I had lap-band surgery a little over a month ago, and I'm thrilled. So far I've had maybe two days when I got a little hungry, but dealt with it. Here's my question: according to the dietician at my doctor's office, some of the things I like quite a bit that actually seem to fill me up quite a bit are things I won't be able to eat very often in the future. Is it true that, say, a bowl of oatmeal is something you can't have on a daily basis? Right now I'm trying to stick w/the recommended 24 oz of caloried food a day (and generally 600 to 700 calories), and I know that when I move to solids and then on to a maintenance sort of diet, the calorie count will be somewhat higher. I'm having a hard time dealing with no more tall decaf/non-fat/sugar free hazelnut lattes and no more oatmeal, but if those things will make me hungry, I'll give them up in an instant. Am I not hungry now eating these things because I'm still recovering, or is that edict not carved in stone?

TTFN, LLB

With time you will find what works for you. LOTS of people eat oatmeal in the AMs. I think if you pick a number and don't go over that many calories a day, the rest will fall into place. There are no bandster rules, there are only bandster guidelines. You need to find what works for you and stick with it.

Thanks! I kind of hoped it wasn't carved in stone that I could rarely eat something that wasn't "hard" again.

BTW, I won't be totally off soft foods for another week or so and wonder...is my lack of hunger due to what I'm eating (or not), or because I'm still healing? I would love it if I were one of the few who didn't even need a band fill...at least not right away

What was your experience?

LLB, I have lattes and oatmeal without a problem. I don't see why you can't enjoy them.

Thanks, Julie. I find that, for me, a latte is a great way to get liquid and Protein all at once...and they taste great.

TTFN, LLB