Bailey Jan

1 day apart. My surgery was 4/12.

4 1/2 years since VSG!! Weight has been maintained and now I am an avid CrossFit athlete and a certified nutrition coach. If anyone is having problems with their nutrition and food. Let me be here for you. I can honestly say, I know what you are going through!!!

I just had my band out yesterday and for some reason I did not think I would be in pain but I am. It is so sore especially when i go from sitting to standing. Fingers crossed it won't last long.

I am a strong believer that if your mind is ready, your body will follow.
If you're of a positive attitude and have no post op complications, I believe you should be ready to go back to work at a white collar job.
Now, don't prove me wrong... I HATE being wrong!
Best of luck and keep posting on how your journey is progressing, please.

Great advice! I guess if I can have 2 c-sections and the lap band, I can do this! I am also worried about the pain afterwards since in the hospital it will be managed and the recovery time.
I am scheduled for Aug 17 and go back to work Aug 27. Will I be ready? (White collar position, no lifting but a lot of mental stress.)

Rest easy with the knowledge that what ever your pain level is, your bariatric team is experienced and ready to help you.
If you whatever post-op pain med you wake up on is not controlling your pain, speak up and tell your nurses.
Every one is different. Some pain meds work well for some and not at all for others.
Your Bariatric Center of Excellence will be there to help you figure out what pain meds (if needed at all) will control your pain.
Trust them.
Trust yourself.
Now, go and worry about something else---- you know you will. We all do!
Keep posting and allowing us to follow your progress. I have the hunch that you will do very well.

This is my 5th or 6th fill and I always have the same question: Does your doctor tell you Clear liquids or just liquids and for how long? My doctor's post-fill instructions are the same as after my initial lap band instructions. Therefore, I seem to try to survey others to see their instructions.
I am going to stick with Clear Liquids, today (day 1). Then tomorrow (day 2) regular liquids. For day 3 I was thinking liquids in the morning and gradually increase to yogurt, etc. at night.

My instructions are LIQUIDS first day ( and they give examples, like Proteins shakes, Soups, broths, juice) and SOFT/MUSHIES the day after
( mashed potatoes, puddings, yogurt)..,.. My family knows I like this day bc it is the rare time I order mashed potatoes and don't feel guilt. Third day, back to regular diet.

thank you for the list. At my pharmacy they have that I can not have anything with aspirin products and the other meds I can't have. I also tell every doctor i go to.

I recently had an injury and went to my gen dr and then to a specialist. I personally feel that when I state I have the lapband and cannot take any NSAIDS they are not aware of it. So, I researched and found this list. It gives me a peace of mind to what is safe. Here it is;
http://www.pharmacistsletter.com/pl/detaildocuments/251101.pdf?cs=&s=PL

Love ff refried Beans and add a lil low fat shredded cheese and low fat sour cream on them! So far it is my fav meal. I also substitute the sour cream for ff cream cheese and heat it up all together, it is delish!

I was banded in July and lost 65 pounds but would love the support of a buddy.
My email address is staceywjan@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Stacey

I was just reading this surgeon's site and while it contains promo's for his Clinic, the information was spot on about:
When to fill/unfill
Band slippage
What "restriction" is and isn't
etc.
Here's a link to those of you who don't know how to tell if you need a fill.
http://drsimpson.net/fills/How-to-know-if-you-need-lap-band-fill/How-to-know-if-you-need-lap-band-fill.htm
Fish around his page and you'd be surprised how much you could learn! I did.

Super Walmart has lots of SF Creamers, I use a plain one in my hot tea. Also, Blue Bunny makes the best SF ice cream "Sweet Freedom." I eat a spoonful, it is great! Also at Super Walmart.

I heard from somewhere on this board to take enzyme papaya pills. Maybe before you eat and after. I take them after when I feel like I am going to have a stuck episode. Not sure if it works but it is better then nothing...

