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I have my "date" for august 16th at the Fresno Kaiser. Started my 800 calorie pre op liquid diet today. The first day was not to bad. I had a ICV put into one of my veins to break up blood clots if any occur. This was the first time I have ever been in a operating room, I was scared food less! lol It was not so bad as time went on though. I have currently lost 66 pounds pre op from 489 to 423 since January. This forum is a great place to gather info and gain support! Good luck to everyone out there who has had the procedure and who is going to have it done in the future! Respectfully, Joe Lopez

About 4 years ago I read in Consumer Reports to only consider those with more than 1000 watts. I bought a Ninja Professional that includes a large 9 cup capacity jar and a 16 oz single serving. The base accommodates both. It is still working well. I make a smoothie base once a week of liquids and solids in the 9 cup. Refrigerate it in a tall skinny tupperware. Every day I take one cup of that ba se and add one cup of fresh ingredients like kale and milk, and frozen fruit like 1/2 a banana, blueberries etc and process in the 2 cup single serve. It's 400 calories so more like a maintenance food. I'm hoping post-sleeve it will keep me full all Morning (in batches).

The band is a tool which will make the patient feel full after eating much smaller portions. This will help the patient to lose weight and maintain the loss. If you fill the pouch created by the band with high calorie fatty or sugary foods, you will probably not lose weight. But if you are committed to eating high protein, low carb, low fat foods, the band will greatly help you eat LESS of it and enhance weight loss.

If you are required to eat perfect, exercise, calorie count ect... Why get the band? If you have the discipline to count calories, eat correct foods and exercise than shouldn't you be able to do this on your own? I do not want to this if I am going to find ol mister will power the same way I would if I just had to do it on my own. Help me understand! Thank you.

The band has changed a lot since then. I think the truth is though, the band is a foreign object in the body. It only does so much. So if people are unhappy you have to see why. I had my band done, one incision through the belly button, I ended up with an infection, other than that, I have been golden. The band is a medical device that is put into your body, of course there are chances of complications. Having the Gastric Bypass you can leak and poison your body, the sleeve has complications, etc. I do not recommend doing something like this unless someone has tried EVERY OTHER OPTION.... Honestly, I hope to get down to a good weight, then I would like them to remove all the liquid from the band and give myself six months and see if I can keep it off. To me this is a tool, not the cure all. IF you read lots of posts, you will still gain weight if you make poor dietary choices, or drink alcohol (lots of empty calories) and don't exercise. Many people over restrict and cause trouble for themselves. Some people it just doesn't work for. In the end this is a very personal decision and one that should not be taken lightly. I believe if you have concerns about the media coverage, talk to your doctor. They can tell you the changes that have been made to the band, etc. Good luck, I did it and I don't regret it at all. I am nearly half way to my goal. To me that is amazing. I am in a size 16, haven't been there in 8 years, no matter how much I watched what I ate and exercised. I have medical things that were going on that once I put on the weight it is nearly impossible to take off. I think for me, it was the right decision, maybe not for others.

I suggest cutting your carbs to 20 grams per day and get your calories around 1200 per day. That's what I did for six months before my surgery and I lost 100 pounds by surgery day. You can do it, but you have to put food away and make it work for you. Only you can find that strength and perseverance within yourself...

Any liquid you can see through is a clear liquid. Another good one is Isopure clear protein drink. 40 g per bottle, 160 calories. It's a GREAT way to get the protein in. I'm 7 months into this and I keep a huge stock of Isopure (many flavors....) in the fridge. Great for when you need a protein boost. Here's a link.... some GNC's carry it (come in a bottle, doesn't need to be mixed). index

looking back at my food logs, I only got a couple hundred calories the two days after surgery. On day 3, I was around 600. Are you unable to drink the volume or are you unable to get anything down?

I use the Pure Protein brand of both Protein shake powder and bars. It only has 200 calories (meal replacement) and it has 20g of protein and only 2g of sugar....

Mmm...it's getting cooler outside, and hot cereal would hit the spot. I looked up the Kashi Truly vanilla, and it has 9g of protein! With a little Protein powder, that could really get me going in the morning! It also has 7g of Fiber, making the net carbs 18g. Not too bad. I am going to look for some turkey sausage this weekend, and a vegetarian friend told me about Morningstar Farms meatless sausage patties. One pattie has 10g protein and only 80 calories/3g fat. Hopefully they aren't gross, but I will try them and let you know. Thanks again for all the ideas! I have a big shopping list for this weekend.

