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Can you add me too? I had my Lap-Band converted to a VSG done on May 26th. On the day of surgery, I weighed 185 lbs. I weighed myself yesterday (2 weeks post-op) & weighed 169 lbs. Goal weight is 135-140 lbs. Now I'm starting to struggle w/ the liquid phase because I want some applesauce or yogurt or something I can kind of chew! Grrrrr..... But happy w/ my results thusfar!!!

Thanks Lylabelle i had my postoperative appointment today with the nurse practitioner it went really well we talked for almost 2 hours. She moved me to puréed for the next week and to soft foods in a week if I'm feeling up to it. She also gave me 2 laxatives to take to get things moving. She also suggested taking at least another week off to concentrate on my diet and getting my fluids in. She thinks my long commute and long day at work would be to much at this stage. I definitely see her point. She also stressed that exercise should not be a concern no more than short walks because I'm not taking in enough calories. She gave me some samples of unjury and I'm going to concentrate on getting in more fluids. She told me to eat about every 2 hours.(applesauce, yogurt, baby food etc.) I felt much better after I left that I'll be able to get things jump started.

My fav was cottage cz and yogurt

60 grams or more. Drinking a protein shake thing in the am helps me. I use the nectar ones. They have 23 grams of protein and mix it with 8 oz skim milk. 32 grams out the way 1st thing in the morning. I'd morning I have. Scrambled egg with a little over a Tablespoon of cheese. Thats 9 more grams. Greek yogurt also has a lot if protein. Deli thin slices turkey by oscar mayer has 9 grams for 6 slices. String cheese has about 6-7 grams. Hope this helps.

Sugar Blues Part 1 highlighted the poor health consequences that can result from consuming too much sugar. A list of words that also mean “sugar” was provided. Remember that naturally occurring sugars are in fruit and milk/dairy foods. When you read the Nutrition Facts Label, the sugars will be listed under the carbohydrates. To find out how to compare products to better understand added sugars, click on Natural vs. Added Sugars. Use the chart on the second page as a guide to compare products.The chart compares applesauce and Greek style yogurt. You will see the products with only naturally occurring sugars, products with added sugars and “light” versions of the product. You will also see that the product with the most amount of sugar has the most calories.The front part of the food label usually doesn’t have any clues that the product can have a lot of added sugars. You must be a detective and investigate the Nutrition Facts Label and the ingredients list. Start your sugar hunt by using foods and beverages in your pantry or fridge to discover where added sugars are lurking in your food choices. Like any hunting expedition, it will take some time and practice to find the healthiest products to use on your journey towards health. Sugar Comparison Chart We are born with a preference for sweet tastes. However, sugar carries calories without any fiber, vitamins or minerals. Sugar is basically empty calories. For bariatric patients, too much sugar can lead to dumping. Natural Sugars vs Added Sugars Naturally occurring sugars are in fruits (fructose) and milk and dairy (lactose). The current Nutrition Facts label doesn’t tell us the difference. A teaspoon of sugar = 4 grams of sugar. If you drink a 12 oz. can of regular pop or 12 ounces regular fruit juice, that means you’ve consumed 40 grams of sugar. This translates to 10 teaspoons of sugar. That’s almost 1/4 cup of sugar! Other names for sugar When you read the ingredient list, look for words like syrup (corn, high fructose, maple, pancake, maltose), corn syrup solids, agave, molasses, beet sugar, brown sugar, turbinado sugar, invert sugar, cane juice, fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, nectar (peach, apricot, pear), powdered or confectioner’s sugar, raw sugar, maple sugar, date sugar, malted barley, honey and anything ending in “–ose” (maltose, dextrose, glucose, fructose). These are all types of sugar. When you see these words in the ingredient list, look for foods that have sugar listed after the 3rd or 4th ingredient. When you see several sugar ingredients, look at the total amount sugar. Decide if it’s worth it to eat that food. Sugar alcohols These have less impact on your blood sugars. They are more slowly digested than sugar. Sugar alcohols have anywhere from 2 to 4 calories per gram. If your weight loss stalls, check to see if your “sugar free” foods have high amounts of sugar alcohols. You may be getting more calories than you think. Caution…eating too many sugar alcohols can laxative effect! Alternative Sweeteners Artificial sweeteners include Splenda (sucralose), Sweet ‘N Low (saccharin), NutraSweet (aspartame), Sweet One (acesulfame potassium) and Neotame. Stevia is extracted from the stevia plant and is considered a natural sweetener. Monkfruit is extracted from the monkfruit and is considered a natural sweetener. Natural vs. Added Sugars: Comparison Chart How do I find the amount of added sugars in a food? One way to find out what the added sugars are is to compare similar products. Comparisons of applesauce and Greek yogurt are detailed below. The order of appearance is the unsweetened, sweetened and light or low sugar version. Use this chart to compare other products you might choose. Remember that natural sugars are in milk/dairy and fruit. Is all that sugar worth it?

