dhales

Okay veterans or newbies....I am exactly 3 weeks post-op. I have lost 19 pounds so far....which seems very good. However that was really 5 pounds pre-op and 12 the first week. So basically I have lost 1 pound a week so far. I would like to get up to 2 pounds a week. I am worried that my diet may be the culprit....I have also just started Curves today...I haven't been doing any exercise other than a little walking thus far. Here is my typical diet...I have a dr. appt. on May 7th...but I would like to hear it from people who have been there if maybe I need to do something different. Morning = Multi Vitamin and Biotin 1000MG Breakfast = 1/4 cup Cheerios and 2% milk (total 145 calories) lunch = 1oz. Tuna and 1oz. laughing cow cheese wedge (total 70 calories) dinner = 1oz. Laughing cow cheese wedge and 1 oz. avocado (80 calories) Protein supplement = body fortress chocolate shake (total 270 calories) - 52 Proteins Misc. = sugar free popsicle (30 calories) and Viactive Calcium (20 calories) Daily Totals (615 calories, 71 Protein, 40.5 carbs) Too many carbs maybe? As for calories...I really can't get in any more as I am still on 1/4 cup a meal 3xday until my 1 month appt. and fill. I am not hungry between meals (not real hunger anyway...sometimes cravings)...I stick to my diet and haven't cheated...well except licking the spoon after making my kids sugar free Cookies one day. But other than that I have been faithful. any suggestions? Will exercising give me negative calories? Which I think I am already negative since my Basic Metabolic calories expenditure is 1670 just being alive...lol So I am basically burning about 1000 calories a day. Any advice appreciated.

I did the same thing and had the same feelings. I had my surgery on a Tuesday and boy was I having second thoughts on Monday. For me it was the fear of the unknown...my fear of not being able to "enjoy" BBQ's or holiday dinners with my family and that my relationship with food would change. I even updated my will and made sure my husband knew where it was at...I am such a worrier. I am still fairly new and we did have a BBQ and I did enjoy it with my family without all of the guilt and awful full feeling afterwards and I was shocked to not even want what everyone else was having...I was still on liquids then and I only had Soup. I think it is only natural...

If I could do it without the band...I would have already. I have been on diets for over 20 years and I am only 36...lol so more than half of my life. There is probably not a diet you can name that I haven't tried. I have lost weight with HCG drops and Atkins...however it was always short lived and I gained what I lost plus. I needed a "diet" that I couldn't quit when I got discouraged. For example...for the past week and a half I have fluctuated back and forth with the same pound. With most diets I would have justified giving up because it wasn't worth the sacrifice without seeing results in my messed up thinking. With the band...I know that I am not cheating and doing everything right....although still frustrating. I began to log my foods and realized that with (3) 1/4 cups a day I was only getting in 200-250 calories and not nearly enough Protein..I upped my protein by having a shake in the morning with 50grams of protein and it added 200 calories to my day. I weighed this morning and the scale is moving now. I do get cravings...but I haven't been truly hungry. Plus with people knowing that I have the band makes me more accountable....not to mention the financial investment that I made. I simply can't fail...it is not an option.

the nurse told me to let it flake off as it means you are healing. Resist the urge to pull off anything that is still connected but the fact that it is peeling is normal.

I think for me it was because I was on liquids 48 hours prior to surgery and on liquids after...there simply wasn't enough going in. I thought about it and I probably ate enough calories on 3 weeks of what I would normally eat in a weekend.

Yes...I was also 3 weeks out and didn't have a "movement"....I took MOM and I was good by the next day.

Sounds yummy....gonna buy some this weekend.

I feel your pain. My little pug (16 pounds) stepped right on my port area...it felt weird. I hope it isn't messed up. I was so protective when I was freshly pre-op but since I have no pain or discomfort...I didn't think about it.

It is sooo hard not to fall back and it's funny to me how easy it is to do something mindlessly because you have done it so many times before. I made the kids some homemade sugar free cookies and after I was done putting the last one on the baking sheet...I licked the spoon!!! I didn't click until I put the trays in the oven then I felt bummed that I did it. This battle is more than physical...we have to battle our emotional and subconscious behaviors as well....you're not alone and through this forum we can work on this together. Good Luck!

I started out at 200-250 with 1/4 cup of food 3x daily. My surgery was 4/3/2012. I just increase it by adding two protein supplements a day and now have between 400-500...I can't see how I can get in any more. Right now I can only have 1/4 cup (2oz) meals three times a day and two protein supplements... I'm not hungry...but i know I need to get in more calories. I have been fluctuating all week with the same pound. One morning I a 176 and the next 177 and back and forth. So frustrating. I just upped my protein by having a 50mg shake for breakfast. I had it at 7am and I am just hungry at 1:30 and ready for lunch...so strange to be eating so little and not having an issue with it.

