ChristineXtreme

I'm in the soft solids phase too and I'm eating around 800-1000 calories per day on average. Some days I have had closer to 1200. I know it's good to mix it up some and have your calorie intake spike for a day or two to keep your metabolism on it's toes. Good Luck!

It gets better each day. My pains come and go and my gas pain is in my left shoulder. If you have not returned to work yet or some level of activity I would highly recommend that you find some way to get a little active. I found that I had things that must be done but I didn't think I felt good enough to do them. Once I started moving everything started feeling better and I was soooo happy I got up. I took a ride on my motorcycle on day 4 post surgery and was thinking at first it was a mistake, but after about 5 minutes I felt great. Moving really gets the gas moving in your body. I went back to work on day 6 and all was fine. Good luck!

Thanks Zoe, I lost 12 before the surgery and 8 since. I have put my scales away though. I don't want to get down if I stop losing or gain a few before my first fill. I can't decide if I want to check on my weight once a week now or just wait until after my first fill. I'm already feeling better though and my clothes are fitting a little better. 21 days of liquids, wow. I feel for you. I'm happy I only had 1 week of that.

My surgery date was 6/18/08 so I have been banded one week today. I’m in phase 2 (soft solids), and no fills yet. I’m curious what the average calorie intake is for folks that are post surgery and have not had their first fill yet. I’m averaging between 800 – 1000 calories and some days I’m going closer to 1200. I just don’t want to gain before I get my first fill.

I went ahead and purchased the magic bullet last night at Kohl's for $49.99. Thanks everyone for your advice and for the great deals. I'm happy with my bullet and didn't have to pay for shipping. I made my first Protein smoothie last night and another this morning. I love it! My husband loves them too. Thanks again!

How do you know when it's time to come off high blood pressure meds? Does your doc just take you off and check you for several days to see if your blood pressure stays down or did you try it yourself and find out you didn't need the meds any longer? Curious

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I think I'll look for the discount ones and see what I can find.

I want to purchase the Magic Bullet blender/chopper to use in preparing my foods. I have seen others on this site talk about this product and it sounds perfect for our food preparation needs. If anyone owns a Magic Bullet and would like to give us a review that is welcome. You get 2 products for $99 but I only need 1 and could afford $50 + shipping a lot easier than $99 + shipping. Would anyone be interested in going in with me on the purchase? We could split the cost of shipping as well. I know that the item(s) will need to be shipped twice but it’s still a good deal if I can find another person to split the cost with me. The URL is http://www.buythebullet.com/whatyouget.php please let me know if anyone is interested. Thanks!

I'm 5 days post surgery too. I know what you mean about the gas and shoulder pain. I'm looking forward to that being over as well. I know it will because I had gallbladder surgery last month and the same gas pain followed that surgery for about 1 week or so. My doctor started me off on full liquids right away, no Clear Liquids, so it hasn't been to bad for me. A lot of Soup and jell-o and Protein drinks. I made home made potato soup last night and it was awesome to eat something that didn't come from a can. Nothing against Campbell's but I can do better. I know we will all start feeling better soon. I'm going to try a full day at the office tomorrow... so wish me luck. Congrats, and hang in there!

I'm going to follow the advise of several people in here and put my scale away. I'm only 4 day's post surgery and losing just fine but don't want to stress out when I stop like it sounds like so many do. I'm going to weigh only once per week and change up my calorie intake and exercise (when I start back up again). I know I don't know anything yet but I do know I have been told time and time again that you CAN NOT DRINK even sips while eating. You really are washing the food down and causing yourself to not feel full. You really must stop even sipping during meals. I know it's going to be hard. I can't begin to think it's not, but I for one think it is causing some of the weight loss issues being reported here. Good luck to you all!

Why don't you try going back to Protein drinks instead of getting your protein from only meats? Maybe that will cut down on your calories some. Just a thought. I love the New-whey bullets. You can find them on vitaminshoppe.com and I mix them with about 12 oz of Water. Good Luck!

