BigDennis

Now look what you got started D.R.! LOL Based on the way mine has been acting, since my last fill, I think you are correct in assuming it is a female entity! LOL

L.L., It definitely depends upon what stage you are in at this moment. IF you are past any of the stages that actually require mushy or liquefied foods, then yes you are circumventing the purpose of your band. Your doctor does not want you to simply blend foods and drink your meals. The idea is to slowly work yourself up to the point you can safely and comfortably eat three small meals per day. While many believe it is acceptable to drink your Protein, my doctor stresses that I eat my Proteins and not rely on the liquid versions. I hope this answers your question, but please let us know if you need more clarification. Dennis

Andrew, You may be on liquids and soft foods during the healing period, but the goal is actually to have you eating three small meals per day. The key is taking small bites, chewing very well, and understanding when to stop eating. Your doctor will discuss this with you at some point, but they do not want you getting your nourishment and Protein strictly from smoothies and shakes. You will start off slowly with foods such as fish and very moist chicken, but you will indeed be able to eat other Proteins as you progress. It will be a learning curve for you, but you will do just fine! Dennis

Good evening! I would definitely run it by my doctor and get his or her input first, before moving forward with any type of medication. I am curious, how much Fluid do you have in your band at this point? It would be easy to say you have too much in your band, but you were only banded in July, so that doesn't seem possible. I know a lot of folks opt to drink Protein shakes for breakfast, opposed to creating band and nausea issues in the early morning. Apparently, our bands tend to open wider later in the day, which allows easier consumption of more solid foods. Please let us know what your doctors says, because it would be interesting to see if they agree with the forums! Dennis

I read a report that said our bands are naturally tighter in the morning, which had some banders questioning whether to have Breakfast or not. When you are experiencing nausea, is it before or after eating in the morning? Like CG said, when in doubt, definitely check back with your doctor just to be safe! Dennis

Good morning my sweet North Carolina Princess and charming and delightful b***h! LOL Based on this morning's posts, you guys woke up feeling great today! Me too! Not sure what the boss has planned for me today, but Stud Muffin is feeling pretty lazy today!!

Oh no Mad! Just when you had us both on the run! Take care and we will talk to you soon. Dennis (Stud Muffin)

You know I am! Big Sexy is a name any guy would be proud of! LOL

Yep, Stud-Muffin just happens to be my middle name ladies! LMAO!! Actually, I think both you ladies are very charming and delightful!!

Good point CG! There is def a place and a time for EVERYTHING!

Bite or gently nibble? BIG DIFFERENCE!! LOL ......hey, what was we talking bout????

Carolina Girl is tough on this poor old country boy, BUT not nearly as tough as she is gonna be on her hubs very soon! LOL

Yep! Charming personality = B***h on wheels! LOL Poor hubs!!!!!

Lay the truth out there CG!! Have you been digging into the Viagra? Elcee may have hit the nail right on the head! LOL

One battering ram will not be enough! Been there done that, lived through it, and actually got the T-shirt too! It's hard to say exactly when your TOM will stop, but it sounds like you are definitely in the transition. While you are going through the change, keep the hubs away from all tactical rifles and shotguns! LOL

CG, have you experienced any other symptoms of menopause? It is kind of interesting you are only experiencing these episodes at night, but they definitely fit the description of hot flashes. According to the experts, menopause actually has a wide starting range, but can usually be expected in the age range of 42–58.An early menopause can be related to cigarette smoking, higher body mass index, racial and ethnic factors, illnesses, chemotherapy, radiation and the surgical removal of the ovaries, with or without the removal of the uterus. Can you say TMI?!

I've only been banded for approximately four months and had one fill. I used to never eat breakfast and every "formal" diet I've ever been on actually stressed the importance of eating breakfast within 20 - 30 minutes of waking. "According to research, skipping meals, especially breakfast, can actually make weight control more difficult" (WebMD). The research says that skipping breakfast has the tendency to make one eat more food at the next meal or possibly nibble on high calorie snacks to stave off hunger. I think the reality is skipping meals is a key factor in obesity and should be avoided at all costs. Many times we tend to go strictly on how our band "feels" and not so much on what our body actually needs.

Ah, I couldn't live with my frozen margaritas! Alcoholic drinks offer no nutritional value and are simply empty calories, so you must track them closely. SageTracey hit the nail right on the head! My thought is, a few drinks will not hurt you, but definitely won't help your weight loss goals either.

That is definitely no way to live and not healthy for you. It is great to lose weight, but we have to look after our overall health as well. Get a slight unfill and hopefully you will do much better! Dennis

I have to agree with Holly, hang in there and those soft foods will be the best thing you've ever tasted very soon! I never knew clam chowder could taste so awesome, until I did a week of clear liquids! LOL Like Missy said, Proteins are definitely great at killing huger pains too! I am not sure if you can do shakes yet, but maybe you can mix whey powder into Water or something. In either case, hang in there and I guarantee you it will get better! Dennis

Hi Yoly! It is always awesome to meet other Florida banders! Actually, you and I were banded exact same day! That is such a great feeling to meet and exceed one of your goals! I am still over 300 lbs and can't wait for the day I can say I weigh two hundred anything! I don't know about your surgeon, BUT mine is definitely not good at the diet and nutrition game! However, my support group has an excellent dietitian and he told the group, just this last week, that we should all be shooting for 1000 - 1200 calories per day, with Proteins being our first priority. I personally aim for 90-100 grams of Protein, less than 100 grams of carbs, 15-20 grams of Fiber, less than 100 grams of fat, and drink a minimum of 64 ounces of Water per day. While your doctor is correct, a sugar is definitely a sugar, you would want to select "better" sugars, such as fruits and veggies. He is worried about the starches and high carb foods turning into sugar in your system, so apparently he wants to control all sugar intake. Do you have diabetes or some other reason he is so sensitive about the sugar intake? There are too many great aspects of eating fruits, berries, and nuts to completely avoid them in a healthy diet! Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, I was on the LA Weight Loss diet. I was instructed to eat every two hours throughout the day. My diet plan included 18 ounces of protein, 5 fruits, 5 vegetables, 2 fats, and 2 starches per day, along with my 64 ounces of water. This caused my body's metabolism to increase, burn more calories, and I was healthier than I had been in years! The weight loss was slow, steady, and I lost a total of 135 pounds in slightly over one year! Case in point, natural sugars will not negatively affect your diet or your health in moderation. When you think about it, everything we do has to be in moderation or it will cause issues. Well, it was nice meeting you this morning! Although it looks like Tropical Storm Isaac is heading more towards Louisiana and Texas, we still have to prepare for high water and winds here. I work at the Port of Panama City and they tend to take storm surges a little more seriously! LOL Take care and I will talk to you soon! Dennis

Congratulations! Everyone on this forum knows exactly how stressful and important the decision is to have weight loss surgery is! You will do absolutely fine, but it is highly important you follow your doctor's orders to the letter and pay close attention to the little signals your body will give you post-op. It is definitely great news about your insurance approval and I hope to hear about your successes very soon! Dennis

I don't do well with eggs period. I switched over to Egg Beaters and seem to do well now. Definitely much healthier for you, with less cholesterol. A minute in the microwave, sprinkle an ounce of fat free cheese across the top, add a little pepper, and I am good to go! I have to agree with everyone else, I believe you were still swollen from your fill. Most doctors recommend the clear liquids the first day and full liquids on the second.