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I'm six weeks out and still struggling with eating. I need some food ideas I can't tolerate eggs. I tried to get my protein in by w ating yogurt but I need to try some meats any suggestions and preparations ideas. Please help sincerely Shalotta....

Sadly before surgery i loved premier shakes! Bought tons of them! I have one left and some powder. I've been making 4oz shakes with half a scoop of Protein Powder which is about 18.5g a serving (with lactose free milk) i do that 3 -4 times a.day to reach my protein goal, im having yogurt for Breakfast and dinner and a shake for my 'snacks' and a shake for lunch so far im down 2lbs since yesterday but ky sr said if its not more then 5lbs difference it isnt a loss

Yeah that's what I plan on doing. No heavy stuff...mostly protein shakes and probably some yogurt or pudding. As the baby gets bigger things will start moving out the way to make way for her right? Does that include our stomach and lapband? I'm sure our stomachs aren't excluded just because we have lapband lol but I'm curious as they grt bigger will this get worse. What do you think?

I am almost 4 months out and can tolerate most everything that is okay to eat at this stage. Per my drs. instructions, I cannot add Pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, etc. until 6 months. I can do coconut and apples. I have a fav snack with greek yogurt, apples, unsweetened coconut, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and pistachios. Granted, I am only eating 1/4 of an apple with each serving. The very first time I tried it, I had some issues. However, I waited a couple weeks and tried it again and didn't have any problems. I now eat that a couple times a week. I have also had pineapple, kiwi, all sorts of berries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and grapes. Because I focus on Protein, anytime I have something like that it is in very small quantities. I have not had any issues. I think the most important thing to realize is that everyone is different. What might cause an issue for me may be something that you don't have any problems with at all. Just test things in small quantities and see what happens. If you do have an issue with something, then wait a couple weeks and try it again. Good luck!

My Dr recommends Biochem Whey Protein in the unflavored variety. This is great in Soups, yogurt and in Crystal Lite. I buy it through Amazon. 1 scoop is 20g protein/90 cals.

I was 3 weeks out yesterday and have done fairly well, but my sleeve is so picky I am running out of options for food and drink. I can't do plain water or any artificially sweetened drinks like Crystal Light. I've only been able to do Decaf iced tea and Syntrax Chocolate Truffle flavor for protein. For food I am lactose intolerant since surgery and can't even handle Lactaid milk. So no yogurt or cottage cheese or cream soups. The things I can handle are lunch meat, eggs, and baked potato. I can only take 2 oz at a time. I have tried tuna, chicken, and tilapia and get sick from those. It seems I'll have a really great day followed by a day sicker than a dog. Thanks for reading my long post! Any ideas?

This post was started a long time ago but I thought I would share what I use since I no longer take chewables. I cant even stand the taste of Flinestones Vitamins and the gummies hurt my teeth for some weird reason. I started taking a new Vitamin line about 1 month ago and so far love it. Its called Thrive by Le-vel, it also has a probiotic that is equal to 1600 cups of yogurt so for me its perfect! I had a baby almost 1 year ago and had a life threatening condition that caused me to lose a lot of blood and I became very anemic, so these vitamins are exactly what I have been looking for. I literally cant swallow regular prenatal vitamins as the make me gag, but Thrive is small capsules, a mineral mix and wearable nutrition patch so I have zero issues with gagging!! Anyways just thought I would share and maybe this will help others. you can check it out at www.702layla.le-vel.com

So, you can definitely have protein shakes and yogurt. You have more options for your protein than just milk. If you work on getting your protein and fluids in you probably won't be hungry.