Suetigg2, I have found there is no standard diet. Every doctor is telling us something different. Follow what your doc said to do and you will be fine. I had my surgery on June 18th so I'm 4 days out. My doc started me on liquids that included pureed food so I never did Clear Liquids at all. I'm only to be on liquids and pureed food for 1 week, then it's soft solids for me for 1 more week, then normal food. So don't worry that everyone is doing something different. Stick to what your doc said he wants you to do. Good luck, and congrats on the 13 lbs. I'm down 8 in 4 days!

I like New-Whey Protein bullets the best. They have 42 grams of protein and I add one with about 12 oz of water and it taste great! I also like the Nectar powder, road-side lemonaid is best! You can purchase all of these at vitaminshoppe.com

There is no such thing as drinking too much. You should be sipping all day long. I had my surgery on the same day as you. I drink Water, Protein drinks, and juice (very little) all day long. I tried the V8 but it has a lot of sugar so I stay away most of the time. It's suppose to take you a long time to drink, you want to take it slow so you don't get extra air causing gas. You sound like your doing great. I feel for you on 4 weeks of liquid though... I'm so curious why there is not a standard diet out there and all the doc's do something different.

Well it looks like you can ask anything in here so I thought why not. I’m 4 days post-surgery and was pretty happy to have my first BM on day 2 since I had no desire to add constipation pains to everything else. I was afraid with the anesthesia and hydrocodone in my system I would have a problem. Following the advise of my nutritionist I started using Benefiber in my food and drinks on day 2 (2 tsp 2-3 times per day). I have found that the diarrhea is not what I desire either. It’s usually explosive and urgent. Please advise, is this common and for how long can I expect to have diarrhea? Is this just during the liquid diet stage? I start soft solids next Wednesday so will that help? Do you all use Benefiber to regulate you right after surgery and for how long post surgery? Thanks! :ohmy:

Don't lift anything over 15 lbs right after surgery. I would suggest just a small bag of your essentials only and wear the same clothes home that you come to the hospital in. The only thing that matters is your comfort and health. My 2 cents.

Congrats! I can't wait until I reach that weight either! I'm so happy for you! :ohmy::biggrin:

I am 4 days post op and finding baby food really does suck. I'm doing okay with the cream Soups and apple sauce but when I go to eat my veggies and other fruits I have been turning to Gerber. I think I'll break down and use the food processor to make my own. I'm experiencing that restrictive feeling I keep reading about from so many of you in here. It makes me want to go take an antacid but I know that will not really help. When does the pain in my shoulder go away? It's killing me. Down 8 pounds since the surgery this morning -- so it's ALL worth it. :ohmy:

Officially becomming a bander tomorrow, June 18th. I have been waiting for this day for 3 years and my insurance company finally approved me.

Thanks for all of the helpful info everyone. I just got off the phone with my doctor and he answered all of my last minute questions and set my mind at ease about the Realize band so that is the one I'm going with unless he gets in me and finds I need a larger band. Wish me luck, I go under the kniff at 8:30 AM tomorrow!!!! Soon to be a bander!

I think I have it figured out, thanks everyone. I'll need to go back and find something more original though.

I'm finally getting my band this Wednesday and I can't wait. I have been trying to get approval from my insurance company for 3 years and the day has finally arrived. I'm in Dallas, Texas. I'm actully still trying to decide between the Realize Band and the Lap Band AP. I read several hours worth of posts on here about which one to go with and have done tons of research and still am having a hard time making a decision. I'm going to talk to my doctor again tomorrow and plan to make the call then on which one I want to go with. I know lots of you on here have had great success with both bands but any last minute thoughts are always welcome. I would love to know how to get the weight goal signature graphic I see everyone using to track their progress. So if anyone can point me to where I get that from I would appreciate it. Thanks!