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Is everyone as pumped about getting started like I am????????? I have to wait until October 1 before I can have surgery when my insurance year resets. I already checked and I know my insurance doesn't require a monitored diet or a bunch of test but I'm not giving them ANY reason to turn me down or for me to NOT have this surgery!!!! Okay so here's my plan... attend my last seminar on June 15th. I'm pretty sure i'm going with the dr that does the seminar tomorrow, I didn't really care for the pushiness of the other one!!! stop smoking date is July 1 so I start my Chantix June 15 (tomorrow). I've been smoking for 25 years so this is a biggie for me. I'm a Pepsi drinker, like that's ALL I drink!!!! so i'm also starting my transition from Pepsi to Water June 15th. The plan is to start with 4 8oz of water a day and work my way up to 10 8oz a day by September 30th start replacing Breakfast which I rarely eat with a Protein shake August 1. I hope to also add a high protein yogurt to a sensible lunch and dinner August1 UGHHHHHHHHHH.... l plan to start walking and getting in some exercise and or strength training beginning September 1. I'm fat so I hate to sweat!!!! This is really gonna be hard but my mind is made up and i'm doing this!!!!!!!! Yuck yuck yuck... beginning September 1, I will start taking a multi Vitamin. I hate taking pills/medicine almost as much as sweating!!!! But... A girl gotta do what a girl gotta do!!!! I know me!!! And I know that I can't just change everything at once so I plan to make my lifestyle changes in stages so when I go in for WLS in October or November, I'll be ahead of the game!!!! Wheww!!! I kinda like the way it feels to write it all down, I'm really pumped now!!!! Soooo......... all comments and any suggestion are welcome!!! So tell me what you think???

I am 18 days post-op, today I was allowed to start eggs, tuna, crackers. I had 1/2 of a scrambled egg around 11:30am. Around 2:30 I became very dizzy and nauseous, had to lay down. Then started to feel like I was going to be sick (both directions!). Diarrhea and gagging continued for awhile and I still feel a bit nauseous-laying down now. What could cause this? I know it is not dumping, because there was no sugar involved. Could it be low/high blood sugar? I had yogurt and cottage cheese all week (this past week) and have been ok. I used about a teaspoon of lactose free fat free milk to make the scrambled egg. Now I am afraid to eat eggs again! And this is day one of new-soft chew foods! I am not supposed to drink protein shakes anymore-as nut says they want us to stop on week 3. Ugh, sad about this incident.

I can't believe how timely this thread is. I'm just two minutes done with a conversation about my HUGE umbilical hernia and trying to figure out how to live with it for the next six months. I don't see my surgeon for the first time until early next month. I have already had two operations on the same. Holding a pillow against the post op site really helped me for the first weeks when I'd be moving around or sitting up. I'm wondering now if a compression wrap of some type around my abdomen would help me get through until surgery. I believe that tonight I am going to be emailing the bariatric program nurse and ask to see if my surgeon will call in a prescription for such a wrap. I just hope to hang on until the end of the year and have it repaired during the bypass. The first time I had it done was above my current weight and the recovery was painful as heck. Outpatient and rushed. Open surgery. The second time was done after a year long exercise & Adkins push where I was 120 lbs lighter and much stronger from weight lifting and long daily cardio sessions. Outpatient and open wound. Two hernias repaired but the recovery was much easier due to greater health. Never made it back to lifting. Stayed away from gym and let cardio sessions fall off. Dropped Adkins. Three years later I'm now carrying 100 lbs of what I'd lost. Huge hernia is back. Dealing with spine issues.....taking yet another round of steroids right now for retuned back spasms........but......MOTIVATED LIKE A BEAST and supper happy now that I'm on the path to bypass. It'll be the tool I need to help me continue losing weight even when I struggle with developing physical injury from time to time that halt gym-cardiovascular efforts. Weight loss will keep going and I'm sure help my spine issues......prolong knee replacements.....hip replacements.....and hernia reoccurrence. I'm thinking that yoga will be a good thing down the road for me.....hopefully this time next year I'll be looking into the classes offered through my gym. I'm seriously hoping they build a pool by then, too. Going to email the nurse tonight and ask for that compression wrap prescription. Surgeon may not since he's not seen me for the first visit. I'll poke around online tonight and see if I see anything that may work anyway. There has to be a product out there....... Good luck with yours. I know how aggravating they can be. Mine has improved since I've lost some weight on my own. The big meals I used to be be eating weren't helping the hernia. I'm virtually off fried stuff and things like pizza and Pasta. Tuna, chicken, salads, oatmeal, Soups, yogurt and such have been easier on the hernia.....and the Fluid loss is noticeable in my knees and legs. Good luck.

