motivatedlap

My surgeon trained with Dr. Paul O'Brien, so he provides his book (The Lapband Solution) as a guideline for how to eat and live with the band. I've been sticking to those guidelines depsite seeing so many variations of "the rules", and it's been working for me.

I stay away from protein shakes and my guidelines on protein are 30-40g per day- which I think is easily doable considering I'm eating 1,000 calories or less. I try to eat the most whole, natural food possible that I can find. The only thing I drink with food is alcohol, per the guidelines I was given. Using liquids to get in nutrients or calories is a slippery slope- if you aren't able to eat REAL food, then something is wrong. You can't do a liquid diet forever.

At the end of the day though, don't confuse yourself- if your doctor has given you guidelines, follow them- don't worry about what everyone else is doing! Reducing your calories will lead to weightloss and that is what the band will help you do! Hang in there!

Thanks for sharing!! You should add this is in the Food & Nutrition forum in case people don't catch it on your blog. So many people talk about cutting out carbs but that's why they can't poop! You need fiber and good carbs will give it to you. Great find!!

My doc fills me lying down (me, not him, heehee!) and doesn't have me drink anything- in fact he tells me to wait a couple of hours to drink. I wasn't sure I'd know what it would feel like if things were 'hanging around', but after my 3rd fill and what I think might be very close to my sweet spot, I know what hanging around longer feels like. It is literally like it's sitting in your throat for a few seconds before it moves on through. I hate to say this because it sounds so cliche, but you will know it when you feel it.

As far as what's in your band, it's such a crap shoot for how the amount will work for YOU. My first fill was 10ccs, which many people on this site question (I have an 11cc band). I was still able to eat anything and in larger amounts than 1/2 cup. My second fill was 0.5cc, but after about an hour I asked him to take it back out because my back and chest were hurting. My third fill was 0.3cc and I think we may have it just right- I can still get anything down but in much smaller quantities, but I have to chew better and go more slowly. My hunger level is much less now too. Still, your doctor should tell you if you ask him.

Good luck on your journey!

I have the same problem and some nights I have bad snacks too (but the York peppermint patties from the holidays are almost gone so I will stop soon!). I only eat about 1/2 cup at meals- that's all it takes before I get my satisfied feeling- and that just isn't enough calories. I try to get around 800 calories each day (my weight is low enough that it's an acceptable amount). I've had a big fill and I just don't feel hungry most of the time. I know that we're supposed to avoid liquid calories, but I sometimes have milk or hot cocoa to push my calorie count higher for the day if it's too low. Hot cocoa is a nice treat! I also will eat a snack like almonds because they're pretty calorie dense, but healthy.

good for you! isn't that such a great feeling!? i only did liquids for a week then it was on to soft foods for me as well the week after, per doctor's orders. by my third week i could have anything i could tolerate with the advice not to eat beef until a couple of weeks later.

i had a really good experience with my first fill despite that it was a VERY aggressive fill! it's probably different for everyone, but just try to relax and don't look at what they're doing! i am a huge baby when it comes to needles, so i didn't even look around the room! i knew where i had to lay, so i got there, closed my eyes and let my doctor do his thing and i didn't open my eyes until i had to sit up and put my shoes back on, again keeping my eyes averted so that i didn't accidentally see anything that might have been lying around, like big needles or something! before he put the needle in, he felt on my belly and told me where my port was- he had told me after surgery as well. i didn't get a numbing shot and i couldn't believe how painless the stick was. and the whole thing goes really fast!

after my fill, i could tell exactly where my band is- it did feel tight in that spot. i also felt a bit of pressure in my chest/stomach area, but it went away in a couple of hours- i never felt nausea. i also had no trouble eating or drinking later that day and have not felt uncomfortable since then.

one thing to think about with the fills is that yours may be really different compared to what others talk about- if your stomach has more/less fat around it, then your doctor will probably do it according to that. my first fill was 10ccs. i can still eat pasta, rice and meat with zero issues. i don't fill hungry a lot though and it's easy to stop after my 1/2 cup.

good luck and keep your eyes closed!

I had surgery on Saturday, I went back to work on Monday (day 2 post op). I think this is probably not normal. I would only recommend this if you have a desk job and don't have to move around a lot because that was what really got me the first few days back.