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I know. I eat chili several times a week. The no dairy thing might be a deal breaker. I might lean more toward primal.

I am 16 months post op on 11/23. I have lost 60 pounds and have recently started working 2 full time jobs and unfortunately gained 4.5 pounds. I realized this and have decided to follow the pre-op and post-op diet to a T just to get myself back on track. Today is day 2 of liquids. I had a 5 day liquid diet before surgery and then 1 week liquids, 1 week mushies, 1 week soft and then the 4th week slowly introduced solid protein and veggies back in to my diet. Thanksgiving I will allow some solid foods but only for that day and only 1 meal. The liquid diet is definitely an eye opener to how reliant I am still on food. I am in this for success and will make it there. I have about 44-49 pounds I would like to lose. I am 194 right now and a size 14/L. I started out at 250ish and was in a size 20-22 and a 2xl shirt. I just stared getting really comfortable with my size and realized I need to lose even more to be healthy. I am not in this to get "skinny", I am in this to be healthy. I will get there. Down 1.5 pounds in 2 days. Wish me luck!!!

Congrats! I'm just 2 1/2 weeks post surgery, feel great. I just stated puree

Sounds like you are doing fine. Even at 5 lbs a month you'll reach your goal before a year is up. I didn't reach my doctor's goal until 9 months and my personal goal until 11 months. I kept losing after that and am way past where I thought I'd be. I'll be three years post op on the 9th. Keep at it, you'll get there!

I hate liquids too. I didn't really get a lot of post op instructions ( sleeved in Mexico ) so I've been winging it. A little more than 3 weeks out I can eat most anything within reason and have had no issues at all. I'm waiting to add things like salad and steak but I sure wish I had some. This continual battle to get enough liquids each day is just that - a constant battle. Hang in there! I see some refried beans in your near future.

/rant on Uughhh, just need to get this off my chest. I am about three weeks post op and my surgeon has a four week liquid phase requirement prior to moving to purées. Add that to a two week pre-op phase and I am getting close to the end of my tolerance for liquids. I have not cheated and I will not, but man I am ready for some refried beans!!! I have had a complication free journey so far (knock on wood), no problems with liquids of any kind. I know these weeks are such a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things but man did I mention I want some refried Beans?? With cheese and sour cream maybe, oh and guacamole. I can make it one more week, but d****t I want something other than liquid! (Have I mentioned that Mexican food is/was my favorite thing in the world...) Ok, I feel better. /rant off Sent from my iPad using VST

I was banded the same day as you. My doctor told me that the incisions would feel fine in a few days but the port incision would be swollen, bruised and/or sore for 3-6 weeks. Sorry, I know it's not fun to think of. I guess because I knew that going in I was prepared so it's not terrible but it's certainly not fun!

I am a type-1 pumper. I was sleeved 12/08/15. I have lost 25 pounds since day of surgery. I am on less than half of the insulin I was on before surgery. I am also off of 3 blood pressure meds, and all of my cholesterol meds. My blood sugars have been great, and I've only had 2 lows that needed to be treated, which I do with skim milk. I feel great and have a lot of energy, which I didn't expect. I upload my blood sugars with carelink(I have a Medtronic minimed) to my endocrinologist once a week and they adjust as needed. It has been a blessing and I couldn't be happier with the decision!

Hey everyone! I had the sleeve done on 4/6/16. I just started my phase one yesterday I'm drinking pretty fast but I'm kind of getting worried. I use the one ounce cup when I'm home but if I'm out I just drink slowly and take my sips. I'm not getting in all my 64oz of liquids, but I am getting all three Protein drinks in. Has anyone had trouble with getting all 64oz along with Protein Drinks in everyday? Is it bad I'm not using the 1oz cup every 5 minutes? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well, I'm 9 1/2 months post-op and down 201 lbs. I still consume mostly softer foods, Protein of about 80 grams a day and calories about 700 a day. I walk a brisk 5 miles six days a week and do about 300 push ups and 400 bicep curls ( with 5 lbs. 0 daily ). The equation is simple, keep calories low, work out alot and you will have success. Hunger is only in your mind now with the gift of by-pass surgery. Your trainer want to keep the job and if he/she senses that you want to eat more and implies that you should consume more, they win and if you gain some weight or fail to lose more, they win because you really need the trainer, Right ?

