mellsztav

At 2 weeks out I was ravenous and it didn't make sense why we couldn't have food.< /p>
My assumption was that the reason we couldn't eat solids was that food would get stuck and it would hurt. The two times I cheated, that didn't happen so I was thinking maybe I would be okay if I skipped the blended foods and went right to soft foods. So me being new around here and not educated enough, I asked the question of why we couldn't eat solids. I was shocked that I had made it all the way through surgery without being told the why.
Apparently the band is stitched to our stomach. Everything we put into our stomach, causes the stomach to move. Clear Liquids are easier, full liquids requires a little more work from the stomach, and with each stage the stomach has to work harder to process that food. When the stomach works, it moves, and that can cause the stitches to fail. So at one week, when the band has not scarred in at all, we can only have clear liquids. The band gradually scars in more and more, which is why we gradually eat different textures. By 5 weeks out, it should be secured in place well enough that it won't slip when we introduce regular foods.
Well, the light bulb went on for me! In my mind, I could handle a little discomfort or pain from eating the wrong foods, but I certainly didn't want to damage my band.
I agree with the ideas the others gave you, other than the Greek Yogurt--nasty! Yuck! But give me other yogurts and I like them. We each have our own tastes. I enjoyed puddings (some sugar free, some not). When I didn't know what to eat, I would rely on a Protein Shake until coming up with something more nutritional. Blended Soups were good during the third week. I enjoyed blended raviolis even. That first 4 weeks post op were difficult to come up with things to eat. I've only lost a total of 25 pounds since I began this journey, but I go weigh again next week. I've struggled with just not feeling well, no energy, and so I'm not getting much exercise in. It is difficult to lose when I'm laying in bed all the time. Gotta get on top of that. I'm afraid that your June goal may be a bit unrealistic, but by that time you should be able to go down a couple of sizes and buy a fabulous outfit for your birthday. Just not a bikini yet.

Okay I'm going to paraphrase one of my favorite stories for you. I hope I can get this point across in a couple of sentences because this story was a biography of a prisoner of war. Sorry, I don't remember the name of the guy or the book. Anyway, this guy was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for six years. He lived in a tiger cage, almost starved to death and was tortured on a regular basis. Even though he had been a prisoner the longest, most of the other prisoners died.
When asked in an interview what was it about him that made him survive, while so many others died, this was his answer. He said, I knew one day I would be freed. Others, would arrive a say, "We'll be out by Christmas" or "I gotta be home for my kid's birthday". When those days came and they were still there, they would start to deteriorate and die within months. My goal was to be free but I never set a time.
Keep doing the work and one day you will be at your goal weight.

PLEASE don't try losing 58 lbs in one month... 4 lbs/month is good, anything more is excellent but don't set your expectations so high or you may feel let down!

I'm 2 weeks out too and well, you're a braver soul than I taking bites of bread. I mean I've done mushed up chicken curry and rice, but breads I haven't the courage to touch yet. Look on the bright side though! Ya learned somethin'!

From your post, I think that the most important thing you need to do, is not beat yourself up for this. That intense type of guilt can ultimately have a very negative effect on your ongoing progress. None of us here are perfect people, and do not ALWAYS make the perfect choice every waking day. I once had a diet doctor tell me that he wasn't so concerned about me being a good dieter, as much as I needed to get right back on track after a slip. I would venture to say that most all of us who got to the point of WLS, have not been so great at getting right back on track (prior to surgery). I do know how you feel, though. Just don't let the negative thinking sabotage the big picture. As Carolinagirl said, you didn't eat a couple of pizzas! You knew you momentarily stepped off your program, and got right back. THAT is the name of the long term success game.
I'm only a little over 5 weeks out, and I've had 2-3 days where I felt out of control with food. I still stayed within my weight loss range of calories, but I let the number go to 1200 instead of the 1000 I'm sticking to. And I will tell you (so you try & always be prepared), that those days were days that I let myself get ravenous before I was able to eat. Once I'm to that point, even when I'm satiated with my small meal, my brain goes on a mission to keep going. You will learn as you go along; we all do. Just try & stay off your own case, be honest with yourself WITHOUT beating the crap out of yourself

Protein, protein,protein and Water, water,water
Protein is whats goingmto keep you from chewing off your arm.
Greek yogurt, creamed Soups with greek yogurt added in(boost the protein). My fave was Tomato with yogurt. Low fat ricotta cheese, cottage cheese and eggs are good in the protein dept.
Really hungry, have a cup of hot Decaf tea,my fave is Chai and diet hot chocolate a good go to.
Right now it is mind over matter. You gotta make up your mind that you really want this and you're willing to suffer through the hunger.
Do things to keep busy and your head busy. Clean closets,drawers, cabinets, whatever it takes to not sit around thinking of food.< /p>
BTW. I'm 6 1/2 mths out and can still eat anything I want, just smaller portions, smaller bites and chewing it to mush.
You can do this! Tell your mind to shut the hell up.lol

at this stage I would eat cream Soups any time I was hungery and tht worked until I felt better and got a couple of fills. I emptied the house and took different route to and from places to not go by the fast food places, I carried a pre make protient shake in the car to fall back on. I did best by setting myself up to success. telling the kids no junk food in the shouse any more, no Peanut Butter till I could handle it. 1-2 lbs a week is the best way to loss and keep it off. set yourself up to win this and don't beat yourself up for food you wish you hadn't eaten life happens. track your food it all comes down to cslories in and cslories burned off just like any other diet only this gives you and extra helping hand.

