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My doctors office said 1 cup of food 3x a day. 2-3 ounces of protein, eaten first - then 1/4 cup of veggies and 2 Tbls. of a starch.

Its a guideline, but I think 1 cup is reasonable. But its very important to learn to read your satiety signals as it depends on the food. 1 cup of a lettuce based salad crunches down to nothing, 1 cup of red meat would make you explode.

I was banded nov 5. I have lost 14 lbs to date and am on solids. I have what I thought was PB, not sure if its sliming. When I eat, I often get food "stuck". It feels like a sharp pain in my chest. I have to cough up/throw up my food. A few min. later I can eat my meal. I am afraid to eat certain foods, I dont kno wif it's happening b/c of the food or not chewing enough or not eating slow enough. I have my first fill scheduled for dec 18. I am worried that I will have more problems when I get a fill. Is what I am experiencing restriction or normal. HELP!!!

I had my 3rd fill a couple of weeks ago, and after that adjustment things have been ideal. I've lost 8lbs in just shy of 2 weeks. I was having very slow weightloss and a lot of problems with food getting stuck. Not anymore, I'm in band heaven right now. This past weekend, I was worthless. By worthless I mean I slept constantly, sort of had the blues, laid around and did nothing. Yesterday I felt full all day, even though I didn't eat anything. I actually felt like one would feel after finishing off Thanksgiving dinner. Just full, and miserable. I had gas, it was obvious, I was burpy. I chewed on a couple of gas x and felt much less full. But I still never got hungry yesterday and eating was unimaginable. Today I woke up and I was actually hungry. I drank some Water, and at lunch I had some chicken. It was very moist and there was no problem with getting stuck or anything, but it hurt like hell when it hit my stomach. I felt like my stomach was cramping up and sore. After just a couple of bites, I started with the burping and hiccuping. Can this be because of gas? Is my tummy full of gas from not moving around this weekend? I feel so full! It's like I'm having something like hunger pangs but if I were to eat, it would make my stomach cramp. No nausea, no vomiting, no sickness, just a general crampy and full feeling. It's irritating me.

Khaley - I feel your nerves! I'm being banded this Tuesday. I too am 43 yrs old. Do you have any kids, hubby, or other support? My mom is having the surgery about 1 month after me. I have been having trouble sleeping as the day gets closer. Not really 'scared' but just anxious. My Surgeon & PCP agreed that I could take Ambien for the next few nights to help me sleep. I wish you much luck on the liquid the next two weeks. I guess it's good preparation. My Surgeon didn't require it, but I've been taking it very easy with food. I don't want my stomach to be too bloated when they band me. It's good that both your liver & stomach will be shrunk and in good shape before the surgery. I imagine this will make your recovery smoother!

If there is a fad diet out there, someone in my office is already doing it. Their new one is the "radio station DJ diet". THe link in the title takes you to the site. Theoretically, I feel that a "shot" of pure protein cannot hurt. I was wondering if anyone had heard of this diet, and or tried doing a small gulp of those pure protein drinks that come in the test-tube shaped containers just before bed? It doesn't seem like this would do any hard with the band. But I wonder if there is any scietific evidence that a shot of protein before bed could jumo start your metabolism. Anyone have any thoughts?

A lot of ppl find that going after low-carb varieties of weak foods does nothing for them other than to perpetuate their cravings for weak foods. That's one reason a lot of ppl choose to avoid them. They're also very heavy on the artificial sweetners, which at least in the low-carb world are known stallers and even cause gastrointestinal distress in some people, esp. maltitol and sorbitol.

Ok, so I see some of my fellow December bandsters are now on mushies and even getting "stuck" on solid foods... Am I the only one that is on a 4 week liquid post-op diet? The last thing that I had to "chew" was Thanksgiving dinner! I will be able to start eating solids on January 8th... but that is still over a week and a half away! uggggggg.... Just wanted to know if there is anyone else out there feeling my "pain"

I feel your pain big time!!! I also have 4 week clear liquids. I get to move to mushies on january 9! but then I have a month of just mushies. So I don't get solid foods until february 6th! It sucks but our doctors have us do this for a reason.

Strom from your pics you dont look like your doing bad at all actually u look great. But how much exercsing have u been doing and how many times a week? Have you been fooling the band? have you been eating soft foods high in carbs? Lets hear what you r doctor recommend interested because I think where in the same boat.

