2muchfun

Kate is right, But Jamie doesn't have a clue. You can google any subject and selectively find the answer you want to believe. She's looking at studies from nearly 2 decades ago. Recent studies are more like 10%-15%. But Kate's advice is right on. Take small amounts out at a time. Maybe .2 CCs? Eat like a Bandster and you should be able to kick start the bandwagon.

Chae did my surgery 3 years ago. It's always been easy to see him for fills. He's not real big on chatting but then again I've never had any problems. I see him at his Skyridge office which is really a pain since I live in Thornton but it's only once or twice a year if that much.

BTW-I've had about 9 fills to finally get to the point where I'm comfortable with my band and in the green zone.

Thank you, 2muchfun. bkchick88, Give it time. I was banded 11/28/11 and had only lost 12 lbs till late March of 2012 with 2 fills. I had a consult with my nutritionist and she made a few adjustments in what I was eating. I was filled at the same time for the 3rd time and suddenly fat started to melt off. I attribute my weight loss to eating the right foods and exercise, lots of exercise. Talk to your nut! tmf I'm going for my 5th fill today. I have problems exercising because of my knees. I'm scheduled for a total knee replacement on July 1st. Unfortunately, I'll have to have everything taken out of my band for the surgery, so I'll have to start over. At least I'll know how far my band will have to be filled the next time around. Maybe today's fill will be exactly what I need and I'll have the next three months to peel some weight off. I'm certainly ready to see some results. I don't have a nut, so I'm figuring this out on my own. . My doc didn't require me to take any Fluid out and I had my left knee replaced on 10/20/14 and my right knee done on 12/22/14 and had an appendectomy on 12/14/14. I lost 15 lbs after my surgeries but I think much of it was muscle loss.

I was 225 when I started. Max weight was up around 240. I've lost 55 lbs and I'm about 20 lbs from my goal. Keep watching the forum here. There's a lot of great advice here. tmf

bkchick88, Give it time. I was banded 11/28/11 and had only lost 12 lbs till late March of 2012 with 2 fills. I had a consult with my nutritionist and she made a few adjustments in what I was eating. I was filled at the same time for the 3rd time and suddenly fat started to melt off. I attribute my weight loss to eating the right foods and exercise, lots of exercise. Talk to your nut! tmf

You'll need to find a surgeon to advise you from this point but that could be difficult considering your health record. I'd start calling every bariatric doctor you can find. Here's a link to find surgeons near or not so near you. This could get expensive If your current insurance carrier doesn't offer Bariatrics coverage and that's quite common. http://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/ You may have to travel a distance if you can't find one in Austin?

It's not how the band was intended to work. smoothies are slider foods so you will feel hungry sooner than if you ate solid Protein. Make sure you're taking all your Vitamins if you continue to eat this way. The band's purpose is to allow you to eat normal foods but much less volume. Slider foods simply flow through the band and are digested which can leave you hungry or less satisfied. jmo tmf

For any new banders or soon to be banders! One last thing to say about eating solids early? Consuming liquids & purees is a way to keep the stomach calm during the healing phase. They tend to leave the stomach about as quickly as they come in and with much less violence than solid foods Consuming solids, even though they stay down, causes the stomach to go into the peristalsis mode. The stomach is massaging and churning the food in your stomach to aid in digestion. This extra movement is not good for a freshly sutured stomach. It's not just getting food stuck in our stomas. You may get away with disobeying the rules but then it may come back to haunt you in the guise of a slipped band that was never allowed to settle into place. jmo tmf

Recently one of the forum members, veganjello, on the Lap-Band forum, found a delicious liquid to add to anyone's arsenal of acceptable foods and liquids to eat or drink pre and post op. http://milliessavoryteas.com/index.htm Millie's Savory Teas are just like little tea bags with a little green tea(I can't taste the tea) mixed with other flavors like Spicy Tortilla, Tomato Basil, Indian Spice, Smoky Facon(bacon?), Butternut and Lemongrass. I've only tried the Spicy Tortilla and it was very tasty. These tea bags simmer in 6-8 oz of hot Water and taste like broth. There a small amount of sodium in each one and the green tea gave me a nice buzz(I'm a little sensitive to caffeine since surgery) and assuaged my hunger for an hour or so. I'll be trying the others and will add comments as I sample them.

