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I thought this would be a good idea! I already keep a journal, just for myself. But maybe this would be informative for someone else. I am 41 yrs old, housewife, mother, massage therapist. I have been on the weight roller coaster for many years now, ever since I got married at age 21, which will be 19 years this July! I gain, I lose, I gain back...usually more than I lost, but not always. Over the years my "top weight" had gradually increased. Eventually I went up to 260. I was miserable. I wanted to go to massage school. I worked hard again, and dropped 65 lbs by the time school started(thanks to Quick Weight Loss Center). I maintained well through school, being busy helps! But during my internship, which was spotty as far as time, I started gaining again. By the time I had my license and was out working, I had gained 30 lbs! I was barely hanging on until I got very sick. I got walking pnuemonia, which set me back. I also gained a lot of weight. Then I was in a car accident, hurt my leg real bad. More set backs, more weight. Got sick again with the pneumonia and several bouts of bronchitis. More weight, less motivation, less physical strenth. It went up from there, finally topping out at my most recent highest ever-- 293.5!! . So then I had the mentality of "Why fight the battle when I am going to lose the war? What incintive do I have?" Just get used to being fat, and eat what you want. Why bother? Ok, fine... but.. being at that weight was ruining my life. I was only operating at 50%. I did not have the energy or motivation to go out and find work (self-employed). This hurt my relationship with my DH. He wants me to work and bring in $$, especially after all the $$ I spent in school and CEU courses afterwards (I had 52 CEU hours in my first year of license, I was a real go getter at first, before I gained the weight). I also had several other things be affected... my sex life (almost non-existant), I could not run and play with kids, I was too embarassed to go swimming with the family and would sit out. I used to ride horses all the time, my life passion! Nothing occupied my mind more over the many many years more than horses! Now I was too fat to ride. I would have to ride a draft horse! Even when I did ride a horse that could handle my weight, I felt too unbalanced, unsafe. If the horse was to take a quick turn, being spooked or something, I would come off, hit the ground HARD! I ride on streets. Asphalt is NOT forgiving! I stopped riding when I was about 260. I wound up driving miniature horses. They can pull me in a cart just fine down the street! So I have been doing that for a couple years now. However, if there was to ever be an emergency, and I needed to hop out of the cart... good luck with that! My weight prohibits me to act fast and quickly, safely. So I got scared about that, and eventually quit driving as well. And of course, there is the usual depression. I started hating myself, hating any skinny woman I saw, hating that even at Walmart I was having trouble finding the size I needed.. XXX. I had to go to specialty stores. Myfeet gave me major problems, which lamed me up more. At one time I was borderline diabetic, according to my doc. I started to explore differnt ways to get rid of this weight more permanetly. I came across the LAP-BAND®®®®. I ray of hope entered my life! Could this be the magic bullet? I have used tools in the past to lose weight, like the Metabolife, Weight Watchers, QWLC, etc. The support and help I got from these really helped! I needed soemthing like that again, but something stronger, something that would stay with me always. A constant motivator. The Band seems to be it. I had to give it a try. The big things that were holding me back to get it was money, and pursuading DH to let me get surgery. He is very protective of me and highly values me. Dosn't want to lose me to some complication and be left raising my now 2 kids alone. My insurance would not pay for it. I dropped that insurance and got another that the sales guy told me they would do it. I let almost a year go by, and then I tried to do it. They would not, he lied to me! Luckily I had gotten some inheritance from my grandmother this past year. Now was my chance! I decided I could pay cash for half, and Care Credit the other half. Now DH had to be convinced. By this point, he realized I am so affected by the weight, something has to be done, so he finally agreed after I educated myself and him about the whole thing, and the risks. I met once again with True Results (I I talked with them a year ago when I was first intersted). On the scale I was 293.5. I commited to doing it. I came in for the pre-op talk with the surgeon. I had already dropped about 10 lbs, because I was now determined I was going to do this one last time, and was eating better. He told me about the pre-op diet. I