Yes, I can relate to that. I can eat almost all foods, but many dont appeal to me much anymore, although for the sake of a balanced diet, I still eat them. I no longer enjoy the meat and 3 veg type meal - even a good roast dinner like on Christmas day. I make them still as its a family staple, and a good way to get in your Protein and vegies. But I'd be happy with Soup every single night. I went years and years without eating yogurt - although I liked it. Its a staple now. I dont eat a lot of bread. I can eat it - even most of a sandwich but I just plain dont fancy it much. Thankfully I never ever crave McDonalds or pizza or similar. I cant eat in food courts, I stand there staring round in despair for half an hour before giving up and buying coffee. I dont want ANY of it (although I could have a healthy sandwich made up). I can easily go into McDonalds with my kids and not even be remotely tempted to eat anything. Sadly Cookies are more appealing than ever. All the difficult "solid" foods that are a bit harder to eat basically no longer appeal like they did. But you know, I think its dangerous to give into that or you end up with soft foods that are easy and then up goes your calories. If I want to be sure I'll go from lunch to dinner without snacking, then I *MAKE* myself take the time and effort to eat a sandwich. Because yes, I can eat a yogurt in five minutes, but I'll be looking for Snacks an hour later.

Here's what worked / still works for me when I need to augment my protein: * Dannon Greek Oikos low-fat vanilla yogurt (the packaging is blue; the 5.3 ounce cups are a good size) * GNC Lean 25 Swiss chocolate shakes (comes also in vanilla and yogurt); if it's too *thick*, thin with skim milk or even Water. Buy at GNC healthfood stores (buy and try a single one before buying a case of 12) * Skim milk -- cold, warm, mix in Soups, however it works for you

My fave Breakfast is a yummy home made meusli with vanilla yogurt and fresh berries. I hope that still goes down well after I have the band - even if I have to adjust the yogurt/meusli ratio. I also often make smoothies, with berries, milk, yogurt and a weetbix and some Protein powder (weetbix are just wheat flake Cereal in a little rectangle). Multigrain toast and marmalade (sometimes with lots of butter, tsk tsk) pancakes on the weekend. Breakie tends to be a carb meal for me, I dont really eat bread or carbs much at lunch or dinner, unless we have Pasta. If I dont eat carbs at breakfast, I'm lightheaded later in the morning and I can guarantee I'll have a huge carb binge in the afternoon - bread, muffins, Cookies, whatever I can get my hands on.

I am 9 days post up and am so sick of the Protein shakes too. I haven't drank any not sure what to do only thing i tolerate is yogurt. I feel your pain. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Puddings, yogurt, cottage cheese were all considered full liquids on my program. Mushies/purees/soft foods were all the same. Deli meat can be chewed to nothing so it wasn't stringy or dense like a chicken breast.

I am about 14.5 months post op and have been maintaining my goal weight (though of course I would love to lose "just another 5 pounds....lol"). Breakfast: Typically I have a sugar-free latte along with something small....either a fat-free cheese stick or hard boiled egg. Lunch: When I am working I have the same exact lunch every day. I'm a creature of habit. I have a small scoop of chicken salad (1/3-1/2 c.), with a small salad on the side (a little bit of spinach leaves (maybe 1/2 c.) a little shredded cheddar cheese on top, a couple cucumber slices, and a couple piece of broccoli. Topped with about 1/2 t. fat free italian dressing). I have a snack in the late afternoon - usually dannon light and fit greek yogurt Dinner: about 3-4 oz of a Protein (either chicken, fish, or beef), along with a veggie.... maybe a small starch last if I still have room. Snack - I have a snack in the evening but usually limit it to a protein hot chocolate or cheese stick. Protein shakes: I will usually switch out dinner with a Protein shake a couple of times a week, or switch out a weekend lunch with a protein shake. So I would say I'm doing probably 3 Protein shakes a week, and probably 3-4 Protein drinks (ie hot chocolate). Water - I drink tons of water.... between 80-100 oz. daily Exercise - SO important to maintaining the loss. I run 4 times a week and cross train on off days with 1 rest day.

