cbreeden28

That's awesome. I hope to be able to do this also. I lost 31 pounds before surgery on my own and was down 50 pounds the day of surgery. So far, I have only lost 5 pounds since surgery 3 weeks ago, but I'm not too concerned because I'm still healing. But, I have stuck with my eating routine and my calorie intake is usually around 1200 calories a day and they are healthy calories, not junk. I drink tons of Water and exercise 4 times a week. I really don't want to be so tight I can't enjoy any good food ever. I just want something to remind me that food is fuel and to only eat enough to satisfy. My first goal is to be down another 25 pounds by NYE. I'm at 273 now. That would put me at 248 which is my first mini-goal!! My final goal is 150. Seems like so far away.....

The following are restaurants identified by ObesityHelp members as accepting WLS cards or offering an open children's menu to all ages.

Golden Corral

Olive Garden

Chili's

Applebee's

Red Lobster

Denny's

Cracker Barrel

Outback Steak House

The Keg

i found this on the internet.

Fantastic!! The restaurants we go to regularly are on this list. Thanks a bunch!!!

I had heard about it from others and at my 2 week post-op appt, my surgeon gave me a LapBand ID card that can be used at some restaurants to order off the kids menu or order half an entree. Just curious about anyone who has used it and which restaurants recognize it. I guess I could just ask when I get there, but kind of wanted to know up front if it would be accepted.

My husband and I go out to dinner maybe once or twice a month and it would be nice to order smaller portions. That way we keep our bill low and don't have to drag leftovers home everytime.

I am the same way. I don't care for pureed foods. I just started this stage on Monday and I usually stick with foods such as cottage cheese, greek yogurt, oatmeal, and Peanut Butter. However, for dinner, I have been eating grilled chicken and veggies, but I don't blend them. I just take tiny bites and I chew, chew, chew until it's like applesauce in my mouth before I swallow. This has worked fine for me. I have had no problems so far. My dietician also told me I could have tuna, egg salad, and other foods like that. So, just because it's a puree diet, doesn't mean everything has to be blended. I am looking forward to Nov. 7th when I start my soft foods diet and get to incorporate more variety of foods.

I was just banded on 10/10/11. I just started the mushies stage of food and am enjoying finally being able to eat real food (well....sort of) again. I was getting really tired of shakes and broth. I was on a 2 week pre-op and 2 week post-op liquid diet. So glad that's over. However, my weight loss has been at a stand still since surgery. I was losing about 3 pounds a week, but since surgery, I've only lost 4 pounds and it's been 3 weeks. My surgeon told me this would probably happen until my first fill (which is 11/21!!!). Sometimes, when I feel depressed about it, I come on here and see so many people who have lost 100+ pounds, it makes me feel so much better. I can't wait for my ticker to show "100 pounds lost". I have fought this weight forever and am happy to see it go. I just hate the "healing period".

I'm ready to get started using this tool to help my change how I eat. So far, I don't feel any different in terms of eating. I've been trying to stick to 5 small meals a day like my dietician said, but I know I could eat more. It's so much of a mind game at this point. I'm trying to eat like I have had my fills, but since I have no restriction, it's very difficult. My calories have been between 1100 and 1300 a day and Protein is around 80-90g a day. I just started my exercise routine back up so maybe that will help jump start some more weight loss.

So, I guess this is what causes the stair-step appearance of weight loss. You will go down for a while and then it will steady out for a few weeks and then start loosing again once you start burning up those newly formed glycogen stores that came form your body fat. Makes sense. I will just keep doing what I'm doing and it should start to even out.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

I drink Water all day long and I've done everything my doctor has said. And even without exercising at all, if my calories are well below what I need to maintain my weight, I should be loosing weight. I do walk and am active though, so it should only be helping me. I think I'm just going to forget about the scales for a while and keep tracking my food and exercising. Sooner or later, it has to start dropping...

Before I was banded on 10/10, I was steadily loosing about 2 pounds a week. After surgery, I gained 6 pounds (from swelling and gas I assume), and then within 5 days, I was down those 6 pounds and had lost another 4. So, last Thursday, I weighed 276. I got on the scales today to weight myself and I'm still 276. How is that possible?? I'm eating between 1000 and 1200 calories a day. My maintenance calorie intake is like 2400. So, eating so few calories should equal lots of weight loss, but it's not. Why is this? Will I start loosing again soon? I'm eating very healthy--no sugary Snacks or junk food. Everything is high Protein, low carb. I'm also starting back to the gym slowly by doing 30 minutes of treadmill walking. I guess I'm just in a hurry to see the scales going down.

