LegalEagle2009

I guess a follow up to this question is helpful, since things have changed significantly since my last posting. At last post, I had not dated yet. Now I've been dating up a storm! Realistically, it just seems that dates often involve a meal. So, let's assume your dates will, too. I'm naturally someone who doesn't withhold information. I may not go into specifics, but at this point in the process (1 yr post-op, 75 + lbs lost), I'm so freaking proud of what I have accomplished, I discuss it fairly openly, depending on the amount of pre-date communication there is with the gentlemen in question. For some dates, all I do is suggest a restaurant I know I have no difficulty eating in. Other times, I ask him for multiple suggestions, go check out their menu online in advance, and pick a place based on what I see as an option. I have occasionally told the gentlemen I have difficult with bread and/or I eat low carb, so I would prefer someplace that isn't serving sandwiches or if an Italian place, offers things other than Pasta. Because I am interested in men who likewise care about their bodies, what they eat, etc., I tend to mention that I have been on a long term weight loss plan and am still not at goal (50 lbs left to lose, ideally), so I would prefer to eat a low-fat/low carb/healthier meal. They are usually open to the same. Because I am single, busy, and have no kids, I tend to eat out pretty frequently. I almost always bring home a doggie bag, so I have a meal left over. I have noticed when I eat out that I have the occasional midmeal blockage (too large a piece, not chewed enough, too dry, etc.) if I have a meal companion and I am trying to eat and talk at the same time. So, since a date is truly about getting to know someone, I use the "listening" moments, to be sure I cut my food up small enough to eat with no difficulty and or to chew thoughtfully. I love to talk, too (as may be obvious here), so if the conversation is good, I'm likely to eat very little anyway (sometimes I end up eating some of my meal later on). So, it seems less suspicious when I eat little or ask for a doggie bag. Plus, realistically, the restaurant industry ALWAYS makes the portions too big! I'm usually not the only one at the meal asking for the rest of it "to go". And it is pretty easy to comment when it arrives "Wow, so much food. I'll never be able to eat all of this!" without looking like one of those women who is a picky eater/diet freak/overly obsessed with weight. And again, no surprise when I ask for a doggie bag to take things home (and I always thank the date, if he pays, for the extra meal he has afforded me. :-) The blockage issue mentioned above has been the most awkward thing I have had to deal with on a date or a business meal. Sometimes the blockage is minimal, and merely requires waiting a minute to let the food item work its way, uncomfortably, through the band. Then my acting skills come in as I am attempting to look engaged and listening to what my companion is saying, while mentally cringing in discomfort. Sometimes, the blockage needs a little help to make its way down the pipe...which requires a quick trip to the restroom. Occasionally, its getting up and walking that moves it along, but boy would it seem odd if I stood up to go to the bathroom, then just sat right back down. So I usually just croak out that I need to visit the ladies' room for a minute. The worst, and most painful, is the kind where I REALLY didn't chew the piece of food thoroughly enough (like a broccoli floret) and there is no way it can make its way down the band and I need to bring it back up. Again, in those instances, I croak out that I need to visit the ladies, then make my way as nonchalantly, but quickly to the restroom so I can take care of that issue. Of course, except for a few first dates that resulted from online dating scenarios (which, a good first date is coffee/hot cocoa/tea, anyway), the majority of my dates have been with gentlemen I spoke to at length prior to our first meal date. So, they knew everything before we ever went to a meal. Similarly with friends and family. So when I have a momentary blockage, I make a face, they know what is up, and it's no biggie. Or we share a meal. Or they know I'm eating light and will be bringing home leftovers. The truth is...unless you make it a big deal, most men I've gone out with, most people I've gone out with, don't pay that much attention to it. If you are casual about it and don't make the issue seem like a BIG DEAL ISSUE, they won't either. Hope this helps, for whatever it was worth! :-) Dana

Banded Friday, 4/16. On the Full-liquids stage. Not REQUIRED to add Protein yet, but it is suggested. I am not a lover of shakes. So I am trying to find unflavored protein options that I can add into my Soups, food, etc. to up my protein count. I recently purchased the New whey supplement at GNC which is intended to be added to food. I tried adding it to my creamy Soup. It smelled very sweet in the powder form. It still had a sweet taste when added to the food, and it changed the flavor, texture, and appearance of my soup so considerably as to make it unpalatable. I have ordered the sample pack from Bariatric Eating- both the multi flavor and the pure unflavored option. I guess I was/am hoping there is an unflavored powder that is of the type that, like the dissolvable Fiber, could be stirred into a clear glass of Water and no difference be found. Maybe I am being unrealistic. Can y'all suggest ones that you have been able to easily blend in with soups, other foods, etc, without tasting it or noting any kind of change? Or am I just going to have to suck it up and drink a shake between meals?

