Corrigan

I used chicken Bullion from Costco, and Earl Grey tea to tide me over between shakes. Almost anything hot. If you mix protein isolate powder in it you also get some extra protein with it. You can get protein isolate from GMC or on line for a little less. There are a lot of recipes in the food section to help you through this tough time.

We usually soak ours overnight in sea salt brine with poultry spices in it. There are lots of recipies on Google, so you can flavor it how you like.

In this country, Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday. Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. I fully intend to enjoy it with my family, only in quantities I can live with. I have undergone a lot of self deprivation to lose the weight I have and don't intend to gain any of it back just because of the Holidays. I can taste everything in quantities that won't wreck all the work I've put in the last 3 or 4 months, and make it up elseware. I've been overweight the major part of my adult life and seem to finally have a handle on it. I could easily backslide, but I'm not going to. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

I know you don't think so, but I think this is a plus for you from the information you've given. Too many people come here with stories of surgeons who operate and don't provide much pre or post op support. The seminar you're going will provide you with some very valuable information to help you through your ordeal. The band trip isn't the easiest thing you've ever done, it will take some hard work on your part. Having a competent surgeon is half the battle, your attitude and effort is the other. Be happy you're going into an organized program, It'll make your journey a lot easier.

I really don't know what to say. You seem to have 14ccs in a 10cc band? I would think you'd be a little tight, but now that I've reread your post, I think you meant to say 8 and .6 for a total of 8.6cc. I'd say you are approaching your ideal fill. I'd say go for another .5cc and see what that does for you. I'm sure we'd all appreciate it if you would keep us up to date on your progress. TIA

Lots of water and warm prune juice. A handful of dried aprocots works too. I was told not to take chemical laxitives for at least 6 weeks.

Chest x-ray,ekg, upper GI,PCP release, blood test and I've probably forgotten something, there's so much. just do them, one by one.

The part of your stomach, just above the band hasn't healed yet, every drop of water that hits it, hurts, give it a few days and all will be well. As water goes through your stoma air replaces it and that's what you feel.

I'm not a fan of Greek yogurt, but there are so many varietes now that I'd just go into a grocery store and look on the labels. Our local grocery has varieties I've never heard of.

In my case, it was an insurance co. requirement.

Welcome, good luck.

You could have gall stones, many other things that you really need to get sorted out before you do anything else.

Think you might have a hernia or an ulcer? They'll probably find anything like that during band surgery. 400 lbs is a lot more dangerous than band surgery. You need to talk to your doctor and check your odds. I hope you have a positive outcome.

Here's an article that help explain one reason for fit people to retain weight temporarily. Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it -- voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy -- like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this helps.

You have just 4 days to atone for your sins. Really the reason for the pre op diet is to take as much fat off your liver as possible and maybe reduce the size of it. The surgeon has to move the liver to do the band, and a fat liver makes his work much more difficult. Then there is the urban legend of the liver that split in half because it was too fat. For the rest of your time, follow your surgeon's instructions and you'll be just fine.

I'm surprised you're out already, I know some surgeons do a hack and release, but I hope you have adequate post op instructions. You should be sipping water very slowly, but steadily. I had a little sponge with a stick in it to dip in water and suck on, then ice chips to sip on, then a glass of water to drink slowly. The first few days drink as much as you can, up to 64 oz a day. it sounds like a lot, but you need water to help you heal and help with constipation. If you don't have post op material please let me know and I'll see that you get some. The schedule should be: week 1, clear liquids, broth, crystal lite, protein shakes made w/water sugar free popsicles, etc., week 2, full liquids, protein shakes made with skim milk, soups with no lumps. week3 &4 mushies, food ground to a consistancy that would go through a straw. week 5, regular food cut up in pieces the size of your fingernail. Week six your go to go, just make sure your diet is balanced and chew well. Hope this helps.

What you're looking for is protein isolate powder. Any health food store usually has it, or you can find it on line for a little less. To mix with hot liquids, you have to mix in a little cool water first, then the hot. It's pure protein and all I've had was tasteless. Low fat cottage cheese is also an excellent source of protein.

I know just how hungry you can get after weight loss surgery, but eating solid foods too soon can cause your surgery to fail. A surgeon that teaches WLS told me that eating solid foods too early can be one of the most common causes of early WLS failure. First week clear liquids, second week full liquids, weeks 3 and4, mushies, week five solids cut finely, week six, you're home free. It's hard to stick to a diet like this, but if you're going to lose weight, you absolutely have to eat properly. Haven't you read posts from people who "can't lose, no matter what I eat". You went through a lot to get this band, and you have to work to have it do you any good. The band, by itself won't make you lose one pound, it's like a lifetime diet with a helper. Give it a chance.

