BeverlyDiane

I will not have my first fill until the 10th. That being said, I eat a cup of veg/carb plus 3oz of protein. There are days when I am so hungry I could eat a lot more. I saw my nutritionist Monday and we went over my diet and he did not have a problem with the amount. Are others only allowed 1/2 cup of food?

Katie is so nice there is no reason to freak out. Mainly she is just looking for areas that you might need extra help, such as exercise, grazing, carb addict, poor nutrition, etc. The test asks the same questions in different ways. They are about yourself and your habits, like do you smoke,etc. If you have a specific question, I'll try to answer it. I had my evaluation around 2-3 months ago and there is no right or wrong answer.

I bought mine on-line, but I'm with you about being tired of the drinks. I had an appt. with the nutritionist today and when he mentioned making a smoothie, I asked him if I had to drink them. He said as long I had 60 to 70 gr of protein in another form I did not have to drink the protein drinks. We went over my food diary and we discussed peanut butter and the problem I had with bananas. He said he had patients that had the same problem with bananas even w/o a fill. He said I could eat regular peanut butter as a protein as long as I thinned it and put it on or in something. He was happy with my weight loss and diet so far, then asked if I thought I even needed a first fill. I said I wanted to keep my appt. on the 10th with the surgeon and discuss with him whether I should have a fill. I told him some days I was hungry all day and had to restrain myself from eating more. So I guess I'll see on the 10th whether I'll get a fill or not. It scares me to think he may not feel it is necessary.

I get a pain in the middle of my chest and if I continue to eat the pain becomes worse.

I probably should have said I do not have a fill. I must have some restriction or the food would go down. My dr. will not do a fill until 6 wks after surgery. I was banded the 28th of July. I will ask my dr. why I have PB'd without a fill as it is a mystery to me also.

I get my first fill on the 10th. I cannot wait as I am getting really hungry at times. It's strange because my band leads me to believe I can eat anything. I have no trouble with what I have chosen except on two occasions where I have PB'd. The first was whole wheat toast where I thought it was probably entirely my fault by taking too big a bite and not chewing it enough before swallowing. The other was today and I know this was not my fault. I took a small bite of a banana and chewed it completely. However, when I swallowed it did not stay down. Me, not believing I couldn't eat something I really like and is good for you, tried it again. And again my band said, "Nope!" and it came back up. I guess I now have two items on my list to avoid. Anyone else find food items you cannot tolerate per 1st fill?

What great news Dionna! I remember being close to onederland maybe 10 yrs. ago. It's been a long time for me and I hope we can all achieve it sooner rather than later. I need to lose 49 lbs to be there. That being said, I feel so much better already (physically and mentally) with what I have already lost. Keep it going butterflies! Yeah us!

Charlene, I got stuck on whole wheat toast Sat. afternoon. I had a bite in my mouth (too big) when the phone rang. I hurriedly swallowed so I could answer the phone when it happened. My chest hurt like I was having a heart attack. I was running around in circles beating on my chest and raising my arms up and down and the d..... phone kept ringing and ringing. My DH ran in and didn't have a clue except to think I had lost my mind. Finally I started coughing and gathered myself to the nearest disposal. Up it came and most of the pressure was relieved, but I won't be eating toast for a long while. Lesson learned.

Here is the Heart for the July Butterflies. I noticed some were missing theirs after I changed my picture in my signature. If you want it just right click and copy, then paste back into your Edit Signature box. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Congratulations! You have worked hard for it.

Good Morning Butterflies, The best meal I have had since going off mushies if fresh peeled tomatoes stuffed with cottage cheese and tuna. Yummmm! I still have trouble with some real food, like peanut butter, triscuits, and chicken (I only like the white meat.) Still, I am finding plenty of other things to eat. I made the mistake of weighing today and found I had not lost any more, but I had not gained either. Now I am waiting for restriction, impatiently of course! I am 17 days post-op. At this point in any other diet, with no weight lost and real hunger returning, I would be giving up and letting the ravenous wolf inside me devour all. It is hard, but with the hope of proper restriction dangling before me, I know I can hang on (with teeth gritted.):biggrin: Hope all you are doing okay.

I am 16 days post-op with my first fill scheduled for Sept. 10. The best meal I have had so far is fresh tomatoes, peeled, with cottage cheese. :biggrin: Yummmmmm! No more mushies! Everyone have a good day.

