Hello everyone, I am new here, I was just banded on 12/14/05. I have until 1/3/06 to start the phase 2 diet. I have to admit that i already started eating some soft foods. Has anyone done the same thing? I only do it when I feel starving. I am still looking for a protien shake that I wont throw up. I have been eating a scrambled egg instead. Please help, you guys all seem to know what I have to learn. thanks!

Try to get frozen strawberries and a protien powder and blend them with ice. I now love my morning shake (and i am the last person who would ever say that). I did start eating soft foods too soon and have not lost much weight as a result of it. Just got my fill and am struggling through the liquid phase again. Good luck!

Hey there newbie!! I too was banded on December 14th. I only have to wait until the 29th for my doctor's approval to move on to mushies. But I have tried a few things that aren't liquid. Like apple sauce and ricotta cheese. I haven't really had a problem feeling hungry. I really enjoy the protein shakes from Costco, they are the best! Just add a little peanut butter and ice and blend it, it comes out tasting like a reeces peanut butter cup!!!

Good luck in your new life!! Just be careful about the cheating thing, my doctor told me that if I eat the wrong foods too fast, my band will slip. He also told me that my stomache will be swolen for atleast two weeks after surgery and that if I eat foods that are hard to digest, my stomach with work too hard and then I will have some serious problems.

I have found that the protein shakes and some soups are very filling and I haven't had any urges to cheat.(but I am sure I will...LOL)

Good luck hun!! And just remember that everyone on this site knows what youa are going through, so feel free to ask anything, anytime!!

Hey...I was banded on 06/16/05....I too, ate soft foods too fast, after about 2 weeks, I was STARVING. The nurse said that it was because some people's swelling just goes down sooner. The band is not restricted at all yet, therefore everything just makes it's merry way through there. I really feel like I'm re-training myself every fill I get...it's like re-newed sense of willpower each time. I have to admit, I'm a tester. I test it, if I get sick or whatever, I try it again at a later date...how sick is that? I mentally I guess still have a lot of hurdles to clear....It's still a struggle...and though I'm down 60 lbs, it barely feels like any.....I'm trying to be positive, but it's hard. I'm not gonna lie, I don't eat the best either, I find that the bad stuff goes down the easiest for me. :eek: I also know exercising is the key, and I've been lazy lately...I really need a good firecracker up my rear to get me motivated here!!!

I've just had the get go to start mushies as of yesterday, no real restriction here. I can eat a cup of food without a problem so I have to consciously measure out my food and limit it to that. But I'm not finding that a problem since I have nowhere near my ordinary hunger levels still.

During the liquid phase I first tried the Protein Shake thing as the basis of my intake, it didnt work for me. Never liked those things, never will. I just blended real food very smooth - I made good hearty soups with lots of veges and lentils, I even blended up lasagna with extra tinned tomatoes, I put a little cheese in and blended that too - 3 squares a day of real food just in liquid form. That way I felt great and had no hunger issues.

I've been very satisfied with my weight loss and I also believe I havent set myself up for rebound weight gain when I start solids since I've been having the same food, just blended, all along. I also have stayed regular, no constipation, as I've been getting fibre etc too.

My nutritionist moved me to soft foods after a week and on to solids at 2 weeks. She said it was okay since I was starving all the time. So I wouldn't call it cheating; I was just following the diet progression on fast forward. I have had no ill effects except slow weight loss.

Im here with you on the cheating... I had surgery on 12/15 and I couldn't wait till today when I was off clear liquids. I didn't cheat during the 1st 6 days becuase I was in to much pain to even think about eating something not on my clear foods. I fell in love with chicken broth and raspberry jello during those days, I also drank at least 1 protein drink a day. For some reason I went into surgery at 241 lbs but when I came home the next day I was at 254lb dont figure:ermm. I'm now down to 238 lbs but I started full liquids today and boy have I had my share. I couldnt wait till I had the taste of something that wasnt broth or jello in my mouth. I woke up early this morning and cheated!!! I had 4 tablespoons of 1/2 fat Edy's ice cream and it was awesome. I can now eat things like sugar free pudding, yogurt, and cottage chesse only if I mush it in my mouth or blender. I've had more than I should have eaten today but not becuase I was hungry, only becuase I missed the taste of food. I was told to eat 6 small meals eat day and 2 snacks but those small meals can only include the foods I listed early plus creamed soups. Next week I graduate to pureed foods and that last for 2 weeks. Well guess what I cheated again before I knew it:alien... My husband has some Natural Lays in the kitchen and when he left to do some Christmas shopping I had about 10 chips or so... I regret eating those chips becuase now for some strange reason the pain is back... I won't be cheating anymore... Good Luck

So my dietician called me today to check in and see how I was doing...I had surgery on the 14th so it's been 8 days. I told her that I had some apple sauce and ricotta cheese yesterday and she flipped!!! She told me to stick to my liquid list. What the hell. what is wrong with apple sauce?? Is she crazy or something?? So I now have to wait until next thursday when I see my doc about moving to mushies. She told me she wanted me to only eat things that will go down smoothly. But applesauce??? I don't get it...

OH YEAHHH!!!!! BUT I dont cheat big time tho! Like if I am on liquids I sometimes eat wonton soup and a little of the dumpling, but not a lot, or I eat like MUSHY stuff after a day or two of the liquids

thanks everyone for making me feel better. I am a tester too. And it is true that the bad stuff goes down much easier! I just have to try to control myself, I really miss food though! I feel like I lost my best friend! In time I know things will get easier. Thanks again

No I did not cheat but I complained about the liquids so much they moved me to the mushy stage after about 1 week. LOL

How was everyone's christmas? Ummm...I'd love to say, I did so good, didn't cheat, and lost 5 pounds, but I can't. The truth of it is, I didn't gain any weight, but I certainly did not lose. I ate cookies, and pie. Bad, bad, bad. But the new year brings new beginnings.....That's the theory I'm going with right now. I admittedly need brain surgery though, to stop wanting food. It's a constant struggle, that will never go away, if I could just grasp that for real, it would be very beneficial to me. This is the hardest thing I've ever done, but I am going to do it, darn it!

All of you are much better than I...I think that i probably ate a whole pan of fudge myself. I am not stepping on the scale for a week and am getting back on the healthy eating track and hoping to have not retained any "christmas" weight.

I am certainly not better, Jini.....I stink! You know what else, I work at my job, where people know I have gotten the surgery, and others have gotten the bypass...I feel like people look at me, like they look at you when you're pregnant. Waiting for the day they can notice a difference. Know what I mean? There was a lady here who had the bypass 2 weeks before me, and has dropped considerable amounts...I try not to let it bug me, because I know they will lose a lot more, a lot faster. It's just the concept of comparison. I need to have a breakthrough weightloss...to get my ball rolling again...I wish they could wipe all the bad food off the face of the earth......)

I only stayed on clear liquids for 3 - 4 days then went to thicker liquids like cream soups..........could not stomach Atkins or Slim Fast shakes....so by day 3 was eating soft scrambled eggs. Apparently my stomach had little swelling so I was hungry after 5 days and up until 1st fill could eat a lot of food.........even after 1st fill - i do not have that full feeling like I did right after surgery.....will probably check back into doctor in 2 weeks so they might fill me a little more.

I didnt cheat, but I only had clear liquids for a couple of days before I was able to move to full liuqids. I was satisfied on full liquids and didnt have any reason to cheat. I was pureeing bean and bacon soup, cream of chicken, potato soup, etc. (all pretty thinned out) They had enough substance to fill me up and keep from going crazy until mushies were allowed.