What Protein shakes have you tried? In those first few weeks I hated Protein Shakes, I could not find any that I liked. I ended up not getting enough protein in and in the long term that is a huge problem. You should get a minimum of 1 gram of protein for every inch you are tall as a minimum. I ended up trying Premier Protein ready made shakes. The chocolate flavor is the best. There are 30 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar and 160 calories. It is an excellent choice for a supplement. You can buy at Sam's or costco. Recently I had surgery on my neck where they went through my throat. It has caused me real issues and basically put me back on soft foods. From what my doctor said, this could go on for months. I went to my Bariatric team for help. They gave me a whole bag of Protein shake samples to try. Syntax nectar - fuzzy naval is excellent, I also loved the Caribbean cooler and vanilla bean torte. They don't have that horrid protein taste. I use Water for the fuzzy navel and milk for the other two. I ended up order a box of each of these flavors in the grab and go packets I purchased these on line via Amazon.. I have been eating a lot of cottage cheese which has great protein, pudding - I eat the real thing not sf, yogurt, cream of wheat, homemade Soups, cooked vegetables cooked very soft, I am struggling with most meats because of the swallow issue right now but most fish will work. I am surprised your doctor has you focus on calories vs. protein. I am able to get between 900 and 1100 calories a day and easily hitting my protein goals. If you cannot get your protein through food, which I still cannot you have to supplement or you will get sick. I wish you the best of luck!

Frozen organic fruit/berries, unsweetened almond milk, plain greek yogurt, a little sweetener. Blended in my Magic Bullet. Delicious!

I'm finding I'm only able to get in between 450-600 when my surgeon wants 800-1000. I'm subsisting mostly on Greek yogurt, Turkey dogs, babybel cheese, cottage cheese and publix pre made chicken salad. I'm only getting in one protein shake per day as they make me nauseated. I find that within a bite or two despite chewing and taking small bites that I develop this heartburn feeling that only goes away when I stop eating. Does anyone have suggestions on things foods to try that might help boost my calories up some more? Thank you

Oh yeah, I'm totally jerky boy! And yogurt... and cheese... But I tend to keep going back for more. That's what has me slightly worried. I seem to still need to be consuming and/or feeling full all the time. I've been able to manage it so far by choosing safe foods and drinking ridiculous amounts of fluids, but it feels risky for the long run. Gotta find a non-consumable replacement.

Roger ... Beef / turkey Jerky Greek yogurt cheese Doesn't take a lot for me -- just a serving. On the cracker front, the only ones I now eat are Wasa multigrain (high fiber) crackers.

How long are you supposed to be on Clear liquids? Surely you're allowed to move along in your diet phases before your July 1st consult? I am 8 days out, as well, and I was allowed to start full liquids today (adding in strained cream Soups, yogurt, pudding, plus a second Protein shake). If you don't have any information on your diet stages and when you're supposed to move to the next one, call your surgeon or nutritionist and ask--that's what they're there for! Your hunger pangs might be acid reflux--that can often mimic the psyical feeling of hunger. Did you surgeon prescribe Prilosec or Pepcid or the like? If not, call your surgeon and ask for a prescription, or ask if you can take an over-the-counter acid reducer. As for comparing yourself to other people on Instagram--STOP! I have to keep reminding myself of that, too. Everyone's experience is different, and each surgeon has their own requirements. It's not uncommon to have some depression after surgery. It sounds like you are really low, though, and you might want to get in touch with a therapist. If your surgeon's practice includes a psychologist, give them a call. They might also be able to refer you to therapists who have experience working with WLS patients. I have struggled with depression for years, and I started therapy well before surgery and plan to continue throughout my weight loss, as long as it takes to get my head in a good place. Good luck! Please update as you progress!

