Catherine55

Seriously. . suck it up!! Check with your doctor, but you should be able to eat plenty of yummy things during the full liquids phase. Why don't you buy some turkey chili and blend it with some chicken broth and Greek yogurt (tastes like sour cream)? Or you can do banana smoothies with skim milk and maybe a dash of cinnamon and sugar? You have to get creative. It's worth a trip to Whole Foods or some other spot to buy some delicious soups that you will enjoy -- then just blend them up and thin them with broth if you have to. This phase really does not have to be a huge deprivation phase -- there are plenty of delicious liquid things that you can enjoy without going off the rails. BTW, when you get to mushies. . don't forget about FF refried beans and cheese. . yum. Was a staple for me during that phase! Best wishes, Catherine

Hi! It's good that you are having this wake-up call. . . you can't eat like you did before (or close to it) and expect the band to work. However, it's totally not unusual for bandsters to put on a little weight during Bandster Hell, which is the period of time after you get on real food and before you have restriction. My concern for you is that -- if your post-op diet is anything like mine -- you shouldn't even be on solid food yet, so I am wondering how it is that you are gaining already. Also, are you cleared for exercise already? That did not happen for me until later than two weeks out. I personally gained about 5 pounds during Bandster Hell, so don't take the gain as some sign that you aren't going to succeed. Heck. . I took off that 5 and many more (I've been at goal for a while now -- I am 2 1/4 years post-surgery and at 145.2. . I haven't updated my stats recently). But, I didn't do it by eating crazy all the time. You have to follow the bandster rules more often than not, and work to find an exercise routine that is fun enough for you that you'll be able to stick with it. I hope that helps! Feel free to check out my blog if you like (link below). You can go back to the early days and see what my progress was like back then -- might give you an idea of what to expect and make you feel better about your pre-fill phase! Wishing you lots of success, Catherine

You're doing so well!! It sounds like you've already lost 38 pounds and you're not even out of the healing stage yet!! That is really good progress, and it's so awesome (and really shows that you are destined to get to your goal) that you're so committed to working out. For now, just be sure to follow your doctors' instructions. I don't see why you couldn't clean stalls as long as you are watching the weight of what you lift and generally being careful. It's not unusual that your port might be tender at this point. Plus, it sounds like you're in "Bandster Hell," so it's normal that you'd be able to eat more than you think you should. Heck. . I gained 5 pounds during that phase myself. . . but it is LOOOOONNNNNG gone by now. . and took a bunch of its pesky friends with it! My advice to you is not to listen to your banded friends on the diet front -- watching what you eat and following your doctors' instructions are two really important parts of this process. You don't have to DIET once you're done with the healing phase though. Just make healthy choices most of the time, and avoid sabotaging yourself. Seirously, the band works like a freaking charm. This process isn't easy, but it's a h*ll of a lot easier than staying on a diet for the rest of your life! If you haven't taken before photos, do it right away!! Same goes for taking your measurements. You will definitely want that stuff later on. You also might want to consider starting a blog. Mine has been a huge source of comfort and support for me. . . not to mention a great way for me to keep on top of things, to remember what happened as I went through this process, and just to keep track of what I did when. I really love it. There's a link below if you want to check it out. Anyway, congratulations to you -- it really sounds like you're making a serious effort and are committed to making this work. That's really all you need to succeed here, and I am sure that you are going to do really well. Best wishes for your success, Catherine

So awesome!! Congratulations!! Be sure to take your measurements and a bunch of "before" photos as soon as possible -- you are going to want them later!! Best wishes for your success, Catherine

Hi! I'm sorry to hear that you're having a hard time right now -- but I do think it's a pretty normal way to respond. You're about to make a very big change, and that's stressful no matter how amazing it's going to be once you're in action with your band! I hope that you're feeling better already and that this week won't be too tough for you. Seriously, you have so many things to look forward to. A few things I did before I got my band and that could be helpful for you to do were to write out a pro/con list of why I was doing the surgery and what my concerns were, and to make a post-op plan for success. Here is a LINK to those lists, in case you are interested. It also might be good to make a list of all the things you are looking forward to about life after you are banded. I really enjoyed going through my list as I worked toward goal and seeing all those things I hoped would happen come true. There aren't enough words for me to express how grateful I am that I was able to get banded and to find this tool to help me get free from my weight problem and feeling badly about myself because of how my body looked. I really hope that you will find yourself feeling that way soon, and that this pre-surgery bad feeling goes away very soon! Also -- do yourself a favor and take a bunch of before photos and take & write down your measurements NOW if you haven't done it already! You are going to want that information as you move forward! Sending you best wishes for much success, happiness and good health. Happy New Year and new life too! Best, Catherine