It does get better. I promise! Hang in there.

I have not always needed you.... and one time in my life.. i was a "normal" person. Size 0-3... weight a whopping 100lbs. Back in my single day... then one day you meet a wonderful guy and you fall in love... ahhh things are great. You get married and have a beautiful son. and life is good.... but then you notice that your not happy as you use to be. some days are worse than others... you find the strength to get up every day and go to work and live a "normal" life. Things are good at home... but something is missing... that spark, that feeling you use to get when you and your spouse were together intimately .. and you notice that those time have gotten further and further apart. and you think, what is going on? and one day the reason is staring you right in the face... the mirror... but in that mirror is someone else... surely it's not me... I don't look like that... that's a ugly fat girl... i'm not ugly and i for damn sure am not fat. Can't be... i told my self years ago i would NEVER like myself look like... those people... but then you look closer... and closer and there.. i know those eyes.... those are my eyes... but why do they look so sad. I have happy eyes. and i see, i see the real me. the one others have been seeing for years.... how did i not see this... how did i let myself get like this ... how did i become that girl that now had to shop at the plus size store... when just yesterday i was a size 3... How did i become the girl the skinny girls are not looking at and saying... i'll never let my self look like HER... and i'm the HER. this feeling takes the very last shred of self-confidence and stomps it into the dirt and spits on it. and you think...i am ugly i am fat i am unworthy of love.... unworthy of feeling good. and you start to eat... more and more and everything keeps getting worse. you stop taking care of your self, stop dressing up stop wearing make up and fixing your hair.... stop putting forth the effort at all... You are now sitting in a deep dark care, alone and no one or nothing can show you the light....
But one day... you open your eyes expecting to see nothing... complete darkness and there it is... a speck of light.... it's tiny, but just right there in front of you. and you squint to see it.... making sur its really thee. that speck was my friend Paula... she had lb surgery and everyday we talked and everyday my light grow brighter.... I went to the doctor and did all the test... did it all and the the news that i was approved... OH ... JOy. I looked in the mirror and saw a glimmer of hope. But as the days grew closer... I started to think... WHAT IF... what if i die on the table, what if i fail at this too, what if i stayed fat forever... Then i saw this site...trolled for a long while. I didn't want to sign because, well what if someone knew me... the horror... Then i saw all the successive people... the beautiful woman and handsome men that in their before pictures looked so sad... sad like me. Then i saw the after pictures.. and all the happy smiling faces... people who were bigger than me... now wearing size 6 jeans (lellow)... and i thought.. i can do this i can get my life back.... I will be happy again. so on November 10, 2009... i awoke.. was re-born. and i did do it... i lost 80lbs... it took me longer than most, but i don't care. I have donated all the 12-14-16 & 18 and moved in to my own size 6... On Feb 15, 2012.... after a long hard fight.... i won and awarded my self a tummy tuck... i deserved it. I earned it....
so to my band... thank you... for sticking with me and always keeping me on track.
and too all you out there thinking about doing this.....search with in your self and be happy again... which ever way you choose.....
blessings.....

Is it normal that I look like I'm in my third trimester? I'm walking and taking GasX but this bloating sucks!

Also lay on your side that helped me a lot!
-BriannaXOXO

How exciting!! You will be so happy once your band is in place. I'm on day 2 post op and feeling better and better as the hours pass. I was able to drink my Protein shake this morning, very slowly, but I drank the whole 10oz within about 15 minutes. It feels good to have some substance in my stomach.
I was able to take my outer bandaids off this morning and I took a shower.... it felt so good! I can't believe how small the incisions are. The one over my port is about 2 inches long, but the other 4 are super small.
I am so glad I made the choice to get a lapband. It still doesn't seem real to me. I can already tell that I am more in tune with my body. I'm listening to my stomach signals and following the rules.
Best of luck to you! It will be here before you know it :-)

Unfortunately the gas pain you're feeling isn't in your digestive system so Gas-X won't work. It's in your actual abdominal cavity so the only thing that helps is walking so your body can re-absorb it faster. Some people find a heating pad helps soothe it too.
As far as Boost, I wouldn't recommend it at all. Boost is a lot of calories and not nearly enough Protein. I would call your doctor's office and see if they have an alternative to Isopure that you can use.

heating pad on your shoulder for gas helped me.. also I got up and walked around the house each hour.. use a pillow to hold your stomach when getting up.. as cg says call your Doc about what to eat or drink.. it's important right now to heal not to lose weight... my incision was a little painful but I did not have any issues like yours... again your Dr. should be notified of any changes... in a week you will feel like a new person.. I promise...

I drank ensure with extra Protein. Still do. Boost isn't all that good for you try not to panic, don't over do it. If it opens, go to the hospital ASAP.