I was told I couldn't wear a bra after surgery....I was so self conscious before surgery but really didn't care that much afterwards...lol Good Luck!

I was on a two week pre op diet that consisted of two protein shakes a day and two small meals. I had to be on a liquid diet 48 hours prior to surgery only because he didn't want any food in my tummy during surgery. Apparently he has had to hand express solids out before when people had their "last supper"so gross...so I just followed the rules and didn't have any issues.

I went through True Results in Houston and settled on Dr. Wilkenfeld who is much closer to where I live. The cost of the surgery was $9,500 with free fills for a year. After the first year unfills are free at Dr. Wilkenfeld's office and only $75 for a fill under fluoroscopy. I ended up having a hiatal hernia and my insurance covered that portion so I was just out of pocket $5500. True Results is really good about finding ways to make it easier for you financially. If I had gone straight to the surgeons office they couldn't have offered me the same payment plan...etc.

I was told 6 weeks for a spa or pool....something about bacteria.

Yep! I didn't expect that so soon...no on to the cosmetic victories....much more slower to notice...lol

It will be here before you know it. Congrats!

You can do this!!! It's funny I told my family the same thing about having things in the house that I couldn't have and to think of me like an addict. I have teens so they can bring anything home...especially around easter. I finally broke down and said...look please don't put that stuff in front of me. I am just in the beginning stages. They thought I was joking but I told them that you wouldn't put a bunch of beer in the fridge and a keg stand in the kitchen for a recovering alcoholic...then please don't put my vices in the house right now. I think they saw the light and are more supportive in that area now. I think as you progress your body will get more and more used to the diet. What Protein shakes are you drinking. I kind of like the EAS shakes from Wal-Mart. They have 17G of protein and only 100 calories...they seemed to keep me full for a while....which helped.

I am a type II Diabetic. Without meds my blood sugar is in the 300's. With meds my fasting is about 190...which is still to high for fasting. Before I decided to have the surgery I was put on three different blood sugar meds and that was my breaking point. Well - I have to report that I have been checking my sugars religiously all week. I have not been taking any meds and my fasting runs 85-109 in the morning!!!!! It hasn't been that low in 10 years even with meds!

I felt pretty good while I was on liquids...but I wasn't on them for 3 weeks...yikes! I didn't feel week and if anything I felt much better. Most likely because I am type II diabetic and my blood sugar was normal during that time. Good luck on whatever you decide!

I am a little over two weeks post-op...and I sleep on my tummy.

My boss does know...but the other partners who will be there do not. Here is the menu...I have never had sushi and not sure what is what. Those that have had this before please help me figure out what to choose...I figure if I pre-plan I can avoid an issue. My doc has allowed me to have fish, cheese and moist soft meats at this stage. However he said no beef and pork products yet. Course 1: Edamame and Miso Soup Course 2: Crispy Rice & Spicy Tuna (Fresh tuna lightly spiced on a crispy rice cake) and Creamy Rock Shrimp (tempura tossed in a spicy cream sauce) Course 3: chicken Nigema (no description), Kobe Style Skirt Steak, Assorted Veggies and steamed white rice Course 4: Assorted Rolls: Baked Crab hand Rolls, Spicy tuna roll, vegetable roll and assorted Nigiri (whatever that is) but comes in Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail and Albacore served with wasabi, soy and ginger Course 5: The Dreaded Dessert....Chocolate Lover Cake and Assorted Fresh Fruit (assuming I have any room at this point I will opt for the fruit) any warning on what to stay away from...I don't want to get stuck during this business dinner...yikes! I figure I could nibble something at each course just to have something on my plate. If I have about a spoonful at each course then that is about 1/4 cup of food...see any holes in my plan??

This looks yummy...any idea what the calories/protein is on it per serving?

I have been putting Frank's Red Hot Sauce on the food that I am allowed to have. I ditto Tracie....I miss a cold drink if things get too spicy...but I have had not issues with my band and spicy foods so far.

I wasn't on full liquids prior to surgery. My two week pre-op was two shakes and two small meals a day. He only required that I be on liquid 48 hours prior to surgery.

My boss is hosting a "fancy dinner" next Wednesday. I will only be 3 weeks post op and still restricted to 1/4 cup of food at a time. He insisted that I go and my husband is going as well. It is a five course dinner. How in the heck can I pace myself on 5 courses...eat a bite a plate? Plus isn't sushi made with rice and seaweed??? That can't be band friendly! I can't remember the last time I fretted about going to dinner....this will be my first public venture after the band. Any suggestions to get through this without drawing too much attention?