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So my surgery is scheduled for 2/6 and my 2-week pre-op liquid diet starts Monday. Tonight we were invited to a black tie event. Started with champagne (I don't normally drink), then hors d'oeuvres (all pastry-wrapped or deep fried). Then to a fixed dinner: lobster bisque, then spinach salad, then sea bass, then sorbet, then beef entree, then a chocolate decadence dessert buffet. The entire thing (starting with champagne and ending with dessert) was 3 hours and 20 minutes. I'm stuffed to the gills. :faint: But here's my REAL problem -- the whole time I was thinking -- "How would I handle this if I were banded right now?" The alcohol wasn't a big deal, I could forego that easily. But how would I have gotten the right foods into me at the right time (Protein first, for example), and how would I have gone that entire time without drinking during a meal??? :cry Beyond that, if I were experiencing PB's during that time, it would have been really awkward (the bathroom was pretty far away). So as I'm getting closer to REALLY getting banded (my last surgery date was postponed due to illness but I'm not sick now, nor is anyone in my family, so it's likely to really happen this time), I'm getting a little nervous about how I'm going to LIVE after the surgery. :nervous Any input is appreciated.

1. I never did just clear liquids - Dr. Spivak advised drinking beef or chicken broth, Crystal light, Isopure, and cream Soups which I started the day after surgery. 2. I definitely burped for about 2 weeks - I thought I might be drinking too fast but it happened even when I drank very slowly. It passed off eventually. 3. The sticky glue was on my skin for at least a week after I took the steristrips off. It just would not come off before then. Then one day in the shower I rubbed and it came right off on my washcloth. For the betadine color, I used alcohol to remove that but was very careful around the incisions.

