Search the Community

At the airport I go for a sandwich Usually they have somewhere with deli. Here at Newark they make huge sandwiches and I order one. Have them wrap the 2 haves separately First half I remove the break and eat the deli meats for lunch. I keep the other half for later on in the travel day. Many places at airport also have yogurts, some fruits and veggie packs In a pinch - like today- I went to starbucks and grabbed an egg salad sandwich and just removed 1 piece of the multigrain bread and ate the other half.

(Post OP) I started walking in the mall everyday after surgery. It help me recover quickly. Drink plenty of fluids!!!!!! Protein shakes are really difficult after surgery. I have bought protein broths, drinks, gatorade with protein, and greek yogurt with 2X's the protein. I feel like a million bucks

I travel for work a lot and my husband likes to eat out a lot. Honestly, I have no problem aside from getting these giant portions that I cannot eat. I choose the best choices for me and take the rest to go. I can usually get another 2 meals out of it (maybe more). tip: if your meal comes with a salad, get the dressing on the side otherwise you're in for a soggy mess and inedible as a leftover. When I'm out of town/staying in a hotel, I try to get a room with a refrigerator and microwave. That way I can pay for 1 meal that lasts me and I save on expenses. You didn't mention at what point in this process you are, your profile says pre-op, so I'll also provide a tip related to those special liquid or soft diets. When I was in pre-op and/or freshly post-op, I took items I could eat with me. EX: I had protein shakes with me (either ready made or ones I could mix easily in a shaker, as long as I knew I'd have access to milk). I kept protein bars with me and if I had a way to refrigerate things, I took string cheese, yogurt or cottage cheese with me.

I agree with Dooter--it will happen. Stalls suck, but they're temporary IF you stick with your program. If you can't do the protein shakes, make your own from "real food" items--use Greek yogurt, milk of some sort, flavorings, and ice cubes. I added nonfat milk powder to mine to up the protein, but you could also add Egg Beaters (they're pasteurized) to up the protein--you can flavor to your heart's content with sugar-free syrups, cocoa powder, instant coffee, sugar-free pudding mix, sugar-free jello, whatever floats your boat... and you can get it all at a regular grocery store. Be sure you're getting enough fluids--dehydration will stall you out super fast. Hang in there!!

It took me 2 1/2 monts until I could handle salad-- it hurt my belly earlier than that-- I was on a lot of yogurt, soups, tuna, eggs at 18 days out.. They told me 700- 800 calories ... which some days I am over some under.. I have re-introduced shakes because I don't feel I am getting enough protein.. LOVE bean or pea soup though!

I can't eat most things yet. I'm eating off the approved list, and a little bit into the next list (pureed/soft)....taking everything slowly, only eating what's comfortable. Doing my 70 minute rule. Am enjoying: Mashed potatoes oatmeal cream of wheat baby meat sticks yogurt bean/pea Soup canned chicken sweet potato cottage cheese canned green Beans fresh greens in my nutrabullet....set to liquefy with a little apple or prune juice for regularity avacado Tofu Premier Protien...One caramel shake a day used as creamer in my decaf coffee I'm walking about 6-7 miles a day, have incredible energy, am sleeping 7-8 hours a night, and am off most of my meds. I'm eating 1000 calories a day, and getting at least 80g of protien. Sipping drinks nonstop. Weight improves daily. Am pooping daily. I read so many stories on this site about people who have problems....thought I'd add my positive experience to the stew. No nausea. no pain. Feeling like a million bucks. Healing up great. Enjoying my diet, and looking forward to being able to tolerate more Proteins and veggies. Am dying for a salad...but know that's weeks away. Some lessons I've learned: If foods feel uncomfortable or gets stuck for a minute....you're not ready for them. Put them away for another week or two and try again cautiously. If you feel uncomfortably full......get up and walk...it helps shake things loose. Anything new....try a tiny little amount and WAIT 15 minutes. See how it feels. Listen to your body cues. Eating super sugary food makes me sick. Sugary things are good for a bite...not a bowl, even a small bowl. Mom's Christmas cookie was NOT a good idea. A nibble would have been ok. Eating half a cookie...not so much. I was dumb and rationalized I was eating oatmeal, and the cookie was oatmeal....can't hurt, right? Wrong! Be very carful with heavily refined sugar products. The cookie triggered some nausea and I felt really crappy for a bit. It passed in 20 minutes, but I'd rather not repeat that. I love oatmeal and cream of wheat with almond milk and splenda. Greek yogurt is 12g of Protein a tub...try the whipped, it's awesome. You can get instant oatmeal with extra protein. Canned chicken isn't as awful as I feared. Particularly in homemade Soups with beans. Decaf coffee doesn't taste like coffee....but it's not bad. I think of it as something similar to coffee...but not quite coffee. LOL This isn't meant to be advice to anyone else....this is simply what's been working for me. I just wanted people to know that not everyone has a rough hellish experience. For some of us...the surgery is very easy on us and the changes are very tolerable:) Best wishes to each and everyone....on a safe healthy good outcome:)

