Hopeful to be full

just wanted to say that you are an inspirationg to me. i got banded nov. 30th and i'm looking forward to seeing those kind of results. you look great!

I had my surgery the day before you on the 30th. I'm glad you are doing well! It is definately hard during the holidays, I had a few slip up when I was baking with my niece and nephew. I ate some cookie dough, I'm so stupid. but i ate a few bites off my fingers as opposed to half the bowl which is what i would have done last year for sure. Luckily i don't have any holiday parties...i only have to make it through christmas eve and day...that's when we have some sweets at the house.well best of luck

Hi Kim. I just had surgery two weeks ago and I'm doing great and here's my advice: You should get pain meds at the hospital...my advice is between doses don't let yourself get too uncomfortable before you take something. I'm not saying you should take the meds all the time or something, but don't wait until you feel REAL bad before taking it. STAY ON A PAIN MANAGEMENT SCHEDULE. 2) you will be super bloated and gassy from surgery (they put air in your abdomen during surgery) so my advice is use a heating pad on your stomach on mediium heat. It helps with the gas and so does getting up and walking as much as you can. I kept falling asleep from the pain meds and didn't walk like i was supposed to so i got some cramping in my legs and the gas was worse. 3) drink as much water as you can taking a few sips per hour. 4) DON'T EAT JELLO TOO SOON for some reason, and this might just have been me, but it didn't sit well in my stomach, so try a little before committing to big bites. Those are my little tips. I'm sure things will go great and good luck!

I had trouble with jello too right after surgery...ouch!

I went into the hospital @ 5:30 am and was home the same day @ 2:00 pm...8 1/2 hours total outpatient

protein water (kellogs20, designer whey protein2 go powder mixed with water, gatorade, vitamin water etc.) first two can be found in Giant food stores in the health food sections don't know about other groccery stores but expect it would be in the same place. Another good one is miso soup or clear sushi-style broth. both really good if u need flavor. I had my surgery a week ago today and those things got me through. Good luck, it's not so bad, you can do it!

You probably want to stay away from all caffeinated beverages right after surgery. For a while at least. This was a rule given to me by my doctor. Coffee will dehydrate you and slow the healing process. If you need coffee and are looking for an alternative drink decaf with splenda. This journey is all about food compromises and committing to better alternatives. BUT I KNOW WHERE U R COMING FROM. I am starbucks' best customer 7 days a week. But for now, while I'm healing I have switched to decaf coffee and teas. I am just starting to add milk back into my diet. If you wanna win-go skim! MOST OF ALL FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR'S DIRECTIONS. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ON HERE TELLS U WANT TO WANNA HEAR doesn't mean that's what's best. Listen to your doc.

I had a 10 day preop diet of 4 shakes a day and 2 cups of low-starch fruit/veggies a day per doctor's orders

congrats on your approval! I have BCBS of pa and had to wait about the same amount of time for approval. I hope u get your surgery date soon! Good Luck! Today is day two post-op for me....doing good. You will be too!

This post was very encouraging to me. I was just banded yesterday and I'm feelin it. It's good to know the pain is temporary but the reward is permanent. I can't wait to start exercising again! Good luck on your journey!

Today is my first day post-op. I was banded on Wednesday. I totally identify with what u said. I feel like I just left an abs class or something. I'll have to try drinking some tea, might make me feel better too. I didn't really have any pain in the hospital because of all their good drugs, but now, at home this oxy isn't covering it. ugh GOOD LUCK!

great job! I have one more day of preop...I go for surgery on Weds. Good luck with the rest of your diet. it's fun to lose weight isn't it!

I am on ,my preop diet and missed thanksgiving too. but it's for a good cause! stay strong

good luck estrickl. I'm ending my 5th or 10 days of pre-op diet (shakes and lean greens). My surgery is on 11/30. Stay strong! You can do it!

GREAT JOB! WAY TO GO! I am currently on a preop liquid/veggies diet also; doing the shake thing. It's day three for me. My scale is weird so i don't know if i'm loosing or not. Anyways, depending on what you're allowed to have on your diet (every doctor is different) I like the mocha chocolate idea. As long as you are allowed to have caffeine it should be okay, just don't sweeten the coffee with sugar-use splenda! Best of luck to you!

Hello Everyone, Today I started my 10 day pre-op diet. My diet consists of four protein shakes (each 160 cal) using the Bariatric Advantage powder; I recommend the chocolate flavor; the orange creamsicle tastes like fouride! I am also allowed to have two cups of low-starch low-cal fruits and vegetables (such as apricots, squash, salad etc). I started my day out strong. Had a shake. Loved the shake. Slept in more (lol). 12 pm Got going again, had a shake and got my butt going. Went to the gym for an hour doing some cardio, crunches, and heavy lifting. Drank 31 oz. of unsweetened tea. Felt a little hungry so I had some tomato soup and found out afterwards that although it didn't have milk, it did have rice syrup in it! WHOOPS! I when you feel like you're doing so great and you make a stupid mistake. not cool. Back on the wagon. Did some chores, took a post-workout shower, and had shake number 3 @ 5:30 pm. Went to the opening of a new bookstore in my town and I started to feel hungry. Something about capitalism, consumerism, and browsing in a store (even a store without food) makes us hungry; i think it's our hunter/gatherer instincts making us think we need something to hunt and eat. BUT THEN I WENT FOOD SHOPPING wit my mom to get some things (vegetables I can have on diet) at Giant food stores. TALK ABOUT TEMPTATION! My mom had to get some things on her list so I was forced to brave the bread and bakery section. At this point I'm STARVING and all i can smell is yeast and bleached flower and I want to dive in and start ripping open the nearest loaf and devouring it. BUT I DIDN'T I just got what I needed and got ouutta there. For my second vegetable of the day I had spaggetti squash SO GOOD. you just scrape out the seeds, cover it with plastic wrap, and pop it into the micro on a plate for 20 min. It has the taste and texture of spagettii so it's a good filler when you can't have what you want. Now I'm trying to down my 4th shake but it just tastes like crap now. I WANT REAL FOOD.But I have to remind myself that the pre-op DIET IS FOR A PURPOSE. TO GET THE SURGERY AND GET HEALTHY GET THIN. good luck to everyone on this journey!

