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Hey! I was suppose to be on a liquid diet for two weeks but I started eating soft foods 5 days early. The doctor himself said most people can not wait that long. I did see that if you eat mash potatoes that can be filling for you if your still on liquids and all. I first tried scrambled eggs. Now I can eat just about anything but I watch my porportions. I get filled monday and can't wait. I have lost so far close to 25 pounds all together! Hoping that I don't gain any of it back by next monday!

Sylvia I know how hard it can be to fit in "life" and good choices! I know one meal that fits well for my family is found in the frozen food section. It is made by Barbar Foods. Our favorite is the Chicken Cord on Blue. I buy them at Sams Club due to my family has 6 people in it. At Sams you buy 6 at a time, at the reg stores I believe there is 2 in a box. It takes 30 min in the oven. I have taken these to many food tastes and others have went out and bought more. I have this with mashed potatoes and gr beans. My family could eat this several times a wk.

I know what your saying....my appetite has increased, but still not what it was so I do feel some benefit of feeling full with the fill, but only because I visually look at what I'm eating and saying I should only eat this amount because once i get it filled it will be harder to eat only 1/2 cup of food. My doctor didn't really put any restriction on my food really, but just said my biggest battle between now and my first fill is not to gain the weight I've lost so far....and so far I've been able to hold study, but mon thru fri I go on the treadmill and walk at least 2.25 miles so. Now I'm just trying to make good food choices. Only really getting in a protein drink in the morning and the half of a protein drink mid afternoon if I'm luck on that second one! So how is your days like as far as protein intake and all? My next appt is the 24th hoping thats when I will get my first fill!

Hi Newmsa

I am 5'5" and went into surgery at 201 so a BMI of about 34. Tried and tried and tried and just couldn't change my eating habits for long, couldn't stop at just 1 or 2 cookies. This surgery forces me to do just that. I have lost 10 lbs within the first 10 days and know it is slowing so am staying away from the scales. Need to start exercising to get it moving again. Food is 80% of weight loss. I used to do a serious boot camp 5 days a week and didn't lose a bit - just goes to show.

Hey my doctor was the same way. I did three weeks of soft liquids and then right to solid he just said chew chew chew lol no puree or really mushy food strange

31 lbs yay!! That's awesome. and to answer your question, you probably already have some fluid in your band, but all docs do it different. my doc put 2cc in when i had the surgery. but the tighter your band gets yes you will most def continue to lose at a good pace. but, not to bust your bubble, your probably losing really good right now because you haven't eaten much but liquids and mushies! for me, it got harder when i was able to eat regular food, because you don't have much restriction in the beginning, you'll catch yourself wanting to overeat. just see how you feel after your first fill. who knows, you might have great restriction after the first fill!

I did go walking today with my lab. We jogged two blocks! And I almost passed out! haha

Off to my hair appt!!!!!!!!!!!!

i was kinda bad with that stage, like you not knowing what to eat, and what will get stuck or not. also my mind would not get past the whole puree thing, i could'nt do it either.lol .i had mashed potatoes,apple sauce, grits,scambled eggs(no boiled may get stuck), yogurt,soft cheese(almost melted),crackers, tuna fish and my protein shakes(8oz Vanilla soy milk, half banana, and the powder). they say you can also try soft fruit w/ out juice,flaky fish and baked sweet potatoes, cottage cheese but i never tried those. i would'nt say that i over reacted with the whole STUCK thing but i never had anything get stuck yet. I'm careful with it some what but kinda need it to happen because i'm relaxed and cocky and need to slow down with my chewing still. i'll have to pull out my papers from the nutrionist and see what else she had on there, but i hope this gives you some type of variety.

hi! im doing well, i just got to my apt after being away from my scale for 2 weeks over the holidays, all this time im thinking i gained weight for all the holiday food... i wasnt going to weigh myself until the morning, but according to the scale 20 minutes ago, i lost three pounds the last 2 weeks... awesome considering all i had to eat today was airport junk! hope you are doing well, your bikini pic is AWESOME by the way!

