Acadia

A Brazilian wax is safest. You are on your back with legs spread for this surgery so it's nice to be clean. And a wax won't grow back for 4-6 weeks, whereas a shave will start immediately. Get the wax around 3-5 days before surgery to allow swelling to go down.

According to my surgeon 20% of lap band patients require gallbladder removal within 18 months of surgery.

FitBit. $99 for the device, tracks your activity and sleep, allows you to track your food online, and is completely private unlike myfitnesspal, which has legal authority to use anything you post (photos, words, etc) anyway they want. I use Fit Bit in conjunction with The Daily Plate.

Get a slight unfill. Being too tight will cause weight gain (because you revert to sliders) will cause swelling and vomiting and many more unpleasant symptoms. I speak from experience.

Definitely get an unfill. Even 0.25 - 1.00 cc can make a HUGE difference.

After fill #1 (1.5 cc), I was in my green zone and I didn't even know it. Because I didn't know what the green zone really was, and because I was expecting to need several fills before feeling that 'satiated feeling' (based on other people's experiences), I went for another fill of 1.0 cc and was too full. Had that 1.0 cc removed, and am between my green zone and needing another very tiny fill (0.25 - 0.50). While I could probably use another tiny fill I know that isn't an option right now as I'm having gallbladder surgery this week. However, even after that, if I realise that the band's goal isn't to give me restriction to the point of stopping me from eating then I don't actually need another fill. The band's goal is to make you think twice about eating when you're not hungry and to help you eat a normal amount when you are hungry. Right now, I can do that - if I make the effort. I can still overeat if I want - but even those who are over filled can overeat on their sliders. So instead of getting another fill after surgery I'm going to wait and keep my food measured and logged so, as I lose weight and my band gets looser and I need another fill, I'll still be in control and the fill will just help dampen my appetite without affecting my ability to eat. Like Rachel said, a fill should keep you satiated for 4-5 hours between meals. It shouldn't physically hinder you from eating 1.5-2 cups of food at a meal. I believe that's where many people

Unless I eat something like soup, that I know will go through without issues, I could get stuck and I can't be vomiting in my cube.

Men often don't know how to word things. He may have simply been saying that you are looking looser (this is a good thing, it means you're losing weight) and oddly, that extra skin can make someone look like they are gaining weight because the skin isn't tight. Working out with weights will help bring your skin in and fill you out with muscle instead of fat. YOU may want to go apologize to him for jumping to conclusions and tell him that it hurt when he made those comments because YOU interpreted them negatively and didn't take the time to ask him what it is he was seeing that seemed different. You are too close to how you look to see what others can - he was simply being honest, regardless of how you chose to take it. Instead of being insulted you could have said, "Really? I'm looking flabby? I hadn't noticed since I look at myself everyday, but that's good! That means I'm losing more weight! You're probably right that it's time for me to step up my workouts to try to pull some of this old skin back in." Instead, you chose to be insulted and chose to take it out on him. Had you been positive, and if he really meant it as an insult, that would have made him rethink what he said to word it better or to not say it again. Being negative and overreacting in response just makes the situation worse. No one can make you say or do or feel anything - they can only present you with a stimulus, it's up to you to respond. The second you go on the defense, you've already lost.

If your Dr. said Clear Liquids, pick up some Isopure. It's pure Protein - clear like crystal light - no carbs. You can't live off of it but it fills you up. As for straws - you can use them. There is absolutely no evidence they cause problems.

Why do you want more restriction? It sounds like you're in your green zone but you're deliberately overeating. Keep a food diary writing down what you eat, how much of it, when you eat it, why you're eating (are you really hungry), and include what you drink. Then count all the calories (or use something like The Daily Plate). See where you're overeating. Any form of band isn't supposed to stop you from eating, it's supposed to allow you to stop eating sooner because you're full (on less food) and to stop you from eating when you're not actually hungry.

The band's purpose is to make you not hungry, make you not think about food, not want to eat (even when you're not hungry). It won't prevent you from eating anything. No reason to have last meals and overindulge. You will be able to eat anything you want after surgery - just smaller amounts of it. Even bread and Pasta - bread might be really well toasted, but still.

Keep track of your food using some sort of food diary like The Daily Plate ($50/year for a completely private account - other sites get full access to use your data as they see fit - images too). Get something like The FitBit ($99) to track your movement. It will tell you how sedentary or active you're being. Those two things together will tell you what you need to do - eat less or move more.

Breakfast: 12 oz soy milk with Chai tea for flavor (I'm too tight in the morning to eat but this gives me Protein, sugar, and calories to get me thruogh). If I'm not too tight (or it's later in the morning but not really early afternoon), oatmeal (Trader Joe's blueberry flax with 1 tsp dried blueberries and 8 almonds crushed). Lunch: I won't eat at work because I'm way too far away from a bathroom to make it worthwhile. But I keep Protein shakes and Isopure handy and always have some Soup if I need it. Generally though I am not hungry at work so it's not a problem. Dinner: usually 1.5-2 cups of food including: 2 vegetarian tacos (1-2 tbsp soy burger with seasoning, tomatoes, lettuce, shredded sharp cheese, taco sauce, light sour cream or greek yogurt) - OR - tilapia, green Beans, brown rice - OR - angel hair Pasta, broccoli, garlic, pine nuts, sundried tomatoes, fresh tomatoes - OR - soup - OR - salad - OR - a tofu wrap (tortilla, tofu chunks, veggies, balsamic dressing, feta cheese)

Unless you accidentally slip and jam one of those instruments in your abdomen - you'll be fine.

