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Green zone?



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Hey lap banders.. My names Dana I am 1 week and 2 days post op.. I joined this forum via iPhone app and was browsing threads tonight and see a lot of mention of being in the "green zone" just curious what that is?..May help me understand some of these posts more.. Ty!

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I am also 1 week &2 days post-op. I have the same question.

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When your swelling goes down from the surgery, you may find that you don't have any restriction in your eating at all and that you get hungry A LOT! This can be very disappointing if you're not prepared. As you go to the doctor and get your fills, it may take two or three or more until you feel restriction and can tell that the band it doing its job. When you reach the point that the band is doing a good job helping your control your portions and keeping you full, but it is not so tight that you're having trouble with reflux or keeping food down, then that is called the green zone.

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Dr. O'Brien explains it well in this video. This is 1 of 4. If you are new, these are very informative and I recommend watching all 4. At the very least, watch this one and the "Green Zone" explanation is about 6 minutes into the video.

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Thanks for sharing the video, it was very helpful.

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Just wanted to point out that not everyone needs a fill. Some don't get filled at all, some a little and some take more. Everyone can be different.

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I also have heard the green zone also called the "sweet spot" meaning you are eating a small portion(1-1/2c of healthy food), losing weight steadily 1-2 pounds per week, and satisfied between meals, with healthy Snacks. Water intake good. There is a chart I think someone posted.

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Just had my third fill Thursday. Before this fill I could definitely eat whatever I wanted with no restriction. It was very frustrating not feeling restricted post op but you just have to be patient.

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I also have heard the green zone also called the "sweet spot" meaning you are eating a small portion(1-1/2c of healthy food), losing weight steadily 1-2 pounds per week, and satisfied between meals, with healthy Snacks. Water intake good. There is a chart I think someone posted.

You are correct, couldn't said it better.

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I had surgery on dec 17th my dr has me on purée and mushy foods for 5 weeks before I can eat solids.. I only had 24 hrs of liquids after surgery.. It's been almost 2 weeks out.. I obv have no Fluid in my band right now they said none for at least the first 5 weeks.. I am losing wt steadily I've lost 16 lbs since surgery and 42 prior on a 3 week Liquid Protein diet.. The only complaint I have is I only feel full for a short amount of time after eating.. Then I'm hungry again.. At this point I'm eating mainly only Proteins as meals.. I don't over eat because I fight the want to but it def bothers me being hungry all the time.. I guess it's something ill just have to get used to for a while.. Thanks again everyone for all the useful info tips hints and tricks !

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Danarose-that is an awesome amount of loss!:)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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