Stay away from noodles and rice, the carbs will make you more hungry, not less hungry. Try refried beans, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, Eggface's ricotta bake, protein shakes -- things like that.

Thank you !!! That gives me some serious leads. Oikos Triple Zero Greek yogurt and Quest bars are big favorites already. Glad to know they'll be staples.

Hello...I've been ordering cases from Amazon.... I like Boost carb control and Atkins. Both have around 15 grams of protein each and 160-180 calories. I drink about 5 per day, plus sf Greek yogurt, tomato soup, or sf pudding. I don't know if this will help or confuse things, but my doctor said we should not use Boost or Atkins shakes because they tend to be higher in fat and lower quality protein. I use GNC brand protein, Cookies and cream is my favorite. I also use GNC's Lean Shakes that a prepackaged, those are good too, I like the chocolate and strawberry flavors. My other favorite protein comes from a company called Proti or Proti-Wise (I think);I get the Proti-Max bottled Protein Powder that you add Water to, these are really delicious! Also Isopure protein, but their premise drinks defiantly taste funny. I mix them with sugar free lemonade or fruit punch. Obviously if your doctor is ok with Atkins shakes go right ahead, I really like the Atkins Cafe Caramel Shakes. I hope I have made this more confusing. Good Luck.

Amazon and costco are my besties!! I am extremely choosy, and I dislike EVERY Protein shake. I replaced Protein shakes with Oikos Triple Zero Greek yogurt (120 calories, 15g protein), but you'll have to check with your nutritionist if that's okay pre/post-op. I seem to be like the ONLY one who hates protein shakes so much. Costco does have Premier at a great price, but Walmart also usually has 4-packs if you want to sample (the price is not nearly as good). My nutritionist also had samples of items. I have spent a FORTUNE trying to find one I like, and there are just none that I like. As for Vitamins, I get most of mine between Amazon and Costco. Costco has great prices on sublingual B12, Biotin, and Iron (and I also bought chewable vit C to help iron absorption). On Amazon I got a multi called Vita-Mini at an exceptional price, but they don't seem to be available now (I ordered several but will be sad if they don't come back in stock when I need more)...they are super-tiny swallowable tabs as I hate chewables. I also got Calcium citrate in powder form from Amazon, again because I don't like the chalky chewables. My nutritionist also recommended Citrical Petites for people who don't like the chews. I have found that Costco and Amazon are far better priced than even Target and Walmart. Know that products that are specifically marketed for bariatric patients tend to be very heavily marked up, and for the most part you can avoid them unless you really don't want to.

Dannon Oikos has a new Greek yogurt line with 15 grams of protein per serving.

Hello...I've been ordering cases from Amazon.... I like Boost carb control and Atkins. Both have around 15 grams of protein each and 160-180 calories. I drink about 5 per day, plus sf Greek yogurt, tomato Soup, or sf pudding.

I was sleeved the same day. I am not hungry at all but I have found that i love Greek yogurt and refried beans with mozzarella cheese and sour cream, I hated refried beans before and love them now.

