Oberhasli

My surgeon only expects 1 pound per week weight loss so if you're doing better than that, you're doing good! (He expects 1 pound per day with the bypass.) The surgeon I went to (Dr. Mikami at Ohio State) doesn't do many bands because the weight loss is not as rapid as with the full-blown bypass and many get discouraged and give up. As he told me, even with the band, you didn't put the weight on in a couple of weeks, so don't expect to lose it all in a couple of weeks. Study after study has said that slow, consistent weight loss is much healthier than radical weight loss. Losing it slower increases the likelihood that it will remain off plus allows your skin a chance to "resize" too so that you don't end up with a bunch of flabby skin. Patience, patience, patience. Remember, good things come to those that wait. Tom

I had my first follow-up visit with my surgeon. Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since banding. He was very pleased with how I've healed and my weight loss (which is 13 pounds from pre-op visit). My surgeon rarely recommends the band as he feels it is not as efective as the actual bypass but felt I was a good candidate since I had already loss 30+ pounds and had less than 100 to lose. He only expects band patients to lose about 1 pound per week (versus bypass that lose 1 pound per day) so was very pleased with my weight loss. I also met with the dietician who was happy with my diet and they moved me to stage IV which, basically means I get REAL food, just controlled quantities. Still need to ensure protein intake is adequate and calories aren't too high, but I get to eat like a "normal" person. She even said that if I have a craving for something (my downfall is salty snacks), eat some protein first and then chose a healthier versus such as the baked chips or pretzels. I go back in 3 weeks and will likely get my first fill then. Tom

My surgeon asks that a visit to the family doctor be made within 2 weeks of surgery just to make sure the meds not related to the surgery are still at the necessary dose and for a general check-up. The last time I saw my family doctor was on 3/31. I was 316 pounds then. I met my surgeon for the first time on 8/7 and was 288. (Used the LEARN program.) On 11/7, day of surgery, I was 280. Today I was 271. That's down 9 pounds in 2 weeks since surgery and 45 pounds since I started the Quest to get the surgery. My approximate target weight is 225ish so I'm about 1/2 way there. I have my first follow-up with the surgeon and dietician on Monday but started on soft foods today. Suppose to add a new food each day to make sure I tolerate them well. I had 1/4 cup of cottage cheese with a 1/4 cup of fruit cocktail in Splenda. I've cheated a bit and had a few saltines and pretzels for crunch, but it was nice not having to clean up the blender after eating. Tom

Guess you won't do that again? If we weren't stubborn individuals set in our ways, would we be going through this? Tom

I have the opposite problem. I *LOVE* to cook but have trouble getting excited about cooking something to throw in the blender. I'm REALLY looking forward to "normal" foods so I can cook again. My bigger problem is I live by myself and cooking in small quantities is an issue. I often long tire of a dish before I've made it through leftovers. I will agree that the clean-up after is not fun. My ex-wife said that I use every utensil and every pot to make dinner. Since I have to do my own clean-up now, I'm a bit more careful but I do tend to make a mess when cooking. Tom

I *DON'T* think I was fed appropriately in the hospital. The order of mashed potatoes was a full size side order and something tells me the gravy was not low-fat. I didn't eat much of it. The surgical staff was wonderful. The floor staff left a lot to be desired. I did hear today only one more week on the pureed foods and I get to go to Step 3 and start on REAL foods. (They're mailing me the next step since usually the doctor and nutritionist see you two weeks after surgery but I have to wait 3 since the doctor won't be in.) I've cheated a bit the last couple of days and had a couple wheat saltines and a few low-fat pretzel twists as I needed something to crunch. Tom

Those of you who are allowed mushy food after just a few days post-op, what can you eat, and does it go down ok? I am trying to sstay with a combo of clear and full iquids including some blended soups. It makes me nervous to even eat yougurt or pudding even though I have, but I do water it down a bit. Also, how much have you lost on the first week after surgery? :peep: Does your tummy still feel and look swollen? --- I was given pureed peaches in the hospital for lunch the day after surgery. They gave me mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner that night. (I'm waiting on a call from the Patient Care Representative as I felt I should have been given a diet similar to what they expect me to be on at home.) I've had pudding (made vanilla pudding with protein powder and peanut butter added for extra protein), baby food meats and vegetables (go down OK, just taste awful), mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc. with no discomfort. My stomach looks as normal as it can wiit five bandages on it but not swollen or distended. (The bandages should start coming off soon.) I don't know how much I've lost as I don't have a scale here (go to family doctor next week) but clothes are looser fitting. Add in that the weight before surgery, taken in admissions, was almost 20 pounds less than my weight a few hours after surgery taken in my bed, and 10 pounds less than 4 days before taken at work. I did a food log for yesterday and had about 650 calories and 62 grams of protein so I would hope I'm losing weight. I actually don't have a weight goal, per se, as much as a pant size. I know what size I'd like to be and if I'm that size, even if the pounds number is higher than ideal, I'll be happy. Plus, keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat so if you do the proper exercise, you could easily be a smaller size but a heavier weight. Tom

:hungry: I did a Google on the book and found that Amazon.com has it for $11.53 and it is eligible for free shipping if the order is over $25.00. The link to amazon is: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Well-After-Weight-Surgery/dp/1569244537]Amazon.com: Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery: Patt Levine, Michele Bontmpo-Saray, William B. Inabnet, Meredith Urban-Skuros: Books[/ame] HTH, Tom

Thanks, Kristi. I didn't have to ANY liquid before surgery. Here's some of what I've played with. I take 1/2 package SF Carnation Instant Breakfast, Milk chocolate flavor, 1/2 scoop of vanilla whey Protein, 1 tablespoon Peanut Butter, 1/2 small banana and blend well. I then add a handful of ice cubes and blend more. I also take 4 oz of the sippable yogurt (both Weight Watchers and Yoplait have sugar free versions), 1/2 banana, some protein powder and ice and it makes a refreshing drink. Tonight, I wanted something different so I took 2 tablespoons of fruit cocktail with splenda and 1/2 cup of cook oatmeal, a bit more splenda, and blended it. It was good, but not overly high in protein. I'm going to try liquid eqq with the vanilla protein powder and maybe vanilla instant breakfast for an egg-nog type beverage. I usually only drink egg nog if it's mostly rum but guess I'll forgo that part for now. <G> I've been taking my pills without complication. The day after surgery when they tried to get me out of bed, I got very dizzy and nauseated, thus the extra day stay. On the way home, I got real hot and light headed and had a couple dry heaves but so far pretty good. They gave me an Rx for nausea. I took one yesterday as a friend took me in to town to replenish baby food and other essentials and I was worried that the activity might affect me. Other than being tired, I did fine and shopped in three different stores. Need to incorporate more veggies into the smooth routine. I haven't found a way to disguise the baby food pureed veggies into something edible. Tom

New here. Read posts when I was considering the band several months ago. I was banded on 11/7 (Tuesday) by Dr. Makami at Ohio State University. Other than keeping me in hospital for an extra day, it's not been nearly as bad as I thought. I had no pre-op diet but have been following healthy low-carb diet for 6 months (lost about 30 pounds on own with that). I got nothing the day of surgery, Jello the morning after and then on to smooth foods. Get that for two weeks and move to "normal" foods. Getting bored with "blenderized" foods. Not hungry, just bored. Have trouble eating 6 times a day just because nothing is overly apetizing. Rarely even snack on the allowed jello/popsicle, etc. The hardest part for me was I got a new puppy Saturday and chasing after her, especially bending over, can be a bit of a challenge. Any suggestions for more apetizing smooth foods would be MORE than welcome. Tom