had 3 weeks before surgery. I was very faithful to the diet and had no regrets or strayed from it. Once I set my mind on something I want, I go get it! I just had to mentally prepare myself for this battle and war, once again, hopefully for the final time. Itwas working! Ilost a total of 30 lbs by surgry day.. April 14th 2010. I was already feeling better and stronger. I started working out again at Curves (I had a membership that I had carried for a year without going!!) Then the big day arrived! I did not think I was nervous. but apparently I was. That morning I felt shaky, and a bit light headed, some nauseousness. I thought I was sick, and would not be able to go! But then I figured out it was nerves! I settled down a few hours later. I took the kids to school, came back, and showered with the special soap they required. I was there by 9:30am. The hardest part was not drinking! My mouth was very dry. I would take baby sips of water, just enough to wet my mouth. I filled out papers, gave a pee sample (to prove I was not pregnant), got the IV in, the Heprin shot, the wonderful gown on, all that. Then I said goodbye to DH. I woke up in the recovery room. Very woozy, and sore. They had me get up and get my clothes on, quite a chore! Then they got me inot the xray room and swallow barium. The xray showed that the band was too tight, nothing going through! So I had to lie on a table while they pushed around on me (OUCH!) to find the port. Then I guess they took some out. Did the barium again, now it was fine. They finally got me into the car on to the house, DH driving. I was quite sick at my tummy by then, and dry heaved a few times (ouch!). I could not drink anything. DH called the nurse and they called in a prescription for a supository. He also got the liquid Vicodin. The Vicodin would not stay down. I just had to deal with the pain until the next day. I eventually felt better by nightfall. I just went to sleep. It wasn't the best night sleep, but it worked. Next morning I felt Ok for drinking something. I had a protiend shake, and some broth. Then I took some pain meds. They stayed down, but did not do any good. Call the nurse! She said to take liquid Motrin in between doses of Vicodin. Eventually that worked, by nightfall, the pain was getting less. I forced myself to walk around the house off and on. I took the Gas X. Next day I was walking around outside in the yard. Next day down the street to the stop sign and back, a couple of times! I was still quite sore. Rolling over at night in bed was painful too. I could only sleep on my right side for a while. Then I could tolerate my back. Now I am about to be able to sleep on my left, but it still pinches and hurts sometimes. Getting up from achair or bed was very painful too for a while. Now it is no big deal, just some minor pain (I am 8 days post-op today). My shouldr has started to hurt again. So that bugs me. Today though, has been my most painfree day! But 2 days ago, it was a bad day! I was hurrying out the door to take kids to school, now that I could drive again. I must have drunk my smoothie too fast, something. I got on the road and felt nauseous, weak, yucky. I started thinking about the surgery. Thinking about the pain i was experincing, and how I was stuck with this thing inside me, unless I got another operation. I do not know if I somehow psyched myself into feling like this, or what. I tried to think of other things. After dropping the kids off, I hurried home (2o minute drive). the feelings of sickness got worse! I really thought I would have to pull over and either puke or call for help. I was really scared. I did not know what was going on!:sad: It was a real mental battle for me to get home OK. Then I ran to the bathroom. I never threw up, but I did have loose bowels. I took a supository and went to bed. Two hours later I was OK. I was weak, but not sick at my stomach. I took it easy the rest of that day and the next. I was worried the next day if I would start feeling like that again. I did not drink a smoothie before leaving. I just took water with me. I was OK, just drained. Now today I feel great!:wink2: Better than ever! I also got to start soft foods, like soup, and yogurt smoothies! That has also helped the stomach rumblings I sometimes have, hunger pains! I was not really hungry, but my stomach said it was ! That feeling of your stomach turning in on itself, growling, squiching around! Not fun! Anyway, I am glad I have done this, so far. It has been a bit more of a recovery than I was thinking it would be, unexpected pain, soreness, etc. But I have been assured by many that this too... will pass... and be a memory. So I hold onto that and continue to follow instructions closely and try to not over do anything. This is a good excuse to pamper myself and take the time I need to heal properly. Until next time my friend!!:smile2: ps.. my goal is 170!:wink2:

