weekly therapy with a counselor who had also had WLS. Now I participate in a moderated WLS support group online. 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? Maintenance requires more discipline and planning than losing phase. I continue the same habits that helped me lose 130 lbs in order to maintain weight loss. Maintenance doesn't give me permission to cut corners or stop following rules. Those who begin to take shortcuts and slide into precious snacking behaviors will regain.

It definately gets easier and you will learn tricks. For example, when I go to stir crazy, one of my favorites, my husband and I will share an order from their market bar. I pick everything and have it made and we both have plenty to eat. I also learned that if I order a entree salad, I will have them take only half as my meal and I ask them to box the other half and put the dressing and wontons on the side. I then have lunch or dinner for the next day. I have learned to ask lots of questions and ask for alternatives as most meals come with a Protein and potato. I will ask for a vegetable or fruit or cottage cheese in place of the potato. We have been eating a lot of take out food as I had cervical spine surgery 8 weeks ago and cooking is still very difficult. My husband cannot boil Water and he actually hates cooking and of course he has to clean up the mess. I have found several take out meals that are great when you get to the regular food stage and even soft foods. Noodles and company - buff bowls are excellent! I get minimum of two meals out of these. The Japanese pan buff bowl is my favorite Applebee's has lots of choices but my favorite is there Napa chicken with portobello mushrooms. It has a very tiny amount of red potatoes so I eat her eat around them or tell them to leave them out Lettuce wraps when available are an excellent choice in any restaurant Panera bread - soup and salad combo is outstanding. I love their grilled chicken salad that is made with spinach, fresh fruits and strawberry poppyseed dressing Chick Fila - on the children's menu I order the grilled chicken nuggets with a fruit cup instead of fries This gives you some idea of where you might consider having lunch or dinner. It really is all about making good food choices. I try to find local restaurants that offer a wide variety of protein and vegetable meals as that is what I crave most of all. Good luck to you! It will get easier but I do understand your tears, I had the same experience. I struggle when going out for breakfast because I cannot eat eggs and many time they offer very sugary yogurt. I just don't like that much sugar. I will usually have some cottage cheese and fruit.

Just wanted to thank you guys for the encouragement! And i do not really have a list of foods from my nutritionist but so far i am sticking to yogurt for Breakfast and chicken salads. I also like low fat cheese and some fruit too And thank god i am staying home during college since it's in the same town i am currently living in! For exercise, i am walking for at least an hour a day, but I should probably throw in some weight training . Again thank you guys so much

I finally got a Sam's card today and purchased a two pack of the Prostak Blender Bottle. Anyone else use these? Description: Leak-proof, expandable, and unbelievably powerful, the BlenderBottle ProStak is the all-in-one solution for the serious athlete. The patented BlenderBall wire whisk delivers smooth shakes every time, while the unique twist n' lock jars offer unlimited storage expandability. Keep powders and pills in place - with or without the bottle. The ProStak's unique interlocking jars have individual lids, making it possible to carry pre- and post-workout supplements, Meal Replacements, and Snacks, even without the bottle. The ProStak's screw-on lid and leak-proof SureSeal flip cap keep your shake where it belongs. With a snug twist of the lid and the assuring snap of the flip cap, you're ready for some serious shaking. The BlenderBall wire whisk delivers lump-free Protein, nutrition, and Meal Replacement shakes, even blending flavorful additions such as Peanut Butter, yogurt, and oat flour. Includes 22 ounce capacity BlenderBottle, 150 cc jar, 100 cc jar, pill organizer and patented BlenderBall wire whisk. The BlenderBottle ProStak is expandable with extra twist n' lock jars The Ultimate All-in-One Supplements, snacks, pills, and liquid – all in the same bottleLeak-proof, expandable, and unbelievably powerful, the BlenderBottle ProStak is the all-in-one solution for the serious athlete. The patented BlenderBall wire whisk delivers smooth shakes every time, while the unique Twist n’ Lock jars offer unlimited storage expandability. Patented BlenderBall wire whisk mixes as you shake Two fully independent storage jars with Twist n’ Lock technology Space-saving pill tray BPA- and Phthalate-Free 100% leak-proof

I went out a couple of times while I was in the pureed stage and just got a cup of pureed Soup. Now that I'm in the soft food stage, it's easier - although I still order soup a lot (not necessarily pureed). I usually order yogurt at Breakfast and either a shrimp cocktail or soup for lunch or dinner. I've eaten baked fish at home, but it would take me a week to eat a fish entree (or any entree, for that matter....)

