Okay, I was just banded on May 23 so on liquids for a while, but...I know this sounds pathetic, but I am an Italian girl who LOVES her Pasta. I know we need to get Protein first, limit carbs, etc., but is there anyone here who can enjoy a bit of pasta from time to time? Any particular brand or type? Anyone who can eat other things, like steak, that most people have trouble with? Is eating slowly really the key to it all?

Thanks in advance!

Everyone is different, Some people can eat Pasta some can not.

I know someone who has been banded for over 2 yrs , can eat ANYTHING and has NEVER been Stuck or PBed.

Also eventually , as you see from some of the veteran bandsters IF there is something you can not eat , its not that big of a deal . food eventually just becomes FOOD .

Eventually food is something you eat to live not live to eat . You start to look at it differently . I know right now it seems like not eating this or that is a big deal ( and It is a big deal in the beginning ) but It will slowly turn for you . At least it has for me and i know it has , does for others as well.

I for the most part have not ate carbs since my pre op diet and feel A LOT better since not doing it . I do eat them on occasion but not often .

And i do feel better since Not eating them on a regular basis. I dont crave as much crap ! .

Good luck dont focus so much on what you cant or might not be able to eat and focus on healing and what your going to eat that will be so great for you !

mindy

Yes, I can eat Pasta,(although I choose not to) and steak and pretty much anything I want to eat.

Yes, the key is to take tiny bites, eat slowly and chew it up until it's liquid in your mouth.

My doc told me at my pre op appt that I should be able to eat anything i want with no problem as long as I follow the rules , that with the exception of being too tight from a fill people get stuck and PB from their own fault. And after being banded now I would have to agree with him . Everytime I have been stuck or PBed its been my own fault !

So i Agree w/ Denise

Mindy

Pasta is quite an easy food for me - apart from bolognaise - the chunky meat with pasta combo is a bit difficult, but anything thinner, no problems at all. Rice is also a really easy food - although I notice its more short grain rices like arborio that I eat easily and not the long grains like basmati.

Hi BayCityBandster,

As Mindy said, we are all different, but I too can eat anything, including all types of bread, Pasta, meat and vegetables. In fact, I have yet to encounter a food that I am not able to eat, but I do watch my calories and portions pretty carefully.

Early on I had a few PB incidents, but I have not had one in a very long time. As Denise says, you learn how to chew your food and take smaller bites, and for me it has pretty much become a habit now that I don't even need to think much about doing anymore.

Good luck and congrats on being banded!

I have been banded for almost 5 months now. I have not had a problem with Pasta or bread or steak or any of the other common things that people seem to have problems with. You definately have to take small, and I mean small bites and chew them very well once you have good restriction. I have had 2 PB episodes and both times it was because I ate too fast and without thinking. I also didn't chew well enough. The first time was on deli meat, the second was on french fries ( I know, shouldn't be eating french fries!)

Like someone before me said.... try not to worry so much about what you can't eat. Pretty soon it just doesn't matter as much!

Thank you so much to everyone for responding. I cannot wait to feel like food is not as important as it once was, and hope I can make good choices. For some reason, this is my one food that I think about. I think I am just obsessing, too, because I still have 3.5 weeks of liquids left to go and I can't stop thinking about food, though I can't even say that I am technically hungry.

You are all doing so well and I am proud to count you among my board friends (and heroes).

Thanks again!!!

I have been banded for 5 months tomorrow and I ADORE pasta and eat it all the time. I usually eat 1/8 of a cup (not much, I know, but your seriously full). I add my protein to it. I cnanot live wihtout my pastas!

thanks, princesstracey! i don't want to eat a lot of it, just a little once in a while, especially since i make great meatballs and sauce!

what are some of the Proteins you add? any ideas are much appreciated!

A lot of people have said they really like cottage cheese with spaghetti sauce or ricotta cheese and sauce. I would imagine it's pretty good although I have never tried it. It's a good meal when you are in the mushie stage.

A lot of people have said they really like cottage cheese with spaghetti sauce or ricotta cheese and sauce. I would imagine it's pretty good although I have never tried it. It's a good meal when you are in the mushie stage.

Spaghetti sauce with Melted cheese alone is GREAT on mushies ..

If you do not like ricotta or cottage cheese. Also another good subsitite for pasta is spaghetti squash , Add a little sauce and cheese and it tastes JUST like the real thing !!

Good suggestion on the spaghetti squash!! It's a winner.

As for carbs, my doctor does not want me to remove them from my diet. He's more about a balanced diet. I eat my Protein first, and with what room I have left, I eat my veggies and my carbs. BUT. My doctor has told me and is very adamant about it, that I have to change the nature of my carbs. The way your body processes some carbs is bad, and the way it processes others is good. VERY good. For example. Doc says: Stay away from white potatoes, but sweet potatoes are an awesome food. He recommends them regularly. Eat brown rice instead of white rice. Eat 100% whole wheat bread, not white bread. I DID NOT say whole wheat. The 100% is VERY important. Be sure it is 100%. Eat 100% whole wheat Pasta. (Personally I don't care much for it.....it's an acquired taste. A little bitter) Also eat Beans of every variety. Not only do they have good carbs, but protein and Fiber too. this has to do with glycemic index. Google it and read up on it. It makes a huge difference in how our body processes the carbs. So.... yes I eat pasta AND carbs, just certain kinds.

I don't have any food intolerances. I can eat anything in a band-moderated portion, some foods require more care than others.

I'm really bad about spatial relationships, including estimating volumes, but I would estimate 1/2 - 3/4 cup (when I have all my fill, I'm slightly unfilled now) is all I can eat before I'm full.

I've PBed one time on Pasta, and it came out of my nose. That was not a good experience.

Can someone please tell me what PBed means. I was just banded on May 7th and have not learned the lingo yet. Thank you,

Dori:confused2:

I need to take Calcium and a multivitamin everyday.

The chewable multivitamin is ok, but I just can't ge the calcium chewables down. I gag on them and I have to take 4 of them to get all the calcium the doctor recommends.

Please tell me if you have tried any of the liquid calcium. I wonder how this tastes. I have to buy some tomorrow no matter what.

Tell me if these chewables bother you and how you get them down or if you have tried the liquid calcium.