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WrenBird you need to look up The Diet Solution by Isabella Del Rossi. It's a 15 minute video keep a pen and pad beside you to take a few quick notes. My husband and I started to eat this way back in March and I lost 15 pounds in the first week. If you do let me know what you think.

I nerves, happy n everything tha u can thing lol with my prest op diet I lose 16 point in 1 week i so pround of mee I hope everything go well... I pray to god tha everything well be fine us I have a baby N he need mee.. Guys pray for me plis Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

My back bothered me more post-op than my front! And now I'm almost 2 weeks out and still have some soreness. Some of the pain is definitely from the gas, but some of it is from how they position you on the operating table, how you "favor" your incisions and stress different muscles, etc. I can feel the trigger points in my back that need to be released and have been working on them, but so far, no good. But much better now than last week!

This is a generality, but usually people who can't lose weight are eating lots of things that are not restricted by the band. I can eat no end of chocolate, ice cream, pudding, creamy Soups, Peanut Butter, baked potatoes . . . I'm getting hungry just making the list! However, I can about 1/4 of a meat serving compared to presurgery; I can't eat bread and enjoy it, and many Snacks have to be eaten slowly or else I will get sick. The other problem area with "eating around the band" is snacking and grazing constantly. If you eat a little bit, then a little bit again, then again, and again and again . . . well, you get the picture. If you follow the rules of eating a regular solid meal three times a day, with your Protein first, then veggies, and finally starches (which I usually just leave out, except on special occasions) then you will find your food intake drastically reduced. Finally, get your fills when you need them! If you don't get your band adjusted properly, it isn't going to work like it is supposed to.

So I just got back from my pre-op...... Chest X-Ray Upper GI EKG Lab work Everyone was super nice! After I registered and did all my paperwork, tech called me to the back. Told me to get undressed and gave me two gowns, one for the front, one for the back. Now I've never had a chest x-ray or upper GI so I didn't know what to expect. Did the chest x-ray, easy. Had me lay down on the hard, metal table, did some more x-rays. Had me flip over on my stomach, then the fun began. He puts me in this awkward position with my head tilted sideways. Then he asked me, okay what would you like to drink? A White Russian? I laughed, he laughed! So I guess you have to drink it laying down so the liquid goes down slowly. So here I am, drinking this nasty, chalky "white russian" laying down on my stomach with my head sideways! Looking back at it now, I must have looked funny! Anyway it all was pretty painless. Went over what to expect on day of surgery and what to bring to the hospital. It's becoming so real now. Getting nervous and anxious. Only 4 weeks away!

My morning nausea was present until about 3 weeks post op. I would get really hot and dizzy while getting ready in the morning to the point where I felt like I would pass out. It does get better with time and eventually goes away. Hang in there!

I was just banded last week before Thanksgiving Day and I thought I was gonna miss the turkey and all the trimmings. I did good! I had my surgery at the new hospital in Juarez, Mexico with Dr. Rodriquez and what an experience that was. The hospital is BEAUTIFUL and the people are so nice. Some of the nurses were hard to understand because of the language barrier, but all in all it was find. I want to thank Belite Weight for helping me. They were very good to me. Check out this article in the El Paso Times. I was there. http://www.elpasotimes.com/business/ci_7535779?source=sb-digg

Good luck today! Walking in the hospital will help with the gassy feeling. And once you start on liquids, remember to sip, sip, sip. I'm one week post op today and each day I feel better than the day before.

Hi I am in the UK but have an American mummy friend and we are doing a mummy and kids meal. I will be my 1st real test. I am 1 week post op tomorrow so will be 5 weeks by then so my plan is to make some kind of soup for myself. Should be on soft diet by then so maybe able to have a taste of something mashed up. Plus they don't know about my surgery but think I've had a hernia repair, which I did have at the same time. Good luck with your op xxx Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It's really a mental thing. Focusing on the prize is what gets me through! Feel free to come on here and complain and whine in the meanwhile. God knows I sure did lol. Good luck! It is really, really worth it! I'm only 3 weeks out and I haven't regretted this for a second yet.

