Well I am trying to figure out what this is going to be like? I see some people eat sandwiches, pasta, soda pop and I hear that these are no no's. I am trying to see what my everyday life may be like and how I am going to cook for an unbanded family. Please answer yes or no I will try and make this easy so you can cut and paste....

1. Bread

2. Pasta

3. Pop

4. Tortillas

5. Salad

6. Steak

7. Roast

8. Cereal

9. Hamburger

10. Pizza

11. Apples

12. Chips

13. Cheese

14. Shrimp

15. Pop corn

16. Pretzels

I do realize that protein, veggies, and fruits come first, and I cant see how there will be room for anything else but I am just wondering how this works

Also if you go out somewhere and need something quick and only fast food is available what would you order? Could you order a Mc Donalds hamburger and just eat the meat? Would this be ok on a very occasional basis?? Thanks for the input Jill

1. Bread - depends on the day for some reason. Crust though..never works

2. Pasta - no problem

3. Pop - haven't tried the stuff since the night before my surgery

4. Tortillas - hard ones only. Tired the soft ones and they stuck big time

5. salad - lettuce hasn't been my friend since gallbladder surgery 5 years ago

6. Steak - no problem

7. Roast - no problem

8. Cereal - no problem

9. Hamburger - no problem

10. pizza - half a piece and I'm so full I'm miserable

11. Apples - no problem

12. chips - I've only tried Pringles fat-free and they go down fine

13. cheese - not a cheese fan

14. Shrimp - no problem

15. Pop corn - haven't tried

16. pretzels - haven't tried

I have found the most problems I have come when I eat too fast or don't take small enough bites. Also, for some reason, leftovers when warmed up, give me a problem, especially chicken. The one thing I have found that I can no longer eat and now I don't even want to are french fries. I tried them a couple of times and they got stuck and it hurt so byebye to them! I have found too that my band is a bit fickle, what is fine one time might give me problems another. I've heard a lot of people say that so I guess it's not in my mind. All in all, it's so worth it!

1. Bread Toasted - yes

2. Pasta No

3. Pop Never tried

4. Tortillas Yes

5. Salad Ohhh yeah!! Salad is my buddy

6. Steak Only if it is cooked just right, and chewed well

7. Roast See above

8. Cereal Yes

9. Hamburger Just the meat and salad, no bun

10. Pizza Never tried

11. Apples Depends on the day. Sometimes

12. Chips NO! Evil litte slices of potato.... They get so stuck.

13. Cheese Yes

14. Shrimp Yes, but I take is slowly, and cew, chew, chew!

15. Pop corn Yes

16. Pretzels No

I agree - there is no correct answer. You are going to have to find out what you can and cannot tolerate as you go along. My diet consists of everything I cook for my family. I just eat smaller servings. In fact, I would guess that I am eating less than half of what I was. Works for me!

Carrie

222-199-125

As a new bandster... this was a great post! Thanks for doing it.

1. Bread...................toasted only or a tiny bite

2. Pasta...................with sauce, chew well

3. Pop.....................feels funny

4. Tortillas................no way, spit out the tortilla

5. salad..................used to, cant now??

6. Steak.................yuck

7. Roast..................prolly have to spit a wad out that wont chew away

8. Cereal................the mix of cerial and milk makes my6 band act up

9. Hamburger...........meatlaof?

10. pizza................thin frozen kind with xtra crispy crust

11. Apples.............doubt it

12. chips................easy

13. cheese.............easy but chew well

14. Shrimp..............chew well, ok

15. Pop corn.............easy

16. pretzels...............prolly gum up

Also if you go out somewhere and need something quick and only fast food is available what would you order? Could you order a Mc Donalds hamburger and just eat the meat? Would this be ok on a very occasional basis?? Thanks for the input Jill

That meat is grisly..so it might be hard.

I get mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC

and root beer floats from A&W (the pop goes flat)

I tried nuggets and not good

1. Bread - Yes

2. Pasta - Yes

3. Pop - Yes

4. Tortillas - Yes

5. salad - Yes

6. Steak - Yes

7. Roast - Yes

8. Cereal - Yes

9. Hamburger - Yes

10. pizza - Yes

11. Apples - Yes

12. chips - Yes

13. cheese - Yes

14. Shrimp - Yes

15. Pop corn - Yes

16. pretzels - Yes

I can have everything on that list, as long as I chew well and take my time eating it and watch for signs of fullness. The band, as you'll find, is a very fickle thing. One day you might easily be able to have a sandwich, the next, a bite might be enough.

