RestlessMonkey

bambam is right, I did read and like that one a lot! What I did was go to amazon and read people's reviews, then pick a couple top rated ones that seemed to address what I was interested in learning. Some are heavy on promotion, some are more medical, some have recipes etc .... If you don't want to BUY from amazon it's still a great resource for info about the books!

3500 calories is 1 pound of fat (and many of us store Water with the fat) So no it's not all water weight. You are eating 900 cal a day. You probably "need" around 2500-2700 (just a guess, a wild guess) so you have a deficit. Probably 1/3 to 1/2 of it is fat, the other water. HOWEVER! You need to lose the water too. So whatever it is (water or fat) you weigh that much less NOW than you did 12 days ago.

Until you are well restricted the band won't do much. For some it can take up to 2 weeks to "feel" a fill. Also depending on how much was put in your band, you may NOT feel any restriction yet. And quit feeling guilty. You ate salmon and broccoli for gosh sake, not cake and ice cream and root beer floats! :sneaky:

Until you are restricted (filled) your band sits LOOSELY around your stomach. It forms a pouch but the hole/stoma caused by the band is large enough that things generally move on through with ease. Unless you were filled during surgery (some surgeons do this) by 5 weeks your swelling should be gone and you should feel fairly "normal". This is a time to practice the chewing, small bites, etc...the things that will help you use your band to it's fullest. So yes, it's normal. Yes you'll need more to be not hungry because food isn't hanging around in the pouch. Right now you are almost configured just like you were preband. So there's not much change. (more gas I bet! LOL) You may want to avoid some foods if you are trying to lose weight, but you should be physically able to eat anything right now. In other words, sounds like you are doing fine, healing well, and ready for the next step...starting to tighten the band! Too bad you can't get back to your doc any sooner!

Hi All! I'm still here and loving my band. No issues, no problems, although it took me FOREVER, it seems like, to get restriction. Once I finally "felt the love" in MAY of this year I'm doing well. I seem to be able to "diet" (atkins-ish) and drop 20 or so, then hold for a bit, etc. In the past, preband, if I "dieted" and dropped 20 then relaxed I'd gain back 30. That just doesn't happen any more. Funny isn't it how differently the band works for each of us? I will be working towards my goal for years to come, probably, but that's ok. I started out REALLY heavy and still weigh more than a lot of you did before the band, so I expect it will take a while. As long as I'm headed down, I'm happy! I too feel better, I move better, my blood work is better (I'm no longer "borderline" diabetes, high cholesterol, High blood pressure etc) I'm backing away from that cliff! So one year out I love my band. I love my almost 75 pounds lighter self. If at 2 years I am 150 pounds lighter I'll be able to levitate. Really! check back and see! :sneaky:

Hang in there. Just realize a little hunger (ok a LOT of hunger) now won't hurt you nearly as much as a slipped band, and advancing a diet too fast is a major cause of them (per my surgeon). Follow your post op diet, don't add in things not approved (and that includes felines I'm sure) and you'll make it.

I always say "Do what YOUR doc tells you" but in your circumstance, as sensitive as you are, moving slowly back to regular can't hurt and I will cross my fingers that it helps! (that and the small bites well chewed!) Good luck, matey (LOL Burp)

All the band does is help you eat less, once you have restriction. Do you think consistently eating less will help you? Honestly, think about it. If you don't, then either something with a "malabsorption" component (where the food passes through without being converted to nutrients and fat, or at least a portion of it) like RNY Bypass, or a malabsorption drug like ALLI (sp?) may help you. You know yourself best. The band is great, but it just helps with portion control. If your body doesn't want to give the weight up the band won't make it happen.

Usually after a fill, many docs say to do liquids 24 hours, then mushies then "regular". If you are sensitive, perhaps you tried to eat too soon? If I were you I'd be conservative and do liquids 24-48, then mushie 24-48. and then on to "regular" (which is what my doc recommends, by the way, when he thinks we're close to "the sweet spot") Once you've given your sensitive stomach a chance to settle, then do as others have suggested: take small bites and chew very very well. Wait a bit between bites to see if you need more food or are no longer hungry. And take a while to eat because our digestive systems don't register food for about 20 minutes. If you eat too fast and expect "hunger" to guide you, you can end up in trouble. Just take it slow, and don't be nervous. It's a learning process!

My liver shrink diet was low fat, low carb, and low calorie (and low taste LOL) with shakes and 1 meal. I think you're on the right track with a "lean Atkins" type of diet.

So the rest you lose is gravy! Well, Not-gravy gravy! :smile2: That is so good! I lost 32 in the 5 weeks of preop dieting I had and it made a tremendous difference in how I felt, etc. I am very happy for you !! You may lose close to that in 3 weeks, not 5! WTG!!

I agree with soocalchic...call your doc and/or nutritionist and ask. I was on liquids for 2 weeks (after a 5 week long preop that might as well have been all liquids) so you CAN live even if you don't want to! :smile2: Hang in there. Right now your band needs to heal into place and eating anything "off diet" too soon can do you harm.

Like the old Pink Floyd song "your lips move but I can't hear what you say". Failure can rattle on and on and I don't have a CLUE what she's on about! :biggrin: Gotta love ignore!

Yes, it's different. I was hungry as soon as I woke up! I recovered VERY fast though; no swelling, no issues drinking water, no nausea, etc. It depends on many factors.

IF toast is on your "bariatric soft" list, and "Peanut butter" is also on your bariatric soft list, then yes, you can have them together. I'd clarify that "no carbs but toasted bread is ok" discrepancy before I chowed down, though! :blushing: Realize too as you get more restricted the PB toast may not go down so easily.

Well, if you want to eat like a boa constrictor and just have one big meal occasionally, the band isn't the tool for you because "big" meals will be a thing of the past. Docs differ but mine says to eat 3 times a day (if hungry) and no snacks. That is easier on your body than just doing one meal, anyway! (even without the band) but if you are asking just as a curiosity, then if you eat one large meal of 900 cal or 3 meals spaced out of 300 each, you'd lose at the same rate.

I think that your "sweet spot" is apparently between 4.25 and 5.75. Get an unfill to 5.00, say (split the difference) and see how you feel! Make sure you are chewing well, not drinking with meals, etc. It's been my experience that you can go from "no restriction" to "too tight" VERY quickly and in just tenths of a cc.

OR...if you REALLY want a career in the military, you can have it removed and then join up. You do have to keep a healthy wait, though, to remain "in". At least, you used to when DH was in.

Ditto what they said. Maybe yes, maybe no. Try lining up aftercare BEFORE you go. And realize this is common whether you go to another country or another county; many surgeons won't take on another surgeon's patient, or at least not willingly. I THINK (don't know this) they just don't want to inherit someone else's "work".

Marmar did your doc want you to lose 20? Or am I (entirely possible!) confused?

Well, if they said no, then it must be important for you to follow it. At least you know that, instead of wondering if it's just a "form" diet and you are suffering needlessly. I just read on another post you've lost 17 pounds; hopefully that boost will help you hang in there! Just remember, you aren't the only one who has struggled with austere harsh diets. You can make it!

I'm so glad you got checked out, and caught it fast! Bless your heart, give yourself a hug, ok?

If you are doing what you are supposed to, are you losing weight? If not, have you found out why? (thyroid, other blood work, etc)

You are the MANLIEST of all men. :ohmy:

I first heard about Papaya Enzyme on this board so I'm happy to pass the info along. It really works for me; glad you find it useful too!