DanaAdams

I feel so blessed by my doctor's instructions. I would also second to keep to what your doctor has instructed...as I know you will...and it does seem like a LONG time...but..I know you can make it! My doctor instructed me to gradually go through the stages every few days. Of course he said the recommended time period is a week with each stage; however, he told me that if I was getting all things down through each stage that I did not have to stay on each stage for the whole week. He said two to three days at each stage is good...and then move one to the next stage. I was eating pretty much anything by the sixth day after surgery. I have yet to hear about anyone else eating solid food that quickly...but it worked for me. I was very careful in selecting my food and chewing it up nicely...and always making certain it was doused with sauce or liquid of some sort. I have done exceptionally well with my eating...and I am so glad I am one of the very blessed ones that I can eat anything. I do know that time will pass and you will be able to eat again!!! Keep your chin up! Praying for you!

I agree with Missy! I do not restrict carbs...nor does my doc say too...Every "body" is different, and what works for one person, may not work so well for another. My mother is a low carb crazeee! Heee! It works to restrict carbs for her...not for me. I lose and have lost much more weight watching my calories rather than sticking to a strict low carb diet. I do as Missy and watch my carb intake...but that doesn't mean I don't eat a potato now and then. To me, it all about eating balanced.

I am so glad to see this post!!! Awesome time for reflection! I have given up eating YUCKY foods! My body is thanking me...I am off all of my medications and feeling so clean inside. I can now see the value of eating healthy and balanced. I am enjoying cooking! I love seeing what combinations of flavors I can come up with...and that they all are healthy! I love being able to wonder how folks can eat all that food! I love being able to help folks see and understand that what they put in their bodies will determine their future health. I love being able to give folks ideas of how to cook and eat healthy...and to give their bodies the best chance of running like a perfect machine! The best thing is that I am now rethinking my Master's degree program...I am very seriously considering getting my Master's in Nutrition. I am not an extremist. I am a person who believes in a well balanced life. I had that mentality before my surgery...and now, since my surgery, I feel even more compelled to live a life of good health, good nutrition, and a balanced life style!

I by no means want to tell you to change what your doctor has told you to do, but my doctor instructed me to try each stage of the eating...clear, liquids, mush, and so on for two to three days each...and slowly move on. I didn't have to do a week at a time. Actually, I am two weeks and one day out from my surgery and I have been eating real food since about day 4 to 6. I did begin to feel a little hungry around day 8...and I was craving sweets like CRAZEE! I bought some popsicles and they seem to do the trick to help my cravings before I was completely on solid food. It will get better!!!!! I don't have very many sweet cravings now...

I think about food all the time too...not in a bad way, but rather in the means that I can EAT HEALTHY!!! It is almost as if those bad foods kinda scare me a bit...I still know I can have them...but it is a choice I am making. I look at it as a trade off. So, if I want that white choco-chip macadamia cookie...I need to slow my roll with that baked potato with butter and sour cream! Heee! Certainly, the potato is seemingly better for me...my butter is smart balance and low fat sour cream, but sometimes I just feel my body craving something sweet! And giving in "just a bit" is much better than depriving your body and then going hog wild when you can't stand it any longer. With everything, I believe there is a balance....But...I--like you--think about food for much of the day...but usually in a good way. I hope this helps!

I have been eating solid food since four days out from my surgery. I haven't had a problem eating. My doctor said that he wanted to me to lose no more than 2 pounds a week. I find it so funny that so many doctors has such different means in which to acclimate their patients back to real food. Mine said for me to try each stage two to three days and go in small stages with bulking up my food. That is why I was able to do pretty much all foods within four to six days. I feel very blessed to NOT have any problems eating any food types. He also said that as long as I am losing a couple of pounds each week, he would not do a fill unless I felt the need to really have one. If I can lose without a fill then I am happy with that! Thank you all for your input on my situation!

I went for my first post-op check-up...right at two weeks...this past Wednesday. It was a wonderful appointment. I have lost 12 pounds since my last appointment three almost four weeks ago. I am doing well from the surgery too...He did caution me about losing too quickly and to get that Protein in. BUT~~~I also asked him about the amount of calories I should be taking in. He said around 1,100 to 1,200 a day...BUT~~~I am consuming way less...around 700 to 900 per day. I am getting in all my good stuff--protein and all, but I am really struggling getting in more than that amount of calories with good healthy foods. I just don't eat all that much at a time and I am full for several hours after too. So....my question is that if YOU count calories, how many do you feel is a good amount for you each day? Love ya!