Take your time man. At six week its no wonder that soup and yogurt is what feels good because that is what your stomach can handle right now. You are trying to rush it. You put chicken and other dense foods into it....its saying...WTF...stop. Listen to your body.

Ok guys... maybe you can help me with some insight if what I am feeling and experiencing is normal. I had my surgery 8 days ago and I’m now on the purées/soft food stage as my surgeon requested. I’ve been keeping track of everything I put in my mouth on the Baritastic app and every night I end up with a total of 800/900 calories consumed. I was told that I shouldn’t even be able to get close to this amount for several months...let alone 8 days out. Everything I’m eating is sugar free or fat free. I’m drinking 2 protein shakes a day...a Greek yogurt or ff cottage cheese, about 1/2 cup of cream of Chicken soup and I have been able to eat a very small amount of the ricotta bake or some puréed beans. Just tried scrambled eggs for the first time today and only could eat about 5 bites. Problem is, I am feeling hunger a lot... but then when I eat I get full fast. I am getting between 60-80 ounces of water with crystal light in easily. I have gained 1.3lbs as of today too!!! Is this normal or should I be feeling not hungry and more restricted?? I’m starting to feel discouraged.

Just drink more water, add jello & approved yogurt. You're doing great! Sent from my SM-J727P using BariatricPal mobile app

I am 14 months out and have lost 104% of my excess weight. It is very difficult at first to get everything in. I know you are anxious to eat real food, but it is better at this point to go for the better nutrition choices. The liquid protein does double duty, so I recommend that you choose those for the first month-2. Also, things like Greek yogurt or low/non fat cottage cheese, where you get more protein in less food. I did not try to eat 3/meals 2/snacks at first. I put protein powder in my water and sipped it all day. Try walking early in the day. The commercial that says " a body in motion tends to stay in motion" is actually true. Getting your circulation going early in the day will help create more energy! Hope this helps. = )

:confused2:Hi, my name is Jasmyn, and I was banded June 2007 but it has been very frustrating. I have only lost 20lbs. I seem to be stuck at a weight for a long time, and seem to have lots of difficulties with eating. I have had a couple fills, and even had some taken out because I was not able to get anything down exept Water. Many of my friends and family have told me I should just have the band removed. It is disappointing. The dr has done all the blood work, and said everything is normal, that it is either I am eating to much sugary foods, or not exercising enough. I eat a small amount at one time, a few bites at most, and seem to always have problems with reflux. Within a matter of minutes whatever I eat comes back up. I haven't figured out what I can and cannot eat and have just become frustrated about eating at all. If it isn't soft pureed food, I can't get it to stay down. Dr did say my protien and Calcium were slightly low at my one year checkup. I can't eat meat, too chunky. Any help would be good. I am thinking maybe a mentor might help. Daily foods I can eat, instant oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce, puddings, cottage cheese, cheese of any sort is usually ok. Soup, broths really soft noodles, small so, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti's Veggies, fruits, meats, eggs, breads are all problems! Any other suggestions?! Thanks! Jasmyn

I was having greek yogurt with just a little bit of the fruit at the bottom. I didn't want all the extra carbs. I saw my NUT today and she said if I have one greek yogurt/day with the fruit that it's fine. Our calories are already so low that there's no way we aren't going to lose weight if we consume some carbs. She told me to aim for no more than 50-60g of carbs/day in the beginning.

I use 0% fat , plain Greek yogurt with sugar-free preserves and Splenda. If there is a Whole Foods near you, they have a sugar-free Wild Blueberry flavor that is my favorite. Preserves are cooked fruit so you shouldn't have a problem with those. Also, you can make a cheesecake yogurt. Plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, Splenda, cinnamon, vanilla extract. All to taste. Stoneyfield Farms makes a plain, non-fat Greek yogurt in 4 oz containers. They are in a four pack. Make sure you get plain, not vanilla that has sugar in it. 4 oz is about all I can eat at one time.

Yoplait greek vanilla yogurt. 100 calories 13 grms of protein and 11 carbs total. I believe its a 6oz container! I used to eat chobani til I found this one. Yoplait Had less carbs so I switched.

