health4life

PROTEIN: Men: 80-100 gm/d Women: 60 - 80 gm/d CARBS: 50-60 gm/d FATS: 4-5 gms per meal

I'm finding that by eating protein, I'm really not hungry and I am in no way eating the amount I use to eat. I am at the 20 lb weight loss mark from the pre-op diet to now on pureed. I have my first fill scheduled for September 29th and I was thinking 4 weeks after surgery was too early. Once again, everyone's body reacts differently. What works for you may not work for me and the other way around. Find what works for you and I'm sure you'll be fine. This whole weight loss thing takes time, let's not rush it. Enjoy the ride.

I haven't been since being banded, however, Bistro 110 @ Michigan St & Pearson is FABULOUS!!! Not so expensive, Portillo's, and of course UNO's or DUE Pizzeria's.

I'm a coffee LOVER, but I only drink it black, no sugar. Straight 100% coffee. I have since I was a kid. Me and my dad would sit at the table and drink pots of black coffee, eat and talk, mostly about the bible. Wow, those were great times. When I saw the title and saw "Coffee lovers", I had to read. Glad you found something you like and best of all you shared it with others. :thumbup:

Might want to try some strength training and increase your cardio.

Do you have restriction? If your Dr. is telling you to go back on a liquid diet for the first day after a fill, that is to allow time for the swelling from the fill to go down, not permanent. Our band is ONLY a tool by which we lose weight. It does not do ALL the work for you; you must work also. Some things to assess: Attitude (is everything) Band restriction Diet (low carb/high protein) Exercise (Cardio and Strength at least 30 min per day) If you can honestly say you have a grip on ALL of the above, you may have a legitimate argument. Be honest with yourself. I have lost 20 lbs between the pre-op diet and post-op with little to no exercise because I'm just 8 days post-op. I haven't had a fill yet but certainly cannot take in the amounts of food as I did before. There are way too many people on here who have had much success with the band; some easy and fast, some hard and slow. The answer lies within you, how hard will you work for what you want to achieve? Only you know. I wish you much success. Don't give up, persevere and see this to the end. :thumbup:

Of course you should be happy! It's 30 pounds less than what you had when you started and typically at that 25-30 pound mark is where people really begin to notice you're losing weight, which give us additional motivation to lose more. Keep your protein up, carbs down and exercise. Don't skip meals and drink you daily amount of water. You should have no problem with steady weight loss. Congrats on your success. :thumbup:

I use a 100% Vegan (non-dairy) Buttery Spread called "Earth Balance". It is NON-GMO 100% Expeller-Pressed Oils, Non-Hydrogenated, Trans Fat Free, Lactose Free, Gluten Free and it taste really good or I do organic real butter. I am a Helmann's mayonaise kinda girl. I don't do many substitutions there, sorry. You could go to a Whole Foods Market and get "Veganaise" I like it but can tell it's not Helmann's. Hope you find something you like.

If they don't give you any detailed information such as what I have, feel free to let me know and maybe I can scan what I have and send it to you. I'd be happy to, but follow your Dr.'s orders. As you can see, I make mistakes :thumbdown:

No snacks??? My manual has "Facts to remember" Your portion size per meal should be 1/2-3/4 cup (4-6 oz) Eat 3 small MEALS and 2 SNACKS per day Drink 6-8 cups of fluids per day Eat a protein source every time you eat, and make sure that you eat that food first! Chew your foods until they are a smooth pureed consistency. If you should want my Sample Step 3 soft diet menu let me know. We'll all do fine I'm sure. All of us at some point will stumble and fall, but we get back up, brush ourselves off and start all over. I'm sticking to the plan tomorrow. Have a good night.

Okay, maybe I've messed up. I thought I was doing good by buyin soup I could puree. I just notice my manual said no corn, no celery. Both things I pureed, Chicken salad and Chicken tortilla soup had 1 of those items in it although I pureed it, I assume I wasn't suppose to have it at all despite pureeing. Lord, I hope I haven't goofed up. I'm going to stick to this manual from now on. I had it in a drawer. Shame shame. Thanks RestlessMonkey for sparking enough interest to pull it out. It may have save me from band complications.