I can tell you this. I was denied, around age 30, for the cartilage repair my knees needed. Over the years the knee issues (3 surgeries on my left knee, I refuse to even let them X-ray my right knee. I know what they will find.) my knee issues have been better and worse. I am 42. Had sleeve surgery 6 weeks ago. Am down 37 pounds total. Bmi from around 46 to 40. So far. And my knees are SOOOOO happy. It was less instant than I wanted. A few weeks ago I was still thinking of synvisc shots. But now I can do so much more. This postpones the knee replacement by years. And increases the chances of success. I will still need double knee replacement. But maybe at 65. I was on track for 50.

I was banded on 10.10.07 and was also concerned about not being mentally alert enough to return to work so I had taken 2 weeks off work. I found that I was feeling physically and mentally fine within a week and returned to work on about day 8. I am a psychologist and imagine that my clients expect nothing less than 99.9% concentration from me. I am having fairly light meals while at work (yoghurt, salads etc) as the band is still new to me and I don't want to experience stuck foods, PB's etc in my rush to eat in between clients.

I get a pain in my left side when I am full, instead of feeling full. Feels sore. Today it's just hurting. Tomorrow when I overeat (a bit) it will hurt again too. I also feel some pain on the right side every once in a while. When I go in for my check up in a couple weeks, I am going to have them point to exactly where my band is, as I've never thought to ask that before. I used to freak out thinking I'd slipped at every ache and pain, even though I've never had a symptom of a slip. I am amazed by the variety of places I can hurt with the band. I am told every time that it is all normal. Let us know what the doctor says.

you go!!! Im only one week out so I hope this is me by Christmas.....taking a BIG trip then.

There are three Centers of Excellence in the Chicago area, one in Evanston, in the city itsself and one in Oakpark. These are hospitals with excellent reputations and well trained staffs. If you can, give one of them a call and I can almost guarantee you a great experience. (I grew up in Naperville).

I hear you sister! I am also in a bit of a stall. Going to up my exercise this week and do a couple days of juicing. If you want a kick start, but have it be delicious and full of nutrients, I highly recommend juicing a day or two a week, or even for one meal replacement a couple times a week. There is an awesome movie that promotes juicing - Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead. It is a great motivator and a fun and interesting moving to watch. I'm juicing today for all but one meal (I generally do 4-5 small meals/snacks a day. Today I have two different juices - 1. green juice = kale, romaine lettuce, parsley, apples, pears, lemon and fresh ginger 2. red juice = carrots, oranges and blood oranges. They are both super delicious, but you do need a juicer to make them.

I haven't had my appt yet with my surgeon - doing my mental health and such in two weeks. I attended one of his seminars, and it sounded like he doesn't put his patients on a pre-op diet. He said he just wants you to lose any weight you can before surgery so the procedure will be less risky. I've done my research and this guy is great and I really like him, but I WANT a structured, pre-op diet. I might have misunderstood him and he might put me on one when I go to my appt, but if he doesn't, does anyone know a good resource so I can do my own? I'm shooting for surgery in late June.

I have had a handful of 2-3 week periods when I've battled the same couple of pounds, up and down, up and down. I've always sort of chalked it up to my body getting used to changes. And it's always "decided" to let the weight go, ultimately. So I do try not to sweat little plateaus. That said, your post gives the impression that there is room for improvement in what you're eating. Do you journal? If you were to use a program like Fitday--even just for a short time---you would see whether eating kids' portions in restaurants is something that is going to help you reach your goals, or whether it's something that is unwittingly sabotaging you. I know that a restaurant meal (and I eat out with some regularity) really throws a wrench into the day, because it invariably involves ...well, pretty much a whole day's calories, unless I order very, very carefully (and pack up most to take home). I'd choose a nice appetizer before I'd choose from the kid's menu---kids' menus tend to be laden with fatty junk. (And I'd try to break away from the "eating out 'cause we're busy" mold, too. Eating out some is fine---but really, it takes MORE time to go to a restaurant, sit down, wait to order, get your order, eat, and pay than it does to make a meal at home. I'm not saying this to be critical; I am the former Queen of I'm Too Busy to Cook---and now that I actually do it, I am amazed at how much more time I have!)