I tend to stay away from bread, rice, pasta, etc - but not because the band forces me to. I just don't enjoy them as much as I did previously and realize that I should have Protein first, then veggies, then whatever else I have room for.

As for cooking for the family, I cook them the same thing I'm having. But I may toss a couple of dinner rolls in the oven to go with their meal or do one of those 5 minute pasta side dishes. I'm fine with just the meat and veg usually though.

When eating on the run, if I don't have a packet of tuna available (I could live on tuna and crackers lol and now that it comes in those handy lil vaccum packs, I try to keep some in my bag at all times), I'll usually opt for a 6 piece nuggets from McDonalds (with sauce, as they're quite dry) or popcorn chicken from KFC. There's not a vast selection of fast food places here. I'm usually safe with either of those choices, even though I can never eat more than 3 nuggets or half of a small popcorn chicken box. I used to go to McDonalds for a Super Sized fries frequently. Now I may steal one of my daughter's fries and even that is more than I want. Just don't crave them as I did before

1. Bread-NO,never, my choice, just the thought makes me choke

2. Pasta-spaghetti

3. Pop-not yet, but boy a Diet Dr. Pepper would be goooood.

4. Tortillas-No

5. Salad-Yes, lots of spinach, carrots and cheese.

6. Steak-maybe a bite very very very well chewed

7. Roast-little bites

8. Cereal-at night

9. Hamburger-No, not even 1 since Dec 2004

10. Pizza-Only when I sneak the topping off, not the crust

11. Apples-probably could, but I don't

12. Chips-Way to easy to chew and swallow and never causes a problem, ERRRR

13. Cheese-grated on salads no problem, slices, very slow

14. Shrimp-yes, chewed very well

15. Pop corn-yes, only I don't eat the entire bag anymore.

16. Pretzels-NO, worst, longest pb I ever had after a tiny "golden" pretzel

17. Ice Cream, YESSSSSSS, but don't fall into the easy food habit, it's so easy to do, I call it treating myself when I've had a day when I haven't eaten much, poor excuse.

18. Eggs- scambled with cheese, very slowly and only 1 egg with a little cheese. Egg salad with mayo was my favorite, comforting mushy food.

19. Crackers-yes

When I'm in a rush, early stages, say the first 5-6 months, refried Beans from Taco Bell, with contents of a taco mixed with the beans, yummm. Now, 10 months and a new fill, I do the nachos supreme and the contents of the tacos, along with the refried beans.

1. Bread-very little

2. Pasta-no

3. Pop-Only if it sits with ice a little bit--breaks down the bubbles--makes flat

4. Tortillas-very little

5. Salad-small ones

6. Steak-very little, has to be tender

7. Roast-haven't had yet

8. Cereal-yep! 1/2 the sugar Fruity Pebbles!!! they get real mushy and have Splenda!

9. Hamburger-yes. but not the whole thing

10. Pizza-one slice

11. Apples-haven't had yet...just the juice

12. Chips-Funyuns or Cheetos...but only twice since banded in Sept.'05

13. Cheese-yes, melted and chunk cheese

14. Shrimp-not yet

15. Pop corn-not yet.....too scared

16. Pretzels-not yet....too scared

My big downfall is candy...and now that it is Halloween...I am having fits! I did break down and buy some candy corn and pumpkins and have a few a day but I would love to get my hands on a Wonka Mix-ups bag!!!! Bottle Caps! My favorites!!!! But, the will to lose the weight has to be more than the craving for the candy...so I am having a bit of a time getting my head out this sugar fog!

I did go to the Texas Renaissance Festival this past weekend and I paid for that one! I was able to have a WHOLE turkey leg and a sausage on a stick...it didn't come back up but I was in the bathroom all sunday! So, now I know better...oh well!

