ronnihunter

Congrats on your weight loss so far. Isn't it amazing that we struggle with our weight for years and now it just kind of melts off? I realize that might not continue but its an encouraging way to start. Your string cheese and meatball lunch made me laugh! Last night I pureed a chicked breast with some stock and it tasted so good. My Dr. said I'm doing the right thing with what I'm eating so I'll just keep slowly adding variety to my diet as I feel I can tolerate it. I'm just glad neither of us had to stay on clear liquids for a week! Ugh. Now I just wish the gas would go away. - Ronni

Good morning! I was banded a week ago tomorrow. My surgeon is Dr. Kirshenbaum from Aurora Colorado. I've lost about 20 pounds from the pre op diet and the week since my surgery. Over the last two years I developed serious chronic pain issues. Last year I had a spinal fusion done in my neck. I've tried a dozen solutions to the pain and other issues and nothing has helped so I decided that I simply had to get the weight off and I've never had much success with traditional dieting. Now I'm eagerly awaiting some weight loss to see if I will start to hurt less. I'm happy to find this group. After my surgery I was unexpectedly miserable and reading through all the messages on this board helped considerably. I really like my Dr. but wish I had been better prepared for the misery. Right now I'm very uncomfortable from gas and port pain, not to mention the head cold I got right after surgery. So far I'm the only person I know of who was hungry after banding, but I was so painfully hungry that I moved to full liquids after two days. I think i tried to go too fast so I'm only drinking protein shakes and vegetable juice for now but its keeping the hunger at bay. And I eat a lot of sugar free popsicles! Anyway, this has gotten long enough. Nice to meet everyone. - Ronni

Sue, the ice crusher is a good idea! I've made my tongue sore eating so many popsicles! I'm also enjoying sugar free jello since it feels more like solid food than anything else I can "eat" right now. I'm so glad to hear you are happy with your band. Thanks for the encouragement.

Michelle, The liquid phase is after surgery. Dr. K has you do a low carb diet before surgery. If you haven't already had your consultation with Dr. K's nutritionist (Paula) then she will explain it all to you. My post op diet instructions said to do clear liquids for 1 to 3 days. I managed it for two but was so hungry that I moved to Protein shakes, V8 juice, sugar free Jello etc. Some surgeons want you to do the clear liquid phase longer. Best of luck! Ronni

Beer! oh do I love beer. None of the cheap stuff for me. I love microbrews and imports. We went to Belgium in 2005 and I came home a beer connoisseur. I gave up flavored sodas a year ago but I still love my soda water, and gin and tonic is a fave. I've only been banded for 6 days so I have not tried anything with bubbles yet, but I know that eventually I will try it to see how I handle it. It would be better for me if I find I can't drink beer anymore, but I will miss it soooo much. I'm glad to hear that some people are able to enjoy it in moderation. - Ronni