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I really lucked out--I go on "real food" SIX days before Thanksgiving!! What I wouldn't give for two spoonfuls of stuffing!!

Debbie, I think some surgeons allow for a more flexible pre-op diet, with the main concentration on NO SUGAR. Apparently, they want the glycogen stores depleted so the liver is easier to work around--hence the required Post-op "Liquid Diet" is more flexible pre-op.

Whahoo!! Looks like you'll be a Christmas bandster! Congratulations GenaO!

I had to see the Nutritionist six monthly visits as an insurance pre-requisite. Like you, I expected a diatribe of information about food, a sort of mini-lecture monthly. But my Nutritionist was a huge let-down. The first visit was an hour, discussing life styles, eating habits, exercise, etc. and she handed me a diabetic handbook so I could learn which foods contained Protein. Beginning visit 2, I had to do a food chart daily, whereby she was mostly concerned with the calories and protein intake daily. Each month she asked me to reduce my daily intake by 100--whoopee (and visits 2 - 6 were 15 minutes only) My disappointment came when I asked her about food supplements, specifically whey protein isolate versus whey protein concentrate versus rice protein. She didn't have a clue!! She simply said "I didn't learn that at college--because that's alternative". Good luck to you...

My Post-Op liquid diet says to sip continually, trying to aim for 6-8 cups of Fluid. (no carbonated, no straws, diluted juices) Allowed are juices, broths, coffee & tee (no sugar), sugar free Jello, s/f popsicles, s/f juice bars, s/f Crystal lite, and skim milk. A must is low carb Protein drinks, or Protein Powder added to Water (or unflavored added to jello or broths) to keep up the protein intake. (My preference is for whey protein isolate, which mixes instantly with a spoon).

I was supposed to have surgery on October 17 and start on liquid diet on October 1st. But the nurse called the next day and said they had an opening on October 9th and needless to say, I took it! So I was actually only able to be on the liquid diet 8 days and was afraid, too, that they wouldn't be able to do the surgery. But whalaa! (I did ask the surgeon if it was 'hard' and he said "They're all 'hard'.") My point is: get on board with the liquid diet right now--you just have five days until surgery--if I did it, you can too!

I totally agree with you, Longhorn--every bandster's experience, while similar, is going to have differences due to their individual body makeup, surgeon, hospital, etc. My surgeon said the same thing about reading the threads--and our Bariatric Center has a support group that meets twice a month that he suggests that every patient attend. But as long as we read the boards and take each response with a grain of salt, it gives us some reference material we can read on a daily basis. It's just interesting to read about so many persons going through similar circumstances at the same time--and it really has helped me know that some of my issues are just normal.

Bandster 10-07: My Bariatric Center provided me with a guide for each phase: liquid (1-2 weeks), soft (2-4 weeks), and even when we get to regular food. Each surgeon seems to be different, but for soft foods, your surgeon seems extremely flexible (I'd kill for some meatloaf!!). With our liquid phase, I sipped about 1/4 - 1/2 cup every half an hour--Protein shakes, coffee, tea, diluted juice, skim milk, and broths. Marcy: Forgot my very favorite soft food my surgeon specifically said I could have, tuna salad!!

I'm on soft food until my first fill, November 16th, so I know exactly what you mean--I began with a general plan of what each day's diet would consist of and now in the second week after liquid, I too am running out of options. My biggest issue is with breakfast: have never cared for eggs but have been eating eggbeaters every day. Today I tried baby oatmeal and it was just bland, even with sweet n low! May have to go back to yogurt (1/2 6 oz. container) Went to the grocery store the other day and just cruised the aisles looking for something that would be good and simple and mushy: best thing I found was a small can of cranberry jelly! Have done mashed potatoes for dinner and have some canned veggies I plan on whipping up. I have been dreaming of mashed cauliflower and so may buy cheap frozen and cook it down and mash it up! But like you, my main dinner in two weeks has been refried Beans with shredded cheese on top. Soon we'll be able to have a small amount of regular--yum-m-m!

I bought a Magic Bullet as soon as I was approved! (Comes with smaller cups and whips/purees in a heartbeat!) You can get your best buy on Ebay...

In the six months prior to surgery, the nutritionist had me make sure I got in at least 60 grams of protein a day. So-o-o, when I began my liquid diet 10 days before surgery, which I had October 9th, I kept up with that belief, using protein shakes @ 20 grams each, chicken broth protein, and using unflavored protein in other liquids. Now I'm in Phase II, pureed foods, for five weeks and have continued watching my protein intake--so now I'm taking in even MORE protein. However, I just looked in the food guidebook provided by my bariatric center and I see that my actual goals for Phase II are 600 calories and 30 grams of protein. No-one is in the doctor's office today and tomorrow we are going away for four days. Just what are the consequences of ingesting too much protein??

Thanks for alleviating my fears! (Hey, I forgot they were a vegetable too!!!)

I am getting my first fill tomorrow. I am excited but still a little nervous because my incision/port area is soooo sore still. Hey Carol--I see you said your port area is still so sore. I don't get my first fill until November 16th (just two weeks post-op today) and my port is also very very very sore. I thought the soreness would go away before the first fill...

I was due to start a liquid diet October 1st with surgery scheduled for October 17th, when the nurse called two days later to say they had October 9th open and did I want it! It WAS my choice--so hopefully if they do any rescheduling of your surgery, it'll be YOUR option!