What was everyone's else's experience with the weight loss. When did it really jump start for you. Just an FYI, I lost 16 pounds on the liquid diet, but now it's just stopped.

I will be taking a cruise to Bermuda with my hubby and begin trying for baby #2. I've decided I will not have another child until I get this weight off. I had complications with baby #1 and I want this time around to be better. I was banded Oct. 10, so I'm still in the healing stage, but I can't wait to get started on dropping this weight forever!!!!!

Hey

I am 13 days post op. I also felt super weak from being on just Protein shakes for a week and felt lightheaded/dizzyness and what you describe. All my literature says that the whole purpose of the liquid diet is to do 2 things: 1- accelerate weight loss, and 2- allow the stomach to heal.

At my one week post op appt with my surgeon I discussed all my concerns and he said it was fine to start on pureed stuff. He even recommended that I could chop up a chicken breast and throw it into soup! I was so shocked! I was like so chunks are ok? (in my diet paperwork it said I could only have strained cream Soups at this stage). He said depends on the size of the chunk- but yes.

What I did was took some cooked chicken and chopped it in a food chopper and added it to soup- It was awesome! and way more filling than a Protein shake. My surgeon also said cottage cheese was ok.

So my surgeon said 7 days post op mushy things were ok and that finely chopped chicken in Soup was ok.

I don't think you will hinder your recovery- as long as you take at slow and make sure your food is finely chopped or chew well. Take it super slow and nothing to drink for at least 30 mins post eating.

I don't know if its rushing things along... I agree the stomach needs time to heal but after a whole week of liquids as long as you aren't in pain and aren't vommitting I think adding foods like Flaked fish and chicken, cottage cheese, mashed sweet potatoes should be ok.

Stop and go back to liquids if you start vomiting, feel bad heartburn or get a stuck feeling.

I also felt a little guilty for not waiting the suggested full 3 weeks of just liquids. However, I try to keep at least one meal full liquids so that I am not overdoing it.

Hope that helps/answers your questions

Good luck!

Thanks for posting this. My stomach was actually hurting from hunger at 7 days post op. I ate some cottage cheese and was afraid I was hurting myself, but I felt no pain and it stopped the hunger. I have also ate some chicken and veggies (chewed well) and felt no pain. I just could not handle on more Protein Shake or sugar free Jello. I'm currently 9 days post op and am still drinking my broths and soups at meals, but I do eat some cottage cheese, tuna, or chicken in the evenings when I'm truly hungry. My first post-op appt is Monday and I'l be happy to leave those shakes behind (for the most part). I don't mind them for Breakfast or Snacks, but they definitely don't work well as meals.

I'm on day 8 post-op and soooo tired of this liquid diet. I was on it 2 weeks pre-surgery and supposed to do 2 weeks post-surgery, but tonight I had some chicken and veggies. I couldn't take the hunger anymore. I just made sure to chew really well and time myself to 30 minutes to eat. So far, everything feels fine and I'm satisfied with 1 cup of food. I really don't understand the purpose of a 2 week liquid post-surgery diet. I have a follow up appt next Monday and well talk to my doctor about it. dinner is the only time I do this. The rest of the day, I stick to the liquid diet.

Good luck to everyone on this journey.

I was just banded on Monday. The first day was the worst. I had a lot of nausua and dry heaving when trying to drink anything. The next day got better. I was able to drink full liquids and keep them down. Today, I'm doing even better. Still very sore and having problems getting up and down, but I feel more like myself. My first check up appt. is scheduled for Oct. 24. Good luck to everyone who is having surgery this week. The pain meds they gave me really helped and the prescription they sent me home with is helping. Just makes me sleepy.

Glad to hear everyone doing so well. I get banded Monday morning. I can't wait. I'm so excited to get this part past me and start my journey. I hope my recovery goes just as well as all of you. I have really been second guessing myself about this the past couple days, but I think it's just nerves and jitters. I'm going to ignore them and press on....

Anyone else have second thoughts this close to surgery??

This time next week I will be banded. I'm scheduled for next Monday morning (10/10). Really excited!!

Glad to see I'm not the only one struggling with this pre-op diet. I'm on day 5 and it's starting to get a little easier. The first few days were torture!! I'm scheduled for Oct. 10th. I go Monday for my pre-op testing. I'm so excited!!!

