no one

Gas X doesn't really work since the gas isn't in your stomach it's all around your internal organs. The best thing I found was to take tylenol and put a heating pad on my shoulder while lying down and then walk and move a lot. It helps dissipate the Co2. It is miserable but it went away after day three.

I really like this author and his books. They come with a self-hypnosis CD. I have "I can Make You Thin" and just ordered "I Can Make You Confident" on amazon. Maybe give it a try http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1402769229/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0952330830&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1Z5G6WN26S1JY0BPGF2T

what are they? I don't think I had those

OMG I'm cooking soooo much now that I've been banded. I'm having a blast. I'm still on soft foods for another two weeks, but I'm having so much fun creating recipes that my family will like and that I can adjust to my diet.

Im only two weeks out and it looks pretty good

So yesterday I started my venture that I've titled "Around the Whirled in 14 days". My goal is to find two weeks worth of foods that I can cook for my family and then convert to a puree/soft meal for myself. So last night we ventured to Ireland and made Corned Beef and Cabbage. I've put the recipe in my Cookbook that is linked to this page. Cooked for 8 hours while I was at work and the house smelled amazing when I got home I removed just enough ingredients to make myself the perfect portion and soft version of my family's dinner Voila! The "Irish Tower"

Test Kitchen Item #2 - The Irish Tower Here's a link to the Recipe. It was actually really good, but be sparing with the meat and remove all the fat. It's yummy but high in calories and really salty. The Irish Tower

I'm with you all. Day 3. I made corned beef and cabbage last night. Here's the recipe Lap-band Irish Tower

Test Kitchen item number one! This one was really great. Had a taste similar to a traditional thanksgiving stuffing. I attribute that to the addition of a teaspoon of dried, ground sage Shawnee Poptart's Butternut Silky Squash Soup

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is one of my favorites. I also make it with white Beans without the tahini and it's great. Lentils is a great idea and Tofu I add to everything to bump up the Protein grams. Lentils would be great tonight actually. To bad I'm stuck at work with no food on my first puree night.

So I am officially two weeks out from my December 6th surgery. I've managed to survive 16 days of liquid diet and I am down 12 pounds. I start on soft foods after I get clearance from my doctor tomorrow and I'm wondering if anyone has any recipes that the particularly loved. I'm trying to put together a cookbook that I can pass on to friends that are considering the surgery. I sorta created a self imposed challenge that I'm calling "Around the Whirled in 14 days" I'm going to try and create an ethnic or regional dish that falls into the soft food / pureed food category so if ya got any I'd love to try them. So far I have: Thai Land - Tom Kha Kai Soup Italian - Creamy Polenta with Eggplant Parmesan Mexican - Chile Relleno Casserole Ethiopian - Kik Alicah (Yellow Split Pea with Berbere) Irish - Colcannon with Corned Beef Argentina - pumpkin Stew Puree Persian - Fesenjan (Chicken Pomegranite Puree on Pureed brown rice) French - Potage Bonne Femme (Carrot, leek and potato soup) Oaxacan - Chiles en Nogada (Stuffed Peppers deconstructed in Walnut Cream cheese sauce drizzled with Chile Pomegranite reduction) Japanese - Sashimi Tower Louisiana - Etoufee I need more suggestions.

Thanks for the advice.

Chili is a great idea, especially with the crazy weather we're having right now in los Angeles.

It will cost you NOTHING! I'm going to post it on my Blog for anyone who wants it. http://lowbmilapband.blogspot.com/ From that main page you'll see a link to the "cookbook". Not a lot of recipes yet because I didn't want to post anything until I've actually made it and tasted it.

This is true, but most people cant stick to the Atkins diet and that's why it fails. Atkins diet relies heavily on the body moving into a state of ketosis. This is what effectively causes the weight loss. In order to maintain this state you need to adhere strictly to the diet which means limiting fruits and grains. If a person on Atkins chooses to only follow portions of the diet (ie eating lots of protein and fat) and then slips once in a while and eats sugars and carbs they will no longer be in ketosis. At this point they are consuming all the fats without the benefits of ketosis and therefore will gain weight. The problem with the Atkins diet is that it is an all or nothing diet. You are either in ketosis and losing weight or you are out of ketosis and eating an unhealthy balance of food and will probably gain rather than lose.

My doctor said to go onto a low carb / high protein diet, but not Atkins by a long shot. It's healthy carbs and high low fat protein. Atkins has way too much fat and not enough carbs for proper health.

I was banded on December 6th in Los Angeles. I am 5' 4" and my starting weight was 191. They found a hernia while in there and did the repair ( I didn't even know that I had one). Within two weeks I have dropped 12 pounds which means I have 54 pounds to go. My goal weight is 125 pounds and I'm hoping to reach that by August of 2011. I get to move on to soft / pureed foods starting today, although I think I'll wait until tomorrow until I get clearance from my doctor. I have my first follow up appointment with him at 11am tomorrow.

I am trying to put together a nice Blog that will serve as a resource guide for new patients. I would love to dedicate an entire section to Before and After success stories. If you wouldn't mind me posting your photo please let me know. All I need are the photos, First name and where the surgery was preformed (doctor) I'm just another person on this journey but I thought this would serve as inspiration to others. Here's a link to my Blog http://lowbmilapbandbeforeandafter.blogspot.com/ Thanks Shawnee

I was banded this past Monday and went back to work on Thursday. The first day I was really sleepy and only got up every few hours (as per my doctor) to walk around and have a sip of Water. Day two I had to deal with the phantom shoulder pain which my doctor refused to give me meds for (I get it now, it's nerve pressure so muscle relaxants and pain killers weren't going to help). Day three I walked five miles on my treadmill, drank plenty of Protein shakes and was sure that returning to work was going to be no problem. I was kinda wrong there. I am an artist and I sit all day and paint. The sitting is really bothering the port and causing pain in my upper back and shoulders. I have been sitting on the floor on my knees just to keep my body stretched out so I don't feel the pain at the port. It's totally bulging and the worst thing I have to deal with thus far.

brilliant analogy to alcoholics. I've never thought of it that way, but it's true.

I'm going to learn how to swallow fire, stilt walk and hulahoop, maybe not in that order. But those are my goals! I want to be able to do a forward bend with my chest to my thighs (stomach gets in the way right now) I want to climb one of those silk ropes that are hanging from the high bars in Venice Beach. I'm going to use a SUP board this summer in a bikini I'm going to go to vegas and wear a very risque evening dress! I can't wait!!!

I was a punk rock / new wave kinda chick too! A stage dive sounds like an amazing way to Celebrate the loss.

Good luck to you. I was banded on Monday and I am so excited to start this journey.

I had a BMI of 32 when i went in for a consulation. I actually drank a liter of water to put on a few pounds before the doctor weighed me, but it didn't matter anyways. I was a cash pay so they were more lenient with me. At 5' 4" and 185 I had gained and lost the same 60 pounds over and over again since 2003. I tried 30 different diets, half of which were expensive and supervised, but nothing was lasting. I didn't have any co-morbidities but I knew it was only a matter of time. My sister and mother were both morbidly obese and I was struggling. I paid out of pocket and have decided this is my "new car". I'm only a couple days out from the surgery but can all ready tell this is the best decision I have ever made.