Okay, I went and retrieved my patient manual. It says "Post-Op Diet for Gastric Band" Day 1 - Clear Liquids (48 - 64 ounces per day) add sf Gelatin, sf popsicles, diluted clear juice Avoid all other foods Days 2-14 - Puree diet Add mashed potatoes, cream of wheat and baby food (no peanut butter) pureed meats, veggies and fruits Everything must be a smooth consistency NO CHUNKS OR LUMPS Days 15-30 (Weeks 3 and 4) - soft diet Slowly add soft foods chew well Eat slowly Continue Protein supplemenet Dring 64 oz per day SLOWLY add baked fish, tuna (with no fat mayo_, toast or crackers, small amount of rice, Pasta, vegetables (except: celery, corn) and whole grain Cereal (granola bars, protein bars) Day 30 and after - regular diet Low fat/low car/high protein Begin introducing high Fiber foods, crunchy raw fruits and vegetables, nuts, dried fruits, etc... Here is an example puree menu: Breakfast: 1/2 c thin cream of wheat plus Protein powder (optional) Between Meal 3 oz unsweetened grape juice diluted with 3 oz Water Fluid: Mid Morning: 6Tbsp pureed cottage cheese with 2 Tbsp pureed pears Between Meal 1 c skim milk Fluid: Lunch: 1/4 c pureed lean chicken salad w/1/2 tsp mayo 1/4 c pureed peas Between Meal: 1 cup Crystal Light Fluid: Mid Afternoon: 1/2 c high protein sf/fat free pudding Between Meal: 1 c water Fluid: Supper: 1/4 c lean fish 2 Tbsp thin mashed potatoes 2/1/4 tsp reg margerine 2 Tbsp pureed green Beans /1/4 tsp reg margerine Between Meal: 1/2 c high protein "no sugar added" CIB (carnation instant breakfast) Evening 1/4 c cream soup blendarized + 2 Tbsp pureed meat + 1 Tbsp nonfat dry milk powder (or protein powder) 2 Tbsp blended sf/ff yogurt Between Meal: Sf popsicle Fluid: 1/2 c water

Oh Gosh, now I'm confused. I thought as long as it has no chunks, it was pureed. Mashed potatoes is a pureed and mushie as far as I'm concerned. Soft stage (after pureed) are things like fish, egg salad etc... Correct me if I'm wrong. Did I confuse you RestlessMonkey? Sorry.

For those looking. I am in my pureed stage and constantly looking for new fresh ideas. I went to Meijer's grocery store and they had a chicken tortilla soup with no preservatives with 150 calories per serving, 4g fat, 15g protein, 16g total carbs. pureed was delicious.

FYI, Wendys chili is good pureed. My nutritionist got me onto this.

Thanks for sharing this. As a new bander, this information will greatly help me. You have really great tips... but what kinda exercise did you do during this way of eating?

Well wishes to you.

What a GREAT story!!! I can't wait to feel comfortable enough to do something like that for my DH. He will fall out!!! Gotta keep the spice in the love life.

Yes I got one after surgery. On the front it has a diagram of a stomach with the lapband around it and the text at the top says "LAP-BAND MEDICAL INFORMATION, Dr. Trace Curry at the bottom and some writing in the middle. On the back there's writing in another language and a little white sticker that says "LAP-BAND AP Std. with Access Port II. My maximum fill volume is 10cc.

Does anyone know of any lapband support groups in Indianapolis Indiana? If so, where? Thanks.

I was the day before you. I am feeling MUCH better now. 3-4 days after I was second guessing my decision to even do this because of the pain. My incisions are healing cause they're itching. I'm not having the left shoulder pain any longer...thank God. Now I'm just ready to get this show on the road and start exercising. How are you feeling?

What kinda shakes are you drinking? I am drinking the Carnation Instant Breakfast for the carb conscious with skim milk. It's pretty tasty.

I lost 15 lbs during my pre op diet phase. I had LB surgery 6 days ago and have lost an additional 3 lbs. Good luck to ya.

I've not been to that part of Hawaii but would LOVE to go and right now sounds like HEAVEN!!! Enjoy!