I have not yet been banded but am curious...

If you can't eat alot of fiber/bread etc. how do you keep from being constipated? I remember doing Atkins and being so very constipated! Can you take laxatives? What do you do?

I add benefiber to my flavored Water. Can't see it or taste it!

You will most likely not have the same frequency as pre-surgery as "less in, less out" but at least it won't hurt to go.

I learned this the hard way.... no pun intended!

Same here. I NEVER took in fiber before. Now I have a 1/2 cup of Fiber one in the morning or a Fiber one bar. I also add fiber source to just one of my 5 drinks each day.

i love the benefiber chewables, miralax works well as a laxative/stool softener. I have had a lot of trouble since banding. see what your doc says about using fiber- I have heard different things

There is no reason you can't have fiber - in fact fiber is good. For the first month or so after surgery (depends on your doctor) you will have to eat only soft foods and at that point getting fiber is hard. Once you are all healed and are on your way you can eat as much fiber as you want. The reason bread is hard is because it won't 'liquify' or get real soft when you chew it, it kind of turns to a big blob and it's hard for it to go through the band but that isn't from fiber. The other thing you might have heard is that 'fibrous' foods can be hard on the band but that is different from fiber. Fibrous foods are like asparagus and celery - with those fibers you can see- they don't go through the band easily,either. (same with citrus fruits, the membrane doesn't break down.) I eat a ton of fiber because that keeps you full (and regular!) and really helps keep you healthy on many different levels. I eat a lot of berries and apples and vegetables that have a lot of fiber, just not stringy fiber.Hope this helps!

I cant eat a LOT of bread, but I can eat it. I stick with wholegrain, I usually have a slice a day, I also eat oatmeal and other high fibre cereals, probably 2pieces of fresh fruit a day and a couple of different coloured vegetables. I'm not that tight so I eat reasonable quantities of food. I make up the calorie deficit with exercise and drink plenty of fluids. All in all, I've never had a problem with constipation.

Thank you your responses were very helpful!