Read labels. I've been vegetarian a long time and I still read labels. A lot of meat subs are heavily proceeded and carb heavy. Morningstar & Boca are the 2 biggest culprits. I rarely eat either of those brands. I do eat a lot of Greek yogurt (fage 0%) and eggs. I also eat beans, nuts (cashews, pistachios & almonds mostly) and I supplement with unflavored protein powder. I try to combine proteins when possible. I make my own protein drinks with protein powder, yogurt & whatever fruit or nut butter to flavor. I may have black beans with a sunny side up ragged & shredded cheese for a meal. I also eat seitan & tempeh

I struggled with veggies when I was on pureed. I tend to like my veggies raw or steamed crunchy, which was obviously not an option. I ended up getting some baby food that had fruit and veggies blended together and I mixed a little Protein powder in. Other than that I at Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs. I pureed hard boiled eggs with light mayo and a little mustard and that was good. You will probably be less hungry if you get more protein.

I haven't really pureed anything I eat noodles, beans and yogurts but now I'm pushing it with rice since I'm always hungry @@theother_onefoot

If you can't find soft foods you like you can also still use liquid supplements to get your Protein. You don't have to default to noodles and other carbs. When I was on soft foods I lived on yogurt, cottage cheese, refried Beans, soup, pudding, eggs, and Protein shakes. The second week of soft foods I was allowed soft fish so I added tuna, tilapia, and salmon to the mix. Each phase builds on the previous phases so you can continuously add foods to your options.

Hey yall! Good luck to the preOpers and good work to the postOpers! Just wanted to share my fave way to get proteins and veggies in. I use my protein powder (Combat Protein Powder cookies and cream flavor, by Muscle Pharm from Costco). Then I add about a cup of fresh spinach leaves (from the bags in produce dept), a half of banana, some milk, ice, and peanut butter powder (PB2). Throw it all in the blender and u get a yummy nutritious protein shake! U can't taste the spinach at all! The drink has a light green color but it is wayyyyyy tastier then the protein shakes alone! The spinach helps me use the bathroom without taking pills. There's so many different things u can add to the shakes to agree with your taste buds cuz the shakes alone kid of were hard to get down even preop! Look for different ways to make them. Greek yogurt and peanut butter also adds more protein to the shake which is always a plus! Another tasty treat is Fat free sugar free black cherry jello mixed with greek yogurt! Again adds lots of protein even as a snack- it reminds me of jello with whipped cream when u mix it up. I also live on SF and FF Popsicles and Fudgicles! Very low cal snack that soothes my sweet cravings! I wish lots of luck to everyone who's sleeved or getting sleeved! Knock it out the park people!!!! ✌️

My surgery was 4/9/2015 and I'm down 47 lbs. so far. I am eating pretty much anything I want at this point, just very little of it! I've been enjoying salad for the last week. Nice to have something kinda crunchy now! I'm not an "eat at home" person, so I do eat out most days. I eat yogurt with fruit most mornings, but I have also had a scrambled egg with bacon or sausage. Sometimes I get an egg mc muffin and eat it without the English muffin. For lunch, I often have Wendy's or Culver's chili, Fazoli's side salad, a cheeseburger (no bun), bbq chicken sandwich (no bun) and baked beans from KFC, or soup from Pizza Hut or Panera. Dinner time can be the insides of a taco and refried beans, salad with deli turkey or grilled chicken, many of our favorite restaurants serve meals that my husband and I can share! I just try to eat at least 2 oz. of protein before anything else on the plate. I'm only allowed 3-4 ounces of food per meal, at this point, anyway. I eat 3 meals a day, and drink 1 or 2 protein shakes. I drink water or tea between meals and eat cheese sticks, SF Popsicles or SF Jello for snacks. Hope this is somewhat helpful for you.

Mine was June 2nd and I am eating yogurt and soup, which helps. Had the French onion soup from Jason's Deli yesterday and it was great. Gets easier when your Dr. gives you the ok for soft foods.