If you seriously want to lose 22lbs or 10 kilograms in 28 days then you must perform all of the principles exactly as recommended. Unlike the recommendations in my book, ‘Look good, feel great!', where you can pick the principles you want to use and ignore the rest and where you can even modify the principles to suit your lifestyle, these principles must be followed exactly as they are outlined. If you want extraordinary results, then you must be willing to put in an extraordinary effort! I realise that some people may be thinking, ‘But it is impossible to lose 10 kilograms of fat in a month!' I agree- it is! However, the truth is, it is impossible to only lose fat on any type of weight-loss program. You will always lose a combination of fat, water, stored carbohydrate and some muscle. Furthermore, most people who want to lose 10 kilograms in the first place are generally retaining excess fluid anyway, so a system that helps get rid of the excess fluid is certainly going to accelerate their results. Perform 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise morning and night. Yes, you read that correctly, morning and night- 2 sessions a day… every day! No excuses. We're all busy, we all feel tired some mornings, but if you're serious about getting amazing results, then you must be willing to do everything necessary. When we talk about aerobic exercise, we're talking about exercise! Not walking around the shops, doing the gardening or doing housework. It must be exercise, which means your breathing rate increases, your face goes red, you sweat, you get tired- simple! Some examples of aerobic exercise include: walking (pounding the pavement at a brisk pace- not dawdling), cycling (stationary bike is ideal), swimming, rowing, stepper, cross-trainer, aerobic classes, boxing, etc. Use ‘thermogenics'. There are several very effective thermogenic supplementson the market that can accelerate your progress towards your goal. Those containing caffeine, green tea extracts and an extract from a plant called coleus forskohlii are the most effective. They will boost your metabolismand promote the release of fat from the fat stores. ‘Scorch' by MAN Sports is a good example. It contains a combination of 7 powerful herbal ingredients specifically designed to boost your metabolism, burn body fat and increase your energy. Unfortunately though, thermogenics are not ‘magic pills'. You can't expect to take a couple of thermogenic capsules and then go home and eat pizza and drink alcohol and expect to get results. Thermogenics only work when their use is combined with a good nutrition and exercise program. Take 1-2 capsules twice a day; once prior to your morning exercise session and once with your lunch. Don't take them later than 4:00pm in the afternoon because they may keep you awake at night. Before using thermogenics, see your doctor first and obtain their approval. Do not eat anything for 30 minutes after the completion of any exercise. As a result of using the thermogenics combined with the exercise, your metabolism will remain elevated for some time after the exercise session is finished. This means your body will burn fuel at a faster rate than normal. Any exercise causes the body to use carbohydrate (muscle glycogen and blood glucose) as a fuel source. This means that after the exercise is completed the carbohydrate stores in the body are low and the body will be forced to use fat as its fuel. If a meal is eaten immediately after the completion of the exercise session, the blood glucose level will rise, inducing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. One of the effects of insulin is to stop fat burning in the body. Therefore, wait 30 minutes (but no longer because cortisol will rise) before having your next meal. Perform a weight training workout 2-4 times a week. Lifting weights is the most under-estimated way to lose fat fast! Now, before you start saying, ‘But I don't want to get big muscles!' or ‘I don't want to look like a man!', consider the following. The main purpose of lifting weights when your primary goal is to lose body fat is to preserve the muscle massyou already have. You see, muscle is the ‘engine' within which the fat, or ‘fuel' is burnt and maintaining or even increasing your muscle mass slightly will help ensure your body fat is burnt off efficiently. If you don't lift weights, your body will quite happily lose both fat and muscle as you drop the kilos. Lifting weights forces your body to maintain your muscle mass, therefore keeping your metabolism elevated and turning your body into 24-hour-a-day fat-burning machine! Incidentally, it only takes two 30 minute sessions a week to obtain the muscle preserving benefits of lifting weights. Have 5-6 small meals a day. One of the most common strategies people use to lose weight is to skip meals. Whilst reducing food intake is certainly an effective way to lose weight, having fewer meals is not the way to go. Many overweight people say, ‘I don't know why I'm overweight, I only eat once or twice a day!' Unfortunately, this is exactly why they are overweight. Having a mild calorie restriction is effective because if you consume less calories than you burn each day you will lose weight- simple! However, skipping meals forces the body to invoke its ‘Starvation Mechanism' because it thinks it is entering a famine. As a result, the body slows the metabolism to preserve energy. It also increases cortisol output and cortisol is the most powerful catabolic hormone in the body, which means it goes around the body breaking down lean tissue, particularly muscle. A loss of muscle slows the metabolism even further. Skipping meals also results in an increase in appetite, which forces you to eat larger amounts of food when you do eat. In addition to all these factors, the body also increases the activity of fat-storing enzymes, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), so when you do eat the food gets stored as fat. All of this results from simply skipping meals! By having a small meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day, your metabolism stays elevated and your body will happily burn fat all day long. Unfortunately though, most people are conditioned to having large meals and they automatically assume they will put on weight if they have 5 or 6 meals a day. The fact is, the ideal portion sizes for most people are actually quite small and in order to lose weight fast it is essential that you never feel full from a meal but you do feel satisfied. Also, most people find it difficult to have a meal every 2-3 hours throughout the day because they are so busy with work and/ or family commitments. Here are some suggestions to ensure you get your 5 or 6 meals a day. • Plan and prepare your meals the night before • Use meal replacements (protein shakes or bars) • Select foods that are quick and easy to prepare and consume Ensure each meal contains protein. Protein is a component of all cells and makes up over half the dry weight of the human body. Furthermore, the human body is a dynamic structure, which means it is constantly building up and breaking down tissue. Just imagine a bath full of water. At one end of the bath the plug is pulled out and at the other end the tap is turned on full. The water level in the bath doesn't change but there are ‘new' water molecules entering the bath and ‘old' water molecules leaving the bath all the time. The human body is exactly the same. If the body breaks down more tissue than it builds up, then it is said to be in a catabolic state. This results in the metabolism slowing down due to the loss of muscle tissue. Having a portion of high-quality protein every few hours throughout the day provides the body with a constant supply of amino acids- the building blocks of the body. This prevents the catabolic state, promotes an anabolic state (tissue building) and therefore keeps the metabolism ‘fired-up'. If only carbohydrate or fat is consumed for a meal, for example a piece of fruit (carbohydrate) for the mid-morning meal, then the body will still enter a catabolic state because it doesn't have the building blocks (amino acids) to re-build body tissues. Protein, as its name suggests, is of primary importance. Reduce your intake of high-density carbohydrates. Most high-density carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice and cereals cause a rapid rise in blood glucose. This invokes the release of insulin from the pancreas, which in turn stores the glucose. The body stores glucose in the muscles and liver as glycogen and once these sites are full, the remaining glucose gets stored as body fat. Not only this, but insulin also stops the body from mobilising and utilising fat for fuel (burning fat). So if you want to maximise fat loss, you need to keep insulin to a minimum and the best way to do this is by reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates without cutting them out altogether. Cutting them out totally is a philosophy of many low-carb diets on the market. However, these are very hard to sustain long-term and may lead to nutrient deficiencies. Each day, have a small amount (1-2 serves) of high density carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, cereals); a moderate amount (2-3 serves) of medium density carbohydrates (starchy vegetables and fruits); and a large amount (5-6 serves) of low density carbohydrates (fibrous vegetables). [For a complete list of carbohydrates, see pages 136-138 of the book, ‘ Look good, feel great! ] Do not have a Treat Day. Since you are expecting an extraordinary result, it is essential that you put in an extraordinary effort. Accordingly, for the next 28 days you must follow the plan exactly as it is outlined without deviating. This means you can't allow yourself to indulge in any ‘forbidden foods'. This also means avoiding alcohol for the entire 28-day period. I know this may be hard for some people but let's face it, it is only for 28 days! By committing to the plan and disciplining yourself to see it through, you are ensuring that the results will follow. Plus, the disciplines you create to help you achieve your physical goal will have a ‘carry-over benefit' to other areas of your life as well. I wish you the greatest success in achieving outstanding results! * Before using any nutritional supplement, speak with your health care professional.

You are similar to me. Starting weight. 240 Surgery weight. 210. Oct 27, 16 Current weight. 168. Height 5'3" Goal. 140-145. BMI 25 We are getting close very quickly. It's SURREAL!!! I'm almost to my high school weight and people often don't recognize me. Lessons. CARBS ARE NOT MY FRIEND!!!!!!!! I keep my carbs to 40 daily Calories to 750-800 Walking to 1.5-2 miles I really believe that I will stall, lose my honeymoon phase, and/or regain my hunger if I reintroduce bad carbs. I look forward to maintenance when I can increase to 1200 cal so that I can have veggies. I don't feel like an alcoholic who has to have a little alcohol to live. I feel like a CARB addict who can thoroughly enjoy food as long as it is Protein and veggies. This is not a huge sacrifice bc it is such a BLESSING not to be hungry and to feel normal size for the first time ever. I deal with body dysmorphia which is super common. I felt huge in high school at 150. And at 51, didn't see all the fat in the mirror at 240. Only saw it in pix. We are so blessed. I genuinely don't fear regaining weight as long as I avoid carbs. Any other carb addicts out there????? PS. With all this protein, I definitely have to take Benefiber and a little Miralax daily.