Hey y’all, Is there a best single app for the following. Also, am I leaving anything out that I should track? Calorie and Vitamin intake Food log Drinking and eating reminders Weightloss tracking Exercise Thanks in advance.

OK, so I braved it and bought Thomas' Bagel Thins- whole wheat. I just toasted half (55 calories) and put a smidge of Land O Lakes lite butter. I felt normal. Like I had a bagel for my Sunday Brunch. I had some fresh fruit on the side and am very satisfied....They seem a bit less doughy than the sandwich thins, but I have not tried toasting one of those yet. Will def add these to my stash of OK foods for once in a while.

I am 3 weeks post surgery and also now feel really good. I had a rough first week and also felt like why did i do something this drastic. But that has changed now and I feel pleased with my decision. Since I have been on mushies my appetite has really increased and I am definitely craving food now. My sense of smell and taste seems to have intensified as well. When I smell certain foods I really fancy them. I am eating around 800 -900 calories a day which I think is the reason the weight loss is slower as it affects our metabolism, and this almost needs a kick start. I too want to constantly weigh myself but I am now doing weekly weigh ins as it was becoming an obsession. Our weights vary so much from day to day anyway. Good Luck on your journey

Okay, so I started my preop diet yesterday. I was wondering if I could have bean broth from pintos? I've looked everywhere for the calorie content and I can't find it. Does anyone know if bean broth is okay to eat?

Hi everyone, how many calories are you eating a day. I am six weeks out from VGS and was eating 500 to 600 a day. Then I re read my instructions and realized I wasn't drinking my protein drinks. Then I added them in and I am now eating 800 to a 1000. I am gaining weight [2 pounds] in the last three days. What should I do? Anyone had experience with this problem. Am I eating too much, I am on mushie foods. Scrambled egg, half a piece of toast, tuna and mayo with 4 soda crackers, and Chili with beans for supper. Then two protein drinks. I measure the tuna and It is 1/2 a cup and the chili is 1/2 cup too. I would appreciate anyone else who was sleeved on July 1st or there about helping me out with this problem. Thanks

I agree with mgteacher. everything you plan before surgery will go out the window after surgery. I bought a lot of jello, flavor drink packs to add to bottled water, broth, protein powder, baby food, and other crap. after surgery my taste buds changed so much I couldn't tolerate most of what I bought. a lot tasted nasty to me. when I came home I drank water, beef broth with pepper and a looooot of sugar free popsicles. I loved popsicles because they were ice cold and my mouth would get so dry I couldn't talk. even now I keep a bottle of water with me at all times because if I talk a lot my my gets so dry. never happened before surgery. for me all protein shakes are nasty, even now I am 18 months out and cant drink protein shakes without gagging on them. I didn't puree any foods. I just stuck with soft food like yogurt, mashed potatoes with a little bit of gravy. a few times I had sugar free vanilla ice cream. I used to crave anything ice cold. and anything soft I could mush up in my mouth like cheese. you can get as many ideas as you want from people but really you need to find what works for you. they will tell you repeatedly not to drink anything with calories. water only. and sip water alllll day long. for me the problem with that is if I drink all day like youre supposed to I never get hungry and cant eat. so I modified what they told me to do. I will drink things with calories because you need calories for energy. not saying I drink soda and shit. I drink juice by a company called bottlehouse. they are just like naked juices but much cheaper. you can get them at walmart right next to naked. they are only $3.00 or so for a bottle when naked is $5.00. if I drink something with a lot of calories I consider it a meal. sometimes I blend the juice with yogurt. that makes a glass about 300 calories or so. so I consider it breakfast. everybodys story is slightly different. everybody tolerates different foods in different ways. like I had never had dumping. sugar has no effect on me. I was terrified of dumping from everything I have heard people say. then one day about year out, dumping happened I think. what did it for me was cereal and milk. I had eaten dry cereal, I had drank milk, but something about the combo of milk and cereal together made me dump. you should follow doctors orders, but sometimes you have to tweak things. what works for one person may not work for another.

What do you consider a mini meal? I'm on purée foods now and have to eat 4 to 5 small meals to get in my protein and I am consuming 3-4 oz at each meal and still not breaking 500 calories.