Zannie my restriction feels like hell on earth if I don't chew enough. But I have to be very careful about how much I eat or I will eat too much. If I eat too much I get the golf ball feeling in my chest and I feel like I have to burp. When I do burp a little bit of food does come up with the burp. A lot of the time I feel like I could keep eating too but after about a 1/2 cup I stop and wait a few minutes and then take another bite. I still probably eat a little bit too fast which is why I have to wait the few minutes to let my brain catch up to my stomach. Some things I can eat really easy and can eat a lot of. Soup for example. Even if it is chunky I can get well over a cup of soup in. So I only measure a cup and eat some crackers with it to thicken it up and satisfy my carb craving. I don't get hungry between meals because I eat 5-6 meals per day. I know some people stick with the three meal thing but I just can't. But my Snacks are small like a yogurt, 100 calorie snack pack, a small handful of almonds, or a string cheese. It is easier at work because I am busy and don't think about food. I don't usually get hungry unless I miss a snack and then I feel like I am starving. Those are the times I tend to over eat a bit which is another reason for the snacks. I also "treat" myself every night with my Protein drink. I mix my matrix with milk, ice, hersheys sugar free syrup and a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. It is pretty tasty and gives me protein before I go to bed. My workouts are going well though it is blazing outside. It has not been any less than 87 and sunny all week. I don't like using the central air at home because it is so expensive so I have been a bit toasty. Yesterday after my running I ran outside and jumped in the kids pool (8 feetx18 inches) with all my clothes on. The kids thought it was hilarious and I was just glad to be refreshed. I plan on riding my bike to work tomorrow and Friday now that my pedal has been fixed.

Put in blender 1 cup almond milk 1 cup Greek yogurt 2 tbs pb2 or peanut butter ( increases fat and cals) 1 med banana then fill blender with 2 cups or more if you like at 12 cals a cup of fresh baby spinach. Blend to liquid. Cals are 350ish 21 grams protein over 100 0/0 of vit A rich in iron , calcium , potassium and so much more. This really taste good great meal replacement If you like green Naked juice you'll love this even more

i go back every 6 wks for a check up. now i don't have a fill everytime either. i've only had 2 since being banded in may. have you thought about not having the bread, starch, rice and bagel? carbs will make you feel hungrier faster. i'd start there and start substituting something else in it's place. yogurt or eggs for breakfast, even cereal if it's low carb and high in protien. kashi has some good one's, oatmeal, cream of wheat. using lettuce as a wrap for the sandwich instead of bread. do you have snacks? you can have sugar free jello, pudding and such. The United States Department of Agriculture sets a serving size for fruit or vegetables to be equal to about one-half cup. Greens like spinach and lettuce have a serving size equal to one full cup. One serving of sliced fruit is equal to one-half cup; however a single piece of fruit, such as an apple or an orange counts as one serving.

I use Musclegen Research GENEPRO Molecular Tri Protein Peptide. I put one scoop in 3/4 cup of 2% Braum's milk, along with half a packet of Carnation Breakfast Essentials No Sugar. The Genepro dissolves completely with very little taste and the Carnation Breakfast Essential favors the milk nicely. You get 30 grams of protein with each tablespoon scoop. You can also mix the Genepro with anything...yogurt, oatmeal, milk poured over Cereal, etc. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

The three most important daily requirements after RNY gastric bypass surgery is to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that your body needs. Thus you lose weight. It is common for individuals to not be able to meet their protein or fluid requirements during the first few weeks after surgery because their body is in a major heal mode. For the first 4 weeks following surgery, my program requirements restricted me to Full liquids. This included foods that contain protein such as Yogurt (Greek yogurt has more protein) (but don't use the type of yogurt that has fruit on the bottom; low fat cottage cheese, Beans (except baked beans). Full liquids are defined as semi-solid or pudding like consistency. It is necessary following surgery to allow the staple lines in your stomach to heal and to prevent nausea and vomiting, so it is important to not rush into the pureed foods until week 5. But at 2 ounce per meal, it would be impossible for you to meet your daily protein requirement from food alone during this stage. I recommend that you experiment and then experiment some more until you find a protein supplement that you can tolerate. There are many types and I recommend that you try them all. I used a Protein powder called Muscle Milk Light (vanilla Creme) which I blended with Water and a half a banana. I tried using Isopure premix. It is extra high in protein but I couldn't stand the taste. But my wife liked it. There are protein powders that can be added to food. Also another way to achieve the protein requirement is to drink milk fortified with powdered milk. 8 ounces 1% milk plus 1/4 cup dry milk provides 14 grams of protein.

WOW thanks so much for all the replies! I am feeling better about the whole thing now. I think my issue might be what I am eating. I only eat half cup every 2-3 hours... I am just eating pureed soups, cottage cheese, and yogurt. I guess i am just confused of what I can eat at this point. (3 weeks post op)