honk

Agree with previous posters. I don't have any food (knock on wood) that I can't eat now. Somethings I choose not to have everyday but can have small portions on special occations. Example, I don't keep bread, crackers, chips in my house; but at family dinners if there is fancy bakery bread or good crackers and cheese I can have some. Another thing I do is go to Costco every couple weeks and try the samples. Now that my relationship has changed with food there are some things that I don't even try because I'm not that interested. Once they were giving inch square pieces of their pepperoni pizza (which is soo good). Having that one inch piece was good enough. I did'nt need to buy a whole slice which is like 500 cal. So much of the band is mental. Presurgery is the time to reevaluate your eating habits and start facing those demons now. A lot of people come on post banding and complain the band is'nt stopping them from eating unhealthy food. The truth is it won't. Some people get restriction from their fills within a month or two; it took me 6. Until you get restriction it will be a willpower diet. I would recommend starting now so that you are'nt trying to create a healthy eating attitidue while dealing with physical pain from surgery

Have you started an exercise program? I know it sounds counterintuitive working out when you feel tired. Exercising however releases endorphines which might help.

I knew that I only wanted the band. When I went in for my first consult with a nurse she said that someone of my weight (334) that they normally recommend gastric. When I told her that was'nt an option she backed off. In reality neither my surgeon nor my other doctors would have approved gastric anyway. I'd had a mini stroke a few months earlier (at 39). There would have been no way they would have risked another blood clot. The fact is esp. with the band this is at least 50% a mental game. I think one reason many medical professionals don't recommend it for larger people is you have to choose not to eat sweet things. With gastric they get dumping (severe gastric response) to sugar. It's unpleasant so people avoid eating candy, ice cream etc. That's not true for the band. In fact anything that melts in your mouth goes right on down. All that being said preband I lost 50 pounds on my own diet. Since surgery I've lost 37 more. But I am VERY conservative about my diet and I do an hour of cardio everyday.

Your body is still recovering. I had surgery on a Thursday so I had Friday, weekend, work week, 2nd weekend so I had 10 days off before returning to work. I work from home on a computer so not terribly taxing. There were days that I still had to take a nap in the afternoon. I've read on this board that some people are a lot more fatigued post surgery then they had planned on.

Ever person is different. I have a 11 cc band and did not get any restriction until 9.6 cc's. Maybe at my sweet spot at 10.6. My fills went something like this 4,2,1,1,1.6,.4,.6. Some people do get restriciton at 5-6. There are however several of us on this board who did not get restriction until the band was almost filled. I'm not telling you this to be discouraging. I just want you to know so that you don't feel like the process is'nt working if it takes a long time for restriction.

I agree for the first 24 hours full liquids, next 24 mushies. If it has been more than 48 hours and you can't eat 3 0z of solid protein I would call your doctor and see about an unfill.

Most doctors say no carbonation. If they are right and it can not only cause pain but damage to your stomach why take the chance?

Took me 6 months to get restriciton so yes how you're feeling is normal.

My doctor had me on a 500 cal diet and when I ask if that was feasible for someone who did an hour of cardio a day; He replied "Why would it?"

I did not see any restriction until 9.6 CC's and yes I was eating enough protein. As time goes on though and you get closer to restriction you may need to reasses hunger vs satiation. Sometimes I'm eating and I ask my self am I no longer hungry; but not neccesarily full. There are times I stop eating even though not "full". The band may or may not even at restriction make you "full" on a 1-1/2 cups of food. That's why actively creating a new relationship with food is important. Food will be there tomorrow and the day after so you don't need to eat it all today.

After a fill I do notice more restriction when I return to solids; and it is most noticible for the first two weeks then goes down a little. But I also find the band feels tighter some days more than others.

As mentioned the reason for preop diet is to shrink the liver. When is your surgery? Were you given a food plan to follow? Did you follow that plan and still not lose any weight? For now if you have a plan follow it; if not start a low carb/fat/calorie diet until surgery. I was not given a specific diet but did a high protein whey isolate shake for breakfast and dinner and a low cal/fat high protein lunch.

I would stay away from cleanses. I've read that they mess up the chemical/baterial (and yes there are good bacteria) balances in the intestines. I add unflavored benefiber to my breakfast yoghurt. I also have a couple fiber chews at breakfast and a couple at night. They are bound to be less calories than a fiber one bar (and they tast pretty good). I would also look at the foods your eating make sure you are eating enough veggies.

