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Who was able to start at a gym and work out? I had my surgery on December 4, 2013 and just started back at the gym I am only 5 weeks out of surgery but want to start working on my stomach and abs. Is it to early for this? Also I had just been able to increase the amount I ate but now cant even get a full cup of yogurt down without filling full again or some discomfort. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Curious to know portion sizes for meals. I know everyone is different and pouch sizes differ. For me I need a warm drink before facing any breakfast which now is usually meat sometimes 2oz chilli. Lunch will be about 200 ml soup with some crackers. Dinner the other day was a boil in the bag piece of cod and a yogurt. I keep away from snacks and just fill up on water. As it is quite cold now I have recently boiled water rather than cold goes down a lot easier.

Hi all. I was 21 months out on Sept. 14th and went to my doctor for follow-up. I go see him every 3 months. I am still doing great. I have lost 75 lbs. (I really only had 60 to lose all mainly in my abdomen). Those of you who know my story know that most of my stomach had protruded through my diaphragm. I had a Nissen Fundiplication surgery for my reflux in 1999, and this was a result of that. Anyway, my stomach was lodged between my lungs headed for my heart so with my sleeve surgery at the same time he had to repair that which took and additional 2 1/2 hours. My doctor told me that your restrictions change at 18 months post-op so it is important to stay on track. This time when I went, he said I have lost too much muscle mass in the last three months, which will affect my metabolism, so he said I need to start working out with weights on my upper body and get that up before December hen I see him again. I was doing endurance training on the treadmill but I had to have unexpected arthroscopic surgery on my knee to remove a meniscus tear in July, so that slowed down my walking and treadmill, so that contributed to my muscle mass loss since I was not exercising everyday for awhile. So today I will see a personal trainer and start on a weight program for my upper body only (I lost so much I need to tone my biceps so they don't look like crepe paper!). Also I need to increase my RTD protein drinks to two per day. He also said that the powdered protein drinks were not as good as everyone thinks, because people add so much to them, ie, bananas, sugary fruits, yogurt, etc. that they end up having too much sugar and calories in them. I have always used the RTD anyway, because I couldn't stand the aftertaste or consistency of the ones made from powder. So at this point, the surgery is still the best thing I have ever done for myself, went from an 18 jeans to a 2 jeans, and couldn't be happier. Not on any meds anymore whatsoever and healthier than I have ever been my entire adult life. Don't give up or get discouraged. It does not happen over night, but you be stay on track and stay committed. The weight is bound to come off if you are only eating about 8 oz. at a time. I still have a hard time getting in 1,000 calories a day! Good luck to all of you. Also, you will love this forum. You can learn so much from others who have done it before you. Don't be afraid to ask anything on here! I learned so much from this forum.

Thank you all. My Dr. has a very limitied number of shakes and I actually like the one that was given. So I got lactaid. I can mix the shake with water, but the dairy content was still killer, plus we had guidance to eat yogurt so that sent me over the top. I only had one shake yesterday and LOTS of clear liquids. I got the acidophilus and lactaid going. Felling much more norma today and no pain. Your thoughts were much appreciated.

If it'll go through a strainer I can have it. I did make a shake in blender yesterday and it was great tasting, strained it but felt pressure after a couple of sips so I threw it out. This is harder than I thought it would be. Just shows I was too addicted to foods I like. I really think a couple of bites would satisfy me but just not physically possible. My Surgeon told me preop about a patient who had a staple pop after eating a TBS of yogurt during that post-op period! Scary!! Had to have 2 more surgeries!!

I feel for you! It sucks that you feel so down right now. Something that I did with my boys early on is I knew I had a big issue with food and didn't want them to as well so we made sure they were taught to make good food choices. Sweets should be a treat not an all the time thing. Get rid of all unhealthy sweets for your sake and theirs, keep healthy sweets in the house yogurt, 100 calorie packs, granola bars, fresh fruit, dried fruit etc and if they have a sweet craving they will gnosh on thoses. And, if you happen to indulge it's not a bad treat. Also, you just need to find your sweet spot. When you get it you will know. It took 4 fills for me to hit mine and wow what a difference it made! Good luck!

