honk

I definatly don't obsess about food usually meaning how quickly can I eat again. I do however do a lot more planning than I used to. The prepared hot food at my works cafe is often not very healthy and there are a lot of vegetarians so the salad bar runs out early. I bring lunch (baked chicken breast, low fat laughing cow cheese, hummus, veggies, fruit) breakfast (greek yoghurt with some Kashi Go lean); and pre work out protein shake. So I basically need to pack 2 1/2 meals every night when I get home from work before I can dinner. I never would have done that preband. I also will plan ahead if I know I will be in a situation where there is not a healthy food choice.

I stayed over night. I had to get up every 30 minutes to pee so I would'nt have gotten any more sleep at home. What was a bummer was I did'nt feel like reading and my mother had taken my purse home so I could'nt pay for the TV. Sooo really boring night. My surgery got pushed back from 11 AM to like 4:30 PM so I was not even in the hospital 24 hours. I left the next day at like 11.00 am.

I buy the Costco Version of Flintstone's and my blood work has been fine. Make sure to get the Choline version. My doctor specifically mentions that. As my pre Breakfast I do chewable multi, calcium, D, fiber. A hour before I take Biotin (for hair loss), COQ10 (good for the heart and I'm on a statin so helps with muscle pain), and iron pill.

I had surgery late Thursday. Went back to work not the next Monday but the Monday after. So 9 days.

I would say no. I have never felt dizzy. I did get a tightening feeling when I stood up from table. Not that it hurt.

My doctor has never given cup measurements for mushies or solids. Instead he said to weigh them, 3 oz. So my experience was to measure 3 oz of cottage or ricotta cheese. At day 11 however I was still at 1 cup of soups like tomato or squash per meal and 1 protein shake. Until you get fills this will be a will power diet. The band is doing absolutely nothing for you right now.

Lap Band surgery is very safe. I highly recommend that your parents check out several surgeons. Make sure however that you like the surgeon and even more importantly their nurses/physicians assistants; since they normally care for you after surgery. That said I do think you should wait until you are 18. Many young adults are no done their growing until the late teen years (esp. boys). That said do I wish I had surgery YEARS ago YES.

I don't think ensure high protein has enough protein. I would by a ready to drink protein shake if that's what you prefer. Try to stay less than 160 cal for 25-30 g protein. Premier brand from Costco is very good.

My question would be what do you mean by regulary? I know my situation does match your question but I will tell you anyway. I had been exercising 6-7 days per week for a year prior to my consult with the surgeon and had lost 35 pounds. Due to health issues I had to wait 7.5 month from consult to surgery. During that time I continued to exercise every day and be very conservative with my diet; and lost 50 pounds. After surgery ih a little over a year I have lost 53 pounds; so on the low end of the 1-2 pounds per week. I think I have lost slowly because I had already lost 85 pounds; and my body was'nt shocked by the low level of calories post surgery. Have you had mindful eating or therapy sessions on food addiction? I had always been a low fat dieter. What I learned in my mindful eating sessions was that I was compulsive carbs eater. Meaning I would eat 1/2 a box of kids cereal; and think that was okay because it had very low fat. Also I would have 3-4 bags of low fat carb Snacks at all times in my house. Again because they were low fat I would easily eat 5-6 servings at a time. The time I had to wait for surgery was really good for me (thought at the time I did'nt think so!!!!); because I had to reevaluate my eating habits.

For the first 6 days I was allowed broth and protien shakes (no fruit!). Day 7-14 I could have full liquids, like tomato soup and the protein shakes. By day 3-4 my swelling had gone down and I got no full feeling. That won't really come until you start getting fills.

Bandster Hell, period. All I can say is measure measure measure. All the time. When the food is gone you are done eating. I did that for 6 months until I got restriction. Right now there is not diffence between your stomach then there was before surgery. The band is just sitting there doing nothing. I made it threw by telling myself, I only have to have this much will power for a couple months and then I will have some help. In the past I gave up on diets after a year ( have lost 100 pounds 3 times prior to the band) because I could'nt see my self living like that for the rest of my life. Basically being hungry all the time.

