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I used (and still use) my blender and food scale all the time. I've never used an air fryer and rarely use sieves. I agree with the small dishes - I bought ramekins in different sizes so I could "eyeball" portions easier. Of course, I could have measured things as well (and some things I DID measure), but sometimes it was easier to spoon things into a 4 oz ramekin, or an 8 oz ramekin, or whatever, since that would have been pretty close (if not exact). Plus then I could just eat whatever it was directly from the ramekin. I also bought baby spoons and still use them to this day - mostly to eat yogurt with. I don't know why, but I love them!

I agree with not going back to a liquid diet. Just go back to the way you're supposed to be eating. Protein first, then non-starchy veggies, and then an occasional small serving of fruit or whole-grain carb if you have room and/or really want them. Track your food. Make sure you get all your fluids in. You haven't gained anything yet, so just pick up where you left off. if you must snack, keep things like sugar free Jello and sugar free popsicles around. I also mix ranch dressing mix in plain Greek yogurt and use it as a dip for raw veggies, which I keep cut up and in the fridge. I also usually have grapes around most of time. it's tough to rein yourself in, but you can do it!

Try protein hot chocolate. I found it much easier to drink than cold protein shakes. If you make it with Fairlife milk instead of water, it has as much protein as a shake. I love the BariatricPal brand, but there’s a similar product from ProtiDiet that you can buy on Amazon. You can also try protein soups if you’re tired of sweet drinks. Another option is clear protein drinks (like Protein2O or Syntrax Nectar), which are more like juice than shakes, so you might find them more palatable. When are you allowed to start puréed foods? You can mix protein powder into almost anything puréed (unflavored for savory foods, flavored for sweet foods like yogurt or sugar-free pudding).

Well, I had just had 5 c-sectons, and in between those I had a tubal reversal. Which worked. I had 3 more children. Hence the 5 C-secions, 1 tubal reversal, Then I had a complete hysterectomy. Just so much scar tissue. I am sorry to hear that you have been so nauseated. I have been lucky as far as that goes. Only a little, a couple of times. I just did make me some of those ricotta cheese bake, and I was scared to death, but I just took my time and so far so good. I have had 2 of them. I'm scared to try anything else. I am such a picky eater. I don't like yogurt at all. I don't like tuna fish, which i can use the can chicken. Anyway, back to the surgery part when I woke up in recovery I felt like my stomach was on fire. I was begging the nurses for relief. I was in recovery for quite sometime. I don't know why, but all my Dr was giving me was Toradol and Tylenol. The following day that worked fine, but right out of surgery, not so much. Thanks for letting me know I wasn't a lone wolf. Rhonda

So I think this might be a cultural difference. I'm also in the Middle East and the dietician told me I don't need protein shakes. Americans seem all about them. She didn't mention the heart palpitations but she just said they're not really healthy and have a lot of additives. I haven't had any shakes post-surgery. For the first couple weeks I had a lot of milk, juice, and yogurt. In the pureed stage I had all kinds hummus, baba ghanoush, lentil soup, mashed potatoes with nutritional yeast on top, more yogurt, soft cheeses, and fish. Now I've added in some other things. I get between 80 and 100g of protein a day and don't use the shakes. You can do it!

February 3 !! Starting 1 week of pre-op diet tomorrow!!! So excited so nervous so scared. My pre-op diet : Breakfast: Low fat milk with half a banana or OPTIFAST or Greek Yogurt with 1/2 a cup of fruits Lunch: Vegetable Soup with Green Salad and Grilled Chicken Breast or Fish Dinner: Vegetable Soup or OPTIFAST bar or Greek Yogurt with 1/2 cup fruits.

I had bypass but I think food reintroduction is the same. Im over 2 months post op and lighter type foods still are my go to. It’s kind of trial and error at first. But cottage cheese, berries, avocados, tomatoes, diced lettuce, lighter cheese & turkey rolls, soups, yogurts are still my go to foods. Chicken is still difficult, so I will boil it in spices/water to soften it up. I can eat a few whole wheat ritz crackers, but other overly crunchy crackers don’t sit great. Peanut butter/almond butter must be in small doses with apple slices or celery.. that’s what works for me. Good luck on the next phase!