Wierd, once I posted the link, it would not let me out of the font, and kept trying to add it to the link.... Anyway---the first one is a dash cam, of part of the pass I refer to driving frequently---Wolf Creek Pass. It does not do it justice in either the beauty or the sharp turns! And since it is dash mounted you do not get the opportunity to look over the edge!!! It is afterall over 10,000 feet up there!!! The 2nd link is to the Narrow Guage railroad that we take between Durango, and Silverton CO. It is an amazing ride, the scenery is gorgeous, and the wildlife abundant, we have seen bears, and elk, the usual deer, fox, raccoons, all kinds of things. There are some steep trestle type views from it too. To drive by car between the 2 places, you must go over 2 mountain passes, both can be trecherous in the winter, so you can imagine taking a little train, and the climbs it must make! They are not great videos, but give you somewhat of an idea what and where I am talking about! Suzie---great to hear from you, have a good trip through to AZ today. Lots of little places to look at. If you drop into Utah, check out The Hole in the Wall. Did you hear about Michael Douglas? He has cancer stage 4, I watched him on Letterman, felt kind of bad for Dave, he was at such a loss for words. He is being really up front about it, saying this type is caused by alcohol, and cigarettes. He has begun radiation....scary stuff. Not sure yet what my day holds! Not much I hope, I would like to kick back and read!! LOL I love how Angela and Tracy keep running into one another!!! Speaking of.... Terri, any suggestions of somewhere to take Suzanne and her husband to eat while they are here? I mean for just gabbing, we can hang at my place---but I don't want to spend the time messing with cooking, I would rather go out!!! LOL, Surprise!!! The bus pulled up yesterday, and there was no Kinsey waiting to stand up, the driver turned to me, and I was waiting to hear the words, that she wasn't there! Instead she puts her hands up to her face in the sleeping position, and tells me she is asleep!!! I had to go on the bus and wake her up. Poor thing is having a hard time letting go of those naps. She is going to bed at 8 now....and Manda said she was out of the tub and in bed by 7:45 last night. She is trying!!! Kinsey takes her vitamins here every morning, and she tells me, this will give her energy to stay awake! Such a nutcase. Manda blew her hair dry last night, since she was going to bed so early, so it was straight this morning, it is soo long! For so long (2 years almost) she was a little baldy---this just seems odd!!! I made arrangements with my neighbor for Kinsey to catch the bus from her house next month. I will be working early voting for the month of October. So I have to be there at 7 AM, and Kinsey gets on the bus at 7:05! So I will leave at 6:50, will have her ready, to just walk out of Connies and get on the bus. It is too good of money to turn down, it will completely cover Christmas, and property taxes, all the kids birthdays----well sons is in a few days. But I enjoy the work, so we made this arrangement! Actually depending on Manda's appt. she may transfer to the Farmington office and go to just scheduling, so she has no field work. If she works out of Farmington, she will catch the bus at home, and I won't have her in the morning, but for an extra half hour in the afternoon. Doesn't matter, I like her being here! Gonna go take a shower and get dressed.....let the day begin!!!

Just take it slow.... Folks be hitting the gym & going bk 2work around 8wks in....u should be fine. Tip: ....from personal experience, imma tell ya right now....alcohol still burns going down at this stage. Got a few months yet b4 it dosen't....just saying... (;

Yesterday Friday, Feb 14 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1.25 yr PO Sleeve / 116.6 lbs ---------------------------------------- Had a blast last night with Mr for V-day. Got him to agree at one point to go to this club at least once a month. I doubt he remembers saying so though, shoulda got it on paper, LOL Also to my surprise, all the chocolate and drink mixers I put IN me, STAYED in me last night (i.e., no dumping, just a little tiredness after dessert, but that may have been the alcohol...) ---------------------------------------- 9:30am - black coffee w/ stevia 1:30pm - salad greens w/ vinaigrette + carrots + cucumber + 1.5 oz tomatoes + 3 chicken wings w/ 2 tbsp hot sauce 4:30pm - skinny tea latte + + 3 chicken wings w/ 2 tbsp hot sauce + 2 Lindor chocolate hearts 9:00pm - 2:00am 2 oz bbq chicken breast + 3/4 cup roasted vegetables w/ feta + 1/4 cup spring mix salad w/ balsamic vinaigrette 1/4 a chocolate raspberry tartufo (i.e., filled ice cream ball dipped in chocolate) w/ 4 tbsp whipped cream and one of the hugest strawberries I have ever seen. 1 mojito 2 martinis 1 dark & stormy 2 Lindor chocolate hearts --------------------------------------- Totals: 1841 cals - 54g Protein 88g NET carbs - 70g fat

Do you think your dumping kept you from gaining while eating the real sugar items? And now that you are eating sugar free you aren't dumping, so the extra cals are adding up quickly? Or maybe the sugar alcohols are still giving you an insulin spike and maybe you are up 4lbs from glycogen stores + water? I know we have to be very careful of them here. They spike Mr. F's BGs and they do slow down my WL and also make me bloat (gain a couple). So they are a rare treat for me. Sorry about the 6lbs!!! Toss em in Deep Space 9 (your freezer) and forget them. If you can't, then punkin chunkin time!

