stept04

Any calorie is possible on the band but in all honesty, that would require one of the three: 1) cheating the band through liquid calories (think icecreams, shakes, liquor or things that dissolve quickly like cake, Cookies etc), 2) eating excessively. The rule is 3 meals, however, if you wanted to eat more meals or snack continously you can get excess calories or 3) having a band that is not filled to green. Without restriciton, it's like being preband. Not even men are on 1500 cals typically with the band. Once you are banded and at green you should not feel as hungry nor should you be capable of eating large meals thus restricting caloric intake.

I also did the nutrtionist thing for 6 mos. for insurance. After umpteen diets I already knew what I "should" do. If her magically telling me it again would have made it work I wouldn't have needed the band. It's a double edged sword...lose too much and your BMI won't be high enough to qualify for the band. I jumped through the hoops and added lbs. before surgery. Do stick by whatever plan you have to go on for the 2 weeks before surgery. It gets the liver out of the way. With surgery as the daylight at the end of that tunnel I was able to stick with it. Lost 14 lbs. in the 2 weeks....go figure.

Throughout my 6 month insurance ordeal I stressed the entire time, worrying about how much I lost in-between visits etc. Well my nutritionist put it very clearly for me in my case. It wasn't entirely about the numbers, it was about my habits and actions more than anything. They put me on a lower calorie intake "diet" so I could start practicing smaller portions, chewing my food more thoroughly, and stop drinking so much during my meals. So look at it this way, the more you try to prepare your self the better you will be after surgery. I did have my ups and downs during my 6 months but I just tried my hardest and was approved. Good that you are making small changes now, that is great! I also used smaller dishes a few times to help with Portion Control. Best Wishes to you, try not to stress and just try your hardest! You can do this!!

Believe me.....I KNOW it's not easy! My doctor put me on a 1200 calorie per day diet for two weeks prior to surgery. I didn't even stick with that; ate more like 1400-1500. And THAT was a stretch.
All of this WILL be much easier once banded (after you go through bandster hell), and 1500 calories will seem like a lot. After my little meltdown yesterday, I felt like my 1500 calories was 4000 calories! That is the beauty of the band (and plication....for me). 1500 calories on a bad day will not cause weight gain, and my need to add those extras got me through a difficult day. Today......back to my usual 1000.
I hate "diets" too, but really, I feel like I still AM dieting. The difference now is, that I'm able to comfortably stick to a lower calorie plan, and not feel hungry all the time.

LOL! Yeah, you can eat 1500 calories being banded. I had a crappy day yesterday, and ate exactly 1500 calories! Thanks to the plication, I stopped before going any further. You'll learn what foods go through really easy; the foods to avoid!

Im sorry, not trying to be insensitive...but I would die to eat 1500. I eat approximately 800-900. Avg for bandsters is 900-1200 depending on activity level. This is actually a good transition for you so when you dip down further it won't be such a shock or as difficult... (daydreaming what an extra 600 cals would be)

yep I track my calories now and I had surgery in Jan... I hate the word diet too but I'm really happy that the band allows me to eat healthy... I don't feel deprived but I am determined to maintain a healthy weight and not get back into bad habits...

I had to do the 6 month doctor supervised weight loss also for my insurance. I too was put on a 1500 calorie diet. I would try and do it and give up after a couple of days. I was losing 1-2 pounds a month until I quit smoking after 22 years of being a smoker and gained 10 pounds. I lost some of that but overall I didn't lose any weight. However, I was able to start walking and exercising which is something I hadn't been able to do before because I would get so out of breathe. My insurance recently approved my surgery though!! (Aug 9th Yay!!) I've increased my walking to 5-6 days a week and knowing my pre-op diet is two weeks away I'm starting to really limit my calories. I wouldn't stress about the 1500 calorie diet. We wouldn't be wanting the lap-band if we could do it on our own!! I would take small steps and focus on other behaviors also. For me that was quitting smoking, start exercising, increase Water intake, cut back on caffiene and limit alcohol. Good luck!! These 4-5 months will go by before you know it!