I've mixed Peanut Butter, No suger added Nesquick, and several other ingredients with it before. I also mix mine with Almond Milk... lower carbs than skim milk. But here are two of my favorite blends so far 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder, Almond Milk, Nonfat Blackberry yogurt, 3 pineapple chunks and a few ice cubes, then blend it. And 1 scoop vanilla protein, Almond Milk, and Nonfat Lemon yogurt, ice cubes then blend.... reminded me of a lemon pie the first time I had one.

I use genepro and I love it. I add it to my glass of milk, water or yogurt. Not bad at all and it had 30 grams of protein per scoop with 98 calories. 33 bucks at gnc.

How about some Egg Drop Soup without the vegetables? I think the floating egg would be okay in week 2, it is pretty loose. I think I also had Greek Yogurt that had no fruit pieces in it. I like the Okios Dannon Orangesicle, it tastes like a 50/50 bar.

I eat the Walmart brand, great value, light Greek yogurt. The banana cream is really good and has 90 calories, 0 fat, 9 carbs, 7 sugar, and 12 protein. I eat one just about every day.

It has been 5 weeks post op and so far I am feeling OK. I see lots of folks who say they now have tons of energy and feel great. I feel OK but my energy level is still low with a few periods of a little more energy during the day. I just need to know am I being too hard on myself? I am not sure. I get between 60 to 70 grams of protein a day and on most days I do get 64oz of water. Yet, I still feel that I do not have enough energy. I am still on protein shakes and have started on yogurt, swiss cheese, scrambled eggs (once in a while not everyday). I have been avoiding vegtables and fruits and I have been told not to heat any bread or ceral. I am taking all my vitamins that have been given to me by my nutritionist. Is there anyone else having the same issues? I am trying to wene myself off of protein shakes but maybe it is still too soon. Does anyone have any thoughts that could help me? Thank you

I am 17 days post op and here's what I pretty much eat every day: Wake Up: Cold coffee drink with lite soy milk and 1/2 scoop of unflavored Protein powder Breakfast: Low fat greek yogurt (Fage) with honey (130 cal / 10g protein) Snack at Work: Myoplex Lite Protein Drink Lunch: 1 tablespoon each / 4 tablespoons total of stuff off the salad bar. Usually, tuna, peas, cottage cheese, garbanzos. Snack: Another protein drink Dinner: Whatever I cook for the boys but just 4 tablespoons of it. Monday night I had one strand of whole wheat fettuccine with tomato vodka sauce, roasted veggies, and a tiny piece of blackened trout. Last night I had a work event and I had two shrimp, steamed cauliflower and carrots, and one tiny potato wedge. Dessert: sugar free ice pops--usually two of them because they are so frosty delicious!!

Hi All, I can't believe it, but I got banded on Aug. 7. I was lucky in that I was the first surgery of the day, but I had to get there at 5:30 am Anyway, was a little nauseous when I woke up, but was so glad it went away. All the staff was great. I can't say the surgery was very much fun, though. I'm feeling kind of icky. I haven't been sleeping well, and last night my CPAP machine wouldn't seal to my face right. Aargh! My stomach is churning, churning. My incisions were glued shut, and couple of them started bleeding the first night home. I'm a little worried about them. Dr. said just to put a bandaid on them. I was also bringing up a lot of phlegm, which makes my worry about my lungs. I've got some gas too, I think. The strangest thing was the morning after the surgery, I found that I was suddenly far-sighted. This isn't what my vision is usually like. I can't seem to focus on anything close up. My optometrist said it could be the residual effects of anaesthesia, and my eye muscles are sleepy or something. I'm still having this problem today. It's really disconcerting. I'm sick of protein drinks. So much sweetness. but I feel like I've dropped a ton of water and have to watch my hydration. Very much looking forward to cottage cheese, yogurt, refrieds, and eggs. I would take some more oxycodone, but I think that's not going to help my eyes wake up. Sigh. My problem is that I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, and I'm alarmed at every twinge. Wish me luck! Can't wait to be more healed.