This thread inspired me to also go back to basics as i want to knock off the last 25-30 to bring me to goal. In the last 2 days I've lost 2 pounds and have broken through my almost 3 month stall. I write everything down and realize that i was eating as if at goal already vs eating to continue to lose. Im back to low or no fat greek yogurt with 1 packet of stevia in the raw twice a day, 2 hard boiled eggs made as deviled eggs with dijon mustard, 1 med apple per day eaten 1/2 at a time as a snack 2x per day with 1/2 the apple and 2 mini baby bel cheese for each indiv serving Until i wrote down what i was eating vs what i needed to eat to get me to goal i had no idea and kept thinking oh its just a stall. I caused the stall. Once i reach goal i will then resume how i had been eating during my stall as i gained no weight during this time. Oh and water water water ????

Congrats! It will get easier... I was sleeves on June 3 and from the 4-6th all I did was sip water, ice chips, and apple juice (not too often either). I had no desire for it, also I was nauseous those first 4 days so when I did it came back up sometimes. Eventually everything subsided and I was able to get in 2-3 protein shakes, jello mixed with greek yogurt (yummy treat n good for u lots of protein!), and the sinless Popsicles! I went to dr on fri which was a week after my discharge and 9 days from surgery and I already lost 12lbs frm the day of surgery! I though that was a nice little kickstart to keep me positive and motivated. Dr also said since I was tolerating the liquids so good that I can move on to purée's or mushies! That was big cuz there a better variety of things u can have. I love homemade oatmeal so that was my first mushie and it worked out great, and now this morning I get to try soft scrambled eggs. Which works out perfect cuz I make sure to make them every sat for my kid, so Atleast it's a meal I can finally share with her. Anyway I tell you this because you will not feel like that too long. Tho everyone is different, we all had a big portion of our stomach removed so it's expected to not be able to take in much the first few days. Just try keep trying a little bit at a time and you will build up the tolerance. Good luck and hang in there! From a person who's had the band, then removed it along with some intestines, and now a sleeve; I can tell you it gets easier! Feel better lady!✌️