My surgeon suggested using Milk of Magnesium if I had not had a BM within 4 days. I used it, but didn't feel like it did much. I felt like the Gas Z chewables I was taking were more effective for that.

I am separated and have not yet gone out on a real date since my separation 2+ years ago. Hopefully that is going to change this year! :-) I was just banded on Friday 4/16/10. I'm a ways away from this being an issue. But... I think my suggestion is- why not suggest non-food oriented dates for a while? Why does every get together people have always involve food? I recently wondered this when my father came up here from out of state to be with me before, during and post surgery. Every single event involved food with him and my other family up here. Why is that? Someone suggested that dinner is a god place to talk and get to know one another. Why couldn't something else be as well? Go to a museum. Or a bookstore. If you have dogs, go to the dog park. Go on a hike, a boat, or a bike ride (get exercise in too! LOL). Go bowling, or doing some other kind of sport that is friendly competition at the most. At the very least, meet for coffee/tea the first time. Or for Breakfast or lunch, where smaller meals are more common. If going to a restaurant is still your preference with so many people doing low-carb this or that (men AND women), I think you could reasonably say you are on a low-carb diet, if he asks why you avoid bread or other carb choices. And if you take half the meal home (or more), perhaps you should suggest that, like most restaurants (here in America anyway), the restaurant you went to had overly large portions and you prefer to eat sensibly. I'm not someone who keeps things to myself either, so I am more likely to share it early on than not. But...if you prefer to keep things to yourself, I think there are many ways to do so without rousing too much suspicion. Good luck!

I am having a hard time with the protein supplement. I would like to avoid the shakes entirely, and just add unflavored protein to my foods. But I bought some Unflavored at GNC yesterday that was made especially to go into regular foods and tried adding it to my food and it changed the flavor, texture, and appearance so much that I couldn't eat it. I also got the 52g chocolate powder from Walmart. I'll try that today, I guess. I have ordered the Pure from Bariatriceating.com. But I guess while I wait for it, I will use what I have. Really disappointed in this. Wishing there was something like the fiber supplement that just stirs into water and doesn't effect it.

I was banded on 4/16/10. My surgeon has me on the 7 days per stage plan. So I just moved to the creamy liquids stage. While on the Clear Liquids, I drank a lot of Water and tea and some light fruit juices but I didn't eat much of the broth, Jello, or italian ices. So now that I am at the creamy liquid phase, I am not entirely sure exactly how much I should be eating or how frequently. My doc said I should only be able to eat 2 oz. at a time. I seem to be able to eat a bit more than that now. I'm just not sure how often I should be eating "per meal". For Example: My Yoplait yogurt is 6 oz (Fat Free Thick and Creamy Light). I previously wasn't a yogurt fan, but maybe the band diet is changing that. Do I sit here, eat a 1/3 of it. Wait a little bit, eat some more, wait, eat, wait....until I've eaten all 6 oz? Similarly with soups-- I take a can of Campbells Cream of X soup- put it in the processor with some water to further liquify it and to blend out any chunks. Do I take time to eat as much of a single serving as I can? Or do I eat my 2 oz. Put the rest away, and wait for my next "meal time"?

True. I tried Campbell's Tomato Bisque last night and OMG it was so incredibly yummy. I also got Broccoli and cheese Soup, Creamy Red Pepper Soup, Creamy Potato soup, etc. Hoping if I add Water to them and process them down further, I won't have to sift them so much. So will get some of the good taste.

Wow Six Weeks? That would drive me insane. I could actually stand a couple weeks of this stage, if it meant I could avoid baby food altogether. LOL. Looking at the recipes for purees so I can have other options at the next stage.

I just picked up that jug of Protein Powder (the chocolate kind with 52 g of protein. How is it?