It seems my doctor is totally different from what I've read about others... No preop dieting and he told me wants I get to the regular food phase that he wants me to eat whatever I want up to 800 calories a day and no eating yogurt and protein shakes after the liquid phase?

@@Kitty I also start my pre-op diet tomorrow. I am allowed 3 to 4 protein shakes a day and 64 ounces of clear liquids (which include sf popsicles and sf jello and low sodium broth) we aren't allowed the sf fudge popsicles or yogurt which is a bummer. I hope I can make it through the next two weeks..

Hey there! I am two weeks out from a RNY revision. I lost an astounding 22 pounds the first week and just 5 this week. I know I am expecting too much but it was a shock to see the difference. Here are my questions: 1. Is anyone else dealing with post-op nausea ONLY when they are sitting up (like in a desk chair)? I am fine when I am in my recliner but when I try to sit at my desk or attend a meeting, I am incredibly nauseous. I am drinking between 80-100 ounces of Water a day and getting my 60 gm of Protein in religiously. I am walking between 2.5 - 3 miles each day. Any thoughts? 2. After coming home from the hospital, the nutritionist advised me to eat 3 small meals each day (pureed foods). I did ok for about 3 days. Now I am finding that the thought of eating "real" food makes me sick. Foods that I did fine on right after surgery (shaved turkey, thin sliced cheese - things from the food list they gave me) make me so sick to my stomach that I can't even bear to try to eat them. I am back on just the Protein shakes recommended by my doctor and a little yogurt during the day. That doesn't bother me at all but I am curious why it changed so drastically. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hello I'm 2 months sleeved and my food intake is still a struggle the protein shakes make me sick now. Eggs don't agree with me so so I try to at least three spoons of yogurt when does it get better. Chicken agrees sometimes mu nausea is terrible and most of the time I throw up mu food. Any suggestions or recipes...

oh lord help me.. lol.. I tried some puree'd egg salad I made and took one bite and knew it wasn't for me. I think it's a consistency and mental thing for me. <shiver> I am on liquids/puree for 6 more days and am doing Protein drinks, popsicles, soups (broth or strained cream) and did add in Greek yogurt today. Tonight I am going to try some refried Beans (I'm so excited!!!) Then I will be so happy with soft foods next Tues!

Sorry about all the questions but they are all on my mind. Again 17 days post op and starting to live again. Highs have been in the 90s where we live. I have been enjoying sugar free Popsicles but wondered if anyone else had any great frozen treat ideas? Frozen yogurt?

Frankiesgirl I'm not completely anti carb I still with 40-50 to me this is low. And most come from yogurts oatmeal in the a.m. not junky carbs

It is a blessing to have a supportive person in the home with me. My wife has been beyond wonderful. She keeps a journal of what I eat, my BP, my measurements and any other information for me. She told me if I kept it then no one would be able to read it. She has pre-made Soups, Protein shakes, and yogurt shakes for me and put them pre-measured in the fridge. I told her that I might like to eat some Protein Bars when I am able. So she got online and researched the store bought ones, she found she could make me some that were much more healthy, so she is going to make them once I can have them. I start my puree stage on Friday and she is helping me plan the meals and told me that on Thursday, she will pre-make some stuff for me so I can have it starting Friday. We have been married for 12 years and she has been beside me every step of the way since then. She is my rock, my leaning post, my sounding board. I know we cant do this for someone else, but I want to get better for her, I want us to be able to enjoy each other again and for her not to have to be my care-giver all of the time. Every time I think this is hard on me, I look at her and see it has not just impacted me, that I need to be strong for both of us, she has carried the load by herself for too long. I am truly blessed, not just to be able to have had this operation as a part of the healing process, but to have someone like her to go on this journey beside me.

