hokiemama

Wendy's Baked Potatoe! Soft and mushy. I had one on this phase. Yummy

I enjoy canned chicken breast (blended in food processor) with the fat free chicken gravy warmed up. I do like the instant mashed potatoes so the chicken and gravy mixture over some potatoes tasted SO good to me at this stage.

Okay, I have to share this yummy treat I just tried. I love coffee with A LOT of cream, therefore I had to give up my coffee after surgery. I tried the sugar free syrups and artificial sweeteners, and I just did not like the taste. I finally came across something yummy! The brand is CLICK. The flavoe is Vanilla Latte. It is a protein supplement with 15 grams of protein in a serving. It actually has expresso in it, so it wakes me up. IT TASTES GREAT! This is my new cup of coffee each morning! I purchased it on Amazon.com. Some GNC stores carry it. There is a Click website also. I also purchased the Mocha flavor, but haven't tried it yet. I'm loving the Vanilla Latte. It is a little high on carbs, but I think it's a great coffee substitue AND it has protein. You can drink it hot or cold. I prefer hot.

All American: I loved having instant mashed potatoes with canned chicken (blended) with fat free chicken gravy. Warm and yummy!

Well, I was banded November 15th and I did great initially. I did everything by the book. I thought I was going to be very strick on myself and do this right! Last week, I stopped measuring out my food and just ate the portion size I wanted to. I didn't eat huge amounts, but definately more than 4 oz. I have not had any problems with anything getting stuck yet and I had 2 pieces of cheese pizza yesterday! At a Christmas party this weekend, I snacked all evening. I am so mad at myself! Now, I'm afraid that I could have stretched out my pouch and ruined everything! I am scheduled for my first fill on Thursday and I know that will help. I'm new to this and am disappointed in myself for not being more careful. Thankfully, I haven't gained any weight, but have been the same weight for 2 weeks now. Did any of you do this before your first fill?

Thanks for your feedback. I know I made very poor choices recently and the guilt is eating me up! I went through this surgery to help change my life. I also purposely scheduled to have it before the holidays so that I would not gain through the holidays for once! I need to get back on track quickly. I come here a lot for support and information and I appreciate it all!

Wow! Great job to both of you! I am scheduled to have my first fill on the 23rd and I'm looking forward to it. The way I got my ticker to show up is after you create your ticker, at the bottom of that ticker page, there is a box with a long paragraph of words/address type thing. Highlight that entire thing, copy minimize and then paste it to your signature. It may not look like the ticker picture until you save it and post something, then hopefully you will see it. This is the way that I did it anyways! Keep up the great work!!!

I have a meatball recipe that everyone loves at parties. I haven't tired it since being banded, but I don't think it would get stuck. It isn't low fat though. I get a pack of the frozen meatballs and put them in a crock pot with ketchup, grape jelly, and lemon juice. It's like a sweet and sour sauce. People love them. Here's a dip that is yummy with tostitos: 2 cans of fat free refried beans. Heat in a saucepan and stir in a pack of taco seasoning. Spread in a 13 x 9 dish and let cool. Spread a jar of salsa on the beans. Spread ff sour cream on the salsa and shredded cheddar on top. It goes a long way. It's quick, easy, and delicious! Have a great time!!

Okay, I was hesitant to ask this, because it sounds stupid. I was banded Nov. 15th and initially felt full in my chest area. I haven't had a fill yet and do not feel that fullness in my chest anymore. However, I have noticed that after a meal, I have an achey pain in between my shoulder blades in the middle of my back. Does anyone else get this? It's not a horrible pain, but I'm wondering if that's where I'm feeling my fullness for some strange reason. Anyone else??

Thanks peeps! It's good to know that I am not the only one and that it IS related to the band and being full. It's hard when you are new to know what all the "feelings" are. I have paid closer attention and have noticed that it's definately when I eat too much or too fast. Maybe I will feel it in my chest once I have my first fill, but for now it's in my back and I DO NOT like the feeling. Too bad it happens a few minutes AFTER I'm finished eating!! Live and learn, right?

I was just banded on 11/15/10 and I am going to start solid foods next week . I am having a peanut butter dilemma. It's soft and mushy, but sticky and can't really be chewed up. I'm just wondering if any of you eat PB and if you have had problems with it getting stuck? I love PB but I'm afraid to try it.

Just ordered the powdered peanut butter! I can't wait to try it! Thank you!!