I sounds like you just aren't quite ready for those yet, even if they are on your plan. You may have more inflammation in your stomach than most, which restricts the thicker (or sometimes even the thinner) things more than others experience. I had yogurt (and purees, etc.) in the hospital without problem, but others on the same plan couldn't handle them. Our general rule was to try new foods one at a time to test for tolerance; if it worked, great, if not, try it again in a week or two.

I had vsg. The surgeon gave us full liquid for 2 weeks that includes pudding, yogurt, and jello. Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi. I'm one week out. Doing good hitting protein/hydration. I fell well and am in good spirits. I'm doing my sips. I'm allowed yogurt/pudding on my liquid diet right now but I seriously get pain from it. Even the smallest amounts liquified in my mouth cause pain almost right after swallowing. I've even tried watering down yogurt with almond milk. I also noticed that with the premier protein shakes I have to let the sips almost run down my throat rather than swallowing but not the fairlife, those I can actually swallow because the consistency is different. Really only water and Gatorade have been going down without much pain. Anyway, I am not sure if I had a hernia repair yet (haven't been able to ask yet), but wondering if that is what is causing it? If not is this something that improves over time? Thanks! Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

I wouldn't stock up on much food because you're really not going to be eating much the first few weeks, and the first couple of weeks you're likely to be just having protein shakes and very low (or no) calorie fluids. You'll probably be able to go to the grocery store by the time you move on to purees or soft foods - if not before. I was driving about a week after surgery. But pick up some protein powder or ready to drink shakes before you go to the hospital since you'll be drinking those as soon as you get home. Samples (individual packets) are great if you can find some, since you're not going to like all brands and you don't want to get stuck with some 2 lb tub - or a case of ready to drink shakes - that you end up not liking. So maybe a handful of some individual servings of three or four different brands. I guess you could also pick up some sugar free popsicles and sugar free Jello if you like those, and maybe some broth - since those you can eat right away too. But see what your surgeon's plan is. Some surgeons have patients move to purees quicker than others (I was able to start on them as soon as I got home from the hospital, although that's not common) - so I also had things like sugar free pudding and Greek yogurt on hand. But most people don't start eating those until they're a couple of weeks out. you can get your vitamins beforehand since you'll probably start taking those pretty quickly after surgery, and you'll already know what types and what amounts you'll need to take. I used my blender a lot (and still do), so maybe pick up one of those if you don't already have one. And a food scale (you won't need it right away, but you'll need it fairly quickly). I also got some ramekins in a couple of different sizes and some baby spoons, but that's probably optional (I still use those, though! It's easier to "eyeball" portions when I'm putting my food in an 8 oz ramekin - or 4 oz - or whatever) - and I love using a baby spoon for eating things like yogurt!) I slept most of the time I was at the hospital, so I really didn't need anything other than my phone and charger. I think I might have brought toiletries, but they gave me a bag of those at the hospital (deodorant, shampoo, a disposable toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste), so I really didn't need them. Oh - wear comfy, loose clothing that's easy to get on and off so you can manage dressing yourself before you leave the hospital. I wore the same outfit home that I did when I went to the hospital. A lot of people like to have Biotin spray (or the generic equivalent) because your mouth can be dry after surgery. Other than that....???

soup is a liquid and goes right through you. Yogurt takes a little longer, but not much. You'll start to really feel the restriction when you get to the solid food stage.

I had RNY 1/15. Everything is going great - it amazes me I have no pain whatsoever and am already exercising (walking) and basically getting the hang of the post op diet. I’m so confused though- I eat that soup or yogurt (4oz) and feel no significant fullness. I hear others can barely get through a few bites. Any thoughts? I am losing steadily so... something is working!

Yeah, sometimes just plain water can taste blah. I find green tea helpful. You can try herbal teas as well. I’ll also pour myself a large glass of sparkling water & let it sit until the bubbles greatly reduce or disappear & then sip on it over a couple of hours. I still drink plain water in between but I find I enjoy the minerally taste of the now flat sparkling water. Wish I thought to do it at the beginning to break the water monotony. I also found a good high protein drinking yoghurt which helped reach protein & fluid goals. It’s easy to make your own too by blending milk with Greek yogurt & some berries or other fruit for flavour. Just avoid adding sweeteners (natural or artificial). Good luck on your journey.