I am sharing my wonderful recipe make-overs with BariatricPal that I originally published on HealthCentral Obesity, a health news and information site similar to WebMD. These are the recipes that have helped me to be successful in maintaining my weight loss from bariatric surgery in 2003. These include delicious Protein shakes - some of which taste even better than the delicious fat and sugar-ladden Frappucinos at Starbucks, protein bars that are far more healthy and affordable than those you buy online/in-store, and awesome recipe-makeovers of foods you love but are no longer part of a bariatric life food plan. Craving Comfort Food! Grain-Free Mac and cheese (Almost) Like Mom's from Borne Appétit Reprinted from My Bariatric Life HealthCentral January 25, 2012 Do you ever crave something simply because it reminds you of Mom... of childhood... of home? This is not like your craving for a good cup of coffee in the morning. Nor is it like craving a good Cabernet to go with that chunk of salty Spanish Manchego. It's also not that "I've been so good lately that I deserve some dark decadent chocolate" craving. No. It's none of those. What it is, is a remembrance of a feeling... a longing for a time and place from the past... a nostalgic craving for something that reminds you of home. Something that makes you feel like a kid again, eating in your mom's kitchen. I've been having one of those cravings lately. As a kid, mac and cheese was one of my favorite lunches. It was something I shared with my girlfriend as a late night snack during sleepovers. And it was one of those comfort foods that I took for granted. In case you haven't noticed, nowadays I eat fairly grain-free. Grains were one of the culprits keeping me fat for decades. Today they have no place in my bariatric life - I eat mainly fresh fish, fowl, fruits, and veggies... and occasional cheese, Greek yogurt, nuts/nut butters/nut flours/nut milk, and olive oil... virtually no processed foods. So, I've been having this craving. Probably, the craving has something to do with wanting to be home again, Mom coming down the backstairs on a Saturday afternoon with bowls of mac and cheese for my brother and me to eat by the pool during summer vacation. Since I can't relive the past, I set my grown-up self to task to develop a grain-free mac and cheese, and maybe just recapture a bit of that comforting feeling. The result is a Grain-free Mac and Cheese that's pretty good. It's not the same as Mom made. It probably wouldn't be even if I used real macaroni. But the glorious rich and gooey cheese did comfort my craving... and I felt a warmness fill my stomach and my heart. Please give it a try and let me know what you think! Mind you, this isn't healthy just because it is grain-free. For goodness sake, it is covered in cheese and high in fat! But it isn't horrible for you in moderation. It's also a good way to get more vegetables into your diet. Continue to HealthCentral to get the recipe for Grain-free Mac and Cheese from Borne Appétit

This is a great topic. I am 8.5 months post op. In the beginning I was lucky if I could get 1/4 cup in. As the swelling in my tummy went down i noticed I could eat more depending on what I was eating. For example, if I eat Soup, yogurt or soft foods I can eat 3/4 to 1 cup at this point. If I eat meat like chicken, fish, beef, pork I can eat maybe a half a cup. My nut actually cleared a lot of this up for me as well. She mentioned and continues to tell me this. You have to think about the amount of food you are ingesting after it is chewed up because that is actually how it enters your tummy. the volume of food you eat post chewing is actually more than if you just measured it. which if you think about this it makes sense. I no longer measure my food. I know what my stomach can tolerate and I have learned over time to eat slowly (no more than 30 minutes) and pay attention to whether or not I am satiated. If you do that, all the measuring stuff which I did religiously in the beginning won't be necessary. I never take longer than 30 minutes because your pouch begins to empty at that point. If you continue to eat past that point you could in fact be over eating. This was one of the rules my Bariatric team drilled into my head and I follow religiously. You could literally eat all day and eat around the new tool you have. I also steer clear of any fluids 30 minutes before and after eating so I don't flush my food before my body has a chance to absorb the nutrients.

Why cheese? If you are going to eat dairy, IMO yogurt is a healthier choice. And why fruit instead of green veggies? Green veggies are much lower carb. All that said, losing 1 kg in a week is great IMO. Does your bariatric team have a specific goal that you must meet? It sounds like it, from your post, but personally I think expecting more than 1 kg/week is a high and kind of cruel standard.

It seems to be different depending on your surgeon and nutritionist. I only had 10 days of liquids/cream soups/yogurt and then was able to transition to solids. I didn't have a puree and soft foods phase. I have limited foods to eat - lean Proteins and veggies and the only veggies are summer squash, zucchini and green Beans. And my surgeon's pre-op was not liquids. It was lean proteins and veggies 3 meals a day and 2 Protein shakes. Or you could have a WW or Lean Cuisine meal as long as it had less than 300 calories and at least 20 grams of protein.

