honk

Not a good idea! Would anyone walk up to a person in a restaurant who was drinking alcohol and ask if they were an alcoholic or if they knew about cirrhosis? I doubt it. Have I seen people I thought could benefit from the band? Sure. But I would never in a million years tell a strainger they need weight loss surgery.

If your doctor said shakes and water that's what they meant! Adding fruit would be a bad idea because you want to force your body to burn fat. It chooses carbs, then protein, then fat. If you add fruit you are adding LOTS of carbs. As mentioned by previous posters; doctors have different plans and you need to follow YOUR doctor no one elses.

2 weeks

First I think your doctor needs some bedside manner lessons. Giving you a talking to at a regular appointment is much different than scolding you when you are comming out of surgery is something else! Do I weigh myself everyday- pretty much. I do not however weight myself during TOM; or the day after a holiday meal/dinner party. Not because I've over eaten but because the foods were probably higher in salt than normal. Here's an example of a time I did weigh myself when I should'nt have. Mother's Day weekend Sat. I went to my niece's rowing competition and ate some cracker/dip/cheese/brownies (again not that much and did have chicken chili as a main course). Sunday went to Mother's Day lunch at my brother's. Monday morning I had gained 4 pounds. Considering on Sat I'd gone for a 5 mile walk, and Sun did an hour at the gym there was absolutely no way I'd eaten an excess 14000 calories. Took me 3 days to get back to normal which depressed me.

I've had people I don't know who stop me to say they've seen me at the gym and wanted to tell me how great I'm doing. When I started at the gym I was 365 (highest was about 380) currently 212. It is validating, but also embarrasing that someone I don't know is stopping me on the street.

Dont have an answer for you. I can say that my doctor says 3 oz of solid protein (weighed not measured in a cup). The tuna is it a tuna steak or canned tuna? Canned tuna would be a mushie and mushies won't keep you as full as solids.

They might take out as little as .2-.3 cc's. You def. are to tight. My doctor says if you can't eat 3 oz of solid protein you are too tight.

My doctor frowns on snacks. I agree with previous poster most protein bars are high in cals. If you must have one I would look for less than 220 cals with at least 20 g protein. As mentioned above Greek Yogurt, cottage cheese, and low fat string cheese are good snack options. I often had a Premier protein shake for a snack between lunch and dinner before my work out (160 cals, 30 g protien).

Once you are back on solids after a fill; you need to be able to eat 3 oz of solid protein and have veggies. If you can't eat you are too tight.

I would make sure your US doctor will take you back after you've been treated by another doctor.

Did you get a fill during surgery? My first fill (empty at surgery) was 3 cc's. My doctor says full liquids first 24 hours after surgery and then 24 hours mushies.

Ezekiel, Ask your doctor if you can add spices to the broth (herbs can affect anestesia so be sure to ask). Mrs Dash baked chicken non salt flavoring is quite nice. I added it to post op to broth and smooth soups.

My doctor says at least 30 minutes 7 days a week.

The best advice I can give you is planning your meals. When I don't plan in advance and have healthy foods available that's when I get into trouble. My doctor says no snacks. So i would say bring your meals with you and drink non cal liquids, black coffee/ with Splendra, crystal light.

Mine told me two weeks pre and post op.

I have 5 incisions from Lap Band. 4 of them are very small, look like a small bug bites. The port incision is about 3-4 inches but is less noticible than my gall bladder scar from 23 years ago. I asked about single incision and was told I was to overweight.

My doctor says 24 full liquids and then 24 mushies. Then back to solids.

Are you adding any cheese or having dressing with the salads? Those really push the calories. Also restaurant foods are really high in salt. If possible look at the calorie counts online. I looked up a skinless BBQ chicken breast meal and was astonished to find out they put the chicken in an oil based marinade before BBQing. The calories and fat were through the roof!!! Yes I know BBQ is high in sugar but who would have guessed the fat/oil. In general restaurant foods have a lot of hidden calories.

Prior to being banded in 8/10 I lost 100 pounds. Post op I've lost 70 pounds. Did I think I would be further along than where I am yes. Please understand what I say next is not meant to brag but to demonstrate my lifestyle. I feel I am a pretty strict bandster. I stay at 1200 cals or below and do 1.5-2.5 hrs of cardio daily. One would think I'd have lost a lot more by now. One the bright side I've lost over 100 pounds 3 other times in my life. Obviously, however I could not keep it off. I started exercising in the fall of 2008. This is the longest period in my life the I've been able to stay on a healthy lifestyle for this long. Would I have continued to loose if I had'nt gotten the band. Probably not. More positives. At my heavist 380 + I could barely walk the store to grocery shop. At 212 (yes I know I still have a way to go) I do a 3+ mile walk daily and an do an hour Water based exercise (lap swimming or aerobics) daily. People don't stare/make comments at me in public. I'm not afraid to sit in chairs, and don't need a seat belt extender.

I did not take perscription meds once I got home. I handled the pain with store brand liquid tylenol. When you take pain meds it can mess up your digestive system. Your throat pain could be due to the tubing that was put down your throat during surgery.

I would try drinking a lot of water. This might help dislodge if indeed it is stuck. Also try some papya pills (chewables found in the vitamin isle. About half way to restriction while out on a nature walk I swallowed a small piece of gum when I drank out of a water bottle (yes dumb @ss move!). I drank a lot more water and eventually the stuck feeling went away. I do still chew gum but I never ever try to drink water while it's in my mouth.

While I realized you are probably following doctor's orders regarding mushys it could be that it is too soon for your body. I was not on mushys until day 15. Some people report when they eat too much they get that kind of back pain. Your issue might not be the amount you're eating but the type of food ie mushys. Personally I would do for liquids for a few more days before trying mushys again.

I did my junior year at Nottingham University so I may be more attuned. Americans may not have caught the "private" part of the posting. Meaning outside of National Health. I remember going with a friend to a British emergency room and the signs that read "Are you truly sick/injured" in the waiting room.

Could she have meant that before restriction you will only loose by restricting your food intake by willpower? I think you need a fill. The point of the band is to get fills if you are'nt full on 3 oz off Protein and some veggies for 5 hours. My PA is a bit of a drill sargent but it's more about keeping me honest than being mean spirited. How is your exercise plan? Most of us need to exercise. My doctor says min. of 30, 7 days a week. Are you weighing your protein. I am at restriciton but still measure. You will serve youself too much if don't. The band is doing nothing for you right now. You need fills to get help. It took me 6 months of fills to get restriction so I feel your pain.

For clears I had stock instead of broth; a lot more flavor. Don't bother with low salt broth just now worth it. You will be miserable enough without that! Full liquids Pacific brand sweet red pepper/tomato. I added Mrs Dash unsalted flavorings before heating to up the flavor. During mushies I bought name brand low fat pudding cups. I am a cheapskate but store brands are just not as good. Also during mushies mixed low fat laughing cow cheese into canned chicken and tuna instead off Mayo ( a lot less cals/fat).