FWWAB

Mushies= eggs, Soups, oatmeal, Protein shakes, potato, yogurt. Loved the oatmeal. Smashed potato or yam is also pretty good. I can also eat baby food, but it's not particularly yummy. Oh, and tofu. As in hot and sour Soup, or marinated and baked. And, you're right. Weight loss definitely slows down in the phase.

I had another milestone last night ... I fell asleep on my stomach. Yeah! I also started mushy food yesterday ... had oatmeal for Breakfast, and then ended up having tofu (prepared differently) for the next two meals. And a bit of yogurt (Kefir actually). Unfortunately, it didn't fill me up. But the good thing was, no stomach upset and I felt fine after each meal. I notice that some December bandsters have registered big weight loss numbers - congratulations!

Me too on pretty much all that. I want to sleep on my stomach but the port keeps stopping me. My incisions aren't itchy at all, thank goodness. Oh, I do still have a pretty large bruise at the port location, but it's also fading, kinda a technicolour yellow at the moment. The gas has been a lot better in the last day or two. I also have more energy. Unfortunately, I'm pretty hungry. I can hardly wait for the first fill to see if it'll help me with the hunger pangs.

This is pretty much the only place I like being called a LOSER!

I didn't have a liquid pre-op diet. Mine was grilled chicken, or grilled fish, or canned tuna. Then salad, no dressing. And yogurt. So basically no fat, no sugar.

You're amazing! You took the dogs out for a walk? Well done! Hope the rest of your recovery as uneventful as your first day.

Post-op Day 6 - one word: GAS-X!

I read this article on Oprah's site that explains a bit about why we all think about food: The Way to Eat with Dr. David Katz But, I know that I think about it a bit more than most. I'm very much looking forward to this side effect.

Thanks a lot for asking this question! And thanks for the advice. I think I'll stick to tofu - in soup, or braised - when I start back on solid foods. I wonder if anyone has tried seitan or wheat gluten substitutes that some Asian restaurants use in place of meat. Vegetarian restaurants use these products, also. I'm hoping these items are as easily digested.

I woke up feeling amazing this morning! Other than a bit of gas still rumbling around, I keep knocking wood as things are going well. I am hungry though. I started on the "full fluid" phase today, which is Protein shake, creamed soup, and yogurt. I start chewing food next week. I've been on all-liquid diet (Optifast) in the past, and I could do it again. I hope all December 11th-bandsters are recovering well.

sleep apnea is definitely not a good thing ... as most of us at lapbandtalk know ... but here's an interesting study I just read: Heavy snorers burn more calories during rest: study

I'm on day 4 post-op. My only issue is a bit of gas rolling around. My stomach looks like a truck rolled over it, but I'm not in pain. The recovery room nurse told me that patients have all kinds of reactions to the surgery - as Pete said - everyone is different. The most "pain" I have is from having to drink Endura three times a day. It's to replace electrolytes and magnesium. I have to consume it twice more today, and then I'm done with it when I move to full fluids tomorrow.

Me too! Me too! Fat Woman With A Band

I lost 11 pounds on the pre-op detoxification diet which was basically low-fat, no carbs, no sugar. It crossed my mind, and at least three of my friends asked, that if I was doing so well on this, why did I need a lapband. My answer was that I've always been able to sustain a diet for a short period of time - and do well - but, at some point my systems breakdown and I go back to my old bad ways. In order to lose the weight I need to lose I have to stay on a diet for a longer period of time. And, of course, above all else, I need to learn -- once-and-for-all -- the habits that will keep me from regaining what I've lost. This is what I want the lapband to help me with, not just the short term goal of losing weight, but the long term of keeping it off forever.

I was also banded on December 11. I had my surgery performed by Dr Patrick Yau at the TLBC in Toronto. I was very nervous before the procedure, more nervous than before the other surgeries I've had in the past. I'm happy to report everything went very well. I did stay overnight as I have sleep apnea and the clinic keeps patients in overnight if they have this condition. I was released very early on Friday morning, and was still a bit groggy in the morning. But it's now Day 2 post-op and I'm feeling almost myself. My stomach is has a couple of bruises particularly around the port area, and it feels a bit tender to the touch. But, I expected all that. So far, so good. Yea!

I also had my surgery on Dec 11th, and have little bit of discomfort around my abdomen especially when taking a deep breath. I've also a little bit of shoulder pain from the gas. Definitely walking around is the best remedy, even just doing laps in your hallway or around your room. A little movement helps quite a bit. The written instructions also suggest GasX or Bean-o to help relieve the gas.

I'm post-op Day 2. The post-op meal plan I received is specific about what to eat when. For example, I am to consume Clear liquids only for the first four days. That is, vegetable, chicken or beef broth. Apple juice. Herbal tea. Jello. And three times a day have "Endura" an energy and rehydration supplement. This supplement is just barely palatable. Oddly enough, I'm not hungry. I spent 10 days on the pre-op detoxification routine, and I think it set me up just right for this period. After the four days of clear liquids, I move onto to 7 days of "full fluids", this includes a Protein supplement, yogurt, and strained soups. So, anything that can be consumed through a straw (but not using a straw). The stage after that is the pureed phase (again for 7 days), which as you can imagine has lots of mushy stuff - baby food, scrambled egg, soups. After that I begin solid food, i.e., the regular eating. So, by the time I go for my first fill on January 12, I'll be eating regular food (in very small amounts). And, just like y'all, I need to make sure I drink lots of Water.

Thanks for the calendar, Florida Pete. Good luck on Friday!

I've told EVERYBODY. My loved ones, my friends, and the people I work with. I've even "told" people I've never met through my blog. It's not like I can hide that I'm fat, on one hand. On the other hand, the best way to stay accountable is to have lots of people who know what you're doing. Finally, everybody I've told has been supportive. And, I know I'll need that support when the going gets tough.

Me too! (Dec 11th) Me too! (started my pre-op diet) Hope I make it to day 3 without alienating everyone around me.

I start my pre-op diet on Monday, with a surgery date of Dec 11th. I'm not looking forward to the discomfort, but I am looking forward Go December Bandsters!

I've found that many of the stories here aren't just "rah-rah", and as I'm just beginning - actually, don't even have a surgery date yet - I want to hear ALL the stories. The good, and the not so good. Thank-you.

Who knew that baggy panties could make you happy! Think of those panties when you buy your first pair of thong underwear! Well done, and thanks for sharing your story.

That's an amazing statistic! 10 pounds a month. It's jaw-dropping. Do people even recognize you? That's probably another pleasure you enjoy that isn't food related. Keep up the good work. I'm going to remember your story as I go forward. Thanks for sharing.

Thank-you for your story. I very much appreciated your realistic advice ... "you must work the band." Congratulations on your success.