I haven't had this problem yet, but my doctor warned me about it. My preop diet is consistent of protein shakes....the dietician warned me my sugars may drop and to keep a little apple juice on hand at all times and to drink some if it became an issue.

I buy Chobani 0% milk which comes with fruit...it's about 160 calories.....BUT MY NEW FAVORITE is Chobani Champions (it's for kids) the texture is really great (almost whipped) and because it is made for kids the calorie count is lower it comes in 100 calorie cups! love it! good luck finding your fav brand!

um all i can say is stove top IS A BAD IDEA! BREAD ITSELF IS A BAD IDEA at this point, perhaps ever. Bread, pasta expands in your stomach, NOT GOOD

you lost 58 lbs in a little over a month? without exercise????

I have some questions for anyone who has clinical depression (takes meds) and has the band. I suffer from Bipolar II and currently take several medicines to manage my disease (zoloft, limictal, invega). I am concerned how my mental stage will be affected by the process of lap band surgery before during, and after. So here are my questions... For those of you on depression meds...Did you have to change to different meds or change your dosage after lap band surgery? Coud u swallow your meds (did u crush them?)Did having the surgery and all that it entails severely affect your moods to the point where you had trouble functioning? What was your mental state like after surgery? I'm reluctant to get surgery for fear that I will become more depressed etc. I want to talk to others and hear feedback that it is possible to have depression (for which you take meds) and still suceed with the lap band. Thanks for your help!

I have some questions for anyone who has clinical depression (takes meds) and has the band. I suffer from Bipolar II and currently take several medicines to manage my disease (zoloft, limictal, invega). I am concerned how my mental stage will be affected by the process of lap band surgery before during, and after. So here are my questions... For those of you on depression meds...Did you have to change to different meds or change your dosage after lap band surgery? Coud u swallow your meds (did u crush them?)Did having the surgery and all that it entails severely affect your moods to the point where you had trouble functioning? What was your mental state like after surgery? I'm reluctant to get surgery for fear that I will become more depressed etc. I want to talk to others and hear feedback that it is possible to have depression (for which you take meds) and still suceed with the lap band. Thanks for your help!

Just a question, why aren't you following the directions, no Pasta, no bread, no soda??? Just because you can stomach these, DOESN'T mean you should. You could be harming yourself and not even realizing it. Maybe u haven't stretched your pouch, but it you keep eating like this YOU WILL. If you aren't feeling restriction you need to call your doc BUT YOU SHOULD ALSO SPEND ALL YOUR ENERGY FOLLOWING GUIDELINES. The band is not magic, until u get the right restriction you need to use self control to prevent overeating. it's all you baby. the deal is 80 20, eighty percent you, 20 percent or less the band. good luck

DO NOT DESPAIR! I was told just today that you can gain 7 lbs of water weight just from surgery. I mean it's easy to loose weight when you're on a liquid diet. So i'm not surprised that you might have gained some of that back with solid food. It might take some time before you level out and start to really loose. As long as you are following the diet (no milkshakes, no high fat puddings, no ice cream) just certain quality foods in moderation you WILL LOOSE WEIGHT. If you don't put it in, you will loose weight soon. Part of the process is being patient. I don't think u should jump to bypass after 3 months. You worked hard to get this surgery and u need to stick with it. It is not magic u need to make sure u follow all instructions and keep trying. u can do it!!!!!!!!!

So yesterday was my birthday and I was away from the house for about 6 hours (I live with my parents). While I was away my mom gave away my "thin clothes". I haven't always been heavy and about 3 years ago, I enjoyed a large wardrobe of designer 8 and 10's. Obviously at 255 (not banded yet) I haven't worn those clothes in some time, but I always told my self "don't worry you will get back into them". They were my crutch, my reminder that I was thin and could be again. And now they're gone. When I confronted my mom she said "When you loose the weight you'll want new clothes and I'll buy them for you". She is right, I'm sure I'll want new clothes, BUT I ALSO WANTED MY OLD THIN CLOTHES! It feels weird not having thin clothes in my closet, it feels like I'm officially fat now that I don't have smaller clothes. It feels like resignation to fathood. In the end it's not about the clothes as material possessions, it's the hope they used to give me. I'm sure if I wanted I could get the clothes back, but the damage is done because the feeling of fatness is there. Sometimes I feel like this lapband thing is never gonna happen, that I'm going to be stuck this way forever with no way out. I want my old life back and I miss the life those clothes represented. HELP!