RedheadGirl

I don't have Fluid in my band, I do know that. I'm unable to eat veggies and the only form of Protein I can eat right now is the powder or shakes which I am getting today. My food choices for this week are broth, creamy Soups, oatmeal, cream of wheat, skim milk, low-fat yogurt, whipped runny Beans (which I thought was the closest to protein) and fruit smoothies with no chunks..oh and Jello or popsicles.

I agree, but I also think you need to modify your choices of food. You are heavy into the carbs. Try to stick to Protein, and vegies and stay away for all those carbs. My Doc says no potatoes, bread or rice ever. This is a time for healing and you probably don't have any Fluid in your band. My Doc slightly filled my band during surgery but every Doc does it differently. Now is the time to learn to modify your choices and your portions. My Doc says ONLY 3 meals a day. It's hard but I try to stick to that rule. Like everyone says here the band is only a tool, we are responsible for how we choose to use it.

PS: I was on liquids for 2 weeks post op and mushies for 1 week. Check your Docs protocol to make sure you aren't progressing too fast.

I was banded in Mexico so it's not easy to get ahold of my surgeon to ask questions. That is the downside of paying out of pocket and doing it for a low price. I do have my paperwork and on week two, starting at day 7 it listed that I can have blended creamy Soups, oatmeal, yogurt, etc... everything I ate yesterday was on my plan for week 2. I added Water to everything to make it all runny so it was very soupy consistency. After reading over my papers again it says that my band is made to hold about 1/2 cup of food. So I'm seeing right away that I need to make sure that I take in 1/2 cup at first and measure. I'm using a little baby bowl that is less than 1/4 of a cup big and I haven't measured anything so when I say I had 1 cup it's a guess. I did end up getting full or satisfied last night. The only form of Protein it says to add on this week is the Protein supplements which I have yet to go buy... =/ Today though!!!! YAY! All the other food choices to "eat" or slurp are all carby foods. I can't have eggs, or cottage cheese etc... yet. So I hope that explains atleast my food choices and why I am having the ones I am. The potato Soup is runny not smooth like mashed potatoes even. Infact during week 3 it says I can try and have baked potatos with no skin, rice, macaroni, noodles, rice cereals etc... Strange I thought.

Thankyou for all the posts and information.

Redhead Girl,

You probably don't have any Fluid in your band yet and won't have any restriction or get that "full" feeling....

I was banded June 20 and my doc leaves the band empty until my first post-op visit, which is July 18. Between now and then, I am in Bandster Hell.....where it will seem like I can eat anything and everything without problems and won't feel full....sounds like you are in the same place I am right now.

My doc's instructions were to make sure to weigh everything and only take a meal that is a total of 4 oz. right now....begin to take tiny bits and chew chew chew!!! I got up yesterday and drank 2 cups of Water and then about an hour later had scrambled eggs for breakfast and ate it on a small plate and made myself wait 1 minute between bites and chew like crazy, and by the end of the eggs, I wasn't hungry for more!! Then after an hour, I drank another 1-2 cups Water. Now, I WANTED to eat Snacks and crap in between, but didn't!! My mind was playing tricks on me....I wasn't hungry but my brain told me I needed to eat.

I had to force myself to drink water each time I THOUGHT I was hungry. Are you drinking enough fluids? Try to drink as much water as possible to help fight off hunger. I also drink Decaf iced tea sweetened with sugar substitute, or crystal light if I'm craving something sweet....

Once you have proper restriction, you will be able to eat a lot less, but until then, you will seem like the bottomless pit!! I know I feel that way!! Do you still have your post-op diet paperwork? I still have mine both from the doctor and nutritionist and am trying to follow that as closely as possible to help my stomach heal. If you'd like to see what's on my plan I'd be happy to email you a copy to help you get on track. (message me here or send me an email, kittyforet@yahoo.com) That being said, I am NOT perfect!! I've made mistakes and probably do stuff wrong, but I am a work in progress and learning all of this takes baby steps!!

I too get caught up in that "but why can everyone else stop eating at a few bites?" mentality but I have to remember that they have SOME fill already while I have none....and I don't want to harm my recovery at the expense of following everyone else, even though it IS tempting!! Plus I paid cash for this little sucker in my stomach and I don't really want to see that go to waste!!! I too have slipped and eat more than I should AND things I know are no-no's, just to try it, just to be defiant and prove I'm in charge, but it didn't help me one bit!!