Restriction is when you can eat a small amount and feel full. I think this 3rd fill which puts me at 6.7cc may do the trick. I hope. I noticed last night I ate a small plate of food and was full. Although I was hungry again about 3 hours later. They say it should keep you full for 5 hours. So I may need to get another fill next week. I am going to wait and see how this week goes. I can actually feel it working for once. Meaning I am not hungry as much and little amounts of food get me full. Still not at that point where some can eat only 5 bites and are full. But I am working on it. I just want to see some loss. I think that will help modivate me. I think you will know when you hit that sweet spot. You won't be hungry and get full on a little amount of food. I know we will get there soon.

Yes!! In fact one of the nurses at the hospital had the lap band done about a year ago and so far she's lost 115 lbs!! She started at a 6x (i didn't even know they made clothes that big for women) and she's down to a 16/18. She looks great and is so happy. Oh by the way my hospital is awesome! Its like a hotel they have valet parking and even a shoe shine place! Its really nice. I'm feeling really confident about all of this. As for you.... enjoy your food as long as you can!!! really you will miss it. I mean yes i'm happy with the pre-op diet i'm not sure exactly how much i've lost yet but i wish i had just one more day for believe it or not but corn! i love corn and i can't eat it right now b/c its a starchy veggie. crazy huh lol

Hi. I wish they would let me do a diet like that with real food! Mine is putting me on a liquid diet called Optifast. It's 5 shakes a day...period. I hear the first few days are hell, but afterward it gets better. 2 weeks of that! Yikes! But I also hear that you can lose up to 20 lbs. on the liquid diet! It would be a good head start to the weight loss. Then I have to be on the liquid diet for 1 more week after the surgery. Good luck with your diet and keep in touch...we will need support during this week! Take care!

Hi Deb

This is the first Forum I have EVER done so hope this reply gets to you. I was banded by Dr Dolan 3 years ago and he was brilliant. I couldnt be happier. I have lost 64 kilos and have maintained for 1 year now. I was 131kg and now weigh 67kg.It wasn easy by any means. The first year especially took a lot of getting used to what foods I could eat and unfortunately a bit of vomiting when trying to eat meats ans breads etc,, I was banded under Medicare out of Joondalup Health Campus and Dr Dolan even gave me a referral to have the loose skin on my tummy tucked (3 kg) and that was also coveredby Medicare. I cant believe the difference it has done. I still have terrible loose skin on upper body, arms and legs but it is a small sacrifice compared to what i used to go through. Do you have family and friend support? I wish you all the best. Jeanette:thumbup:

Re: Lap band vs RNY, I'm going for lap band, don't like the idea of re-routing intestines etc...Both have benefits / drawbacks, a big difference I see is the lap band complications are fewer and generally less serious. The complications from lapband are nuisance problems. Getting food stuck, PB's, sliming, pain from stuck food ...most sound controllable, but sound like many get frustrated due to not making the changes required to work with the band. RNY limits amount, but does not necessarily restrict what foods they eat. Lap banders have trouble with different foods etc... you can read of lot of info on this site and get more details / opinions. Good luck

An endoscopy is where they stick a tube with a camera on the end down my throat to see if I have a hernia or ulcer or something. It's more invasive than an upper GI. I have bad acid reflux so they want to make sure I'm ok before surgery. My list is:

-papaya enzyme - it helps when/if food gets stuck (trader joes)

-pineapple juice - it also helps break down food when/if it gets stuck

-liquid tylenol

-gas-x strips

-cocoa butter lotion to help reduce scars and stretch marks

-mederma - reduces scars

-heating pad - good for healing as it will help relieve gas pain

-protein shakes

-protein bullets (3oz of liquid that have 42g of protein)

-colace - stool softener since we will be plugged up and it will hurt to use the br.

-pillow for the car - nice to buffer your tummy from the seatbelt

Let me know if you can think of other things I missed but that is my list!

