Today was by far the hardest day of my post-op phase in regards to the diet. I have started to get physically hungry but that's not really a huge problem...it's easily satisfied. But the head hunger is KILLING me. I decided to go the movies with a friend today and that was possibly too difficult a challenge at this stage. I'm so used to eating at the movies and this time I couldn't. Meanwhile, my thin friend is eating a philly cheesesteak and a side of fries next to me while the entire theatre smells like popcorn and hot dogs. I have to confess that I broke down and had a few plain M&Ms. Not wise at this stage, I know!!! I made sure they were truly melted before I swallowed and I washed down with lots of Water but I still know it wasn't a good idea!

I've been trying to avoid social situations now for nearly 3 weeks because I was afraid of something like this happening but it's been difficult. After a long period of not being that social, I recently started getting out there and met a new bunch of people that I have been going out with. Getting involved with a social group and then trying to ditch them hasn't been as easy as expected. Plus there are my regular friends who are starting to wonder why I am SO busy and can't get together. I didn't think 4-5 weeks would be this long for some reason but it's turning out to be the longest time of my life. And even when I can "eat normally" again...I'm so nervous about the eating aspect of socializing...it's easy to say that I should just avoid social situations that involve eating but it's easier said than done. I live in NYC...we don't go bike riding or hiking here...we go to dinner and drinks. That's the culture. I don't even own a bike! I guess I am just stuck for coping mechanisms in this kind of an environment...when where everyone considers themselves a "foodie" and no matter what activity we do, it always ends up in a bar/restaurant. Don't even get me started on work, which I return to on Monday. We have a free gourmet cafeteria in the office so EVERYONE eats together every single day. I've already been questioned about new "eating habits" and I dread going back to more questions and more avoidance.

I guess I'm just totally frustrated right now and feeling like a failure. Any ideas as I still have ANOTHER 2 weeks of eating like a freak?

Girl.........when they see what 4 oz looks like on your plate they'll really wonder whats up. Your real friends will support you.It will be stressful keeping it a secret, don't be ashamed of the band be loud and proud !

Pardon my bluntness, but are you being forced to have surgery?

Did you get a Psych eval? Have you committed to change your life forever? If not, maybe you should re-evaluate having surgery. The band is not magic. It will not solve your head issues. If you cannot commit to what you have to do to be successful, why bother going through the surgery?

If you have made the committment, stop overeating NOW. The liquid diet is just part of what you will need to do. Are you ready for the rest? Exercise?, High Protein?, No Junk - low carb?

You need to get your head right to do this. It is not for the faint-hearted.

TJ

Geez...overreact much? The poor girl just said she was worried about a portion of the process. You may be perfect, and be so in control that you aren't concerned. But really if you had that kind of control you wouldn't be dealing with this issue right now, would you?

Geez...overreact much? The poor girl just said she was worried about a portion of the process. You may be perfect, and be so in control that you aren't concerned. But really if you had that kind of control you wouldn't be dealing with this issue right now, would you?

Some people on this board are cheerleaders, and others are sometimes brutally blunt and honest. My remark was directed at the comment "After all, if we could stick to a diet, we wouldn't be going through weight loss surgery. I find myself wanting to eat everything in the house now because I know I can't after Saturday." Come on, you have to be pretty serious about a committment to get this surgery. You have to want it to succeed cause it is not bypass or sleeve which works a little differently. My thought is that if you make this committment, you need to step up and get serious about it. You have to have some disipline like a diet at the beginning, before fills, to heal, and to seat the band. We have to have discipline to shrink our livers too.

While we need support, we also need a reality check at the beginning. The check to me seem like this-- Do I want to be FAT somemore, or do I want to do the things that it takes to make this tool work.

Sorry if you don't like bluntness. Handholding may be appropriate too, but a support works in many ways.

Glare???? too funny..... Been glared at before.

Good luck to all of you though...

I love the disipline my UNFILLED band has given me. My brutal honesty came from an employer that makes it clear healthy people cost less, and keeps our company in business and me in a job.

TJ

It is amazing to me how different all the doctor's post-op requirements are as far as liquids to solids.

My surgeon's information said Clear Liquids for a week, then full liquids for a week, then pureed for a week, then mushies for a week, then soft foods, then Week 7 would be back to normal foods.

But then before we went to the OR he said that I should do the clear liquids for a few days and then see what I tolerated. Confused me to death.

I was banded on Dec 23, and so far have only had clear liquids but I think I am going to try some Soup or cottage cheese or soft scrambled eggs tomorrow. Actually, I think I am gonna put some chicken Noodle soup in the "Magic Bullet" and try that because I am so hungry. Tummy growling and feeling icky.