This was my post opt diet - as you can see I was ok to eat cream of wheat and grits........not mashed potatoes until week three....go figure that one?????? isn't Cream of Wheat harder than mashed potatoes? Anyhow.........hope this helps :cursing: Day of Surgery and day after - Clear Liquids First 2 weeks - Full Liquids (High Protein shakes, yogurt, milk, pudding, custard, strained soup, Cream of wheat, grits, Cream of Rice, tomato juice) Weeks 3 & 4 - Soft foods (cottage cheese, eggs, canned chicken, tuna, or turkey, shaved deli meats, soft beans, oatmeal, mashed or boiled potatoes with no skins, canned fruit, well-cooked tender vegetables. Week 5 - Solid foods :biggrin: regular textured introducing one new food at a time and monitor tolerance.

I was banded on the 10th and only had to do clear liquids for 3 days now I am on full liquids till week three......you always need to follow your doctors orders but I am allowed cream soups, pudding and nothing thicker than yogurt.......call them and ask if you can go to full liquids...the tomatoe soup shouldn't be a problem it is approved on my diet but the cheese..... Just pick yourself up, forget about it, don't let it happen again and go back on plan, we can do this! Before we could have something off plan and just have "fallen off the wagon" but this time we could do possible damage to our band.......

I made the ricotta bake and liked that a lot. But mostly I ate cottage cheese, yogurt, hummus and tofu plus chicken broth with unflavored protein.

I do believe that sugar is toxic for us....Here is an article I thought you might like to read and give your opinion on..... Your Brain on Sugar It gives you a rush, messes with your mind, and always leaves you wanting more - and now researchers are calling for the government to regulate the sweet stuff like a drug. Is sugar worse for you than, say, cocaine? According to a 2012 article in the journal Nature, it's a toxic substance that should be regulated like tobacco and alcohol. Researchers point to studies that show that too much sugar (both in the form of natural sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup) not only makes us fat, it also wreaks havoc on our liver, mucks up our metabolism, impairs brain function, and may leave us susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, even cancer. So far, no federal action has been taken (advocates blame industry lobbyists), and experts say simply raising awareness isn't enough, especially when 80 percent of our food choices contain sugar. "It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion," says coauthor Laura Schmidt, Ph.D., a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. Nevertheless, after the shock of hearing the news, many of us shrugged and turned back to our cupcakes. Yet, truth is, women in their 20s and 30s may already be feeling the effects of too much sugar without even realizing it. Here, the most common sugar-induced issues and how to beat them to prevent long-term damage—and feel your best right now. STRESS EATING For a pick-me-up, you may feel the urge to inhale a bag of M&M's or scarf down a box of Cookies. But the impulse goes deeper. To examine the hold sugar can have over us, substance-abuse researchers have performed brain scans on subjects eating something sweet. What they've seen resembles the mind of a drug addict: When tasting sugar, the brain lights up in the same regions as it would in an alcoholic with a bottle of gin. Dopamine—the so-called reward chemical—spikes and reinforces the desire to have more. (Sugar also fuels the calming hormone serotonin.) THE FIX In times of stress, dieters are more likely to binge, studies conclude. That said, a cookie once in a while (say, twice a week) is fine, but on most days go for oatmeal with brown sugar, suggests Jeffrey Fortuna, Ph.D., a health and behavior lecturer at California State University, Fullerton. The whole grains fill you up and the sweetness is just enough to release serotonin. INEXPLICABLE WEIGHT GAIN You stay away from burgers and drink diet soda. But sugar—both real and artificial—is the secret saboteur. When the pancreas senses sugar, the body releases insulin, which causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen for energy. Eat too much at once, though, and insulin levels spike, then drop. The aftermath? You feel tired, then crave more sustenance to perk up. Faux sugars don't help. "Artificial sweeteners travel to the part of the brain associated with desire but not to the part responsible for reward," says Dr. Gene-Jack Wang, a researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. Nor do they trigger the release of the satiety hormones that real sugar does, so you're more likely to consume more calories. THE FIX Feed sweet cravings with fruit (the Fiber will help keep insulin in check), and sub in sparkling Water for diet soda. If you must indulge, go for a small snack made with real sugar, and eat slowly. Add fruit or yogurt to feel fuller and prevent a crash. BRAIN FOG Blanking out in the middle of a meeting? Research out of the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that sugar forms free radicals in the brain's membrane and compromises nerve cells' ability to communicate. This could have repercussions in how well we remember instructions, process ideas, and handle our moods, says Fernando Gómez-Pinilla, Ph.D., author of the UCLA study. THE FIX Stay under the USDA limit of 10 teaspoons (40 grams) of added sugar a day. Read labels and available nutrition information at chains: A 16-ounce Starbucks vanilla latte and Einstein Bros. bagel will max out your day's allotment! A wiser choice: black coffee and plain yogurt with antioxidant-rich blueberries and walnuts, sweetened with honey. AGING SKIN Sugar causes premature aging, just as cigarettes and UV rays do. With young skin (generally under 35), when skin support structures collagen and elastin break down from sun or other free-radical exposure, cells repair themselves. But when sugar travels into the skin, its components cause nearby amino acids to form cross-links. These cross-links jam the repair mechanism and, over time, leave you with premature wrinkles. THE FIX Once cross-links form, they won't unhitch, so keep sugar intake to as close to zero as you can. "It's the enemy," says Dr. William Danby, a dermatologist with Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire. Avoid soda and processed pastries and trade sugar packets for cinnamon—it slows down cross-linking, as do cloves, oregano, ginger, and garlic. A SLUGGISH WORKOUT Muscles need sugar for fuel, so carbs (which break up into glucose, a type of sim-ple sugar) can kick-start your morning jog. But fruit or prepackaged Snacks touting "natural sweeteners" contain just fructose, which is metabolized in the liver, not the muscles. The result: bloat, or even the runs. THE FIX A glucose-packed snack with just 4 to 8 grams of fructose—it'll help increase glucose absorption, says Dr. Richard Johnson, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado, Denver. Try a sports drink like Gatorade or trail mix with dried fruit an hour before your workout.

