I have completed my liquid diet portion of the post-op and went to the nutritionist completely ready for the mushy stage that everyone on here talks about. Instead, I was shocked to receive information about the diet that my doctor recommends.

I was instructed that from now until the 8th week of having my band, I should eat only Protein and SOME veggies (Beans, squash, and zuchinni being the only three that are allowed). Pretty much all meats are allowed, although she did say that I could puree it if I needed...otherwise, I should just make sure I chew really well. I was told to stay away from mashed potatoes, and other common mushy phase items.

I am allowed cheeses, all meats, yogurts, and the veggies I mentioned above.

Does anyone else find this diet odd compared to the ones that most people are placed on? Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to be able to have some meats, but it just seems like a weird progression compared to the average.

On a slight side note, my fiance (who had the lap band a week before me) and myself went to a local steakhouse for dinner tonight to have our first not liquid "meal". We shared a 6oz. filet mignon with a side of mixed veggies (happened to be squash and zucchini). Combined, we ended up only managing to eat about 2oz. of the filet and 2-3 pieces of the veggies each. We can eat these leftovers for days! It was a nice feeling to feed two people for $15 and have leftovers!

Lots of Dr's are different. It appears that there are tons of different ways to go about post op diets and whatnot. It looks like your Dr has taken more of an atkins approach to the post op diet. If nothing gets stuck, awesome ! I would probably prefer that kind of post op diet instead of the 2 week liquid, 2 week mushy post op that I'm following.

I figure I might as well follow my Dr's orders to the letter, I've gotten this far....

Lots of Dr's are different. It appears that there are tons of different ways to go about post op diets and whatnot. It looks like your Dr has taken more of an atkins approach to the post op diet. If nothing gets stuck, awesome ! I would probably prefer that kind of post op diet instead of the 2 week liquid, 2 week mushy post op that I'm following.

I figure I might as well follow my Dr's orders to the letter, I've gotten this far....

Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the direction he has put me in...and if there are problems from it, at least it's based on his direction.

From what my nutritionist told me, they do not do initial band fills during surgeries, so maybe that is why he's more liberal. I didn't have any issues at all with the steak and veggies going down for dinner.

I went for my 2 week post op follow up with the nutritionist on Tuesday and I am on the same diet. I can only have protiens! eggs, fish, tuna, chicken, hamburg, pork..ect...! I can also have cream of wheat, cheese, cottage cheese, yougarts, and Soups.

I don't even have to mush them up...just make sure I cut them up, take small bites and chew it really really good. I can do this for 2 weeks then I can start to add veggies to my diet! Then 2 weeks like that and introduce starches.

Nutrtionist did tell me I can have turkey, Squash and a little mashed for Christmas dinner!

I was So happy I don't have to mush everything up. But they do advise mke sure its MOIST!

Good luck on your journey!

My postop diet was very different from most I see. My doctor has his patients start with pureed Protein on Day 3. After about 10 days, we move to moist Proteins, then eventually solid proteins. Vegetables are not included until about Week 10, if I recall correctly. Fruits are introduced some time later. Then, for the duration of the weight loss stage, that's it: lean protein, nonstarchy veggies, and a fruit a day.

It's worked tremendously well for me. After 75% of excess weight is lost, we're "allowed" to reintroduce starches. I have not done so--I don't have the room, and I am not where I want to be, weight-wise, so I am sticking with what works.

This diet is good from a taste perspective, but I have been gaining weight ever since I started it. I started on Monday at 380 and have gained a pound every day since starting. I am taking in a total of 800-1000 calories a day at most, when my body was probably used to 3000+. It's extremely frustrating to gain weight when you're eating so little...especially since I've never really been one to have slow weight loss.

I hoping this will all turn around a little bit, because I hear of so many people that have rapid weight loss, and while I lost 25 pounds on the pre-surgery diet, I have lost only 6 pounds since the surgery (and all six came two days after, I've lost nothing since).