desertpixie

Good call. No idea where I would buy one here but will check online. We have a pretty good blender which I used the other day, maybe that will do the trick in the mean time?

Loving the positivity on this thread. Just think come February we'll all be banded and hearing all those pounds and kilos drop off each other. How often is everyone planning on weighing themselves? I was going to go with once a week or at my dr appointment. Last time I lost a tonne of weight I got a wee bit obsessed with the scales and I don't want that to happen again. Also still trying to figure out my final goal. Do you have yours?

Hahah. I would love a really nicr piece of roast chicken. I have a feeling it may not go down too well though!

Ah icyone thank you for that. I will definitely ask tomorrow when I see him. I had no dairy at all yesterday and felt a million times better from it. Its been pretty unpleasant as reactions go, am usually fine with dairy but I guess its all back to square one now!

Absolutely Bandista. At the moment am getting a bowl of soup and maybe 1ltr of liquids in over the day. No idea how to get food in as soup takes all day to eat! Am excited for the challenge of what I will and won't be able to manage. Can't wait to see the results at the end of the year!

That sounds so good. Definitely Making that for one of my first mushy meals!

Does chicken blend well? I wonder if you blitzed it a bit in the blender with avocado, lime, chilli and coriander if you could make a mushie that way?

Waaaaaarrgh avocado and chicken.get in ma belly! Whats your recipe for it, if you don't mind me asking? Am coming up to mushies and that sounds delicious! X

Hi B-52. Paleo is definitely not a diet more of a way of eating. As I see it the band controls the quantity and I control the quality. I think paleo is a very nutrious/clean way of eating and you could if you wanted combine it with a diet plan like weight watchers or slimming world. I think the idea of dieting with a band is my worst nightmare, I didn't do this to further restrict myself, I am so excited for my first meal and experimenting with what mt band will or won't tolerate. Did you find once you started eating again there were things you didn't expect you wouldn't be able to tolerate? I'm really hoping steak isn't a problem although I have a feeling it might be a tough one...

Hey! Big love for low carb and atkins. Personally I prefer more paleo but there are some brilliant recipe sites out there. I always loved boiled eggs wrapped in ham or chicken slices as a snack. Definitely filled me up. Not sure how many greens you're having yet but I used to love making this side dish of sauteed spinach then pouring over a mix of beaten eggs, cream and seasoning. Bake it in the oven until the eggs are cooked and it makes a lovely side dish for your steak or chicken. If you're in induction I would imagine you aren't having much cheese but when you do chicken stuffed with gorgonzola and crushed walnuts and wrapped in parma ham is so delicious. Its Breakfast time and I'm on all liquids and now drooling at this haha! Good luck!

Congratulations Kelm, I was banded on the 4th so only a few days ahead of you. Can totally sympathise with everything you're feeling right now. Started on the dairy Tuesday but not had a good reaction to it. It's made me bloat and hurt my stomach so cutting that out. Looking forward to mushies and having some foooood. Been on nothing but broth juice and Water this week! Wishing you a speedy recovery DP x

Good luck with everything. Am six days post-op now and can't believe its all done and am going through the motions now of the liquids and prepping for mushies. If you can I would prep as much post-surgery liquids/mushies now to save you time after!

Hello. Had my surgery on Saturday just gone and recovering well enough. Have stuck to Clear liquids and now introduced milk and yoghurt aftrt dr said I could from 3 days post op. After around no more than 100mls of liquid being sipped slowly over say 30 minutes it feels very tight for the rest of the day. Not sure if this js what I am supposed to be feeling inside but thought I would ask on here. I can someyimes then grt a pain in my shoulder or neck similar to the sharp gas pain. I have no restriction in my band. I know my body is healing right now but I have no idea how I'll be able to eat and keep up my Water in take. At the moment am really struggling to manage more than 2/300 cals a day and 500mls of liquids. Any ideas? I've been really gentle with myself this week to make sure I heal properly. Thanks DP x

I dropped him an email last night. I have an appointment with him on Sunday, first one post-surgery. I do still think its the dairy, its been about 18 hours since I had any and the bloating feeling has gone. Just the usual neck pain. Love the idea of ice lollies/popsicles. Will go get some today I think. Have been making hot Water bottles all week, except the neck pain is right in my neck and collerbone. Its so awkward. We're going out to the malls today so hopefully some walking around will help again! Thanks guys xx