Hi! Congratulations on your surgery!! Be sure to take your measurements and a bunch of "before" pics ASAP if you haven't already -- you will want them later for sure! On the eating front, it's pretty easy right after surgery. When you get on full liquids, it's like a blessing -- so nice after being stuck with the clear, which is pretty boring. Then, when you get on mushies, it's like paradise! I was scared a little bit about eating post-surgery, but it turned out to be fine. I stuck to my doctor's orders and all was good. One thing you should know, if you don't already, is that you are going to go through a phase called "Bandster Hell" between the time when you go on mushies or normal food and the time when you get your first fill. During that time, you're supposed to focus on healing -- not weight loss. It's a frustrating time because you'll be hungry and able to eat, so you will have to rely on your willpower to keep your calories down. I actually gained 5 pounds during Bandster Hell, and I was pretty down about it at the time. However, it all came off after I got to restriction -- along with 75+ other pounds. . . I wrote a long comment on my blog recently for a non-banded dieter because I was trying to explain to him the difference between eating with the band and not having one. Here is a link, in case you want to check it out -- LINK. Anyway, I do like having the band better than not having it. Yes, you get stuck once in a while and you can't wolf down food -- but you get full and satisfied easily and can't overeat. I actually enjoy food MORE now because I don't associate eating with feelings of guilt and (as hard as it is to admit this) disgust about the state of my body & weight. And, it's not like my taste buds changed -- I still enjoy the flavors exactly like I did before. I just eat smaller portions. I hope that helps! I've written a lot of posts about this kind of thing, about how my surgery was, etc. so if you want to check out my blog, feel free -- there is a link below. Best wishes for your success, Catherine

SunRae, I started a little thing called the Sisterhood of the Traveling XL Dress -- I sent away all of my larger clothing sizes, on the condition that the bandsters who received them would pass them on to others when they outgrew the sizes. This has really grown a lot -- surf the bandster blogs, and I'm sure you'll find people willing to send you clothing -- as long as you are up for paying it forward! Best wishes for your success, Catherine

Hey there -- you just may need some more fill to get you into the green zone. Don't despair! Once you get there, you'll be on this journey like gangbusters (er, but at a slow, healthy rate of loss!)! This is definitely a marathon, not a race -- give it some time and you WILL get to a good point and on your way. Hang in there!! I promise that it gets easier!! Best wishes for your success, Catherine

I had to share this with you guys. This morning, I finally (!) hit eighty pounds down!! And, I decided to Google search for things that weigh 80 pounds. Guess what I found?? Snooki from Jersey Shore!! (Apparently she weighted 80 lbs at one point.) Can you just imagine me having to carry her around?! Good riddance!! LOL!!!:frown: Catherine

Thanks so much, Apples!! And, congratulations on losing Paris Hilton . . and her dog, Tinkerbell!! Catherine

@Electric Gypsy -- I totally agree!! @Honk and Apples -- you've both lost most female Hollywood celebrities!! That is amazing -- congratulations!! @Everyone -- It really does feel so good to have that Snooki off my back! Freedom from the fat prison feels so good!! I love my band! Best wishes for every single one of you to have (and keep having) great success, Catherine

Be careful!! Once you're on normal food, you can have Doritos now and then if you want, but you shouldn't push it while you're on mushies. BTW, one of my favorite mushies was refried Beans with cheddar cheese. After the liquid diet, that was like heaven! Best wishes, Catherine

