I'm in the research stage of the lap band process. I'm attending a seminar this week and then making that first appt. with my PCP. I've heard you can't eat anything with seeds or skins and only skim milk. I've heard too many things that you can't have to list here. So tell me if any of this is true. No grapefruits or oranges no capsules no nuts. I can handle most of it but I would miss my 2% milk. I don't drink that much milk anyway. I'm looking for any and all your suggestions. Can you eat beans? They have skins. Oh about drinking, how long before and after a meal can you drink all of the water or whatever it is that you can drink? I really need to hear some positive stuff. Who can help me?:smile2:

I have never heard about not being able to eat seeds or skins, that is a new one. I drink 1% milk or skim, but I always have so it doesn't bother me. Everyone is different, some people can tolerate bread, some can't. It's alot of trial and error. Just stick with the basic rules. Protein first, then vegis, and if you still have room then whole grains, and you should be fine. It also depends on the amount of fill that you have. Hope this helps.

skins tend to get stuck on me so I avoid them

I am able to eat seeds and nuts

milk that is your preference it upsets my stomach so I use skim have for 13-14 years way before my band

I have never been told that I cannot have anything with skins or nuts. Beans are actually encouraged because they're very high in Protein. I have been drinking a lot of milk!! I drink both 1% white and chocolate but I drink chocolate the most. I make all of my cream Soups with milk. The weirdest thing for me since I started my liquid diet before my surgery....I crave chocolate milk all of the time! So needless to say....milk has been a huge part of my diet since I started!

Good Luck! :scared2:

I didn't find it hard to adjust to the Band's rules at all. My Bariatric Center prefers me to stop drinking 30 minutes before a meal and then for 45 minutes after. Other than dinner, I never drank with my meal anyway.

I don't have any issues with nuts or beans--I really haven't tried oranges or grapefruit or fresh pineapple. My Bariatric Center gave me a list of the things that are "generally not tolerated well" and I must admit--I take the easy way out and don't try them.

Honestly, I can say that my life has changed very little with the Band--the very largest part that has changed is my portions, that's all! I still eat whatever we're having for supper, but a smaller amount (i.e. a piece of chicken and green beans--instead of 4 country style barbequed ribs, 1/2 box of Kraft macaroni and cheese and green Beans.) You see what I'm saying?!!

Yes, it's scary--but each person IS different in what we can handle--and I know myself that whatever I give up forever is totally so worth my new life and quality that I have now! :mad:

I can eat grapefruit just fine. I have to take it slow but as long as I don't eat the membrane or what ever that is called that holds it together I am fine. I love tomatoes but I can't really tolerate the skin so I take it off. Beans are fine but I have to make sure to chew them. I never really paid attention to it before since some kinda mush up anyways, but now I have to be careful and chew the mushed beans. I think sweet potatoes was on my list of untolerables, but I can do those pretty well. I personally hate skim milk cuz it is so watery, and I hate whole milk cuz of the strong flavor. I used to drink and love 2% but I have found that 1% tastes just like 2% so now I am in love with that. I have the funny chocolate milk craving now too so I spice it up with ovultine.

Thank to all of you. I can probably handle 1% milk. I am glad to hear seeds are ok and also nuts. I've heard several people say you have to skin tomatoes. But I love tomatoes so I will be peeking them. Drinking a half hour before and 45 minutes after meals doesn't sound too hard. I heard you have to drink at least 64 oz. per day. Is that true? The worst for me will be giving up my diet pepsi but I will do it.:biggrin:

You have to make sure you keep yourself hydrated. Actually, health gurus have been saying for years you need to drink 64 oz of Water a day, band or no band, but a number of other experts have come out to say this is a myth. However, water is essential to a bandster because we are getting less water with food (since we're taking in less food) as well as because of the "drinking with meals" restriction. Lack of water can also cause constipation, which is another chronic difficulty for bandsters, again because of the reduced food intake.

I eat nuts a lot, but can't handle oranges and grapefruit unless they are run through the blender. By the way, I love to put an orange in the blender with some ice and a bit of Splenda--makes a great tasting smoothie. Milk is no problem at all, but I've never liked it and still don't.

