What do you as individuals have a hard time eating? Will i ever be able to eat a hamburger? Or a sandwich?

There isn't anything I can't eat as long as I take small bites and chew thoroughly.

Same as was Mis73 said, although early after surgery I used to have problems sometimes with shrimp and chicken and some crackers. Now I can eat pretty much anything, slowly. I usually don't do sandwiches and haven't had a burger on a bun since surgery (just too big!), but today I had half a grilled cheese sandwich. I find them sandwiches way to filling if I eat the bread too. Relax, you will be able to enjoy all your favorites, you just won't be able to wolf them down or eat 3 helpings!!

I like Missy there isn't anything I can't eat with that said I tried eating a bagel the other day and didn't get it toasted enough so it was too doughy and I got stuck big time to the point I had to make an emergency run to my dr's for unfill for it to pass thru but I do eat bread and toast, for some reason that morning my band didn't like the bagel as I've eaten them before. Guess I was tight that morning.

I can pretty much have anything except big lettuce leaf salads even if cut up I have hard time with salads. Which is a bummer cuz I used to enjoy them so. Everything else is a go for me!

I just past my 7th year mark.

I can eat anything except rice and apple skins. They go down... they just feel strange so I avoid them. Everything else is fine, all carbs and meats... I don't eat a lot of cooked veggies... never have but I love raw veggies and low cal dip. I alway make sure I take tiny bites the size of my finger nail and make sure I finish what I have in my mouth before I take my second or third bite.

I also don't drink carbonated beverages beer/pop. Doctor said "NO"... over the past 7 years I tried pop on 2 different occasions and thought I was going to die... never had a heart attach but had major chest pain and it felt like what a heart attack would feel like... pain lasted for over an hour. Stupid me tired pop 2 times... about 2 apart... then i decided to try half a beer about 4 years ago... WOW... same thing... pain in the chest... NEVER again.

I say to new bandsters don't go into the journey saying "I'll never be able to eat this or that ever again"... each person is different. Don't compare yourself to other bandsters. For example if you try and eat an orange and it gets stuck think about why it got stuck... were you eating too fast... how big the piece was it, etc. Don't be afraid to try the orange again (or whatever food you an issue with) in a few days. Most importantly try not and get stressed out when your about to sit down for your meal.

Remember, the band is for "life". You should be able to eat a well balance meal and ENJOY all foods in moderation. I love my band because I don't feel like I missing out on certain foods because I can still have them but in smaller portions. I got the band for portion control and for me it's a great tool. For me it also helped to be organized with my meals. I planned (and still do) my meals for the week and freeze them in "band-size" portions. Many people have read my muffin tin tricks and so many people have found them helpful.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 160 lbs

With a properly restricted lap band (not too tight) most people can eat a variety of foods, just smaller amounts.

Some foods are more bothersome to lap banders such as dry chicken, thick doughy breads, hard apples, chinese food, rice, since it can swell inside the pouch.

I can eat all foods, if I choose to eat bread, it has to be thin, toasted and crunchy. Ideally you should be able to eat most foods as long as you eat carefully and chew well, and if you are very restricted, wait a few minutes before taking the next bite to ensure it goes down to prevent getting food stuck and vomiting.

The lap band pouch opening when restricted is the size of a pencil eraser and food funnels down like a drain, if you pile too much food in at one time, especially thick food, it will pile up and come back up, or worse get stuck in your pouch.

While losing weight, most people are advised to steer clear of white bread, rice, potatoes, sugar, flour, etc, anything white.

If you can't eat most solids (without pain or frequent vomiting), something is either wrong with the band, or it is too tight.

7 months post-op and I sometimes have a problem with chicken, eggs, sushi and shrimp. Not always though, it literally changes day to day.

I can eat just about everything, but the one thing that has changed, is honeydew melon. I used to LOVE it, but now, I get stomach pains rather quickly when I start eating it. Other than that, I haven't had any problems.

As ladybandito said above, I rarely eat sandwiches anymore, or a burger on a bun. I order it as is, but end up taking the bread off and eating the meat. If (on rare occasion) there are french fries on the plate, I'll eat about 4-5 if they're thin, and I'm done.

I had an hamburger a 2 weeks ago. I just flatten the bun and just chew chew chew and chew. It took me about 45 mins to finish. I am still add new foods to my lifestyle but I am taking it one day at a time.

Oh I have a long list lol..

Rice, Pasta and Breads give me the hardest trouble. I am convinced these recoagulate in my pouch as it waits to pass through the stoma acting like a large unchewed bite inevitably getting stuck.

Very dry or thick meats

Some fruits/vegs like oranges and asparagus because they are too fibrous/stringy and apples because the peel is too thick and does not break down well

I avoid large sandwiches (think italian subs and hamburgers). I find that you inadvertently take huge bites which typically results in swallowing bites that are not well chewed.

That's pretty much it. Now I have tricks to get around some of these like peeling an apple, or toasting bread, eating sticky foods like pasta w/ sauce, cooking only marinated meats or with sauce, keeping sandwiches no more than 1-2 layers (ie cheese and meat or meat and lettuce etc),

I don't necessarily see this list as a negative thing. I know before surgery a newbie may think its unbearable to never eat pasta again (as an example). But in reality, the negative feedback (discomfort) you experience with certain foods has been a lifesaver and I simply avoid these foods to avoid the discomfort. And what happens is you simply lose your interest/taste for these foods. This is coming from an Italian who ate pasta allllll the time lol. Most of the foods I can't eat, I should'nt eat haha and really helped w/ losing and maintaining my weight

I can't eat bananas any most unless I blend it. Oranges are off my don't eat list as well.

7 months post-op and I sometimes have a problem with chicken' date=' eggs, sushi and shrimp. Not always though, it literally changes day to day.[/quote']

Sounds like me.... varies but there is a list of foods to abousutly do not eat.

Continue bite yogurts is . One strange yogurt I have to avoid.