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It is worth keeping. Remember all the reasons you got it in the first place when you're feeling discouraged. Sounds like I'm about a week behind you and I'm trying to get used to the no drinking with meals. This place is a great place for support. I know we can do this and in the long term it WILL be worth it. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other and a year from now I bet we'll look back on this and smile and help all the next year newbies along. Good luck and be gentle with yourself.

I'm a few weeks post op and my dr. told me definitely NOT to expect any weight loss right now - he called this the healing part of the diet/band. He said it will come soon enough and that after we get into the green zone is when we'll really hit it. Try not to feel too discouraged - this isn't a sprint, it's a lifelong race but we can do it. YOU can do it. Hang in there and it will come.

I would love a good support system too. Please try not to get discouraged - remember this isn't bypass, it isn't a quick fix but it can be a lifelong one. And many people have mentioned it takes several fills to get restriction... I know that's so frustrating but keep up the good work and the results WILL come.

I'm on mushies too - good girl sounds like you did it perfectly! I don't know about your stomach ache but I've gotten a couple myself since starting foods and I figured it was just that - my stomach not used to food. Hope you feel better soon.

Somebody help me figure this out. I was a huge drinker with my meals and I'm on to mushies and they told me to start working on it before I get to solids. I drink an hour or so before and I'm counting down the minutes after to be able to drink. It's probably all in my head but I feel like I'm dying of thirst until I can drink. How do I do this and get used to it? I am so wanting to drink all the time and would rather drink than eat lol which is weird I know. HELP?

My dr. used to do left side but recently said he started doing right side (can't remember why but he said a reason) and it's lower than my bra line. Anyway I sleep fine on my stomach as long as I lay down carefully. You'll be fine

I've only been banded a few weeks and I don't expect many radical changes except getting thinner and being healthier... interesting thread! I will say I know several wls peeps (some band, some bypass) and all but 1 have been divorced since being banded so I think that happens more than we might expect but maybe that's just my friends. What about YOU?

I don't know what to tell you but I hope things turn out well and that you don't have to go through that again. Some people say it has taken 3 and 4 fills to get restriction so maybe this bigger one will help you a lot. Practice what you know and hopefully it will be ok. Best of luck to you!

I like what everyone else has stated. Sounds like you have amazing will power but also sounds like you could really use this tool - so don't be afraid to do so. Just because we've all heard horror stories, doesn't mean WE have to live one. My dr. told me just yesterday that everyone expects to throw up with the band but you don't have to - (I was worried because I hadn't yet). You can be the success story you want to be (sounds like you already are)! Best of luck in whatever you decide.

I was banded on the 29th of June and yesterday was the first time I really felt hunger and I wouldn't have even known that's what it was except my tummy actually growled. It will come back but enjoy it while it doesn't... I hope what you're feeling is what the green zone is going to be like . Best of luck to you!

I saw some pix once showing the size we should really be eating and it was about the size of a pea. Every single bite. Are yours that small? Maybe your fill was too tight? I second the suggestion to talk to your surgeon. I would think using the water to wash it down feels right but I thought we weren't supposed to mix the two as much as possible so there's got to be some other way to get it down. I'm sorry you're going through this!!

Toasted really? Does that go for any bread? I had planned on never eating bread again - I haven't seen anyone banded eat bread well so I didn't really think it was possible.

I second the diet thing - ask what, why, how long, etc. Does liquid really mean liquid only or does it mean mostly liquid, etc. because I'm surprised at how much variation is out there. Also ask about follow up appointments, what's included in price for the first year, how much other years are, fills, etc. what's covered by insurance or costs if you're self pay, etc. Good luck, great start to your journey!!

I didn't know we weren't supposed to use a straw! oops, oh well. Anyone know why? As for liquids, I found that there were a LOT of soups out there I'd never heard of - just in trying to find broth type soups without anything else in them. You can also add seasonings to almost any broth so if you want chicken tortilla type Soup, add some chili powder or chipotle. Want roast w/ potatoes? Add garlic seasoning, or au jus to beef broth, etc. I just got creative walking up and down the aisles but only getting what was truly liquid. And even though it feels like it lasts forever while you're going through it, it isn't really forever . Also on the diet aisles there are SO many Protein drink options -some taste better than others but you can get even flavors like mint or Peanut Butter, etc. I ended up preferring the carnation instant breakfasts and am still having one every morning even though I'm on to mushies now. Best of luck to you!