You need to fuel your body. Make sure you are getting good carbs before a workout and protein after a workout. If you increase the intensity of your exercise, you need to increase your food intake as well. When I really upped my exercise intensity a couple months post-op, I added a morning snack (between breakfast and lunch) because I found I was STARVING by lunch time. So, I added a reduced fat cheese stick as a morning snack and that really helped. I also added some granola or kashi cereal to my afternoon yogurt for some carbs before my workout (I work out as soon as I get home from work, before dinner).

I am 10 months out and cannot eat 3 oz. of dense Protein. It is absolutely normal. I can however eat 6 oz.of yogurt or 4 oz. of cottage cheese. I can eat a cup or more of salad. It all depends on what you are eating. Don't worry, the longer out you are, the more protein you will tolerate. I still have to drink one Protein shake every day to get to my goal. This is because my nut wants to ensure I eat a high protein low carb diet that includes fruits and vegetables. 2 bites of protein for every one bite of good carbs. That's my plan and it is working for me. Good luck! You are doing great already.

I had my surgery on July 9th at/around 800-900. I was terrified! I had read a lot of horror stories on the pain and discomfort and almost had myself psyched out the night before. Thankfully, after meeting the anesthesiologist (day of surgery), he gave me a Xanax and something for acid reflux. I remember being carted off into the operating room. The sterile smell was unlike no other, and the coldness even worse. Once inside, they moved me onto the operating table. I had 2 nurses helping with my transition as well as my anesthesiologist. I remember the anesthesiologist placing the mask on my face. The feeling of huffing the gas in was nostalgic. I felt light and airy and without a care in the world. I could hear the nurses making the sweetest comments to me for encouragement and well wishes, but obviously could not reply, thank, God! That was the last thing I remember until waking up. Then and only then do I remember being nauseated, which is to be expected. My anesthesiologist brought me an alcohol prep pad and had me inhale deeply. Wouldn't you know it worked!! I do not remember much about being in recovery, but I vaguely remember my family and I being on an elevator going up to my room. Fast forward to around 1pm and I had gotten out of bed, on my own, to use the bathroom... DO NOT DO THIS. Not everyone recovers from anesthesia the same way. This is according to the nurse who busted me and almost scolded me for my own safety; however, after she realized that I was fine, she gave the clearance for me to begin walking. As most others have informed you, WALKING is key! Walk, walk, walk. Every time you walk, walk a little further or for a little while longer. This will help not only with gas, but help to minimize your soreness. One thing that I held onto like a life saver was a pillow! When you begin to walk, use that pillow to press into your stomach. It makes a world of difference. Also, use a pillow to prop you up on your side. I was lucky and had very minimal, if any, gas this time; however, I learned with my gallbladder surgery two years ago that this trick will help move it around as well. sleep in a reclined position, but not straight back. Its unGodly to have to get up from a prone position! With all of this being said, all I was given post op in the hospital was Tylenol and even then I didn't want it. The pain isn't a PAIN, its more of discomfort. I didn't use the hydrocodone I was given once home. Now, that's enough about my surgery day and what I experienced. Here's a list of things to take with you to the hospital: - Wear loose clothing. I wore a pair of comfy sweatpants and a t shirt. Upon discharge I wore the same home and even wore a bra with under wire and had no discomfort; I also wore flip flops with good tread to prevent slipping. You won't want something to have to bend over and put on. - Chapstick - Tooth brush and tooth paste - Travel size shampoo, conditioner, and soap. The hospital does give you their own, but it wasn't the best. Thankfully, I was allowed to shower the next day. This too helps greatly throughout your recovery. A warm shower ALWAYS works wonders - Pillow. Take that thing with you every where you go. Its an aid to get up, down, and to get you walking and make you comfortable on the ride home (place it over your stomach prior to buckling! Hold onto it going over bumps and rough terrain) - Cell phone charger At home recovery: - Pillow - I upgraded to my body pillow. The first few days I used two(stole the hubs') and put one on both sides of myself and slept in a recliner. - Keep Water nearby. Sip. SLOWLY. Do not try to sip too much as you will end up with esophageal spasms and those are the devil.. Seriously! - Do not let anyone force you to eat too quickly. And by eat I'm obviously meaning drink Protein or soups. Your body is healing and right now you should only be worried with water consumption. I also recommend a low sodium, low sugar sport drink for electrolytes! - You know your body so listen to it. If you feel as though you need to have a bowel movement, get some Miralax. This was recommended by my physician and I've used it. Don't wait till it gets too bad. - Your pee will stink... BADLY.. Mine is finally beginning to return to normal, but I have concentrated a lot on water consumption. You should too as this will prevent dehydration. - Us women get thrown curve balls time to time... Be prepared for a yeast infection. Its quite common. Stock up on yogurt! - Walk. Walk a lot! - Don't over do it. You've just had surgery so don't push yourself beyond your means. Be prepared to nap a lot in the week. After week two, I began feeling almost normal. Here I am 20 days post op, back at work, feeling almost like myself. I get tired, but it's nothing unbearable. If I think of more, I will surely post it here. Good luck and best wishes!!!

