Hi,

I got the lapband surgery done about a month ago and I'm getting ready for my first fill. But recently I heard a lot of horror stories about fills and how restricted I would feel.

I want to eat reasonably - and still enjoy my carbs but in moderation, and now i'm worried I won't be able to do that.

I want to be able to eat one piece of toast in the morning or evening instead of the 4 or 6 I used to eat, or eat 8 pieces of sushi as opposed to the 25 i usually eat, or 2-3 tablespoons of rice or Pasta instead of a massive bowl.

Am I really not going to be able to do that? My friends tell me they've ended up avoiding rice & bread altogether!

Is there a specific fill level where I can feel restriction but not deprivation? How will I know? Can I just tighten it to that level and then not just go further? Because If i live the rest of my life having 1 sandwich a day and 3 tbs of rice/pasta every other day i'm sure i'll be thin and healthy enough without being sad and miserable....

Some people can handle bread without a problem. I make the choice not to eat the above mentioned. Those items are my down fall and I do not want to get back into old habits. I did try a bite of banana bread one day and it sat like a lump on my band. I have heard if you toast your bread very well it is easier to handle.

Do you know how many CCs you have in it? so I can gauge my limits?

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Everyone is different and your restriction level will change as you lose weight. I have received many small fills, and one small unfill. As you lose weight, the fat pad around your stomach shrinks and you may need fills to adjust for that. That being said, I did extremely low to no carb for the first five to six months post op. By doing that, I didn't even crave carbs and didn't miss them at all. In those first six months I lost an average of 10-15 pounds per month. Now that I am at goal, I allow myself small amounts of carbs. I still don't crave them, but I can tolerate bread sometimes, a couple pieces of sushi, and the other mentioned items in very small amounts. Even though I may only eat a bite of the carb item, that satisfies me completely. Good luck to you on your journey

A slice of bread for breakfast why would you want bread instead of something more nutritious and 8 sushi is more than 3 to four ounces of food. I dont see giving up carbs as a demon but a way to lose weight forever. You may be able to eat bread after a fill it doesnt mean you wont but why waste calories on bread when you can eat more nutrious food.

I know there are more nutritious food and I appreciate them too, but I've tried cutting the 'bad' carbs out completely and it has never worked. I like them too much. My more successful diets have always been diets where I controlled my quantities of 'bad' things, not when I cut them out completely...

But you're saying that 3-4 ounces of food is too much when you have a fill? What is the appropriate amount?

Once you have good restriction, you should be able to only eat 1/2 cup of total food per meal. Your entire meal should be squished into a half-cup measure. So in order for that to happen, you need to fill your tiny plate with high Protein foods. Once you have the protein covered, then add tiny amounts of fruits/veggies/carbs if you can handle them.

I'm not at green zone yet but eat between 1/2 cup to 1 cup total per meal. When I make my lunch for work, I measure / weigh everything. If I'm taking Soup, I put 6-8 oz in my container and that's it. (usually a high protein soup)

If its tuna or chicken salad, 4 oz plus maybe a few crackers or pita crisps and baby carrot sticks. . Can't handle soft bread but can sometimes eat toasted bread.

Your food needs to be able to keep you full and satisfied for more than 3 hours.

I watched dr obriens video again last night with the 8 golden rules for weight loss with the band and all of the above are part of those rules.

Good luck!

I actually find a soft poached egg on a slice of toasted wholemeal bread is a really satisfying breakfast. Mixing protein and carbs for me is more satisfying than just eating protein. Carbs are not the devil that many people make them out to be and they do have their place in a healthy balanced diet.

Thank you Kristi! This is really useful! My friends tell me they can no longer tolerate chicken and beef, what high Protein food do you pack other than tuna and chicken that sits well with the band?

On a bad day, could you load up your 1/2 cup with just carbs? Or will the stomach not even tolerate it?

I actually find a soft poached egg on a slice of toasted wholemeal bread is a really satisfying breakfast. Mixing Protein and carbs for me is more satisfying than just eating protein. Carbs are not the devil that many people make them out to be and they do have their place in a healthy balanced diet.

This is very comforting to know To me this sounds like a yummy breakfast I can maintain for a long time - and would be balanced out by spending the rest of the day on vegetable soup and tuna!

You're welcome!

I can still tolerate chicken and beef as long as I take small bites. But no way if either of them are dry!!