SOo i have been banded for 7 months.. down about 105. i have been doing yogurt or eggs for breakfast this whole time and i only eat protien fruit and veggies.. but i wanted to start adding something different once in a while.. and i wanted to try cereal. but i want a cereal thats good with vitamins.. low in calories. some protien. low in sugar. and tastes good. any suggestions???

With purées I actually didn't puree anything. I stuck primarily to my full liquid diet including greek yogurt, with the exception of cottage cheese and ricotta cheese. I only was on the pureed stage for 5 days, so it wasn't a huge deal for me. From prior experience (no kids but my gecko used to be handfed baby food). Fruity baby foods are quite tasty; bananas, apples, pears.

One of my Diabetes pills was too big. I spokewith my GP and she prescribed a smaller dose (I had to take more to make up for the smaller amount) but it was a size I could cut and swallow better. All my other pills were small enough to take. From what my nutritionist advised: I should see my GP every couple months if losing weight well. They can run bloodwork to see what you can come off of or reduce in amount. Also, Vitamin Shoppe has a really good Calcium in liquid form. I add it to my Protein shake in the morning but I couldn't see why you couldn't mix it with some milk, yogurt etc.

I know this has been discussed several times but I am getting so frustrated that I need to ask you good people. I was sleeved Sept 16 which puts me at 2 months post-op. In the beginning I was losing great now....is another story. I have tried everything to make the scale move faster and I might get it to move maybe one pound a week. I know alot of you have said you have to eat more calories. I have tried that and gained a pound. And it was hard. I get full very easy and I am just not hungry. Example day: Breakfast - Atkins shake lunch - either Atkins meal bar or Soup or chicken or turkey dinner - small spinach salad and shrimp snack - Atkins Protein bar or greek yogurt of course I change it up but that is an example. I feel I just can't eat anymore than that and to not see the scale more much gets very hurtful.. Since surgery I have lost 47 lbs but I look at some of you and at this time most of you have lost alot more. Is this just normal for some people or will someday I wake up and magic it will start to come off? I guess I just needed to vent a little....just feeling sorry for myself. Any suggestions????? I'll try it. Thanks bunches, Janet

I had a dumping episode of last night. I can start full liquids on pod #3, that includes Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. I had 2oz of Fage 0% for dinner and had a horrible dumping episode about 20 min after I finished, bad stomach cramps, sweating, some diarrhea, I ate super slow over 45 min, but can't handle this yet, maybe not ready for dairy. I'll go back to stuff I know is safe for a while.

My husband and I had surgery 2/8/2013. He is like you I call him cast iron stomach. He can drink a whole protein shake in my 25 minutes. a bottle of water in a house. 1/2 cup of soup in 15 minutes without getting sick! It takes me 2 hours to eat 1/4 of a cup. It takes me all 2 hours to eat 2 tablespoons of refired beans, guac, and greek yogurt mixed. Most things bother my sleeve. With him it seems like nothing bothers his. He is still losing weight tho.

Hi Olivia, I am experiencing the same problem. I am trying to figure out what it is but am having no luck. I thought it might be yogurt, so I stopped eating that and the gas continues, the same with milk and coffee. I seem to experience more of it when I am at work so I'm not sure if it is stress releated. Is that weird? I have tried gas x but it doesn't seem to help.