I can feel my port under the skin. I hope this is not what you mean by popping out. I am two weeks post-op and self-pay. I would hate to have to pay for a revision!

Congratulations! You'll enjoy the seminar. Be sure and write any questions you have down so as not to forget to ask.

Hi Butterflies, I am to start "real food" tomorrow, so I thought I would give it a little test drive today. I had scrambled eggs, grits, and crispy bacon, very small portions, bites, and I chewed, chewed, chewed. It tasted so gooooood in the mouth, but my pouch said no, no, noooooo. I believe it was probably the bacon. I had lots of pressure in the middle of the sternum, no PBs, but the pain was enough that I'm having protein drinks tonight and mushies tomorrow! My DH is traveling for business a few days and I want to risk nothing while he is gone, even tho my DD is close by. This is certainly a new ride, but it still is one I am glad I got on! I hope the rest of you butterflies are doing well on your progressive diets.

Sunshine531 - I was told the carbonation could cause acid reflux and gas with the possibility of stretching out the pouch. Also it fills you quickly not leaving room for the good stuff.

I think Dr. Edwards and his team are fantastic! Dr. Edwards did tell me he is busier now since they are now classified as a Center of Excellence. Some insurances and Medicare will not pay for the surgery unless you go to a COE. Dr. Edwards said some of his patients had been waited for this. They knew they were becoming this, they just didn't know when.

I'm on mushies also. I eat one cup servings and I could eat more. To have sort-of real food back has also increased my appetite. I hope I can keep it at bay.

I have that too at times. It is usually when I eat too fast or too much at one time. I assumed it was my "Bandy" telling me to WATCH IT. Sure hope this is it and not something else.

I have the "CRAP" mask also. I am so claustrophobic it has ended up on the bedroom floor after about 2 hrs. I am a restless sleeper also with RLS. Both my brothers, one who is on oxygen with his, swear by theirs. They say they could not go to sleep without it on at night. I discussed the nonuse of my CPAP with the surgeon and he seemed unconcerned. I had given him a copy of my sleep study. He said with the WLS I should no longer need it.

Orea... I made your turkey chili with a few additions and it was wonderful. I blended mine into a mushie and put a thin layer of mashed potatoes on top...yummm...I haven't tasted anything so good in a long time. My family does not like ground turkey and refusing to eat whatever I make with it. So, I fooled them by calling it Southwestern Chili and had them eat it with corn chips.:w00t: They raved over it! My DSIL said it was the best chili he had ever eaten.:eek: Thank you so much for the recipe. At this stage, we are so tired of the "liquid" diet, we appreciate all the help we can get to spice up our intake!

Yeah me! I sailed through with flying colors and am now on mushies. They said I had lost 20 lbs from my last visit on July 10. I can start "real food" next week. My dr has 4 food phases that can take 4 to 8 wks, but I was told I could skip "pureed" and go to mushies. What a wonderful 36th anniversary gift today held. I only have soreness and some pain at the port incision site, but the PA told me this was normal. I am cleared to start my water aerobics again next week. I am so happy! :biggrin2:

I have the green light to go on mushies! Today is my 36th wedding anniversary and I couldn't have asked for a better present. I even can have "real food" next week and start my water aerobics again. I am so blessed. The PA told me not to go by whether I feel full or not. She said to go by portion size only. They want you to stick at around 800 to 900 calories a day. So she again emphasized exercise, 3 small meals, a snack in the evening if needed, and no drinking with meals. I am scheduled for my 1st fill Sept. 10. Oh, BTW, secondary to feeling so much better physically, I showed a 20 lb. weight loss from July 10, my last visit, to today. Yeah for me! What more motivation do I need to continue on like I have been doing! Orea, the turkey chili sounds mouth-watering. I am going to make it tomorrow after a visit to Wally World for ingredients. Thanks a bunch.

grantp - Go to the top of the screen and click on "thread tools" and then click on "subscribe to this thread." Then on the right side of the screen under member areas it has "subscribed threads." If you click on this it will bring up all the threads you have subscribed to in the past. Any questions just PM me.

JoannMarie - Thank you for the compliment! :thumbup: At my age, I'll take them where I can get them. :biggrin2: Indio - I am in awe of you. You are so amazing. Looks like you are living life to the fullest. Isn't it amazing how much energy and git-up and go we have when we start putting ourselves first and become healthy and fit. You go girl! I was so glad to hear your biopsy was negative. Congratulations and continue on. You are an inspiration.