Those sound like bypass procedure rules. Many surgeons seem to use them interchangeably. Unfortunately, because the way the two procedures eat, and what they tolerate, and even how the evolve are total different directions from each other. Following a surgeon's diet is always best, but perhaps you'd be within your rights to question some of these rules.

I've heard you can't eat anything with seeds or skins and only skim milk. Well, I eat things with seeds all the time - strawberries, avocadoes, cantaloupe... all I was told by my program (used RnY rules for bandsters back when I went thought it) to spit out small seeds such as the seeds in grapes. But I buy seedless, so who cares. "Things with skin" is too vague. chicken has skin, can you not eat chicken? I would definitely ask for more elaboration here. I pretty muchr efuse to do reduced fat dairy, it makes me gag. I will compensate for the fat intake elsewhere. I've heard too many things that you can't have to list here. So tell me if any of this is true. Most bandsters find the only things they cannot eat are those they cannot pass through the stoma. In my case, I can eat everything. In several cases, people find difficulty with "bread" type foods, grains, and certain meats. No grapefruits or oranges no capsules no nuts. Capsules could be valid, if it can't get throught he stoma it has to come back up. Cutting or crushing medications works well as long as they aren't enteric or have other restrictions. I eat nuts all the time, they're one of my favorite Snacks. I can handle most of it but I would miss my 2% milk. I don't drink that much milk anyway. I'm looking for any and all your suggestions. Can you eat Beans? Yes. They have skins. Oh about drinking, how long before and after a meal can you drink all of the Water or whatever it is that you can drink? Depends on your surgeon, like everything else. Mine advises 30 mins before, 90 mins after. In actuality it's more like up until I begin eating, and about 30 - 60 mins after (for comfort reasons - drinking too soon hurts). I really need to hear some positive stuff. Who can help me?:biggrin: Most ppl here.

Hey guys,

LILY76 it's not just you I crave Chocolate milk constantly!! I started buying the 2% Lactaid Milk (pricey but worth it) and I add lowfat chocolate syrup to it. I do not think the cravings ever really go away. Doctor advises to listen to them if not too outlandish lol- One thing I have learned is that we are each told very different things depending on your surgeon,location, band type, and what your nutritionist has set forth for patients. These people are all priceless but the truth is-unless you have been through this procedure you cannot be certain of what will or won't work! Bread no bread,eggs no eggs,beans no beans,milk etc all relative to the individual tolerance. Go with what works for you.:eek:

I eat all kinds of things with seeds and skins. I eat apples and strawberries almost every day. I love grapes and have no trouble with them, either. Tomatoes are a staple of my diet. I don't drink milk much because I try not to ever drink calories. It isn't that conducive to weight loss. But there is no medical reason for not having it. With the band you lose weight by eating solid food, which stays in the pouch and moves slowly into the digestive tract, allowing you to feel satisfied for a long time. When you drink with a meal it defeats the purpose of the band and that is why bandsters don't drink with meals.It causes the food to be washed quickly through the stoma, or opening, into the stomach. I was instructed not to drink 30 minutes before eating, and to wait for 30 minutes after eating. I also don't drink during my meals. It is hard to imagine at first but really, you do get used to it and it isn't that big of a deal, it just takes practice. Basically you can eat any food that you can get down. Some of the common problem foods are beef (not ground, but steak), dry chicken, citrus fruits, and stringy foods like asparagus, and popcorn. But you will find people on this sight who eat the above - it really depends on the person, we all vary in what we can eat.

Nice to hear I am not the only Choc. Milk freak - this also is new since the banding in July 07.

As for food - I say that bread & rice and I are no longer friends.

I can so just about anything else.

I have noticed in the morning my band seems tighter. I usually do protien drinks or milk to take meds then eat Breakfast later in the morning while at work.

Everyone seems to have pretty much covered everything, but I'd like to add something with regards to oranges and grapefruit.

It could be that initially post-op you need to avoid these both in juice and whole form in case the acid in the citrus aggravates your band. That's the only reason I can think of for that rule and I don't even know if it's a valid concern. And it's only probably only to begin with.

After things have healed and you've moved on to "regular food" again, many restrictions are lifted.