Are you female? Doesn't say in your profile, but I'm thinking.....yes. If you are, 1500 calories per day is pretty generous.
At some point, you are going to be responsible for tracking what you eat. Maybe, instead of strongly resisting this part of the preparation, use it to learn how to account for what you consume. Even when banded, you're going to have to keep tabs on your calories and Protein intake.
As you get more familiar with how many calories and Protein are in certain foods, you will learn how to lay it out, and how to get the most bang for your caloric buck. I'm not saying this is easy, but nothing about WLS is easy. If you are thinking that once the surgery is done, that you are home free, please think again. It's a HUGE adjustment, and a 1500 calorie per day "diet" for a few months is pretty generous. If you read through some of these forums, you'll see a lot more stringent pre-op diet protocols than that.
Hang in there......it's worth it!

I assume you're on the 6 month insurance mandated nutrition program? Sometimes I wonder if these type of obstacles are just a way to wean out prospective surgeries in an attempt to avoid paying for one? If we WLS patients could be successful dieting we wouldn't need WLS right?
I don't recall ever hearing of anyone who was denied because they weren't successful with the 6 month nutrition program? It could be possible that should you be successful they may deny coverage because you've shown that you are capable of losing without surgery?
IMO, I would do the best you can but don't knock yourself out by starving yourself for the next 5 months. If your nut is intelligent she will just advise you to make intelligent choices for foods you consume?
tmf

Congrats on your upcoming surgery. As for your questions, here is my two cents....
1. Spicy foods maybe. .. you might find your tastes change. Try and see.
2. Soccer practice probably be able to go but you will have zero energy and my be hurting.
3. Drive yourself forget it, no hospital will release you without someone to release to. Do you have other family or a friend that could drive you?
Just my thoughts. Good luck.

I dont know about too much, but 100% sure you wont be able to drive yourself. The anesthetic is pretty strong and you will be very sleepy/out of it for the rest of the day.

Don't set yourself up as "I will never be able to have those things again!" That is a great way to fail. Eat the one cupcake and then figure out your calories, carbs, etc and work it out on the next meal or two. Now, if you find yourself doing this every day, maybe time to take a step back at look at your program. Best of luck.

I have been banded over 2 years, have lost 109 lbs & you want to know a secret......every few weeks I have a dessert & glass of fat free milk I am truly in the mood for instead of/as my meal!!! OMG am I going to lapband hell???? I don't keep my band wicked tight & although it means I have lost weight slower then many (I still have about 25lbs to lose) for my personal growth in my relationship with food it is the best way to go.
Congrats on all you are doing to help yourself & your health!!!

I agree with AJ and Guy. It's just one cupcake so please don't be so hard on yourself.
The truth is, I personally believe the band is about moderation not deprivation. If I just had one cupcake, I wouldn't feel even a tinge of guilt. I'd just be sure to track the calories so I still stay within my daily allowance.
Hang in there

It will happen again, and its ok. Just compensate with another meal (skim off 100-150 cals) and it'll have zero effect. You'll have to understand how to live in moderation and how to plan and compensate for it. It's a powerful realization when you learn that you can incorporate junk foods on occasion without it destroying your wl efforts. The key is to not do it all the time.

It's good to have a treat every now and then. Don't beat yourself up over it. This is for life...... and life has cupcakes.
Like Guy said, at least it wasn't a dozen.

Okay, five minutes in timeout and don't do it again! Lol. Happens to the best of us and at least it wasn't a dozen!