@@HaddocksEyes I wish I felt full.. Since coming home I've been able to get 64oz of Water and 80gr of Protein in each day no issue which is great considering...The issue is I can literally sit and eat a whole 4oz bowl of Soup and not get a sense of fullness, Yes it takes me forever to eat it but at the end I'm still hungry. I'm on full liquids now and yogurt was included in that on my nutrition packet so I did almost a full cup of Greek yogurt today and that actually helped hold me over for a longer period of time then any of the cream Soups did, So I plan on eating that for a while. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YAY! Glad to hear that the yogurt puts off the hunger pangs for a longer period of time.

I would focus on liquids before foods, that's a pretty quick progression to mushies. I know I had no appetite the first few days because of the swelling, etc. I also was on full liquids, which allowed for puddings, yogurt, Jello and found that I felt extremely nauseous when I ate some of those foods. Do you know if you received a fill at time of surgery? This could also be a problem if you have a fill

I'm asking for help here. I'm miserable. I was sent home with a 24 hr liquid diet then after that mushies. Have been tolerating mushies and protein shakes and water but I cannot shake nausea and the feeling of being full no matter whether I've eaten, drank, or not. The only time I feel my best is first thing in the morning when I wake. When I first drink something is when I start to feel full. At first, I'm sorry to be graphic here but I need to be, yesterday had marked a week since a BM so I had taken Miralax, drank a half of bottle of Magnesium Citrate and then finally a little relief but not much. The things I'm eating are like cream of wheat, oatmeal, yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup. I talked to my surgeons nurse this morning and she said maybe its because I haven't gone to the bathroom. I just can't seem to get my liquids in because I'm so full feeling. Help, anyone.

Every doctor has a different requirement. I was just sleeved last Thursday. My doc kept me on clear/very thin liquids for one week. This included Protein drinks, broth, Jell-O, crystal light, etc. I progressed to mushy foods Thursday evening and had mashed sweet potatoes (about 1/2 a cup and it took me 45 minutes to eat). I ate a scrambled egg with a very little amount of mozzarella cheese yesterday for Breakfast and again, it took me about 45 minutes to eat. I am able to eat about 1/2 cup of pretty much anything mushy and be fine including cottage cheese, fat-free greek yogurt, oatmeal, etc. I will stay on mushy foods until next Friday and will be able to progress to canned tuna, shredded chicken, etc. at that time IF my stomach can handle it. I haven't had any problem with nausea and foods yet but I do get "bubbly" if I eat to fast. I haven't had a problem with hunger pangs but I do get head hunger if I am watching cooking shows or my husband brings home fast food for himself. My doc doesn't recommend any carbonated beverages ever because the carbonated gas can expand the stomach. I have found that if I am not thinking about food, I just don't get the urge to eat. I have to remind myself to eat something every couple of hours. I am only able to get in around 650 calories a day but I do make sure I get in at least 90 grams of protein per day and try to keep the carbs below 40. Like I said, every doctor will have a different requirement. Your body will also tell you when it is ready to advance. Best of luck to you and I hope your surgery goes well. Dawn

Seriously I don't want to complain about this surgery, It's what I wanted and did it for a very good reason. I'm 5 day's out and on full liquids I feel like thing's are falling apart and I'm just trying my best to hold it all together. I'M STARVING!!..I've gotten in all 64oz of Water and 80grams of Protein and I'm so hungry I'm about to crack! It doesn't help that my husband decided it would be an awesome idea to bring 2 large pizza's into the house for himself and my small 4 year old daughter that will only eat 1 slice, But yet he thought it was necessary to get two after I told him to get one..This isn't head hunger. It's not acid reflux or the need to drink more water, this is stomach eating hunger.. Taking my pain pills and wrapping up in a blanket for a long night's sleep, At least I won't feel hungry then. Hopefully.. Hi there Baby...I've been reading your posts for a while now. Please don't be discouraged. I too get hungry and it has been that way since about the 5th day post-op. In fact, I broke the rules on the 6th day post-op and had yogurt and cottage cheese and refried Beans with melted cheese. Not saying you (or anyone else) shoud necessarily do that, only that the hunger is real and I feel you. There have been many times over the past 4 weeks that the rest of the family has been eating something really good..like hamburgers and french fries and yes, PIZZA! These were formerly two of my favorite meals. It's hard to sit there and smell it and want to have it, especially when you are truly hungry. I would sit down with my low-fat pot pie Soup and eat that. When I would become full fast, it would remind me that even if I wanted what they were eating, there was no way in heck I could even get down a portion of any of it. Other than that, I had to just walk away. They asked for chocolate chips Cookies the other day and I was going to make it for them. But after some thought I knew if I did, there was no way I could stop myself from sampling some cookies. So I just didn't go there at all. As my mother always likes to to say, this too shall pass. Good luck to you!! I know you will be successful with each pasing day.

