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I am exactly one week post op, I started losing about a pound a day then I starting gaining a pound a day and now I am right back to my pre-surgery weight. I'm so frustrated. I have no problems getting in all my liquids and protein, I track my calories and gett anywhere from 600- 900 calories a day. I'm on full liquids, I have not cheated, but I also have no restriction, I can easily finish the whole container of yogurt when I eat. Any advice

Source: food. The trick: Eat just a little less. Scientists at Harvard and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge found that people who lowered their calorie intake lost an average of 13 pounds in six months no matter what kind of diet they were on. "This is the best weight-loss news in a long time," says Frank Sacks, MD, nutrition professor at Harvard School of Public Health and lead author of the study. "If you don't like what you're eating, you're not going to stick with it. These findings give you flexibility to trim a bit here and there and still enjoy your favorites." In fact, by nixing just 100 calories a day, you'll lose more than 10 pounds a year. Up your cuts to 250 and you're down 26 pounds. Want to lose faster? Ditch 500 calories daily and you'll drop those pounds in half the time. We found 50 so-easy ways for you to trim a little but save a lot. Cut 100 Calories at Breakfast * Use skim milk in place of flavored Coffee-mate in your two morning mugs. * Eat a bowl of high-fiber Cereal and you'll consume fewer calories all day. * Order bacon, not sausage, with your eggs. * Choose a yeast doughnut instead of a denser cake one. Cut 100 Calories at lunch * Use 1 tablespoon of mayo and 1 tablespoon of low-fat cottage cheese to make tuna salad. * Put barbecue sauce, not honey mustard, on your chicken sandwich at Wendy's. * Top your burger with onions, lettuce, and tomato and skip the cheese. * Ask for the 12-ounce child-size soda instead of the 21-ounce medium at the drive-through. * Slim down your sandwich by using Arnold Select 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins instead of whole wheat bread. * Toss your salad with 1 tablespoon of dressing until every lettuce leaf is coated. You'll get away with using half the usual serving size. Try this trick at dinner too. * Skip the crackers and shredded cheese on your chili. Cut 100 Calories at Dinner * Trade butter for a flavorful spread made with garlic, fresh rosemary, and light, trans fat-free margarine. * Making meatballs? Mix half the amount of ground beef the recipe calls for with half as much cooked brown rice. * Instead of two slices of medium pepperoni pan pizza, choose thin-crust. * When munching on chicken wings, don't toss the bones midway through. Seeing the evidence of your feast may help you eat less, studies show. Cut 100 Calories from a Snack * Trade 1/2 cup of premium vanilla ice cream for 1/2 cup of Breyers chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream. * Ordering a cone? Make it the sugar, not the waffle, kind. * Munch on Pirate's Booty. In a study, switching to an air-puffed cheesy snack twice a day saved about 70 calories a pop. * Grab a Dannon Light & Fit yogurt, not a low-fat fruit blend. * Replace half the butter in cake, muffin, and brownie recipes with an equal amount of applesauce or mashed bananas. You'll save about 100 calories for every tablespoon you swap. * Indulge in a slice of angel food cake drizzled with chocolate syrup rather than three Cookies. ------------------- Cut 250 Calories at Breakfast * Trade a reduced-fat blueberry muffin for instant oatmeal topped with 1/4 cup of fresh blueberries. Bonus: You'll stay satisfied all morning. * Measure out your breakfast cereal; overestimating by just 1/3 cup can add 100 calories. * Enjoy it with a 16-ounce chai latte with skim milk rather than a green tea latte with 2 percent. Cut 250 Calories at Lunch * Pick turkey over tuna in your 6-inch sub. * At the salad bar, reach for shredded Parmesan instead of cheddar and skip the bread. * Nuke a Lean Cuisine chicken parm instead of having one delivered. Cut 250 Calories at Dinner * Make your own salad dressing using low-sodium, fat-free broth in place of 2 tablespoons of oil. * Having fajitas? Fill up one tortilla rather than three, then eat the rest of your fixings with a fork. * Sub black Beans for refried and hold the side of Mexican rice. * Order filet mignon instead of a New York strip steak. * Opt for broccoli chicken over sweet-and-sour, and for steamed brown rice, not fried. Cut 250 Calories from a Snack * Bite into a chocolate-covered strawberry rather than a chocolate chip cookie. * Skip the small movie-theater popcorn and bring your own 1-ounce bag of Lay's. * Switch from juice to Crystal Light twice a day. * At the mall, curb a craving for a soft pretzel with a 100-calorie pretzel pack. ------------------- Cut 500 Calories * Eat fruit before every meal. In a Pennsylvania State University study, people who munched apples 15 minutes before lunch ate about 187 fewer calories. * Order one brunch entree to share. Who can finish that giant omelet, anyway? * When making mac and cheese, resist temptation and prep just half the box. Save the rest in a zip-top bag for next time. * Use your grandmother's Joy of Cooking and you'll save an average of 506 calories over three meals, according to a recent Cornell University study. The secret: Smaller portion sizes and lower-calorie ingredients were called for back then. * Instead of a Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha for your afternoon pick-me-up, order coffee with a little milk and a dusting of chocolate. * At happy hour, drink two rum and diet colas and back away from the bowl of stale snack mix. ----------------- Turn Up the Burn The more active you are, the fewer calories you'll need to cut. Try these food-fitness combos to reach your target number. Goal: 100 calories Burn 50: Get up from your desk and take a 20-minute walk at lunch. Cut 50: Skip the oyster crackers in your Soup. Goal: 250 calories Burn 125: Shovel the driveway for 20 minutes. Cut 125: Hold the cinnamon bun. Eat two slices of cinnamon toast. Goal: 500 calories Burn 250: Spend two hours making dinner for the entire week. Cut 250: Mist a pan with cooking spray instead of pouring in oil. Sources: Sari Greaves, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association; Jayne Hurley, RD, senior nutritionist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest; Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan; Brian Wansink, PhD, FITNESS advisory board member and author of Mindless Eating; and Hope Warshaw, RD, author of Eat Out, Eat Right, third edition, and What to Eat When You're Eating Out Originally published in FITNESS magazine, February 2010.

