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Congrats! That is so exciting! One week from today is my turn! Veteran's Day, here I come! Pre-op diet is stinkin' today. My family is eating food that smells soooooo good! Oh well, it will be worth it. I am just sort of hiding in the bedroom watching the election and surfing the web.

Have you had and water? Yes food does feel like that if the piece of food does not get chewed up well. It is a stuck feeling. Try drinking some liquids slowly and see if it gets moving. I had a long stuck time only once. Just remember what you ate and go slower next time. And remember to chew even better. If you have pain call your Dr. they will want to hear from you on that. Best wishes and hope it moves soon. imaluckydog

I didn't mean to imply that I was going to go off my meds without my doctor's approval. I just "want" to go off of them. My blood sugars before surgery (when I was eating real food) were in the 120's, and now after surgery they are in the 90's. They are pretty stable, and have been for about 7 months or longer.

Most everyone gets nervous and has the same concerns. I considered backing out completely a week or so before my surgery and even on the day of surgery I was ready to walk out. Every body will react different. I have no food restrictions whatsoever. I eat what I want just in very small portions. I physically cannot get in more than what my sleeve can handle and you will quickly learn from discomfort when you have gone too far. I have Protein supplement intolerances. I cannot handle any supplements, I have tried several brands, I have tried hiding them in smoothies, pudding, Jello, my sleeve simply cannot handle it and I have done fine. Yes it is important to try them, especially in the first weeks when you are restricted on what you can eat BUT if you cannot handle it, you will be fine too. With stalls-it's just part of the program. Most people stall at 3 weeks, some later, some earlier, some for long periods of time, some for short periods of time, some don't experience stalls. The important thing is to not stress over the scale. It will move, just not always as quickly as we want.

I am so grateful for my life, my health, and the ability just to say THANK YOU to the Lord for this year is finally turning around. I've lost 59lbs so far and I don't feel tired anymore, my energy is coming back! I am going to my mom's house for Thanksgiving my mom asked what I could eat and she is making the menu based on my stage of food she has been so supportive in this. I don't know if she is making stuffing this time if so, I'm having a tiny spoon of it, but I'll make sure to eat my turkey first

Jessie, That was priceless, laughted too hard! Mexican food huh?? Bad pbs.......note to self!!

fat free/low fat rigatta cheese with a little sauce and fat free mozerella melted in was divine when i had my band and went through this. I still have a week before these foods but its not so bad because I think I really didnt eat much with the band so my body was more used to it!

You're still on liquids though right? A lot of people are hungry during the liquid phase. Once you start eating real food, you'll notice the restriction.

very interesting, thanks for posting this website as I am having surgery next week. My doc is sending me home with a 24 hr liquid diet then on to mushy foods, wonder why so fast on mushy foods. All I've read on here is everyone is on liquids for a week or two. hm? Donna

It's a good idea to plan out your food for the day. Try to take things that will be easy to eat on-the-go, at least for the first couple days. Make sure you take your Water everywhere you go (if you can). I really had a hard time getting in my water at work, and I'm still not doing as well on work days as I do when I'm home. I think what's important is to have a plan going into the work day, so you don't feel stressed out about eating, and having the right foods. I do much better when I plan the night before, get everything made and portioned out into my tiny little bowls, etc. It keeps me from worrying and stressing out early in the morning. Do you like string cheese? It's something I've been eating at work for a snack, and it has pretty good Protein. I also have some hard-boiled eggs on hand to take for a snack as well. I am really pretty boring, and I eat a lot of tuna salad, chicken breast, lunchmeat, cottage cheese, Greek or Carbmaster yogurt, and cheeses. I don't get a lot of variety, but I make sure to get my protein in. Then I usually have different meals at home, with a little more variety (sometimes. I still eat lots of tuna, even at home).