Hil ALL!! I am glad to hear evryone is fine. I have a headahce too but it is so worth it that I don;t even mind. Time is coming!!!!!! This is the list I found here, thoight I would paste it for everybody's convenience. This is a list of things to take to with you the day of the procedure: 1. Sports bra 2. Any meds you take everyday incase you need to stay longer 3. Ear plugs and eye covers 4. Book and/or DVD and player 5. Tampon or pads 6. Easy shoes to put on when its time to go home 7. sweats for the hospital 8. slippers for the hospital 9. pillow for the hospital 10. Cotton underwear 11. Fleets Phospho-Soda (to take pre op if your doctor says) 12. Chapstick or something for your lips 13. Hand lotion if you tend to get dry hands or are staying over night. Okay here is the compiled list of must haves that you should buy and have waiting for you at home: 1. Liquid tylenol 2. gas-x 3. Thermacare shoulder neck hot pads or heating pad (helped with the shoulder pain) 4. ice pack (it feels good on the incisions) 5. Get your Pain Meds ahead of time (if you can) 6. crystal light 7. sugar free popsicles 8. fat free low sodium broth (buy more than you think you will need) 9. decaf herbal tea or decaf coffee (can add artificial sweetner 10. stopwatch "A stopwatch because keeping track of drinking an ounce of Fluid every 15-mins was hard to keep track of the first few days. Even to this day I use it to make sure I eat every three hours" (Quoted from bearbandit) 11. Dixie Cups - perfect size for post-op amounts of liquids 12. sippy cup (to learn to take small sips) 13. stool softner 14. bandages regular size and some big ones or gauze pads for your port incision when you go back to work 15. antibiotic cream 16. Isopure Protein drinks (clear liquid so I could have them the first days after surgery) 17. Vitamin E oil/Arnica Montana (To use after incisions heal) 2nd week fluids with calories 1. diet carnation instant Breakfast drink 2. ensure or boost 3. atkins ready to drink 4. Eas advantage carb control 5. slim fast 6. sugar free Jello 7. sugar free pudding 8. Centrum chewable viatmins 9. Caltrate Plus chewable Vitamins 10. nonfat milk 11. Cream of Wheat 12. oatmeal 13. Strained pureed Soups 14. light fat-free yogurt 15. applesauce - no added sugar 16. V8 juice 17. 1/2 cup and 1 cup plastic bowls with lids 18. Pill cutter (For Meds that you can't get in liquid) PANTS THAT WONT HURT FOR WHEN YOU GO BACK TO WORK. SOOOO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -n.

Happy Holidays everyone. Just wanted you all to know I did end up losing 7 pounds after 14 days of hellish torture LOL. My doctor said my liver shrank a little but not a lot. He said it will continue to shrink as I lose weight. I was on 19 medications and he said that can sometimes have an effect on the shrinking... so now we know. Surgery went well and other than feeling like I did 100 situps I wouldn't really know I had surgery. No real after effects. I threw up once in the hospital when I took too many of my 19 meds at once but other than that no other issues. I'm back to drinking normally with no problem. Still no food yet, I have 8 more days to go to get to puree but I get milk and yogurt on Wed and I'm really looking forward to it. I think it will settle okay but will do small amounts at first. Thanks, everyone for being so nice and supportive! Love this group!

