MarcyLoo

The premade Muscle Milk Light chocolate tastes like BUTT to me...sorry. (and gives both me and my husband horrible gas) I LOVE Bariatric Advantage banana made with nonfat milk. I haven't tried the other flavors yet, but plan to buy another bag in either chocolate or strawberry soon. It's almost like drinking pudding or ice cream...lol

Congrats on the approval!!! You probably will throw up here and there, but it's usually a small amount and just from the upper stomach. It will help you learn what you can and cannot eat. And mostly it happens (to me) from the wrong food (bread mostly) or not chewing well enough...so is very avoidable. Don't anticipate throwing up to be a constant problem, in other words. The preop diet was the hardest part for me so far. But so worth it!!! I've only been banded for about 6 weeks and have lost 30 pounds from per-op diet till now. I'm noticing HUGE difference in my life from incresed energy to just being able to move better. Congrats again! Do you have a surgery date set?

In all honesty I'm not counting calories...because what I'm eating I know won't add up to more than I should be doing (1200-1400). I focus on protein first, with a goal of 60 gm a day. I personally don't believe protein keeps us fuller any longer than anythign else, that has more to do with how tight your band is and what consistency your food is (for how long it'll linger in the upper stomach). What protein DOES do, when you lower the caloric intake your body is used to, is cause your body to spare muscle mass and focus on utilizing enrgey from fat stores instead. If you're not meeting that protein requirement, the body will burn less fat and go to muscle instead. So, my goal is 4-5 ounces of protein three times a day (ground turkey, chicken, fish) and 1/2 cup veggies. I try to limit my carbs but do eat granola in my greek yogurt at least once a day and occasionally I'll indulge in a small amount of rice (1/4 or less). If I'm running short on protein I'll so Bariatric Addvantage powder in 8 oz nonfat milk (yum) or a Muscle milk Light (yuck). I've also done Jacks Links (?) beef jerkey cubes in a pinch, but I don't like their sodium content.

If you're vomiting often and having acid reflux, it sounds like you may need an unfill? It's normal to feel the urge to go poo when you eat. Putting food in your mouth triggers the entire digestive tract to start "moving." So, if there's poo far enough down to cause you to feel an urge it can be easily triggered by eating. Are you getting enough fiber & Water (64+ ounces) in your diet? Both will help with constipation. If you're not tolerating fibrous veggies, try an over the counter fiber product like benefiber or metamucil.

I work two 12-hour nights shifts a week and stay awake the entire day before my 1st shift (and if they are not back to back then both days). I eat my usual 3 meals that day, then eat around 10-11pm, 3am, and again at 6-7am before I go to bed (if I go to bed when I get home. I basically just eat every 4-6 hours when I'm staying awake. I make the meals lighter, though.

Hey all! Anyone up for sharing recipies yet? I've discovered roasted veggies and OH WOW....yummm. (I never ever thought one of my favorite foods would turn into VEGGIES!!!) I'm even getting ready to plant a vegetable garden. My 2nd fill seems to also be a good place for me right now, keeping me full for 4-6 hours. hope you are all doing great!

Yup it's just your body getting rid of IV fluids. :-)

Have you tried greek yogurt? It's about twice the Protein as regular. You can add granola and let it sit for a few hours or overnight so it's mushy. Mashed potatoes. Jello. Mashed bananas. You might try chicken and stars or chicken & rice soup too (Campbells makes both) Just FYI tuna hurts me...

something else that got me thru it was drinking fruity herbal teas with splenda. They're sweet, and gave my mouth soemhting to occupy itself.

I did THINK about cheating many time. In all honesty. I wanted to go after work the day before surgery and get an order of beef Phad Thai and eat it in the car all by myself...thought about doing it as a final meal so many times...but opted for what I wrote about instead. I was so glad I did the alternative. And, since surgery I have had Phad Thai twice now...in very small amounts. I'm only about 6 weeks out, and other than binge I went on yesterday with chocolate (darn it!!) I'm craving vegetables, yogurt, etc...no longer sweets or fast food like I did before. If I get to sit down with a side of roasted veggies or a bowl of greek yogurt and granola (2 of my staple meals there) I'm thrilled...slowly i see my preferences changing. ok, that was off topic a bit. Just know it does get easier. * hugs * The preop diet was the HARDEST part of this journey for me so far. Honestly and truly. And if you do feel a need to "cheat" try 1/4 cup of sorbet or a sugar free popcicle...

I don't feel like I cheated, although my diet was only 7 days long and included one low-cal meal a day in addition to the protein shakes. Starting day 2 I did add raw veggies with rice vinegar as snacks after ok'ing it with the surgeon, and for my meal the night before surgery instead of a Lean Cuisine type dinner I had white chicken meat, a small amount of rice, and plain broccoli (still within my daily calorie count).

I actually didn't talk to my surgeon about it, it was the fill nurse. She didn't say all women will experience this (tighness at ovulation) but said it's possible that's what happened.