I know. I wasn't really serious. It was the only hesitation I had in offering the clothes to individuals rather than just taking them to Good Will. I think I am going to take the suits, as I shrink down out of them, to the Dress for Success people. Might organize something through my local Bar Association or something.

I got banded on Friday, April 16, 2010. I had absolutely no interest in eating ANYTHING (barely any interest in drinking anything) until Tuesday. By Wednesday, I was sick of clear liquids. But I am still mostly drinking Water and tea and not "eating" very much. Tonight I smelled Fried chicken in the store, which is my big vice, and nearly went insane. Actually considered trying to eat a little, even if it made me puke. I fought the urge :biggrin:

I don't have "family" that I am cooking for. Just me. :biggrin: I've heard the veggie baby food isn't too bad. But that the meat baby food sucks. So I was planning to puree manwhich or chili, or spaghetti sauce with ricotta cheese and ground meat and maybe the baby veggies and then puree it all together. Tonight I bought some yogurt (Yoplait Light, Thick and Creamy), some sugar free Jello pudding, and some creamy Soups. I bought a small food processor, too. Then I took some tomato bisque, put it in the processor with some extra Water, pureed any chunks out of it, then heated it up. YUM! I might have only had 4 spoonfuls, but they were delicious spoonfuls!

I just did this. 1 week post surgery. Realized I wont need all the clothes I have so I went through and purged. Half of purge went to my sis to go through. The other half went to a former coworker who got banded the week before me. She was bigger than I am so she will hit this size in the next few months or so. Trying to figure out if I can till "deduct" it from my taxes next year. It was easily a thousand or more dollars worth of clothes (most items were new and unworn or worn less than 3 times)

I am 1 week out. Was on Clear Liquids only (Water, Crystal Light, No sugar fruit juices, tea, broth, sugar free Jello and italian ice) until today. Today I get to go on full liquids- Ensure/Boost drinks, Protein drinks, milk, yogurt, pudding, creamy Soups. I dont get to pureed diet until Week 3.

I'm 1 week P/O and have lost 14.5 lbs since surgery. Had lost 8 lbs pre-surgery. I'm sure my loss will lessen as I begin eating more foods. Today begins cream Soups and Protein shakes.

I am shocked that some people are on mushy food already! I had my procedure done Friday, April 16. It's been Clear Liquids for me for the last week. Until Tuesday, I was so physically miserable that I couldn't even fathom being hungry. For the last 2 days I've just been sick to death of broth, Jello, and Italian ice! :-) I've mostly been drinking Water and tea. The gas was REALLY bad for a few days, till I got the Gas X chewables. That has helped with both the gas and the "movements" we are supposed to be having (despite not eating anything, which I totally don't get!). Today I get to add sugar free pudding, cream soups, and Protein drinks/ milk drinks. I am so excited. I am not actually looking forward to Week 3, which is pureed- i.e., baby food. You know what they say-- that which does not kill us makes us stronger! :-)

A former coworker of mine had the procedure done on a Thursday and was back at work on the following Tuesday. I had my procedure done last Friday and was scheduled to start my new dream job this Wednesday. On Tuesday I felt a lot better, and I think I could have begun work on Wednesday, but I decided to delay my start date (at Boss's suggestion) to next Monday, to give myself the added time to recover. I have spent the last 2 days sorting through my closet and organizing it (a VERY daunting task!), purging clothing items to give away. I've had to take a break every hour or so because my back hurt from standing. The gas pain is the worst! I heartily recommend getting Gas X strips or chewables. It was a lifesaver for me!

I had surgery last Friday, April 16. The hospital kept me overnight which I was grateful for since the pain was pretty intense (imagine doing a whole lot of really intense abs or being kicked in the abs REALLY REALLY hard!). The hospital said my bed had to recline 30 degrees. I am also a stomach sleeper so this was really uncomfy for me. I barely slept the first night. At home, I have a Tempurpedic mattress with an adjustable base, so I have been able to keep myself in a reclining position ever since surgery. When my bed is reclined (both at the hospital and here at home) I do NOT use a pillow under my head. After the night in the hospital and after initially using a pillow here at home, my neck was KILLING ME from holding it up. Last night was the first night I could turn onto my side to sleep- and it required that I put a thick pillow between my knees to avoid some of the ab twisting that is common in side sleeping. I can't imagine when I will be comfortable enough to sleep on my stomach.