How is that puréed tuna going for you? I have not dared to many of the puréed foods. I have eaten lots of potatoes and Greek yogurt.

I have condensed soups varieties. Cream soup. Pudding applesauce with doesn't agree with me. I had lobster bisque didn't agree with that either. I have a black bean soup it came blended .. Greek yogurt which also didn't agree. Waters zero calorie powerade love those keeps me sane. And that's it

I was banded in July 2009 and have been experiencing left shoulder pain since. It bothers me all the time and feels like a pinched nerve (burning/pulling sensation). It's terrible because I sleep with my left arm under my pillow so I've had to alter my sleeping position. Thank you to the bander who posted the use of a heating pad. I just ran in and grabbed my heating pad and am hoping this works! Also, thank you to the bander who posted about the diaphram. I've had terrible acid reflux, heartburn, pressure like a brick sitting on my chest for the past two weeks. I called my surgeon and he put me back on liquids thinking that something was stuck in my band. After 6 days I was finally able to eat yogurt. on the 8th day I tried eating a piece of baked chicken and a few very soft green Beans and I'm back to square one... PAIN and Acid Reflux. I can only sip on liquids and sometimes they come up too. My surgeon doesnt have office hours on Fridays, so I'm waiting til Monday in the hopes that something gives. I'd love to hear from anyone else with the same symptoms and what it might be... band slippage, restriction, food stuck, hernia, ???

It is interesting to hear about the issues some of you have had with scar tissue. I just had my sleeve and my doctor removed my scar tissue from my band prior to doing the sleeve. It made my surgery about an hour longer, but he did not mention that I would have any issues with restriction. I guess it depends on the doctor and how they operate. I was sleeved on 4/9/14 and I have plenty of restriction. It takes me about an hour to drink 8 oz of water and I can't even get through half a serving of yogurt before getting full. Already down 23 lbs (includes weight loss from week long pre-op diet). It goes to show that it's different surgeon to surgeon and patient to patient.

There are many other ways you can use fage yogurt....since it's high in protien and people are struggling with protien, you can add it to other foods to increase you protien...found this link that has great ideas....:sad0: Things to Do with Fage Yogurt | Recipe4Living Caro

Thanks for this tip! I was just having Plain Greek Yogurt as I was reading this and had Crystal light tried Raspberry in it and it is awesome! G

What?!!! Something better than Greek yogurt with Torani syrup? I can't wait to try it.... Thanks for posting the tip!

The weight control oatmeal has 7g of protien, my son love :thumbup:eating it. Since I have no restriction at this moment today I had BF: 1/2 cup of can peaches 4oz of small curd cottage cheese 8 oz of decaf coffee Snack 1: a carb control sugar free yogurt Lunch: 4 oz of Haitian bean soup with 2tbs of salsa 1 oz of shredded cheese 1ts of low fat sour cream Diner: egg salad (2 eggs) 1 slice of whole-wheat toast 1/4 cup of green Beans Snack 2: 1 no sugar added fudgsicle lots of Water and crystal light Last week I ate far less then that, need a fill.

Another day of accountability. B'fast: One cup Kashi go lean with 1/2 c skim milk. 180C 13 gm Protein snack: One bottle Special k2O Water 50C 230CT 5 gm protein (18gmT) Lunch:Lean cuisine 250c 16 gm protein 480cT 34 gm T protein snack: 12 almonds and a low fat yogurt 200c (680 c) 7gm protein 41 gm T Another Special k water 50c (730) 46 gm T Dinner: 2 scrambled eggs and two pieces 60 C whole wheat toast ( couldn't finish it got stuck)300C this is the second night in a row I got stuck at dinner. Last fill kicking in? I just don't know. I wait and then can eat again, so I had Snack: 1/2 EAS power bar. 120C 1150 C Total Lost track of protein at 46 gm T

No, I don't think it tastes like coconut - I'd almost say more like yogurt or so. That made it quite pleasant to me, because the rest is all so sweet...