BetsyB

pre-breakfast: warm chocolate protein made with almond milk breakfast: 4 oz. homemade chili made with ground chicken and black beans, sprinkle of cheddar cheese lunch: tuna salad with yogurt dill dressing dinner will be: 1 small piece crustless pizza (from local pizzeria--it's delicious) & 1/2 cup salad with red wine vinaigrette evening: maybe another protein shake; have to check fitday to see where I stand on protein for the day

Stomach capacity is less, with an unfilled band, than it is with no band. But gastric emptying occurs at almost the same rate as preop. So, I got full more rapidly, and with FAR less food...but was hungry again very rapidly.

Don't borrow trouble, bigpops! You may be dealing with a complete non-issue. Has Dr. K expressed concern? I ask, because enlarged liver is very common in people who are obese, and while steps are taken to reduce size prior to surgery to increase maneuverability, most people do manage to achieve sufficient reduction to move forward. Also, some people simply have larger organs than others---and that probably will not be an issue; a skilled surgeon can work around the innards that present themselves. That said, Atkins--especially the induction, but also OWL, if done conservatively, carb-wise-- is pretty consistent, carb-wise, with what is recommended for liver reduction. Dr. K may prefer that you do something like my doctor recommends: 2 meals consisting of Protein shakes, then one meal consisting of 4 oz. lean protein and 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies. But wait to see what he says. It really may all be a non-issue. Certainly, you want to stay as safe as possible, but you may find that it's not a surgical concern. Good luck!

I don't quite have restriction yet, so I do rely on measurement/weighing of food, and I journal at Fitday.com. I usually get 800-1000 calories/day, and 80-100g Protein. I exercise each day, often twice, and have lost just over 30 pounds since my banding on Jan 12. "pre-breakfast": warm chocolate protein with almond milk between "pre-breakfast" and breakfast: 1 liter noncaloric Fluid, 1 hour walking @ 4 mph pace Breakfast (after exercise): 4 oz. homemade chili made with ground chicken and black Beans, sprinkle of shredded cheddar between breakfast and lunch: 1/2 liter noncaloric fluid lunch: 3-4 ounces solid protein (chicken, shrimp, tilapia or other fish, etc.); sometimes, 1/2 c. nonstarchy veggies between lunch and dinner: 1/2 liter noncaloric fluid; most days, another 45-60 minutes walking (thanks to my dog!) dinner: 3-4 ounces sold protein, 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies evening: warm protein shake made with almond milk (as I add more veggies, fruits, and legumes, I will phase this one out, most likely.) snacks: I try to avoid snacking, but if in dire need, I grab a string cheese or Babybel cheese. As I add veggies to my repertoire (my current focus), I will use them as Snacks. This list doesn't include condiments/sauces such as mayo, mustard, sugar-free barbecue sauce, hot sauce, marinara, vinaigrette and so on. I do prepare my meals using sauces, and account for them in my journaling.

I couldn't agree more with the statements that (a) balance is important (and that veggies and fruits should not be sacrificed in order to make room for yet more protein), and (:cursing: nutrients from food are more available for the body to use than those from capsules (or shakes, or whatever). That said, with finite space, the "insurance" from both Vitamin and Protein supplements can be useful. Particularly for those of us who've not yet achieved restriction and really need to be extra vigilant about what goes into their mouths. For me, the protein supplements are used not as meals, but as planned Snacks designed to help me reach protein goals. And I use them specifically to keep my fat/sat fat intake lower than it would be if I focused on meat and cheese. Now that I've added legumes back in, however, things are waaaaaay different for me, and the need for supplementation---in terms of meeting protein needs, keeping fat down, and satiety--has changed tremendously. I suspect that many who use protein supplements are not as far out as either of you---and that, as they are able to add foods in and get a better handle on what foods give them the best bang for their tiny little buck, they will phase them out.

I'm not seeing a stall, either--your rate of loss is excellent! I was cleared for exercise without restriction at 4 weeks postop. Check with your doc, but this seems to be a pretty standard waiting period before beginning ab and/or weight work.

Congratulations on your great loss so far! Chances are, your band is just fine. Vomiting can cause a great deal of muscle soreness---and hopefully, that is what you are dealing with. Still, I'd check in with your doctor, to be sure. Good luck! You've had such tremendous success so far!

Yup, it's hard. It's especially hard when you still feel cruddy from the surgery. It does get easier! Call your doctor to see if you can advance your diet. Even if the answer is no, they may have useful guidance for you. The one thing I would suggest is NOT to choose fruit as your first mushies. It causes a blood sugar spike, followed by a plummet--which serves to increase hunger. I'd aim for Protein or, at least, a good balance between protein, carb, and fat. But first, get the green light from your doctor. Do you have good Protein shakes on hand?