I eat ham, turkey, white meat chicken, tuna, ground beef, the occasional steak medium well, pork loin if it's not dry or has a sauce. I can also tolerate soft fish like tilapia and love shrimp but have to chew and take super tiny bites! I love crabmeat too but that's usually mushy anyway.

When I make taco soup with ground beef or chicken tortilla soup, I add extra beans To both for added protein and it helps keep me full.

I'm also ok with small amounts of pasta and rice but don't try them often, maybe once or twice a month. While I love super soft white bread, my band doesn't. Got stuck on a piece the other day. I've basically stopped eating it to prevent problems.

I track my food and can see when I need more protein and what I can have that will help me

Reach my goals. If you're interested, check out myfitnesspal.com and friend me. You can view my eating diary...I'm not always good but I try. Lots of friends from here are there as well and whenever I see what they eat, it motivates me to do better.

Good luck!! Feel free to email me anytime.

Kittyforet@yahoo.com

Kristi

I still eat sushi, but I eat the smaller rolls. Sometimes I deconstruct them, so I don't have to shove the whole thing in my mouth at once. "Chewing well" doesn't always count if the bite started out the size of baby's fist. A small roll, I can eat 6-8 pieces.

I do not eat a low carb/no carb diet. Toast is definitely not off my menu. One piece with one or two eggs for breakfast? Yeah, that is do-able. Or a sandwich on one piece of bread? Yup. If the bread is really soft, I might have trouble, so sometimes, I'll toast it.

See I'm like you, I don't want to take out carbs completely! I'm ok with a slower weight loss, if it means I get to enjoy my food - however little that may be.

So for toast, the crispier the better?

You look fantastic by the way! Great job!!

I still eat sushi, but I eat the smaller rolls. Sometimes I deconstruct them, so I don't have to shove the whole thing in my mouth at once. "Chewing well" doesn't always count if the bite started out the size of baby's fist. A small roll, I can eat 6-8 pieces.

I do not eat a low carb/no carb diet. Toast is definitely not off my menu. One piece with one or two eggs for breakfast? Yeah, that is do-able. Or a sandwich on one piece of bread? Yup. If the bread is really soft, I might have trouble, so sometimes, I'll toast it.

Thank you! I will definitely get in touch if I need further guidance!!

You're welcome!

I can still tolerate chicken and beef as long as I take small bites. But no way if either of them are dry!!

I eat ham, turkey, white meat chicken, tuna, ground beef, the occasional steak medium well, pork loin if it's not dry or has a sauce. I can also tolerate soft fish like tilapia and love shrimp but have to chew and take super tiny bites! I love crabmeat too but that's usually mushy anyway.

When I make taco soup with ground beef or chicken tortilla soup, I add extra beans To both for added protein and it helps keep me full.

I'm also ok with small amounts of pasta and rice but don't try them often, maybe once or twice a month. While I love super soft white bread, my band doesn't. Got stuck on a piece the other day. I've basically stopped eating it to prevent problems.

I track my food and can see when I need more protein and what I can have that will help me

Reach my goals. If you're interested, check out myfitnesspal.com and friend me. You can view my eating diary...I'm not always good but I try. Lots of friends from here are there as well and whenever I see what they eat, it motivates me to do better.

Good luck!! Feel free to email me anytime.

Kittyforet@yahoo.com

Kristi

See I'm like you, I don't want to take out carbs completely! I'm ok with a slower weight loss, if it means I get to enjoy my food - however little that may be.

So for toast, the crispier the better?

You look fantastic by the way! Great job!!

Thank you!

For me, soft, doughy breads can get stuck easily. A bread with more"parts" to it, like a multi-grain is easier to eat. Even if chewed well a doughy bread seems to reform in the pouch and becomes a plug. Toasting it makes it crispier and does away with that doughy-ness.

I do not have blood sugar issues, but my doctor monitors it. If it does become an issue, then I might have to watch carbs.

I lost pretty slowly, but I lost, that is what mattered the most to me! And it has stayed off. I'll be banded 4 years in February.

I still eat sushi and toast. And I have no problem eating chicken breast or any other meats or anything.

I've gotten slightly stuck on chicken once, but that was when I was stupidly trying to have leftover chicken schnitzel in the morning. I've also gotten stuck on a hash brown, also in the morning. Only took a couple of mistakes before I realised that breakfast had to be some kind of combination of coffee/tea/protein shake/fruit and nut smoothie, and not chicken or potato!