1. Bread- toasted yes no problem

2. Pasta- Haven't tried yet

3. Pop- Gave em up forever

4. Tortillas- haven't tried

5. Salad- no problem at all

6. Steak- cooked really tender(tenderloin)

7. Roast-no problem cooked really tender

8. Cereal- haven't tried

9. Hamburger- haven't tried) really scared to anyway bread and meat 2gether(scary)

10. Pizza- no problem just have to pick the toppings off first and then it has to be thin(very thin crust)

11. Apples- kind of hard for me to do

12. Chips- haven't tried

13. Cheese- no problem

14. Shrimp- chewed really, really well I can ;but as much as I LOVE shrimp after you chew it to death it is gross

15. Pop corn- no problem

16. Pretzels- haven't tried

P.S. As a girl growing up down south I ate rice everyday at dinner like clockwork. I love rice but I can't do it now. I had my first PB with rice and I thought I was going to die. It only takes one time with me so no rice for me maybe someday....I can dream. LOL OH yeah and I can't do eggs anymore. When I went to mushies I was fine with them now I can't get them down, go figure and I haven't even been filled yet.

1. Bread- about a half a slice, but no more

2. Pasta - just in very small doses

3. Pop - NO, told not to drink it

4. Tortillas - no problem

5. Salad - very sad....can't tolerate it

6. Steak - have not tried yet

7. Roast - no problem

8. Cereal - have not tried yet

9. Hamburger - no problem

10. Pizza - O.K., very little

11. Apples -O.K.

12. Chips - O.K.

13. Cheese - no problem

14. Shrimp - not too easy to eat

15. Pop corn - can eat no problem, but did slime once when I ate to much and too fast

16. Pretzels - no problem

Here's my list:

1. Bread - yes

2. Pasta - yes

3. Pop - no

4. Tortillas - yes

5. Salad - yes

6. Steak - yes (small bites, chewing well)

7. Roast - yes

8. Cereal - yes

9. Hamburger - yes

10. Pizza - yes

11. Apples - yes

12. Chips - yes

13. Cheese - yes

14. Shrimp - yes

15. Pop corn - yes

16. Pretzels - yes

The one food I have had the most problems with is roast chicken...I don't know if I forget to eat small bites and chew really well, or if it is just the food itself....I keep trying, though, because it is good protein and I like it. I am careful of anything with skin, like tomatoes, apples, potatoes...I eat it, but am aware of chewing very well.

I also agree with the point that this list is subject to change without notice! Cindy

1. Bread ---- Only if toasted, fresh doesn't sit well in my stomach

2. Pasta --- a couple of bites, same reacation as bread

3. Pop --- diet, and poured into a glass with ice --- to much gas otherwise

4. Tortillas --- a few

5. salad --- small amounts

6. Steak --- yes, small pieces chewed well

7. Roast --- same as steak

8. Cereal --- small amounts

9. Hamburger --- with out the roll

10. pizza --- 1 pices max, but bread and sauce don't mix well for me

11. Apples --- yes -- w/o peel

12. chips --- a few but same as most carbs for me

13. cheese --- OH YES -- love cheese curds and cottage cheese

14. Shrimp --- MY FAVORITE ---I could eat it for every meal

15. Pop corn --- yes, but not alot

16. pretzels --- a couple pretzel rods, or a handfull of others

Any other questions, ask away

Just remember, I am 2 1/2 years post GB

Start 308 --- Now 140

1. Bread - Yes only a little bit though

2. Pasta - Yes

3. Pop - Yes

4. Tortillas - Yes

5. Salad - Yes

6. Steak - Yes

7. Roast - Yes

8. Cereal - Yes

9. Hamburger - Yes

10. Pizza - Yes

11. Apples - Yes

12. Chips - hot chips no - crisps - yes

13. Cheese - Yes

14. Shrimp - Yes

15. Pop corn - Yes

16. Pretzels - Yes

Just thought I would let everyone know that Dr. Christine Ren of NYC says the soda restriction is a big myth. It is (now this is according to her, y'all, okay? And she's had some learnin'!) NOT harmful to the band. If carbonation is harmful, then think of a lifetime of food cruising throught the port-- come on, it's totally illogical to think that bubbles are going to "stretch' the stoma or whatever it is that people are afraid of. I drink semi flat seltzer in small sips or with a little spash of juice (or vodka;)) occasionally and except for burping, have felt no side effects. Now, if I did drink soda on top of food- it's like a a plunger and you know what that means! My flattning trick-- pour a can of soda (and it works for beer, too--not a big fan of the brew, tho) into a tall glass directly upsidedown about a foot up from the glass/ It will release the gaz and create (after the foam settles) a really nice, semi-flat soda. Very satisfying. Heck, if the ice sits in a regular soda (you know I am talking diet soda, right?) for a spell, it usually will go down pretty easy. So, that's my side of the story!

This was a great thread. I was very interested in the responses my self... as newly banded!!