CONGRATULATIONS!! That is an awesome accomplishment!

Anne, I'm glad today is better. Weather affects me, too--just a handful of gorgeous days makes all the difference. I've found that walking outdoors, even on dreary days, really helps me, emotionally. There is something about observing the changes in foliage and animal life this time of year that is so spiritually renewing. Elfie, I'm SO glad you're going to ask your doctor about your pain. It really should be investigated at this point--and hopefully, until its cause is pinned down, she can offer some relief. I have chronic pain issues from a long-ago accident, and good pain management is actually pretty crucial to my weight loss. First, pain ups cortisol---which interferes with loss on a number of levels. And secondly, pain makes exercise so much more difficult. (For me, I should list those the other way around--for me, exercise really is critical.) It's good to see you, Gloria! Count me in on your no-hands challenge. My incident last night involved eating with my hands. Ordinarily, I cut everything up into tiny pieces. Last night, I got cavalier with cold shrimp. BIG MISTAKE. So yes--I will join you, and let you know how it goes. I suspect that after my fill next week, it will make a huge, huge difference. Plus, it just feels like "official" eating when it's not done out-of-hand. I am finding that being mindful makes a big difference, emotionally. Okay, the furry beast is telling me, "Time to walk, woman!" So off we go....well, maybe after a little more hydration.

:lol:Bob, you crack me up with your slime/PB porn. I would add last night's tale, but will save it for a day when there isn't abundant....stimulation. ROFL Pizza...that sounds good. My favorite pizzeria does a crustless pizza that's actually pretty good on the nutrition front. (Yeah, too much fat..but hey, it's pizza.) I think I know what's for dinner tonight. I know what you mean about getting bored while eating, and just throwing in the towel. Too much work, sometimes, all that chewing. Larae--Welcome! Congratulations on your jeans NSV! Bree-Banding does feel like a miracle, doesn't it? Leigha--Too loose?! AWESOME! Congratulations--you're melting! Yes, my Pharmacology book is a textbook. Christie-Your upcoming week sounds so, so heavenly! I know you'll hit 40 pounds by then! I hope you loosen up a tad, so that you're more comfy eating---I bet that'll happen. As for me, well---I do need to learn patience (like you, Anne). The couple of pounds I was up are now gone, and took 1.6 with them. :cursing: Have a great day, everyone!

I was very hungry--not head hunger, but bona fide hunger hunger--and that persisted until after Fill #2. Since I don't yet have good restriction, it still lingers, to a certain extent. When you don't have restriction, your stomach capacity is smaller, but it still empties at a near-normal rate; the result is hunger. The thing is, you don't really have to eat in response to the hunger! I'm not saying you shouldn't ever, but you can lose weight during this time if you choose to eat in a way that permits it. Yes, it is dieting. But it's a short-term thing---there is a light at the end of the tunnel that will relieve you of the need to be super-vigilant. Not everyone views this time of bandster hell as a time for losing. You'll hear a lot of, "It's time to focus on healing." And that is very true--to an extent. But you can work with your body instead of against it. You can make sure that the foods you do choose don't work against you, hunger-wise. You can measure your food to make sure you don't overdo. And so on and so on and so on. PLEASE don't get in the habit of chewing and spitting food--that is disordered eating, and can really lead to more issues down the road. The idea is to form a new relationship with food--not continue on a destructive path.

Hepatic encephalopathy is, indeed, a terrifying thing. But I've never seen anyone afflicted with it who did not have severe, severe liver disease---usually compounded by (of all bizarre things) constipation. The buildup of ammonia (which dietary Protein does increase and constipation causes to linger in the body) causes the dementia, and it is horrifying to observe (and of course tremendously dangerous if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Most people who've experienced HE find themselves on at least short-term protein restriction and on long-term (as in lifetime, if not transplanted) laxatives. I would not even think to consider hepatic encephalopathy a risk of excess dietary protein in a healthy individual with a healthy liver. I do realize you're just thinking this through, not attempting to influence people. I think that this kind of mental exercise is really important---for everyone. ETA: I bet a little bump in protein will help you feel better. It's not a panacea, but getting enough is a good thing. You've got a lot on your plate!