Wow! 100 lbs is awesome! Congratulations on that, but I know you are not at your goal yet. My surgeon says if you are getting hungry in between meals (when doing everything right) then it's time for a fill. Maybe it's time to meet with your nutritionist again also. You could be getting too little of something, causing your body to hold on to the weight. I know the Water is imperative for the weight loss as well. I'm a newby, but I've read a lot of forums and water, exercise, and the right amount of Protein and calories is typically the reason for the plateau it seems. Hang in there! You have come a long way!!

mdscott: I am sorry that your doctor doesn't seem to communicate as well as mine. Mine gave me a handbook, journaling logs, and required that I meet with the nutritionist before surgery for a 3 hour class about diet post op...and I STILL have questions. I was able to start soft/mushy diet on week 2 (8th day post op). I have seen where some surgeons require a full 2 weeks on liquid, but mine didn't. Each doctor is different. I think you should call your doctor today and ask how long you have to stay on liquids. Maybe you are ready to start soft/mushy and that will help, I think. Then you can start blending up some chicken and tuna and other real proteins that will give you some energy. skramer106 posted a good variety of softy/mushy choices, which were very similar to my list (minus the rice and some veggies). Remember that all of those must be smashed up or finely blended. "You shouldn't have to chew" during soft/mushy phase is what my nutritionist said. If you have to stay on liquids for a little longer, try some cream based soups. Cream of chicken (strain out the chuncks of chicken) tasted much better to me than broth and is more filling. The main page of this website also breaks down each phase pretty well for food guidelines. Good luck and hang in there. Advocate for yourself. Demand specific information if they have not provided it!

At my two week check-up, my surgeon said I could start doing all exercises except crunches and sit ups. When he said aerobics were fine, I took that as a green light for sex.

I am on week 3 of being banded and I have noticed that almost immediately after my meal, I do one hiccup/burp combo. It doesn't happen every time, but happens if I have eaten too fast I think. I have wondered what it means as well. I'm glad to hear that it's common.

OMG! These are all great ideas that I had not thought of! THANK YOU! Let's keep sharing on our journey.

Okay, I love to chew gum but my surgeon forbids it! EVER! He says if you swallow it, it would take a surgical procedure to remove it. What I'm thinking is, when is the last time I swallowed my gum?? I was like 10 years old. But still, I am afraid of the potential harm and haven't yet. Do you chew??

I bet that many of your co-workers (even the thin ones) saw the video and did not like how they looked either. We are our own worst enemy. Most of us are very hard on ourselves and do not see all the positives. You are below 200 lbs.!!! That is such an accomplishment. I can't wait to be in the 100's again!! You are doing great and videos usually do not flatter anybody! Try to be proud of yourself and tell yourself you look good. "Fake it until you make it!". One day, you will believe it!! Good luck.

Sounds tasty! My surgeon said coffee is fine to if we use artificial sweetener and skim milk. Well, I LOVE flavored cream and like a little coffee with my cream, if you know what I mean. Since that's the way I drink it, I have to cut it out for now. Maybe I'll like it the "sensible" way at some point.

I am 17 days post surgery. For breakfast, I eat cottage cheese and a half of a smashed up banana. For lunch I eat canned tuna, with pickle juice, and light mayo, finely blended. For dinner I have canned chicken with fat free gravy blended up and a little bit of mashed potatoes. All the meats go in the food processor. I've lost 13 lbs. since being banded! You are doing great as well! Good luck!

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm so glad to hear that most people do eat PB with no problems. I love it and miss it. I have never heard of powdered PB and will definitely check in to that. The idea of blending PB with protein shakes is a great idea! YUM!

This is my first post. I was banded on 11/15/10. I have lost 12 lbs. since the surgery. My surgeon instructs that meals should be no more than 4 ounces. I'm wondering if I should be limiting soups and shakes to 4 ounces? Most of the protein shakes I buy are in 11 oz. cans. I drink them very slowly and take 20-30 mins to finish one, but I am now starting to wonder if I'm taking in too much at once since it's more than 4 oz. The same goes for soup. Anyone?

Thanks for your responses. I did check with my doctor at my 2 week follow up appointment yesterday. He said no need to measure the protein shakes. He said to just drink them slowly, but to drink the whole shake. As for soup, he said since it is liquid, more than 4 oz. is okay, but to watch the calories and fat bc that won't make you full.

I was banded on 11/15/10. I only have two incisions. For me, it was walk, walk, walk. I hate to walk, but it made the gas and soreness feel so much better. I took at least 4, 10 minute walks. My back hurt a lot and I used a heating pad on it while sitting in a recliner. I'm 2 weeks out and feel much better now. I can feel my port pulling at my stomach muscle, but I haven't felt the port with my hand through my skin. There's a lot of fat there. Anyway, from those I've talked to, it is more noticeable when you lose the excess weight, but I don't think it protrudes out. They can just feel it if they rub over the area. As for the growling stomach, mine does it the worst at night. I don't feel that hungry, but it sure sounds that way. It seems to be settling down with each day though. Good luck!!