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I'm six days post-op and I think I finally turned a corner. While the pain from the "big" incision still hurts pretty bad, it has become tolerable. The gas/bloating seems to be subsiding, and the cramping I had after swallowing seems to be going away (though not completely - it's just not as bad and less frequent, but still super painful when it does happen). I also haven't had a normal BM, but I have been "productive", which I guess is better than what I've read some of you have gone thru. In other words, no constipation! So, I guess my question now is, when does this damn weight start disappearing??? LOL!!! I'm still having a bit of trouble getting all my fluids in (up to about 40oz. water, one 11oz. protein shake and various SF popsicles, pudding, yogurt, soup, etc.), and have zero appetite. That said, while I'm not the least bit hungry, I'm starting to crave the taste of certain things. Now it's like my tastebuds are on extra high alert! Is this normal? Does it go away? I've never had food issues before and I hope this doesn't trigger something. Anyway, now that I'm feeling better, I'm looking forward to LOOKING better! Almost everything I've read, either a post or an article says the weight will literally start "falling off". I really hope that's true. I've come this far, and I can't even imagine this not working. I'm still 1# heavier than I was the day of surgery, so I'm chalking that up to the last bit of air and fluids they pumped into me. 🤞 The weather here is supposed to be super hot & humid all week, so I don't know how much walking I'll get in, but I plan to be up & about around the house...doing housework or whatever else I can to keep active. Thank you all SO MUCH for all the kind and supportive words. It really does mean a lot! 🤗 P.S. Downside of pain meds... Norco makes me HYPER (as opposed to sleepy or loopy). It's now 1:00am CT and I'm wide-the-flip awake... 4 hours past my bedtime! Argh!

A low gi diet is foods that are basically labeled, red, yellow and green. Red foods, dont eat, yellow watch it, moderation once in a while and green means you can have them. 100 = sugar, its a measure of how fast you can digest foods I believe. berries, stonefruits, good, figs are high gi. whole grains are better than instant rice. Instant rice is the worst rice, like 87, but it also depends on how its cooked and how long. If you boil whole grain rice 20 minutes its lower gi, most of the starch is removed. the only potatoes semi ok, are new potatoes, very small, boiled, no baked potatoes which have much more starch. the lowest gi food is yogurt, that is artifically sweetened or unsweetened believe it or not, high Protein, about 57 value gi, the lower the better for you. I got the books on how to eat low gi free from my library. It works better for me than low calorie or low fat.

You should definitely consult your doctor on his/her plan for your first couple of weeks. I know that some doctors do only clear liquids the first two weeks, and then "full liquids" the second two. My doctor, on the other hand, does anything liquid during the first two weeks, as long as it is the consistency to be sipped through a straw (BUT DON'T USE A STRAW - TO MUCH AIR/GAS). Of course, protein needs to be FIRST PRIORITY. I have been doing lentil soup put through the blender, and fat-free greek yogurt. I have also been doing drinks that I ordered through American Bariatric - both their clear fruit drinks (a little like Crystal Light), and their cappucino mix (delicious - I mix it with warm coffee - 15 grams of protein and 90 calories!).

If he's truly trying to help you and doesn't think that it's sabotage, ask him to bring you some fruit or yogurt instead. Maybe some sugar free pudding or Jello? Give him some suggestions of things that you can have instead of things that you aren't supposed to have. IF that doesn't work, then I would suggest when you get upset to go into another room of the house and tell everyone to leave you alone.

Hello... my name is Jessica and I have been where you are. I've been banded 4 yrs now, and with the help of a nutirtionist, I have learned ways to maintain my weight and lose the weight. I'm a Health and Wellness Consultant and Independent Distributor for It Works. First, I want to say that for a 6'2, 33yr old man, you must have more calories. Calories are not always bad for you. You are young enough where you should be burning around 600-800 calories during a workout. If you are only eating around 1000 calories, your body has nothing to burn. A lot of WLS patients (including myself in the beginning) focus on counting calories because that what our Dr tells us. Well, thats not true. Yes, you should not be eating 2500 calories a day but for your weight and height, you should not consume less than 1500-1600 calories a day. Healthy calories is what you want. You need to shock your body to get it out of the same old routine. When our body gets used to eating the same thing, exercising at the same pace, and feeling the same; you get the same results. You can use supplements like your Vitamins, fat burners, and metabolism booster to help shock your body. Of course, make sure they are 100% natural. My products are 100% plant-based if interested. http://www.showstopperwraps.myitworks.com/shop/category/#57 Here is how you can shock your body. These are different foods you can eat for your meals. Morning take a whole food complex Multivitamins, Minerals, & Omega3, Thermofit (metabolism booster) and Greens (8 servings of fruit & veggies) go for a run before Breakfast (cardio) eat a high Protein breakfast (veggie omlete, Protein shake, or oatmeal) whole grain english muffin ham or Canadian ham yogurt & granola egg quesadilla Snack almonds (great for burning belly fat) berries, apples, banana protein shake yogurt smoothie lunch Take another Thermofit (metabolism booster) salad with protein (chicken, fish, steak) make it very colorful Turkey and provolone sandwich on whole grain grilled chicken breast sandwich on whole grain veggie Soup tuna salad dinner Take a Fat Fighter during heavy meals weight lift before dinner sweet potatoe (smart balance & cinnamon) fish, chicken, pork loin (grilled broiled, baked) veggies whole wheat Pasta Brown Rice roasted potatoes Take a Fat Fighter during heavy meals snack Popcorn Yogurt cottage cheese w/ fruit sugar free pudding/Jell-o **** Drink lots of water!!!!

