First, in your day to day life do you feel tightness in your midsection? Like does your stomach feel any different? Do you walk around feeling restricted?

Second, are there foods that are basically not allowed at all after being banded? It looks like a lot of folks have trouble eating bread and certain foods trigger heart burn or reflux. If I'm banded and I want to splurge on say Thanksgiving... NOT overeat.. just eat bad stuff, what would I have trouble eating?

First, in your day to day life do you feel tightness in your midsection? Like does your stomach feel any different? Do you walk around feeling restricted?

Second, are there foods that are basically not allowed at all after being banded? It looks like a lot of folks have trouble eating bread and certain foods trigger heart burn or reflux. If I'm banded and I want to splurge on say Thanksgiving... NOT overeat.. just eat bad stuff, what would I have trouble eating?

No, I don't feel any different just walking around during the day. I only feel different when eating and drinking. My port area still hurts sometimes with certain exercises but that's it.

Doctors vary about whether they ban certain foods completely. Mine says no carbonated drinks, no popcorn, no gum, no using a straw to drink (introduces air into the stomach). He says that problem foods include soft breads, nuts and fibrous fruits or veggies as well as fibrous or dry meats. The only thing I have had problems with are the soft breads and fibrous/dry meats. Otherwise, it's about making good choices. Just because you can get it down doesn't mean you should eat it. I haven't had heartburn since being banded, even when eating foods that used to give me heartburn (like marinara).

Thanksgiving? Well, I can imagine it for myself. The turkey better be moist or I'll have to moisten it with gravy. The stuffing could be a problem if it's gummy. Otherwise I'd probably eat mostly turkey & veggies, with very small portions of starches & high-fat and high-sugar items.

Hope that helps! :embaressed_smile:

Everyone is different. I can not feel restriction in my mid-section. The band is placed higher than that. I only feel restriction when I eat and I"m getting full. Otherwise I would not know the band was there.

As for foods, again, everyone is different. There are people who have no problem eating anything, just eat smaller amounts. I have issues with chicken (white meat) pork chops, bread. When I do eat or try to eat these things, I literally have to nibble. Even salad is trouble for me. But, I can eat and junk food. Pie, cake, chips. But it's not the healthy choice or the choice for weight loss.

I just got banded and have only noticed discomfort when bending certain ways, walking (the port site is still so new, it's weird when I walk) and twisting in bed at night. Otherwise, the discomfort from the surgery is pretty much gone.

I have not had any problems with any foods yet. I am able to eat chicken and shredded beef. I do avoid soft breads, soda, fibrous foods and just nibble on a cracker if I need some type of carb. I have had Cereal, tiny amounts of Pasta, fruit, and the typical post surgery foods. I do feel a difference with some things and just make sure I take very small bites and chew carefully. I have found that I like soy nuts when I want something crunchy so I just limit it to 1/4 c. but since they are so small, it takes a while to munch on them and it's like eating chips. It's also VERY filling so sometimes a 1/4 c. seems like a lot!

I really do believe that I'll be able to eat almost anything but also know that it's up to me to make the right choices. I now check the carb and calorie counts on top of the Protein amounts. When I get really hungry, I eat a slice of low fat cheese instead of a FF pudding since I know the nutritional value is better. I'm going to enjoy our Thanksgiving, too, but also not beat myself up for having a bite of pumpkin pie since I know I'm not eating 3 slices as would be normal! Just like Babs0101, I'll eat my Proteins, then veggies, and then tiny amounts of the other stuff.

It def. is about the choices you make and not the just eating what's able to go down. It's like underage drinking - if you know you can't have it, you want it. If it's ok to have, then it's not a big deal if you do or don't. That's my logic and I'm sticking to it!