Mostly doing well, still sore at the incision site, but all in all no regrets.

Some people on this board are cheerleaders, and others are sometimes brutally blunt and honest. My remark was directed at the comment "After all, if we could stick to a diet, we wouldn't be going through weight loss surgery. I find myself wanting to eat everything in the house now because I know I can't after Saturday." Come on, you have to be pretty serious about a committment to get this surgery. You have to want it to succeed cause it is not bypass or sleeve which works a little differently. My thought is that if you make this committment, you need to step up and get serious about it. You have to have some disipline like a diet at the beginning, before fills, to heal, and to seat the band. We have to have discipline to shrink our livers too.

While we need support, we also need a reality check at the beginning. The check to me seem like this-- Do I want to be FAT somemore, or do I want to do the things that it takes to make this tool work.

Sorry if you don't like bluntness. Handholding may be appropriate too, but a support works in many ways.

Glare???? too funny..... Been glared at before.

Good luck to all of you though...

I love the disipline my UNFILLED band has given me. My brutal honesty came from an employer that makes it clear healthy people cost less, and keeps our company in business and me in a job.

TJ

Mr. TJ,

I thought this website was for support and encouragement. All I was doing was venting about how I was feeling. I know it takes discipline and commitment to succeed in anything we wish to accomplish. Two weeks of a liquid diet is not something we do everyday. I had read how difficult it was for others and decided to share how I was feeling. And no, I don't need any hand holding, just support from others going through the same thing.

Mr. TJ,

I thought this website was for support and encouragement. All I was doing was venting about how I was feeling. I know it takes discipline and commitment to succeed in anything we wish to accomplish. Two weeks of a liquid diet is not something we do everyday. I had read how difficult it was for others and decided to share how I was feeling. And no, I don't need any hand holding, just support from others going through the same thing.

Ms. Dawnlee,

If I have offended you I truly apologize. Yes, you should be able to come here for support and encouragement. I hope you find that here.

I am on the same journey you are about to undertake. It can be very hard at times. You have to have a place to get strength and encouragement, and also to get an honest view of what it is you are doing.

I wish you all the success in the world. That you have decided not to be FAT anymore has taken a lot of courage. You have endured a lot of criticism, been rejected, degraded and made to feel inferior all your life because you weigh more than the norm of society. You have now chosen to change that, and you should be very proud.

My experience is that you have to really treat the first few months like a life changing experience, and that it really is about diet and exercise. The benefits of the band do not really kick in till you have gotten several fills and that will be several months after the band is installed.

This means, you have to change. But it is good change. You get to eat healthy food. You get to exercise with normal people. You can share this journey with all the supportive people in your life. And you can find positives every day.

You get to see the scale moved down. You get to wear your smaller clothes. You get to see your Blood Pressure and Blood sugar return to normal levels. You get to sleep better. There are so many positives that are about to happen to you and that should be more of a topic on this board.

Sure, there is pain and difficulty. There is also adjustment, but don't fear. Look to the rainbows ahead. Liquid diet? Eat soup. Get a good blender. Mix fruit in your protein shakes.

Surgery week will have some pain. Walk and drink and it goes away.

Get fun people around you to be with you. Not negative people. Laugh about the gas, the pain and the fear.

WIth the liquid diet and the surgery, you should lose 15 to 20 lbs. When did you do that last..... celebrate it .....

Journey, that is what this is. A long, fun, encouraging journey. Fear it not... Embrace it. That is what my message is to you. Sorry it was put so blunt.

I am with you. We all are. Seek support, but be not surprised at the form you will receive it....

TJ

Ms. Dawnlee,

If I have offended you I truly apologize. Yes, you should be able to come here for support and encouragement. I hope you find that here.

I am on the same journey you are about to undertake. It can be very hard at times. You have to have a place to get strength and encouragement, and also to get an honest view of what it is you are doing.

I wish you all the success in the world. That you have decided not to be FAT anymore has taken a lot of courage. You have endured a lot of criticism, been rejected, degraded and made to feel inferior all your life because you weigh more than the norm of society. You have now chosen to change that, and you should be very proud.

My experience is that you have to really treat the first few months like a life changing experience, and that it really is about diet and exercise. The benefits of the band do not really kick in till you have gotten several fills and that will be several months after the band is installed.

This means, you have to change. But it is good change. You get to eat healthy food. You get to exercise with normal people. You can share this journey with all the supportive people in your life. And you can find positives every day.

You get to see the scale moved down. You get to wear your smaller clothes. You get to see your Blood Pressure and Blood sugar return to normal levels. You get to sleep better. There are so many positives that are about to happen to you and that should be more of a topic on this board.

