ChrissyB

how many now?

It sounds like it's working for you so I wouldn't worry about what someone else says.

I'm concerned about my restriction as well. At 1 cc I felt very little restriction but at 1.5 cc I'm having a lot of problems. Maybe I do need to slow down and eat smaller bites, but some days I can't eat yogurt without that shart pain in the chest area. I don't want to tell my doctor it's too tight but I'm starting to feel frustrated with all this pain surrounding eating. Any ideas??

I had my first fill last week (1.5 in 4 band). I can really tell the difference. It has totally taken the edge off my hunger. I'm eating less than 1,000 calories a day and feel completely satisfied. I hope it lasts!

So we're a month out from surgery - how's it going? Now that the pain has gone and eating regular food is much easier, how is the mental hunger going? Still easy to stick to the diet plan or starting to falter? What works, what doesn't work? Let's give each other advice and share successes!

Question - how few calories before your body goes into 'starvation mode'? It seems like 800 calories would make your body start holding on and your metabolism slow down... anyone know?

When food gets stuck you have a sharp and sudden pain in your chest area. If I hadn't read about it before it happened, I would have freaked out! You'll know when it happens.

When you think about it, 1/2 cup 3x a day isn't very much food. I have been eating yogurt and applesauce and Protein drinks, as I am still on soft foods. I don't know that I'm staying within those parameters but I sure am hungry a lot... I can't wait for my first fill...

The Special K Protein Water is awesome. It's 50 calories and 5 grams of protein and it really tastes great! I've also been drinking a mixture of vanilla protein shake and coffee over ice. It's sort of like a latte.

I was very emotional in the first days after surgery also. I think it was a mixture of the being starving!! and the pain meds. I'm almost two weeks post op now and not any more emotional than usual. Hang in there. It'll get better.

I must say that the pre-op diet was really hard. I was really excited when I started - like my new life is about to begin and all I have to do is stay on this easy liquid diet... right? Wrong. By day 7 I couldn't even stand to be with me, that's how grouchy I was! It's hard to do. Post surgery is easier because you have to do it. Plus, your appetite is a little smaller from the 2+ days you go without consuming (between the day before surgery and the day of surgery). Then, when you start to see the results on the scale, it's really exciting and you want to keep going. Hang in there, it does get better.

I'm almost 2 weeks post op and I get pretty hungry as well. I have been really careful to get all my Protein in - I got some powdered protein to mix in my Soups to help make me feel full longer. I also have been eating 2 Protein shakes a day and at least 1 yogurt (ff and sf). Hang in there and know that you're not alone. This hunger thing is a bummer!

Congrats on your loss!

It sounds like your routine is very strict! I only had to stay on Clear Liquids for 3 days. Then, I could have Protein shakes, Jello, and yogurt. Even with the Protein Shakes, etc, I was feeling very hungry. You must be starving! I feel full much quicker because through all this pre-op and post-op liquids, my stomache shrank somewhat and I feel full quicker. Hang in there...

Some doctors have you do a liquid pre-op diet to both get you to lose some weight before the surgery (and thus shrink the liver) and to get you in touch with the reality that for two weeks after the surgery you have to stay on a strict liquid diet. Apparently some doctors don't require it.