Many bandsters have oatmeal for breakfast; but thick not milky. Oatmeal is a whole grain and I don't think it spikes bloodsugar. The big issue about cereals in general is that they are high in carbs, have little protein, and are eaten with milk. Well most people have a lot a milk. I'm not a milk drinker so I never added very much. Cereals is one of my trigger foods (eat it my the box "raw"). I do however add one protein powder scoop of the high protein Kashi to greek yoghurt that I have for breakfast. I also add 1/2 scoop whey isolate protein powder to up the protein ratio (and splendra). Early on I had to give up Bare Naked Chocolate granola because I was eating it mindlessly straight from the bag. The whole halo effect; it's a healthy food so it's okay to eat (just not 4 servings at a time!).

We all get really nervous. You'll be fine. Good Luck!

I buy a big bottle of flavorless benefiber from Costco. Preband I added a couple teaspoons to my shakes. Post band I put it in broths, soups, mushies. Now that I'm healed I put it in my breakfast yoghurt everyday. I also take a couple fiber gummies usually two at breakfast and 2 with my night pills.

It seems hernias are quite common. One of the recovery nurses mentioned it to me but when I asked the doctor at my first check up he was just like "Ya I fixed it". I was quite lucky because I did'nt really have much pain other then my port incision.

I like Gold Standard Brand Double Cbocolate whey isolate powder. Premier Brand ready to drink chocolate and vanilla a pretty good (sold in the US at Costco, not sure if you can buy it online).

While the insurance company may see this as a way to discourage you (6 months in my opinion is punitive); personally I think the time presurgery is critically important to your success. If you don't develop a new relationship with food you will fail. Not maybe but absolutely. I'm not being mean spirited. I see posts on this board "I've had surgery two weeks ago and the band did'nt stop me from eating a big mac this afternoon." No it won't. And, yes I have read at least twice of people eating big macs within weeks of surgery. If your doctor does not have mindful eating/group therapy sessions on food habits then find one on your own. I recommend that it be run by a psychologist and not just a support group like over eaters anon. What foods do you eat mindlessly? By that I mean if you eat directly out of the package and have more than 2-3 bites it is mindless. For me it's Cereal, crackers, baked potato chips, mini rice cakes. Those things may not seem bad but eating 1/2 box of lucky charms (not exagerating) is not good. Now is the time to give up those foods. And I do mean give them up. I don't keep crackers in my house. If I go to a party after I've had Protein I can have 2-3 crackers but that's it. I may sound unbending but I have to look at some foods like an alcoholic looks at their favorite alcohol. Though yes I do know that I can have 2 crackes whereas an alcoholic can't have even one drink. One thing about those monthly meeting with the doctor's office is you don't want to have gained any weight. It does keep you honest.

GNC, Vitamin Shoppe have Isopure. Walmart, Target also carry Protein Shots which are "clear" protein (actually pink etc), 3 oz of liquid that has 30 g protein.

Yes Water is cal. free. Black coffee has about 5 cal. So does crystal light. You want to begrudge someone 5 cal? Seriously? Even if all 64 oz of daily liquid had 5 cal per cup that takes us to a grand total of 40 cal. My nut suggests 1200 cal. a day; that gives you 1160 to spend on other food. Also, my mother always says there's nothing worse than a reformed fat person who now appoints themselves food police of the world.

As long as it's decaf sure.

I agree with Dave that I am not impressed with this surgeons office. Even if I had to eat a couple hundred dollars from this session I would look into someone else.

FYI I did not meet with the surgeon my first visit either. I would speak with your insurance regarding the sleeve, most do not cover it. Often if they cover bariactrics it band or bypass. I am really shocked they are saying the insurance will pull approval if you loose weight between consult and surgery. One thing you might want to get clarification on is the diet the insurance's requirement or the doctors. Many doctors require a weight loss presurgery: mine was 34 pounds. So this diet could be from the doctor and not he insurance.

I would find a better source of Protein then slimfast. Gold Standard whey isolate protein power Double chocolate is pretty good. I make milk cubes and use a blender to mix the shakes gives them a nice icy texture. I also add suger free pudding powder (tablespoon). I buy my Protein Powder at Vitamin Shoppe. Premade Premier Brand Protein Shakes from costco are very good 160 cal, 30 g of fat. I would try a better protein and see if that helps you. If you have to add something else I would get premade chicken breast strips. Weight out your portions on a scale say 1 oz at a time.