I would not eat this - I have to be very very careful with artificial sweeteners. It has erythritol and sorbitol both which cause me to have the runs really really really badly. I cannot drink any of the weight loss shakes or meal replacers or these "diet bars" no zero calorie sweetened yogurt, no low cal/low sugar ice creams unless I read the ingerdients really carefully. Anyone with celiac disease of gluten intolerance also should be VERY careful with these.

During weight loss phase, very rarely. If i did, it was like 5-10 berries (raspberries or blueberries) on a salad or with cottage cheese or yogurt. AFTER weight loss phase I eat more, but probably still not so much compared to others (maybe 0-2 times a week). Also, I expanded beyond berries: apples, grapes. And the very occasional watermelon or mango or papaya or pineapple. P.S. I'm not counting cucumbers or avocados (which I eat a TON of), nor tomatoes (which I eat sometimes). But these aren't usually considered "fruit" when people ask about "fruit" lol.

Most of my preparations for life after surgery were about the pre-surgery diet and the first couple of months post-op (liquids, purees, and soft foods). For the pre-surgery diet and post-op liquid diet, I purchased a bunch of samples of protein powders (different flavors and brands) because I never used protein powders before and wasn't sure what I would like. I also got ready-to-drink protein shakes, protein water, bone broth, protein soup mixes, unflavored protein powder, sugar-free popsicles, and sugar-free Jello. For the pureed stage, I bought unsweetened applesauce, sugar-free pudding, protein oatmeal, fat free refried beans, Laughing Cow cheese, and yogurt. I made some pureed black bean soup and froze it in individual portions. I bought way too much food for the pureed stage because it was only a week (actually, I stuck to purees for an extra couple of weeks before I worked up the nerve to move on to soft foods) and I was only eating a couple of ounces at a time (half of an individual pudding or applesauce). I still have quite a bit of this stuff 6 months later! I don't really do a lot of hardcore "meal prep," but since I live alone and eat tiny portions, any time I cook a regular-sized recipe, it is a lot of portions, so I freeze it in individual servings. I made a turkey meat sauce recipe the other day (https://www.panningtheglobe.com/quick-turkey-ragu/) that came out to 28 portions, which I froze in disposable 2-ounce cups. I also have a lot of 4-ounce glass containers that I use to freeze individual portions. I didn't really work out before surgery. I started after surgery, doing Leslie Sansone Walk at Home videos (available on YouTube). I started with 15-minute videos and worked my way up to 30-50 minutes per day. I try to get at least 10,000 steps per day. I do strength training with resistance bands 2-3 times per week. I also use 3-pound weights when I do the walk at home videos.

This!! I was so worried at the same point post-op because a container (small) of nonfat plain Greek yogurt, Popsicles, even mashed potatoes to a lesser extent didn't make me full. I kept reading here how people couldn't finish 3 bites of anything post-op and it scared me! I called my surgeon and he said wait until you eat regular food. And he was right.

Good morning all, My last post (about a month ago) was about hair loss, a major stall, and some female issues. A month later, and nothing has changed, except maybe getting worse. The female issues are *hopefully* being addressed at an appointment next week, though I'm not sure what will happen. I'm still stuck at 181 and have been for almost two months. At one point, I got down to 178 for a few days, but I suddenly shot back up to 184 and have been bouncing between 180-183 forever now. It's SO depressing! My hair is falling out at a rapid pace. I know this is a common side effect, but I wasn't prepared for it to be this bad. I literally now have small, nearly bald patches and the texture of existing hair is like fine straw. 😞 Not only that, but it doesn't seem my hair is growing at all. I had it colored two weeks before Christmas, and no new growth is visible. My surgeon's staff keeps telling me I need to be better about getting my protein in, and I need to stick to three meals and no snacks meals. Well, that's difficult for me. Even a tiny meal takes me forever to eat...can't tell you the last time I finished a hot - or even warm - meal. And I feel like I get far less protein in. I find I do better eating small snacks throughout the day. Snacks include mini cucumbers, raw bell peppers, string cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, a couple of slices of low-sodium lunchmeat, tuna pouches, V8 juice, Builders Bars, beef jerky, etc. I add Unjury Powder (yuck!) to just about everything. I've also tried to make sure everything is SF and low sodium. When possible, I eat lots of chicken & fish, but I'm getting super tired of those things. I've come to realize I no longer enjoy food, whatsoever. I don't miss junk food (not that I ever really ate much of that anyway), but I miss going to a restaurant and ordering a meal to enjoy with my family. I take a couple of bites and am done - such a waste. My husband is a great cook, and I miss the meals he makes...I can't finish even the smallest filet, can only have a few bites of salmon, etc. I feel terrible when he cooks a beautiful, healthy meal and I can only have a few small bites. Anyway, sorry for the long post...just having a mini pity party for myself today.