Today is day 3 of the preop diet and yesterday I almost buckled!!! I felt weak and starving! I'm allowed popsicles and hello but nothing was helping. I can have cream of wheat with milk, smart ones meal at lunch (200 calories and highest protein), and high Protein shakes. If I need to do things, it's burning calories and I feel sick. Left the house Saturday for a hair appointment, was sitting in the chair waiting for the color to process and went to the bathroom 3 times. Watery mouth, heat flashes, and stomach aches!!!! If my body has been in (since 11/29) and will be (until 12/5) in starvation mode, doesn't that put your body into store fat mode. Myfitnesspal says when I complete my daily food diary I can shut down my metabolism. I'm wondering how much this affects weight loss after banding.

I was a BMI of 30 (barely) and had it done in June 2012. My size 18 jeans were getting tight and nothing I did at the age of 54 made a dent in the loss. Started out at 172 and hit 98 pounds from June to January. The 98 pounds was way too thin so I upped my calorie intake and got to 105. I gained 10 last year when I got on some thyroid meds so I stopped those and the gain stopped. Sticking to 115 now and happy with that. I wear a 1 - 4 jean depending on the cut and brand.

I had someone in the weight loss office ask me what snacks do I eat. I try very hard to find good foods for me to snack on. I hate to blow my whole day on bad snacks and feel bad after eating them. So this is what I snack on. SNACKS: Newman's Own microwave popcorn 100 calorie. Cheerios (dry) 1 cup 100 calorie. Sargento light string cheese (made with 2% milk) 50 calories per piece. Babybel Light cheese - Good source of protein, 6 grams protein- 50 calories per serving. T.Marzetti Light French Onion Veggie-Dip or any of there Light Dips 60 calories serving size 2 Tbsp Pepperidge Farm Goldfish-Baked Snack Crackers. I like the Cheddar flavor.This has 140 calories serving size 55 Pieces (They also now come in so many flavors like Parmesan,Pizza,Ranch,Pretzel, and a host of other flavors. Read the Nutrition Facts. Some are 130 calories for 43 pieces, or 130 calories for 60 pieces. WeightWatchers has many wonderful snacks I love the Rosemary & Olive Oil-Pretzel Thins this also comes in many great flavors 110 calories per 1 pouch. WeightWatchers Smoothie Mix with fruit if you like. I love the French Vanilla and I add all type of berries 100 calories per packet. Also comes in a Wild Berry & Chocolate Smoothie. Musselman's (lite mixed Berry's-fruit'n Sauce or any of the berry flavors) NO SUGAR ADDED 60 calorie. Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt 80 calories. Jell-0 Pudding Snack Cups -Sugar Free 60 calorie. Edy's Fruit Bars NO SUGAR ADDED (EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMIN C) Made with REAL FRUIT 25 Calories per pop. Edy's Fruit Bars -antioxdant ( All Natural) Acai Blueberry. (EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMIN C) Made with REAL FRUIT 60 Calories per pop. Edy's Fruit Bars -antioxdant ( All Natural) Pomegranate. (EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMIN C) Made with REAL FRUIT 60 Calories per pop. Boost (High protein) Energy Drink 240 calorie. Pure Protein - Shake 170 calories. CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR MORE TIPS AND IDEAS:thumbup: http://life-after-lap-band.blogspot.com/

I love this time of year. The leaves changing, the cooler temps, fresh mountain apples, warm cider....I could go on and on. This time of year I use to do a lot of cooking- apple pie and cakes, chili- warm comfort foods. Not to mention the holidays are coming which mean lots of cooking. When the temps begin to drop I seem to start craving. I am counting my calories to make sure I don't go nuts and make sure I am getting my protein. I fear this time of year will be the most difficult due to the cravings. I love cooking and baking, but I don't want to do it to much. The closest family we have is over an hour away and honestly we don't don't have a ton for friends in the area (only been in Raleigh for 3 years). We have a few good friends that I will bake and give things to, but I feel guilty now doing that. All these friends at least one in the couple has weight issues and I don't want to make their health worse so I just don't bake. On occassion I will bake something and send it with my hubs to work- the guys he works with love to eat and can afford to. I have found some healthy recipes for chili which I totally plan to try, but I have to say I will miss my corn bread to go along with it. For those long time banders what are some go to comfort foods that won't ruin your calories intake for the day? I not only want to change my eating habits, but the foods I share with family and friends I want to be tasty and healthy so maybe it will rub off on them.