Oh I know OMG!! I started my pre-op diet yesterday basically I'm on the Atkins diet so no more rice! I did find a pretty good alternative though, cauliflower! I just put in my food processor so it came out like rice. It was actually pretty good :-) And yes I'm both more excited than nervous though. I can't believe in less than 2 weeks its happening!

hello, i was banded on 1/08/09 n the only protein bars i can have is called pure protein u can find them at wallmart too! best of luck to u!

yoco28

Hello everyone it has been a while. Well I am still banded but I am only down 40 pounds. I am having a hard time keeping food down this time. I had a fill in January and I recently lost 10 pounds in 1 month. Keep me in your prayers and I will post a new picture soon

No lol.. they gave me three weeks off! i am kind of going crazy at home so i am pondering the idea of going back on monday. the liquid diet does suck big time. i cant wait until its over. i was emotional too. i cried at the thought of not being able to use food as my comfort anymore. its a big change. i was emotional after too... but i have lost 8 pounds so that is cool!!! good luck you will do great

I had a hiatal hernia too. You already had a fill? My first fill will be the last week in March. When I went to my 2 week post op on 2/24 I was down 15 pounds since surgery. They told me not to expect any more weightloss until my first fill UNLESS I only eat 1/2 cup each meal. Then I may lose more. Well, I can eat normal now so half cup just isn't enough. But I have been eating low calorie, low fat, sugar free foods and doing the treadmill so I at least won't gain weight. I've been very lucky not to have acid refulx anymore. No more sleeping sitting up! But since I have been eating normal I haven't lost any more weight. I'm just trying to be patient until my next fill and keep myself motivated to stay active and smart eating. I'm curious as to how you are doing now as well. It seems everything changes weekly, doesn't it? How are your incisions? Mine are almost gone. I'll have a scar from my liver one because it did get infected for a day.

Hi I joined WW last Thursday. I also feel I need the weekly weigh ins. I was banded in Sept. and I am struggling. I lost 20 lbs in the first 2 months and have not lost anything since. I made it through the holidays without gaining, that made me happy. I don't feel I am eating too much just the wrong things. I eat soft foods (tuna, scambled eggs, yogurt) that goes through me really fast and I am hungry 1 hour later. I just do not know what to do.

I would love to hear back from you and tell how WW is working for you.

Kelli,

So glad to hear you are doing good! After my 1 wk post-op my doctor told me to start on regular foods. So, I did but ate a lot of mashed potatoes and soft stuff and finished up some baby food fruits I had bought for the pureed part. So far, so good. I have only lost 1.5 pounds since then. I haven't started exercising yet but am going to this weekend - treadmill. That will speed up the loss greatly for me. Keep me posted...Laura

hey lady, glad to hear from you. i'm not sure what we are going to do about these "FAT GURL TENDENCIES". i think with time we will get better but i swear i sometimes feel like i cant pass up or pass by some foods..lol you are still doing good . i did not get my 4th fill yet but i did start the slim-fast, which only keeps the hunger away for about an hour not 4hrs. i did not weigh myself yet either, sometimes it can be very dicouraging to have a scale in the house. i have stepped it up in the gym and do the treadmill for 45min. and weights for 45min. but hey i'll be the first to admitt that i have a few days where i slack off before i snap back to it. just pick back up the next day and keep it moving, we will get there.

Hi Laura! I actually was banded on 2/18 so you sre a few days ahead of me. Had my post op visit today. fill scheduled for 4/1. I forgot to take some before pics so I just took those pics on tuesday. Oh well. Hope you are doing well! My doc advanced me to pureed foods today! Yipee! Down 7 lbs...much more to go but it feels good! My doc has told me several times the fill is nothing to worry about.

I was banded in July and have lost 45 pounds. I lost my job last week, and find myself reaching for food for comfort. I haven't lost anything in 2 weeks now, and I'm worried.

I'm doing better. was hsving trouble the first few days. i still find it diffivult to drink the shakes. so im hoping when i go to soft foods this week, i do ok. i was miserable for 3 days after surgery. good news i'm down 18 lbs. in 9 days. post op...so i've lost 50 total. what about you? how are you, and the weight loss?