The carbonation can cause your smaller stomach pouch (above the band) to stretch out. Carbonated drinks like Coke that are not diet are also high in high fructose corn syrup, which is just really bad when it comes to weight loss. Diet sodas also cause an increase in appetite if I recall correctly. Non-diet sodas made form sugar vs corn syrup are also bad because of the ntural sugar being a carbohydrate, which is not advised for the lab band diet. It doesn't mean you can never have a carbonated drink again. Just drink them in moderation (if I have one I limit it to maybe 2-3 ounces sipped slowly) and be aware that it's an indulgence you're partaking in knowingly (which is ok) HTH

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! I was on a 3-4 protein shake diet with one low cal meal a day preop diet for 7 days and lost 12 pounds. I mixed my protein powder (Bariatric Advantage bana) with nonfat milk and tolerated the taste so much better. By day 2 I was abotu to die so got permission to eat raw veggies...thise carrots, cucumber clices,a nd celery slices with rice vinegar saved me LOL. (I also would sprinkle half a pack of splenda on them witht he rice vinegar for a sweet treat).

Thanks Kim!

It's just my 2nd fill, so it's hard to say. I just had some scrambled eggs for breakfast and can for sure feel a difference. Ate less, and much much slower. But I was also told being tighter in the morning is common. I know with each fill so far I have noticed I eat smaller portions. Yesterday I ended up doing a lot of snacking, I'm ashamed to say. Life stress got the better of me. But, today is a new day and I'm determined to keep it to 3 meals & no snacks. I plan to handle stress by cleaning house instead of snacking My husband is home today due to some legal issues at work (did I mention stress?) so I've asked him to help keep me in check.

I was so giddy when I got my approved call that I swear I was about as excited as the times I found out I was pregnant!!!! CONGRATS!

I love diet snapple peach tea as a special treat! I also tret myself to up to 2 cups a day of non fat milk but I'm not a big milk person so it's not every day

Lunch went well: soup & some soft pork. And, I stayed full for 6 hours!!! I often notice my longest stretch is in the evening ... I just had greek yogurt with granola for dinner and it went ok too.

Thanks for the positive feedback for those who offered it. Ok, so I was not in any way wondering if I was TOO tight. The days preceeding and directily following ovultion I noticed I was at a GOOD tightness (not overly). I was wondering if any of the "common folk" have experienced a tighter band around ovulation. A perfectly valid question to ask others who are banded on a board. It's a question about what other "common folk" have or have not noticed. About life experience, something the surgeon is not likely to truly know about especially being a non-banded man. I kept my appointment today. I discussed my theory with the fill nurse and she said that yes, some women are sensitive and have more swelling during their menstrual cycle and I could be one who is sensitive enough to also have this during ovulation. Because I was not staying satiated for >3 hours and my portion size is just a little bigger than goal, she agreed that a small fill was indicated...so I got an additional 1/2 cc. I just ate lunch, portion size was right on and I'm hoping to see better satiety.

I have a form of Regence Blue Shield. Thru the clic I was operated at, my first 13 months post op re covered 100% both fills & unfills, and any office visits I feel I need. after that self pay is $150/fill. I'm not sure if my insurance will cover them.

* huge hug *

How are you all doing? I'm scheduled for fill #2 tomorrow but have bene debating going or not. the past couple days I've stayed full longer and hve eaten smaller portions, but I htink it may be hormone related tightness. Is it silly of me to go in and request just a small fill, half a cc or so? Today's portions have still been better, but I'm hungry after 2.5-3 hrs. (and the hormone surge is ending...the joys of ovulation)

Our Lord Christ has nothing to do with it. I asked a question that is hormone related. It has nothing to do with my weight being at a stand still. I'm happy to lose weight at a healthy, slow pace. I don't see how my getting 2 fills this soon after getting my band is "getting continuous fills." I'm at a point post-band where I am trying to get to the green zone that my surgeon wants me at. That zone including satiety & reasonable portions. Actually, my surgeon wants me in for a fill if I go 2 weeks without losing any weight, but knowing my own body and how my weight stalls according to my cycle (then resumes again) I'm not as worried about that 2 weeks without loss rule as my doctor is. I've worked very hard the past 6+ weeks, and continue to do so. My wanting to get in the green zone (and my surgeon wanting this as well) is not in any way me expecting ny more from the band that what it's purpose is, nor is it me expecting to not work hard. The clinic I go to are the ones who advised the 2-week apart fill, unless the first was adequate. I'm only questioning it because as I have ovulated I noticed it feeling tighter and giving me better satiety & portion control. Funny, because today I'm not noticing the satiety lasting as long yet portion control still seems pretty good. It just happens my hormone peak is over. Yes, I posted looking for answers or advice. I haven't seen my question answered STIIL, about ovulation related tightness.

Where on earth did that come from??? I'm not in any way shape or form expecting my band to do all the work. What I DO expect is to get to the "green zone" to utilize the band as a tool to the full extent to assist me in doing the hard work. My band is half full. I've only had one fill, and the goal is to get to a point where I am not hungry all the time so that I can comfortably do this work. Did you actually read my posts? I'm actually considering very hard right now wether or not I need a 2nd fill at this point, and if I decide to have one I even said I plan to ask for a SMALL fill. I think I also pretty clearly stated my reasons for opting to go ahead with the next fill t this point: to acheive satiety, not to make the scale move. I'm just not sure how you interpreted my posts as "I'm not losing weight so I want to have the other half filled so I lose without having to do the work"