The Last Supper. LOL. I went crazy with food funerals. And it was silly, becaue there isn't anything I haven't eaten again after surgery....just in small sensible amounts. If you need food funerals....go ahead and have them. But honestly, you eventually can eat about anything if you watch your calories and balance your day.

Don't Keep your Eye OFF that PRIZE! Anything you want in life thats worth anything is not going to be easy! I see that you have made changes to this journey you started a long time ago! I could have waited to get my date,,, but I know the anticipation you are feeling,,, just know now is the time to deny that love obsession for the foods you can't live with out! REALLY,,,, I know you want this band and I encourage you to continue ur efforts,,, but we all have bad habits that has brought you to the idea that you need help loosing this extra weight. You have time to understand the types of foods u should be eating and the amounts whichARE VERY small. I eat less than 500 calories per day and I take in about 75 grams of protein; I work out 3 to 5 x per week,, but i move alot more easily than I did before! I would like to quote another Bandster (don't remember her name) she said," I wish I would have had the surgery a long time ago, it is very painful to heal, But I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!" You must take this BANDING TOOL and use it as all successful Bandits have, make better food choices, eat to satiety( satisified NOT STUFFED), learn to eat for 30 min taking one small bite at a time and find a whey Protein (in take 60- 80 grms per day no more!) that you can tolerate, then go to this web site and look for sugar free syrups to add to ur shakes, and ideas for new recipes! Good luck on your Journey, though ur not an Offical Bandster,,, I will offer any help to encourage the fact that your Banding date is closer than you will expect! http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ God Bless!

That’s correct, sleeve surgery removes around 75-80% of your tummy but gastric bypass creates a much smaller tummy from your tummy & attaches it to your rerouted intestines. Your remaining tummy is still there after bypass but no food can enter it. Further conversations with your surgeon may be needed to help you understand the differences in the surgeries, how they impact your body & which may be best for your needs. It may help ease some of your nerves too. (Nerves before surgery are very common - fear of the unknown, uncertainty, etc.) With both surgeries your ability to consume large portions is reduced. Initially after either surgery when you start consuming purées you will only be able to eat 1/4 - 1/3 cup of food. This slowly increases. (By 6 months I could eat about a cup of food & now I eat about the recommended serving size or a little less.) And it is possible for you to eventually eat around your smaller tummy which of course results in weight gain & something to be aware of. Changing your eating habits, your relationship with food, understanding the nutritional benefits of food, etc. are vital aspects of losing your weight & maintaining the loss. This is the work you have to do & has nothing to do with the surgery. Many find the temporary changes to our sense taste & sometimes smell after surgery is an opportunity to try different & healthier foods. I have some food sensitivities so I recognise you may as well but are they legitimate food sensitivities or just you don’t like to eat certain foods (taste, texture, etc.)? A dietician can help with this as well. Often working with a therapist is very helpful to work through your relationship ship with find & what is behind your eating habits., as well as your hunger (distinguishing between head hunger & real hunger). Focus on eating your protein first at every meal. Then eat your vegetables. Finally if you are able eat any carbs. This will be the same advice you will be given after surgery & when your able to eat solid foods. There were many meals I only ate my protein & couldn’t or didn’t want to eat anything else. ( I still have days like this almost 4 years out.) Start tracking your food (portion sizes, calories, protein & other macros). There are some great apps you can use. You can be successful with either surgery but after the honeymoon stage when things like your appetite returns, most of your success depends upon you. You have to be ready for the surgery & the changes it brings & the changes you have to make. Surgery was the best thing I ever did. All the best whatever you decide to do.

@@Felicia Corrales Gonzales i can only imagine the strength/decication it took to care for your mom these past 4 years condolences on your loss you realize you want/need to change the history of obesity in your family good for you on wanting to get healthier, and happier for YOU hubby and kids et al will "feel" your success not loosing any more weight??? not "sneaking" pizza, or ice cream et al?? sorry bud i had to ask if you are drinking the above, not eating you must/will loose weight i have confidence in you fingers & toes crossed May 4th, VSG keep drinking shakes and water might flow up to your eyes!!!! do what you gotta do the necessary weight should come off good luck with surgery speedy recovery kathy I admit I probably have cheated with 300 extra calories = one portioned/weeighted out meal in the last 2 weeks. My doctor says he thinks I'm eitherr retaining water or salt (?) Thanks for the support!