I just made some of this today, to take to a party tonight. Red (orange, really) lentils cook very quickly and make a very creamy dip. 3/4 cup red lentils 2 cloves garlic 1 Tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste) dash of cayenne 1/2 tsp ground cumin salt to taste lemon juice, also to taste Cook the lentils and drain any excess moisture. They cook in about 15 minutes or so. Put everything in the food processor and blend into a nice, smooth consistency. I like it even better than traditional hummus. I made a layer dip. First, the hummus. Then I added chopped cucumbers and green onions. I'll take tomatoes and black olives with me to add at the last minute. Finally I topped it with plain yogurt mixed with fresh dill and a little salt. This isn't for me, since I'm still not on full solids yet, but I did sneak a few bites of cucumber. I figure they're soft and mostly Water. The hummus ROCKS. Goin' to a party where I can't eat any of the food or drink any of the drinks. Oh, well.

Have you tried putting the bariatric chewables in yogurt ( crush them) or blend them with a protein drink?

Erica, I am also day 5 and I am 23 I have also been sitting at home feeling hungry and regret. Yesterday morning I woke up and felt like a new women but last night I was so weak and tired I could barley move!! I feel the same way you do trust me but were only day 5 and it will get better. Tomorrow I can eat yogurt and forthat I am so excited I just keep trying to stay busy, browsing online for new clothes I will fit in, reading magazines even calling up a relative an go for a short ride. It does suck right now I 100%agree with you but the benifets much out weigh the negatives and our growlig stomachs right now! Good luck and stay strong Lb love J

I am getting banded tues as well.. Woohoo. You are lucky cuz this preop diet sucks ! I cannot wait to get to be able to even lick yogurt off a spoon .. Lol

I use the Kraft brand of olive oil mayo or Greek yogurt.

I generally have not tried to replace Pasta, bread, etc. So, if I had been eating sandwiches, now I'd just eat a meat/cheese/mustard (whatever) rollup. And some veggies or fruit on the side. meat and veggies. The occasional potato. Breakfast has always been rough for me too. I usually would do a Protein shake in the morning, or just have a bit of tea/coffee, then have yogurt and a granola bar mid-morning once things loosened up.

