MissMay

One month-iversary from being banded (Friday, July 22nd). I start mushy foods tomorrow and I'm so excited! I have been dreaming of this day since my pre-op diet started six weeks ago! I think I'm going to pull out one my kids' old baby spoons and a small ziploc container (4 oz.) to make myself realize just how much food I need to be eating. Hmm - how does protein waters throughout the day - 1 small scrambled egg for breakfast, cottage cheese for lunch, ricotta cheese with some spaghetti sauce for dinner - maybe a tablespoon of hummus for a snack? What do you think? Too much for the first mushy food day? May

Hi Laurie. Please add me - I still have a week out before I'm officially on mushy foods but as you can see from my journal, I am just about at my limit and have had eggs the last two days. May I add you as well? Best of luck. May

Thanks for all the great ideas!

Thanks, Kristi. I do see that a lot of people use MFP. May

I have PCOS but am only 3 weeks post-op. I did infertility treatments for 3 years (2 miscarriages) and also took metformin to help with the insulin resistance. It was actually acupuncture that allowed me to get pregnant with my second child (she was born in 2007). I am not planning to have anymore children but I hope my information helps you. I actually heard from my doctor that some symptoms of PCOS do go away post-op because of the weight-loss. Best of luck with your new adventures! May

Hi Dawn, I use unjury Original chocolate - 20 grams of Protein, no carbs, no sugars - taste just like chocolate milk (unjury.com). I also use nectar (I purchase through Amazon.com) - Fuzzy Navel. My doctor makes me mix my Protein powder with just Water but I'm three weeks post op and have used Almond Unsweetened Milk with my Unjury powder - yummy! For something quick, I don't know if you have a Trader Joe's out where you are but I found canned Pure Protein, high protein, no carbs - the cans come in Chocolate or vanilla and come in two versions of protein 21 g or 34 g. Best of luck. May

I'm a champagne lover as well. I also like "fuzzy" waters and had them pre-op. I did ask my doctor about carbonated bevs during my appt. yesterday and she said as long as you can tolerate it, you can have the carbonated waters. I did not mention the champagne. I may miss my Diet Cokes but I love my weight-loss more. I would say take it slow and try it. Apparently it is the bubbles that upset some of us bandsters so you won't know if you don't try. Cheers! May

I'm just two weeks post-op and all I keep dreaming about is popcorn! My doctor is pretty strict and she does not allow popcorn but I keep checking on this site to see how others have handled it. I definitely don't want to fall back into bad habits but I also want to eat a few of the things I used to love and learn how to eat in moderation. It looks like it's possible but what I'm finding is that every individual on this site has different restrictions but also has banding differences so one person may be able to eat a slice of bread or a few crackers and others are not able to handle it at all. Good luck! When I'm ready I think I am going to try popcorn but I will definitely chew, chew, chew instead of inhale! Best of luck! May

Help July Bandsters! I had my first post-op appt with my doctor today after being banded on July 22. She was very pleased with the way things are going so when I asked if I would be getting a fill at my month follow up (in about two weeks) she said, no. She said I wouldn't need one. All I do right now is dream of food, things to mush up and eating. I'm so nervous about when I'm able to start eating mushy foods. I have done pretty well with the weight loss but have no energy to exercise and I do realize at some point it will all plateau. I am really aware of the fact that I'm in control of what and how much I put in my mouth but I'd still like to lose weight, not gain weight. My doctor is strict so Mushy Foods don't start for me until week 5. When you moved to mushy foods, did any of you gain weight? After one month, were you ready to exercise? Not just walk but weight train, like my doctor wants me to do? She also said that introducing mushy foods means just one or two mushy foods a day - not all three meals. What has been your experience with this next phase? Many Thanks! May

Congratulations on making the decision. I was banded on July 22 and still recovering from surgery. I still have a little pain but not as bad as it was two weeks ago or even a week ago. Your doctor doesn't sound very informative! I'm happy to share my experiences but remember that everyone recovers differently and every doctor's advice is different. My doctor did not allow driving for two weeks because scars are still healing and frankly, after a week, I was still loopy from anesthesia. Pain was mostly from the gas build up but walk, walk, walk and use a heating pad - child birth hurts more - the gas hurts just for a bit. Gas-X strips are very helpful as well. I needed all two weeks of pain meds. Our family had a big Mammoth trip (we live in San Diego) planned for about a year so a week after surgery we left from San Diego to Mammoth - my doctor had me wear my compression hose (from the hospital) and she made us stop every 50-minutes to an hour to get out to walk and stretch. The ride up was painful I had to be away from work for at least 7 days - I'm glad we had the Mammoth vacation planned the second week of my recovery - plus I couldn't drive myself I'm still on liquids - I was on liquids 2 weeks pre-op and 4 weeks post-op so I still have about a week and a half to go before mushies As for being afraid to cheat or fail, our band is just a tool - YOU are making the decision to have this tool in you (permanently) so don't cheat yourself. Why would you do that? You'll be fine - just stay the course! You can do it! Best of luck, May

Great Question Amy (I'm a July Bandster as well) - Hope you're doing better. I wanted to use my kids' Wii as well. I heard a good beginning point could be some of the dance games including the Michael Jackson game. I'd be interested in the responses you get. May

Congratulations on "losing" your 4 1/2 year old. I also have a four year old and a 9 1/2 year old (62 lbs). I'm a pound away from losing my four year old as well. I will Celebrate my making Protein smoothies for the whole family!!! Great work, Jen!!! May