I was sleeved on 10/2. I had a 2 night stay in the hospital. no gas, heartburn, nausea. I was able to drink (sip) very next day. I am still on liquid diet per my doctor. I will see him and dietitian on Thursday, 3 weeks post op. hoping they will all pureed food to diet as I am getting very bored with the liquid Protein shakes, broth and Water although I have also been having yogurt. as of this morning, 17 days post op, I have lost 23.2 lbs. I am walking a mile every other day. I have been sleeping really well, through the night. I am not snoring. I have more energy. I am staying awake later than usual. last night my husband grilled a boneless leg of lamb. I cut a piece, chewed it to death and then spit it out. the taste was enough to satisfy the hunger in my head and mouth.

Thank you, Denise!!! I may call him on Monday. I have to do one week of full liquids (yogurt, sf pudding, protein shakes, creamy soups) before mushies. I'm just ready for something besides clear liquids!

I had to wait to be cleared for 'all' foods until I could try protein bars. But I understand your anti protein shake thing. They all made me sick to the stomach.... Even Isopure (it made me sick the least). I added unflavored protein powder like unjury to my Greek yogurt. It helped get my protein in without drinking so many shakes. Good luck to you. You will be past this stage before you know it!

Hi everyone. I’m home from the hospital. It’s day three and the pain in the back of my neck and shoulders is unbearable. Nurses said it’s just gas, but I’ve been walking a ton and taking a Gas X strips and it doesn’t go away! This evening I’ve been watching vlogs about post op days 2-5 and it’s got me pretty discouraged. Most everybody talks about how the pain is not so bad etc, and I’m over here with a heating pad on my neck and the feeling of daggers in my tummy each time I take a sip. Luckily, I have not thrown up yet. I’m worried I’m drinking too much and that’s why I hurt. But they tell me to drink drink drink, and if I stopped sipping when it hurts, I’d be dehydrated. So, here are my questions: 1. How much did you eat days 2-4 post op? Today I ate 3/4ths of a yogurt in the morning, a couple ounces of protein shake for lunch, and then about 5 oz protein shake for dinner. I’ve also been drinking a ton. Is that too much? I can’t read my body very well yet. 2. Did any of you have super sharp gas pains in the back of your neck and shoulders. It really hurts and pain meds don’t work. 3. When did your swelling decrease. I’m puffed out like a balloon and very uncomfortable 4. How long after coming home from the hospital did you continue taking your pain meds? 5. Will my stomach ever not hurt when I eat again? I know it’s just day three and I need to be patient, but I’m hearing so many others talk about how easy their experiences were and I’m starting to wonder why I’m so miserable right now. Thanks.

I am 4 days post op and I actually wonder if we are "hungry". I don't think we are, if we eat some soup, custard or yogurt that feeling goes away. So I think we will all be fine so long as we eat often and small amounts. Our heads are driving our hungry not our tummy's!

My husband offered me a piece of pizza today!! He honestly forgot and felt horrible, I'm only 3 days out. I'm looking forward to the yogurt, cottage cheese stage!