I got sleeved on Nov 4th. A lot of gas buildup as well as all the IV fluids coming out in more ways than one (haha). Doing good with no nausea. Drainage stopped from where the drain tube was, and thankfully was able to switch to a normal bandaid instead of the huge gauze dressing because the tape was breaking me out in a rash. Still a lot of bruising around one of the stapled incisions, but otherwise doing great. Get to start having yogurt and applesauce tomorrow (along with other stuff)--YIPPEE--FOOD!

If you can make it, you can puree it. Personally, I've been surviving mostly on greek yogurt, flavored-up cottage cheese, scrambled eggs with cheese, pureed super-spicy chicken taco meat, and refried Beans.

I'm tight in the mornings, so I usually have a protein shake or yogurt for breakfast and I mix in 2 or 3 spoonfuls of Benefiber. If I get stopped up I rely on good ole MOM (milk of magnesia). I'm running to the potty about an hour after that. Pre surgery, I had multiple bm's a day and they were the sudden urge types, now I go once every couple of days or once a day. Maybe TMI, but oh well.

I had surgery the same date, and while I haven't tried Pasta, I have had a couple of bites of Beans, and about a quarter of a piece of chicken breast. The liquid stage that my doctor has me on is so long, and I see so many other sleeve diet plans that allow gradual progressions of foods after only two weeks. Today so far I have had yogurt, chicken broth, and four spoon full of refried beans with cheese. The beans are not supposed to be for another five days, but so far so good.

I have been sleeved for a little over 4 weeks and I have to agree, most of those Protein drinks are NASTY! I came across Premier Protein at Sams Club (costco carries it too) - it is AWESOME! It comes in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry and it is 30g of protein, 160 calories, 3g of sugar and 5g of carbs for 11 ozs. I highly recommend you scoop some up. It is by far the best tasting Protein Drink on the market (in my opinion). Sometimes on the weekends, Sam's Club demos the Protein Drinks and you can try them before buying them! I bought the individual packets from unjury too and a canister of unflavored to put in broth, yogurt etc. But the truth is...even the unflavored has a flavor. Hate to say it, but true. Good Luck to you!

I was worried too about leaking and blood clots. I got up 6 hours after surgery and walked around the unit. I walked a lot. 16 hours after surgery my surgeon wanted to discharge me. I asked to spend one more night and he said ok. My advice is to walk and move a lot. Am now 13 days post op and have lost 18 pounds. I am still on a liquid diet. I have to be on liquid diet for 5 weeks. I am not hungry at all and forget to eat. I used to e so jealous of people when they said that. Now I finally know what it's lik!e. week 6 of pst op is puréed foods. But right now I focus on where I am at. I should be eating 800 cal a day. I am lucky to get in 400 and I am satisfied. I should have thrre protein drinks made with skim mil and one yogurt i have 2 shakes and a yogurt right now ii get my protein powdwer from my doctor. It's called Rutein But I worry about healing and not leaking more than eating a food that could Casey so much trouble. Down the road I will get he food I desire and hopefully at a smaller quantity. I have no desire o go off track and eat. Focus on why you are having the surgery. I am so pleased I did it and worked through my fears. You will too-- good luck!

6dpo I was drinking Protein shakes, and eating Popsicles, Jell-O, Yogurt, and Cream of Wheat. Sent from my iPhone using VST

My favorite yogurt in the world is Fage 0%. Fage is a plain greek yogurt so you've got to be a fan of that, but with a little liquid splenda and some flavoring it's so much higher in protein and you get to control what's in it.

I had a fat free strawberry yogurt yesterday and a raspberry fat free one the day before. I am in a panic cause I just saw someone post you can't have berries. I don't recall my nutritionist or surgeon ever mentioning it to me. Did I screw up royally? I am 11 days post op and was instructed I could have yogurt. Please help!

I have only been on yogurt for 3 days. Still doing the nasty. (Protein shakes)

I give in to it, or I find a lower calorie version. Like a piece of sugar free chocolate, or frozen yogurt instead of candy and ice cream. But honestly to me, when I find out how many calories are in what I want I usually don't want it anymore haha. Luckily for me, in LA, every chain food joint, coffee shop, and restaurant has to post the calories on the menu. When you find out there are 562 calories in a serving of ranch dressing at Mimi's Cafe, you won't eat it! Or I don't feel guilty about ONE piece of pizza, or a small slice of cake. Before it would of been 5 pieces of pizza, or 2 cupcakes..