Its important to measure out your food and I honestly never felt a lot of restriction with soft foods. I did however experience the nausea and cold sweats of dumping syndrome if I was eating too much at one time, the softer thinner the food the easier it will flow through the stomach quicker and cause you issues. Just use a measuring instrument and follow the recommended guidelines for starting out. I found thicker protien oatmeals, scrambled eggs mashed up, mashed cauliflower, greek yogurt with some pureed berries in it, pureed tuna fish and chicken salad things like that helped me recognize when my tummy was nearing its full mark better than the thinner soft foods did. Now I had R&Y tho not sleeve so I may have a bit smaller area to work with but message me anytime if you have any questions or jus wanna talk to a fellow gastric patient

Pretty much every day. Raspberries and blueberries with yogurt as part of breakfast or afternoon snack. Tomatoes (depending upon whether one classifies them as a fruit or a veg...) and avocado most every day in a lunch salad. Occasionally tangerines and grapefruit in the salad instead. My overall goal is for ten servings of fruit and veg per day - which I rarely hit but do consistently get 7-8, and 5 as a bare minimum. I'm ten years out, but it's been that way for at least the past 7-8 years, and lesser amounts but a similar ratio to other foods before that.

You've lost 18 pounds in 3 weeks? That is very good and well within the range of what you should expect. Most people lose 15-25 pounds in the first month, and you are already there. Keep up the good work and be patient! Are you taking Miralax or anything else for the constipation? You definitely want to head that off ASAP. Increasing your water intake should also help. Are you not allowed to eat salsa, avocado, or tomato sauce ever, or just for a certain period of time in the beginning? There are plenty of foods you can still eat, though. You should be able to eat eggs, cottage cheese, ground meats, canned tuna or chicken (Starkist makes a variety of flavored ones), canned or boiled fruits and vegetables, hummus, beans, Laughing Cow cheese... You also still have your purees: yogurt, sugar-free pudding, unsweetened applesauce, soups, protein oatmeal, etc.

I am almost 6weeks out and still have nausea daily, sometimes all day. I am now on 8mg of anti nausea medication. I also dry heave mostly in the morning, and am eatimg a very minimal amount of food as it makes me feel over full. I have found liquid yogurt,, and cottage cheese are my best options.. and water I don't really feel like drinking or it makes me gag.Just know you aren't alone in this, some of us are just unfortunate with the side affects. I do hope you get relief soon. Sent from my SM-N986U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have not eaten rice since my surgery. It is strongly discouraged, and I’ve seen a lot of people say that it’s painful to eat post-op because it absorbs water and swells in the stomach. I eat a lot of cauliflower rice. I hate cauliflower, but magically, I don’t mind cauliflower rice! I’m too lazy to make my own, so I buy it frozen. I wouldn’t eat it plain, but with sauce and mix-ins (like meat and other veggies), it is not a bad imitation of actual rice. It’s kind of an awesome food hack because not only is it avoiding carbs, it’s also sneaking in veggies. One of my go-to meals is cauliflower rice mixed with chicken, black beans, and salsa, topped with a little shredded cheese and fat free Greek yogurt.

100g chicken, 1 oz pickles, 1 oz grapes, 2oz Greek yogurt to dip the chicken into. Leftover, 1oz of the dip.