I like Muscle Milk from Costco. It comes in chocolate or vanilla. Mixed with skim milk it is quite palatable. It comes in a six pound bag, they also have a lot of other WLS supplies. Too much protein just won't be used. One thing to remember is that protein has about 4 calories per gram. Here is a quote from a fitness mag. "Despite the frequently expressed concern about adverse effects of high protein intake, there is no evidence that protein intakes in the range suggested will have adverse effects in healthy individuals."

You've got such a good start, why not see if you can lose 1 1/2 or 2 lbs next week. That's 100 lbs a year. You're not going to lose all you want at once, but 2 lbs a week is enough. Try for 800 to 1000 calories with some exercise a day and you won't have any trouble. Don't worry about what someone else does, you're the only one losing your weight. Try to think of the thousands that don't post here because they don't have any problems.

I was a beer maker and bread maker for over 20 years. I still have 200 lbs of malted barley in my brewery. It was really hard to quit, but I had diabetes and other stuff wrong, so my doctor and I decided a life style change was in order. I hated to give up all the things that were so important to me, but considering the alternative, I had the band installed. I was about the same weight you are, so I had to lose 20 lbs pre op and another 30 post op, but I did and I can honestly say that after 3 months I don't miss all that stuff nearly as much as I thought I would. I don't know if it's a different mind set or if there was some biological change. Whatever, I'll take it. I can say that my life has changed for the better even after giving up so many of the things I enjoyed. I found new stuff to enjoy. I think if you give this an honest try, you'll be able to feel the same way. The surgery is a snap, you go in lie down and wake up in recovery. I was able to take a long walk the next day, no pain, you should be able to go back to work, depending how much you have to lift, in a week or two. Just follow your surgeon's instructions and you'll be fine. The whole thing is like a diet with a little help from the band.

To begin with, Justin, why would you eat like that so soon after surgery? Were you given any post op diet instructions? You should still be on full liquids. Foods that you mentioned shouldn't be in your diet for a few weeks yet.Your stomach is still healing, give it a chance. You won't feel much restriction until a few fills, probably. Some people get by with no fills, and still lose weight, genes I guess. And, no it's not normal for someone just banded to eat so much. Most programs teach patients to eat to lose weight, this is just a diet with help from the band. You need to eat like you would in any diet program, until you get fills, but even then, you'll have to eat correctly. If you bought the band with the idea that it would automatically take off weight, that was a mistake, it won't. Ask anyone that has been successful with the band. Most will tell you that it was a lot of work. Right now you can eat almost as much as ever. Because you can, doesn't mean you should. You want this to be a success, Justin. Slow down, wait for things to heal, and then you'll begin to lose weight and make a success of this.

To begin with, Justin, why would you eat like that so soon after surgery? Were you given any post op diet instructions? You should still be on full liquids. Foods that you mentioned shouldn't be in your diet for a few weeks yet.Your stomach is still healing, give it a chance. You won't feel much restriction until a few fills, probably. Some people get by with no fills, and still lose weight, genes I guess. And, no it's not normal for someone just banded to eat so much. Most programs teach patients to eat to lose weight, this is just a diet with help from the band. You need to eat like you would in any diet program, until you get fills, but even then, you'll have to eat correctly. If you bought the band with the idea that it would automatically take off weight, that was a mistake, it won't. Ask anyone that has been successful with the band. Most will tell you that it was a lot of work. Right now you can eat almost as much as ever. Because you can, doesn't mean you should. You want this to be a success, Justin. Slow down, wait for things to heal, and then you'll begin to lose weight and make a success of this.

I was banded in early Oct. of this year. Since then, I have lost over 50 lbs., quit all diabetic meds., gotten rid of all the little unpleasant consequences of diabetes, A1C was 6.1 from 8.7. All my old small clothes fit again. The secret to successful band surgery is to find a physician skilled in WLS, and a hospital that is a Center of Excellence. It's not the only way to fly, but is an almost certain method to assure yourself of a life free of complications with the band.

It depends on how far you think you can walk, Brandon. There'a nothing magic about a treadmill, it's just a moving sidewalk. If you push it too far or too fast, you could do more harm than good. To start, you probably should have the advice of a medical professional on your maximum heart rate and stay below that. I'd imagine strenuous, unfamiliar exercise is a good way to harm yourself. Take it easy, wait a while before going too fast.