FLORIDAYS

After a fill its liquids for the rest of the day then 1 more day of liquids and 1 day of mushies.... It really irks me that your doctor didnt clue you in!

15 lbs is awesome! Thats 3.5 lbs per week!!!! Everyone is different and I think alot has to do with the amount you have to lose.... currently I am averaging 2 lbs per week which my Dr is thrilled with.... I am of course thinking its way to slow but I am learing patience! I had a 2 week pre-op diet where I lost 22 then since surgery I am down 44 lbs (3 months). I am just now starting to excercise... walking is it so far. During the first month I was on liquids for 2 weeks then mushies for 1. It was hard to get to 1000 calories to be honest! I have no special tricks.... other than just make sure to eat no more than 1000 calories per day.... and follow my Dr's instructions to the letter. I use a free AP on my phone to track every morsal I put in my mouth!!! Including ketsup, salad dressing etc! I am eating healthy and staying away from fried food and fast food. I dont care what any one tells you....Its sheer will power until you have a fill that gives you some decent restriction so don't get too disappointed. I am there now having had my 2nd fill last week. I am amazed at the difference a 1/2 a cc makes! Its hard to push goodies, comfort foods and sweets away but I am doing it. Thats the will power part. Now with my latest fill even though head still wants me to overeat...... the band tells me I can't anymore.

I was scheduled for my first fill 4 weeks after surgery and didnt get one. My Dr said I was doing great.... and to keep doing what I was doing. My weight loss was excellent but I thought I was hungry because I had the growls too! He said to avoid snacking because it premotes the grazing mentality and see if I could get a few more weeks without the fill. I made it to 7 weeks post op and I got my first fill (which doesnt hurt btw) and was thinking I would notice a huge difference. In all honesty.... I didnt.... other than I was more satisfied after the same meal I had been eating of 4 oz Protein, 1/2 cup veggies and 1/4 starch. Today I went for my 3 month post op visit. I have lost 67 lbs and had a very small fill even though I am losing 2-3 lbs per week because lately I seem to be wanting and can eat more food than the amount I should have. Everyone is different but just make sure you arent hungry in your head... its your wort enemy.

Mine was 2 weeks of Optifast which is a protien shake povided by the doctor. Each shake is 160 and I was allowed 5 per day. It wasnt bad and I could have sugar free popsicles and low sodium broth if I was still hungry. I lost 22 lbs.

I am only 3 months post op and have been able to eat anything I wanted so far so will power has played a HUGE roll in my journey. This morning I had my 2nd fill... because I felt like I needed more help to get fuller a little faster so my experience may change with bread and pasta. Everyone is different. For me the key has been to chew everything up into puree form before I swallow. I only had one time I didnt do it with a piece of fish I was eating..... it just basically sprung back up and I spit it out and started again.

I am on month 3 so I am very new to the lifestyle change. But already I am seeing changes in my habits obviously for the better since my weight is down 67 lbs and my BMI has dropped nicely. Since going off mushies and eating regular food starting with week 4... I eat less than I did obviously but basically I count calories. I track everything I eat...including ketsup and my calclium chews and eat as close as I can to 1000 calories per day. That number works for me but you should check with your doctor to see what your number is. I use an app on my phone called calorie counter and live by it! I stay away from fried foods and carbonation and make sure I drink lots of Water. I dont get too carried away with the nutrition part other than to eat healthly eating typically 4 oz of Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup of starch at every meal. I dont track carbs as many do but I know its a popular idea. I may start doing that in the future but for now 1000 calories in a well balanced diet eaten 3 x per day is working fine.

Diet coke is by far the hardest thing I have had to do with out. I miss it more than I can express. Its a bit unsettling how much! LOL

I am a self pay and my Dr is 24/7 at no extra cost. Same with the hospital dieticitian. I got 3 months of free fills, free support groups forever and 3 free visits with the hospital personal trainer. However the point is that I knew everything up front. If you didnt... I would calmly speak to the office manager and let her know you were not prepared for this extra cost and work out a payment schedule. I am sure they will be accomidating.

I had my 2nd fill today Tuesday) and he reminded me... liquids today and tomorrow, mushies on thursday and regular food on friday. He said if I cannot eat regular food by afternoon on friday I need to call him. You may need to call your medical office. It sounds like you may have an over-fill issuse

As much as my doctor doesnt like me to think in a dieting mode... I needed to do that the first 4-5 weeks to see solid results and get in the mindset that this band will not prevent me from putting the pizza or M & M's in my mouth. Only sheer willpower wil do that. That said... the first 2 months I ate a strict 1000 calories per day of healthy food and was in the dieting zone. Fast forward to today... 3 months post up and I have seen great results and while i am still in the "zone"... I know that I can make healthy choices which isnt only cottage cheese and tuna fish. And I am still losing weight every single week!! Everyone cheats... or expands their choices at one time or another. Dont dwell on it.... just pick up where you left off and continue the journey. If pizza is a problem for you... dont bring it into the house. Your daughter will understand if you explain that its just too hard for you to have it around right now. She wants you healthy as much as you do! Best of luck! and remember... nothing tastes as good as thin looks!

I was on Optifast for 2 weeks before surgery. I didnt cheat or eat anything solid. It was very hard but rewarding when I stepped on the scale the morning of surgery and lost 22 lbs! Its terrific training for the 2-3 weeks of liquid post op! You can do it!

