One of my very good friends had gastric bypass a few years ago. Her experience is the reason I am leaning toward the band. She initially had incredible weight loss, but with the bypass she was actually not able to eat healthy. The only thing she could eat that was actually good for her was lean Protein. Things like veggies and fruits sent her into vomiting (veggies mostly) or the trots (fruits). With being years since the surgery, she is actually to the place where she can eat bread again, but still not veggies. Something like a salad with raw veggies blended in would put her on the couch for hours with terrible indigestion. And this means after maybe 3 bites.

So I'm curious for banders: What food (aside from bread) have you found you cannot eat? Did you have any surprises? I don't think my friend thought it would be so difficult to eat a healthy diet. I know this varies by individual but I'm curious as to what some of the items are. Thanks.

I can still eat anything that i ate pre-band. In extreme moderation of course. I am filled to 9.2 cc (very restricted) but i can still eat what i want only very little of it.

I can't eat bread, pasta or scrambled eggs. Otherwise I can eat anything but small portions. Some times I eat too fast and end up bringing food back (PB) but never get loose bowels, in fact I am prone to constipation.

I have fairly good restriction and as long as I remember to take small bites (not miniscule....just small) and chew well I haven't found anything I can't eat. Even white bread and dry chicken breast both go down fine.

I haven't found anything that I can't eat as long as it's chewed well. I eat breads, pastas, dry meats, etc.

I can eat everything, but some things are more likely to cause me problems than others. Fruit doesnt cause me indigestion, but its hard to eat. Bread in small quantities is OK.

I have fairly good restriction and as long as I remember to take small bites (not miniscule....just small) and chew well I haven't found anything I can't eat. Even white bread and dry chicken breast both go down fine.

This comment really helps. Everyone keeps referring to the tiny bites. The other day as I was eating lunch I was trying for tiny bites and it almost was like I wasn't consuming any food. I suspect I am thinking of these tiny bites as miniscule. The smaller the bite of food, the harder it was to chew, chew, chew. I also noticed that the really soft foods almost go down my throat without my command, if that makes any sense. That was a concern. Sooooooo much to learn!!!!

It's individual of course but right now (depending on what the food is) I can easily eat a bite about 2/3 to 1/2 the size of my old one. Some things, like steak, I'll eat about 1/2 the size of my old bite (and I wasn't really ever a "wolf it down" type LOL) but it isn't pencil eraser sized etc...that is too small to even chew! LOL

Honestly you'll eat normally enough that, like I said, no one will know you're banded unless you want them to know.

I don't have any problems with any one thing. Eating too fast is my issue. If I don't concentrate, I eat too fast and live to regret it. Most times I can catch myself before anything bad happens, like a BAD stick or bringing food back up.

I choose to not eat a lot of bread. If I have a sandwich, I more often take off most of the bread. That's only b/c the bread fills me up too fast and then just sort of sits there. Not b/c I actually can't eat it. I want all the goodies INSIDE the bread! LOL!

And really unless it's warm sourdough with or without butter, bread doesn't much interest me and never really has! So it's not really b/c of the band but more b/c it's no big deal to me so why fill up on it vs. the goodies.

I'm sorry that your friend has had so many eating issues. My mom is a bypass patient (5 yrs out) and she eats a lot of fruit. She does have issues with some things but some stuff she doesn't know is going to be a problem til it's too late. She seems to have a problem with most chinese food. I think it's the oil. The more fatty (or oils being used cooking) the food, the more problems she seems to have. Some veggies she's good with, especially if their well-cooked (I think overdone!).

Good for you for doing your research! Best wishes on whatever you choose!