I am having a hard time finding balance. I've been able to stick with the liquid diet. Limiting myself too water, cream soups, vitamin drinks, and protien shakes. I've also determined that I may now be or maybe I was before and did not pay attention, Lactose Intolerant. I attempted to move onto yogurt and pudding and I became very ill. Severe gas and an upset stomach. Ever since that day and the elimination of dairy I've done much better. I've also realized that I need to make out a food schedule. This way I can have some understanding of what I need to intake. The protein is a must. Most sites and doctors that I've spoken too recommend 50-70 grams of protein. That would equate to 2 shakes a day. Which I have to say I have not been doing. The vitamins that I take are mixed with 16oz of water. This not only allows me to get my vitamin intake but insures that I get enough water. My friend suggested crystal light, I will be going to get some. I wish I could find a diet book that gives more detail. Get eating tidbits on a week by week premise for the first month. I wake up in the mornings starving. If it were not the hunger pangs I would even care about food, but unfortunately they are stronger than I am. Now I am dealing with the emotional part and fact that I relied to much on food to assist in my happiness. Or I'm just so hungry I'm having mood swings. Either was I look forward to a happier me. So My goals for next week are to stick to a food plan, be happier, and to stay motivated.

After reading similar posts and experiencing the same thing myself, I have come to the following conclusion: sleevers have a weaker immune system response than before surgery. I am not basing this on any medical research or scientific study, but it makes sense to me. What do others think? I have gotten flu symptoms 3 times since July surgery and am currently dealing with a painful staph infection on the head. It is also true that I visit the clinic for care and hospital for support groups. Both are germ infested just by the nature of their existence to treat people who have different degrees of ailments. Yes, I take a mountain of Vitamins every day, eat very cleanly, exercise, consume super food powder daily, yet, I still got sick for over a week at a time on 3 separate occasions. This did not happen before the surgery. Be careful now that you are a sleever when being in environments that are germier than normal. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

I had pureed food from 2-4 but I would rather have stuck to liquids. I did not like pureed at all.

I have not been drinking protein shakes but will definitly add them Thanks -- maybe add the powder to yogurt ........good idea~ :thankyou: - I am currently tracking excercise and food intake at sparkspeople,com I will check out myfitnesspal.com ( based on what you said I think they are about the same

Yesterday I decided not to weigh myself. I had been a little obsessive the past few weeks, kind of obsessive, and sort of endlessly disappointed the way I always am on the scale. You know there is that after-party feeling you get when you've just gotten weight loss surgery and even the loss of 30 pounds in three weeks somehow doesn't satisfy. It's the death of the fantasy-surgery in which you fly back from Mexico suddenly weighing 135 pounds. I mean it was weight loss *surgery*, right? Medical Magic? Where the hell *is* my flying car, by the way? I know there are people who give you this advice anyway. The Weight Watchers lady, the Jenny Craig lady and the Diet Center lady were all prone to the same advice and now thinking back on it they might have all been the same lady. Remember her? Skinny, size zero dress with a tiny waist and no sleeves, huge grin on her face and at least en years younger than you perkily dispensing dictums about how one should comport one's self in life. I swear she was always the same girl. And as far as I knew I was listening to a person who was subsisting on styrofoam and black tar heroin. Jenny Craig was probably the worst diet ripoff I ever encountered -- five hundred dollars "registration" fee and then I would come to get "my food", as they called the minsucule globules of prepackaged crap frozen dinners and "snacks" such as two thumbprint sized, elven lemon butter muffins. Jenny Craig is owned by Nestle Corporation. They are in the food business. The whole thing is designed to sell a vulnerable, aging and overweight population of females their crap food at an astronomical markup. It's all like this, all of it. All of it. What I keep thinking about still is all the lies and nonsense I paid for to try to lose a hundred pounds for the third time and I just knew I never would. I would just *keep buying products* as some sort of offering. Sure I was overweight. But I was doing something. I was spending thousands of dollars a year in extra shit I never used or got satisfaction from because those thousand dollars represented some kind of hope but then....after a while..it's just what you do. You're fat -- this is not a condition but a demographic, a role, a llifestyle. Your market speaks and your ears perk up right away. The salesman in your living room gets you to part with only six payments of 59.99 for some Chinese appliance wih moving parts you are supposed to press or move or kick; or some tape or "plan*. I will never regret the money I spent on weight loss surgery. What I regret is all that *other* goddamned money. Tangent, sorry. I decided to stop weighing myself because I am trying to save myself from the feedback loop I seem get sucked into with the scale. I know it's "stall week". I know I'm going to "stall". I would just rather not hear about it from that appliance. Because what it doesn't know is that I barely have a stomach anymore and I am eating less than six hundred calories a day on average so it's very *likely*, I mean one could *project* that I am losing a shit-ton of weight here. I'm sticking with that for the time being. For as long as I can stand it. It's very zen of me. And today was much better than yesterday. Special K went down with joy and peace in its heart; and then around 4 I went to Culvers and got a cup of bacon and potato Soup to dissect and pulverize. It also went down like a sleepy baby and gave me a nice, rounded, carby buzz. I had some juice in my veins today and did not cry, although I did get way too interested in mineral makeup products and at-home microdermabrasion which I had to force myself not to buy. I don't look all that great for a person who just lost thirty pounds. I look tired and kind of sucked-in and gray, which is what I hear happens to people who've . had surgery recently. But I decided it was not time to worry about that yet. It's really unlikely I'm going to look like Heather Locklear tomorrow no matter what I purchase online. A little more new normal today. And no scale, which to me should be the most normal thing of all.