I do think the sooner you can move to real food for your Protein sources, the better you'll feel. Protein derived almost exclusively from those shakes just isn't as good as the nutrients you can get from food. I think you might be expecting too much of yourself; you've just had the surgery this month. You've had a remarkable amount of weight loss, and it is awesome that you want to get your energy back RIGHT NOW so you can exercise, but this was major surgery and your stomach is still very, very raw and swollen (will be for months) so please don't push too hard trying to do things your body isn't ready for, or get discouraged that it isn't happening the way you want. Be patient with yourself. You had a long hard journey to get to the point where you had the surgery, and it won't be resolved overnight (or in a few months). Maybe start trying to add in fruit/protein smoothies (have a blender?) try using yogurt, almond milk, ice, real fruit - things like bananas and avacado (for the healthy fat and calories) and sip on those when you can. You'll get some protein, calories and fats to help up your calorie intake and still should be gentle on your stomach/digestion. Scrambled eggs with a bit of cheddar cheese was a good soft food for protein/calories in the beginning (once I could eat solids). It didn't agree with me for the first couple of months, tho (threw up that and chicken until around 3 months out). Refried Beans (especially black beans) with a bit of cheese on top also really good for calories/energy.

I would add more Protein rich items to the Protein Shakes. I always try to bookend my workouts with good carbs and protein. Someone mentioned a few things like adding avocado to your Protein Drink. In addition to that I also add Fage 0% greek yogurt, nut butter and spinach or spinach/kale puree to my protein drinks. I make the spinach or spinach/kale puree by blending it in the vitamix with just enough Water to liquefy and freezing into ice trays. I then add one cube to each drink. I make my protein drinks using water and then pack loads of ice on them. I drink half pre-work out and the other after post workout. This fuels my workout so I am burning fat and keeps my energy up. The additives also keep my calories at a good level and using water & ice counts toward my Fluid goals. That said, give your body time to heal. Your energy will return. Then strive to get some sort of exercise in everyday. Don't get overly focused on calories. I ate 400 calories for the first 2 weeks post op. Then ate 400 - 600 until 3mths post op. From 3 - 9 months I ate between 600 - 800 and currently eat between 800 - 1000. The new tummy is tiny. It can't hold much. As long as that protein level is good you should be okay.

To clarify my standard day is two protein shakes and a yogurt. After that it's what I can tolerate. I get around 70 of protein a day. Sometimes more.