RedheadGirl

What exactly do these pills do and how do they help you? Do you take them just when you are stuck or daily?

You are NOT alone for sure! I've noticed the last few times I eat I want to eat more. It's a HUGE desire in me that wants to just EAT! We were all overweight before surgery and we got that way by eating more than our bodies need. We can't all just wake up from surgery and *POOF* be transformed into never wanting to overeat again. It's a HUGE mental struggle. We may feel full faster but we all, I'm sure.., used to eat beyond being full and are used to either numbing ourself with food, celebrating with food, stress eating with food, comforting with food.... etc. and once that is gone it's a battle within. Last night I was able to get in 3 cups of soup and I added cheese and sourcream to my cups. I keep trying to find within my limits ways to get the old comfort of some food back in. Today at lunch I just ate 1 1/4 cups of tomato soup and a 12 oz protein drink. I'm able to take in a lot of liquids. I'm full now, but I still think I took in too much for just being banded 12 days ago. I applaud you for being honest and opening up on here. I think we all struggle with this and just don't talk much about it but if we were all to be real and really mention our struggles with not eating like we used to there would be a lot of us relating with one another. You haven't failed the band, you are at the begininng and trying to figure out how to live like this.

I've noticed that every Dr. has a different liquid diet. I was on Clear liquids for the first 7 days then I was able to move to liquids like creamy Soups, cream of wheat, yogurt, smoothies...... I would run if by your Dr. and ask him about it.

I woke up this morning feeling pretty restricted. I got in some fluids and had about 3/4 of a cup of a protein drink. I went all day with just little sips of water and unable to drink much or was I hungry. I got home and at 7 pm tonight I was really hungry and it felt like I could finally eat. I'm on liquids so I got out some soup and blended it and drank/ate it. That was 1 1/2 cups. I figured I wouldn't eat it all and I would save the rest. Well, to my surprise it was going down so easy and so good that I ate it all! I waited 30 minutes and still felt hungry. Which I was shocked also about. So I made more soup and did the same thing... this time a different soup and measured it out to be a little less than 1 1/2 cups. Again, ate it all. I feel satisfied and full but NOT overly full or stuffed. I can't believe I was even able to do this? I was scared to keep eating but it tasted good and was going down so easy.. I know I was REALLY hungry but even with being that hungry and able to slurp down that much soup should I of? There was no chunks, nothing to chew and it was going down like water. I need your opinions here, I'm a little worried that I did something wrong and worried that I wasn't full off of ONE cup.

Mmm that sounds so good! I can have cream of wheat on my liquids stage, does that mean probably grits as well?

Did your Dr. say how long you are to be on them and when they should be clear liquids and then move on to full liquids? My Dr. made it clear that there was a difference. Right now I'm on full liquids so I get creamy soups, milk, Protein shakes, cream of wheat...etc. If you are on just clear popsicles are counted in that category and Jello. Look through your papers and see if you find the difference or when you get to switch. You should have a list that explains when to transition to other foods.

I would go get fitted! That is crazy that you measure 32 and you were wearing a 36 or 38! That's the first problem! ha!

First off, GOOD JOB for venting about your feelings and posting it here so you can get someone to read it. :) It sounds to me like your mum might be sabotaging you and it probably isn't on purpose or out of anger. Sometimes people do things in our lives to hinder our progress or make it more difficult and they don't realize how it affects us. Is your relationship with your mum a close one? Do you guys communicate well? If so I would consider talking with her about how you felt and just asking her to not say anything but just to listen to you without interuption for a few minutes so you can get your feelings out. Your feelings are valid and important and nobody else can tell you how you should feel or that your feelings are wrong. If you can't talk with your mum, I would continue to do what you did and that is express your feelings and get them out whether here on the board or in a journal or to a friend. Don't let them stay in and fester and grow. You are going to do great!

I'm 10 days post op and have to wait until Tuesday before i get more of the "mushie" type foods. I'm getting bored with what I've been having so I'm wondering what were some of your favorite things to eat on liquids?

I was told I could have thinned out oatmeal on week 2 (which is at the end of my week 1) of my post-op diet. I ate a little of it on 9 days post-op and did fine.

