Feeling defeated today. Surgery was May 1. I was on clear liquids with no protein drinks since April 21. Continued with clear liquids until next dr. Appt which is this Wed. At which he is supposed to add in full liquids. I haven't really had hunger problems until tonight. Went to dinner with my family for Mother's Day with intention of getting hot and sour soup and only eating broth. Anyway, I was starving!!!!! My family ordered pork dumplings and fried rice, some of my favorites. I took a dumpling, cut it into very small bites and chewed the heck out of it and swallowed it down. Then I allowed myself about 1/2 cup of fried rice, again chewing the heck out of it. Had not problems or discomfort! Glad I'm not having any issues with my poor choice but feeling terribly guilty. The last thing my doctor said to me was now don't cheat! How can anyone be expected to do clear liquids for 3 weeks?????

Don't beat yourself up …whats done is done….however….

You just had surgery and your body needs time to heal…your doctor put you on a clear liquid diet for a reason….do you know what that reason was????

I know its hard and it really sucks but its done for a reason….please be careful you don't hurt what's trying to heal.

If you have any problems please call your doc ASAP.

Not sure why he went all clear liquids for that long, just overly cautious I guess. No one else has been on clear liquids for as long as me.... I don't plan to allow this to happen again but Mayan I feel mad at myself right now....

I understand you dont want it to happen again but you may want to find out why he wants you on clear liquids.

I know my doctor said liquids was to give all those stitches and swelling time to heal.

You many even want to call and let them know that you "slipped up" with the all liquids….even though you feel like you are ok…it couldn't hurt to let them know.

After all, they are the doctors and you are on clear liquids for a reason.

As for you feeling badly that noone else is on liquids for that long…try not to compare yourself to others…it leads to lots of disappointment and frustration, in my opinion.

Everyone's lap band experience is different and for some its easier than others but we are all so different and we have to know in our hearts why we chose this journey and what we truly want to get out of it…..

Im only 8 months out and Ive had easy days and hard days and I have no one to answer to but myself.

You will have the same decisions to make and they are not easy but it is definately doable….

Plenty of people have been on clear liquids as long as 6 weeks so shut down the pity party and stop cheating. Sorry for the tough love but your sutures are still fragile and you could cause them to tear away by eating solid food so early. You may have gotten away with it this time but next time, maybe not? It's not worth the risk and it is risky eating solids so soon.

Picture your pouch. Your stomach just below the band was pulled over the band and sutured to your pouch. It has several very small sutures in it and overfilling or even making your stomach go into peristalsis could cause those sutures to tear away.

And Chasing Dreams is right. Don't beat yourself up. Just stay away from temptation for the next 2 weeks.

2muchfun tells it like it is. My clear liquids was short (5 days) but my full liquids post-op was 6 weeks. It wasn't easy, but it got much easier the less I tried to bend the rules. Besides the surgical healing, which is REAL, this strict time is also meant for breaking habits and developing discipline. I was told not to snack. Three meals no snacks. I thought what the hell, I'm on liquids, who cares if I have a liquid snack? So I'd toss in a glass of buttermilk, or a pudding, between my protein shake meal times, or before bed. Without fail, those were the days I struggled harder with hunger. Snacking woke up my appetite. Yes, even liquid snacking. I was told don't skip a meal and make yourself overly hungry. I thought, I'm too busy at work to take a break. I'll just work through lunch and ignore the shake in my desk because then I can have those calories added to my dinner allotment. Not smart. I'd sit down to my liquid dinner and guzzle it and feel unsatisfied. I'm not perfect and I mess up often. But when I listen to my body and listen to my band and listen to my doctor and listen to my NUT, things go better and it truly gets easier. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. You're right. Not sure how I got my self in such a mess yesterday. Today I am in a better state of mind and ready to do this the right way. Thanks for the wake up call. Checked with doctor and probably did not damage but my have delayed healing a little. It will NOT happen again and I will follow instructions to the tee....

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