My personality change is one of the TOP reasons I am considering lap-band. I have always been a yo-yo dieter and while doing Atkins I went from 200 to 150 (wore a size 6!!) and I was alive, full of happiness, on the go all the time, was very social and loved to be intimate with my husband. I have since gained 110 lbs in 10 years (most of it in the past 6 years) and I am gaining faster every year and in the past 2 years my personality has changed drastically. I FAKE happiness all the time...when all I think about is food and how fat I am. It consumes my every thought. If I am talking to someone about something else I am thinking about how much skinnier they are than me or what they must be thinking about me. I have a great life with a wonderful husband and 2 awesome kids. I really have nothing other than my weight to worry about it. I used to do my hair and makeup to go to the store...now I go without even looking in the mirror. I have given up on looking good because how can I possibly look good at 260lbs??? My relationship with my husband has definately changed. He tells me all the time how much he loves me, but I think he is just saying that because he took me for better or for worse...and he got the worst! We have sex MAYBE once a month and its not that enjoyable for me. I am uncomfortable and worried the whole time about hiding my body. I know the lapband wont buy me a better personality, but even getting some of this extra weight off will make a big difference on how I feel about myself.

Hey All, I had my one year check in with the Surgeon today and there is both good news and bad news.. Bad news is the gallstones (which we already knew about), he wants to get me in to have my gall bladder out asap as the stones are "just the right size to get stuck and cause pancreatitis"... so I should have a surgery date soon. Other bad news is that my Vit B12 is down, so I need to call my GP and arrange to have an injection every 3 months to boost it, and then they'll have to continue to monitor. He said that B12 supplements aren't very efficient and are very expensive, but it might be worth googling some B12 rich foods and trying to get more of those into my diet. I had a look and it seems that liver, shellfish, oily fish, eggs, turkey are the best options. Liver is the ultimate but it has high cholesterol so I've emailed my dietician to ask how often I should be having it. Good news is that I'm now 2lb to goal, and as I'm no longer overweight my gall bladder op is very low risk. Hoorah! Anyone else had success with Vit B12 rich foods, and if so what? Thanks! xx