Hey everyone, its been awhile since I've been on the boards! I just wanted to share my story... I was banded September 2012. I learned pretty quickly how to eat (and drink!) "around" the band. I did not commit to an exercise routine, and have chosen mostly foods that I know will go down (carbs and lots of high-fat snack foods, mostly). As such, the only weight I have lost to date was due to the pre-op and post-op liquid diet. Now I have gained that back, and more. I have not been in for a fill adjustment since probably last Spring. Over the past year, I definitely have had some issues with what I believe is called "transference" - or turning to another addiction in absence of the ability to binge eat. For me, it was alcohol. I have always been a social drinker, but in August 2013 I ended up in a mental hospital after a drinking binge - the booze had interacted with the medications I take to help regulate my moods and I had become suicidal. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks, after which they wanted to send me to a 30-day rehab. I opted for an intensive outpatient program instead, which I attended for about 5 weeks before I relapsed. Since that relapse, I have continued to drink daily, with periods of heavy drinking interspersed. There is no doubt that the amount of liquid calories I consume has greatly impeded my weight loss attempts, though I have had no further bouts of deep depression since my hospitalization. I'm sharing all of this because with new year, I am making a new commitment to myself. I am going to try my best to do everything I need to do to help the band help me with reaching my weight loss goals. This includes scaling back the drinking (currently 24 hours sober!) and quitting smoking. Luckily, I am pretty well educated about band-life, as the one thing I did do right in the beginning was my research. But I believe the learning neve stops and I can always learn from others' experiences. Anyway, I have about 100lb to lose now and though I am not very confident, I am committed to at least doing the absolute best I can. Thanks for letting me share

So I got about three sips of protein drink down. And tried to eat a yogurt but only could eat a spoonfull in 20 mnts. Wow. This is going to be harder than I thought to get protein. Anyone else on this finding it hard?

No gas and about 1 BM a week...

I had Drs Erbella and Bunch on 7/2. They were great. I live in Bradenton and will be going for my first fill in 2 weeks

I had Dr. Erbella and Dr. Bunch. My surgery was 7/2. I was very pleased with them and the whole procedure. I live in Bradenton. How are you doing. Have you had adjustments yet? I get my first in 2 weeks.

I've been very frustrated too. First week after surgery, down 10 pounds. Next 10 days, nothing.....except the day I was UP one pound!! I know our bodies go through changes and we should expect times like this, but it still SUCKS!

Tampa, FL – The Walk on the Capitol is proud to announce Caitlin Van Zandt, star of Guiding Light and The Sopranos, as special guest speaker for our National obesity awareness event in Washington, DC. The Walk from Obesity – Walk on the Capitol is a history-making awareness event that will gather thousands of individuals impacted by obesity to bring National attention to the obesity epidemic and the need for expanded efforts in prevention and treatment. Having struggled with obesity all her life, Ms. Van Zandt encompasses a true understanding of the many facets of obesity, such as health concerns, self-body image and much more. “I decided to make a big change, because, I wanted to avoid potential health problems that could arise from this condition. My goal is to become healthy and happy. By participating in this event, I want to help others understand the physical and emotional impact of this disease and to give people hope that their lives do not need to be compromised by obesity,” said Ms. Van Zandt. “We are truly excited to have Ms. Van Zandt host the Walk on the Capitol. She has expressed deep passion in advocating for those affected by obesity. It is our goal on June 17 to unite and stand, and send a strong and powerful message to our government regarding the importance of addressing the obesity epidemic,” said Joseph Nadglowski, Jr., OAC President and CEO and ASMBS Foundation Executive Director. The Walk on the Capitol will take place on the National Mall in Washington, DC, at 6:30 pm. The event is FREE and open to the public. Every individual impacted by obesity, along with family, friends and healthcare professionals, are encouraged and invited to attend. For more information on the Walk on the Capitol, please visit www.walkonthecapitol.com. Obesity is a serious health epidemic that targets one in three Americans. It is estimated that more than 93 million Americans are obese, with that number predicted to climb to 120 million in the next five years. In order to address this epidemic, the Walk on the Capitol aims to recognize and promote increasing prevention efforts and improving access to safe and effective treatment options. The Walk on the Capitol is a National awareness event designed to draw attention to the need for expanded efforts in both prevention and treatment. The Walk is hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and ASMBS Foundation and supported by various partnering non profit organizations. For more information on the hosts and the partnering organizations, please visit www.walkonthecapitol.com. # # #