I've read quite a few books about this same topic - the whole conspiracy theory thing about the government trying to keep us fat... I half believe it. I think it's big business to have us eat and eat and eat. And then it costs a ton of money to help us get healthy again or else it costs tons of money to take care of us when we're ill. We just have to fight back. And try to teach our kids better.

I have to agree with the above poster. We all probably have unhealthy relationships with food and I know how hard it is - believe me I know but you've got to stop. It's about your health. Someone here has a tag line that says don't dig your grave with your knife and fork or something like that. If you knew it was life and death would you cheat? Is that brownie/chip/hot dog/whatever REALLY worth it? This is surgery and it is IS serious. Take care of yourself. Believe in yourself. Stop cheating now because you're only hurting yourself. And I know how hard it is, I really do it but do it anyway.

I went through some kind of detox and the first 3-4 days were miserable. It very well could be. Maybe the flying is upsetting your usually full stomach?

Walking makes all the difference, even if you can only go up and down your hall. Body pillow pressed against your incisions will make night sleeping so much easier - or else push on them yourself... even when you're feeling better (for me day 4, some day 3- no you aren't going to die the first few days even if the gas makes you think so) be careful twisting or bending. I'm a week postop and I only hurt when I twist or bend wrong. Stay hydrated - even if you can't get anything down keep ice in your mouth and chapstick on your lips. Good luck. The pain etc. doesn't last too long. And don't forget popsicles!

Supposed to start puree tomorrow but also leaving on a vacation to the lake for a week - there will be a kitchen in our cabin but not a store. Please please help me come up with some ideas for what in the world I can take and eat... don't want to lose an entire week but also ever so nervous of starting "food". Any ideas? Also I haven't told ANYONE in the fam I'm banded just that I'm on a dr. puree diet.

Thank you I've got some great ideas and feel like it's possible now. THANK YOU!!!

Yes that's correct. I am supposed to be getting 50 grams protein starting tomorrow and I think that's my big worry - what to eat? Breakfasts I can do a smoothie like you said or a protein drink but supposed to be working food back in and protein to boot... does chicken puree? Is that a stupid question? What other good pureeing protein is out there?

I like the ideas she just gave above. When I knew I was doing this journey I started to change my life so it wouldn't be quite as hard once it was here haha so I don't honestly know what I'll do when I'm back to solids (1 week postop). However I eat a paleo diet (anything you can hunt or gather) so I'd do omlettes in this baggies you can boil, eggs, onions, veggies, etc. and then you throw them in the micro and poof omlette. You can reuse them over and over even though ziploc or whatever says 1 use . I'd boil at least a dozen eggs every week so there was always a go to protein. I'd make almond meal pancakes or sizzle up some sausage and put them in the plastic reusable things so mornings which are always rushed we could just micro stuff and eat in 30 seconds flat. Also got a magic bullet and would do baggies of spinach smoothies which had fruits, spinach, protein powder, etc. all mixed and then just add some greek yogurt or 1/2 c juice in blender at time of making - super easy so yummy. Most of the stuff would last about a week in a baggie since I used fresh so never tried to do more than 1 week. As for lunches sometimes sandwiches but I don't eat grains so for me it was usually turkey roll ups, cucumber slices, chicken salad, etc. or pull all the meat off rotis. chicken and divvy it up, etc. and then I'd make a trail mix once a week and have it all bagged up in 4 oz packages, etc. so that there is always *something* I can take. I'm the queen of running out of time and not knowing what to eat so either fast food or starving neither of which is good for me.

Sounds like everyone is giving you such great ideas. I know for myself one thing I do is have a day that is meal preparation day (sunday for me) and I get a whole weeks worth of breakfasts and lunches in little containers; baggies of nuts or veggies, etc. and then when I'm uber busy the rest of the week I already have stuff ready to go no matter the emergency. I try to make it just another chore like laundry day or what not. Someday I'll get dinner as ready in advance too and my food life will really be easy.

Sounds like you're doing it all right. Way to go and congrats on the lbs lost!

Was just thinking why doesn't anyone like SALT and then some said chips. Mine is chips and salsa... I'm hoping I can't ever eat them again because I don't know how not to eat them all. I'll be staying far, far away.