I think one thing that feeds our "diet mentality" is that so much food out there is just excessive. Not just the sizes but the composition. I had a birthday lunch to attend this week at Olive Garden. They do have grilled chicken there but I eat grilled chicken every day for lunch and dinner. EVERYDAY. So I ordered a dish where they take a piece of cookied lasagna pasta put a layer of the cheese filling and roll it up, for a lasagna roll. Well it also comes with a cheese sause over the top. I ask the waitress for a regular red sauce. Saved me I sure a couple hundred calories. At what point does a dish become over the top?

I don't think you are getting enough protein from just milk for another 100 calories you could be getting another 24 g. of protein by adding whey isolate power to the milk. On day 8 I was allowed to move to full liquids (which it sounds like you are on now, prior to that I was on clear liquids like broth). In addition to say tomato soup I was also taking protein shakes. Yes, you do get hungry after a few hours. One way to help this is to have your soup and then when you feel hungry an hour later have the protein shake. Spread out your eating. And as for eating two bowls of soup I think that is too much. My doctor said 8 oz of soup and trust me that is less then a bowl. More like a small coffee cup (not mug). In fact I recommend you measure out 8 oz with a measuring cup and put it in your smallest coffee cup so you know how much 8 Oz is.

I've discovered now that I'm at restriction when I see available food (snacks/treats at work) I ask myself "are you hungry enough to eat that? I think about it, consult my stomach and 95% of the time say "Not really". The band helps me feel satisfied, and lowers my motivation to eat something. I'm sure I do eat less dessert (when I have it which is VERY rare). I feel like the band helps drowned out the "There's food to be had, I should eat it just becuase it's there" voice; because it's helping with the physical hunger. Head hunger remains. When I'm bored at work my mind wanders to food. I KNOW I'm not hungry. Which is why I don't keep snacks (even healthy ones) at my desk.

In general carbs provide you with a surge of energy. The last time I lost weight (over 100 pounds) I had the same work out schedule as you. I made half a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich with suger free jelly.

It does get easier. Please remember however that it will take you several fills before you get restriction so this will be a will power diet to start. Regarding "being satisfied on a bite or two" my doctor would not agree with this statement. He does not approve of snacks. He would say to choose reasonable food choices; eat 3 oz of solid protein and some low fat veggies. So at Arbies they have roast beef right? So you'll be able to eat the meat but not the bun (I CAN eat bread just choose not to); and a side salad. Don't plan on being satisfied on 2 bites for dinner in reality you will be eating much more than that (3 oz of protein should take you way more than 2 bites.)

The more knowledge you have the better. Also so much of this battle is mental that the more mentally prepared you are the better.

Personally I disagree with her food orders. Toward the end of my fills I was only getting .3 or .2 and I was still told to do liquids for one day and mushies for another.

To me is sounds like you are too tight if you vomit every time you eat. Getting a fill will only make is worse. Perhaps you need a slight unfil.

Personally I would find another hospital.

I don't neccesarily have an answer for you but I can tell you what my doctor recommends. 3 oz solid protein at 3 meals a day; plus veggies (limit carbs like bread white potatoes and rice). He recommends against snacks as it could lead to ritualistic eating (I always have a snack at 3:00 so I must have one whether I'm hungry or not.) I do have a 160 cal. 30 g protein shake preworkout at 6:00 but I have lunch at 12 and don't get dinner until 8:30 or later.

I was in the hospital one night after sugery and was in the bathroom urinating alllllll night. My first night home I was in the bathroom with diarrhea all night.

I would not say that is hurts badly. They are sticking you with a needle and that "hurts" it you get my drift. One thing I did experiences was after the first fill; when I stood up I felt this tightening sensation at the band area. It did'nt really hurt just felt weird. The nurse said some people mention that sensation. Post fill please follow your surgeon's food orders. Some people come on this site and say "My doctor told me to be on liquids for a day but I wanted a burger and it got stuck and now I feel horrible. What should I do?" Your stomach will be sensative after a fill so most doctor's require liquid for so many hours and mushies for so many more (mine is 24 full liquids and 24 mushies).

While I did get fills every 3 weeks for 6 months; I have not had a fill now in 6 months. So getting fills every couple weeks does not last forever.

My first fill was about 4 weeks out. I went back to the gym using the tread mill starting slowly (30 minutes) at day 4. My doctor said I could resume lap swimming (which I was doing 7 days a week) after 2 weeks.