You don't have to tell anyone. If you eat slowly - who cares. Have you ever asked someone who eats slowly with you if they've had surgery? Chances are you haven't. Running to the rest room - don't eat foods you know will cause problems. Stick to light fare and eat smaller bites. For the scar, again, it's none of their business. Until you are totally comfortable with the person - they do not need to know and you do not need to tell them. You are who you are today. It's no one's business what you do or don't do. What you did or didn't do in the past. Also - try making your dates about activity - not food. Go to a bookstore, art gallery, the zoo, etc. Don't go for lunch or dinner - and avoid Breakfast regardless of the stage of your relationship as most banded people can't eat in the morning. And as your relationship continues to form, eat the foods you know are safe like Soup, salad, etc. Once you tell the person you should be at the point where they know you and enjoy you and don't care.

When you were intubated they may have gotten caught on tissue at the back of your throat and - as gross as this sounds - your mucus, snot, etc. could be pooling there. This happened to me when I was younger, and is still a problem decades later - and it always will be. It's quite gross, but that could be what's going on with you. If you're able to cough up what ever is there, then that's likely the issue. If you're not able to cough up then you could be too tight and food could actually be getting caught up (a tiny bit of food can feel like a rock) - and you can be too tight without an office visit fill as a lot of surgeons do a fill at surgery (active or passive).

As you continue to get fills you'll find many foods you once enjoyed - can't be enjoyed. They may be able to be eaten, but not always without consequence. Though I can eat pizza, I don't because while a tiny bite might be fine, it builds up. And some days you'll have no issue with a food, then the next you can barely eat anything. Every one is different and every fill will change what you can and can't eat.

A quarter cup or half cup is too small for a meal. As Heather said, expect to eat between 1-2 cups of food per meal depending what you're eating. Pasta may only be 1 cup; fish, veggies, and rice may be 1.5 cups; and Soup may be 2 cups. Expecting to only eat 1/4-1/2 cup of food per meal is ridiculous. Here's something to think about - I have an overweight cat and she only gets 1/2 c food per day (~150 calories) and she's 14 lbs. If you're 250 lbs, 1/2 c food, three times a day is around 450 calories (if you're eating healthy foods). That's starvation. Whereas 3-6 cups of food a day is approximately 900-1,800 calories a day (depending what you eat). You'll notice that some days you can eat more, some days less. It should all even out to between 1,200-1,500 / day over the week or month and 0.75-1.5 c of food a day will not get you there. There are days when I can't eat Breakfast or lunch, but can drink some Protein. I don't "make up" for it at dinner, instead I eat a small meal at dinner because the band just won't accommodate more. Then there are days I feel like I am eating like I did before the band, when in reality I'm eating around 1,500 calories those days. Ultimately it evens out.

Weight loss is simple math. Calories In - Calories Out. An athlete who works out every day may indeed need 2,400-7,000 calories a day to maintain or lose weight while gaining muscle because their metabolism is much higher all the time. You don't function like that - yet. So, since you're currently still overweight your goal should be to use some of your built in calories - your fat - to burn rather than eating additional calories. Keep your intake the same that it is now. Monitor how hungry you are during the days you work out. Monitor your measurements and weight loss. If you're losing more than 4 lbs a week, eat more calories. Losing that much is nice but will cause issues (skin, organs, hair etc.). Aim for 1-3 lbs per week. Your weight loss rate will tell you what you need.

I have the Omron, $67. Omron Full Body Sensor Body Fat and Body Composition Monitor It keeps a 90 day history for up to four people and does your: weight, BMI, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage, metabolic requirement (number of calories required to maintain your weight), age based on your stats, and your visceral fat (the fat around your organs). It's perfectly accurate when weight with and without weights (how I test scales) and weighs to the tenth of a pound. I strongly recommend it so you can make sure you're losing fat and gaining muscle and losing visceral fat. Plus it's a damn huge shock to the system to see your body's age based on your combined stats.

Unless you have long term first hand experience about the Canadian system don't bash it. If someone has life threatening cancer they are treated immediately.

Are you keeping a food diary? What are you eating and how much? Are you exercising?

Don't expect restriction on your first fill. Few people get to their green zone at fill 1. Plus, it can take up to four weeks to feel the full effects of the fill. You may be fine today, but in another week you may find that you're only able to eat 1 cup of proper healthy food at a time. You could be at your green zone and not know it. What foods are you eating? And what amounts?

When in doubt go to YouTube and watch the surgery videos. See what was actually done. That will give you perspective on why your body needs four to six weeks to heal from this major abdominal surgery.

Dry crunchy food goes down so easily because it doesn't bind together. Foods like Pasta, potatoes, some veggies, egg, meat, etc. will clump together if compressed. Grab a handful of tortilla chips and squeeze them hard, they'll crumble. Now grab some pasta (cooked) and squeeze - several pieces will stick together. Which is why, with pasta, you have to grease it up to stop the starch from sticking together. But, when you eat it, that coating is dissolved and the pasta sticks together - especially as it's forced through a small hole. Same goes for potatoes, etc. If you can't keep solid food down for three days, chances are you're eating sliders to get some food in you - hence the weight gain. Keep a food diary and you'll see what you're eating and why you're gaining.