I’m 9 weeks out. I try to keep my calories in the 600-700 range but have gone in the 800s a couple of times a week. No problems with any foods, getting protein or getting fluids in. Typical menu for me would be a scrambled egg with tsp of butter for breakfast or protein coffee. Lunch is usually baby spinach, spring mix with 1 1/2 oz chicken breast strips topped with T sour cream and salsa. Dinner has lately been 1/3-1/2 c homemade chili beans or 2oz meat with broccoli or Brussels sprouts. At night I usually want a snack so I’ve had sf Greek yogurt, sf jello with a dollop of yogurt on top or some cheese and smokehouse almonds, but I can get carried away with the almonds so have pretty much cut them out. Often I’ll add a premier protein somewhere, but when I do my calories are closer to the 800 range. I am still having to resist the urge to graze, especially at night. I’m going to try doing the premier protein around 9pm to see if that will help with the grazing/snacking urge because it seems if I eat a snack it just starts up my “fat brain” and even though I’ve not had anything “bad” I can still slow weight loss with grazing on allowed foods.

I feel your frustration. I just had my 4th fill done this past Thursday (total of 2cc in my 4cc band), and I can finally say I have restriction. Man, do I have restriction. It's strange when you finally get it, because your head and your eyes tell you still need to eat, yet your band gives a very loud NO THANKYOU. I'm trying to adjust to the new way of eating, and have been overly fond of yogurt these past few days. Stick with it, and when you finally get the restriction....You will know immediately.

At a little over 3 months, for me there is no fullness or emptiness, for that matter! When I over-eat, the nonstop burping starts and then the food wants to come up. Sometimes you can fight the urge, depending on what you ate and how much you over-ate, sometimes you can't! It happens when I forget about my sleeve then take a bite of something carelessly (watching tv, or just distracted) then I'm like, 'Why did I just eat that?' burp...burp! That's why I sometimes just have a safe food for dinner like a yogurt or cottage cheese. I can't take the discomfort when I eat a normal meal sometimes.

I had surgery July 30 & can barely keep a sip down. Dr moved me to puree & same thing...I get 1 tiny lil bit down & it feels like I have a brick in my upper stomach...I can't sit or lay down or I vomit...takes about 45 minutes to get past that heavy feeling. I'm not getting enough liquid or protein....any suggestions?? I've tried yogurt, cottage cheese, mashed cauliflower, pudding, jello, water, tea, protein shakes...everything feels heavy & hurts going down. Dr doesn't seem worried but I am...especially after reading that people after me are already eating chicken & more solid stuff. Definitely questioning if I made the right choice by having surgery.

You can make your own "refried" beans that have less sugar fat and don't lead to the sluggish feeling (at least they didn't for me). from bariatriceating(dot)com: blend a can of pinto (I used black) beans with 1/2 c. mild salsa and blend until smooth. Might need to add 1/4 c-1/2c water or broth to get it super smooth/pourable. I also melt a bit of cheese. With respect to the soups and other foods, I was told to look for stuff with 5g or less of sugar per serving (6g was OK for the oikos yogurt I was eating) You can make your own tomato soup fairly easily. I base mine off the following recipe, but use any old tomatoes I want and use dried basil to taste. https://www.bariatriceating.com/2011/11/tomato-basil-soup/

Hi everyone, hope you all are doing well. I have a few things I wanted to ask those who are where I am or beyond that may have experience with the same issues. My day of surgery I was allowed nothing by mouth. The next day I was allowed 1 oz of water per hour. Then starting yesterday for 2 weeks I'm allowed full liquids. Yesterday I mixed protein shake in my Greek yogurt because I'm told everything must be the consistency of milk and able to roll off the spoon. I maybe was able to take in 4 bites of yogurt, and drank half a premier protein and water all day yesterday. Today I haven't "eaten" anything. I've been sipping water and sucked on 2 sugar free popsicles (surprisingly felt great). What is everyone else doing at this time? As far as how I feel....I'm in Pain but not really taking much medication. My abdomen is extremely swollen especially my left side which is also bruised and very swollen. I'm dizzy intermittently which tells me I need more water. How long does it take for the swelling in the abdomen to decrease. I guess I need reassurance that what I'm experiencing is normal.