Don't worry about calories and intake right now and you should have been given a lapband booklet that you had to sign for that has all of the info in it.

I agree with Yvette there should have been a booklet or a package given to you when you went to the seminar?? Anyway this site can tell you a lot as well as www.lapband.com can too. I was told the straw can allow you to suck up too much air when you swallow and cause you discomfort in your band. Some people have no problem with this and others don't. I didn't even try..I throw out the straw immediately. Another item that is debated is chewing gum..I was told no gum chewing..reason behind it is if you were to swallow it you would get stuck really bad and could end up in the ER depend on the size of gum you were chewing. I gave up gum before being banded. Then after being banded I realized that if I can forget to chew my food well enough and get it stuck I could probably forget and swallow my gum. The bottom line for me is I guess in some cases I am not a risk taker..so no straws and no gum for me. I will also say that my doctor is on the strict side...I hope that helps.

This site is a wealth of information. Just click away and you will find all kinds of interesting reading. I can spend hours learning and I have been banded for a year now. Following the band rules are so important. It is eating foods in certain stages that helps your body heal. I use a straw with no problems at all. Gum can give me mild gas so I choose not to chew it. I think the most important rule of all is not drinking with a meal. That was by far the hardest thing for me to learn, along with small bites, small swallows and chew, chew, chew, to beat the band!! Best wishes imaluckydog