honk

Yes, I have heard of it. Particulary if your BMI is 50 and above. My doctor has this great love for HMR brand diet. The version he likes is HMR 500, so 500 calories. In my presurgery mindfull eating class there were several people that he put on that diet for MONTHS. Yes, MONTHS. These people did loose a lot of weight. But from talking with them they did not comply every day for those months. Sometimes they took the whole weekend off. While I am very anal about following doctors orders that just seemed crazy. And we're talking 3-6 months. That is not to say that you should not follow the doctors orders. Knowing what he/she's called for would be helpful. We can give you suggestions of very low/non cal items to add to make it more managable.

To give the brutal truth I did not see any restriction until 9.6 CC's, more at 10, and may be at my sweet spot at 10.6. This is going to be a willpower diet possibly for a while. Not trying to be a downer just giving my experience. Did you doctor have you attend eating therapy sessions? I found them very helpful. Did they talk to you about head vs physical hunger? Emotional hunger is head hunger. Where you're bored, lonely, tired. Now and before restriction when I wanted to eat something I would ask my self are you really hungry or just looking for something to do?

Ahh yes. I have gotten stuck on realllly dry chicken breast (I eat most chicken so this was strickly a texture issue); and baby carrots. The carrots I was super hungry and did'nt chew them enough. This happened to me several fill levels.

I don't really have foods I cant eat. I choose not to have bread, crackers, cookies, chips (even low fat) because they trigger me to over eat. However if I'm at a family dinner I eat a half a slice of good bakery bread.

I had my GB removed after losing over 100 pounds when I was 19 (22 years ago). You're lucky that you are only having mild pains. It certainly helps if you are eating a VERY low fat diet. A full blown attack is debilitating! Can hardly stand let alone breath. They now do GB removal laproscopicly like the band so a lot less invasive. If you need surgery get it done now. Sooner or later you will have a bad attack. My mother compares a bad GB attack to like labor pains only in a different location.

Suger/fat free pudding powder is also really good in shakes (1-2 tablespoons). Also Davinchi suger free syrups which can be found in the coffee isle. I made "milk cubes" out off fat free milk (2= 1/3 cup milk). Blending your shake with milkcubes and a couple ice cubes give it a nice frosty texture.

I don't really miss soda but I did have an odd experience the other day. I was at Walmart late like 10:OO. So it was pretty quiet. Someone the next register over opened the soda refrig. The sound of the door opening and the pulling of the rubber gasket gave me the worse Diet Coke craving. Sooo weird. Goes to show that we really do have sounds that trigger us to eat and drink!

I don't know if there's anything that's been hard to give up. I do however have cravings for the breadsticks from Pizza hut both the garlic ones and the cinnamon.

Try either a easy chair or the couch. Might help.

I have never heard the 50 BMI "rule". The point of the diet is to "de fat" the liver. A low fat/carb diet for 2 weeks can reduce the size of the liver by 25%! Watch a real surgery on YouTube and you will see how they flip it right out the way. So you want it to be pliable. The fatter the liver the more fragile it becomes. If it makes you feel any better some doctors require an all liquid diet no solids. I don't know if I agree about cutting out exercise. My doctor put me on a 500 cal diet, I weighed 334 pounds and did an hour of cardio a day (swimming). When I asked him would'nt a diet soo low in calories be a problem for someone who exercised daily he said "why would it?"

I agree to look at where you are/could be heading if you don't take action. I am a great dieter 3 times before banding I lost over 100 pounds and gained it back and more. Those who lose and keep off a major weight loss (say 100 pounds) without surgery is 5%. Those are'nt great odds. Truely I wish I had done this sooner. Even though I was exercising (had lost 30 pounds), and trying to watch my diet I still had a mini stroke at 39, 39!!! The doctors did'nt know what led to the blood clot but they could'nt rule out my weight. It has taken me 6 months to get restriction, thus help with eating less food and less often. I think people should know up front that it can take a while. Most people don't wake up from surgery eating like a thin person from day one and losing gobs of weight (a very small percentage get help just from adding the band and or 1 fill). Another thing I worried about was my back and knee were so bad at 40 what would I be like at 60? If I lived that long.

Flavorless benefiber is very helpful. I added it to all liquids in the early days. Also you can add it to water/crytal light, and cottage/ricotta cheese during mushies.

For comic relief when I told my sister I had lost 10 pounds on my post op diet so far she said "That's what happens Honk when your on a starvation diet!"

Clear liquid phase is the worst. I had clears for 7 days, and full liquids for 7. I urge you to return to you doctors orders. I was not allowed mushies until day 15; which for you is another 9 days out. I hightly recommend adding MRS Dash non salt flavorings to your broth (and tomato, sweet red pepper soups when you you get to that stage). For Protein shakes:Premier ready to drink from Coscto is good; and Gold Standard Double Chocalate (powder). I also add Divinchi suger free syrups, and suger/fat free pudding powder.