Congratulations, Jeannette!!!! Keep up the great work! I'm just two weeks post surgery but have lost over half of my excess weight already (most of my weight was lost during my pre-op diet). I'm proud of you! Stay motivated - you're doing a great job! May

Congratulations to all! Pre-op diet on June 7th (had 2 week liquid pre-op diet) - lost 25 pounds Banded with Hernia repair on Friday, July 22 - as of today 14 days post op - 8 lbs lost Total weight loss: 33 pounds! My doctor is strict so I won't be able to start mushy foods for another two weeks! May

Serifa - I'm 14 days post op and nervous like you. Congrats on losing 15 lbs. I lost most of my weight already prior to surgery. I'm very nervous because I still have two weeks of liquid diet and I'm not sure how much more I'll lose so transitioning back to "real food" I'm afraid of PBing and stretching - all the bad as well as all the good. May Banded & Hernia Surgery: July 22, 2011 Pre-Op Diet started June 7, 2011

Keep up the good work, Shauna! I believe you'll make your weight before your 40th! May Banded and Hernia repair on July 22, 2011 Pre-Op Diet started June 7, 2011

Amazing advice! I can't thank you enough. I am in Marketing as well and my husband is a chef so we are out quite a bit or out with friends. I do understand that things have to change and will change but I wasn't sure how to handle "going out." Your tips are invaluable and so practical. I was very nervous because I lost most of my weight prior to surgery (during my pre-op diet) so I thought I would have a lot of time to ease into having my band. I haven't had a fill yet and I'm not on food yet - I don't know how much more weight I'll lose in two weeks before I'm actually eating so I was really afraid that I would fall back into thinking I could eat and drink like I used to. I'm sure the band will remind me! I am a little worried about "barfing." It sounds as if it has happened quite a bit to you. I'm still two weeks out on liquids so easing into mushies and alcohol and the such is making me nervous. May Pre-Op Diet started: June 7, 2011 Surgery Date: July 22, 2011

Great motivation! You look fantastic!!! I'm just a week post-op. I lost most of my weight already with the liver-shrinking diet and just being on liquids. I'm nervous about when I actually go back to eating. I'm on liquids only for another 2 1/2 weeks (yes, I'm counting down to mushy foods). I really want to succeed but am afraid of falling into bad eating habits. I really thought your idea of eating 5-6 small/snacking meals would make more sense because of the restrictions of the band but it sounds like the smaller meals work, which is different from what my doctor said. What about social outings? Apparently, this is what the Psychiatrist said during my evaluation - that my triggers were social situations - going out with friends, having parties, going to parties. How have you dealt with these issues? Thanks. May

Four days post-op and all your posts have really helped me prepare for where I am now. The heating pad and lots of small walks really help with the gas pain but Yikes, they ARE very painful. The spirometer is a bit of a chore but hopefully is doing it's job. The LorTab meds really really really do help! I haven't had any problem taking in the minimum protein supplement or water - that part is easy. I was able to shower the every day and have had no issues. Sleeping seems to be hard. I'm only getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night and I can't seem to nap during the day. I feel a tightness in my chest but I imagine it is from the hernia repair. I feel lucky to have such a fantastic support system. I do feel hungry so I'm really trying to find the strength to go three more weeks on a liquid diet - my doctor's post-op diet is very strict. May Liver-Shrinking Diet started: June 7, 2011 followed by two week Pre-Op Liquid Diet Banded & Hernia Repair: Friday, July 22, 2011

Congratulations Janette! I'm happy to see that you felt well enough to post after your surgery this morning. I'm very nervous about the heartburn sensation - "the gas!" I have my heating pad ready and I am prepared to do a lot of walking around. Best wishes on your recovery. My surgery is tomorrow morning. May

Yes Lalola - Stay very close to the potty. I had no instructions on how to drink it and I took it down in one sitting last night. Not good! Still feeling those results today but not as bad. Thank goodness surgery is tomorrow! Best of luck with your procedure. May

Yes, I do see that we're on the same track. I have been down at 130ish (back in the Phen-Fen day) and I'm OK at 140 - it's been so long! I'm about 5'3" as well. I too was curious as to how others determined their goal weight. Was it BMI or just "a feeling." Heading in tomorrow to get banded at 7 a.m. Hoping to report back great success. May

I am two days away from surgery and had to take my bottle of Magnesium Citrate. Yikes!!!!

Hi Janette - I get banded on Friday. I had a very strict pre-op diet - My liver shrinking diet started June 7 and moved to my current liquid-only (25 g of protein each meal) diet. I'm starving but am learning that it's a mental game. I "want the food" but don't need it. My post-op diet is very strict as well - only liquids for 4 weeks post-op with weeks 5 & 6 for "mushies." Sorry but it sounds like you're already setting yourself up to fail. You've made a wonderful choice to extend your life. I actually had my surgery rescheduled from today and moved to Friday because on Day 5 of my "liquid only diet" - I cheated and had 5 meatballs. This kicked me in the butt and I had to own up to my mistake but surgery is tomorrow for you! A new lease on life. Both my parents had heart attacks (my dad died when he was 52 and my thin mom had a heart attack in 2009) - I have PCOS and I have Hypothyroidism - but I want to live a longer life. I have walked a marathon, I exercise and I'm out a lot but I have a food problem - I love to eat for comfort. Having lapband surgery is a very serious decision - people die from this procedure. You're doing this, we're all doing this to extend our lives. So if you feel like you're going to fail already, then cancel until you're ready to commit. I have two beautiful girls and a loving husband and I want to live to be with them. You can do this! I can do this! I believe in you. Now you have to. Best of luck tomorrow. I'll be right behind you, sista! May