Hi everyone. I am so happy to have others that are in the same place I am. I am being banded on September 8. I have been working on this since last fall but it had to be postponed for neck surgery in April. But now it seems to be coming on very fast! I have my pre op on Thursday and Surgery on Tuesday after that. Right now I have been told nothing about a liquid diet. I have just been following a low carb diet for a couple of weeks and before that a 1200 calorie diet.

I am really nervous about the unknown. No matter how many posts I read, until it happens...I won't know.

But...I have a dilema...

On September 22 I have to start traveling again for my business. I am usually gone for 8 to 9 days at a time about once a month. I drive usually for 2 days each way and then do a convention/show for 4 days. This means being on the road for 8 hours a day when driving and then at the convention itself for lunch. I have a mini fridge to store things in during the day.

I am in hotels for usually 8 nights and eating out every night. I stay in hotels that usually have a Breakfast so a hard boiled egg or yogurt or oatmeal will be available. But does anyone have suggestions for lunch and then for dinners.

I think I will be on a soft diet for my September travels but then after that it should be normal (as normal goes). Please give me ideas of what I can either have available that I can eat or items that I can order in a restaurant.

I know you all on the September group are as new as I am but I posted my question on the post op group and have not received even one response...hopefully someone can help.

Thank you for your help!

I wish I knew some ideas for you hun, but I'm a newbie too. I hope someone on here has an answer for you!

Driving- stop a lot, I know, stopping time really adds up, but I would want to lessen risk of blood clots. Walk, or do leg pumping exercises -sitting point feet up and down to feel calf muscles. Still practice deep breathing exercises. Both of these start practicing now. -These are from "Weight Loss Surgery, Is It Right For You?", by Merle Cantor Goldberg, Cowan, and Marcus.

My library system has some wonderful weight loss surgery books, this one is the most thorough.

Get another fridge from the hotel to put in your room.

Be prepared. Have your 64oz of water ready and bottled for the day, to make it easier to keep track. Have your food planned before, so you have it ready. I would just have protein shakes during this time, so it would be one less thing to think about, and less triggers to be around. What does your Doctor think? When you get back, then do the mushies phase.

I've done sit and be fit exercises for years. Since you will be at a convention, these exercises would be great. Many you can do without anyone knowing you are exercising, like tightening different muscles and holding, like buttock muscles. Part of our new lifestyle will be incorporating exercise regularly. It's difficult for me, but I just try and keep moving, with these exercises or others

.YouTube - Sit and Be fit

SIT AND BE FIT | Senior Fitness / Senior Exercise Television Program

Sit and Get Fit!

Thanks. I never gave the lack of available Water a thought! I will get cases of bottled water before I leave.

My doctor is putting me on a blood thinner before I leave and made me promise to get out at least every 2 hours and walk. He also is giving me the name of one of his collegue's in each city I am traveling to that he knows personally. He wants me to go to their office and establish communication with them just in case. I really think that I will just call if I have a problem as there is really no time to find their office and then sit in it for who knows how long. it wou be a walk in and that can take quite a while.

Most hotels that I stay in have fitness rooms, so that will be no problem. (finding the time will be the problem.)

Thanks for your help. I will listen to every bit of advise I can get.:biggrin:

Hi Dawn,

There are a lot of suggestions for receipes and food suggestion in the nutrition section of this site. If you are able to keep things cold, then carry a can opener and make tuna or egg salad with LF mayo. If you can't keep it cold while at the convention, make the tuna salad with FF dressing. Eating out, you can eat fish that will flake with a fork, mashed potatoes. eggs or oatmeal or a Protein shake make a good breakfast. Cottage with Jello is another suggestion. And you can keep small cups of applesauce handy for a snack.

As you will be eating out a lot, you can't always control what goes in the food, but it is more important to focus on the protein content and, while in the mushy stage, the soft consistency of the food.

If you haven't already tried Isopure Zero Carb Protein Drink, you may want to see if you like it. Each 20 oz bottle has 42g of protein. They come in lots of flavors. My favorites are Lemon Green Tea & blue Raspberry. They need to be dunk VERY cold.

Hope this helps.

Joan

Good luck Fancy. You are really brave to do the travel so soon. It looks like you received excellent advise here. Nothing much I can add; but, the keep taking brakes to walk. My friend did a plane trip that wasn't even that long and ended up with a blood clot. It can happen.

That was great of your doctor to give you contacts.

I am having my surgery September 22 and just yesterday got offered a job I really want. I told them I will not be availabe until Mid October. I hope that is enough time. Let us know how you are doing and if you think it was too soon for you to take your trip. I know others are in the same boat.

I hope you have a good trip.

Thank you. I leave this coming Tuesday and have confidence that all will go well. We fear the unknown and being banded is not the unknown anymore. I think I am prepared for this...Will let you know if I have any problems.