My doctor required clear liquids for 7 days, full liquids 7 days (no yoghurt), soft mushie 7 days (cottage cheese, ricotta, yoghurt), denser mushies 7 days (canned chicken/tuna), Then solids. At my first check up I asked if I could move to soft mushies (about 3 days early) the nurses response. Absolutely NOT! But you can ask your doctor the worst they can do is say no.

Also, I second the comment about swimming. Way before banding I went to a specialist about severe knee pain. Of course he said to me that weight had to come off and recommended swimming. I know how to swim but what fat lady enjoys a swimming suit? Anyway I bought a swimsuit with a skirt, snorkle, waterproof MP3 player; and have been swimming almost every day since 10/08. Not sure if it's a good cardio workout? Weight lost -120 pounds. That's like a whole person.

I lost about 10 pounds pre first fill; and then averaged 1 lb a week. Now that I am at restriction hoping to lose faster. Personally I would cut out the bread, Pasta and rice. They provide a lot of calories for not a lot of nutrition. Solid Protein stays with you longer so make sure to focus on that first and add the veggies second, and starch last. Have you bought a food scale? Personally I think it's a must. I weigh all my protein. Some people also measure their veggies in a measuring cup. When the food is gone you stop eating, even if you are still hungry. Thus the phrase "bandster hell". You still have a fat persons stomach and brain; but are eating the portions of a thin person. Until you start getting fills and restriction this is a willpower war. Some people are lucky and after 1-2 fills at 5CCs start getting help from the band. I was not. I did not start getting restriction until 10 CCs.

A couple years back I read an article where doctors offices were starting to charge for conceirge (sp) services. By this they meant actually getting care from the doctor vs. nurses. Some of these costs were 5,000 and it was not covered by insurance. Many people on here say they have to pay a program fee. It seems like you are paying a cross between a program fee and a conceirge fee. The whole access to the doctor and Nut at any time thing seems dodgey to me. Should'nt you be able to get medical advice from someone even if it's an oncall doctor if yours is on vacation or something? Not sure if you really have a choice at this point but I would personally be irritated about this revelation.

At mushie stage my doctor said to have 3 oz of cottage cheese/ricotta. The next week I could add 3 oz of canned chicken. I would have a cup of puree soup and follow that with the protein. Potato's are'nt going to stick with you because they don't have any protein. This is the period they call bandster hell, because you can physically eat large portions but need to eat small meals so as not to stretch you new pouch. Buy a scale you will be needing it until you get restriction (and beyond).

I am tighter the day or so leading up to TOM. In general I am tigher in the morning. I would say I am at restriction but I don't have trouble eating like you are having. I would see how you are the week after TOM. Fills can take 2 weeks to really hit. It could be that you'll find that you are now to tight and will need a slight unfil.

Stress eating is bad for you both emotionally and physically. That said it may be better for you to go to a good bakery buy one cookie; split it in half, throw half away in the bakery. Walk back to your car and eat it very slowly and mindfully. Think about each bite and chew it to mush. I find that if I have a obsessive craving I will eat everything but that trying to get the original thing out of mind. By the time I'm done I've eaten way more calories than I would have if I had just eaten the #$^%#% thing.

I have pretty good restriction and know on wood don't have trouble eating anything. I agree that it's good to research to make sure there is something on the menu that is grilled or baked. To be truthfull I've never had a problem with a waitperson questioning that I only want Water (I drink a large glass when I get there since it's usually a half hour before the food comes). I order my food and mentally and/or physically cut everything in half and get a to go box. As mentioned I don't have trouble with foods. For Breakfast I really like egg white omlets with veggies no cheese. That will cut about 300-400 calories. Most of the places I go the apps are actually really bad for you, usually fried or covered in sauces.

I have never tried it but does it focus on protein. Often diet meals have lots of carbs. My doctor also does not like snacks. He is concerned that you will have a snack today because you have one everyday even it you are hungry today.

Jeff, As an HR person I am mortified that your assistant would say such a thing to you. Does this person report to you? Seriously the next time she makes any kind of disparing remark to you, or about another coworker infront of you I would inform her verbally that her behavior is inappropriate. I would document it in your own calendar and bring it up on her performance review. If she does not report to you I would go to her supervisor and tell them exactly what she said to you. She creating a hostile work environment. HR will take this seriously because she is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

They should have been more specific. My nurse said I had to lose 10% body fat before surgery; so I was on a diet from my first meeting until surgery. Not to harp but this is the best time to start living the bandster life. It's not the same preband but it will be good practice. And remember this is'nt like every other diet where you know you'll regain. When grocery shopping you could ask "would I cringe" if that nurse saw me buying X. If so than leave it on the shelf. It really helps me when I have a craving for things like doritos. I understand you have kids and it can be hard to deny them treats; but in reality those food are'nt good for them either. When I was in college I would go to visit my oldest sister during break. I always lost 5 pounds because she did'nt keep junk in her house. Her kids did just fine though.