Once you get your Protein, if you buy the powder, you can always start adding that to your food/drinks and get it in that way....I bought unflavored and start adding about 1/4-1/2 scoop into my food (oatmeal, applesauce, soup) or into my drinks (wal-mart brand of strawberry banana light fruit and vegetable drink tastes pretty good, and you can't taste the Protein powder in it!). If you like Carnation Instant Breakfast, you can drink that and add powdered skim milk to it to boost the protein content without buying protein powder; you can also add protein powder to CIB if you wanted. What I do to make sure I get enough is to set aside 1 scoop per day and make sure I either make it into a protein drink or add a little protein to everything that enters my mouth so that by the end of the day, the scoop is all gone. That ensures that I get at least 20 grams with that one scoop. Sometimes trying to get all your protein in is kinda hard, but start small and it will get easier!

So, starting today, join me in trying to eat the right things, in the right amounts, knowing one day we WILL be eating smaller portions!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!

kristi

Redhead Girl,

You probably don't have any Fluid in your band yet and won't have any restriction or get that "full" feeling....

I was banded June 20 and my doc leaves the band empty until my first post-op visit, which is July 18. Between now and then, I am in Bandster Hell.....where it will seem like I can eat anything and everything without problems and won't feel full....sounds like you are in the same place I am right now.

My doc's instructions were to make sure to weigh everything and only take a meal that is a total of 4 oz. right now....begin to take tiny bits and chew chew chew!!! I got up yesterday and drank 2 cups of Water and then about an hour later had scrambled eggs for breakfast and ate it on a small plate and made myself wait 1 minute between bites and chew like crazy, and by the end of the eggs, I wasn't hungry for more!! Then after an hour, I drank another 1-2 cups Water. Now, I WANTED to eat Snacks and crap in between, but didn't!! My mind was playing tricks on me....I wasn't hungry but my brain told me I needed to eat.

I had to force myself to drink water each time I THOUGHT I was hungry. Are you drinking enough fluids? Try to drink as much water as possible to help fight off hunger. I also drink Decaf iced tea sweetened with sugar substitute, or crystal light if I'm craving something sweet....

Once you have proper restriction, you will be able to eat a lot less, but until then, you will seem like the bottomless pit!! I know I feel that way!! Do you still have your post-op diet paperwork? I still have mine both from the doctor and nutritionist and am trying to follow that as closely as possible to help my stomach heal. If you'd like to see what's on my plan I'd be happy to email you a copy to help you get on track. (message me here or send me an email, kittyforet@yahoo.com) That being said, I am NOT perfect!! I've made mistakes and probably do stuff wrong, but I am a work in progress and learning all of this takes baby steps!!

I too get caught up in that "but why can everyone else stop eating at a few bites?" mentality but I have to remember that they have SOME fill already while I have none....and I don't want to harm my recovery at the expense of following everyone else, even though it IS tempting!! Plus I paid cash for this little sucker in my stomach and I don't really want to see that go to waste!!! I too have slipped and eat more than I should AND things I know are no-no's, just to try it, just to be defiant and prove I'm in charge, but it didn't help me one bit!!

Once you get your Protein, if you buy the powder, you can always start adding that to your food/drinks and get it in that way....I bought unflavored and start adding about 1/4-1/2 scoop into my food (oatmeal, applesauce, soup) or into my drinks (wal-mart brand of strawberry banana light fruit and vegetable drink tastes pretty good, and you can't taste the Protein powder in it!). If you like Carnation Instant Breakfast, you can drink that and add powdered skim milk to it to boost the protein content without buying protein powder; you can also add protein powder to CIB if you wanted. What I do to make sure I get enough is to set aside 1 scoop per day and make sure I either make it into a Protein Drink or add a little protein to everything that enters my mouth so that by the end of the day, the scoop is all gone. That ensures that I get at least 20 grams with that one scoop. Sometimes trying to get all your protein in is kinda hard, but start small and it will get easier!

So, starting today, join me in trying to eat the right things, in the right amounts, knowing one day we WILL be eating smaller portions!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!

kristi

I posted earlier about my food yesterday and now I feel like I ate even more today. Tonight I kept waiting for that "full" feeling and I was surprised at how much I ate. For being only ONE week out, I wonder if I'm doing alright?

Today I had 1 cup of blended potato Soup, then about 1/2 cup of refriend Beans whipped up with a little sourcream and a pinch of cheese, 1/4 cup of yogurt, and another 1 cup of blended potato Soup. Then about a tsp. of Peanut Butter and a couple bites of runny oatmeal. About 3 bites. Why am I seeming to being able to get down so much? I'm not feeling sick from being overly full. I know I need more Protein, and need to add in Protein drinks. I need to get them tomorrow when I have a ride. (I had to have an incision instead of doing my surgery laproscopic so I can't drive yet). When I read that people are only eating a couple bites or 1/4 cup I feel like something is wrong with me since I can get in anywhere from 1/2 to 1 cup...esp. if it's soup. Just feeling a little down that I'm over doing something.

