Hi everyone...... I'm sure this problem has been posted on here a million times but I have the need to ask, do many of you lapbanders have problems with bread? Since my second fill I can't tolerate bread of any kind, shape or form and even pancakes won't go down. Even if I chew and chew it still gets stuck and hurts like hell and it seems to turn into a soft dough ball that can't get through my band. Before the second fill I was able to keep down pita bread and wraps because they were on the thin side but now bread seems to be out of the question.... not that I'm complaining because I'd rather skip the bread all together.

Just curious as to how many of you have experienced this problem?

Second....now that I've had my second fill and feeling more restriction how can I tell when the restriciton is right for me?

Some of you talk about your "sweet spot" but how did you know that was your sweet spot.... what did it feel like?

Take care everyone!

My doc had a chat with me preband. He said the goal was for me to be able to eat ANYTHING I could preband (except to drink carbonated beverages) but be "satisfied" by a significantly smaller portion. He believes in small incremental fills. He said some of his patients have trouble with bread or stringy red meat, but not all.

Ok I have 7 cc in my 14 cc band. I was just cutting up and freezing my steak leftovers from last night; I can eat about 2-3 ounces and am FULL. AND guess what? I can eat bread IF I CHOOSE. White bread. Hot dog buns. Hamburger buns. Toasted or not. I have carb control flour tortillas that are high in Fiber and are a staple of my diet. They go down fine.

We are all different. There is nothing inherently evil in bread. I just often don't eat it because unlike some I feel better and more energetic if I keep the processed carbs low and eat Protein first, then fill with veggies.

One thing I was told...if, after a fill, you have foods you can't eat, wait and revisit in 4-6 months. I've never had that problem yet but will folllow that good advice too. I didn't get the band to eat only 2 ounces of steak per meal, or never eat a sandwich, or never have a pancake again. That wasn't the point. The point was portion control, not making chunks of food off limits for life.

Right now while I'm losing it's easy to choose things that fill me up and keep me full for a while. But I know, down the road, if I want a waffle, I can have one. The world won't end. God won't come down and take back my band!

You have to have something you can live with. If you want white bread to be part of your diet, try eating it with foods of different texture, and taking small bites. That should break it up and keeping it from becoming a "dough ball" in your pouch.

Good luck to you! :blushing:

That's excellent advice, restless monkey.

My surgeon has the same goals for me as well. Eat "normal" just a "new normal" (meaning smaller portions).

He used the example of a hot dog.

He said one of his patients told him that she removed the hot dog from the bun and ate the hot dog first.

He said he told her to stop doing that. To take smaller bites, chew well, and eat a hot dog the normal way, just like everyone else.

He said she may only eat half the hot dog that way, but she's not artificially altering her habits that way. She's learning a new normal.

He's got this schtick about one of the reasons America has such a high incidence of obesity is because somewhere along the line, we changed the size of "normal." Our fast food meals aren't super-sized anymore because that's the NORMAL for them now! Same with restaurants. The "normal" portion in restaurants is really more than a human should eat in one sitting. But we do it, because that's what we're "used to" as the "normal" meal.

What he wants us to do is eat everything we have before (with some minor exceptions), but adjust to a "new" normal.

Edited June 23, 200917 yr by TopTier
typo

John, Your response was not friendly. We were not all advised to avoid bread. Bread product provide nutrients that can't be found elsewhere, and not all doctors/nutritionists believe that the low carb approach is healthy. Eating breads is not a reflection of whether or not we are committed to the process. Moreover, when you first start out, it is difficult to even figure out which foods you can get down. You have no idea whether or not she was referring to whole grain or white products. Besides, if she were referring to white products, would it kill you to be kind in making a suggestion that might actually HELP a person?

You know, I just have to say, I hate that people feel free to get on LBT and act aggressively. I guess it's much easier to be self-righteous when you can hide behind an avatar. How are people supposed to come here for education or help with issues related to the band if this is the sort of thing that we do? Jeesh. Sorry... I am just really fired up... Santa Maria.

Eating bread and pancakes after the lapband? Why did you get the lapband?

Did your Dr counsel you on what is proper to eat and what is not after the surgery?

I had to meet with a dietitician and learn what is and is not good. One thing that is bad in enriched flour.

It is folks that do not truly commit to this that make others who desire this surgery jump through hoops to get the insurance companies to pay for them.

Every doctor is different and so is every nutrionist. I was told to try everything and learn that way what I can and not tolerate. For me the lap band was to help me with portion control. Yes, food choice is important, but if we were all able to make the best food choices all the time we would not have needed to resort to the "assistance" of lap band. The band requires a lot of work as well and is not an easy way out. I will not deprive myself of anything. MY doctor said to keep trying and I will be able to figure out what I can and can not have.

The key is everything in moderation... at least that is what I was always told.

Good luck everyone. I for sure am glad you proceeded with the lap band even though you are eating bread...lol

John, Your response was not friendly. We were not all advised to avoid bread. Bread product provide nutrients that can't be found elsewhere, and not all doctors/nutritionists believe that the low carb approach is healthy. Eating breads is not a reflection of whether or not we are committed to the process. Moreover, when you first start out, it is difficult to even figure out which foods you can get down. You have no idea whether or not she was referring to whole grain or white products. Besides, if she were referring to white products, would it kill you to be kind in making a suggestion that might actually HELP a person?

You know, I just have to say, I hate that people feel free to get on LBT and act aggressively. I guess it's much easier to be self-righteous when you can hide behind an avatar. How are people supposed to come here for education or help with issues related to the band if this is the sort of thing that we do? Jeesh. Sorry... I am just really fired up... Santa Maria.

Sorry but alot of people come here for guidance and I think pancakes might not something folks should consider eating. We got the lapband to aid our diets but we must make an effort to succeed.

I don't feel like I am missing anything in my diet. All the info I have read states to avoid enriched flours, pancakes, popcorn and such. I think realistically if anyone desires to lose weight and a good Dr who is not just profiteering will help guide you to make lifestyle changes that create a lifelong goal of eating better.

When preop folks come in here and think well I can eat anything they are set up for failure. Thinking you can eat anything will place you right back in the position you are in, fat.

Ideally the lapband is a tool for people to use. If used wisely you avoid the foods that got you in trouble in the first place. I know many don't want to hear that they are doing wrong but.................

Everyone's opionion is different. My opinion is to try everything and learn what you can and can't tolerate as it is different for everone.

I will enjoy my life and eat in moderation as when i give up foods I love - that is when I set myself up for long term failure.

When you deprive yourself - you will fail in the long run. Most anyway.

Good luck to everyone - we are all in the same boat and here to help and support one another.

I've been warned about bread...what about tortillas? Has anyone had a problem with tortillas getting stuck?

I have 6.5 mills in my band & i can still eat bread, i choose wholegrain cos thats what i love, my bariatric nurse told me if i can eat ALL foods then the band is working properly, I was told we are not restricted to foods, just eat much less of them, foods are only bad when eaten in large quantities, i eat all the foods i did do before being banded & i must be doing something right as ive lost A LOT of weight & my cholesterol gone from 7.4 to 5.0 & ive been told im healthy now :smile2:

I have been banded since March 6, 2008 and still have problems eating bread. I just can't do it. I seem to scare everyone around me when I become choke on the bread. So I have just decided not to eat it. Traveling this summer has been difficult because all the fast food places serve sandwiches. Most of the time I have to order a sandwich and eat whatever it has between, which can get a little messy if you're ordering through a drive-thru. I feel your pain and hope that it gets better.