Today is my 6th day post op and I am feeling like I am really hungry. The broth and Jello don't feel like they are doing ANYTHING for me! I feel like I need like a pb&j or something I used to be slightly hypoglycemic and would need to eat things like that when I was "empty".

I hope this hunger doesnt stay after my next phases of diet progression.

Oh I can't wait for something with some texture...

BamBam31... yes that is awesome acheivement! What special things helped you with your progress?

I am really confused. I have NEVER heard protein hinders weightloss. If you don't eat enough protein, you body starts eating lean muscle tissue- so I guess you would lose weight, just not fat?

Edited January 19, 200917 yr by als74

I understand what you mean by patience. When I diet, I really push myself. On the two week pre-op diet I lost 18 pounds because in addition to the 800 calories, I exercised alot. I have never had trouble losing weight...it is just putting it back on that I seem to excell at!

Even though I am down 21 pounds now, I feel disappointed in myself that it isn't more. I know it is stupid but we are always our own worst enemies, right?

So here is my thought on the lean muscle tissue. My husband, who is a doctor...albeit, a baby doc who doesn't know much on this subject, says as long as you get enough protein, the body will not attack the muscle tissue, it will go after the stored fat instead. It is when there is not enough protein in the body that you have to worry about losing the lean muscle. A low calorie diet with at least 70 grams of protein a day should ward off tissue damage.

Of course, I have heard from this website that a diet rich in protein will actually decrease your chances of a speedy weight loss. What are your opinions on this?

My opinion is that a well balanced diet of 800 - 1200 calories with at least 70-80 grams of Protein is very healthy for weight loss. When you compare this to what you were eating, you will see that the protein was not where it should have been and there was too much fat in most overweight peoples diets. So... now that we have the knowledge of what we should do and we follow it, the pounds will come of in stored body fat and not in lean muscle. Trust most overweight people have way more stored fat then lean muscle and it will come off easier than lean muscle.

JMHO...

I know what you mean about everyone having such different diets. I am sooooo thankful I didnt have a preop diet, I would have never made it I dont think. No Protein drinks for me. I think my caloric intake is around 400 cals. My dieticion said that protien slows wl (which I think ou know that from your comment).

Today is actually better for me. Someone suggested tea and honey and that has actually been like a life saver for me. Can't wait until tomorrow to see what next week holds for me diet wise.

Also, what part of Ca are you from?

Perhaps you misunderstood the nut about the protein slowing weight loss. If not, perhaps he should go back to school!

I understand what you mean by patience. When I diet, I really push myself. On the two week pre-op diet I lost 18 pounds because in addition to the 800 calories, I exercised alot. I have never had trouble losing weight...it is just putting it back on that I seem to excell at!

Even though I am down 21 pounds now, I feel disappointed in myself that it isn't more. I know it is stupid but we are always our own worst enemies, right?

So here is my thought on the lean muscle tissue. My husband, who is a doctor...albeit, a baby doc who doesn't know much on this subject, says as long as you get enough protein, the body will not attack the muscle tissue, it will go after the stored fat instead. It is when there is not enough protein in the body that you have to worry about losing the lean muscle. A low calorie diet with at least 70 grams of protein a day should ward off tissue damage.

Of course, I have heard from this website that a diet rich in protein will actually decrease your chances of a speedy weight loss. What are your opinions on this?

That's correct because protein is the only type of food the body is unable to store. After just one day without sufficient protein, the body starts gong after the lean muscle to meet it's needs.

That's correct because protein is the only type of food the body is unable to store. After just one day without sufficient protein, the body starts gong after the lean muscle to meet it's needs.

High protein will actually help us burn more fat and cause faster weight loss if we keep the carbs low enough and stay away from all the refined carbs

BamBam31... yes that is awesome acheivement! What special things helped you with your progress?

Intense exercise and a white hot metabolism!

I am really confused. I have NEVER heard Protein hinders weightloss. If you don't eat enough protein, you body starts eating lean muscle tissue- so I guess you would lose weight, just not fat?

Me neither - makes no sense. The amount of protein needed is always a matter of dispute, but it is a requirement as far as I'm concerned.

I understand what you mean by patience. When I diet, I really push myself. On the two week pre-op diet I lost 18 pounds because in addition to the 800 calories, I exercised alot. I have never had trouble losing weight...it is just putting it back on that I seem to excell at!

Even though I am down 21 pounds now, I feel disappointed in myself that it isn't more. I know it is stupid but we are always our own worst enemies, right?

So here is my thought on the lean muscle tissue. My husband, who is a doctor...albeit, a baby doc who doesn't know much on this subject, says as long as you get enough protein, the body will not attack the muscle tissue, it will go after the stored fat instead. It is when there is not enough protein in the body that you have to worry about losing the lean muscle. A low calorie diet with at least 70 grams of protein a day should ward off tissue damage.

Of course, I have heard from this website that a diet rich in protein will actually decrease your chances of a speedy weight loss. What are your opinions on this?

Not a fan of low calorie diets. Do indeed appreciate the insight of a well educated medical professional, and while this theory sounds good - in practicality it doesn't hold weight. (Oh look I made a funny!) You will encounter many people on LBT who are eating 800 calorie diets and not losing anything... If the body was going to maintain it's usual metabolism and get all of it's excess fuel from stored fat - these people would be losing double digit pounds every month - but they aren't. Nonetheless, protein is very important to sustain lean muscle tissue.

