finallygettingthere

Thanks for sharing!

ok. I'm lost what is Bander's Hell? So when you get the band you still can eat what you want just in moderation?

From my understanding, "Bander's Hell" is the month or so after you get your band where some people feel no restriction from their band. They feel that they could pretty much eat anything and the band won't stop them from filling up their new 'pouch'.

It's a wee bit frustrating for some as I'm sure you can imagine.

Hope that helps.

Its so interesting to me how every doctor has us following different diets. I am on day 13 post-op and I am only consuming 3 protein shakes a day for a grand total of 330 calories a day! Are you still in a mushie food phase or eating regular foods?

I'm in the mushy phase, but they didn't put any calorie restrictions on me. I know that I was restricted to about 1000 calories before the operation, but afterwards, they told me it's all about the healing. And 330 calories a day???!!! WOW. That's amazing. One of my fat-free shakes is about 300 using unsweetened almond milk! I'm sure I'll get more restrictions when I go for my first fill, July 8. Good luck to you!

Stay strong, I read an ariticle on a physicians web site that said, "Your band is not worth a piece of pizza." I wish I had read it before I ate 2 small pieces of thin and crispy pizza with grilled veggies, cheese and chicken from dominos. It sat in my stomach like a brick for hours. Like you I love, love, love pizza. I think I miss it more than anything, I know it is a food group they left off of the pyramid. I like Judy

s idea and think I may try it.

I was going through some of the recipes on this site, and there are a couple of really good sounding pizza recipes. I'm definitely going to have to try them out. I ended up getting some Veggie Pepperoni and reduced fat cheese to snack on for dinner and that satiated my pizza desire.

I had surgery on Dec 31st and have not had any bread or pizza dough and don't miss it a bit because my clothes fit better and the numbers are going down. When I am hungry for pizza I use turkey sauage, pizza sauce, put it hot in a deep dish pie plate and put cheese over the top and bake. Pizza with no bread. Even my husband will eat it and loves it. Good Luck with your Friday pizza days,

Judy

That's an awesome recipe idea. Thanks!

<br>Just as an FYI, in the majority of the literature you read about lap band patients, they really do not expect us to loss in the first 4 to 6 weeks post op. Our bodies are healing and the majority of us have not had any fluid in our bands and we really have no restriction and can almost eat about anything. You will still fill hungry until you have your first fill, there are a few patients that fell restrictions immediately after surgery but they are rare. Don't expect to much the first month and don;t become a slave to your scale, if you stay true to the foods they have you eat you will lose, maybe more inches in the beginning than pounds but it will come off. I think the hardest thing for me to learn was patience and I work on this daily. And believe me some days it is harder than others. I have lost 64 lbs in about 7 months and my MD told me to expect the additional 30 lbs to come off slow. Most lap band patients lose about 40 to 50% of their weight in the first year, some lose more but none of us are the same. The band can be very fickle, and what we can eat one day may not go down the next day. You will do great, just make healthy choices and remember to get all your protein daily. It takes our digestive tract longer to digest protein so it stays with us longer helping to curb that hunger feeling. One day you will be able to eat the 3 meals a day and be satisfied without snacks between meals. I never believed it would happen but it does. The discomfort you feel when bending over is your port, that also gets better with time and now I don't even notice mine is there. Good luck with your journey and the best advice I can give you is to educate yourself about the band and the foods you should be eating. If you listen to your band once filled and not your head <img src="http://cdn.lapbandtalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""> you will do great!<br>

<br>LovetheNewMe..I love what you said at the end. Listen to your band when full and not your head. Yep, I have learned NOT to take just one more bite. Great comment.<br>

Judy<br>

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">Thanks for the comments! I so totally understand that knowledge is

power. <o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">One reason I keep buying books and asking my doctor questions. But

it’s funny, I’ve also found that if you ask ten people a question, you’ll get

ten different answers. That not only applies here, but to each of our doctors.

So often I’ve seen conflicting information – “I didn’t have to have a liquid

diet”, “I did”, “I can eat anything I want in moderation, that’s what my doctor

said.”, “I can’t have fruit, breads, rice or cereal” etc. So, yes, you just

have to do your own research, take everything in with a grain of salt, but most

importantly, know yourself (and your band) </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black;mso-char-type:

symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings"><span style="mso-char-type:symbol;

mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings">J</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">I didn’t get banded for just the end result. While it’s going to

be nice to be in shape and healthy, but it’s also for the journey, for that’s

where we gain the wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

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color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">I totally absorb everything that everyone says on this forum, as

well as my own research, and what my doctor says, and am enjoying the journey

and especially the new experiences that it brings – seemingly every day!<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">Thanks again for your input, I wish you the best of luck, and

welcome all<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>your wisdom from your

experiences to help me grow in this journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;

font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";

color:black">Onto the blog….<o:p></o:p></span></p>

I'll think I'll try the veggie buffalo wings. Never ever heard of them. I'm not to far from trader joes bt will try them. Good luck on weight loss journey.

Thanks! You too! After looking at your great before/after pictures, I'm really looking forward to my first fill. The 'wings' are: Lightlife Smart Wings Buffalo Veggie Protein Wings. Let me know how you like them.

The Veggie Chili from Boca is Delicious! super soft but flavorful!

Its a good brand as well as the Garden burger brand

Trader Joes has a good variety as well as whole foods

if those are close to you.

Thanks, I'll try Boca! I already have gone to Trader Joes. Good stuff. I really enjoyed the veggie buffalo wings.

<div>

<br>Don't worry, your body will definitely remind you when you're eating too fast, or not chewing enough! It keeps you humble! <img src="http://cdn.lapbandtalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br>

<br>

I think you will feel more comfortable with your eating once you start getting your fills and feeling some restriction, I know I did. I was worried about eating too much and sabotaging myself before that.. but as it turns out, I wouldn't have needed to. I lost weight anyway. <br>

<br>

Hang in there! Congrats on joining bandland!<br>

Keep up the good work!

I didn't feel any restriction until my third fill. My band is a 14cc band. I have 5cc's in it.

By restriction, I mean things get stuck. I always have to remember to chew my food.

I can still eat a lot if I wanted too, I have no foods that I am unable to eat.

And I am still waiting to hit that elusive green zone....whatever that is. I would like to have that full feeling.

Good Luck and i'm sure you are waiting for that next stage!

Missy

Thanks!

Funny, I didn't read about the mysterious 'hunger' part between surgery and my first fill! I'm glad I know, and I'm glad I'm not the only one!

And again, thanks for your support.

Pj

Thanks for the Blog, trying to get all the info I can before I make a final decision.

I'll try to keep up with the blog. In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions you have. I too was very reluctant to get the band. I held off for quite a while, and even now, only my wife knows, as I try to hide it from my family and friends for fear of their disappointment. Like I could lose weight all on my own and keep it off. I now know that this was the best decision for me for life. I needed a tool to assist me for life. Good luck in your research, and quest.

Pj