Kristi, You are not alone with your struggles with the band. We all have our own "little" things that make us depressed and drag us down. You can get through this. I, too, compare myself to other banders, but we have to try to stop doing that. Everyone is different and everyone's body is different. For example, just last week I saw a womans profile that was very similiar to mine. She currently weighs one more pound than me and she said that she wears a size 12 pants. How could that be, I thought. I weight one pound less and I'm in a 16/18. What in the world is going on? Then...after about a day or so...I realized that we all have different body types, different shapes, sizes, heights, etc. I cannot focus on her great accomplishments...I need to concentrate on myself. I have come a long way and I have a long way to go. We can do this!!! It's a journey that we signed up for when we went to the doctor and said that we wanted the lap band. Every ounce lost is an accomplishment. I can't imagine what my weight might be right now if I didn't get the band. It was a steady climb up and it never went down. food was running my life and for the first time in a very long time, I feel like I'm in control. I love the saying "Thin feels better than food tastes". Although I'm not thin (yet)...I am smaller than I was and I'm starting to feel good about myself. I notice that I hold my head up higher than before. I am actually enjoying shopping for clothes. All of these things I dreaded before. I didn't buy clothes because nothing would fit and I would settle for anything that I could get on, no matter how ugly it was. Now I have a variety...I feel like I have a choice in what I buy. I too have a bad back. I just had x-rays on Friday and I go back to my doctor this Friday to try to figure out what is wrong. It's painful, but I try to find exercises that aren't uncomfortable. It's difficult, but I manage. One thing that I found enjoyable that didn't hurt me was Water aerobics. Prior to going to my first class I thought that I just crawl into a hole because I had to put on a bathing suit. Much to my surprise, the class was filled with woman of all shapes, sizes and ages. I felt like I really fit in. Everyone was so nice and nobody judged. It was great. You should look into something like that. Kristi---pick your chin up...face the evil of food!!! I will be your buddy...I will help you in any way that I can. I'm no expert by any means, but I know how to be a friend and if that's what you need... I am here for you!!!

Hey all! I have my final meeting with my surgeon on Tuesday. (I was on a three month plan) What can I expect at this meeting and what are some good questions to ask?

Rain research says it takes 7 weeks to form new habits. You can make it! 7 weeks to a better life, a better you! Get a calendar count down. Preop- postop- recovery- new you! 7 weeks away. Be encouraged

I think about 95% of people some sort of stall. I never had a true stall (14 days without an ounce lost), but the closer I got to goal, my loss slowed down. I didn't experience a stall for the first 6 months, and then I was a few pounds from goal and hit a 10 day stall, then BAM dropped those pounds plus 2 to drop me below goal. If you follow your post-op dietary guidelines, push Protein and fluids, the weight loss will continue, plus working out, building muscle mass can slow down your loss, but you'll be losing inches. A pound is a pound be it a pound of fat or muscle. Fat is lumpy and takes up space, muscle mass is lean, and takes up less space in our bodies so when we build muscle, it burns the fat, and we trim down even though the scale may not be moving. I recommend taking your measurements at your neck, breasts/chest, upper arms, upper thighs, waist, hips and calves. Your clothes might fit differently even if the scale isn't moving much because you're muscles are growing, and the lumpy, bumpy fat is melting away. Mentally prepare for a stall by realizing that your body can not continue to lose a pound a day for a year. Take your measurements, and document your progress in pictures so you can physically see the changes. If you hit a stall, analyze your intake and make sure you're staying on course food wise. Stalls happen, the rapid weight loss can't last forever, but you can continue to lose at a good rate by sticking to the rules. I dropped 115lbs in 6.5 months so it's possible to lose all your weight, and keep a steady loss going.

How do you fight the hunger at night? I'm only a week out so maybe it gets easier but I've found myself being awake half the night with intense pain in my stomach from hunger... I try to ignore it but it's just keeping me awake. Do I really need to plan to wake up in the middle of the night to have a bit of a Protein shake? I'm so exhausted, I just want to sleep through the night! I've read a lot of posts about people second guessing their decision in the first few weeks post op and I'm definitely right there... I am so miserable. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am new to the process. I am 5'3, 200 lbs. (bmi 36). I also have a comorbidity. I went to the seminar so far and meet with the surgeon next week. What should I expect at the visit and has anyone with blue cross of North Carolina run into any problems?

This Monday makes week two for me what'll happen if I decided to try a small portion of regular food?