If you've just had a port put in, does that mean you currently have a band with no fill? When I had no restriction at all, I felt satisfied only very briefly, and had to very carefully listen to my body's signals for that. And I had to tell myself, "No!" a good deal--because I, too, was very hungry shortly after eating. Thankfully, approaching restriction solves that nicely. Instead of relying on that, I weighed and measured my food. I still do, because I'm just shy of restriction. (I probably will continue to do so long-term--just because I'm not a good judge of quantity and need a reminder.) As for the wine--well, lots of people would tell you that there's room for that in the bandster's life. I'm really not among them--at least not when there's still weight to be lost. An occasional glass, sure--but routinely drinking it offers your body nothing it requires, and also causes disinhibition that can make it difficult to put the brakes on eating.

It's far better to advance your diet as recommended by your doctor. If you really can't tolerate the hunger any longer, call your doctor's office for input; you may be happily surprised to be told to advance. But foods like applesauce, which are relatively high in sugar, might not be the best choices right off the bat; they cause a sharp spike in blood sugar (as compared to, say, protein), followed by a plummet---and worse, cravings for more. Every doctor is different, in terms of postop "rules." You can choose to take or leave yours (though again, if you were to call his/her office, you might find that moving ahead is okayed---and you might get good guidance about how to do so in a way that is least apt to bother your new stomach)---but if you do deviate, try to do it in a way that will really give your body what it NEEDS.

What risk to health concerns you, with increased Protein intake? A body with healthy kidneys is able to deal with any potential protein overload. ETA: Bone loss is generally not an issue unless protein is eaten to the exclusion of other necessary macronutrients. But eating a high protein diet that includes vegetables and/or fruits--which tend to buffer the acidity of the urine produced by a high-protein diet--prevents the "withdrawals" from the body's calcium stores and bone loss.) But the point is, really, that for many of us, there IS no overload. Getting 80 g of protein permits maintenance of muscle mass while losing weight (when combined with exercise), helps with healing from surgery, and may help prevent the hair loss that plagues so many bariatric patients. My doctor monitors kidney function routinely, so I'm not concerned about potential health risks from protein. But then, while I do think it's tremendously important, I don't think that achieving a set number of grams is the most important thing on the planet. I aim for it, but if I don't get it, I'm comfortable that most days, I do.

Ohm, another thing: Eating Well and Clean Eating are magazines that have at least some of their recipes available online. Neither focuses solely on vegetarian/vegan choices, but a lot of their recipes are very, very adaptable. I don't know if you specified, but do you tolerate rice/brown rice?

Leigha took the words out of my fingertips. I was going to ask about this, because I use spaghetti squash in many ways that I'd ordinarily use Pasta. My favorite way is a very light Asian "noodle" salad that contains a variety of vegetables and a light peanut dressing. It's FAR better with spaghetti squash than with real pasta; it stays crisp and delicious in the 'fridge for up to a week---which makes it ideal for someone with finite stomach space!

Once you achieve restriction, nothing larger than the size of a pencil eraser will be able to pass through the stoma. To avoid problems, it really is a good idea to start out with bites the size of a pencil eraser---that way, if you accidentally swallow without chewing as well as you intend (and this does happen!), you will not introduce anything to your stomach that is apt to cause you problems. As for your coffee question---I don't know what your doctor recommends, but mine vetoes coffee (and caffeine in general, for six months). It was a very difficult habit to break! I do use a little mayo with my tuna---not too much, though, because a nice, dense Protein can be transformed into a slider food pretty easily if lubed too much.

I really haven't missed it. I mean--sure, I have fleeting moments when, in a restaurant, the bread basket passes me and I think, "Ah, bread" kind of wistfully. But the yearning is really more out of habit than really, truly missing the experience of eating the bread. I still don't quite have ideal restriction, so I do get quite hungry before meals. During those times, I do have to tell myself, "No!" so that I don't eat inappropriately. I have to make very conscious choices. But I really don't miss food, per se. While I love good food, I find that there are bazillions of ways to make the foods that are now best for me really appetizing and delicious. I don't feel deprived of the "good stuff," because I'm eating good stuff! It might make a difference that I was not really a comfort eater preop--I was a overeater. At meals, I served myself too much. At other times food was available, I'd eat without thinking. I had poor habits, but didn't generally soothe myself with food. Now, the overeating is not possible, and I think before eating. But I honestly don't feel deprived. (Before my last fill, though, I would happily have gnawed the legs off my furniture for fuel! I was hungry--all the time!)

Be aware that I Can't Believe It's Not Butter is intended to be used in miniscule amounts. I know that sounds terribly elementary, but I know many people who use it in volume as a butter substitute. Five sprays is a serving, and is considered fat-free. A bottle of the stuff contains over 800 calories, and is decidedly NOT fat-free. If you open the bottle to pour it, then you're probably better off finding another answer. I haven't really encountered many foods yet, post-op, for which butter is needed. When I do, I have a tiny bit of the real thing. A teaspoon of butter has 33 calories--not horrendous. And a tiny bit offers so much more flavor than the substitutes, IMO (and has the bonus of being...well, real.)

