Hey all-

On 10/15 I was banded, I don't know my official weight that morning, but the last time I was at the Dr.'s office I was 318.6, so I'll go with that. As of ten minutes ago, I'm at 300.4 lbs. Not a bad start. I took some advice others had mentioned and even though I had the pain medicine, I decided not to go to work every day last week, I worked only two days -- as I got my strength up. I was a bit weak on Tuesday (when I went back) and even though my incisions were all healed, I was still concerned about stress on my torso. I was much better on Friday.

The liquid diet is kind of rough, just because there are so little flavors in my fridge, but its only for another week, then I can do the next stage. Anyone have some good ideas for the first post band (mushy) meal?

Congrats to all, keep up the fine work.

John

For mushies- try refried beans, cottage cheese, apple sauce, yougurt, mashed potatoes. some of these things shouldn't be on your eating plan (apple sauce, mashed potatoes) once your on solid food but the first few weeks are about healing, not weight loss. Congrats on your surgery.

I'm on mushies right now and I find myself throwing a can of beans in my food processor and adding everything that can be pureed into that pudding consistancy. I just finished "eating" a black bean, tomato, avocado, salsa, winter squash soup slurry. And it was tasty!

That's a good call. Does anyone have any experience with like chili being blended? I think that would be good. I'm actually *really* looking forward to having an egg. I also had a followup question. I can still "feel" something inside my body, it could be just the tenderness / bruising / whatever on the inside getting right again, I just hope I don't have this feeling in my center for a long time. All my incisions have healed. =)

Chili is perfect pureed food. In fact, it was my first mushie :blushing: It was so great to feel like I was eating real food even though it didn't have a single chewable chunk in it!

malt-o-meal with cheese is my favorite!! no food processor needed, very easy to digest, lots of protein, hot and healthy! :blushing:

I had my surgery last Thursday – the surgery was more than I had expected. Recovery has been a bit rough too. I did not realize that I would be in moderate pain from the port incision, and I was weak for a day or two. Slept one 16 hour stretch. 6 or so days into this and I am just starting to feel close to ‘normal’, have more mobility and energy. Still really do not have an appetite – and getting tired of the clear liquid diet. Who ever know Jello was something to look forward to! Can’t stand the taste of chewable calcium citrate (anyone have an alternative recommendation ?) . Anyway - I am in this for the long haul and am finding this forum very helpful.

Oh – and I was a bit confused for the reasoning for the 3-4 phase diet – clear liquids, creamy liquids, pureed foods, and then more common foods. If there is no initial dilation or compression of the stomach from the band – then why the special requirements? I suppose placing the band on the stomach does cause some trauma and I suspect the conservative course of action is to proceed with caution. I LOVE toasted pumpkin seeds and it is that time of the year here in New England – however they are like eating wood in terms of fiber & texture – which begs the question – first: is everyone’s nutritionist recommending this 4 stage diet and second: is anyone deviating from it and of so are there any consequences ?

It is different for all of us.

In my case I went from liquid to solid food diet because I was very, very, very hungry. So, doctor put me on phentermine to curb my appetite.

I only had 4 days to recover and it was more that enough for me since they gave me 30 pain pills.

I am sure that when I have my fill I will try to follow all the directions I should have before.

But, I can eat almost anything ( I got stuck only twice - one on a boiled egg and second time on a crab meat stick ) and still loose weight. Maybe it is band + appetite suppresant.

Anyways - I wish I could keep loosing like I did on the first weeks but people say it is unsafe and usually it goes down to 1-2lbs a week which is the safest way to do it.

I am excited but also nervous.

For you - try some calorie free pop sickles - they have such a variety of tastes now and it will give your tong some pleasure.

"I got stuck only twice "

i suppose I will know when it happens - but I have had not a fill yet - how do you when your food is 'stuck' ? Is it obvious ?

Sounds like you're doing pretty good. Liquid diet is a little rough, but not horrible for me, because I wasn't hungry. Good luck.

I'm going to do mash potatoes. the first two weeks is rough but it's only 14 days out of my life. Good Luck