MaggieB

Started with clear liquids for a few days then advanced to full liquids for about 5 weeks. My "full liquid" diet consisted of Protein shakes, Soups, cottage cheese, yogurt, oatmeal, popsicles, juices etc or anything that I blended in a blender (tried this once - way to gross for me). My doctor is pretty conservative with the post-op diet. During this 5 weeks I got my protein in from the shakes - just made sure I had 3 of them a day. After the 5 weeks I transitioned into soft, diced foods then finally regular foods.

Im looking too!

What happened to the "social groups" section? dont really care for this new layout.

I eat 3 meals a day & that works for me. Rarely do I "need" a snack between meals.

I'm 5'3, started at 232lbs. My doctors "ideal weight" for me is 115. I haven't been that weight since high school. My personal goal is around 130.

I am also tight in the morning. I just drink a protein shake, by lunch (around 1130-12) I am fine. My doctor knows - she is Ok with me drinking a shake for breakfast & told me if I still had trouble to drink something warm to loosen up.

My surgeon also has his lap band patients stay over night. Day after my surgery I had another upper GI done and was discharged in the afternoon. Even though I didn't get much sleep in the hospital I think I was better off staying the night - it was easier getting in/out of that hospital bed - I think I would have been miserable at home that first night.

I weight myself daily - every morning after I shower.

I don't care for it much either. I mixed it with Crystal Lite lemonade & would put it in the fridge for awhile. I was able to tolerate it better if it was really cold.

I have been losing about 10lbs per month. I noticed hair loss about 2 months ago but it has tapered off.

My eval was quick. The doctor asked me questions about my diet/eating history, the procedure etc. He wanted to make sure I knew & understood what I wanted to do. The interview lasted about 30 minutes then he gave me written test - had to answer 300+ questions.

I go to the Little Elm club also. My current membership is for that club only right now - when I resign up in Jan I am going to get the "all club" membership, I would like to go to the Aqua classes at THe Colony 24hr fitness. So - do you feel it was worth the money for the trainer? I'm hoping to sign up this weekend.

You are not alone...night snacking is the worst for me. I can control it during the day - I work for the school district and have to pack my own lunch/snacks - really don't have an opportunity to snack on other things unless I have brought them with me. I try to make good choices for Snacks but it is very difficult. Sometimes I just have brush my teeth and go to bed early.

How did the personal training go? Did you go thru 24 hour fitness? I noticed you live in Frisco - I live in the same area. I have been a member of 24hr fitness since Jan and only have been to walk on the treadmill and do the Zumba classes. Everything else is very intimidating to me - I too feel like everyone is looking at me. I have been thinking about paying for the training sessions - no clue on what I should be doing for a good workout.

It took about 6 months for me due to insurance requirements - I have Aetna - had to do sleep study, psych eval, 3 nutritionist visits, 3 doctor visits. Started all of this in January 2010 had surgery June 10, 2010.

I only had to do a 3 day full liquid diet prior to surgery, after surgery I had 6 weeks. The only thing I did to prepare for this was try different protein drinks/shakes before I was on the 6 week full liquid diet just to make sure I liked them.

I don't have any problems with the physical part of hunger - I can honestly say that I don't get "hungry" unless I go for long periods of time between meals. I struggle with the head hunger part - the food/eating cravings - I guess that was my problem all along - it is all mental for me. For me the band does help a bit with this - I can not eat the volume of food I used to otherwise it is very painful and I get sick. I am a quick learner - it only took one bad painful "stuck" episode for me to get this.

I had 6 weeks of liquids - 3 days of clears after surgery then the rest of the time was "full liquids" which included Protein shakes, well blended Soups, thin oatmeal, cottage cheese, etc. It was difficult but I made it without cheating (I did have a few bites of solids/soft foods towards the end). I did & still do what my doctor recommends - I'm not going to mess anything up since it took so long to go thru all of the insurance stuff to get approved.

I never ate baby food either - it was just gross to me. I just mashed things up really well or attempted to do them in a blender.

My band is tight in the morning - really have a hard time getting food down. I just drink my protein shake for breakfast - keeps me full until time for lunch. My doctor was ok with this as long as I dont use the shake for more than one meal.

Totally worth it. I am only 4.5 months out but so glad I made this decision. so happy with my weight loss. Like a previous poster stated - Right now I feel like I am going thru that mourning stage - I do miss eating like I did preband. I miss not having to think about my food choices, the amount of food, drinking with my meals (though I do take small sips), I do get tired of eatinga little bit from everyones plate when we go out as a family - sometimes it is not worth it for me to spend money on an entree that I will only eat a few bites of.

I went to the hospital with a few things. I wore the clothes I came in home - minus the bra - I just couldnt wear anything that was constricting. Packed - toothbrush, toothpaste & hairbrush. Wore flip flops to walk the halls in - I had to wear ted hose during my stay so the wearing the flipflops worked best with them. Couldnt stand having the TED hose on with socks on top of them - way to hot for me.

I felt the same. No health issues except being overweight. I was scared and second guessing this procedure all the way up till I was getting my IV for the procedure. I feel like I live a normal life...though sometimes I miss my old eating habits :sneaky: But I knew what I was in for when I started this whole process and have been very happy with my results. I also worry about all the complications that can happen. Most of the horror stories I have heard have been about people that really don't follow the rules & havent made the commitment to this lifestyle change.

I started losing right away & started "using" my band right away. My doctor explained to me that the 1st 6 weeks after surgery were for healing and starting to learn new behaviors - eating slowly. My doctor schedules 1st fills at 6-8 weeks post op. I didn't have my first fill until around 10-11 weeks due to several vacations scheduled. I have only had 2 fills - been losing steadily, my doctors are very pleased with my weight loss and feel I am at my "sweet spot", they don't plan on doing anymore fills unless my weight loss stops or if I feel l am getting hungry or eating more than the recommended amount.

Check with your doctor - hopefully they give you a list of recommended foods. My list is pretty much the same as previous posters - Gasx, liquid tylenol Clear liquids - apple & cranberry juice ( my doc told me to get the regular juices - he said I needed the sugar while on clear liquids) sugar free popsicles, chicken & beef broth. Full liquids - Jello, pudding, oatmeal - really thin, cottage cheese, Soups - any kind without chunks or you can puree them, Protein shakes/drinks - start buying now so you can try them to find out what you like, Water, and if you are really desperate you can even eat baby food - I couldnt - just found it gross & bland.