It's hard, when you're ready to go, and have to wait. I had a three-month supervision---but the actual time between seminar and surgery was around five months, due to the holidays. I tried really hard not to view it as a "waiting period," but rather a time to really prepare myself---both emotionally and physically--for the surgery. It helped that, during that time, I was still seeing my surgeon routinely. Gaining weight would NOT have been favorably viewed at all! But even without that sort of external control, I made a conscious decision to start living the way I imagined I'd live post-banding. That doesn't mean I adopted exactly the same eating habits. But I did adopt many of the behaviors, such as not drinking while eating, taking small bites and chewing very, very carefully, and so on. I tried different Proteins to find one I really liked. I tried different bariatric Vitamins, too. I also looked at the time as a good time to get to know my doctor and his staff better. This surgery forges a long-term relationship, so being really comfortable is a bonus. I know the wait seems like an eternity, but you can turn it into something positive, and gain a lot (not weight!) during the time. Good luck! I know it doesn't seem like it, but you will be banded before you know it, and the wait will have been well worth it.

Liz, you'll be driving right by me on your way to the doctor. Let me know the time you'll be on the road, and I'll wave :scared2: (One day, we'll have to meet for coffee when you're passing through the area. You know, when you're NOT en route to Sybaris, with far better things to do :thumbup:) Hummingbird, the boob shrinkage is one of life's injustices. I plan to have mine rearranged when I get to goal. I never, in my life, thought that augmentation would be in the cards for me, but I am beginning to wonder. You're lucky to have your own closet to shop in. I am a ruthless thrower-awayer---I have kept NOTHING in other sizes, except for a handful of pairs of jeans that were worn relatively recently (or swiped by my offspring, later to be reclaimed). I am going to have to do my shopping the old-fashioned way. Which means that I'll be driving the distance to my hometown to visit their second-hand shop, 'cause it's got really beautiful stuff, dirt-cheap. Bob-What did you end up feasting on? Did it sit well with you? Grrr! :cool2: :w00t: :rose: The scale is up again for me this morning, and even though I know all of the reasons (upped exercise, added veggies that are NOT moving through my system, missed two days of BP med that contains diuretic, etc...) I am having a very hard time being as compassionate and rational with myself as I would be with others. I really need to work on that. On the plus side, I'm pretty sure I will achieve both 30# down AND under 200 by my appointment next Friday, which will be good. Mark pointed out to me that I've lost a lot of weight, and my body usually decides, after a big loss, to hold on to weight for a while. This is pretty astute; I had no idea he ever paid any attention. (Bless his heart, yesterday I divulged how close I was to getting to being below 200, and it never occurred to him that I was above 200. Because we all march in to bariatric surgeons' offices when we weigh 120 :cool2:). This time, though, there's no throwing in the towel....!! My body can hold on to things until it gets the message that this is the way it is, buddy! Have a great day, everyone!

I think that most of us will very freely own up to mistakes we've made. But, too, most of us are very, very dedicated to making life changes that recognize that doing things the way we've always done them will not work for us any more---and therefore are working very hard to be compliant, particularly in the immediate postop period. "Cheating" is a concept that becomes moot when you realize that it really isn't "cheating" to make a decision to eat. This comes a little later in the game, though. Racing out of the starting gate and immediately deviating from plan really can set you up for difficulties---not food-wise (no one is going to die from eating ahead of what may be a very conservative diet advancement schedule), but emotionally. If you set yourself up, right from the beginning, for a sense of guilt and failure, you might wind up with a self-fulfilling prophecy. It's more positive to work on mastery. You can conquer food! It doesn't rule you! Be the boss. Make good choices. It's hard, but it can be done.

Felix Delgado! Bwahahahahaha! That's priceless! I'm glad you were cleared to eat, Bob--and knowing your amazing weight loss history, you won't go overboard. But please be careful not to HURT yourself! I mean, stuck and sliming just ain't what they're cracked up to be! (But have something good). We're going out tonight....big excitement. Someone else will make my little salad with a few grilled shrimp thrown on top. Christie, I'm just two steps behind you, fill-wise. I'm almost 2 weeks in to Fill #2--and just beginning to feel the restriction taper off. I hope your results are wonderful! Truman and I just got back from Walk #2 for the day. It is so so so nice outside. The birds are returning, I heard tree frogs, and the beavers are building lodges at an alarming rate. It was a great walk, and brought us to a little over 7 miles for the day. Off to fetch the youngest spawn---have a lovely evening, everyone!