Yeah. I know you are right. Sooooooo easy just to keep snacking endlessly on that stuff. Thanks to the nuts I'm all bloaty and icky and CRANKY. (Actually I could probably blame the lack of nicotine too. And my period. Oh and the fact that I'm choosing to go alcohol-free for a while). It's a new day today, I've had my coffee and a run (hey! I didn't run yesterday either!!! another reason for the crank probably...) will make a concentrated effort to be cool today. P.S. @FluffyChix: also wanted to give you a thanks for inspiring a quit-smoking tip you mentioned in another thread (it was probably the maintenance thread...) The other day I sat outside with my coffee SANS cigarette and did some deep breathing. While admittedly not as satisfying (yet), it was close. ❤️

Yesterday, Sunday, Dec. 1 Maintenance : 5'2" / 1yr PO Sleeve / 116.3 lbs **** Xmas party season has officially begun. Had an indulgent Saturday (client holiday party) and an even more indulgent Sunday (family bday lunch then had a Friends-mas at BFF's place as she and her fam are leaving for vacay next week. Spoiler alert: I was taken down by desserts and alcohol this weekend. And I am being punished for it by feeling like absolute CRAP this morning: sluggish, tired, cranky, crampy, bloated, and unbelievably thirsty. It's only 11:30am and I've drank over 2 litres of water already (plus 1 coffeee & cup of broth). Oh, and the scale says I've gained 2.9 lbs since Friday. I'd love to say its all poop, but I had a total-intestine-clearing number 2 yesterday as a result of too many Italian almond cookies, so that's definitely not it. Anyhoo...I'm enacting a weekday dessert embargo for the remainder of the month to balance out the inevitable dessert eating on weekends. **** 8:30am - coffee w/ stevia + tea w/ stevia 1:30pm - 1/2 side caesar salad sans croutons + 1/2 side goat cheese and beet salad + 1 slice Lemon Curd Cake + 2 glasses red wine 3:00pm - 1 slice Lemon Curd Cake + 1 cup greek yogurt + 10 blueberries + 5 green grapes + 1.5 oz almonds 6:00pm to 2:00am - 6 oysters on half shell 5 oz prime rib w/ gravy 1 cup spring mix salad w/ strawberries, goat cheese & candied walnuts 16 mini Italian almond cookies 3 mini biscotti 10 dark chocolate covered coffee beans 1 oz candied ginger 2 HUGE pistachio cannolis 4 glasses red wine Totals: 3574 cals - 123g Protein - 301g NET carbs - 186g fat

Good morning everyone~ Yesterday i did such a great job with my calorie/carb/protein intake. I had only had 920 calories, 51 carbs and 61 protein....THEN dh wanted to go to DQ. The good news of that is I only got a snack size pimpkin pie blizzard. I looked it up and it only had like...320 calories but the carbs doubled my daily intake thus far so....I am trying not to beat myself up too much. At least I did not get a large turtle pecan blizzard like i would have normally gotten. So why do I feel like an alcoholic that fell off the wagon? I fuess in a way I should be somewhat hard on myself to ensure I do not do it again. Angela-that story about the dog snacks was funny/gross all at the same time. I have to admit, I did LOL. I have been to walmart, but you just have not been there! lol OK, well, dd is gone until tomorrow so I am gonna try to get her halloween costume made. I already have the umbrella torn apart, but now i need to get a long sleeved black shirt and sew the wings onto it so when she raises her arms, her bat wings flare out :thumbup: Eat right and walk further than necessary! I know you will Suzanne!

I had IBS when I was younger, but it eventually developed into ulcerative colitis by the time I hit 30. I've been on meds (Pentasa) to help control it, which really helps, but I reduce the recommended dosage since it produces intense hunger cravings for me (not a normal side effect). Anyway, I'm used to going to the bathroom 10-30 times a day when I have a flare-up (which is pretty much always, just different intensities). Two of my favourite, very well-known terms are "rectal urgency" and "explosive diarrhea." So I've been on my pre-op diet for 2 weeks now, which allows for 2-3 Protein shakes plus 2 small meals a day, and is very high protein, low carb (fats fall where they may). No alcohol, no dairy, no simple carbs of any kind (carbs from non-starchy veggies are ok). I have to say it has made a bigger difference in my life than any of the meds I have ever taken. I am now passing almost normal stools (still a little soft) and have no urgent need to go to the toilet multiple times a day. No cramping, no pain. Have you tried a similar diet? I'm wondering if something like that might help. Because of my UC, I've chosen sleeve since it does not mess around with the intestines, which is important to me. I've done some research on the effects of WLS on patients with UC or Crohn's (sorry, did not check for IBS in general) and generally speaking sleeve has a better effect on the symptoms of these patients, especially those with UC. In any event, I'll also be curious as to how the sleeve will impact me post-op. I'll keep you updated.