I am so trying this tomorrow! Whipped refried Beans with a pinch of cheese and a little sauce. Mmmmmmm

I only put a pinch of cheese for the taste and it melts right in.

I LOVE your food lists. I've been wanting Beans... you do ok with cheese? Do you melt the cheese? Sounds SOOO good.

Sounds just about right.

Im on creamy foods, and today this is what I had.

Breakfast- packet of cream of wheat

Lunch- 1/3 cup of refried Beans whipped with a pinch of cheese and picante sauce.

Dinner- I plan to have 1/3 cup black bean puree with some mashed avocado on the side

No Snacks. I eat my little meals slowly and I do get full. I'm so glad to be off the liquids!

SO THANKFUL for all YOU GUYS! I had my surgery in Mexico so it's not like I can just easily call to ask questions. This forum is awesome! I did have to do clear fluids for a week....SIGH! I ended one day early though, as I was so weak and hungry. Starting Tuesday in one more week I get to add in pureed foods like blended meat (I don't know what that would be but this is what my sheet says), cottage cheese, more yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes... Man does all that sound awesome! This week from clear fluids to yogurt, skim milk, creamy Soups, cream of wheat, oatmeal and fruit smoothies with no chunks. It's so strange how I appreciate food so much more now. Oh and Protein drinks start today. I need to go out and find a HIGH Protein One. The ones I have only have 13 g. of Protein and that is with 2 scoops. I'd be drinking all day on those to get the high protein I need. Any suggestions on a good tasting high protein one?

I had surgery 8 days ago.

My Dr ordered clears for 2 days, then full liquid for 2 weeks. I have to get in 60-80 g protein, and min. 64 oz Fluid (total including shakes)

I don't think what you had was that much. I have more than that,,,lol

I start every day with a 25 g protein shake, lunch is usually 4 oz ff milk and 4 oz Greek ff Yogart ( 12 g protein) a glass of ff milk with a some Protein Powder later (approx 15 g), then either strained ff cream of chicken or Tomato Soup with 4 oz ff milk (8 g protein) = 60 g protein,,

I sip diet green tea and crystal light, making sure to reach my liquid intake.

I change this around here and there,,,but that's my basic daily intake..AND it never exceeds 600 calories a day...I don't have to count them,,,I do it out of curiousity.,,

You had a whole week of clears? I don't think I could have handled that..I need the protein to feel satisfied..What's your next step? I start puree 2 wks after surgery (this coming Monday)! can't wait (never thought I'd say that! lol)

Good luck!

I switched from clear fluids to more "full" liquids yesterday and my food intake yesterday was:

1/4-1/2 cup of yogurt

1 strained campells Soup at hand ( I had it at two seperate times, I think about a cups worth)

1/2 cup of beef broth

1 instant packet of cream of wheat

Is this normal? I was expecting to not get that much food in? Today I just blended some baked potato Soup and added some ff milk to it and I had about 3/4 of a cup. I feel "full" or satisfied right now but again just surprised I'm getting that down.

How much are you guys intaking or did you intake just 7 days post op?

So tonight I decided to chew and spit a piece of bread. It's been a month since I've had any type of bread and it felt so good to just chew it and feel the texture. Anyone else ever chew and spit?

I'm having the opposite problem, I keep burping!

I can't burp,I can feel the bubble there but it won't come out! And when it does its like a hiccup burp that hurts. Any ideas?

I wondered the same thing! And if I'm only getting in a tiny tiny amount of food right now shouldn't I try for the 50 calorie Jello rather than the 5 or 10 calorie sugar free one? I just got popsicles tonight and I didn't get sugar free. I figure I'm not eating really anything anyway, it can't hurt. Maybe my mentality is wrong with this but the only "food" I got in today were the popsicles. I'm still on clear fluids and on day 5 post op.

I only know that sugar can trigger your appetite for more sugar and they are considered empty calories

None of my pills come in liquid or chewable form. I'm going to try taking some tomorrow without crushing. My Dr. went over my med list and changed my meds before my surgery to be able to crush them. However, crushing is honestly making me ILL! After today I'm almost ready to give up taking my anti-depressents and my BP meds but I do need them...soooo I will cut them or swallow them starting tomorrow. Anyone who can do crushing of many meds a day with no problem I give you props! It is SO nasty! I'm glad to hear from all of you on what you did or your advice. I'm so glad I am not alone with all this.

