Last Friday I started soft foods/mushy stage. I do have the willpower to follow the offices nutrition plan but I am worried that I will gain weight. I go back in a month to see if I need my first fill. Anyone else feel like this?

I was like that, dont' worry. If you follow the plan then you will see the lost. Everyone feels this way. We are use to things not working out and gaining weight with past diet. You will do just fine and lose. keep us posted

I am waiting for my insurance to clear so I can schedule my appt... should be banded in March/April!

I am nervous about the diet too and know it will be hard - but - you made the decision to be banded because you want to change. The soft food stage isn't permanent - just think of it as a mini goal. It's just another step in your weight loss journey. You will get through it!

Yep, I can totally relate! Had surgery on 1/27 and in the same stage you are. It is a bit discouraging to be eating such a small amount of food but not see any weight loss right now. HOWEVER, we have to keep in mind that we are supposed to be healing right now and working on our eating habits(chewing well, not drinking with meals, lots of protein, etc) so I am trying to keep a positive attitude. But yeah, I am worried I will gain during this phase. I just don't want to see the scale go in the opposite direction, no matter how temporary

Remember, aside from "White Knuckle" dieting, your band is probably not helping you with hunger control.

I did Ok for my first fill. It was 4 weeks after surgery. between my first and 2nd fill, 4 weeks after the first, I GAINED weight.

Because at the 4 week mark I was allowed to start "regular" solid food.

I am also on the mushy stage. Getting hungry, but not really starving hungry. Four weeks until first fill. Have lost almost 20 lbs since pre op diet. As long as I don't gain I am fine right now. Won't worry so much about losing until I start getting fills and I've heard it even takes a few fills before any weightloss starts to happen. I'll see what happens.

I'm 6 days post banding and still drinking my diet. made fatal mistake of drinking soups with high sodium contents... was retaining liquid as a result. found swansons organic broth.. lower calorie and sodium.. that straightened it out and i am losing now. its excruciating slow when you think of the little caloric intake. im very much still healing and im in this for the long haul.. so there is no turning back now. i figure i'll be alive another, hmmm 20, 30 years.. i got time.

Honestly, I have had the faith from day 1 that this IS my last diet. I am one year out and had my 9th fill last week. I finally feel restriction and for the first time today have gone over 4 hours before I got hungry. I am having some soup now and totally content after just a few bites. I may be a tad tight right now, but I am going to wait to decide if I want a little out on my next visit the first week of March. Good luck to you, it will get better! I waited a year to get here and I swear I feel like pinching myself to make sure I am not dreaming!

at my post op visit yesterday, doctor said it was ok to gain weight once Im on regular foods, cuz if/when I get a fill in 6 weeks, weight will go down again.

I even told him how sometimes I'll grab a cracker inbetween and that helps till next mealtime and he said that was fine,

Remind yourself, it isn't something that's gonna happen overnight so hang in there!

Remember, you did not gain this weight overnight, and neither will you lose it overnight either. I am 9 weeks out and I am not scheduled for a fill till the 12th of March. I had the same feelings as you did and talked to my husband about them last night and he made me feel better about it. I had become scale obsessed and was down on myself because it was not moving as fast as I want it too. He had to remind me that the reason I picked the band was so I would lose it slowly. Take a deep breath, drink your protein, eat with a baby spoon and it will come off, eventually. =) Good luck!