Hi, Erin! Don't worry -- tomorrow is a new day, and there is no reason that you can't get back on the stick and meet your goal. I wish I could have understood before now how amazing it would feel to be at a healthy weight, and to feel strong and fit. If I'd had any idea how truly incredibly good that would feel, I don't think I would have put on all my weight in the first place. You deserve to know that feeling, and you have a tool that can get you there. On the breakfast front, next time you are at the store, buy a box of granola bars and a box of instant oatmeal. Have that for breakfast, even if you have to take a granola bar on the run. Don't do fast food -- that's not good quality food. On the exercise front, find a class near you that you can sign up for. Don't worry about whether you're fit enough to do it, and pick something you think you're going to like. I can recommend yoga or Zumba as a good starting point. There is something about working out in a class that is really motivating. That helped me to get on the exercise wagon, and once I finally found something I liked (after 6 months of feeling how you do), I eventually became someone who has made working out part of her life. It's almost unbelievable to me that I went from a 230 pound person who just couldn't get into the gym to one of the fittest people in my workout classes. I didn't know that would ever be possible for me. And it was so hard for me to believe that it would be possible for me to lose the extra 80 pounds that were holding me back in so many ways. But both of those thing have happened. And this can happen for you, too. Just take one thing at a time. . baby steps. You have all the time in the world to get this weight off. You don't have to be perfect starting tomorrow. But, you do have to make one small change to get back on the road. So, how about it? Can you commit to buying breakfast food to keep at home today? All you have to do is get a box of granola bars and eat one tomorrow morning. That's already a huge step in the right direction. Once you have that step down, look into the exercise options and find something to try. You could do that sometime next week. Also, consider whether you have a decent fill and get to your doctor if you're not at your sweet spot yet. I hope this helps! You deserve to feel incredible, to be healthier and to love how your body looks. Best wishes for your success, Catherine

People generally say that the opening is the size of a pencil eraser. Right now, you have no fill -- but you might be swollen from surgery, so your opening might be a different size. Don't be too scared. Just try little bites, remember to chew, and wait for your first bite to go down before you do another one. You'll be fine. I was scared at that point, too. But it wound up being totally OK. BTW, be sure to take your measurements if you haven't yet! And take a bunch of before pics if you haven't yet. You are definitely going to want them later! Best wishes, Catherine

Yes! You are definitely missing something! :sneaky: :w00t: The band stops you from overeating. It lets you feel full and satisfied with much less food. It's seriously an amazing tool. I don't imagine for a second that I could have been perfect on a diet for two years in a row. But with the band, staying on plan for two years straight was not all that hard. I'm not saying that I'm PERFECT with the band -- I still have Cookies, ice cream and chocolate . . and foie gras, etc. once in a while. But I follow the rules more often than not -- and when I do have a "splurge" food, I only eat a little amount of it. So, it never makes the scale go up any significant amount. The other thing that is so great about the band is that maintenance is pretty easy. At this point, I'm two years out. I started working out in earnest about six months after I got banded, and I have stuck with it (it is SO MUCH easier and more pleasant to work out with less weight on me!). Following the rules is second nature now, and I don't struggle at all to keep my weight where it is. I just get on the scale every day, and if it's a little up, I make a point of being really good -- and if it's fine, I do what I like within reason. Also, you don't have to 100% give up any foods just because you are banded. I still eat a little bread now and then (things like baguette b/c they are crunchy and don't "gum up" like normal white bread would). That said, I eat a heck of a lot less bread now than I did before. I knew that getting banded would require me to make a lot of changes, but I didn't know until after I experienced it how much easier it would be than I expected. I also hadn't realized how good I would feel every single day knowing that I was addressing (or now, have fixed) the one thing that made me feel badly about myself every single day. If you are serious about committing to follow the rules (and not bingeing on shakes and slider foods to sabotage your weight loss) and to working out, the band can get you to goal. I know a bunch of other bandsters who started when I did who are at goal now. This thing works! :drool: Best wishes for your success, Catherine