I just confirmed a week's vacation with my hubby, son and daughter to spend Thanksgiving on the beach this year. This will be unusual for me as I usually host the big family dinner with 30 plus people and enough food to feed 60 which results in a 4 day feeding frenzy. I'm glad we're doing something a little less traditional this year as I hope to break some of my Holiday habits...gaining 5-10 pounds. What do I plan to do in Daytona? Swim, walk the beach, ride bicyles, dancing at night clubs, Christmas shopping, anything that requires me to be active. My goal will be to burn off any daily calories that are not necessary (ice cream, alcohol) and continure to lose weight while I'm there. I have approximately 130 days to get my body ready for a skimpy swimsuit. Will I be a size 8? No.... But I'll look damn good in a size 12! :thumbup: P.S. I have officially walked 100 miles since the first week in June and have ridden 48 miles on my bike. I feel so much stronger than I did 2 months ago.

im rarely on forum as im usually busy with other things, but if this is any help...............i was banded LAST December 13, 2011, and i cant believe it almost been a year ! Im down 63 lbs , feel great , get lots of compliments, and cant believe i have my life back ! I swim and walk , follow the Drs rules 95% 0f the time and watched the weight roll off. I 've gone from 225 lbs, frumpy size 18-1x clothes to 163 lbs, wear a size 14 skinny jeans, my sleep apnea is gone, i look and feel healthier and younger, and it just keeps getting better and better ! I still can eat 90% of normal foods , including thin crust pizza, steak, pineapple and celery. the only favorite foods i had to give up was broccoli and thick chicken and thick pork chops, and i can only eat a few bites of any potato item before they expand. i cant help you with the soda pop or alcohol problems as i dont like soda but have a margarita every month or two. Most wheat breads are fine, but depending on the type or brand of biscut i might have a problem. hope this helps you calm your nerves, getting banded was the best decision ever ! Good luck !

Of course always check with your dr but from reading these posts it seems like every dr has a diff post op diet plan. I had 24 hrs water only, 24 hrs clear fluids, 1 wk full fluids, 1 wk puréed and then 1 week soft and after that everything. There also seems to be a lot of variation with regard to carbonated beverages and alcohol consumption as well between drs.