This has been a very interesting experience so far even though it is only a few days old. In 51 years of life I have never ever logged and counted my calories but the band has change my lifestyle and my mind I guess. Anyone feel free to correct this as my data is guesses at best. But there has been a few lessons and a few things learned already. Stardate Log 7262.7 Or for you humans 060407 well Australian Humans anyway American Humans might have it 040607. Not sure how to do this yet but here it goes. 060407 Brekky 220 ml skim milk 90 cal 1 Optifast 152 cal Whey protein 13 g 49 cal Total 291 cal 30 mins of biking (8km) (340 cal) Morning tea 1 toast 35g 98 cal 1 banana (100g) 90 cal 1 Tbsp PB (20g) 117 cal Total 305 cal 75 mins Walking (6.6 km) 500 cals Lasagna 244 g 344 cal Tuna 70 g 74 cal Total 418 cal 1014 cal   Shark 90 g 130 cal Brussels Sprouts ½ cup 28 cal Olives 4 15 cal Blueberries 50 g 25 cal Yogurt 3 tbsp 35 cal 233 cal 1247 cal 1 Toast 98 cal 1 Banana 90 cal Cottage Cheese 100g 100 cal 288 Cal 1535 Cal Saturday 7 April 7, 2007 Brekky Chili 100g 102 cal 1 egg 80 cal 182 cal Lunch Chili 100g 102 Cal Cottage Cheese 100g 100 Cal 1 Toast 98 Cal 300 Cal 482 Cal 35 min Biking (10.1km) 400 Cal   Afternoon tea 1 toast 35g 98 cal 1 banana (100g) 90 cal 188 cal 670 Cal Tea MeatLoaf 158g 289 Cal Carrots 66g 24 Cal Spinach 75 g 9 Cal Pineapple 73 g 45 Cal 367 Cal 1037 Cal Walking 25 min 2.5 km 200 Cal Evening Tea ½ cup Muesli 155 Cal 3 tbsp Skim Milk 15 Cal 100 ml V8 1 8 Cal 178 Cal 1215 Cal Stardate Log 7262.7 April 8, 2007 Breakfast Chili 100g 102 Cal Cottage Cheese 50g 50 Cal 1 Toast 98 Cal 1 egg 80 cal 330 Cal 30 mins of biking (7 km) (340 cal) Morning Tea Whey Protein 36g 138 Cal 1 banana (100g) 90 cal Milk 125 ml 45 Cal 273 Cal 603 Cal Lunch MeatLoaf 230g 289 Cal Carrots, green onions Mushrooms, V8 (100ml) 50 cal Tomato 1 (80g) 17 cal 356 Cal 959 Cal Tea Moroccan Lentil Soup 1 ½ cup 146 Cal Prawns 100g 100 Cal Rice Basmati 100g 100 Cal 346 Cal 1305 Cal Walking 30 min 3 km 300 Cal Evening Tea 1 Toast 98 Cal Peanut Butter 10g 60 Cal 1 banana (100g) 90 Cal 248 Cal 1553 Cal 3 Days Summary Friday 6th 1535 Cal 105 mins Exercise 840 Cal Saturday 7th 1215 Cal 60 mins Exercise 600 Cal Sunday 8th 1553 Cal 60 mins Exercise 640 Cal April 9, 2007 Breakfast Chili 70g 70 Cal Cottage Cheese 70g 70 Cal 1 Toast 98 Cal 1 egg 80 Cal 318 Cal Lunch Potato Salad 160 g 160 Cal Burger 100g 200 Cal Ritz Crackers 16g 79 Cal 439 Cal 757 Cal Tea Moroccan Lentil Soup 1 ½ cup 146 Cal Prawns 100g 100 Cal Rice Basmati 100g 100 Cal 346 Cal 1103 Cal Ritz Crackers 16g 80 Cal M & M’s 16g 80 Cal 160 Cal 1263 Cal Note: M & M and Ritz Crackers 5 Cal per g PB 6 cal per g   Tuesday, April 10, 2007 Brekky 1 toast 35g 98 cal Cottage Cheese 100g 100 Cal 1 egg 80 Cal 278 Cal 75 mins Walking (5.5 km) 500 Cal Average Pulse 93 Morning Tea Pineapple 73 g 45 Cal 323 Cal Lunch Hamburger 115 g 230 Cal Mor. Lentil Soup 1 ½ cup 146 Cal 376 Cal 699 Cal Coffee with ½ cup of skim milk 43 Cal 742 Cal *Note: Coffee with ½ of skim milk and 2 rounded teaspoons of sugar (60g) = 103 Cal Tea 1 toast 35g 98 Cal 1 egg 60g 80 Cal Cottage Cheese 100g 100 Cal 278 Cal 920 Cal   Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Brekky 1 toast 35g 98 Cal Philadelphia XLite 10g 12 Cal 1 egg 60g 80 Cal Cottage Cheese 100g 100 Cal 290 Cal Lunch 2 toasts 77g 196 Cal Philadelphia XLite 25g 31 Cal Turkey Breast Slices 100g 100 Cal 327 Cal 617 Cal AP 102 Walking Treadmill 30 min 3km 340 Cal Work Out 1 hour 460 Cal 800 Cal Afternoon Tea 1 Optifast 152 cal Whey Protein 36g 138 Cal 290 Cal 907 Cal Tea Barramundi 138 g 152 Cal Veggies 100g 60 Cal (corn, carrots, spinach) Butter 4g 29 Cal Yoghurt 100g 100 Cal 341 Cal 1248 Cal 4 Prunes 25 Cal 1273 Cal Thursday, April 12, 2007 Brekky Eggs 2 160 Cal (12.6g Prot) Toast 1 98 Cal Cottage 50g 50 Cal 308 Cal 25 min Biking (5.5Km) 284 Cal Orange Juice 200 ml 76 Cal Whey Protein 36g 138 Cal Banana 68g 60 Cal Oat Bran 20g 49 Cal 323 Cal 631 Cal Walking 30 min Beach 300 Cal Lunch Tuna 60 g 60 Cal Relish 20g 30 Cal Dijon 20 g 30 Cal Tomato 115g 21 Cal Bread 1 ½ slice 35g ea 147 Cal 288 Cal 919 Cal Tea Hoki 100g 68 Cal Prawns 4 (40g) 40 Cal Patak’s Korma Sauce 40 Cal Rice Basmati 100g 100 Cal 248 Cal 1167 Cal Evening Tea Whey Protein 18g 69 Cal Banana 68g 60 Cal Yoghurt 50g 50 Cal 179 Cal 1346 Cal