I changed all my meds to liquid or dissolvable tablets.

All I have to say is THANK GOODNESS for this website and hearing from others who are going through this or have gone through this! It makes me feel so NOT alone in it all. I'm so excited to move pass all these hard phases and experience my band life. Today, I only got down about 25 oz of Water and just 3 of my meds and I had 3 popsicles. One more day of clear fluids and I'm on more liquids. I have felt so sick today, the crushed pills are horrible and I'm thinking of trying to just cut them into small pieces and swollow them that way tomorrow. I was told by a nurse to wait 4 weeks but honestly it is tearing my stomach apart and I get full on the liquid I'm taking it to just get them down! I think it's so strange how I feel "full" but I'm hungry. I can't take in anymore liquid but my stomach feels empty and wants food. Oh the things to get used too....

I can't have Protein drinks yet... Just Clear Liquids. Second week I get to add Protein Drinks and creamy Soups, and I can't wait!

:mellow:Simply put, liquid in liquid out? Pain meds, if you are taking any, will upset the tummy without food. You aren't eating yet and that might be the cause. Keep sipping your Water and whatever other fluids your doc told you and it should settle down. Most of the Protein drinks have milk in them and milk is like a whole food.< /p>

I'm day 4 post-op and I suddenly have a bad upset stomach. I feel like all the liquids is going in and back out... TMI sorry but I'm wondering if anyone else has had trouble with an upset stomach right after surgery.

My week one diet is only Clear liquids, broth, Jello, Water, tea, apple juice.... Week 2 I can add cream of wheat, yogurt with no seeds or chunks and creamy Soups, Week 3 I can more "mushy" foods like scrambled eggs, cottage cheese...

I'm day 4 post-op and HUNGRY! Anyone else experiencing hunger?

I'm four days post-op and I take 4 different meds on a regular basis plus the prescribed pain meds and antibiotic. My question and problem... Being only on a clear liquid diet for this first week I am struggling getting the crushed meds down. Anyone have any suggestions? Week 2 I get to add a few other liquids like creamy soups... I just don't know how I'm going to pill crush all the time. It makes me sick!

Had my surgery! I'm 4 days post-op and today has been a hard day. I flew home from San Diego last night and I think I'm worn out from that. I had an incision done instead of it being lapro so I know my recovery time will be longer. I'm sick of Clear liquids and HATING the whole crushing pill thing. It makes me sick. I have 4 different types of regular meds I take a day and 2 of them are twice a day. PLUS I have the pain meds and an antibiotic I'm starting in a couple days. Anyone have any suggestions on getting them down with Clear Liquids? It makes me so sick. I'm so hungry today! I even thought about chewing up food and spitting it out!~ Sigh...

Hi All...

I'm feeling really good even thought the weight loss thing has been frustrating as hell. No loss for 3 weeks. I talked to the nutritionist and she said I am probably not eating enough. I was only eating about 800-1000 cal a day...so I am upping it to 1200-1300 to see what happens.

I also started exercising this week. I am riding a recumbent stationary bike for about 25 minutes and for the first 10 minutes I use hand weights and do a full series of arm exercises. It really gets my blood pumping and I feel great afterwards. I must say that I do "feel" a bit thinner. My clothes are a bit looser and the pain in my knee is a bit improved. I definitely have a bit more energy and feel pretty good.

I am now trying to decide if I need a fill or not. I dont have much restriction, but I am also not hungry in between meals. I am going to give it another 2 weeks and see what happens.

I hope everyone is doing well!

PS...What I plan to do for myself when I lose the weigh: I've always wanted a tattoo so when I lose weight I really want to get one.

I'm here... in Mexico at the hospital. I had my surgery yesterday and it went well. The only problem was the Dr. ended up doing an incision instead of laproscopily. I guess he felt it was safer for me to have it done that way. I find out soon if I can start liquids today. I've only been on ice since after surgery. I'm having some gas pains mostly all in my stomach. THey told me todays goals are some liquids and lots of walking. It hurts when I stand because of the weight of my stomach that pulls down from my incision which is located alittle under my breast bone. Sore throat from the breathing tube but all in all I'm doing good and I know I'm going in the right direction.

