Stroganoff

<br /><br /><br /> As my NP says, Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. You're in thee phase coined as "Bandster Hell" before your first fill. Carbs will not give you the full feeling like Protein. The food has to trigger the nerves and like they toold you, "sliders" will not do that. Once you get your first or second fill, you will most
ikely find foods you can't tolerate/get through the band. After surgery I could eat 3 pieces of pizza(shouldn't have), but now, even the smalllest bite gets stuck in the band. This is the same for most carbs. It hurts like hell and I'm left sliming and vomiting. Not worth it. I've made some mistakes, but I'm getting on track now so ill tell you like others have told me. Follow the diet like they advised and you will be successful. You have to change your lifestyle/habits and you don't want to stretch your pouch at only 3 weeks out. Also, your body is not supposed to reject most foods. You should be able to eat most things. You have to make the choices to not eat some things.
Best of luck
Autumn

Yesterday we had dinner at my fiance's parents' house as we usually do. My future father in law is a nice guy but kind of quiet (like me), so our conversations are kind of limited. When we walked in, almost immediately he said "You've lost a lot of weight! You're doing good." I was so surprised I almost didn't know what to say! It was even nicer to hear because my weight loss has been slow lately and I've been feeling kind of down about it. So happy!

Full liquids are still liquids-- the only difference is that you can't see through them. I ate soup with no chunks-- tomato soup, butternut squash soup, broccoli cheese soup (where the broccoli was too small to chew). Yogurt and Protein shakes I think were considered Clear Liquids by my doctor. But that was it.
Mushies for me added in refried Beans, chili that was blended until it didn't require chewing, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese (I made a ricotta cheese/cottage cheese seasoned base with marinara on top, baked, that was good and suggested on this board). I think I also did a baked "quiche" at this stage-- beaten egg with cottage cheese, baked.
You need to check with your doctor's office. I can't believe there are still surgeons sending people home without detailed diet lists. If you haven't already, recheck any paperwork you got from your support staff to see if it contains directions on your diet.
As for the Cheetos Puffs-- well, I wouldn't add them back in for at least 6 months. Don't get me wrong-- I think people can have non-nutritious food on occasion and be fine. However, I worry that if you're really concerned about how soon you can eat something that has ZERO nutritional benefit after having weight loss surgery, that you are setting yourself up to struggle to lose. But if you want to kickstart your loss even before your band begins to help you, I'd commit to healthy eating. You can always add the treats back in later after you've developed some new habits.

I did Atkins pre op and did okay with my weight loss. I plan on sticking to thelow carbs post op, but not as restrictive as Atkins and there is a reason for that.
When I was pre-op, just like the other times I have tried Atkins and have done well; however, after some time I would deviate with something small like nuts or sushi every now and again. Immediately it would knock me off my weight loss track and I would get discouraged. I do not want that to happen to me now. The last thing i want to do is make the same mistakes on lapband that I did in the past. While, a low carb intake is do-able on lap band, I think it should be just that- a low carb intake. Fad diets didnt work before the surgery and I dont expect them to work after.
Everyone's journey is different, so what works for one may not work for the other. I try to remember that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again, but expect different results. Atkins will produce the weight loss in the beginning, but what happens when you eat a spoonful of rice one day and that halt's your weigh-loss? Are you going to be strong enough to deal with the possibility of slowly gaining weight or not losing if you start to incorporate other items into your diet? I'm just asking because these are the questions I needed to ask myself. I choose lap band because I needed a tool that would help me for the rest of my life. I am only three days post surgery so I cant say what works or don't work, but I just want to stay clear of the mistakes I have made in the past.

I would say, from experience, that these people must have been banded recently, within the last 4-5 months, and have not reached that "sweet spot" with their fills. I know, I've been there.

As far as cheating the band......I am at that sweet spot where I can only eat small amounts at each meal, and most of the time do not feel all that hungry to eat much to begin with. I've also learned the hard way, from being stuck many times, that there are foods I need to avoid, and also I need to eat slowly with small mouthfuls.
BUT
Old habits die hard, and even though I can eat only small portions, there is nothing to stop me (except myself) from eating every 30 minutes, so to speak. AKA "grazing" This is not due to being hungry. It is more addictive, compulsive behavior.
Does not have to be a lot, just almost constant small snacking with things like potato chips, dip, Cookies, etc, etc.
You have to learn to listen to your body, not your head. Drink plenty of Water, and get your Protein in.

It may sound strange, but I am learning that food is not really that important in my life anymore. I ignore it.

I could still eat like I used to, even with 7+ cc's in my band. Nothing gets stuck for me, nothing makes me sick, very few foods make me feel full (instead I'm just satisfied as opposed to full). It would be so very easy for me to just go back to eating like I used to. I don't even have to resort to slider foods. I find this equal parts terrifying and empowering- because I know that these 50 pounds, I really lost because of ME.

I had mixed feelings reading all the replies to this post. As bandsters, we have one large and important factor in common. WE ARE ADDICTED. To food, to feeling good, to the guilt, perfectionisism, etc. So you had ice cream. Well, ok. It WAS a silly and un-healthy choice considering how recent your surgery was. But you admitted it as well. That shows dedication and honesty to yourself about this journey. I don't subscribe to the theories that everything can be considered a liquid if blended, mushed or chewed enough. If that was the case, I would have been the 1st one in line to shove my cheesecake into a blender.
Its true that beating yourself up will only have negative impact on how you feel about this entire experience. Its also true that PLENTY of people have done worse. What matters is if you do enough every day to be proud of yourself. That's all. You may not lose as fast as others, you may not get enough protein or enough walking, or whatever. But if YOU can tell an improvement in mind and body, and if YOU are already living healthier then before banding, then be proud of that and move on. I was banded exactly 2 months ago today, and I've had Dairy Queen several times. I've also lost 25 lbs and only "treat" myself when I earn it. There is a big difference in cheating and treating, and the healthier your relationship is with food, the easier it is to see.
I'm no expert, just someone who wants to give the level of support I got from others, so here are my parting words. If you always do what you've always done, then you'll always get what you've always got.
Heal your body. Your mind will catch up.