I'm almost 4 weeks post-op and still on my soft foods stage. I'm tracking my food on My Fitness Pal and focusing on getting 60 grams of protein (which is hit and miss) and keeping under 120 grams of carbs (which is really easy, I usually do half that). However, my doctor/nutritionist never made any mention of a suggested fat intake. Almost every day I go over the My Fitness Pal's suggested fat intake. I'm eating LOTS of dairy right now (yogurt, cheese sticks, cottage cheese cups, milk, etc.) and I try to do low-fat and skim options, but day after day my fat continues to run high. I'm not sure how concerned I should be at this point. I've lost about 20 pounds post-op, but I have been stalled for almost a week. I'm not too worried about the stall since I know that it's common to stall at this point and I haven't really started exercising yet. I'm just afraid that I may be slowing myself further by consuming too much fat. Does anyone want to share their usual daily fat intake?

Hi all! I just started my liquid diet today and am now freaking out that I am not doing it right. Of course there is a huge snow storm so no one is in the office and I don't want to mess this up. I think I can have sugar free jell-o, pudding and the carnation instant breakfast shakes. but what about oatmeal? Is that ok? Yogurt? Are there specific types? Thanks for the help! FYI- my surgeon is Dr. Benedetto, and it will be at Salem (MA)Hospital.

I have three fourths cup cereal and one half cup of milk. That does not make my bowl very liquidy. Although I don't drink while I eat, I don't always eat solid food. I eat a lot of yogurt which most people don't use because it is not a solid. So I figured the cereal and milk is no different. I am not hungry at all during the day no matter what I eat.