This may seem long and I apologize but I have some questions that I was wondering if any of you in the same or similar situation can answer. Even if you aren't and can provide an answer I would really appreciate it. Background Info I'm 19 years old and a freshman in college. I recently got banded on March 26,2010 and I'm still trying to get used to my band. I started off really well and lost a bunch of weight. The month or so before my surgery I weighted 360 and last week I was at 335. Unfortunately now I'm at 341. Questions 1. Is gaining weight normal when you start to eat regular food again? 2. I'm worried about stretching my pouch. I haven't gotten a fill yet. Is it possible to stretch the pouch before the first fill? 3. How would I know if I did stretch my pouch? 4. Is there any way that it can be fixed or if I ever do/did will I have ruined my chances at this working for me? 5. Would someone know if their band slipped? If so how? 6. Do weird things cause the band to slip or is it simply overeating or something like that? Thank you so much to anyone who can answer any of those questions. I'm sure I'll think of more soon since I'm so worried about this. Thanks again for reading.

PB (Productive Burp) happens when you don't chew well enough, eat too fast or eat too much. The food can't get into the pouch and comes back up (some burp it up, some hiccup it up). It is not like throwing up because there is no stomach acid just your food in the same form as when you swallowed it. Sliming happens when food gets stuck in your band. It usually happens when you do not chew well or swallow something too big (like a pill). The food cannot pass from the pouch through the band and gets stuck. Your body produces mucus to try and dislodge it and that mucus backs up into your mouth. It is a thick clear slimy mucus that you have to spit out.

No, but I was/am a food aholic. I worried my self sick on how I was going to give food up especiall sweets. Oddly, it wasn't that hard. Oh I still induldge once in a while but I fill up on healthy stuff and don't keep junk in the house. It works for me! Good Luck!

They tell me not to eat anything from a couple of hours before the fill. I would think if you just eat your normal breakfast at 7 or 8 am., you'd be fine. I think they just don't want your pouch full of food when you come for the fill.

I am able to keep liquids down as long as I don't drink them to fast. Food is okay. I am not able to eat breakfast, but from what I have read that is pretty common, I have a hard time with lunch but I am okay with dinner.

Eating is a survival behavior. We must eat or we will die. We are therefore hard-wired to find pleasure in food. It's the same reason we find pleasure in sex and find babies and children irresistibly cute - survival of the the species. The things that keep us alive and perpetuate the species are designed to be pleasurable so we will do them. Please don't try to overcome the love of food and pleasure you find in food. Abstinence works for drugs and alcohol because we don't need those things to survive. You will not be able to stop loving food - nor should you!!! If you don't find a way to enjoy your new life, you will either fail miserably, or succeed more miserably. Continue to enjoy cooking and healthy food. That's what we are supposed to do. All that junk food and unhealthy food we fed those cravings never satisfied because our bodies were really screaming for nutrition. When you find ways to give your body the nutrients it needs - that you can also enjoy - you will finally satisfy those cravings for good!!! I'm a foodie for life!!! Shelly

I lost 100+ pounds about 15 years ago. I fell in love with running, and with a distance of 5 miles around our 'block' that is what I did everyday no matter what. Well, except when I was training for marthons. I was down to 117, and in tiny clothes. I stopped having my period, developed all kinds of health issues, allergies, and finally fractured my foot. I look back and see pictures of someone happy... but way too thin. When I had to stop running because of my foot the weight started back on. Fast forward to now. My lb doc told me his goal for me is 145! A far cry from 117, but when we talked we agreed on 135. I definately had an eating disorder back then and will have to guard against it as I get down there. You sound kind of like me. I think that if I had a more realistic goal I could have maintained it, but the only way I could have stayed at 117 was to run it off. While fun it was not good, or healthy. I remember thinking (honestly) that I would rather die than gain my weight back, seriously. Scary place. I think if I, or my family, see that happening to me again I will force myself to see someone who specialises in anorexia, because, honestly, that is where I was. I do know that even now I see my body (at times) as bigger now than it was almost 40 pounds heavier. We all are battling our own food/weight issues or we wouldn't be on this journey. Hopefully I've grown a little wiser with age. Maybe my story will provide you with some additional insight.

