honk

Empire did not require me to do a specific diet but my surgeon required a loss of % of body weight. So my doctor wanted 10% loss which meant 30-34 pounds. By the time I had done all my surgery requirements: tests; group therapy sessions; appointments with nurses, nutritionist, surgeon it had been 3 months. So the question is what other requirements your doctor has and how much weight they want you to loose. My surgery had to be postponed for other reasons but I had finished the requirements including weight loss in 3 months.

I take Vitafusion gummy fiber and dedicated gummy Vitafusion Vitamin D. I also take equivilant of Flintstone chewable Multi with Choline (I get Costco Brand); and Caltrate Calcium Plus (with extra Vitamin D) chewables.

I think the biggest thing to remember is that the band is literally connected to living tissue. And living tissue whose main function is moving around and twisting. My restriction does change depending on the TOM, weather, stress.
Most doctors say that at restriction you may not be able to eat solids at Breakfast. If you are having trouble eating solids at breakfast (and it is super early before work) that does'nt shock me. I have Greek yogurt with half a scoop whey isolate and 1/3 cup Kashi Go lean high Protein Cereal and some walnuts for breakfast. The Protein powder and cruncies make for a very thick mushie. I do have a cup of coffee before to loosen things up.
As the day goes by my band does get looser. I would strive for being able to eat solid protein at lunch (3 oz) and about 1/2 cup veggies and then some fruit (couple grapes or cherries). If you can go 4.5-5 hours before being hungry you are at restriction. Then at dinner measure out your food and don't eat anymore even if you feel you are hungry. Though if you are at restriction you probably really wont be physically hungry; more of a head hunger.
Some people do keep their bands WAY to tight. Can't tell you how many times I've read "I need a fill because I can still eat bread!" I'm at restriction and can eat bread. I just choose not to. Some of this is still about will power. Thin people like to eat junk food. They choose not to.

Please understand I am not being mean spirited. I have to agree with your boss that you are eating 1) to much , 2) advancing to quickly. I believe you mentioned tortilla's, that is a solid not a mushie.
Are you weighing your food? If not you need to start. My doctor says 3 oz of Protein. Even during mushies I weighed out 3 oz. Yes you probably can eat more than that but that does'nt mean you should. That's why this is called bandster hell. You can eat a lot more than you should.
This is a will power diet for now. I wish more doctors were up front about this. Don't expect that they will move up your fill.

This is a time or you to develop a new relationship with food. If your doctor does not require sessions with a psychogist that specializes in eating disorders I suggest you go on your own. These sessions really helped me understand why I overate, and why I made poor food choices.
Learn new food habits. Plan your meals/snacks in advance. Failing to plan WILL lead to you making bad food choices. You know how you go out shopping on a Saturday and now it's hitting dinner time. You know you should not get the ice cream or fries for a snack but your hungry and you don't have any choice! Believe it or not you always have a choice to not eat. If you carry a low fat/cal Protein bar in the car you can eat that for 200 cals; this will hold you over until you can get home and eat a healthy dinner.
The band will help you eat less food but it will never stopped you from eating unhealthy foods. Ice cream, cake, candy, chips will pass right through the band. This is the time to learn to eat healthy. Carbs are okay but they can't be a major part of your life. One way to have eat sandwiches is to take a romaine lettuce spread laughing cow cheese down the spine add chicken breast, mustard and fold. Sandwich without bread!

Are you weighing your protein? My doctor says 3 oz. If you don't measure you will overeat.

Are you weighing your Protein? My doctor says 3 oz. I prefer skinless chicken breast. I agree with previous posters that 1800 is a high calorie count. If you are not measuring your protein you will eat to much. You may need to isolate your protein so you know you are getting the right amount. I find eating casserols is tough because you often get way to much potato/rice/pasta and not enough protein. Have you cut out potato, Pasta, rice, crackers, all liquid calories?
You mentioned doing a lot of exercise. What kind, how long and how many days a week? I am a slow loser. I was unemployeed for 7 months and would do a 2 hour walk in the morning and a 1 hour Water aerobics class at night. I eat around 1200 cals a day and still lost less than a pound a week.

No one loves pizza more than me. I am at restriction and eat pizza maybe once a year. More about the calories than not being able to eat it. I try to have a small low cal salad first and then one piece of pizza. I also try to have chicken breast as a topping to get some protein in.

