chrissylu

Congratulations and well done!

You could also do a leafy green salad: romaine lettuce (not iceberg), spring mix (arugula, baby spinache, frisee', etc), a little red onion, some black olives, a few grape tomatoes, maybe a few banana peppers. Top with fat free Mediterranean dressing and some grated parmesan or crumbled feta (or both). mmmm!

Definitely do that Jen. As others said, this is a time for healing and it will take some time. There's a lot of swelling that needs to go down, plus getting all that air out of your body that they pumped in. You will eventually start to see the scale move. God bless!

Do you have a protein shake right after working out? I've read that if consumed within 30 minutes after our workout, it can help maximize your metabolism. I would think that it would also alleviate some of that hunger. My protein shakes fill me up for quite a while.

@ ccsbulldog...doc told me 24-48 hours after a fill. Definitely 24hrs...but if things are going down a little slowly the next morning, I do another day of liquids just to make sure the band is settled, any possible swelling is gone, etc.

Congrats to you all! and God bless.

I've had the chocolate ones. To me, they are the best pre-made ones. However, I much prefer protein powder to mix in with my almond milk. There's some kind of after-taste with the pre-made ones. But they are tolerable. I use EAS 100% whey protein powder in chocolate flavor. Its in a purple container. Best wishes for you on your appointment this week!

i get a little tired just from being on liquids for a couple of days after a fill. Could that be it?

My doctor offered it at no additional charge because he is part of a research group studying the long-term effects of plication with the band. I declined it but it was nice that it was offered at no additional charge.

I like SF Hawaiian Punch. Some of the flavors have 1-2 carbs in a 16.9 oz bottle of water. However, the BerryLimeade has 0. I like the Fruit Punch and the Lemon Berry Squeeze.

yeah, I can only eat a few as well.

yes...I do quite often.

I've been wondering the same thing CEECEE! Doesn't it feel great??!!??

I get mine at Walgreen's usually.

I like the chocolate EAS 100% whey protein. I mix it with unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

walking every hour is good. I've read that some have used a heating pad to help with the shoulder pain. Gas-x yes. Other than that, you just gotta give it time to work itself out of your body. All liquids post-op. Your doctor should have given you some guidelines/meal plan. Some want clear liquids for a day or two and then just liquids (like protein shakes, milk, soup, etc). The time-frame depends on your doctor. My doc had me back on real food by the end of my first week. I've read where others have had liquids for two weeks, purees for two then mushies for four, then solid food. Check with your doc and nutritionist. God bless and congrats on your surgery!

I have a chocolate flavor that I mix with unsweetened almond milk. I also use a tablespoon of instant coffee dissolved in no more than 1/4 c. of water and add that to my shakes. Nectar brand protein powders have a multi-pack you can buy and there's all kinds of flavors in that. You could also get unflavored protein powder and add it to chicken or beef broth, or tea or something like that. I haven't tried that myself but have read of others who have. Best wishes to you and God bless!

I generally do the same as hedder14. However, I think in terms of what the size of that pouch is. If my doctor says no more than a cup of food, I picture my pouch as being the size of 1 c. measuring cup. If I look at it that way, the weight of the food doesn't matter as much as the volume of food. I know now that my pouch will not hold more than a cup of food. If I go over a cup, I'm miserable. But it might've taken four ounces of fish and a 1/4 c of green beans to get to that cup. That's a lot of food on my plate but, I'm satisfied and not too full after I eat. May not work for everyone that way. I dont know.

Jenn1214...that is such an awesome NSV. I have to admit...I still get perturbed at comments and actions like that. I just want to scream at people..."You don't like the way I look now??? You shoulda seen me 3 1/2 months ago!" But...it doesn't do any good to get angry over it. We only hurt ourselves when we react rather than respond. I may need to have tattooed on the inside of my arm so I don't forget what I just wrote. LOL.

It sounds like the doc wanted to get the $$$ for the surgery and doesn't really care what happens afterward. If you had insurance coverage for this, I would call the insurance company and find another reputable doctor that has references of good aftercare. As far as the surgery goes, it does not count you out for converting to by-pass. however, there might be an insurance issue. I would check some websites for referrals of other doctors in your area and check with your insurance to see if you can switch to someone else. This doc is unlike anything else I've read on these forums. Best of luck to you and God bless! Hang in there...the hunger pains are normal but you are also in what is known as "bandster hell"...not restricted yet and trying to pretty much do it on your own. My doc filled after 3 weeks post surgery. keep us posted.

Wow hookiluv! 18 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks is great! I hate to say this but your doctor sounds mean! My doc never asks for food records. I just fill out a sheet when I go in as to the kinds of food I've been eating. As for the feeling hungry...I did too. Someone on this forum explained to me that even though the top part of your stomach may be full, the bottom part of your stomach has not yet adjust to the change of eating habits and still "feels hungry" until the food moves from the upper to the lower part of your stomach. It didn't take long after that for me to stop feeling that way. Now if "its hungry"...I know its true hunger. Plus your body is still healing from the surgery and that will affect a lot of things. God bless!

I don't remember having race to the bathroom issues either. Gas-x also has chewables as well. Post-op...the bathroom issue is iffy. I'm over three months out and still trying to figure out how to get "regulated". Trying to add more fiber and water to my diet.

Whew! Thank you for putting it all into black & white for us! I am so glad I found a great surgeon (I'm in Tennessee also), and he has a wonderful staff. However, I have experienced a lot of the same things from prior doctors. In fact, my general practitioner would change the subject everytime I mentioned possibly having LAP-band surgery. I finally took the matter into my own hands and made appointments and got information, until all he had to do was write a letter to my surgeon and the insurance company. I think at that point, he finally realized I was serious. Again, thanks for writing this.

Congrats. For mushies, I used scrambled eggs, tuna or chicken salad mixed up very well in a food processor, mashed potatoes, and the aforementioned items. As for drinks, I buy several of the Hawaiian Punch sugar-free, single-serve mixes. Some have no carbs, some have only 1 or 2 carbs per serving. I drink tea sweetened w/splenda sometimes too.

God bless!