I know they say to start making changes before your surgery, but me I have really been eating the same because I know I won't be able to once I have the band. Has anyone else been still eating the same?

The biggest change I made pre-band was to wean myself from the diet coke habit. I don't miss it all now, and will have a small amount every now and then, but I never crave it like I thought I would.

As far as not being able to eat the same, that's not always the case. If you're band is tight as a mouse's ear, then yeah, you're going to have to give up many different foods. I was prepared to give up steak, bread, pizza, etc but I can eat all of these foods. Smaller portions...for sure....but I can eat and enjoy them. Some people are just more sensitive to their band than others and maybe anatomy affects it. Also, unless you get restriction in you're first fill, you're trouble won't be *not* being able to eat normal foods. You'll need a bit of willpower for awhile to stick with the prescribed diet. Once you get close to you're sweet spot, it'll feel a lot less like dieting, and a lot more like the literature says. Your hunger should be satisfied with small portions of solid foods (my doctor goes for 1/2 cup portions while others are different).

Edited September 24, 200916 yr by kiz

I worked really hard to change my eating before the surgery. I am scheduled for October 14th. I started the process in April and there are many requirements with my doctor including losing 10% of your body weight before surgery. For me that was 28 pounds. As of now, I have lost 30. So I have been eating more fruits and veggies, less snacks. I have also cut out soda as you cannot have that after surgery. That was most difficult for me as I love diet pepsi. The first week was hard, I actually had headaches from the cafeine withdrawl but it has gotten better. When I started the process, I had to attend an orientation session and they stated "Live your life today as if you have had the surgery". I found that to be a very powerful statement and have tried to follow it. I have hit bumps along the way but I feel that I am prepared and ready for my surgery.

My surgeon makes you do a 2 week low carb diet before surgery, no more than 30 grams of carbs a day. I started that Monday. I'm eating LOTS of meats and cheeses lol. My surgery is happening way sooner than I expected so I didn't get to have my "last meals" so to speak lol. Oh well, I have to stop my love affair with food right? I have to do liquids 24 hours before and then that's it. I am curious to see what other people's surgeons want them to do before surgery. My doc says the low carb diet shrinks your liver and makes surgery easier for him. If my BMI was higher he would have made me lose weight first he said.

I sarted the process in June and completed visits and all 9/08- I honestly didn't try to change my diet till August- cut out diet soda and my downfall- white rice and bread. My surgery date in 10/16 and I have to start a 2 protein shake and 6-8oz of protein from food and green veggies for at least 2 weeks before surgery - Don't know why but I'm trying to do 3+ weeks ( maybe just to see how much wt I can lose) which is crazy beacuse if I could do that then y do I need to get banded? oh yes I forget- I alwasy fall of thw wagon! I hear the diet is supposed to shrink the liver and allow easy access to insert the band- I justhope my body cooperates with em this time :thumbdown:

At my first evaluation with the nutritionist, she put me on a 1600 cal. diet. Since June 1st I have lost 37 lbs. My Dr. requires a 2 week liquid diet to shrink my liver. My banding is set for Oct 6th, so I started the pre-op diet yesterday. It includes 3 protein shakes, 1 sm SF, FF yogurt (no fruit), 1 cup Campbell's 98% FF cream soup, 16 oz. skim milk & minimum 64 oz. SF clear liquids (SF Jell-o, SF popsicles, broth, & Crystal Lite type drinks.) So far I haven't had a problem with it, but it's only day 2. I might say differently next week. LOL

My doctor has me on a pre op diet now, so I did what you are doing. I was thinking I have a 2 week pre op diet and they only want me to lose 8 pounds, so I can have many last meals at the beginning of the month. Then it accured to me that I have to weight in and of lost the weight a week before surgery. That means I miscalculated the days to lose weight. End result.... I gained 5 pounds by not changing my eating habbits, so I turned that simple 8 pound loss into 13 pounds with only 10 days to do it. I started my pre op diet 3 days early and am down 10 pounds, so now I have 3 left to lose before 9/30/09. My advice is go now and have your last meal then change those eating habbits.

I got a lot of great feedback on one of my posts with recommendations: start eating smaller portions on smaller plates, start practicing no drinking 30 minutes before to 60 mnutes after your meal, that type of thing. And, yes, stop drinking soft drinks. That's going to be the most difficult for me, I think - especially as I sit here with my Diet Dr. Pepper. (Yeah Kiz, I know - you told me! I'm trying!! So - does Dr. B. know you cheat with your Diet Coke?)

I am trying to change habits now so that when I'm faced with having to change habits immediately before and then after the surgery - until I reach that "sweet spot" - it won't be quite as bad. I'm getting ready to pull out the blender to start working on Protein shakes - certainly limiting the number of soft drinks I drink. This is only my opinion, and I haven't had surgery yet, but I think that if I start learning things now, it will be an easier transition.

Hope all goes well for you -look forward to hearing how it goes.

(Yeah Kiz, I know - you told me! I'm trying!! So - does Dr. B. know you cheat with your Diet Coke?)

Shhhh...

I cut back to 1200 calories the week before my pre-op diet then 2 weeks of liquids followed by another week of liquids which ends tomorrow. Mushies here I come. This has been the worst week so far as I feel as though I am about to turn into a Protein shake. On the bright side I have lost 23 pounds since the 9th of September so I am almost 25% on the way to my goal. Prior to the start of 1200 calories I ate anything I wanted.

Greg

Greg