I have no problem with salad but like others mentioned I can eat more of it then other foods so need to watch the "extras".... however my new favorite thing is lettuce, thick salsa with 1/8 cup fat free cheddar. Almost tastes like a taco salad but has so few calories.. Yummmmm!

When I started this journey 3 months ago I was a 44c with back fat. While I am no where near the end of my journey.... Last week I grabbed an old bra which is a 38 B and it fits perfectly. I am down 58 lbs.

I struggle with the no drinking at mealtimes issue too. Depending on what I am eating I will sip Water if necessary. My Dr prefers if I dont, but he said as long as I do not overeat and keep on losing he won't beat me up over it. I still do miss my Diet Coke. 10 weeks and you would think it the craving would pass.... its hasnt. My hubby even poured one over the weekend and left it to go flat. I had it 5 hours later.... took 3 sips and dumped it..... it was horrible!

I honestly didnt cheat once during my 2 week pre op Protein shake diet. Hence I lost 22 lbs. I was too scared to cheat as my Doc said if I didnt have enough of a loss he wouldnt do the surgery. The Pre Op diet helps in many ways but to him it tells I am committed to the lifestyle change and willing to follow his orders. I started that diet the day before Thanksgiving. I am down 57 lbs! I cheated the first time earlier in the week. I had 2 bites of my birthday cake and a cocktail..... Both were delicious and I didnt gain a thing. Had I overindulged it may have been a different story!

2236 a day... I would think they are out of their mind!

I made the decision to be banded not just to lose weight but to finally be able to keep it off. My Dr requires a 2 week pre op liquid diet to reduce belly fat, shrink the stomach and liver and to show his patients that the weight WILL come off if you only eat 800 calories per day! My liquid diet started the day before Thanksgiving... So the weekend before, my hubby and I took a long weekend getaway to our favorite beach town and feasted on seafood for lunch, big leisurely weekend breakfasts and steaks, burgers, wings and fries for dinner! We drank fruity drinks and rum laden treats! All of my favs jammed into 3 days! We had a ball and by Monday I was ready to get my head ready for the Wednesday liquid shakes which would become my friends for 2 weeks while everyone else was eating Thanksgiving dinner and leftovers for a week! Somehow I didnt gain but one pound on my weekend of culinary delights and I can tell you now...if I would have done it for a week or a month... I would be SO cursing myself right now because I would have even more weight to lose than I still do. So ... the moral to the story... have fun, enjoy but don't go overboard... you will regreat it in a few months! If you have decided to be banded... why not start cutting back some now so you will reach your goal faster?

I forgot to mention..... I know many people are whey Protein advocates and if it works for you thats great. My Dr isnt. He says unless I am working out regularily in a gym to build muscle I dont need it and the calories are better used on fish, beef and other natural protein sources. You may want to ask him about your situation...

I have only had one fill so I am no expert.... because I am really looking forward to my second fill next week!!! I was banded on 12/9/10 so I am 2 months post op and according to my Dr I am supposed to be eating the following for each meal.... 3-5 oz of Protein, 1/4c starch and 1/2 c veggies..... and thats it. What you are listing seems to be more food than that. Are you measuring portions and journaling every thing you eat? Just thinking you may be eating too much and even though its healthy its bumping up your calories. Just a thought... Best of luck to you!

In reading everyone's posts I see that some people count fats, others carbs, some do weight watchers points and of course the old stand by.... counting calories. And then there are others who just eat a certain number of servings of protein, dairy, grain, fat and veggies... Like anything else I imagine its just whatever works best for you, but I am curious to see what the majority of us do. For those of you with large losses...have you mixed it up? I have been doing a combination of calories and low fats while watching sodium and protein intake but mostly counting calories since I know if I burn more than I take in I will lose weight! So far I have been successful... but I am just starting my journey so can't really say I have any thing I am married to. Thanks for your input.

Isnt it wonderful that we have choices in life? The word would be so dull if everyone did the same thing. Best of luck to you.

The database is pretty extensive. For example if you look up whole wheat bread you can select from generic bread... or 27 different store brands. It also lets you adjust the serving sizes on many items which is very cool. If you want to track your exercise you can also do that too.

Loved the story.... I work in an office with 15 mostly 20-30 somethings who live on junk it seems so there is ALWAYS something around. Cookies, birthday cake, donuts, candy.... you name it and its on the counter in the community kitchen. Every day I move the various goodies out of the way to get to the hot Water to make tea, the cold water to mix with Crystal Light and of course I have to make my way around it to get my lunch out of the fridge. Its gotten so now I just dont even pay attention to it.... remember Nothing tastes as good as SLIM is gonna feel!

For 3 months after surgery fills are free. As many as I need. After that I have to go monthly for the first year.... Office visit is $25. If I need a fill its $50.

wow. I have a Droid and use the Calorie Counter Ap. Its free and you can synch with fatsecret.com Its the hadiest ap EVER!!!! It has regular foods, a bar code scanner if you find a food not on the ap (I have found only 1 in 7 weeks) and restaurant foods ....Perfect example... I had my first fill last week and was on liquids. We met my in-laws for lunch @ Applebees. I checked my calorie counter... looked up chicken noodle Soup from Applebees and just like that had all the info I needed! (160 calories) I love it!