Don't let your therapist deter you if this is something you want. I love my band, and I don't regret having this surgery for even a second. I had a 37 BMI (230 pounds at 5'6) when I started this process two years ago. I am now just below my goal and am in the best shape of my life. I could not have done this without my band. Take a look at my blog (link below) and other bandster blogs to get an idea of what banded life is like. I wrote about what the surgery was like at the beginning of the blog, in case you want to hear more about that. I love being banded, and it has let me enjoy food, going out, etc. even more than before because I no longer have guilt about eating and I don't feel like cr*p about my weight anymore. Am sending best wishes for you to make the best decision for yourself, Catherine

Thanks, Jackie! I felt the same way myself before I was banded. It was so hard for me to wrap my brain around the fact that it would be possible for me to get to my goal, and that I'd actually enjoy that process as it happened. Not being miserable because you feel deprived and hungry does wonders for a girl's ability to stay on plan. :wink2: So does not physically being able to overeat! And I have had my fair share of treats throughout this whole process -- I just eat small quantities when I do have a treat, so it all balances out. I have really loved the last two years with my band, and I feel incredibly grateful to have found a tool to help me get free from the fat prison that was holding me back in some ways from enjoying my life as much as I could. I'm really happy for you and hope you enjoy this process as much as I did. Consider starting a blog if you like that kind of thing. Mine really helps me to keep focused, and has been the source of an incredible amount of support. Best, Catherine

Great attitude!! It's important to educate yourself, but not to get bogged down when you read a story about things not going smoothly. I've had a great experience with my band, and I am so glad that I found this incredible tool. It's so nice to be free from feeling terrible about my weight every single day. :biggrin: Am sending you best wishes for lots of success!! And, take your measurements and before pics if you haven't already -- you will want them later! Also, I was going to suggest that you read through some bandster blogs. That was a big help to me when I was starting out. There is a link to mine below, and I have links to several others posted on there as well. Best wishes, Catherine

Congratulations!! That is fantastic, and you've got a really exciting year (and years!) ahead of you. :wink2: Be sure to take your measurements ASAP and a bunch of "before" photos (good idea to get yourself from every angle). You will want them later. Best wishes for your success!! :biggrin: Catherine

Congratulations!!! I just wanted to encourage you to take your measurements and some before pics asap - - the only regret I have about being banded is that I didn't take (or not crop-to-death) more before pics! Best wishes for your success, Catherine

It sounds like your band is too tight. I'm with the other bandster who recommended ff refried Beans and cheese. I also do really well with Amy's Organic frozen Entrees. . the Cheese Enchilada being the best of the bunch (the mac & cheese is also good). I posted a bunch of soup recipes on my blog at different times. . the chicken and chile soup with cheese is super yummy, and so is the butternut squash. They really got me through my first 6-8 months of being banded b/c I froze them in individual containers and had one for lunch most days. Now, I eat sashimi, chicken breast (with plenty of sauce), or salmon for lunch most days. I hope that helps! Please consider that you may need a very slight un-fill to make it more comfortable to eat healthy foods. I find that when I've been over-filled, I made less healthy food choices, and I lost slower as a result. Best wishes for your success, Catherine

I didn't read the earlier responses. But, for me, I could always lose 10-20 or so pounds on a diet. . but staying on a "diet" for two years was not within my powers. With the band, I've been able to do just that -- and I have not felt deprived for a second. In fact, I feel like I got out of prison!! Now, I exercise several times a week . . because I actually LIKE it (OK, I admit that I also like wearing the cute workout outfits. . LOL). I feel energetic, vital and healthy -- and my feet no longer hurt. My heels don't crack, and I can wear heels all day long. The band was like a Godsend for me. . something that can keep me on the right path indefinitely, and that stops me from overeating. . which was always my downfall. I just have never had the kind of willpower to stop myself from doing that without help or the kind of extreme diligence that always makes me rebel. . and run in the opposite direction. . . I am grateful for this amazing tool. Best, Catherine

I had a really fantastic experience with Dr. Roberto Rumbaut, who is banded himself (and speaks perfect English). The hospital was immaculate, I had a private room (and they set up a bed so that my mom could stay overnight with me), and the level of care was fantastic. If you go to the beginning of my blog, you can see photos and the account of the surgery that I wrote right after I had it. I would recommend this to any close friend or family member. I have not regretted my decision for even a moment. Best wishes for your success, Catherine