I recently discovered ProYo where I shop. It's a high protein frozen yogurt pushup treat. They're too high in sugar to have every day but they are a great occasional treat.

Hi . . . I was also banded on the 29th and have not even advanced off of Clear Liquids. The yogurt and pudding comes next week and I can't wait. My doctor is strict, but he's so successful that I don't want to vary from what he says. I'm terrified of sticking episodes and I hate to vomit. That's probably why I'm not straying at all. Good luck!

My date is Aug 4 and I'm super nervous and crabby. Started my pre-op diet on Friday and it sounds like one of the more extreme ones: 3 high protein drinks/shakes a day, 2-3 snacks of yogurt, sf pudding, cream of tomato soup (so random!); and fluids include clear broth, sf jello, tomato juice, no caffeine tea/coffee, flat diet soda. It's going to be a long 14 days, but I feel a little better each day I'm on it--just very fatigued. I plan to make my own tomato soup today--I'm not so crazy about eating packaged foods. I've also not been able to get a clear answer about the sugar free stuff. I cut artificial sweeteners out of my life several years ago,(it has helped enormously with reducing headaches and stabilizing my mood) trying to only eat stevia or monkfruit based ones if unavoidable. However, the pre/post diet seems to include so many. I've asked a couple of the nutritionists if it's a calorie thing or a metabolism thing and I get mixed answers. Some say it's okay to find low sugar things, some say no sugar because of dumping (even before surgery) so I'm kind of confused. I'm just limiting the sf jello products to when I'm desperate, and I don't drink things like crystal light.

Surgery went well. I got to add a bit of greek yogurt today, which was wonderful! I'm uploading another video, but I'm not sure how often I'll do them. I feel funny. I guess I'll get used to it. How are you making out? Added my chewable calcium today. Will take my vitamins tonight with my 6:00 meal. Didn't want to do them on an empty stomach, so shifted the times. I'm using Celebrate vitamins. The orange calcium isn't too bad...crossing my fingers I can tolerate the multi's tonight!

Bfast - lc yogurt with a handful of granola Lunch - string cheese with 6 slices of shaved turkey breast (45 calories total for all six slices) Snack - Fresh strawberries, sliced up, about 1/2 cup or so. Maybe 4 or 5 huge strawberries - yum. love strawberries! Dinner - chicken breast - spinach salad 1 piece of cheesecake - yes I still have some left at my house! I will be glad when it is out of the house Exercise - No exercise today - but I WILL do at least 5 times this week no matter what! Wt am in bday suit - 182.7 - grrrrrr. I hate those scales!:biggrin:

Oh, this is making me crave homemade tomato soup. Do you think I can substitute cream cheese for the sour cream? I have yet to see sour cream here except homemade in a restaurant one time. BTW - the cream cheese is about $7 for a container the size of a small yogurt! I have to start liking Malawian food - corn meal mush - yuck!!

Probably because although we havent had bypass surgery you still need alot of nutrients with our intake of food being reduced. I was told by nutritonist and my primary to take multivitamins. I take b12 b/s I have diffiency but I hear band patients can become deficient in it and I take biotin as well. Mainly because they say a side effect of anesthesia and lack of protein can cause some hair loss. I am 7 wks out and I make sure I have 5og or more of protein per day. I still take the biotin anyway. cant hurt I figure. I would say listen to your primary doc cause you will see them more I gather than the surgeon espcially to make sure you dont become vitamin deficient which is easy to do. I was doing chewable vitamins but they were NOT giving me what I needed an adult woman. I dont take calcium because I get it with the vitamins, plus I drink alot of soy milk and eat alot of greek yougurt and other yogurts

I'm already on that stage .. it's so funny to me how everyone has different foods that are allowed per each phase. Phase 2 for me is thicker soup, but still runny cream of wheat, yogurt, jello , pudding ,things like that.. I want like chewy mouth texture food.. ughh..