I do a lot of food based protein. I do have one protein smoothie every morning that gives me a good "head start" for the day, buy the rest comes from 100% food based. I would research high protein foods and get an idea of what you like vs. what you don't like. Your taste buds could change after surgery, but it mostly has to do with things being overly sweet after surgery. I eat a lot of the following: - eggs, all different ways - Greek yogurt - tuna packets -jerky -cottage cheese -chick peas - Brussels sprouts -Fairllife Milk with sugar free chocolate syrup. -Almonds -Meat, meat and meat. I don't discriminate with meat. I also eat soy meat 2-3 times per week. I find different ways to mix it up, as to not get bored.

I called it my "last meals tour" in May. I tried to fit in all my favorite meals before surgery. I've been off carbs & sugar since June 4th so I find it easier now to use my meals as nutritional intake opportunities. The mini stomach helps of course. Protein first. Lots of liquids, then if I have room left for a craving I get a sugar free snowball or no sugar added frozen yogurt.

What a cute teeny taco! I use tiny ramekins the size of my cat's food bowls for teeny lentil soup & chili (doctored with said sliced avocado, shredded cheddar and a teeny dollop of plain FF Greek yogurt). So how does your tummy do with the teeny tortilla? I still can't keep any kind of bread down. Not even a teeny bite.

I'm definitely not perfect. I've been know to slip in some doritos or a muffin here and there. But what works for me the VAST majority of the time is to eat on a schedule. I eat 6 times a day: Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, and evening snack. I eat a set amount at each of those time, I don't just mindlessly eat until I'm overfull. Since I'm eating every 2-3 hours, I really don't have TIME for unplanned snacking. I also just practice the usual trick of not keeping the junk food in the house. I definitely think having scheduled and defined Snacks is the way to go. I'm much less likely to sit down and eat some chips or something junky if I'm due for my afternoon yogurt in less than an hour.

Minxie...im only 1.5 weeks out and ive heard of this stall several times. It happens at 3 weeks then could happen every time your diet changes ex: from liquid to pureed, pureed to soft etc...I think jus tkeep doing your plan and it eventually breaks. I have also heard atkins shakes aren't the best and too much fruit could be sabotaging yourself. I drink premier Protein shakes and am only on full liquids so no fruit for me yet. I think you are supposed to be getting 60-80 grams protein and 64 oz fluid ...always protein first...so maybe eat the yogurt or cottage cheese then the fruit if you need more. As I said I am new to this as well so following your specific plan is best. There is also a facebook group that is closed and no one can see your posts...its called baratric eating support, I have found this very helpful as I learn day by day!! Good luck in your journey!!

Hi Volsfan2 - I was sleeved on 10/12 and I have not had any issues so far and I am keeping my fingers crossed that the trend continues. Refried Beans are not allowed on my plan. So far, I have only tried broth, yogurt and Soup and of course the Protein drinks with no issues. I drink/eat them all pretty slowly. Hope you get better soon.

Hi there! There is no way to pretty up this topic. When I crushed pills it was just freaking nasty. That's all there is to it. I bought a pill crusher at walgreens. One that you twist the cap and twist until it crushes. About $10. It's about 2-3" in diameter if I remember correctly. I would crush one, pour it in a spoon. I would then add warm broth to spoon and stick in the back of my tongue. to be honest, that lasted about 6 days and I just went to swallowing. They were not huge anyway. At my two week post op appointment, nurse told me to go ahead and swallow them. I didn't tell her I already was. You could also pour crushed pull over yogurt if you are allowed yogurt.

So I made my homemade granola for my yogurt because I really don't like the tanginness. I added cinnamon and Splenda to my yogurt then I made my granola, here's my recipe: 3 1/2 cups rolled oats 1 1/2 tbs ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup SF vanilla syrup 1/2 cup SF almond syrup 2 cups slithered almonds Mix it all together and place on a sprayed baking sheet and baked at 325 until golden brown and crunchy. Tastes so so good.

I had Dr. Lopez, but had my surgery in Puerto Vallarta, so my experience may be a little different than those of others. Pre-op diet - two to three Protein shakes a day (I used EAS or Premier) and a sensible dinner (protein and veggie) Post-op diet - 2 days of clear liquids, 2 weeks of full liquids (pudding, Jello yogurt, strained Soups included), 2 weeks of blended/pureed, 2 weeks of soft solids Does the Doctor provide pain meds - Yes. I received 2 sample packs of ketorolac tromethamine (6 pills each) when I checked out of the hospital. Does the Dr./Nurse speak English clearly. I will be on my own. - The doctors speak very good English, the nurses in PV do not. Is there a TV and internet in the hospital. - Yes Do they give a leak test before leaving? -- I only had 2. One during surgery and 1 the day after surgery. How were incisions closed? Will I need a follow up in the states to have something removed -- The incisions are closed with internal, dissoluble sutures and external glue. No need for followup. Some of my internal stitches started spitting (coming out of the skin), which I am told is fairly normal. Hope this helps!