I have to say - the pre-op diet is really hard. I hate the taste of my shake - chocolate flavored bariatric advantage - it taste awful. I probably only get 8-10 oz of it in a day - I try to drink as much water as I can, but I'm not much of a water drinker, but I really try knowing that getting dehydrated will not fare well. What I like is the OIKOS vanilla yogurt, sugar free jello and Popsicles, but at this rate I'm starting to feel a bit weak and my energy levels are low. With 7 days til surgery day - my head hunger is killing me. Trying to survive - hopefully I will make it.

If you are on full liquids you should be drinking something pretty much all day. On full liquids, I was allowed everything from clear liquids plus, protein shakes, soups, yogurt, and cottage cheese. What does you NUT advise?

@@bunnybunny626 - Don't get discouraged. My surgery was June 4 also and I have only lost 14 since that date. It is coming off slowly but surely - though according to most on here looks like we may come up on a stall soon. On that yogurt, you might try to find greek yogurt that has fewer carbs/sugar. I bought Fage 0% and then mixed in a little Torani sugar free Syrup - Caramel was great and so was Raspberry. Great Protein choice but need lower carbs.

Hi @@bb3586, Yup, if you're eating noodles and rice you're messing up already. Time to knock it off! Soups without carbs are good early on, especially cream-based soups and chicken broth that go down easy. And don't forget about the Protein shakes and Greek yogurts. Once you get on soft foods, tuna salad and chicken salad are easy to manage. You need to fill up on protein first, then green veggies, not carbs. If your doctor didn't give you instructions on how to eat, below is a link to a web site that can help. Please take advantage of this amazing opportunity and follow the rules. That's the only way it works. We're all pulling for you, but you'll have to make the good, and sometimes difficult choices. As you get further and further away from sugar and starches, they become easier and easier to resist. Two other thoughts for you... 1) make sure you're taking a proton-pump-inhibitor like Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, or Protonix (prescribed by your doctor), and 2) make sure you're drinking lots of fluids -- after surgery hunger is often thirst in disguise. And use your doctor's office for advice too! Good luck!!! Okay, here's that link. http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/bariatric-diet.html

I was sleeved on June 4th. Boy, they really don't warn you about all the possible little side effects. After surviving gas pains that felt like I was being stabbed and an allergic reaction to the surgical glue which caused all my incisions to blister, I thought I was finally coming out of the woods. But now my new issue is that my lips and sometimes my mouth, are covered with these invisible but painful sores/bumps. They seem to come out mostly after I eat anything. They look like hives. Has anyone experienced anything like this after surgery. It started when I was about 2 weeks post-op and is not getting better. I'm taking all my Vitamins and I'm wondering if it's an allergic reaction to them. Someone mentioned it might be a Vitamin deficiencybut how could that be when I am taking all the vitamins. I'm not using anything new and I'm eating very bland foods, mostly cottage cheese, yogurt and egg beaters. Any ideas?

i eat 5 times a day - 2 of those "meals" are Protein replacements of some sort - a shake - a Syntrax drink a hard boiled egg - Protein Bar etc...i drink 64 + ounces of Water a day and try my best to hit 80-90 grams of protein a day - my portions are 1/4 a cup at meal times - always protein first if i am still hungry then i can have a bit of veg etc.. I also exercise - it is what has helped me get this weight off my bones and hopefully i will get over this stall i am in and get the last 24 pounds off and get to my goal! I do feel better and i am in a routine of eating this way now and it is easier now than it was in the beginning to eat this way. 132 pounds gone forever! I love oikos greek yogurt - regular and the frozen too - especially when i am craving something sweet! those really help me.

i am addicted to Oikos frozen greek yogurt. it is delicious!