Thanks so much for all your input, it's really reassuring. I am more concerned about not getting enough Water in. I've been adding electrolytes to the water so I don't get dehydrated. I think I'll be cutting out the dairy from now on until I feel better. I def need to get someone to do karate chops on my back - love that idea. I def feel like I need my back clicking back into place. Am really hoping these gas pains go soon, its really uncomfortable So looking forward to getting all healed up and being able to get back on track with my exercise regime and back to 'normal'....well as normal as you can be Thanks guys and have a great day DP xx

Hi nurse! I recently bought some of the fruit puree pouches, will let you know how it goes. They literally only have pureed fruit in and nothing else so doubt they will be loaded with any hidden nasties. Unfortunately dubai is a weird place for food shopping and rediculously expensive for fresh produce. These pouches were 8aed each which is about $2.5 each which is so much cheaper than buying the fruit. Am about to put my mushie menu together. Any recommendations?

Good luck today pjones!

Thank you Ladydiva will take a look. The baby fruit puree packs I might get as fruit in Dubai is so expensive it would cost a fortune to do it myself. Savory stuff I will def do myself as I prefer a paleo style diet so will need to go back through the recipe books and get my blender ready!

Good luck slinkie! You'll be fine, although I never really believed it myself before hand. Just woke up after an epic 10 hour sleep again, could do with some more to be honest. Looking forward to some yoghurt later as I really haven't been managing many calories during the day. Am going to start formulating a soft food/mushies menu for next week. That should keep me entertained today!

Hi everyone. Am back and feel a bit like I've been through the ringer but two days out and feeling much bettrr already. One day at a time and am looking forward to some yoghurt and milk from tomorrow onwards. I was so nervous going in but will be glad in the end I did it. One top tip is a hot water bottle for the gas pains, they can be quite painful and the heat is really soothing xx

Hello! So my surgery is on Saturday morning and the nerves are really starting to kick in. I keep thinking over and over is this the right thing? I know this will be the best investment I can make in myself but I am nervous about the pain, what to do afterwards, how to look after the band. I also keep thinking what if u don't lose any weight....aargh! It's like falling off a cliff and letting go. I know whats waiting at the bottom will be great but I don't want to let go. Did anyone else have major nerves? I know the pros outweigh all the cons. I can't lose this weight on my own and keep it off. I've tried and failed too much. I just need to shake off the nerves. :*(

Hello again, feeling much better again today. I think I slept for about 13 hours last night. The gas pains have massively subsided, so hoping today will be the last day of all the aching. Have been managing to keep up the fluids and have added some electrolytes to the water to make sure I stay hydrated. Have also been drinking organic baby apple juice to add a few calories to the mix as have only had water the last 3 days. Onwards and upwards. Hoping by the time I see the Dr again on Saturday I have lost a few pounds too Would be nice! Was down 4kg by op day, so that was a bonus. must have been the nerves!

Hello everyone. Am back and my oh my that was quite the experience. I was so scared as they wheeled me in but before I new it I was waking up. I have 4 small incisions the one which is the most painful has the port under it. My stomach is very swollen at the moment. I hadn't heard prepared for the gas pain though. Havr been given some tablets for it and am using a hot water bottle on the sore gassy areas. Am really hoping it doesn't take long to shift Am sipping lots of water and drinking broth. I was told in a couple of days I can move onto yoghurt, juice and milk with the clear liquids too. Am so tired and struggling to find a comfy spot to sleep. Thanks for all your support its meant a lot x

All your posts are simply amazing. Thank you for taking the time to reassure me. The nerves are natural I'll just be glad to get this bit done and off on the road to recovery and weight loss.. I'm going to pack my bag now, not sure what to take but pretty sure most of tomorrow will be spent sleeping it off. Can I ask how you all find it taking Vitamins and pills now? Or do you have to have soluble ones as the pills get stuck? Thank you again DP x

OMG. Its surgery day tomorrow. Am bricking it but excited. I am excited for the results and making a start of it but am so nervous about the surgery. Wish me luck - am so nervous!