Sure, there is pain and difficulty. There is also adjustment, but don't fear. Look to the rainbows ahead. Liquid diet? Eat soup. Get a good blender. Mix fruit in your protein shakes.

Surgery week will have some pain. Walk and drink and it goes away.

Get fun people around you to be with you. Not negative people. Laugh about the gas, the pain and the fear.

WIth the liquid diet and the surgery, you should lose 15 to 20 lbs. When did you do that last..... celebrate it .....

Journey, that is what this is. A long, fun, encouraging journey. Fear it not... Embrace it. That is what my message is to you. Sorry it was put so blunt.

I am with you. We all are. Seek support, but be not surprised at the form you will receive it....

TJ

Thank you! I wish you all the success as well. :smile:

TJ:

Interesting saying, "healthy people cost less"

In what way? Just because they may get sick from time to time? Oh but what about all the "skinny/healthy" people who get knocked up and have to leave work, or suddenly develop a cocaine addiction, or the skinny tards on welfare? I dont think SIZE matters at all in most cases. Your point is moot.

And, if you were so perfect you wouldn't have needed the band. Give the girl a break. This situation is called Bandster hell for a reason.

P.S. While you're at it, being king on the mountain top, learn some people skills on top of all your other lovely talents..

Thanks!

Jackiedi,

Healthy people don't develop diabetes, Hypertension, and stroke risk. Screenable conditions. These things cause insurance risk. My company self insures and pay over 1 million dollars a year in claims. 33% are obese, 33% overweight. Much like the American population.

Sure, drug addiction, pregnancy, and others things cause cost, but the ultimate cost in America for high healthcare costs have to do with lifestyle. Obesity is one of the leading causes.

My company will not pay for motorcycle claims, or parachuting claims either.

People skills. OK, I have been blunt. I have also been apologetic and explanatory. I am not perfect, far from it. And I have the band to change my life. I am not trying to be a KING ON TOP. Should you not like how I express my opinion, I am truly sorry. I frequently have to work one on one with people in my work environment and am considered successful. Sorry I do not click with you.

BTW, as a painter, what medium do you use? I am in the art supply industry?

Thanks for your response. Good luck on your journey too!!!

TJ

Jackiedi,

Healthy people don't develop diabetes, Hypertension, and stroke risk. Screenable conditions. These things cause insurance risk. My company self insures and pay over 1 million dollars a year in claims. 33% are obese, 33% overweight. Much like the American population.

Sure, drug addiction, pregnancy, and others things cause cost, but the ultimate cost in America for high healthcare costs have to do with lifestyle. Obesity is one of the leading causes.

My company will not pay for motorcycle claims, or parachuting claims either.

People skills. OK, I have been blunt. I have also been apologetic and explanatory. I am not perfect, far from it. And I have the band to change my life. I am not trying to be a KING ON TOP. Should you not like how I express my opinion, I am truly sorry. I frequently have to work one on one with people in my work environment and am considered successful. Sorry I do not click with you.

BTW, as a painter, what medium do you use? I am in the art supply industry?

Thanks for your response. Good luck on your journey too!!!

TJ

Ah, I understand, just giving you a hard time. You make some good points, but I'm always up for a challenge. :smile:

Congratulations on your success. I hope I'm just as successful! That's really cool you're in the art supply biz. I mostly use acrylic; it just dries faster!! I once painted a beautiful poppy field with oil and 3 months later it was still wet. My cats ended up leaving their paw prints in it, guess they wanted to help!

Add me to your list, and maybe we can talk art supplies!

I'm 3 weeks post-op and went to the beach yesterday with a group of girlfriends...we were there all day, and brought our own lunches in a cooler - mine was ham and cream cheese roll-ups (I ate 3 thin slices of ham with the cream cheese spread thinly on it) and then we went to Joe's crab shack for dinner on the beach - I ate 2 of the 5 chicken strips on my plate, then passed the rest of my plate around and let everyone else eat them....I didn't feel any awkwardness, in fact, everyone else was so proud of how I'm doing and it made me feel good inside. We all got up and danced and had a great time laughing and talking.....I did kind of miss having a Long Island Iced Tea with everybody though. You will get used to these situations...DO NOT avoid friends - they can be your best support system. Let them know when you are struggling, and maybe they will make wiser food choices when they are around you! Good luck - we are all going through the same thing!

Can you eat chicken strips 3 weeks after surgery? I thought it was all mush for a couple of months! I ordered 5 cases of Oh Yeah! Maybe I went a bit overboard! LOL