☠carolinagirl☠

wow, amazing how different surgeons are. mine was 2 week all liquid before and 2 weeks after. Best of luck to you.

I have the lap band and plication. here is a link that explains it and also shows a picture of what it looks like. hope this helps: http://www.peachtreebariatrics.com/gastric-band-plication.php

i am not a salt person so i try to avoid as best as i can (products with sodium). do you have any other items (lunch meats, etc) to use that do not contain too much salt? (i do not use processed boxed items but if you have ideas, hit me with those also).

i have tricare north prime tricare does not have any month supervised diet requirements however you do have to show past dieting attempts. i wrote a letter to my dr who wrote a letter to tricare outlining my past attemtps (successes and failures) with dieting and also wrote me a recommendation. hope this helps

the liquid diet before and after is very important. the pre helps shrink your liver. if it is too fatty, the surgeon may not operate. so its best not to (divert off the course when the surgeon gives you instructions). if you have surgery and give in to eating before you are suppose to, you could put yourself in danger. this surgery wont help you lose weight unless you adhere to the rules. and the pre and post op's are hard. its a mental thing mostly. eating fatty foods to make you feel better is what made people gain weight and need weight loss surgery to begin with. if you are in pain, i would advise asking your doctor about it.

the scale is not something you should focus on. its best to focus on your clothes being smaller and inches lost. i have done that scale addiction in the past and its not fun. it can break your spirit if you (let it). dont let it.

instead of being upset because of the scales saying you have gained...ask yourself this.... have you felt better? have your clothes become looser? have you had more energry? are you walking better or farther? that is what i would base your success by right now. as steve and others said, weight goes up and down all the time.......cant count on it to be faithful. so again, how are you feeling??? sounds to me as if you are doing a fine job. that is what is important. just stay the course.

fast food--mcdonalds, bojangles, subway, taco bell, wendys, dominos (since i got my band, my hub has lost 10 pounds by eating healthier also)

steve, are we watching the fat or calories with these foods or are we focusing on protein/veggie? (i know i will not eat over 3/4 to 1 cup food total at any time i eat). the steak ums, are they the frozen ones? can we use chix instead of red meat as i am not a huge red meat person

the only thing i can say is (if you want to eat junk food or cheap fast/slider food, just dont do it). think of what you have done so far to get here......is it worth it to eat potato chips or mcdonalds? is it?? no i dont think so. this is a mind game. you either choose to eat healthy or you dont. and you know i will kick your butt if you screw up

Well, I like mexican foods alot. (applebee's, bbq places, chili's). How about reg fast food places also??

Yes, please include me on any of this to which you have. I would be very interested.

not sure... mine was 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after. i guess that decision is up to each individual surgeon.

my food is cut up into very very small bites (maybe the size of a dime or smaller). i eat and chew and chew. i always put my fork (reg size down) in between bites. i am in no rush. i am tasting the food instead of wolfing it down you will get the hang of it

please take your protein, your vitamins and keep hydrated. (eating is your fuel or drinking your shake if you are post or pre op).

well, head hunger is a bad boy and needs a time out. eat a smidge more (but nothing over a cup total) at any given sitting. my thing is, if you are truly hungry eat. eat a healthy snack. no junk/cheap food. (or if you are really hungry, drink a protein shake or drink some cold water/crystal light) and see if that helps. (or sf popsicle). you will do GREAT. look at how far you have come

i am not sure about other people, but it might... after my Protein shake or eating my lunch/dinner and protein, i am bout 4 hours out of being (hungry). are u dealing w head hunger at all?? (good job though realizing that).

i cant see the port, but can feel where its located and that its (harder) in the area its at. not to worry. i assume its normal. and the band, i dont think anyone can (truly feel it). you may feel food moving down your throat and into stomach but not feel the actual plastic band. (but could be wrong)..

very red. i would agree with the above posters, get to the dr and get some medicine to take care of these wounds as soon as you can. (very red)

i go to my lake house on weekends and my dr said wait a month (and make sure my wounds were healed) no weeping etc..... Been swimming for over 2 1/2 weeks now

isolate whey extreme Protein powder from walmart 30 grams per scoop *the one i use

i have tricare prime north, there is not a 6 month wait period. my dr's office was convinced it was and it was not. i proved them wrong. get all your stuff done, pre ops etc, and once completed merely have them submit for approval. i was approved first time.

you and your father are in my thoughts/hearts and prayers

they make them in chewable's. unless your dr advises you to swallow pills, i recommend not too. (i crush my pills or break them into pieces now.). also, any capsules, ask your dr for specifics as sometimes those are not suppose to be broken (and i was also told that on time release). try to stick w/chewables or liquids to be (safe). all the best.

the previous poster is correct, comparing yourself to others will only bring you doom. i believe (the heavier a person is) they are more likely to lose (faster at the beginning). the pre and post op diets are for you to shrink the liver for surgery and then to let the healing process take place after surgery. please do not focus on losing weight during this time. sure its (great when it happens) but focus on you feeling better, your clothes getting looser then what the blasted scale says. (your scale changes all day long while u eat/pee etc). you are you. that is all you can be. that is what is important. the band will work if you help it.