When first making the decision to open up to the tool of bariatric surgery I simply assumed that the sleeve would be the procedure that I preferred. This was due to having the full run of my plumbing and perceived ability to eat the foods I wanted, but restrict the amounts. Seemed simple. My younger sister had bypass 15 years ago and I just didn't think that "aggressive" a procedure would be needed for me. After all.....I've lost large amounts of weight in the past through diet and exercise....I just needed a little help......or so I was believing. My physician who was discussing this with me eased me into the conversation and led me to find my way to the surgeon I've selected. I've been to his group presentation.....the first required step. Even after listening to my sister and seeing her progress.......for 15 years......and for secretly thinking in some small way that she took the easy way out.........I didn't "get" it. That presentation really altered my thinking about restrictive and absorptive restriction. I realized in that group session my "hero" status as the big brother doing it on his own......over and over again......was a stupid cycle. I needed to get all the help available.....every tool in the toolbox to get the lifelong results I strived for. Dr Carlson addressed the full room and fielded every question asked. An hour went by....then more.......he'd long since made his informative presentation.....yet stayed to discuss our concerns. A lot of "ah-ha" moments were had. I heard the lady seated behind me speak to her friend, "The sleeve is what will work best for me". My wife, seated beside me, was quiet. She reserved her comments until much later when we were driving home. She proceeded carefully fearing that she knew my mind had already been made up on the sleeve. It was a relief to her when I acknowledged that I felt I needed the bypass.......like my brave little sister did so many years ago.....doing her own research.....as a young woman on her own.......when most folks hadn't heard of such. One of my issues is reoccurring reflux. Some nights it can be really bad. It subsided greatly once I completely cut out alcohol from my intake on April 2, 2015. Back in early April of this year I'd begun resuming the fight to loose my weight. I'd taken evaluation of my current state of living. I loved to grill out.........really loved it. It is therapeutic. I loved to crack open a cold beer and fire up the coals. More beer throughout the cooking and serving everyone had me relaxed and happy. After dinner, I'd normally get drowsy due to several beers......then it'd be time to hit a couple tequila shooters and another beer......or a rum & diet coke or two. I'd get my relaxed and happy state back. It was clear which non-essential calories to drop first......cut out the beer and liquor along with seriously revising the menu on my plate. Guess what.....these were the nights the reflux was bad. Drinking + spicy food (the only kind off my grill ) = reflux. I discussed this "revelation" with my wife. She pointed out a few times since when I'd complained of reflux....since I'd cut out alcohol. I realized she was right......it was still occurring but less often. I have decided that I'd prefer the bypass.......but don't even know yet if I'm approved for it. The waiting and suspense of insurance is driving me nuts. Don't get me wrong.....I'm glad the procedure isn't something as easy to get as a bad tattoo.......but I wish it was more straightforward from the insurance company standpoint. Down the road the results I get from the bariatric will certainly lessen the costs I'd otherwise pose to them, right ? Sorry for the rambling. I'm just eagerly impatient and ready to get this ball rolling in the direction that will lead to successful and long lasting health provided I continue to do my part. I'm checking stuff off the mandatory list at least.....and this website and the folks here are already helping me find answers to the tons of questions I have. My mandatory checklist: Attend the group session---done in early June. Meet with the bariatric program's & surgeon's nurse to review my case and 8 pages of medical Q&A i was to complete--done this past week. Meet with surgeon on official visit----scheduled for July 1. Meet with program's nutritional guru----first of the 6 visits is on July 7. This I understand will be the "start" date of the mandatory 6 month timeline to surgery. Meet with psyche guru----awaiting appointment scheduling now. Internal scope evaluation of stomach and other plumbing-------to be scheduled after visit with surgeon I still don't have any type of official indication that bypass is a covered procedure (United Healthcare). I don't know if I can hang on 6+ months before getting this latest umbilical hernia taken care of. I want to get on to eating the foods I'll be living by after the surgery......eat like I've had the surgery......begin accelerated weight loss now......not wait until the surgery. I just want to be sure that I can't lose "too much" on my own that the insurance balks and says, "No way buddy.....you got this.....do it yourself". I can do a lot off by myself.....but I fail to keep it off. I don't want to sabotage my chances for coverage. So many questions that I'm sure will be resolved and clear in the weeks ahead......it's just right now I want to get going with progress of some type......no matter if it's from bypass or from my jumping onboard with the new plan. The compelling reasons for the need to get going are probably no different than most other folks here: I'm having back spasms from reoccurring back injuries due to herniated T-12 vertebrae. Spine surgeon stated that bariatric surgeon can do more for my spine than he could with back surgery. Sounds legit. Umbilical hernia is driving me nuts. It's worsened when back goes out and my posture and such gets weird. Knees are shot....ortho doc says I need knee replacements sooner than later....he's saying 5 years tops.....plus hip, too. He also stated that 200 lbs off my frame would push those replacements back a long time. I already feel some benefit in my knees from the initial pounds coming off. Swelling in my ankles is greatly reduced. Sorry again for the rambling. I'm jittery after finishing up the last day of miracle steroids (4th round with them since April) on my back. The side effects are sleeplessness for me. I get jittery after the 6 day cycles. I'm hoping for a good long sleep later today....tonight. Aside from dropping the alcohol, fried food and reducing sugar & starch intake (doing these).........what can you advise me to do? What other dietary-related actions? Breakfast choices now are oatmeal (made with Water and small amount of salt) vs sausage biscuits and such. lunch & dinner has me eating lots of salads. Snacks are nuts, fruits like blueberries and apples and occasional whole grain toast with small amount of health choice butter substitute or Greek Yogurt. Drinking tons of water. 40oz of coffee every day during the first portion of the day......a lot, I know. I use nonfat creamer and Splenda or Equal (10 packs for 40oz coffee). I'm still having 2-3 20oz Diet Mt. Dew's every day. Sounds like a ton....but it's way down over the number I used to drink. I go to one a day on days off....but do poorly during workdays. No more drive thru's and only salads from fast food restaurants. What else should I be doing? Should I order the "Big Book on Bypass" and get started on it ??????? Stir crazy and tired of my 46 years of fat fighting. 5 years ago I burned off 120 and felt like a new man.......still have many of the 2X & 3X clothes. I saved most of them.....refusing to toss them due to that being symbolic of me throwing away my hope of wearing them again. I lost that weight.....but failed to keep it off. The brief period at that reduced weight was enough of a taste of healthier living that I have craved ever since. Virtually painfree and full of energy. Leaner.......able to wear my old high school letterman's jacket and button it up......too small still, but at least it would button up. Another 100 pounds off that and I feel like i'd be walking around feeling like a Gazillion dollar lottery winner. I may never get a winning lottery ticket.....but I'll be supremely happy to get 200 lbs off........and MAINTAIN that level. So ready to get this machine krunk up and in gear and burn some rubber down the track. This waiting is like sitting there with the engine revving up but the parking brake locked in place...........

