Also sugar free popsicles were allowed so that helped. I also made pureeed split pea soup with ham which was awesome!

Your surgeon's office should have given you a guideline with stages and examples of what you can eat at each stage. A lot of doctors use the same guidelines for all WLS patients so it is entirely possible your surgeon uses the same guidelines for both bypass and sleeve patients. When I got the lap band back in 2007, I was on full liquids for 2 weeks. That means anything that you can drink with a straw or would go through a funnel - clear liquids, jello, pudding, shakes, pureed soup (fyi, you can puree chili and chunky soups), pureed cottage cheese and very loose yogurt.

I had the sleeve Dec 2015. My sleeve surgeon's guidelines are below so you can see how he defined each stage but you need to get in touch with your program and get their recommended guideline. My surgeon tends to be a little aggressive, moving his patients through the stages more quickly than others I have seen. I have heard of other folks being on liquids for over a month. I was onto stage 3 by the time I was home from the hospital. Every program is different so check with your surgeon!

STAGE 1 Day 1 post op - no food. water/ice chips
STAGE 2 Day 2 post op - water, clear liquids - broth, caffeine free tea, coffee, sugar free jello

STAGE 3 Post-Op Days 3 – 14
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Supplemental Protein or Milk Drink(s)
1-2 oz pureed (mushy) soft, high protein meals. Examples: Yogurt, Cottage Cheese, Ricotta Cheese, Tuna Fish, Eggs, Ground chicken or turkey. Can add protein powder to any food to increase protein. NO RED MEAT
64 oz. fluids daily in-between meals [Water, ice chips, sugar-free fluids, broth, de-caf coffee/tea, diet jello, sugar-free ice pops]
SUPPLEMENT DRINK (s): 20 - 30 total grams per day by protein drink (s) or 2 milks

STAGE 4 Days 14 - 30
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Supplemental Protein or Milk Drink(s):
2-3 oz regular textured high protein meals (may add beans).
Breakfast ONLY alternative: Hi-fiber cereals – see specifics below.
Can add 1-2 tablespoons cup soft, canned fruits in water or natural juices, applesauce, banana added to cottage/ricotta cheese or yogurts
Same Fluids – 64 oz daily
SUPPLEMENT DRINK (s) 20 - 30 total grams per day by protein drink (s) or 2 milks

STAGE 5 - 1 Month
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Supplemental Protein or Milk Drink(s)
3-4 oz regular textured high protein meals. Red Meat Allowed
PLUS Lettuce with low calorie dressing
Non-starchy vegetables – soft
Same fluids – 64 oz daily
SUPPLEMENT DRINK (s)
20 - 30 total grams per day by protein drink (s) or 2 milks

STAGE 6 – 6 Weeks
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Supplemental Protein or Milk Drink (s)
3- 4 oz high protein meals
PLUS
2 servings vegetables daily (½ cup cooked / 1 cup raw)
2 servings fruit daily = small whole fruit or ½ cup
Same fluids - 64 oz daily SUPPLEMENT DRINK (s)
20 - 30 total grams per day by protein drink (s) or 2 milks

FINAL STAGE 7
At 1 year or when 75% Excess Weight Loss
3- 4 oz high protein meals
PLUS
2 servings vegetables daily
2 servings fruit daily
Complex Carbohydrates ( 3 servings or less)
64 oz daily fluids
At 1 Year Protein Supplement drinks can be replaced with healthy snacks.
Snacks should be protein, plus or minus fruit, vegetable or hi-fiber carb at about 150-200 calories

PROTEIN DRINK Requirement
If Milk is chosen drink Fat-free or 1%. Can use Sugar-free Chocolate Nestle Quik
Protein or milk drinks are NOT meal replacements. They supplement the 3 eaten protein meals.

Hot and Cold Cereals allowed Stage 4
14 days post-op
Breakfast Alternative Only:
Cereals Allowed in ½ cup portions
Kasha (buckwheat)
Quaker Oats brand Oatmeal High Fiber
Quinoa
Kashi brand Hot Cereal Truly Vanilla
Kashi Go Lean (let milk soften cereal)
Cereals MUST be made with one scoop unflavored protein powder (15 grams per scoop on average) AND 4 oz skim, 1% or 2% milk
If lactose intolerant – choose lactose-free milk or take dairy-ease type supplement

When selecting milk – read food label and aim for milks with 10 gram protein per 8 oz. serving.

Protein Priority! Always eat ALL protein first before eating fruits or vegetables.
Starchy complex carbohydrates are added in at 1 year or when 75% excess weight loss is achieved. Once allowed - starchy carbohydrates are NOT to exceed 3 servings per day. This food group addition will be discussed at your 6 month or 1 year appointment.
When starchy complex carbohydrates are added to diet – they are to be consumed last - AFTER eating protein, fruits/vegetables.

VERY IMPORTANT EATING RULE
Protein FIRST
Fruits and vegetables SECOND
Starchy Carbohydrate THIRD

Unflavored protein powders are a great way to add extra protein into drinks, soups, hot foods. Make sure powder is heat stable if adding to hot foods.

Foods should be prepared using low-fat cooking techniques such as bake, steam, grill, poach, roast. Do not fry or sauté unless using PAM type spray. Protein Sources
Eggs
Yogurt
* Greek Yogurt higher protein content
Low fat Cheese (3 grams fat or less per oz.)
Cottage Cheese, Ricotta Cheese
Beans
Veal
Chicken, Duck, Turkey, Cornish Hens (remove skin)
Lean Red Meat – 95 % ground meat, sirloin, flank, filet mignon (tenderloin)
Pork (tenderloin only)
Fish
Seafood
Lamb
Liver
Turkey Sausage, Chicken Sausage
Canadian bacon
Lean Lunch Meats (3 grams fat or less per oz.)
Hot Dogs 90-95% fat free
Tofu
Textured vegetable protein and products
Chili – ground lean red meat, turkey, chicken
Salads – tuna, crab, shrimp, lobster, ham, chicken with light mayo in small amounts.
Home made broth-based soups/stews/stir-frys with mostly protein - chicken, meatballs, fish, seafood and veg and/or small carb (when allowed)

Hope this helps!