Donnie 2.0

You've lost 20 pounds, you feel tired... that's not normal. Try eating more but smaller meals throughout the day. Have high protein food as meals and snacks. You should make an appointment and have a chat with your medical team, they can (or should) help address this. The doc's advice to eat ONLY 3 MEALS a day? ... that's suspect to me. Is this doctor ASMBS Center of Excellence certified? I think I got a AAS degree in Bariatric thanks to all the education I received pre and post surgery thanks to my weight loss center at Swedish Hospital.

You're a human being. A roll... if that's cheating, then you're doing pretty dang well!

I was on a high protein diet for the few weeks before surgery, not liquids only. The whole idea, my doctor explained, was to prepare the body for high proteins, and to help shrink the liver which can interfere with the procedure if it's not shrunk. I was on a 2 week liquid diet (protein drink like Syntrax nectar shakes) and then I integrated solid foods slowly. But that seems pretty harsh, 2 weeks pre op diet liquids only!

You are both doing one of the best things for your bodies you could possibly do. Do you know how many wonderful benefits you'll enjoy once the weight starts coming off? No more worries about diabetes type II - your blood pressure worries will become a thing of the past - your energy and happiness levels will fill the room - Truly, it feels like winning the lottery. Yes, there will be some difficult times: remember, this surgery is NOT a magic bullet, but it will be like receiving an unfair advantage. Failure? Forget about it. Seriously, the last thing on your minds will be eating poorly. For me, I was afraid of the coming years continuing as I had! That's what was scary to me. I didn't want to leave my wife a widow before hitting 50 years old. Also, attend your support groups through your hospital / surgery center. Communicate here. And: "To worry is to pay interest on a debt that might not even come due"

I agree with you, the pre-op preparation was not fun. Seriously, it was for me probably the worst part of the entire process, and it was capped off by the day before surgery fast, where you can only have clear liquids! Ugh! But, this was the worst part. Know that.

Hoarseness is gone, lasted about a week. My wife kinda overreacted, making me more nervous than I should have been.

Janice, I too hit a little plateau last week or so. My cousin who is 18 months post op says she was told that your body WILL FIGHT to maintain! :-) It's not your fault. This will be something we all will live with for the rest of our lives... take heart! Personally, if I am having very bad hunger pangs, I will simply eat a high protein item, but a small amount. And I agree with someone else... weigh yourself twice a week at most. This is gonna take a while. I bet you probably heard that lapband is NOT the fastest weight loss surgery, if you wanted that you'd have gone with Roux-en-Y or stomach stapling. Don't be hard on yourself. You're doing the best you can, and that will serve you well in the months and years ahead.

I know, right? Think of the money we'll save on food... I'm looking forward to being able to pack a lunch of a few pieces of meat and string cheese and that's it.

Mmmm... I can eat hummus by the spoonful, no problem!

Honestly, from 4 days post-op, I've been slightly hungry pretty often. I will add another protein drink, or a soft food or soup, but only a little bit. Until you get a fill, please be careful - you should be able to have a little bit more, if you're truly hungry... but be easy on yourself. This is a lifelong process we're all going through. There will be ups and downs.

I was banded Sept 20, and my overall weight loss over the past 30 days (when I began the pre-op preparation diet) is 18 pounds. My wife says she can tell a difference; my tummy feels flatter, and I have just a slightly easier time walking now. I've passed the 2 week post op point, at my 3 week point I go in for the first check up and THEN I'll be given the go ahead for soft foods... although I have snuck a few high-protein things in, MY STOMACH RUMBLES A LOT! But the good thing is, it stops after just a little bit of food - I don't need two pieces of left over fried chicken to do it and that's how I'm going to win this war finally, I think.

Agreed! Seriously... if your tummy is rumbling, at least you didn't grab for ice cream or something really bad. I've had a few pieces of Canadian Bacon and I'm cool with that. This is a lifelong marathon, not a sprint!

Sheesh! I think I need to give my nutritionist a call then, I could use a little extra now and again myself.