It is important to get your Protein in first. This will help with hunger management as well as help with energy and sugar balance. Fruits and vegetables should come next and they are important for antioxidants and to boost the immune system. Whole grains and starches come last, and they are a good source of Vitamins, minerals and Fiber. Soy based products are great too.
For Protein, chicken, fish, lean red meat but juicy (so marinades work great, just watch the sodium and go for low sodium marinades if possible), low fat cottage cheese, eggs - preferably egg whites, but no more than 3 whole eggs per week unless you use egg beaters, low fat deli cheese, greek yogurt or lite yogurt, etc. Peanut Butter is a great choice too in moderation. My nutritionist recommmended the Teddy brand of Peanut Butter as it is made from only nuts and no other ingredients, so it is healthier. Almonds are a great snack too.
For a whole grain snack or to go with cottage cheese, the Ak Mak crackers (whole wheat sesame crackers) are delicious and crunchy. There are five to one serving so it fills you up. Laughing cow light swiss cheese is yummy spread on the Ak Mak crackers too. WASA crackers are another healthy choice. Soy crisps (I love the sea salt) are a great snack choice too and there is 8g of protein in 21 crisps.
As far as vegetables and fruits go - just take the skins off of fruits such as apples, grapes, plums, etc., as they tend to get stuck. Be careful of stringy vegetables (celery, asparagus, etc.), but most veges are great and can be chopped in stir fry (try to eat the chicken or protein first), and can be eaten raw (even better), or in salad. For starch, sweet potato is preferable over white potato. Edamame is a great source of protein and is fun to eat too, especially if you pull the pea pods out yourself. Rice is known to get stuck, but quinoa is a great alternative and there are a lot of good recipes out there that use quinoa.
Oh, and there are a lot of great recipes right here on lap band talk! Check out the food and recipes forum. There are many quick crock pot or slow cooker recipes too - chicken dishes, chili recipes, etc...
Good luck!

I'm not quite a seasoned lap bander, in fact, I'm still a newbie! However, my surgeon is very informative and his practice has support groups, nutrition groups, etc. The nutritionist even takes us to the grocery store to teach us how to shop healthy and out to dinner to assist us with implementing our new dietary lifestyle! Anyway, here is what I can share with you based on my personal experience: (It will vary a little from patient to patient as not all doctors advise the same exact post op instructions)
The first two weeks after surgery I was on a full liquid diet. From 2-4 weeks post op, it was mushy foods only. This meant foods blended in a blender or foods that were of baby food consistency. Scrambled eggs were allowed at this point as well. From the four week point, I could begin eating soft solids and begin transitioning to regular foods. I was instructed to eat bites no larger than the size of one die, and to eat three times a day with no Snacks in between or if I really felt the need to snack, two Snacks per day, one between Breakfast and lunch and one between lunch and dinner but no more than 100 calories per snack. Portion Control was stressed. It was suggested to eat no more than one cup of food total per meal. This was to be broken down into Protein first, then fruits and vegetables, then a starch. Protein, such as chicken for example, should be no more than 3 oz. total. I was advised to weigh my food, and to eat small portions very slowly while chewing at least 15-20 times before swallowing. No liquids from the moment the food touches my lips until two hours after I eat. After the two hour point, I can drink as much as I want until the next bite of food touches my lips at the next meal.
No carbonated beverages and limited or no caffeine. I was told to drink at least 8 8oz. glasses of Water per day. No juices or sugary drinks. Skim milk only as far as milk is concerned. I was advised to eat at least 50g of protein and to take a mulitivitamin (chewable) and viactiv with Calcium (one or two per day but not taken at the same time because your body can only absorb so much at once).
I was advised to make sure my chicken or any other meat for that matter, was very moist so as to limit the risk of getting stuck. I was advised to stay away from asparagus, the stringy part of oranges (the pith as it is called), breads, unless they are very thin and toasted such as weight watchers wheat bread, and to avoid slider foods which are foods that slide down easily and are unhealthy (ice cream, full fat puddings, etc.) I was advised to make healthy, low fat choices, to stay around 1200 calories per day and to exercise at least 30 minutes every day.
I hope this helps, but if you want more specifics, I would be happy to share particular foods that were recommended to me. I also have to mention the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein powder. (www.unjury.com) I have at least one shake a day, usually for Breakfast when my band is tightest, to meet my daily protein goal. One scoop of vanilla Unjury with a cup of skim milk and ice. I often blend a banana in as well. It is delicious and one scoop of Protein Powder contains 21g of protein.
Finally, I did not feel restriction two weeks out either. It usually takes a few fills to find the right restriction, but for others, fills aren't even necessary as they feel enough restriction with just the band. It is totally an individualized thing. You'll figure out what's right for you. I would suggest keeping to the portion sizes and dietary guidelines, even if you don't feel restriction. Otherwise, what's the point, right! I would also suggest finding some support groups for lap band patients if not a doctor and/or lap band nutritionist who can guide you in the right direction. Post op support is so very important as there are bound to be questions and concerns that will arise, and simply to help keep you on track. Good luck!