It is funny how you mention that! I do the VERY same thing!!!! I just cooked some lovely yellow squash, onions, and chicken...total calories for the entire thing was only 296...BUT~~~I couldn't even eat half of it! It is not because I feel like some say--restriction or coming up in my throat, it is because I just feel full! My plates were always twice as big as everyone else's...and now I barely eat half of what I put on the plate! I see my small amount that I have eaten from my "small" sized portions...and think.."Gosh, have I even eaten?" I really love the lapband...and I am still eating healthy...and the lapband has nothing to do with that...I don't eat doughnuts and pastries...even if I want to...it is only a taste. So, I feel in control...the lapband is just making it easier! Love it!

Me itchy too! Better now than before....I am a day over two weeks post-op! Doing well and praying you will keep doing GREAT!!!!

THank you all so much!!!!

I am struggling to get that protein in my diet...or as much as my doctor wants me to have....So....I am going to attempt to use protein powder in my food. What type is best...I know unflavored...but should it be Soy or Whey? Also, what brands are the best? Thanx!

Well, if you are only doing a liquid diet...you don't have much bulk in there anyway...I know how you are feeling. Your body is probably trying to get with the NEW program of eating...and it is liquid...so there isn't any big substance in there...your body may be doing like mine and going into what I call a starvation mode...where it is using and conserving everything I drank during my liquid time. I have JUST now been able to go this morning...after two weeks...today of post-op. I am now eating more solid foods, but still needed M.O.M. to help. My body has had a huge shock! I have finally gone....and have lost TWO pounds from getting rid of all that .....Well....you know! Heee! Do do the prunes and apple juice...and try M.O.M. again...I hope this helps.

Congratulations!!! Most folks I have heard of and talked to have a little difficult time going for the first few weeks or even months...Well, because you are not eating a whole lot of anything! Nothing much in--nothing much out! Heee! But, today was my two week post op and the doc told me to take Milk of Magnesia...I have only gone twice since my surgery...but wanted to go...but didn't have anything in me to go! LOL! Things will all work out and I am so glad you are doing well...THE GAS ABOUT KILLED ME!!! I am doing MUCH better with that now!

I am sooo glad you posted this!!! I needed to hear/read the ease of NO pain thing! I haven't had a fill yet...only two weeks post op...going in 5 weeks for another appointment...and he said we will see about a fill then. Thanks for posting!

Yikes! I am praying for you to heal quickly and for that infection to GO AWAY!!!!! Please keep us posted.

I am tickled for you!!!! I had my surgery almost two weeks ago tomorrow too! I have my first post-op appointment tomorrow. So far, everything has been GREAT for me! I will be praying for you! Love ya!

I totally agree with Missy. I watched several of the videos too...and worked-up myself pretty good! But, then, I remembered sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many GREAT stories I have seen and have read through here too. Just keep your head up and things will be JUST fine! Love ya!

I am almost two weeks post-op. I have been doing really well with portion control and choosing good high Protein food, but I am finding I am CRAVING sweets! I have NEVER had this kind of crave before. In fact, I really have never liked anything sweet....no candies, pies, cakes or anything like that at all...not even fruit! So, what is going on with me? I was talking to my regular doctor today--she has also has a lapband--and she says she craves sweets all the time. My SIL also has a lapband and she craves sweets too...Ughh! I surely hope this is just a passing thing, because I have never had to deal with this before. So, how about YOU???? Oh! I was given the GREEN light to STOP ALLLLLL my medicines due to my weight loss!!! Yippppeeee!!!!

I am still doing well...although I did move wrong the other day...and can feel my port now...and am very sore around there. I have lost about 7lbs since surgery...a week and a half ago...wish it was more...but I am still a little swollen too...Gas is still there too. But, other than that, I am doing well! Getting back to normal with driving and all. The major thing is that I am craving sweets! I have never had that problem before. Crazeee!!!!

It is really weird for me...because things that I have never liked before, I am drooling over now! And things I loved before are just not that appealing to me now. It is so strange! Maybe it is hormones for me too!

It is not just the amount of food...but the calories and the health benefit of the food you are eating. I am making sure I chose good food items and make sure that the portion is low...and calories are low too. Being sensible is a huge factor in the whole game! And I intend to win!!!! :-)

I was banded exactly one week ago today. I have been eating well...with good portion control--1/4 to 1/2 cup per meal. I am very satisfied feeling; yet I do not feel like food is coming up in my throat or anything...just that I need to burp. When I get that feeling, I stop eating....and do not feel I need or want to eat more. So, my question is that since I am doing well on my portions and my protein/vitamin intake, do ya'll think I need a fill at my first post-op appointment. My doctor said that during that appointment we would decide if I would get a fill or not that day. I do not feel a GREAT big restriction per say...but I do feel satisfied and not hungry at all...for at least three hours or more. And I am doing well with my weight loss...very steady--a one to two pounds about every two days....I have lost six pounds since my surgery--I am one week out from surgery. Thank you all for your help! I love my Bandy Family!!!!!