First, you're taking huge chances with eating solids so early. There are very specific reasons why you shouldn't be eating these foods so early. Your band is sutured into place around your stomach and vomiting can lead to those sutures tearing away. Salmon has 4 times as much oil in the flesh as halibut. Halibut is a very dry fish and can get stuck in our stomas just like dry chicken or port. It takes months to learn how to eat like a Bandster. That's why doctors don't want you eating solids so soon. You're just not ready at this point. I know I wasn't and I see people post here all the time who are 6 months out with similar problems. Eat small, eat very slow and chew your food to an applesauce consistency. Sorry for the tough love. You'll get this eventually but don't damage the surgery your good surgeon has done.

IMO..You must eat slower(1), much slower and eat smaller bites(2) and chew to an applesauce consistency(3). Many people think they're already doing this but in reality they're not. Concentrate on all phases of eating. Not just one but all three.

Well, I had no post surgical complications but I did have Bandster hell for 4 months. Not till my 3rd fill 4 months in did I start to feel any satiety/restriction. Reading here for 5 years, I know I'm typical and so are you except for the infected incision. Just keep getting your adjustments and soon you'll be in the yellow zone and then the green zone. BTW-During those 4 months after surgery I didn't really diet, I just ate healthier food. Stayed away from pizza, tacos, ice cream etc. I didn't gain any weight and maintained the 12 lbs I lost the first 2 weeks after surgery.

I went to facebook and they answered right away. 15 mg. caffeine.

No, it doesn't say. It's not as strong as regular green tea bags but it is noticeable. I think I'll drop customer service an email and see if the know?

I don't know of one. I bought mine on Amazon, free shipping and also Millie's is free shipping. I tried the Facon today. Still good but didn't taste much like bacon, just tasted like beef broth.

Just because it's a slider doesn't mean it's unhealthy. As long as you aren't hungry between meals, you're losing weight and the shake satisfies your nutrition requirements why not? But looking at this from a lifelong lifestyle I think in the long run it's best we consume normal healthy foods most of the time otherwise it becomes just another diet that you tire of? And I believe docs/nuts consider sliders to be any food that does not stimulate the valgus nerve?

Received my order and tried the Spicy Tortilla flavor this morning. Not all that spicy but it's still quite tasty. I'm a little sensitive to caffeine and alcohol since surgery so the caffeine in the green tea gave me a good buzz and reduced my hunger. I would also highly recommend these teas for anyone on the pre and post op surgery diets. Or, for we banders, post fill for a day or so? tmf

It's obvious to see why so many don't recognize you any longer?

Wow! LOL...I think if and when I look this good I'll post it 6 times too

Seems to be common to get nauseated, dizzy, weak during these diets. Your body wants carbs and most of us gave our bodies more carbs than they could handle. Your body is probably turning on it's glucose storage for energy where before, your body had a constant stream of carbs. Of course I don't know you and this is just an example of what goes on for many of us?

I like Countrysweet's answer. You can down 16+ ozs of slider foods in a matter of minutes whereas chewing your chicken cordon bleu could take 20+ minutes. And solid food will take a little longer to pass through your pouch.

Most of us had stoma's that were wide open at this stage. If you're not having any problems you should be fine. I'd discontinue the gum till you get control of your swallowing reflexes?

Most of us were told to not chew gum because it can get stuck before the stoma. The answer to your question depends on how far you are from surgery and how tight you are? If you can still drink Water generously I'd think you're fine.

You know, I was approved about this same time of year 3 years ago. I was banded the Monday after Thanksgiving. No pre-op diet so I didn't have to miss the feast on Turkey day. But, the next 30 days leading up to Xmas and New Years was very difficult with all the food, Cookies, egg nog etc. But, maybe it was a blessing since I couldn't eat anything or risk damaging my surgery. I got over it. Good luck. tmf