today was the first day that i felt really depressed. yesterday i was told to start the phase 2 diet, well one bite of puried chicken and i felt as if i was going to die it was so painful. so today i put myself back on the soup and liquid diet. been crying some today i was really looking forward to some different kinds of food. i read on here of people already eating regular food and heres me getting sick on one bite, i know we are all different but i feel as if all ive had is difficulty. first the bad swelling now this. yes i know its sounds as if im having a pity party but im not asking to eat myself sick i just need something more than broth and tea. im happy about the loss of weight 15lbs in 8 days, but yeah i guess i am feeling sorry for myself just alittle. thanks for all the words of advice you all have given me it does keep me strong knowing that im far from alone.

Hi there, I am about to start my assessments etc to see if I am eligible for the band (BMI says yes!!!) I am also on Effexor but only since Dec so am really just finding a total happiness again now, (other meds have not worked the past year) was wondering if you had heard if after weight loss then it helps depression lift and people go off their meds, of course everyone is different, but I know aside from some other issues that if I felt good about ME I'm sure life would be easier to deal with... Any thoughts?

Congratulations on taking these first steps. From the research I did, most doctors seem to feel that although people with diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, etc can often stop or drastically reduce their meds, depression is different. So, I would not use that as a reason for having the surgery. As you say, everyone is different, and maybe you will be able to, but PLEASE don't stop taking effexor without your doctor's ok. Effexor is one of the medications that you cannot quit cold turkey, but must gradually decrease. Some people will tell you that it is hard to loose weight while on effexor. I checked with my psychistrist last week and she said that she has not seen any studies. She has 3 other patients with lapbands that are loosing weight successfully. Plus she reminded me that I lost 75 pounds on Atkins two years ago, and 50 pounds on MediFast. Of course all that weight came back on, but that was me stuffing my face.

By the way, I have been on effexor and seroquel for 3 years and haven't had a severe mood swing in about a year. It has been wonderful.

Good luck with all your clearances!

Don't listen to the nay sayers. Everyone is different and they are not you!

I am not sure if you like soup or like to cook but I actually got this idea from a fellow bandster on the food forum. I boiled chicken (to give it flavor, even added some broth too it, the condensed kind) onion, celery, cauliflower, potatoes, acorn and butternut squash cut into very small pieces. Boil slowly until veggies are so tender they mush in mouth without having to really chew. This is a real savory flavored soup. If you want you can also try using the broth that chicken boiled in add chicken and some broth to food chopper, blender, whatever you have to puree chicken and add this to the soup and the more it cooks the better is it. I am a very spicy, savory eater and got sooooo tired of sweet tasting liquid crap,, huhmm excuse me, as you can see reliving pure liquid stage is already making me cranky again. This soup has lots of flavor, protein and vitamins with substance, consistency and I have been eating this for days now and has been much easier than just eating pureed chicken. I too ate pureed chicken by itself and thought i was going to die. I thought I was having a heart attack it hurt so bad.

As Rachael Ray would say, YUM-M0! That recipe sounds great! Can't wait to try it out, and just in the nick of time! I am on day 8 of liquids! Yikes! Help me! But starting tomorrow a.m. I can have thicker soups! Yeah! Never been so excited! But hey, have lost 11 lbs so far!!! Kinda hard not to when all you're eating is liquids! I just had my surgery on the 17th!