I have been active on this forum for quite some time. One thing I noticed is that many of us that are newly banded post threads about decisions regarding following the post-op diet instructions.

I was curious for those of us who have had success and

lost 50% or more of our excess weight to get to either goal or a normal BMI of 25 or under . . . did we follow our surgeons instructions regarding the post-op diet.

Following instructions mean eating the foods on the plan that were approved for the stages (such as Clear liquids, full liquids, mushies, etc). Calories or initial weight loss aren't important for this poll . . . just sticking to the right foods intended for healing.

For me, I really needed and benefitted from the post op diet. Healing was of course very important . . . but I think the bigger gains came from changes in my mindset. By forcing myself to follow through during the most difficult stages . . . I realized that yes, I could do this and do it well. Nothing was going to stop me from losing this weight.

I did follow my surgeons instructions and am just a hair under 100% loss of excess weight from a BMI of 40 down to 25. I was cranky and hungry that first month . . . but I lived to tell the tale. :blushing:

i voted that i lost 50% or more with making changes to my post op diet with input from my doctor.

my surgeon has a "post op diet" standard that is not too far off from the aussie approach - i however made self imposed restrictions on myself after reading way too much here. it did nothing for me.

many talks with my dr led me to change my diet & change it frequently playing around with calories to find the number that would result in weight loss - based on my activity.

aside from regular exercise - i run a ranch FT. the more active i am - the more i eat & need to as well.

at my appt yesterday , my dr said to change nothing - eat when hungry & that's pretty much what i have been doing,

getting 100%+ ewl off.

need for the holidays to be over - and i can get back to my routine is all...:blushing:

I stuck to my post op diet directly after surgery, but i definitely tweaked my diet afterwards as well. My doctor only gave general guidelines . . . but I kept playing with calories and foods to find what worked to help me keep losing.

I found that anything I was doing would stall no matter what unless I changed it around every once in a while. That has been the trick to getting steady weight loss for me.

I followed my post op diet to the letter, BUT (and yes, that's a big but) it was nothing like the post op diet many bandsters have on here - much less strict (thank goodness, what is with 3 weeks of clear liquids?).

I had one day clear liquids (included coffee, which pretty much made my day's intake, lol).

3 weeks of gradually thickening liquids - juice, milk, fruit smoothies, Soups, yogurt and a couple of foods that I avoided - jelly, custard, pudding - all crap foods that do nothing for you and certainly add little nutrition int his important stage. As I was able to thicken liquids I was including stuff like lentil and vegetable Soup, with some real meat in it, blending a weetbix (wholegrain cereal) into a fruit smoothie, and even watering down family dinners where appropriate with chicken stock.

2 weeks of mushies - anything that was mushie, soft cooked fish, steamed veges, scrambled eggs, lentil dahl, soft salad vegetables, cooked and mashed fruit, yogurt etc.

then cautiously onto solids

Never a Protein shake was mentioned, and no calorie limit, protein grams to count or anything.

Which is probably why I found it really very easy and even enjoyed each stage.