I hope you don't mind if I post here because I have the lap band, not the realize band.... with that caveat, may I say that the statistics are really against you losing/keeping weight off on your own? I think around 5% are successful with diet and exercise alone. Especially those of us who have to lose more than 20 pounds or so. I personally gave WW a true hard try and lost only to gain it back in a year. Like the other posters who think of the band as a tool more for maintenance than just weight loss, I agree. Now if I am frustrated and WANT to overeat, I can't. If I get bored "making healthy choices" well, so what? I do agree that I could make a concerted effort to gain, by drinking milkshakes and eating candy bars and chips, but I've never been THAT self-destructive as to intentionally TRY to gain! And with the band, it is SO darned easy to, once you have restriction, just eat something filling and then forget about food for the next 5 hours. I will NEVER be as fat as I was as long as I have the band. I can say that with 100% truth and conviction. This thing is a miracle, to me. It took a LONG time for me to get to "the sweet spot" but now that I am there...hallelujah! :wink2: If it works as well for you, you will never spend an instant looking back in regret.

I am about to enter the real food stage after my surgery. I seem to do fairly well with the 1/2 cup but do get hungry shortly after. Any suggestions? I am afraid that I will not be able to stick to the plan especially since I don't have any restriction. Do I stay around 1000-1200 calories? I will not have a fill until Jan. 8. what did you do after you began to eat normally? Thanks.

Right now your in bandster hell . the stage between your surgery and your first fill. You are going to be hungry . You have to learn to ignore it for a short time. If you do ok w/ 1/2 cup you might want to try to push it a little more ( IF You do not feel like your STUFFED ) and eat little more . You might be doing what i did initially when i got on real food and your stopping yourself before you needed to because you were scared and your actually not getting in enough to eat . As for calories, i would ask your doc , its probably best to stay around that , but check w/ him first. As far as sticking to the plan . The "plan" Is NOT the same NOW as it is when you have restriction . So dont worry about , the band is NOT A diet , its a tool . the best thing you can do is eat Protein protein protein ! Protein is going to keep you full . HTH Mindy

re: "the weight gain is due to eating the wrong foods"; <br />disagree.....consider it's due to OVER eating the wrong AMOUNT of food.... re: 'ovulation'.....can't speak to this as my ovaries have been inactive for quite some time... The 'sweet spot' does exist IMHO, and requires awareness of the nuances to manage satisfactorily. I found if I make sure most of my weeks total meals fall below a certain calorie count, I have no weight gain concern. And if I do eat over that point for a few days, I begin to feel like the old habit of eating more than my body needs begins to stir again. I do have some kind of long and subtle cycle of slightly more and then slightly less restricted. Sometimes my Band seems even a bit fickle. Life with my Symbiant, my 'Little Angel of the Silicon Fist' is far better regardless of the occasional frustrations. Finding a way to coexist requires adaptability. cheers on your journey

I'm 12 days out and I can get about 50 ounces of fluids in and I'm hitting 20-25 of Protein. That's about it. Today I tried a new concoction and got 4 ounces in and was nauseated for the first time since the hospital. I'm going back to clears for the rest of the day, tomorrow I'll go back to trying Protein shake. I have never had problem taking medication in my life, not Vitamins, not liquid medication, no problems brushing my teeth (I usually brush 3 times or more a day) I floss, I use mouthwash and what happened? Seriously the taste of toothpaste makes me nauseated. I can't handle the taste of cough syrup, it takes me easily 1/2 or more to get down 2 tylenol cut in 1/2 and my medications. I know I'm not the normal and that other's are progressing faster than me, but having an autoimmune disorder is definitely working against me right now. My husband, son and parents think I'm doing great though for all the issues I have had to deal with, and I'm just going to flow with it. I'm going to try baking soda next because the Sensodyne is not sitting well with me. I see surgeon for my 2nd visit June 27th and I see the nutritionist on July 9th. Looks like I have 4 more weeks of Pure liquids. I started my liquid diet of 3 shakes a day May 21st for two weeks before surgery June 4th, so I will basically be on liquids 7 weeks before I hit pureed stage!!! I'm hoping somehow my surgeon takes mercy on me and they let me advance after the 27, but more so that I can actually handle purees by then. Right now, it's looking slim, but sigh, August looks like it will be a good month