Last week was my 8 month bandiversary. Why did I wait so long to have the lap-band? It has really been the best thing I have ever done for myself. My lap-band is my built in will power. Always with me. Always reminding me to make good food choices. I wanted to share some of my positive outcomes so far... Justin Bieber weighs 110lbs. I have lost Justin Bieber!!! I am working out regularly. I can make it through an hour kick ass spin class with out taking a break and I love it! I have more energy to play with my son. (I went down the slide at the park and went on the swings!) My whole family is eating healthier. I have learned what a real portion looks like. I can fit in any restaurant booth. If I eat slowly, pay attention to what I’m doing and chew my food really well, then I can still eat my favorite foods. (The funny thing is those foods aren’t as important to me anymore.) I went from a tight size 26/28/3X/4X to a loose 18/20/1x. I do not wear elastic waist pants anymore. My shoe size went from an 11W to a 10. I am putting myself first for the first time ever and I am able to take BETTER care of the people and things I care about. I'm saving money - eating less, eating out less, and less money on fad diets etc. I'm not missing out on anything. I try new things all the time. I am so happy! I truly wish that everyone can experience all the wonderful things that I have in the last 8 months. Who knew that in less than a year my life could be so different? I can't wait to see what happens next! Have a great day!

For me it's always the same Exercise, lots of water, food journal- if I bite it I write it !! That makes me accountable to myself and also helps diagnose diet patterns like how I figured out I was eating 1 or 2 too many granola bars. I also weigh and measure ( my eyes lie!) hope that helps .

Since you work for a lap band surgery center, would you care to share their post op (real food) diet with me. The surgeon's office here (only one in town) isn't much at sharing nutritional information and there is no nutritionist in town. For you info, I was banded on 7/30/07 and have lost a little over 30 lbs. But, I feel so often that "I am going it alone" and just guessing at choices. You may respond to komishe@sccost.net Many thanks, Sheila

The idea of this may be a nightmare for many of you, but it may actually work for me. However, it isn't something you hear often. I have been having hunger pains since day 4 after surgery. As a matter of fact, its the first time in 15 years my metabolism has been right. I normally only ate one really large meal once a day and wasn't hungry the rest of the day so my body never wanted to lose weight because it was convinced I was going to starve it and held on to every bit of fat I ate. On day 4, every 4 hours or so I would get this PAINFUL feeling in my stomach, that after about 3 days I figured out was actually hunger! This may work because I am an A type personality that will forgo food for work that needs to be done but if this keeps up I will drop everything every 4 hours to get a few bites of food. Does this happen to anyone else? Like I said, this may not work for everyone, but it might be very beneficial for me. I had just never heard of it before.

i have been started on mushy food.... i had surgery alittle over 2 weeks ago.... and my stomach hurts.... not where the band it but the bigger part of my stomach hurts.... usually when i eat it hurts more!!!! is this normal or????

I'm 13 days post op, my nutritionist told me to stay under 500 calories for right now. She said as I move on later in the year it will be 1000-1200 per day. She also said keep sugars less than 10 per serving and carbs less than 15 per serving. I also starting working out, I was wondering if I should increase my protein. I'm also still on soft/ smooth food for another 3 weeks.

Maybe think about all the reasons you like these gatherings besides the food. Make a list. Focus on them. If you want to take some home, no problem. Focus on the people, relationships at the party first? Planning ahead is key.... You are on the right track.

There are some events I go to every year that serve some delicious food. I hate to waste it and asking for a "to-go" container may not be possible (ladies luncheon at church, husband's christmas party with the best food i have all year). I have visions of my grandma at the buffet with her little ziploc baggies taking food home for her dogs. Has anyone invented a purse sized reusable doggie bag that is discreet?? LOL.. it seems so funny to ask this but what the heck!! Who wants to throw away 4 ozs of filet mignon!!! I would love to hear how y'all bring home your leftovers. No point in wasting it if it can last a few meals!!! I thought about keeping a mini car adaptor plug in ice chest handy in the car for when I do have leftovers.