My opinion is that a well balanced diet of 800 - 1200 calories with at least 70-80 grams of protein is very healthy for weight loss. When you compare this to what you were eating, you will see that the protein was not where it should have been and there was too much fat in most overweight peoples diets. So... now that we have the knowledge of what we should do and we follow it, the pounds will come of in stored body fat and not in lean muscle. Trust most overweight people have way more stored fat then lean muscle and it will come off easier than lean muscle.

JMHO...

Hmmm... I agree in part, disagree in part. I believe low calorie diets will promote a huge weight loss at the outset - that is until your body figures out what you're trying to do. Once the starvation response is invoked, the weight loss will trickle to a standstill. You will encounter these people every day on LBT trying to figure out why the weight loss stopped. Most just write it off as a plateau that will pass so long as they remain low-cal. I strongly disagree. But I wrote my thoughts on this ad nauseum on another thread so I'll just point to pages 3 and 4 of that. But remember... Everyone IS DIFFERENT. What works for me could be disastrous for you and vice-versa. You just have to sort out the information and apply it to your situation and experiences.

Here's that thread... Pages 3 and 4 have my thoughts on this discussion. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/ice-cream-horror-85172/?highlight=ice+cream+horror

Good luck and keep fighting the good fight!

I am 2 weeks post op today and I have to say, it does get worse before getting better. I was STARVING days 9-13 all the time and I was on mushies. I was on mushies by day 3 and it was nice an filling at first. You will develop more of an appetite as time goes by I have noticed. Bandster hell is the right word for all this. All I can say is BE STRONG, you will be on mushies soon and enjoy that. Pretty soon you will be scraving 'soft foods' just so you can chew.

I look at some of the comments here and think, fuel in and and fuel burned. It has always been that way from the beginning. To loose you have to burn more than your consume end of story. The band is TOOL that we all decided to have placed in our bodies. Weather we choose to use it to it's fullest that is your choice. :Dancing_wub: I want a fill and I have been put off till Feb 20th by my Dr. now isn't that crazy. I been put on soft foods I cup of per meal 3 meals a day and I am making smart choices and I have gained 4lbs back what the heck. So now what talk about frustrated. Eating a ton less and gaining this is nuts.:wink2: I am sure it will get better but geez talk about confusing. Maybe I will go back to liquids that was so much easier and I was loosing weight then. Enjoy.

I agree with most of this as well... low calorie plus Protein is not enough for complete and overall weight loss. And yes what is good for the gander is not good for the geese. Burning off calories is a HUGE part of all this. If you don't exercise, then the dieting and band alone will not be successful. You need to get your body moving & functioning in ways it has not before.

When you hit a plateau... which everyone eventually does or god forbid start gaining, then you have to re-evaluate and change something. Burn more by doing more exercise or a difference exercise. Make different choices with regards to what Proteins & veggies you are eating. Just because it worked for the first few weeks or months, does not mean it will continue to work. Change is good the body as it keeps it on its toes. Yes I know frustration will set in when you slow down or stop losing or gain back, but understand... the band is a TOOL not the solution. The whole she-bang is the solution and you need to change the mindset for the body & soul to follow suit.

There is NO perfect solution. Your only option is to keep trying, changing and trying again.

I am at day 8 recovery and see my Doctor for the first follow up. I feel good, lots of shoulder pain but otherwise back up and going. I am still on Phase 2 diet with Protein shakes, fluids & some mushies. I know I can fit more, but I don't. I have hunger pains, but I just keep drinking my protein Water. I know that this was not going to be an easy road, nothing about losing all this weight is easy. But you have to follow your program and be flexible to change!

I look at some of the comments here and think, fuel in and and fuel burned. It has always been that way from the beginning. To loose you have to burn more than your consume end of story. The band is TOOL that we all decided to have placed in our bodies. Weather we choose to use it to it's fullest that is your choice. :Dancing_wub: I want a fill and I have been put off till Feb 20th by my Dr. now isn't that crazy. I been put on soft foods I cup of per meal 3 meals a day and I am making smart choices and I have gained 4lbs back what the heck. So now what talk about frustrated. Eating a ton less and gaining this is nuts.:wink2: I am sure it will get better but geez talk about confusing. Maybe I will go back to liquids that was so much easier and I was loosing weight then. Enjoy.

What that fuel is does play a huge part in weight loss. And yes, exercise makes a big difference too!!

Well, It has been a few days and I must say I am feeling 100% better. I had 1 really BAD day with feeling so hungry. I solved that by adding some hot tea with honey.

I wanted to comment on my dieticiens protien shakes note...It states more that you can buy special Protein shakes if you want, but in her opinion it is an expensive way to slow weight loss. You can buy them if you want. She isn't saying that protein is bad and forbidden, just that in the first week you would be OK without buying the shakes. Now that I am in stage 2 I am supposed to be buying high protein items.

I didnt say that to cause a commotion, so sorry about the no protein comment :thumbup: Thanks everyone for all the help and advice getting through the first week!

Of course, I have heard from this website that a diet rich in Protein will actually decrease your chances of a speedy weight loss. What are your opinions on this?

I had stalled a little in my weightloss. My doc suggested upping my protein intake to about 100g / day (taking into account my sex, build, and workout routine). No way I can get that amount of protein without supplementation, so I work in some Protein drinks during my awake hours.....my point is that a protein-rich diet has been my friend.

So what is your idea of "speedy" weightloss, Jill? I am scared of losing weight too quickly, for the reasons my buddy bambam mentioned.

How long does the hunger last? I'm pre-op. That is my primary concern.