LAPAROSCOPIC GASTRIC SLEEVE DIET Joseph E. Chebli MD FACS Introduction The following information provides guidelines for you to follow before and after Gastric Sleeve Surgery and for the rest of your life. Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a weight loss tool. After surgery, you will be required to make lifelong changes in your eating habits and to exercise on a regular basis in order to achieve and maintain your weight loss goals. Gastric Sleeve Surgery reduces the size of the stomach which restricts the volume of food that you can consume at one time. This means that you will feel full after eating a small amount. The surgery also induces hormonal changes which help prevent you from feeling excessively hungry. You should avoid drinking liquids with meals. This is to prevent overfilling of the stomach. Frequent snacking or grazing must also be avoided as this contributes to excess calorie intake and can slow weight loss or cause you to gain weight. Exercise is an important component of weight loss success. Exercise is recommended before and after surgery in order to maximize the amount of weight that you lose and keep off. If you have not been an active exerciser, always consult with your physician for clearance and recommendations before beginning any exercise program. It is important to follow the lifetime Gastric Sleeve diet rules, supplement guidelines, and exercise recommendations in order to achieve and maintain optimum weight loss success. In order to begin preparing for surgery, start implementing the pre-surgery diet goals listed on the next page. Pre-Surgery Diet Practice Tips 1. Choose low-fat foods, and avoid fried foods. 2. Stop using sugar. Use healthy sugar substitutes. (T) 3. Decrease intake of Desserts and candy. 4. Stop drinking sugar-sweetened beverages such as regular soda and sweetened Kool-Aid. 5. Start weaning off of caffeine and carbonated beverages. 6. Start cutting back on fast food and eating out. Begin making healthy meal choices when eating out and at home. 7. Eat 3 meals a day. Do not skip Breakfast. 8. Start decreasing portion sizes. 9. Eat more fruits and vegetables. 10. Practice drinking Water and other fluids between meals, not with meals. 11. Drink 64 ounces water a day. 12. Practice sipping liquids. 13. Avoid alcohol. 14. Begin some form of exercise. 15. Review the following information on the gastric sleeve diet. 16. Practice chewing foods thoroughly, 20 - 40 times or to paste consistency. 17. Purchase your Protein drinks or supplements. 18. Purchase your Vitamin and mineral supplements. 19. Begin planning a schedule for mealtime, fluids and vitamin and mineral supplements. Post Gastric Sleeve Surgery Diet Important Diet Guidelines: 1. Eat 3 meals per day. Avoid snacking and grazing. 2. Eat small amounts. Initial portion size should be no more than 1 - 2 ounces - approximately 2 - 4 Tablespoons - of food per meal for the first month. At first you may not be able to tolerate this amount. Over time, you will slowly tolerate more volume at each meal. Long term, the stomach will eventually hold about 4 - 8 ounces (1/2 - 1 cup) of food per meal. 3. Eat protein foods first. 4. Do not try to eat food and drink liquid together. • Consume liquid 30 to 60 minutes before and/or 30 to 60 minutes after eating meals but not during meals. 5. You are required to take a multi-vitamin with minerals for the rest of your life. 6. Eat slowly! • Each meal should last 30minutes or longer. • Avoid gulping foods and drinks. • All foods must be well-chewed to a paste consistency. • Using a small fork or spoon (i.e. baby utensils) can help control portion sizes. • Have one place to eat (such as at the table) and avoid reading or watching TV while you eat. This helps you to enjoy your food, concentrate on eating slower and to realize when your stomach is full. 7. Drink plenty of calorie-free, non-carbonated, caffeine- free fluids between meals. • Drink slowly-sip fluids, never gulp. • Calorie-containing beverages should be limited to skim milk and Protein Drinks. • Limit juice to no more than 4oz. per day. • Consume zero-calorie beverages throughout the day. Diet Progression After Surgery The diet after gastric sleeve surgery progresses through several stages. Your surgeon will let you know when it is okay to progress to the next stage. Day 1 - 2 after surgery: Clear liquid diet The clear liquid diet means fluids or foods that are liquid at body temperature and can almost be seen through. You will be on a clear liquid diet while you’re in the hospital. Examples of Clear Liquid Diet (No Added Sugar/ Sugar Free): • Clear (diluted) fruit juices without added sugar: apple, grape or white grape or diet cranberry • sugar-free Crystal Light drink mix or popsicles, Sugar-free Kool-Aid. (T - careful, usually sweetened w/Aspartame) • Herbal tea, caffeine-free tea • flat soda • Sugar-free Popsicles • Sugar-free Gelatin • Clear broth • Water �� It is best to dilute juices by 50% with water. �� Avoid citrus juices (orange/grapefruit) and tomato juice for the first three weeks. �� coffee and de-caffeinated coffee contain acids which are irritating to the stomach lining and should be avoided for the first few weeks for healing. Day 3 through Week 2: Full Liquid Diet The next stage is the full liquid diet which consists of sugar-free, low-fat milk products and the Clear Liquids listed above. You will need to supplement with protein (drinks or powder) after surgery. Remember to sip liquids, do not gulp. Examples of Full Liquid Diet (No Added Sugar/Sugar-Free, Low Fat): • Skim Milk or Lactaid milk • Soy Milk (non-fat) • Low fat, thin, strained cream Soup (smooth, no pieces of food) • Sugar-free instant breakfast • Protein drinks – Start daily when you get home from the hospital. (See section on protein and protein drinks) • Plain or “light” (no sugar added) yogurt with no fruit pieces • Sugar-free pudding or custard • Thinned cream of wheat or rice Cereal Week 3 through Week 8: pureed Diet You may now begin a pureed diet. This includes all items listed for clear and full liquids, and the items listed for the pureed (blenderized) diet. • Eat PROTEIN foods first • Make sure foods are well blended. • Start slowly. If you do not tolerate pureed foods go back to the liquid diet and try again in a few days. • Remember to drink liquids between meals, not with meals. • Continue protein drinks or protein supplements every day. Examples for the Pureed Diet (Sugar-Free/No Sugar Added, Low Fat): eggs cheese Pureed or blenderized scrambled eggs or egg substitute or cheese omelet; melted low-fat cheese, low-fat or non-fat cream cheese, ricotta cheese, very smooth/mashed soft cheese such as mozzarella, string cheese, low-fat or non-fat smooth or small curd cottage cheese meat, Fish, Poultry, Baby food meat or pureed meat or poultry moistened with broth or low-fat gravy Blenderized shrimp, scallops or fish Pureed tuna or salmon (canned in water) or pureed egg salad with low-fat or non-fat mayonnaise Potted meats thinned with broth; smooth deviled ham Starches Unsweetened instant oatmeal (strained), cream of wheat or rice cereal, mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, smooth polenta, hummus, refried beans; low-fat or baked crackers or chips Vegetables Baby food vegetables or pureed cooked vegetables (no corn or peas) Mashed winter squash, tomato juice or sauce, pureed salsa, marinara Soup Strained, low-fat cream soup made with skim milk; fat-free broth Blenderized lentil or split pea soup or chili Fruit Baby food fruits (bananas, pears, applesauce, peaches, mango, etc) Unsweetened applesauce (smooth) Unsweetened canned fruit – blenderized Unsweetened fruit juice (diluted, no sugar added) Remember: IF YOU CAN CHEW IT, DON’T DO IT! Tips to Get Started Everything that you eat on the pureed diet should be sugar-free or no sugar added, low fat and blended to the consistency of baby food or smooth applesauce. • You will need a blender or food processor or you can purchase baby food. • Start with 1 ounce (2 Tablespoon) portions - no more than 4 Tablespoons at the most. Listen to your body and stop eating as soon as you feel full. • Eat protein foods first. Then if you are not too full, try vegetables or fruits. • Continue protein supplements (80 g protein per day from supplement). Helpful Hints for Blenderizing • Cut foods into small pieces before putting into the