So I know im not supposed to have have a steak for like 16 weeks...and I am cool with that.  But when do you typically get to add meats like lean ground chuck, pork loins, ham, sausage, ect??  while I love chicken and fish I an running out of ways to cook them......

16 weeks? I was allowed to eat steak at 6 weeks.

Wow!!!  I was told 16 but other sleevers.  Well I guess I will find out more when I go back to the doctor on the 6th of January.  

I'm like u my doc waits a long while to introduce Steaks. I am on soft/mushy foods from 4 weeks till 8 weeks. Don't try to move to fast my doc doesn't want me to compromise my sleeve by starting those items and more items to early. He is always telling me not to break my sleeve. Which means i need to follow his plan and people that end up breaking their sleeves more than likely didnt follow the plan and started introducing things to early. So I follow his guidelines to the tee. He said gulping right now can break my sleeve so I continue to sip sip sip. My surgery was 11/29/2011. The doc states that my sleeve is still healing and it takes about two months before the swelling to go down and the sleeve starts to heal. Good luck I hope u can find other way to make things that is under your dr orders and that way you don't compromise the breaking of your sleeve.

What exactly do you mean by "break" your sleeve? Cause a leak?

Yes break it to cause it to leak. Sorry should of been more clear but that's what he always says.

Yes shwagg that's what I mean. I'm so use to saying break the sleeve because that's what my surgeon is always saying. Ultimately if the sleeve breaks or tears you have a leak.

Oh. I just wasn't sure if it meant something about damaging nerves in it and causing long term damage or something. Not to say a leak isn't a huge deal but I was thinking you meant something else. Just clarifying. :)

My surgeon said it takes a while for a lot of folks to tolerate beef, but I was not one of those people nor did he restrict it from me past my initial 4 weeks. Lean steak is one of my staples.

That is what I am hoping for.  I have had no issues swallowing any foods or drinking any liquids.

I was cleared for all meats at 4 weeks out and have had NO problem with any of them.
GL

Hey girl, 
   I know I was pretty much cleared to eat any meats after 4 weeks but started with fish first and then chicken and then moved on to other meats.  I know your around a month today so I would definitely start light with a flaked fish or tuna or chicken salad because chicken to me is still the hardest meat to digest.  I usually stick to dark meat because it's juicier.  All the other meats are basically decided upon how your body reacts to them.  Try them all one at a time and if you have any issues then move on to the next, if you have an issue then don't try that one for a week or two.  Everyone's tummy is different so it's kind of a crap shoot.  I love to go to the butcher block and they have great filets, chicken, beef and pork kabobs. They also have pork chops and sausage. They also sell yummy shrimp and chicken salad and my favorite thing from there is their crabmeat au gratin, it will make ya wanna slap ya mamma, lol! Just remember to take it easy at first with no heavy meat and remember to just chew them well before you swallow and if you ever have any questions, you know you can send me a message on fb.

I can have any meats after 1 month, myself.

but... they have to be lean meats, right?  No steak or sauage... two reasons.  1)  If it's not lean, you're replacing protein with fat.  2) Non-lean cuts are higher in calories because of the fat as well.

I do a lot with lean beef, chicken, pork, turkey, fish...

My plan was 30 days out, and I started with soft fish.. but rare steak was soon after and very well tolerated.. I don'****ch fat too much, but prefer to not indulge in sausages, and stuff like salami as the amount of protein for the volume that I can eat is lower than it is for a nice tenderloin! Since I need to meet my protein requirements, fatty stuff like that is a treat rather than an everyday thing. Either way, check with your Dr to make sure, test the waters carefully when you do progress your diet.. some have issues with pork, others chicken.. thankfully I have had nothing that didn't agree. 

 My plan for red meat was also allowed about 4 months post op that included steaks, ground beef, etc. Prior to that, you could do any other meat tolerated....

Personally, I ate turkey bacon, deli turkey meat, chicken, and turkey meatballs. I don't like pork or seafood, so I didn't do that...although I did tuna salad for awhile.

Now, chicken was never that great for me, and beef sits better....so I now do a lot of turkey and beef. Ground beef is the easiest...but I love steaks, I did have to change the way I eat them...I had to switch to medium instead of medium well....if they are too cooked, it is too difficult to eat. Also I stick to very good quality tender filet mignon...

Remember, all meats are better tolerated with some gravy or something saucy to make it very moist.

P.S. I didn't eat meats (except for tuna salad) at all until about 3 months out....I stayed on liquids and soft foods longer than required. No need to ru**** or take chances, and you can get protein from eggs and protein shakes, etc. Even now I do a lot of soft foods...they just sit the best and allow me to eat a good portion.

I was on "soft" foods, whi*****luded ground beef, at 3 weeks.  By six weeks out, I was cleared for regular food and started very cautiously adding them back into my diet.  But everyone has a different plan, so wait to talk to your doc about when he advances you to the next level.

And remember that just 'cause you're officially "cleared" for the next level, your sleeve may not get the news for awhile!  Try new foods in small quantities and preferably at home until you're sure you'll tolerate it.

I have been fortunate and haven't had anything disagree with me, but I was very, very careful every time I was trying something for the first time.

Thanks for all of your replies.   At my 2 week checkup I was given a new food list for week 3 whi*****luded...
Fish
Chicken
Crabmeat
Eggs
Cottage Cheese
Greek Yogurt
soft veggies
whole wheat crackers (after week 4)

I have done well with all of this so i guess its just a waiting game now to see what the Dr says about adding too it. 

Treen did my surgery also (10/6/11) and I ate pretty much all of the different meats (lean of course) after about 6 weeks with their blessings. I had no problems with small amounts of steak chewed really well. It will fill you up quickly so you have to eat it super slow to know your limit and not overdo it.

Good luck! 

Sabrina

I've had jerky and ground beef so far with no issues just take your time and CHEW

I've been on food network looking up recipes for fish , chicken, and eggs you can adjust to make low cal/low fat alot of recipes you can use yogurt instead of mayo or half amount, chicken breast stuffed with crab meat is my favorite dish.(an ex used to make it)