CanCan1791

I'm finding the gum helpful. My doc is fine with gum. I have a very clear cue when i'm not hungry anymore. But man is it tough to stop eating!!! Does it get easier? Or is meal time always a war zone.

What really helped me was the realization of how addicting it is. When I stopped drinking it, it would call to me. I would pick one out of the refrigerated case at a store and not even realize it was in my hand. If I did anything that made me a little sweaty my brain would focus on a diet coke to cool down. It looked exactly like quitting smoking and that scared me. I swore I would never drink it again. After about a year I tried one and it was disgusting. It tastes like peppered licorish. It gets easier but it is 100% addictive, so it's hard to quit.

Thanks guys. This is very helpful. I love food network and coffee too. I guess I need to take up knitting or something to keep my hands busy. So far I'm winning the battle but Holy Cow! is it a battle. Thank you for all the support.

I'm new. I was banded April 11. I have not been terribly hungry since I was banded, however, my brain will not shut up. So far I have been able to reason with the head hunger but I'm losing the battle. What do you guys do to fight off the voice that is constantly goading you to eat?

Can you eat some protein first and then cave into the cravings? In other words, tell yourself you can eat the brownie but only after 6 oz of chicken. At least then you won't be eating so many calories. Pregnancy is tough, those darn hormones.

I was banded on the 11th also. My port incision is sore too. In fact, I still am considerably sore. I am glad I work from home because I would have never made it back to work on time.

I had the same issue. I was fine with the optifast before surgery but afterwards, they upset my stomach and gave me the runs. I stopped the protein shakes and used broth instead.

I like to eat at night in front of the TV. Before my surgery I bought a really good blender. I figured if I had to eat pureed foods, I wanted them blended well. I bought a Ninja Blender at WalMart for $40. The great thing about this blender is it crushes ice really well. So everyday I would freeze a tray of Mio Iced Tea cubes. At night, I would crush the cubes in the blender and have a very satisfying 0 calorie treat. Eating ice is bad for your teeth but if you crush it first, it gives you just enough chew to make you think you're eating. That and jello in wine glasses got me through those really awful two weeks.

Wow! That's awesome! You're an inspiration to all us newbies!

Don't keep foods you don't want to eat in your house. And don't use your children (if you have them) as an excuse for keeping unhealthy foods around. If it's not there, you and your family can't eat it.

32 is very young. I'm almost 42 and think of myself as a kid still. Don't grow old before you have too. I only told those that needed to know, my husband, my best friend, my mother and my oldest son. Mainly because I needed their help after the surgery. Plus, the diet is really weird in the beginning so it's hard to hide from those who see you all of the time.

Yep. I do. I have really painful spasms and grumbling so loud I scare my cat. Are you on the liquids still? The liquids make the gas and diarrhea worse. I was banded on the 11th and am still in pain (from the spasms, not the actual surgery). I lay down on a heating pad and my stomach settles pretty quickly. Walking also helps. Also, try to stay calm because if it is spasms, anxiety makes it much worse.

I think I'm stuck with a bump. I see my doc on Wednesday so I know for sure then.

Oh boy. I love gum. When my brain is telling me to eat, I chew gum. I've never swallowed gum before. I wonder why my surgeon or nutritionist never said anything. It amazing how so many of us get different information. I'm seeing my doc on Wednesday and I'll ask him about it. thanks for the heads up.

Why no gum? I never heard that one.

I quit diet soda two years ago. It was harder to quit than smoking. If you stay strong, the cravings go away completely. If you can get a year under your belt you will not longer like the taste. Seriously, you can quit. I was 2 liters a day for over 20 years and now I can't stand the stuff.

Hi Bandsters! I was banded on April 11. I was supposed to be outpatient but my stomach spasmed so bad that I had to do a 23 hour stay. I'm on full liquids this week and pureed next. I'm thinking I'm not going to get my first fill for several months because my stomach is still very sore and spasm-ee. Are you guys still sore?

That stinks! I guess the silver lining is that it sounds like it will be a very tiny cut and not hurt too much. So sorry you have to go through that. Good Luck!

Thanks. I guess i'm worrying over nothing. There is a definite bump but it's not like I'm going to be showing off my belly anytime soon. I guess I freaked out because i have a shirt i want to wear when I lose about 70 pounds. It's knit and form fitting so the bump will definitely show through it especially, with the added weight loss. It's my goal shirt and when i can, i'll wear it proudly, bump and all. Thanks for the advice

Yum! Cat food...lol. Actually, anything sounds better than liquids. Are you using liquid or chewable vitamins? Vitamins have always made me sick but I can do the chewables without an issue.

In the early stages of pregnancy there is not a lot of weight gain. Most women can stay in normal clothes until after the first trimester. If the pregnancy tests are coming out negative, you are probably not pregnant . Worrying about being pregnant can make your period not come. I would advise just relaxing and waiting to see if you get your period in the next week or two. During that time don't drink alcohol or smoke. If you are pregnant, the waiting doesn't hurt anything. You may be stalled in weight loss because you are in a happy relationship. When I met my husband (preband) I gained 20 pounds in a very short time. And absolutely use some form of birth control. Babies need to be planned.

Let me know how it goes. I start pureeing Wednesday and it sounds so gross. I'm looking forward to some meat but the texture just sounds disgusting.

So that bump is the port. Darn it! Have you ever hear of anyone being able to see it so clearly? Do you think is could just be swelling?

Good Luck! The pre-op diet is the worst part, so don't worry about the rest. You're gonna be fine. My only advice is to bring really warm socks and wear them under the the socks they give you. The surgery rooms are very cold and this will keep considerably warmer. Congratulations!!!

I'm new to this too but I can share your pain with the diarrhea and liquid diet. I had two weeks of liquids before my surgery and a week of clear liquids post op. Now i'm on a week of full liquids and do mushy foods next week. I researched what I could possibly be pooping after almost a month of nothing. I'm not sure how accurate this is but it makes sense so I'll share it with you. Urine is the liquids that have been flushed from your bloodstream. Any extra liquid stays in the colon. We're on liquid diets thats explains the watery stool. In addition, anything you drink that is not Water has particulates that are broken down in the colon. That's why there's always a little something besides water. Also, your body dumps waste (dead cells, etc) in your colon, too. Lastly, the water is a brownish/green/yellow because your liver is releasing bile making it that color. Hope that makes you feel a little better. Congrats on your band! We're band buddies, I was banded April 11.