Pretty normal. The band is doing nothing for you until the fills start. I see you've lost quite a bit already. I started out at around 380 lost 100 from diet and execise, had surgery and have lost another 70. I am not trying to be a downer but I think you should prepare to be a slow loser. Your body is not "shocked" by this new diet. It has already lost 72 pounds.

Most doctors say 24 hrs liquids and then 24 hours mushies. Sounds like you moved to solids too fast.

Buy a food scale! Measure out your 3 oz of protein and then eat about a cup of low fat/cal veggies. You WILL over eat if you don't measure.

Wow... Just wow. Anyways, lord help me if I have a typo writing this since my auto correct gets wonky every once in awhile, forgive me oh gods of grammar and spelling that exist out there: ( is this a proper usage of a colon... Gah! I am all a flutter that it is wrong! The internets will be angry!) be brave! You will do great and there are tons of people on this site that are here to support with kind words. (swear it! Typos and all!)

Seem like you clearly used your context clues and was able to figure out what she meant. I dont see how your post was productive. Just sayin'

For someone who wants to complain about spelling, sayin' is not a word.

For someone who wants to complain about spelling, sayin' is not a word.

I was allowed yogurt and cottage/ricotta cheese at day 15. Please note I WAS hungry before that but thems the rules.

Are you measuring your food. At the very least weigh out 3 oz of protein. Eat low fat/cal veggies until full. You will over serve yourself if you don't measure. I am at restriction and still measure whenever I am at home; as well as portioning my lunch that I bring.

I have lost about 170 pounds and have very limited skin sag. Probably the "worst" is under my chin where I used to have 3 chins. I am 42.
As to being only able to eat 2 Tablespoons. Who thinks up this stuff. No you need to eat 3 oz of solid Protein per meal. PLUS non starch veggies and some fruit. That is WAY MORE than 2 tablespoons! Sorry, but this mentality drives me nuts and I think is bad advice for new bandsters.
Eating out with friends is a normal social activity. My question would be how often? Is it weekly? If so I would recommend finding lower fat options. For example a baked potato with salsa would be a much lower fat/cal option.

Well, my doctor requires EVERYONE to attend three sessions with an eating disorder therapist. I was SHOCKED how important these sessions were for me. There are WLS patients who transfer their food addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, compulsive shopping. It sounds like your doctor is just being very conservative.

You won't get restriction until you get fills. In fact took me 6 months! Also the band is really meant to work with solid foods. At four weeks are you on solids yet?

Not sure what to tell you about the port. My doctor is pretty strict about post op diet. During full liquids for meals I could have 8 oz of soup, a protein shake, and jello. That's it! I'm not a doctor but I would have more of the foods you are allowed rather than advancing to other foods. Remember your body is still recovering. Make sure your protein shakes are 20 plus grams per serving.

As mentioned above no one else esp. coworkers have to live in YOUR body. I had a stroke at 39 (was a realtively healthy fat person). Do they plan on caring for you? I doubt it.
Again as previously mentioned the band helps you keep the course. For me being on a "diet" is hard work (yes this is a lifestle). I have to constantly choose the right foods. Three times in my life I've lost over 100 pounds and gained it back. I eventually get TIRED of constantly having to actively choose to eat small portions.
The band will never help you choose healthy foods. Ice cream, candy, crackers will slide right through the band and never make you feel full. The band will help you stay full longer if you eat solid Protein and veggies. Once at restriction the band will give you satiation for up to 5 hours. This will help you pass up mid afternoon Snacks (you know the brownies someone brings out after lunch).
You can not sustain the preop diet for the rest of your life. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. You can not eat liquids only for ever. The band will help you eat like a thin person. Tell them that. Notice I said help; not FORCE.
Thin people occationally have treats. That treat may be a brownie for you or a cheeseburger. The key there is occationally, and it's a small portion not half a pan or two quarter pounders.
If they still push you ask "If someone needed Insulin; would you tell them to push on without it? Or if they needed a pace maker to just suck it up?" I don't think so.

Do you have a gall bladder? That's what an attack feels like.

Do you have a gall bladder? That's what an attack feels like.

That's too bad. Now that I'm at restrition occationally on Sun. I go to Costco make the rounds and have a free lunch.