I know that you all say to ask your nut, but I was given a very limited amount of info from mine. I even asked if there was anything else she could give me. I have found most of my info on this site and greatly appreciate it. I found for the puree stage that refried Beans watered down were my favorite. Also avocados and sweet potatoes with powdered Protein and plain greek yogurt mixed in. Haven't wanted to puree meats yet.

I am 6 weeks post op. I have been on regular diet since 4 weeks. I start every day with a premier chocolate, 30 grams of Protein right off the bat. string cheese mid morning lunch is Yogurt, Soup, lunch meat and cheese or tuna or chicken salad about 1/3 cup. mid afternoon is almonds, string cheese or Jerky supper is whatever meat we are having and once I get that down a veggie or two. I am a lucky one..... I can eat all meat without difficulty. I love shrimp and ground round with s&p on it. snack cheese, almonds or jerky I was told to eat every 2-3 hours. So all my meals and Snacks are small. I drink Water with protein in it (profuse) at least once a day. All other water is plain or with lemon

Hi, Just wanted to report back in and say that the surgery went well as my daughter had reported. I was discharged on the 3rd and went and stayed with my daughter until Sunday the 7th, I came home exhausted, especially because I had to stop at the grocery store on the way home for some essential groceries for my sons (17 and 19, both of whom are autistic). By the time I got iin, I was ready to fall over as it's close to a 30 mile drive from my daughter's (I insisted on driving myself). Overall, it wasn't too bad except for the large speed bumps in the parking lot. However, I spent the next 2 days mainly in bed, exhausted and aching all over. By Wednesday I was back to cooking for my sons as they can make very little for themselves. They do however, take care of the litter box and trash for me along with the mail and carrying in any groceries or laundry. I am getting bored with the bland liquid diet. My daughter who had undergone this surgery 5 1/2 years ago just laughed. Although I know that the time will pass, it feels like forever. I gave her back the cans of Protein powder she gave me because I just can't choke it down. I don't know how she does it. I do like Protein Bars. She did have one Protein Powder last year that I tried that I liked, but neither one of us remembers the brand. For now it's greek yogurt, cottage cheese with a little fruit mixed in (15 gm per cup) and Carnation Instant Breakfast for my protein. Can anyone suggest a protein powder that actually tastes decent? Amulcahey, you saw your surgeon sooner than I. I see my surgeon this coming Tuesday the 16th. Panera soup sounds delicious. I see the dietician on the 2nd of July. I guess we'll go over foods then as by then I'll be starting the 2nd phase or pureed diet. I can't wait until the next 3-4 weeks pass so I can be on a regular diet! Glad to hear that you, amulcahey, are doing well. Keep up the good work sister!

I have not tried any chicken or tuna. Tried beef in spaghetti sauce and really didn't like it. My favorites that go down easy are: Refried Beans watered down. Melted cheese on them sometimes feels like its stuck. Avocado or sweet potatoes with Protein powder and plain yogurt mixed in. Make sure sweet potatoes are not stringy. And the protein pancake I tried today was really good and no problems.

I am lucky to eat most my meals at work and they usually have some type of meat that I can eat. If not there is soup and the good old favorite cottage cheese. If I buy any food for days off/snack it is usually Greek yogurt. I am bad about not getting in enough protein so I have to start buying drinks and bars to help.