I was banded 3 weeks ago and have not made it past mushy's. I had my first fill yesterday, and you guessed it, had to start liquids all over again! Solid foods are not even in my horizon.
This is a completely different world when it comes to food, so just keep asking questions and seeking more knowledge; this forum has wonderful people to help you!!
I had several hiccups my first few weeks, and found the LB food journey a little tricky, but it gets easier. Remember: you are eating to live, not living to eat! I just keep telling myself: this would not be my first choice of food to eat, BUT I cannot eat the same as I did before and expect a different response!!!!
Try eating with baby spoons (if mushy's your bite should be 1/4 full), get the gerber size 4 oz containers and when it's gone... that's it... meal over (it should take 20-30 minutes).
A food diary will SHOCK you as to how many calories you are actually consuming & when you know you have to log in a food... oh man, does it keep you honest! Also have someone check your diary, my hubby looks over mine (another form of accountability), and he actually watches me eat and will occasionally tell me to slow down a tad... Hello!
Also, I started a little note book and began scribbling down hints from this forum that I thought would be useful in the future.
Good luck!!!!

Oh dear, you are eating: 1) too fast 2) the wrong thing too soon. You shouldn't go anywhere near solid foods right now. If you just have to have it, then chew it and spit it back out without swallowing it. I'm afraid you are going to do some damage if you don't correct these behaviors right away. Which do you want the most: the food that go you where you are now or a healthy weight and beautiful baby? The choice is yours. It would be ashame for you to go through this whole process and not do your part.
We are here to support you, but we will also get on your case when you need it and right now - you need someone to get on your case. Snap out of it, do what you have to do to follow doctor's orders and think about the big prize at the end of all of this - having a beautiful, healthy baby who will be proud to look up to you some day. How bad do you want solid foods now? I hope not at all!

Not sure what guidelines your doc put you on, so I'm uncertain if you are being too aggressive and moving onto the next food stage prematurely or not. Here is a typical food plan for postop to transition you from liquids to solids. There's also ideas for what to eat. http://www.longviewregional.com/weightloss/Documents/LapBandPostOpDietMealPlan.pdf Also, without giving us an idea of what you are eating or how much, it's hard to speculate if indeed you are overeating or not.
As for PCOS, it can be a complicated disorder. However, obesity is a culprit since the higher insulin levels contribute to the release of more LH and stimulates androgen production. Simply put, your weight is effecting the hormonal balance in your body. As you lose weight, your hormones go back to stasis and you can restore normal menstruation and fertility. I had PCOS and had difficulties conceiving w/out meds/treatments. After losing 50 lb on the band I got pregnant on one try unassisted. Hopefully you can get to a place that that happens for you or at least meds like Clomid can help you conceive.
Right now focus on transitioning to solids. Report any symptoms to your doctor. Remember, it takes weeks for the inflammation to subside and even mushies can make it an uncomfortable experience.

There are so many things you can eat even on the mushy phase of the diet. Just blend them up or mash them up till they are soft. If you have to add a bit of sauce to things to mush them up, but be careful how much you use.
I love Turkey chilli mushed up in the blender. It has a great taste and it's not a bad consistancy. Try not to stress out your band by eating solid foods until your ready. That is why you have that feeling in your chest. You are probably still swollen inside from surgery and solid food is not ready to pass through the opening in the band just yet. It is possible to also be eating too much if the food is not passing through the band it's just sitting there above it and causing you to feel uncomfortable.
Look for some recipies online for the mushys, and good luck you will make it through sooner then you know it.

If you were just banded on the 1st.. I'm not sure if you should be eating mushies or anything ... I was put on liquids for weeks then creamy , mushies and then regular it was about 4 weeks before I could eat real food.. My dr gave me a big book of do's and don'ts once I could eat I tried to change it around.. Best of luck on your journey.. It takes time but so worth it..

Sarah, I am 2 and half weeks out and I am having the same thoughts. I was almost in a panic when they gave me a date because it became more real. I am just focusing on the positive like not having diabetes and having more energy to do things with my husband and daughter. I am such an independent person and the backbone of my family that being incompasitate for a short period of time scares me. I have started mainly focusing on cleaning my house from top to bottom, organizing bills and doing yard work to get ready for the winter. Doing all this stuff gives me less time to focus on unpleasant things.

Anxiety is normal but serves no purpose Just count the days, focus on prepartions, and start positive thinking. You'll do great!