I forgot to check their website! Thank you so much.

2-3 days for me in NY. I love Unjury - only the chocolate splendor. I think it tastes almost like chocolate milk. I believe you can only get it online. I have a glass of it mixed with skim milk every night! I also like Click Espresso Protein Drink in Mocha. I have one every morning in place of my coffee. It is good hot or cold (almost like a frappucino). I add some sugar free caramel Syrup to sweeten it up. I guess you can tell I have a sweet tooth!! HAHA!!

8 chicken breasts
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
1 bell pepper
Several jalapenos (I do about 5, the gest cooks out a lot)
1 can diced green chiles (sm)
2 chicken bouillon cubes
2 lg cans old el paso enchilada sauce
3 cans black Beans
.5 bag of frozen corn
Salt and pepper to taste
dice all the veggies and throw everything in the crockpot. cook 6-8 hours, then pull the chicken and shred it (it falls apart). Put the chicken back in to soak up juices and leave crock pot on low. This takes about an hour, I like to leave it juicy.
I divide this into smaller dishes and freeze it. I take out one dish and it serves about 3 meals for me. I like it with melted cheddar cheese and crushed red pepper, then dipped into sour cream. it's low carb, high Protein and DELICIOUS!
Sorry the measurements aren't exact, I created this recipe and usually just wing it

- trader Joe's southwest chicken quesadilla
- 99% fat free ground turkey mixed with southwest taco seasoning, salsa, red onion, and sour cream.
- light string cheese
- dannon Greek yogurt, Esp. The cherry flavor.
- healthy choice frozen Greek yogurt- 100 cal each.
If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, they have great band size portions in frozen foods and do not taste like traditional frozen items. I love TJ's!!!
Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

There is a Almond milk with Protein available. I get the unsweetened vanilla. 30 calories and 5 grams of Protein a cup.
When I'm home in the morning I put 2 cups
In a blender, a banana, 1/2 cup blueberry and a a 1/2 cup Greek yogurt hand Full of ice and that's a great smoothie.
Got about 40 grams of protein and all the Vitamin benefits of the fruits.

Here are mine
1. Laughing cow creamy swiss cheese
2. PB2 & cocoa Pb2
3. Greek yogurt
4. Lowfat Cheese ripped apart And put on parchment paper for 30 seconds in micro
5. Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich (but I dont eat all of the sandwich part)
Runners up:
Guac and hummus but still not sure if I'm ready for a healthy cracker to dip them in
Morning Star veggie burgers
Many of the above listed items Were suggested by this board. Thanks!!!

Here are mine
1. Laughing cow creamy swiss cheese
2. PB2 & cocoa Pb2
3. Greek yogurt
4. Lowfat Cheese ripped apart And put on parchment paper for 30 seconds in micro
5. Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich (but I dont eat all of the sandwich part)
Runners up:
Guac and hummus but still not sure if I'm ready for a healthy cracker to dip them in
Morning Star veggie burgers
Many of the above listed items Were suggested by this board. Thanks!!!

Those are some cute plate ideas. I could only think of one: Newleaf and maybe could incorporate it into your loss by turning over a new leaf...