Sistersue

I've told everyone. In part because I live in a small town and if they don't know what's gong on they make it up but also because I want people who are overweight to know. I know now that most of the people I thought did it on their own actually did it with surgery. If I had known that I would have done this years ago. I don't give everyone the details of what I eat or how much I've lost, I onlyreallygive details to those who are close to me or I think could benefit.

Dolce, I would suggest that you get a therapist who specializes in eating disorders or check out FAA or OA. You may have a food addiction.

Hi Jackie this time is also about learning to not have our lives revolve so much around food. To learn to have family time where you don't pig out will teach you daughter a wonderful life long lesson. Not to mention making sure her Mommy is around for many more birthdays.

This morning I read an article on the "new" Paleo Diet, I realized it the diet I already eat. Grass fed meats, veggies and fruits, high on berries especially and nuts, little to no grains or dairy. The person who wrote the article even had a protein shake for breakfast made with berries like I do. She did say it was okay to eat a serving of grains a week as a treat. I didnt know I was so trendy.

I don't eat prepared meals, too much salt and other crap. Plus they cost more. I control carbs by eating a serving of meat and veg at each meal. I cook on Saturday for the whole week. Usually bake my meat and the pack it in the freezer in containers so I don't have to deal with it each day. It works great, I get all my protein in, no need for snacks either.

Keep in mind too that we didn't all have the exact same surgery. I have the band with plication, someone else may not. Just because one persons Dr says food is okay earlier doesn't mean it's okay for everyone else. I imagine too if your had a hernia repair too that might change when you can move on. We aren't doctors here.

Kieras, hello, yes you do need to stop eating but it may not be food that you are feeling, just swelling. Sipping water is good, or some warmish tea. That helps me. Then if the water goes down go on a liquid diet for a couple of days and slowly build up to solids. Let us know how you are doing. You can actually stretch out you esophagus when food backs up. One more thing to think about is that you couldn't have been hungry when you ate the muffins and cookies. That was emotional eating, you might want to think about why you did this to yourself. You hurt yourself with food., what made you do that. You don't have to share that with us, but just think about it.

I made homemade apple sauce. Cut up over ripe apples put in a pan with a little water cook until they are soft, turn the heat down and cook until they start to caramelize a bit. Throw in a blender. I also added cinnamon to it. Yummy! I did a lot of chicken salad well blended. Canned chicken with light mayo and dill relish in a blender. Go a bit heavy on the mayo at first to help it slide. FYI you can add unflavored protein powder to both.

The funny thing is I don't really see all the negativity. I see people with questions and in pain but that's what this for. I come from AA so frankly this seems pretty normal to me. At least when we go off the wagon we won't accidentally kill someone or go to jail. I see all this as normal. Even the people who aren't successful at this at this time can still be successful later. Most people don't beat an addiction their first time out. As someone who so far has been pretty successful I think I have duty to come back and do for others what was done for me. Keep me from freaking out when I got stuck or was so hungry I wanted to eat my left arm. It's not magic, it's a process and as we go along we will all fall and get frustrated or have a bad day and say the wrong thing. Just be patient, if someone posts really negative stuff try to feel sympathy for them, help them if you can and pray for them if you feel so inclined.

G-ma, just like for anyone, we only lose weight if we consume less than we burn. A nutritionist who specializes in bariatrics is a great place to start, especially someone who knows lap band. I imagine you spent a bunch of money getting the band so it would be worth getting the help. I also can't eat in the AM so I drink a protein shake, it gets me started on my protein and keeps me from getting too hungry later. Do you know for sure you are getting at least 70 gms of protein, 64oz of water, and my doc has me eat less than 1200 cals a day. On top of that I get between 1/2 hour and 1 hour of exercise a day. There is no magic to this, it's hard work.

Good luck, I have 21.3 lbs to onderland, I haven't weighed this since 1994.

I pureed ground beef with a little stock and added taco seasoning. That with some cheese melted on top and some salsa is almost like a taco. You could add avocado slices too. I still have a hard time getting eggs down, it gets stuck. Humus is good too, and greek yogurt. I still have to have a shake in the morning.

I'm a former addict, so I viewed the first month of post op as my detox time and the things I did consume as medicine. I cleared my house of my drug of choice, food, before my preop diet. It was hard and in many ways even the physical symptoms of detox were there, but I got through it. Now in many ways it's easier. I still need sugar free Popsicles to get me through the really hard times but my goal right now is weight loss and loosening the grip food has on me. The best thing is that it's been over a month since I've snuck food. It's hard but it's worth it.

I know it's hard and the first day after surgery, or really 3 days all I could do is shuffle around the neighborhood but it really heklpsk with the gas. The pain meds I took only took the edge off. The first few days I just slept, drank, and walked all day. It gets better pretty quickly. Take your temp each day to look for fever. Welcome to our band!