juliansmom2003

Hi there, I'm currently on pureed foods until 11/18 when I advance to soft. I wanted to get your thoughts on Peanut Butter. It's not on any of my sample diet plans/lists, but I had some mixed with a little jelly yesterday and it really filled me up. Nothing got stuck or disagreed with me, but I wanted to see if anyone was told that they should stay away from this until we advance further in our diets.

Congrats to you both!!!! Lots of luck to you as you continue your journey!

Count me in. I just had surgery on 10/21, so hopefully I can maintain my 1 to 2 lbs lost per week until I get to my fill in December. If I can lose 15 to 20 by Christmas, I'll be sooo happy!!!

Congrats! I just hit it too on Wednesday! I cannot even believe it ! I think I cried for about 20 minutes, since I haven't seen that side of 200 lbs in 7 years!!! Keep up the great work!!!

I think everyone has covered all the points, but my personal five reasons for choosing the band are: It's reversible It's adjustable-- so if my stomach shrinks, I can get the band tightened Lower mortality rate Statistics show higher success rate for bandsters, whereas some bypass patients gain weight back There is no rerouting of my pipes---everything is exactly the same inside (except I have a little accessory to help me LOL)--bypass is major surgery And the bonus#6--dumping. Can't bring my self to be punished for making bad choices. I want to have the control over what I eat, when I eat and how--I just needed a little tool to help me control how much. Hope this helps!!!

I can't tell you how many times I asked this question. Honestly, I just wanted to GET THERE already!!! Every office is different, as well as surgeon/insurance requirements for the surgery to be covered. I attended my seminar on 7/2, had my first appointment with the surgeon on 7/10 (got WAY lucky, as he had a cancellation), insurance approved me on 9/24 and I got banded on 10/21. My surgeon was actually booking end of November/beginning of December, but they canceled someone's surgery for not losing the weight they were required to, so I was blessed to get in a month earlier. The thing that stunk is that they will not schedule that surgery until you have insurance approval. When you say your insurance approved you prior to the seminar, is that an approval letter or a pre-authorization that they will cover it pending a waiting period? I know for mine, I had to do a barium swallow/pulmonology clearance, EKG, sleep apnea test, psych clearance, and complete a 3-month supervised support/nutrition program (along with losing 10 lbs) before they would even submit everything to insurance for approval (and from what they told me, my insurance is the easiest to get approval for this procedure). If you go self-pay, that is a whole other issue, as I think most of the red tape isn't as bad and you're able to get in a little sooner. I hope this helps! Lots of luck to you!!

Well, according to the program and diet plan my group has put me on, the pureed stage should be about 600 calories, 13 grams of fat and 60 grams of Protein. Then, soft, which is about 700 calories, 18 grams of fat and 70 grams of protein. Lifetime is then 800-1000 calories per day, 24 grams of fat, and 70-75 grams of protein per day. Every program is different, but this is the progression they've put me on, and I've lost 13 lbs since my surgery 2 weeks ago. Some may be 'eating' a little differently right now, and I'm not saying there is a right or wrong way to do it, but I'm sticking with this since it's working for me LOL!!

I am SO glad someone posted about this! I ordered this 'Slim in 6' DVD which is low impact high resistance to specifically work on my stomach (as my hubby will not be too happy if I go back in for another surgery to get a tummy tuck). After seeing this thread yesterday, I asked my nurse/case worker about this and she said once we're cleared for surgery, I can do crunches and things to tighten the abs without affecting my port. The thing is I can actually feel my port when I know I've done too much walking and it aches a bit. Not only that, I can actually feel it if I touch my belly now and even though they're telling me it's okay after my doc gives me the clearance to start exercising again, I am kind of worried what might happen if I start working my stomach.

I know I'm just a 'band baby' LOL, but would love to know what a fill feels like (even though I'm not due to have one until the middle of December). I do know my doc does it under fluoroscopy at the hospital so he can see what he's doing (which is comforting), but I'm not sure what to expect. What's weird now is I can feel my port now from the outside if I touch my belly. VERY odd at first, but I guess I'll get used to it.

Very cool! Congrats! When did you get your band?