I think it also sounds like the flu.... My surgeon is in Mexico so it's not easy for me to just up and go and see him either. I would treat yourself as you have the flu and see if you get over it. Rest, drink as you can and try not to stress over it.

I'm pretty sure it's the ketosis from having such low carbs on the liquids. I get like that when I'm high protein and low carb or even when I'm hardly having any calories. It's hard to get rid of, I used to chew gum (before banding) to try and mask it. Tongue scraping is good and talk with your mouth away from others. It should go away once you add in more "food" and get higher carbs or more calories.

I believe my papers say that once I get three week past and start into my week 4 plan I can have it. Not sure how I'll do yet since I'm only 10 days post-op.

I'm 10 days post-op and I am still on creamy liquids almost mushies and I can eat or drink about 1 cup. Right after surgery for the first 5 or 6 days it was less than that. I can drink about 12 oz of Water though in like 45 minutes. I can take pretty good drinks. I've been wondering about the whole size of eating thing as well and wondering if I'm intaking more than others who are 10 days post-op.

It's NORMAL! A couple days after my surgery I got them also, and it didn't stop until I started putting in a couple days of creamy foods and got away from the week of clear fluids. I was asking the same question...so yes, it's normal. I heard that sometimes it can be caused by the dye they use during surgery? No matter what it's from, it sucks and it lasted a good 5 or so days for me.

Are you eating that much Protein because you are doing P90 X? Your diet of what your signature says of icecream, poptarts etc.... must come in between all that protein?

I was also told this by my nutritionist and Dr..... Also a friend of mine who has also been banded was actually the first to tell me this and I wasn't sure about it until I was told the same from my sugerical team. You shouldn't take in more Protein than that per meal, I'm standing also by what I was told and heard. I was told to get a high amount in a day but to not go over an amount each time.

I loved drinking from a straw especially when I was trying to swallow crushed pills! I did fine with a straw.

food addiction is 100% a real addiction. I've gone off things like sugar before and had withdrawals. I'm a food addict, I know it but with this surgery and Gods help I know it's going away. I am craving food allllll the time also. I think it's not just the addiction but the fact that we "can't" have it makes us really want it. Plus with all the pre-op diet that most of us go on for a couple weeks before surgery and the strict plan of the diet after surgery we often miss chewing and the flavors of REAL food. Good luck with all this, it's hard... I can't imagine being around pizza! Ohhh man, that would kill me!

I paid cash for mine at 6,200.00 but that was in Mexico and not in the States. I think the cheapest I have seen it for cash price is 10,000 but the hospital in my City at their bariatric center charges 23,000 for lap band.

It is so much about flavor for me as well! That is why on my pre-op diet of liquids when I had broth I would add different seasonings to it. Now that I'm on liquids when I blend or have creamy Soups if they don't have enough flavor I add it in! I can see how making this a habit would suck, but for now licking or chewing and spitting might just help sometimes the insanity!

I was banded the same day as you! Your intake seems just fine. I say if you are not feeling satisfied to eat til you are satisfied. It's not good to continue to be hungry. Unless it's more of a mental hunger? I've been asking a lot about my food intake as well. I posted both of my days of food on here because one day I wasn't sure if I had the right amount and yesterday I thought I ate too much but I was so hungry and wasn't getting "full". I just got Protein today so I can start on the shakes and see if that helps. Today for instance I haven't had as much as I have the past two days but today I had 3/4 of a light yogurt for breakfast, about 3/4 of a cup of soup and for dinner so far a Protein shake with about 25 grams of protein. I'm probably going to have some more soup later that is leftover from lunch if I get hungry. I think you are doing fine! It's nice to compare what one can eat compared to yourself isn't it?

Having only been 7 day post-op I couldn't just "eat" it... Before my surgery I was on liquids for 2 weeks so it's been over 3 weeks since I've really chewed anything. I was craving the sensation of chewing.

I'm glad to hear that! I think it's easy to get in more than 1/2 cup of Soup, I'm seeing that I shouldn't be worried about that right now because if it's in the same consistency as Water it moves right through like water, right? I'm still eating probably 500-600 calories or less the past 2 days. Which is WAY LESS than before surgery. I was just so worried that I should be feeling more restriction than I am. It's making more sense to me now.

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.