The Premier Shakes will be easier to drink with a little time. By two or three months out, I was drinking them with some regularity. Peanut butter took me awhile longer. I loved PB pre-op, but now it's merely ok. I'll eat some for the protein boost occassionally, but it's not a go to food for me.

The first thing that goes is water weight and some of us carry A LOT of it..esp obese people. I had to do two week liquid diet prior to surgery and after the first couple days it really wasn't that bad and by the 2nd week i wasn't even hungry. Good luck!

Three years out, and many fills and in-fills, I now know that the most I can have 8.75cc in my 11cc band. If I have less, no restriction. More, constant reflux

Alcohol doesn't affect you differently than before the band. But once you lose, it may take less alcohol to have the same effect because of the change in ratio of body mass:alcohol. You may feel the effects a little sooner because you may not be able to eat as much of a "cushion" in advance of drinking and as you lose weight, the alcohol affects less mass and therefore you feel it differently. I went on a cruise with 500 friends 5 weeks after surgery (go to www.parrotheadcruise.com if you want to see what that's like)...and I drank every day. Like before banding. I didn't lose an ounce on the trip, but I didn't gain either. That's what you really have to consider -- the calories. An ounce of rum is 60 calories. Add mixers to your rum, tequila, etc. and you can take in a lot of empty calories very quickly! Beer is carbonated and while plenty of people drink it, I couldn't at first. I tried but it just made me belch nearly nonstop. Now, almost 6 months out, I drank a beer and a half on Saturday with no problems other than feeling really full on just beer, with no food.

I got my Lap Band a little less than three weeks ago. Today-I feel like I pulled something or other-and I can feel something under my skin where my port incision is.:ermm Is it normal to have this feeling? Is it normal to have occasional pain? What sorts of things aren't normal in port healing-and things I should be looking out for? I am kind of scared because I saw DeLarla's pics----and I don't want a tube popping out of me or anything. Any information would be helpful and useful. Thanks:)

Hi.. Thats a muscle relaxer ..... I have valium, I am prescribed one a night, but I dont really take it unless I am extra stressed or worried and cant relax to fall aslleep. Maybe I should start taking one nightly just for this pain? The thing is I take 30 mg of Morphine a day (time released) and Viccodan (about 4 a day) and you would THINK these pain meds would take care of the pain. (they are for my back pain, I cannot walk with out the pain meds) They take care of my back and make it manageable.. but this pain in my gut seems to be unaffected by the meds... BUT! I am not gonna worry, many have said they had pain..Its only day 14. I weigh 374 now.. and well thats pretty heavy and my stomach is really weird shaped and bumpy in that area where the port is....and my tummy has all kinds of strain to it, especially with three herniated discs in my back... the way I have to rise and turn and sleep and drive and such, probably irritates it daily. Some people say they can even feel the port and some pain months later. I can handle that... I know what 100X worse pain is.. Its more of a worry than anything LOVES

Counts as a liquid to me. Otherwise I wouldn't be getting them in. I asked that question before discharge so not a silly question. ???? I'm still in first week post op. Not allowed yogurt until next week. Good luck!

Hi LadyK! I too have surgery on 8-1! I am on 2 weeks of full liquid for my pre- op diet. Hope your week goes well and we will be starting our new journey soon!