Your cruise goal sounds great! What a nice treat! I would love to go on one. My vacation that I want to do after I lose enough weight is take my son to Disneyland and go on rides with him.

i have nothing new to report on the weight front. as of this morning, and by chance as of this evening as well, I am still fat

i DID put down a deposit for our anniversary Cruse to the Caribbean today. it's 447 days away, so i hope that i can at least lose another 60 pounds by then....or maybe even more, but i would be totally great with 60 more pounds. that would put me at around 100 pounds lost. i am so looking forward to going on that cruise and being able to do things that have weight restrictions...that's my motivation right now. i want to parasail and ride on a zip line and of course hike and walk around without feeling like dying...i just have to lose more weight and i can do it!

what are you planning to do for yourself when you have lost enough weight?

I'm in the hospital right now, had my surgery yesterday. I'm in a lot of pain...a lot of gas pain like others have said. They didn't do my surgery for the band laproscopic so I think my incision pain is pretty bad. Overall I'm doing alright though. I had my swallow test this morning and I get some liquids later. YAY. Yesterday after surgery was only ice.

<br /><br /><br />

Hi I'm exactly the same, i got banded on the 25th, a little bit sore but the gas is worse!.Pains in my shoulder and under my rib cage, everything else healing well. I feel as if my port is rubbing of my ribs, but nurse said its normal so im calm about it. Finding it hard to get food(liquids) into me, like actually wanting to eat!!! WTF its like, is this really me or did they change me for an alien in theatre????? I'd normally eat the hand off ye!!!

Anyway good luck to all thats getting banded, its not anywhere as bad as you think, the worse thing i found was the youghurt and milk pre op diet!!!

Well done to all thats come through it and best of luck with the rest of our soon to be skinny lives xxxxxx

I need some advice, did anyone ever stal on the weight loss during pre-op diet? In 5 days I dropped 15 lbs and since then I have not dropped anymore weight? WHY? I have been on my pre-op plan for 12 days now and in the past 7 NO weight loss. I've been on Protein shakes and bars and most of the time my calories were around 1,000. Yesterday and today I was able to add in pure Protein with no carbs like chicken breast and turkey etc... I am hoping this will change things up a bit and cause more weight loss but NOT yet.

Another question, did anyone feel sick or get a bad cold before surgery? I'm coughing and have swollen glands and a little sore throat. I leave in 2 days and have 4 day til the actual surgery. Any suggestions on how to get over this quick or advice on whether it will affect the surgery or not? I'm having surgery Tuesday in Mexico.

It's been a few days since I've been in here, had computer troubles.... Anyway, to my shock I have only lost now 15 lbs on this pre-op diet. I lost 14 in four days and one more pound over the next several. I just found out yesterday that this whole time I could of been eating pure Protein, like chicken, turkey, low fat cheese etc... I was SOOO bummed that I wasted so much money on bars and drinks and went through all that hard time of watching others eat when I could of been having Protein with NO carbs. Oh well, I'm hoping that the change in adding in protein yesterday and today until surgery will do something with my metobolism to get my weight to come off again. I don't understand why I haven't lost anymore weight since day FIVE??? I feel like I'm doing something wrong but I'm not. I've been drinking plenty. I leave in 2 days now for San Diego and then after being there for 2 days I cross over the border for surgery! YAY!

Another thing that sucks, I have a cold. I'm coughing, sore throat and feel plugged up. I am hoping this doesn't mess up my surgery.

my liquid diet was liquids only, no Protein Bars, plus i could have broth with a cup of vegetables. i know what you mean about it getting bland. i discovered Mrs. Dash and i still use it daily. it has replaced salt and pepper in my life. it's really good stuff and it helped me get through that diet.

by day 4, it should be getting a teensy bit easier. i know the first 3 days were the hardest for me, but by day 4 it was becoming a habit. and really, you will really, really, really be glad you did it to prepare you for the next phase. right after surgery, liquids will be difficult to get down, but by day 3 i was HUNGRY and all i had was liquids. it would have been a shock for me to go straight from eating, eating, eating to only being able to have liquids. as much as i complained about that pre-op diet, i am so glad i did it.

congrats on losing 14 lbs so far. you are doing great.

This board, or thread seems slow... So I'm going to post, again! I'm day 4 of my Protein shake, Protein Bar, and broth pre-op diet and I'm down 14 lbs. I am digging the broth... as eating Protein Bars and shakes is nothing but sweets I like the saltiness and HOT factor that makes me feel more like I'm "eating" real food. I went today and bought 4 different spice blends to make the broth POP with flavor. A spicy one, Tomato basil one, fiesta lime one and I even bought lemon pepper to try to change up the chicken broth. A little variety helps.

Anyway, that's my bit of news for the rest of the day. I'm getting excited!!!! I leave for San Diego in 10 days and cross the border in 12 days! Woot Woot!