blender or food processor. • Remove seeds, skins and fat. • Add liquid for ease of blending. Add enough liquid to cover the blades. Options include skim milk, broth, strained low-fat cream soup, low-fat gravy, low-fat or non-fat sour cream or fat-free half & half. • Blend the item to a smooth, applesauce consistency. • Make sure there are no particles, seeds or lumps remaining. If so put through a sieve or strainer. • If you have leftover blenderized foods, try freezing in single serving portions in ice cube trays and put the frozen cubes into plastic freezer bags. Meats – Very lean and dry meats puree better by adding a small amount of fat (margarine, oil, light mayonnaise, gravy, etc.) Fish also tends to be dry. Improve the texture by adding small amount of lemon juice, light mayonnaise or strained low-fat tartar sauce. Starches – Try pureed peas, canned Beans, sweet potatoes. Starches puree better when hot. Rice and potatoes tend to puree into a gummy paste and are not recommended. Substitute cream of rice cereal prepared with a flavorful broth and seasoned with margarine. Pasta or noodles are not recommended as they are not well-tolerated. Vegetables – Cook vegetables until soft. If using canned vegetables, drain first. Add melted margarine and puree. Add a small amount of liquid until it reaches the smooth applesauce consistency. Fruit – If using canned fruit, drain first. Add a few drops of lemon juice to help prevent them from discoloring. Begin to take advantage of your favorite leftovers before surgery. Process these foods, and freeze them in an ice cube tray. (Each cube is approximately 1/2 to 1 ounce). When frozen, pop out into Zip-lock bag; label and date, and freeze cubes until needed. Meal Guidelines for the Pureed Diet (See Sample Pureed Meals listed in the Appendix) Once you begin to eat pureed foods (which are considered solids) you will want to start differentiating between liquids and solids – meals should include pureed foods, and so liquids (including protein drinks) should be taken separately from your meals. • You should eat 3 meals a day with protein drinks between meals. • Protein drinks containing at least 20 grams of protein per serving should be consumed as needed to meet 80 g/day goal. • Start with a portion size of 1 to 2 tablespoons of pureed food for the first month. At first you may not be able to tolerate this amount. Eat your protein source first, and then if you have room a small amount of fruit, vegetables or other foods may be consumed. Hints for Measuring Foods: Liquids or soft/pureed foods are best measured in measuring cups or spoons; they can be measured in ounces, Tablespoons or mls. 1 cup 8 Fluid ounces 240 ml 16 tablespoons 3/4 cup 6 fluid ounces 180 ml 12 tablespoons 1/2 cup 4 fluid ounces 120 ml 8 tablespoons 1/4 cup 2 fluid ounces 60 ml 4 tablespoons 1/8 cup 1 fluid ounce 30 ml 2 tablespoons 1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons 1/2 Tablespoon = 1-1/2 teaspoons Week 9-12 After Surgery: Soft solid food Diet If you have been tolerating pureed foods, you may now begin a soft diet. This includes all items listed for clear and full liquids and pureed diets plus items listed for the soft diet. Try 1 to 2 new foods a day. This will help you to learn what foods you tolerate. • Remember your stomach pouch empties more slowly with more solid or dense foods than with liquids, so you will be able to tolerate a smaller quantity of food than you could with liquids. • Go slowly. If you do not tolerate the trial of soft foods, resume pureed foods and try again in a week. • Eat protein foods first • Avoid foods high in sugar and fat. • Space meals 4-5 hours apart • Continue your protein drinks between meals • Drink other fluids constantly between meals Examples of Soft Diet (No Added Sugar/Sugar-Free, Low Fat): • Baked fish (no bones) • Imitation crab meat, baby shrimp • Bananas • Canned peaches or pears in water or juice • Well-cooked vegetables without seeds or skin (no corn or peas) • Scrambled, poached or hard boiled eggs • Tuna or egg salad (no onions, celery, pimientos, etc.) • Finely shaved deli meat • Baked, grilled or rotisserie chicken o Moist foods will be better tolerated. Moisten meats with broth, low fat mayonnaise, or low-fat gravy or sauce. o Fish and seafood Proteins are softer and easier to break down than poultry or red meat proteins. o Reheating foods tends to make them dry out and hard to tolerate. Common Problem Foods (Avoid for 3 months after surgery) • Red meat such as steak, roast beef, pork. Red meat is high in muscle Fiber, which is difficult to separate even with a great deal of chewing. Avoid hamburger for one month after surgery. • Un-toasted bread; rolls, biscuits. (Toasted bread may be better-tolerated.) • Pasta • Rice • Membrane of citrus fruits • Dried fruits, nuts, popcorn, coconut • Salads, fresh fruits (except banana) and fresh uncooked vegetables, potato skins. Month 4 After Surgery: Regular Diet • Problem foods as listed above can now be tried. • Rice, pasta and doughy bread may not be tolerated for 6 months or more. • Try fresh fruits without the skin first. If tolerated, the skin can be tried the next time. Salads are generally well-tolerated if chewed well. • Go slowly. Try a small amount to see how you feel. • Avoid high sugar and high fat foods to avoid a high calorie intake. Foods to Avoid: Hard/crunchy foods may always be poorly tolerated. Nuts and seeds are difficult to break down. Fried foods/greasy foods are hard to digest and are very high in calories. • Corn chips, potato chips, tortilla chips, hard taco shells • Nuts and seeds • Fried foods and greasy foods Points to Remember: • Solid foods will fill your stomach pouch more than liquids so you will be eating smaller quantities of foods versus liquids. • If you don’t tolerate a food the first time, wait a week and try again. • You may find that you tolerate a certain food one day and not the next. It is normal for this to happen. • If you don’t tolerate certain foods or notice nausea, vomiting or diarrhea during or after eating, ask yourself the following questions: o Did I chew to a paste consistency? o Did I eat too fast? o Did I eat too much volume? o Did I drink fluid with my real meal or too close to my meal? o Did I eat something high in sugar or fat? o Was the food moist or was it too dry? Steps for adding solid foods: • Try only 1 small bite of the new food and chew well. Wait awhile and if there are no problems, take another bite. • If at any time you feel too full, nauseated or vomit, stop eating and rest. Take only clear liquids at the next meal and add blended foods and liquids at the following meal. Try one solid food again the next day. PROTEIN Protein is the most important nutrient to concentrate on when resuming your diet. Because the volume of your meals will be limited, you should aim for a minimum of 80 grams of protein per day – this needs to come from your protein supplement. Why is protein important? • Wound healing • Sparing loss of muscle • Minimizing hair loss • Preventing protein malnutrition Remember to eat protein foods first at each meal, followed by vegetables and fruit. These are some good sources of protein: Protein Sources Serving size Protein (g) Skim or 1% milk 1 cup 8 Evaporated skim milk (canned) 1 cup 19 Soy milk beverage 1 cup (8 ounces) 7 Non fat dry milk powder 1/3 cup powder 8 Nonfat, sugar free yogurt 1 cup (8 ounces) 8 Nonfat or low fat cottage cheese ½ cup (4 ounces) 14 Nonfat or low fat cheese slices String cheese *1 ounce/ 1 slice 6 LEAN meats – skinless chicken or turkey breast, fish, beef, ham, Deli meats *1 ounce 7 Egg or Egg substitute 1 egg or ¼ cup subst. 7 Peanut Butter (creamy) 1 Tablespoon 5 Tofu ¼ cup 5 Legumes; dried beans peas or lentils Chili, bean soup ½ cup cooked ½ cup 7-9 6-7 Soy/vegetable patty (like Gardenburger) 1 patty 8 - 10 Hummus ½ cup 6 Measuring Hints: *1 ounce of meat is equal to about 3 – 4 Tablespoons of chopped or ground meat. 1 ounce of grated or cottage cheese, tuna or egg salad is ~ 1/4th cup (4 Tablespoons). A 3-ounce portion size of chicken or meat is about the size of a deck of cards. High Protein Ideas Chicken or Turkey Pureed – Use baby food or make your own. Try mixing it into strained low-fat cream soup. Breast – baked or grilled Thin-sliced/shaved deli slices Ground – meatballs, meatloaf Canned – works great for chicken salad