It's Kellogg's and comes in flavors (three I think). Costs about $6 a six-pack here in Pennsylvania. Haven't tried them yet--still more partial to a protein shake / drink.

I totally understand what you are saying. The hardest thing I'm finding (and grant you I'm new) is I can eat so-o-o little food before I'm full, and my surgeon's literature says " Eat Protein First!" Well, 1/4 cup of food doesn't go far!! It doesn't seem like there'll be much room left for fruits and vegetables (does the fruit in yogurt count??!!) LOL I never paid much attention to protein before banding, but it DOES seem that the (banding) focus is solely on getting in enough protein. Hey, here's a question for anyone: When I read about the "Main Sources of Protein" (meat, dairy, eggs), why do I never see BEANS in the list? And are they okay to use? Many of my dinners in these two weeks post-liquid-diet have been refried beans with shredded cheese. Is there some reason beans are generally omitted from the list?

Thanks, Wheetsin, am back from the weekend and you were so right: the Doctor's office called back and said it's certainly okay to have more protein than Phase II allows. From my father's dialysis, I remember something about too much protein and think I freaked for nothing. Thanks for relieving my mind before we went away!

I told the girls in my office when I began researching banding, thinking they would be supportive. But they are thin-to-average and could not relate to any of my issues--they are just bound and determined that I just never found the "right" diet to transform my metabolism! So they ended up making comments and innuendos, until I no longer told them where I was in my progress. Now that I'm banded (October 9th), they have called continuously and emailed and are very supportive of my decision--I really think sometimes you just have to do what's best for you and leave everyone else's opinions out!

Through research, I found that whey Protein ISOLATE is much purer than whey protein CONCENTRATE and will mix in with a spoon (concentrate will need blended in so as not to clump). I have found great buys on chocolate malt and belgium chocolate whey protein isolate at amazon.com (and free shipping!). The Slim Fast Lo Carb shake in a can isn't bad and has about 20 grams of protein too--easier to carry to work! I also use unflavored isolate in puddings, Jello, etc. and the same website (unjury.com) actually has chicken broth whey protein isolate, which tastes pretty good! Again, 20 grams of protein per scoop/package. I never cared about protein before--but am counting Proteins daily to make sure I get 60+! Good luck to you...

Like you, I just don't feel like eating. I cannot believe that today I totally forgot to eat lunch! What a difference from the old me! And yes, I'm also getting 60+ grams of Protein just from my supplements, not to mention the food I do eat (eggs, tuna, beans). I really hope I maintain this "satisfied" feeling--I never want to go back to the hunger monster I was. Good luck to you!

Hi there--I was banded on Tuesday the 9th, and I won't be going back to work until the 29th! I see bandsters here that say they went back to work in four days (one guy even said he went back to work the NEXT DAY--must've been a boss!) but there is no way I felt like I could have, even with my desk job! (One girl even said she felt so great on the 5th day she had her nails done) Comparatively, this past Monday (the day you'll go back to work) was the first day I put on clothes to go to the surgeon to have my staples removed--my husband drove and the 50-minute ride was uncomfortable. Now on this the 9th day post op, I'm just sore but getting better every day--and headed out for a perm --PTL! I'm not a wimp by any means--I worked out four days a week up until surgery--but perhaps each body takes the surgery differently. My very best to both of you--this is just fleeting, the change is permanent!

Yes, I'm from Pennsylvania (UPMC Insurance), began my Quest back in March, and was also required by the insurance company to have six visits. (Banded last Tuesday) And yes, I felt exactly like you do when I first found out--but here's what I discovered: these six visits to a nutritionist (actually five months time) allow you to take your time in making this decision. Read, read, read about the changes this will make to your life--both in this site and others--this is a major decision and in the end, this insurance requirement was a blessing to me, because I surely did NOT know back in March what I knew two weeks ago before my surgery. This preparation time is quality--take advantage of it. Believe me, the time will fly and you will appreciate this opportunity...

My surgeon recommends a Flintstone's chewable every day--so I'm using Bugs Bunny (on sale)! Still has the same % of daily allowances... I don't mind them a bit!

Yep, girl, I came home last Wednesday (10/10) and was shocked to see I'd gained seven pounds!!! (However, you'll find it gone in about two days!) Hey here's something else, I was so shocked when I got my trays in the hospital that evening and the next morning and on them they had (1) ginger ale (2) straws and (3) full strength cranberry and apple juice!! I didn't remember about diluting the juices 50% and sure enough, the next morning I was so-o-o-o nauseous. Talk about no-nos! The nurse said they must've just looking for "clear liquids"--so beware, fellow bandsters, you have to watch out for yourself!! :omg:

I am just 8 days post-op and saw the surgeon Monday to have my staples removed (3 days ago). He said I could proceed from my Phase I diet on Tuesday, my 9th day, (which was only sugar-free liquids, broths, coffee, Protein shakes, etc) onto Phase II, pureed foods only, for one month--but my next appointment isn't until November 16th, so I'll be on this until then. I'm eating 1/4 cup for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner and taking in about 1/4 teaspoon of that at a time. (Sometimes I can't even finish the 1/4 cup). So color me surprised that your surgeon allows you to eat shredded chicken at 15 days post op! (I'm allowed to have chicken baby food--yummmeee). My advice is just what you've already told yourself--slow down, slow down, slow down, and chew chew chew! Good luck, buddy...