Believe me, lots of us are going through this right now. I'm 2 weeks post op as well and even talked to my nutrionist about this! She said most don't lose too much during this time, as we're just healing as everyone else here has said. She said it will happen, but I have to be patient. (Yeah, right, like it didn't take patience to get us this far?) Hang in there and good luck. Hopefully we'll start seeing the numbers drop on the scale soon. In the meantime, stay away from it LOL!

I'm actually very interested in some of the answers you get to this question. I am a bread fanatic and I love subway, so this will be very helpful to me. I am thinking that they can toast it like a grinder type sandwich, it may be okay. I know Quizzno's and other sandwich places do it and my understanding is we can tolerate bread if it's toasted. Here's to hoping!!

Egg beaters or egg whites!! I didn't think they qualified as full liquids, but they are on my sample full liquid menus that they gave me in nutrition class. Try 1/2 cup eggbeaters with 1/4 slice of ff American cheese. Fills me right up!!! Hang in there!

I'm on pureed, so I'm not eating any meats (allergic to fish), so I've been doing these tasty Protein shakes w/ chocolate and banana, eggbeaters and yummy muscle milk light (it really is yummy! I swear LOL)! Also, I thought we weren't supposed to have more than 6 oz of anything, so is 8 okay of my Protein shake? If so, that's awesome, because I really do enjoy it! It tastes like a chocolate covered banana :-)! How long do you guys go between meals?

When does bandster hell start? I think I may be in it at times, but not sure.... :thumbup: I'm almost 2 weeks post op, so I'm sure it's rearing its ugly head and I don't have my next appt with the surgeon until 12/4 when I'll be able to tell him whether or not I'm satisfied on solids and if not, then he'll schedule a fill. I know I've stopped losing weight due to my body being in starvation mode, so I am impatient that I will have to wait longer to lose more! Starting to get nervous if this will work or not. :thumbup: Thanks for any insight into this.

Hi there, Quick question for the post-oppers on pureed foods: how long between "meals" are you going? I don't know if there is an ideal time or not, but I am finding I'm not staying full too long....

Mine is on my left side. I can't feel with my fingers--do any of you guys? (although I'm too much of a chicken to press in LOL) --it's just really tender, so I know it's there.

I was banded on 10/21 and I've lost about 10. I'm glad I saw this thread-- I was just wondering what the average was, since I'm on freaking 600 calories a day--I should hope I'm losing weight LOL! I hope time goes faster until I get my first fill in December! I would love to be down 30 lbs come Christmas, but I'm not even sure what's realistic because I know everyone is so different! Good luck to everyone!

Every doc is different. I know my surgeon cancels the surgery--my date was actually given to me a week in advance due to a cancellation for just that reason. Just think this isn't even an option -- like Nicole said, you can do this!! Good luck to you!!!

Definitely have a "wide open" band. I'm not due to even see the doc again until December when he wants to talk about how I feel when eating solids and if I'm not feeling satisfied then we would schedule an adjustment. I HATE being hungry, so I'm hoping I get some restriction when I start to eat solids.

LOL this year, I bought a ton of candy that I dislike so I'm not tempted. I just don't trust myself. Of course, I took my kids out trick or treating and there go the Reese's, 3 Musketeers and Kit Kats LOL I'm about ready to throw some of these in a freaking blender already LOL

This pumpkin shake looks great! Do you know offhand how much protein is in it?

Congrats on getting a surgery date!! Good for you that you're taking matters into your own hands and just going for it! I think you should be fine to take a week off from work. Be sure you have some time in between appointments though so you are able to sit down and take a rest in between. Good luck to you! Looks like you 'solved Thanksgiving' LOL

Thanks for responding so quickly! So, it's not possible for this one instance to stretch my pouch, right? Sorry I am really paranoid....

I made a banana/chocolate protein shake this morning for breakfast. The ingredients are 1 cup skim milk, banana and a scoop of my choc protein powder. For the first time since my surgery on October 21, I feel REALLY full. Should I have put less milk in the shake? I completely forgot that the liquid diet I'm on really doesn't have me having more than 1/2 cup of anything until I started feeling this full. I just don't want to stretch my band and I'm getting extremely paranoid. HELP! Thanks!!