It helps alot dietpeach :tongue: I was banded Dec 11th. I've been allowed basically my preop diet from day 3 (basically Protein shakes, Water, broth, sf Jello, sf popsicles) and also allowed cream of wheat and oatmeal (skipping those. yech) and pureed Soups (had pureed french onion today and yesterday had pureed fish chowder). Sticking mostly to lots and lots of water which I seem able to chug.. well not chug but drink like I normally did.. I lost 17 preop and 12 post op so far. Emotionally I am still rollercoasting like crazy. I read all these negative stories on here and I need to stop. I know the stats for slippage, erosion, re-surgery to fix are relatively low. All I know is I really really don't want to go through surgery again for a very long long time if not never again. I'm a big baby and the port incision site is sore and looks like it sits on top of a bowling ball all swollen. I know that's normal but it's still a little disconcerting for me to see. I am proud of myself though for doing this. I know I needed to do something. I want to do what I can to avoid vomiting and PB and all the other things that I don't really want to accept as a normal every day occurance that it seems to be on these forums :tongue_smilie: I am happy and excited about my future as a thinner, healthier person. I deserve this.. it was my christmas present to myself. I want to be around for a long long time. Sorry if this is rambling. it's late and I'm tired *yawn* How are all the other Decembers doing?

I also posted this on the Pos-Op board, but I thought I should share it with my December friends, too. :biggrin: It's been two weeks since my surgery, and I have updates. I lost 20 pounds on my 2 week pre-op diet, and since then I've lost 14 pounds more. I've been absolutely fanatical about following all the rules of each stage of the diet. I want to succeed, and I especially don't want complications (slips, erosions, etc.) I know sometimes that's unavoidable, but at least I won't have any guilt if it happens. liquid Phase: After reading on these boards that many people gain weight before their first fill, I was deeply concerned that I would lose my progress. So on my liquid phase, after the first few days where I could only get down broth and tea, I stuck pretty much to my pre-op diet, not eating the vegetables of course, but adding in more Protein shakes, for a total of 800-1200 calories a day. I did not drink diluted juice even though it was "permitted," sticking instead to Protein Shakes and, two times, fat-free milk. Mushy Phase: I knew from reading these boards that a major pitfall for many bandsters is the mushy phase. Being that we're hungry and mushies go down easily, the calories can easily add up - many people understandably gain weight during this stage. I didn't want that to happen, so I was afraid to move forward to mushies - but I knew I should leave the liquid diet behind already. I was trying to solve the problem, when I decided that I could do mushies but I would have to keep track of what I was eating and how much. So, I joined Weight Watchers. Diets never worked for me for very long in the past, but I figured the 3.5 week liquid diet should have shrunk my stomach a bit, and knowing I have a fill coming makes it mentally easier to hang on and not go off plan. Before surgery I didn't think I'd care if I gained a little before my fills, but now I do. I've lost 34 pounds in 4 weeks, and I just don't want to go back. I've been sticking like glue to the plan. I weigh and measure everything before I put it in the food prcessor, and I track it online as soon as I've eaten it. I eat mostly low point foods, but I've also splurged on higher point items - did you know you can process french fries? To make them mushy I mixed in some Soup, which I also have to count points for, but they still tasted like french fries, and were worth every point LOL! I've also pureed pizza with a little extra sauce - it doesn't taste like pizza by the time you add the sauce in, but it was fun. Mostly, though, I stick to low point foods: sugarfree pudding, fatfree yogurt, scrambled egg whites with fatfree salsa (pureed), boiled vegetables (pureed), unsweetened applesauce, etc. I also eat whatever my family is having for supper, measured out and pureed. All in all, I've lost 14 pounds since surgery. Anyway, that's where I'm holding now. I have my first fill next month, and I'm terrified. I hope it won't be too painful! Anyway, that's the update. Good luck to everyone on this journey!

Mattie- I felt that same way! It is just lack of food and anesthesia wearing off still. Good luck at your appointment tomorrow. Mine lasted a total of three minutes lol Susan- you have got to try it! It's heaven in your mouth! Jess- sorry to lol but that was my fear getting it out of the oven haha! Fortunately I wasn't my usual clutz self and didn't spill it. Yes that us the website! Have you seen her ice creams and shakes? Omg it's crazy! Don't get discouraged about the scale. I've read that when we reintroduce actual food to our bodies that we will stall and possibly gain. Just drink that water! I am going to start walking tomorrow but u have to do it immediately after work or it gets dark soon. I'm ready for spring!!