I'm on day 5 of 14 and it's starting to get a little easier (thank goodness!!). Two days ago, I was soooo hungry, I cheated and ate about 1/2 cup of sauerkraut and 1/2 cup of chopped kale. It was so good. I miss cruncy food. I also had a slice of cheese that evening. My thinking was the cheese was Protein and the veggies wouldn't affect my liver. Do you think this will be okay? The rest of my diet is Protein shakes, yogurt, broths, and SF pudding/jello. Hunger can make people do crazy things. Last night, I didn't need anything additional. I was satisfied with my yogurt and cream of wheat.

10 more days till surgery!!!

I'm on day 4 of my 2 week liquid diet and it's getting easier. The first 2 days, I thought I would die. I guess your body adjusts to the lower calories and carbs. I actually feel really good. Especially when I stepped on the scales this morning. I'm down 5 pounds since Monday!!! It seems it impossible, but I weighed 3 times and each time was the same number. That really helps keep me motivated. I have 11 more days to go till surgery!!!

My dietician gave me an all inclusive list of what I could have these next two weeks. The list includes broth, certain Soups, SF pudding, SF applesauce, nonfat greek yogurt, cream of wheat, 1% milk, and Protein Powder. So far, I'm doing good. I am still tracking my food on myfitnesspal.com to make sure I'm eating enough Protein. My ? is, my calorie count is usually under 1,000 and my carbs range between 90 and 100. Is this ideal? They told me protein intake should be between 100 and 120g per day, which I'm doing, but I worry about eating too many carbs.

Also, should I make sure to eat closer to 1200 calories a day? I'm starving by the end of the day, but I'm not sure what else to eat without affecting my carbs. I only use 1% milk. I can't stand soy, almond, or any other fake milk. I also eat plain greek yogurt and add splenda and Protein powder to it.

Any ideas?

We went to Red Lobster and I had crab legs, shrimp, mashed potatoes, and a salad. It was wonderful. We also stopped for ice cream on the way home. I tried to not think of it as my last meal. I will be able to eat those things again, just in smaller doses. I'm on day 2 of my pre-op diet and evenings are the worst for me. Cooking for my family and then having cream of wheat with greek yogurt for my dinner.

But, I know it will be worth it.

Hey KBaum, we have the same surgery date. I just started my 2 week liquid diet today. So far, it's not too bad. I'm not overly hungry....yet. Good luck to you!!

Hi everyone!! I'm scheduled for surgery on Oct. 10th. I start my 2 wk liquid diet on Monday. I'm really nervous and excited too. I know it will be a rough couple weeks, but I made it this far....

My diet will consist of Protein shakes, greek yogurt, 1% milk, campbells Soup at hand (non-cream based Soups only), sugar free pudding and Jello, and sugar free applesauce.

My Protein drinks of choice will be unjury, Muscle Milk light, and Nestle Carnation sugar free Breakfast w/ additional Protein powder added. I will also be adding unflavored Protein Powder to my Soups. The hardest part will be cooking for my husband everyday and then having to settle for yogurt or Soup for my dinner.

I will have my pre-op testing (EKG, lab work, etc) on Oct. 3.

I live in Harrisonburg, VA and am currently 295lbs and 5'4".

Good luck to all the October bandsters!!!!!

You will do great. I have been put to sleep one time when I got my wisdom teeth taken out. I was also very nervous. But the whole process was very easy and relaxing. The time between them starting my IV and waking up in recovery seemed like a few seconds. I was completely unaware of the time that had passed. In my experience, I woke up very cold and crying. I'm not sure why I was crying. I wasn't in pain or anything. They said that it's just a side effect of the anesthesia for some people. Within a couple minutes I was okay. You will do great. I'm more nervous about the days following the surgery. Learning how to eat and being able to do things (like chase after my 20 month old!!)

After working on this process for over a year, I got insurance approval and a surgery date this morning. I will be banded October 10th. I'm very excited and nervous!! I can't believe it's really happening. Good luck to everyone!!

My 2 week liquid diet starts Sept. 26th.

I'm not a very patient person and waiting on insurance approval is awful. Everything was submitted on 8/10 and today I contacted my surgeon's office and they said as of 8/23, it was still "pending". Really, how hard is it to say yes or no?? My surgeon's assistant said they usually respond in 2 weeks, but they can take as long as 4. The wait is driving me bonkers. What has been everyone elses experience when it took a while hearing back from insurance. Was it a good sign?

Thanks for everyone's stories. This makes me feel much better about the surgery. I'm currently waiting on insurance approval. I'm hoping to get my surgery in September.