It's mostly an RnY thing, in terms of physical differences that cause alcohol to hit your system faster and be processed differently, which wouldn't happen with VSG. That said, transfer addictions (ie, psychological addictions transferring from food to shopping, drinking, etc.) are still a risk of course.

Thanks M2G. It helps to know what others think & their personal experiences. I plan on following Dr's orders as well, and wait a year. It doesn't bother me unless I'm with a group of friends. I can say I had a half pitcher of Crystal Light Margaritas (no alcohol) at my cookout yesterday & it was FA-BU-lous!!!

Mostly that there's no alcohol in it and I don't like beer. I waited until at least 2 years post-op for actual alcohol. I didn't hit goal until about 3 years to put it in context. Good luck, Tek

I was just thinking about this! I went out last night and had a little too much to drink. To add to my hungover headache, I decided to weigh. Bad idea. I gained 2 pounds from last night. No more alcohol for me for a while.

I think you would have to had a prior problem with alcohol or on your way there before surgery. I have drank some in my life but I am not wanting to transfer my food addiction to alcohol. I have transferred it to cooking new high protein healthier dishes for me and my family. I am having a blast looking up recipes tweaking them and cooking for my family. I also am excited about working out where that was never a thing I was excited about before. I think it is a conscious choice where to transfer your unspent energy from not being able to eat like you could before.

Did anyone else watch nightline last night, 6-18-12? It was "Weigh Less, Drink More?" about transferring your food addiction to alcohol. They talk about Carnie Wilson & Beth Sheldon-Badore, AKA: Melting Mama of Bariatric Bad Girls Club. I'm only 1 month out, so I haven't had alcohol yet. Does it really affect you quicker & sober up quickly? What do y'all think about this phenomenon? Have you experienced it? I've never had a problem with alcohol, so it makes me nervous to drink anything.

You mean like lemon extract and the like? Aren't they alcohol based?

Okay ! I tried this yesterday and today and it is WIERD but is working. Dont know if I will ever not want to sit and eat a "regular" hamburger or something. Thanks for the support. I need it. I guess I am like a alcoholic, the wanting part never leaves but I have to realize what the "bad" thing is doing to me which is eating like I use to do. It is hard to eat out but I am trying to eat a nibble or two and wait. Seems to be better today. I am getting the "is that all you are eating" from everyone. I have no idea how many calories, dont even want to try to figure it out. I feel fine though. More energy than ever. I know... box, box, box !

Right after I got approved the Doctors office called and wanted to know if I wanted to do it the next week.I needed time to get my head right.I was still like a deer in the headlights from getting approved.Take your time this is not something that you just jump into.It takes alot of mental preparation. I found out it is best to stop taking all herbal sups and asprin, ibuprophin, tylenol, alcohol ,smoking at least two weeks before surgery. Do you have a support group in your area? If so go take to them see what life is like after WLS.Take time ti get your self prepaired for this LIFE CHANGING event. My surgery is Thursday I have been approved for two months.