RestlessMonkey

I've dieted and lost more than what I weigh now over my life. I finally had to realize I was fooling only myself when I was going to start a new diet and "this time will be different". I don't see getting major surgery as a cop out. It's not easy to live with the band...you will have restriction and have to drastically change the way you eat. Once you do that, the tool will provide you with weight loss, MAINTENANCE, and a healthier life. If you need a saw to cut a log, do you call that losing control? Or using the right tool for the job?

I lost 32 pounds on my 5 1/2 week preop diet (not all liquid but only 1 lean meal a day) It slows down (of course) but it's a nice jumpstart!

You want to limit carbs through the weight loss phase (well, maybe you want to) but the point of the band is to feel full on less, not restrict yourself to an endless life of cottage cheese. There are some who prefer restriction so tight that they PB almost everything....to me, that's just unhealthy. I was told I would most likely be able to eat anything I ever did, but I would be satisfied with less. I listen to what my doc says. AND if I am so restricted I can't eat a part of a good steak (or Pasta, or whateve) then i'll get an unfill until I can. The other is just punitive. I don't deserve to be punished; the band is my tool, not my jailer.

It depends on your BMI. I was approved in 48 hours w/Tricare Standard, but I had a VERY high BMI as you can tell from my ticker.

More experience is always better when you're getting surgery. Always. Unless the surgeon has a substance abuse problem.

JMO but seems to me like you might want to try "folllowing all of the band rules" for a few weeks and 1. see if it increases your weight loss and 2. if it's worth it to you to change your habits! If you're happy with the status quo, 30 pounds is better than nothing! :thumbup:

Little Bit...you'll be able to. You may also have a liquid diet post op for up to 2 weeks. It's do-able because it's worth it and it's limited...you know it will be over soon if you just tough it out!

Trust me, he'll have his own spin on what Health4life posted. You need to turn your "thirst" for info to other areas for now! LOL There are good "lap band" surgery books etc that you can buy... the pre and post op diets will happen soon enough. Trust that whatever it is, you'll be hungry and you'll get through it! LOL

ANNECOLORGREEN.... Your doc SHOULD give you direction...post op diets are all a little different. So hang in there and wait to see what your surgeon comes up with! :thumbdown: And it's boring but not too bad honestly and well worth it! :cursing:

It's ok Health4life...we are all doing the best we can! I think I don't get pureed until week 3 and I've already pureed corn AND celery and had that soup LOL so we're both doomed. Actually I know we all heal differently and we're both trying to do the right thing...I'm sure we'll be fine. We aren't supposed to have Snacks EVER for example. Once I've got restriction I'm sure I'll follow that, too. But for now? ha. LOL I appreciate your post .... they gave you LOTS more info than I got. They mostly just told me "don't" don't what? JUST DONT! LOL

I'm still just hanging with the "carb control' EAS AdvantEDGE shakes we stocked up on for preop. I'm (like everyone else!) just tired of sweet stuff and no chewing etc WAH WAH LOL but honestly I know it's just cuz I'm tired tonight. I got up at 445 after going to bed after midnight and I am not young enough to life that lifestyle any more! LOL besides thurs nite I get mushies. I can hardly wait!

I'm feeling really great! I'm tired tonight (and I learned that my body thinks tired means EAT, not SLEEP! LOL) so I'm wrestlling with "full liquids" a little, but hanging in there. I know after a good night's sleep I'll be fine again! how are you doing?

JuliaN....I remember a friend telling me in San Fran she was SO happy to find a "hole in the wall" Mexican restaurant (often the best kind here in Texas) and walked in and they told her the special was something like tacos with fresh Arugula. LOL She walked back out and went to get seafood I think! :thumbdown: We do have a lot of TexMex here but also a good bit of authentic Mexican cuisine. It's so good and helped make me the woman I am today! :cursing:

Yogurt is another...I can't drink it with a straw, but it's smooth, so to me it's a puree...I get it come friday....

I don't know. I'm on week 2 and i thought i got full liquids...so I've been having soup with the "stuff" pureed, or so on. I hope I haven't been "cheating" by doing that; I'm not supposed to get puree/mushie until week 3 and I figured that was things like eggs, refried beans, and mashed potatoes...not soups that weren't clear but had no food! LOL I will puree the dinner my DH has, for example...but I won't be able to drink it with a straw. I thought THAT was mushie.

Ok I'm confused (no shock there! LOL) I thought if you could drink it with a straw (ie your soup) then it was a full liquid. If you have to eat it with a fork (ie mashed postatoes) then it is a mushie and goes in the "pureed" stage. Am I wrong? Help?

I'll remember that! THanks! I am just so ready for real food, I am hard pressed to work up enthusiasm for pureed! LOL :thumbdown: BUT I'll hang tough! And that chili sounds good.

i'm from S. Texas and here, refried beans are pintos. If they refry a different bean, they'll say "Refried black beans". I've NEVER had red beans in a Mexican restaurant, either here, in Austin, or in El Paso where I grew up.

I just bought a little food processor for about $30. That "baby food for grownups" just looks bad to me. This way I can pretty much fix a meal for my husband and Puree my portion. Much better in my book!

WVGal33...I'm a nursing student. Trust me, no one cares AT ALL what you look like naked...except from a health care aspect. And if your surgeon has done lap band patients for awhile, I'm SURE they've seen "worse", "better", and everything in between. For my ecg I didn't have to undress....but it is painless and fast if they do want you to put on a gown.

I lost 32 pounds and was on a preop diet for 5 and 1/2 weeks. Since the surgery I've "relost" the 14 I gained on surgery day!!! and another 9, for a total of 41.4 lost to date. It WILL slow down though I know once I get food again. And I had a LOT to lose to begin with if you'll check my starting weight!

Alli does NOT stop your appetite. It blocks fat absorption from the food you eat and if you eat a meal with too much fat....well, orange oil running down the leg is not uncommon. Sorry to be so frank, butg that's the truth. If you keep your fat to a certain number of grams per meal (I'm thinking 12 but not sure; it's been a while since I checked into it) then you don't have the runs. However, the fat you can have is VERY low. And the portion control...you have to do on your own. Alli doesn't help with that.

Angie remember too that once you've lost, you can occasionally have meat and potatoes, just like "Thin" people do now. You'll be full on less, but you will be SATISFIED! It's a win-win.

He's your doc, not your conscience! Life gets in the way. You have a disease he is helping treat. If he judges you, shame on him. He's there to help you. You'll be fine!

Oh no it doesn't though! :thumbup: You can eat things like milkshakes, Cookies, candy creamy Soups etc that are high calorie and go through like a charm. OR you can just "not go" to get a fill. I have the band and untill I get some fills, I can eat anything I did before the surgery....my stomach mouth is pretty wide open. That's the point. If you want to eat like you did, you will defeat the band. Once it is working you will be satisfied with 1-2 ounces of meat etc. Until you're ready for that, don't get the band. It will just frustrate you instead of help you. Where you are, a lot of us have been. Band won't help with mind set. Just "real" physiological hunger. You have to do the work yourself on the rest of it, including 1 egg will be Breakfast, not bacon eggs and hashbrowns (for example)