A testimonial from the website of the hospital I will be banded..... insipires me whenever I feel like I need a pick-me-up... just wanted to share. I have found that there are certain "stones" that you must claim as your own and use with almost religious zeal to keep the tool of bariatric surgery sharp and effective. I think every person who has this surgery builds their own cairn out of the stones that they discover work best to encourage them. So here are a few of mine. Stone #1—Quiet Reflection This one takes different forms for different people—prayer and meditation, transcendental sauntering, yoga, sitting quietly, being. Take your pick, but this is an important discipline as it keeps the bariatric patient in touch with the one thing that our weight and former dependence on food distanced us from—our feelings. You must think about how you feel, stay aware of how you feel and set your compass each and every day to make all of the choices that keep you feeling good, feeling lean, and feeling in control. Stone #2—Meaningful Movement Do something. For me the compliance to this particular "stone" is profoundly personal and it took me almost four years to figure out that I would exercise far more consistently if I would work out early in the morning versus in the evening when I almost always had a conflict or flagging motivation. Committing to a time that no person or event could challenge and making it virtually impenetrable from interlopers made this one of the most significant assurances for me. If I start with this stone on the cairn—even if it is just a 45 minute energetic walk—everything else seems to fall in place. Put simply, if I even reluctantly walk over and pick up this stone (no matter how heavy) and carry it to my weight loss cairn each morning, I know that I will virtually run and, with little effort, pick up the rest of the stones that day and stack them on the monument of the day's success. Make this stone anything you like—for me it is walking, rowing, dancing, or maybe a touch of light weightlifting that I should actually do more often. Stone #3—Liturgical Vitamin Ceremonies My vitamin consumption has become an almost holy symbol of my intent to honor the body this surgery gave me. I bought a tea box (a wooden box with 12 square compartments) that sits next to my favorite chair. Every morning and night I open it up to behold the vitamin selection that assures my good health. There they all are—the multi vitamin, the Co-Q10, the calcium, the Colace (still needed from time to time). I take vitamins several times a day, and each time I take one, I whisper "I am good to me." Stone #4—The Security of Staples Always, always, always have the staples you need to stay the course for good health. This takes discipline and a list (laminated and always with you). For me, the staples are hard boiled eggs, fat free cottage cheese, Montreal steak spice, Lite Havarti cheese, apples, blueberries, fat-free yogurt, and Crystal Light. These must be in my reach at almost all times or I will most assuredly make the same bad choices that caused my weight gain. Make your own list and carry a small cooler in your car everyday if you must—and I have—so that you have no excuse. Never, never go home without knowing that you have the staples you need there. I do better without too much choice. An important related "stone" to this one was a hard one for me to acknowledge and eventually convince the rest of my family to join me in honoring. I cannot have any food in my house that is not desirable for a weight-loss patient to consume. Once that first year of no appetite passes and hunger makes its inevitable return, the same temptations you once knew will be back. Even though you will feel rotten if you succumb, it is just too tempting. I find the de-temptation of the home environment and replacing it with staples (symbols of on-going health) is critical for me. Any family member frustrated by this strategy can find plenty of excuses to sneak out of the house for a non-healthy treat. Stone #5—Surround Yourself with Stone Masons This has to do with the ongoing support we all need in life to achieve any of the goals we set before us, particularly the goal of good health after weight-loss surgery. For some, this may mean participating in support groups. I have had a mixed reaction to formal groups for bariatric patients. Prior to surgery, I found the groups to be absolutely inspiring with so many stories of success transformation. They were a remarkable source of hope during a time of despair. However, not long after my surgery, I found that most support groups were negative. The participants focused on what wasn't working, what they couldn't eat, or what they didn't like. Since I had been totally prepared for the changes that my surgery was intended to bring, I did not find what I wanted in a group. Look intentionally for a support group that absolutely encourages the excitement (and yes, reality) of a body that has been readjusted completely to bring about a transformation. Yes, our cups may now be literally half full, but our lives and futures are virtually overflowing. Surround yourself with people who see it that way and, do as I did, select your own personal support team. The people on that team are your stone masons who will help you set the stones you choose in place and secure them for life. Stone #6—Celebrate and Play At least once a quarter, take a day to do nothing but celebrate. Keep a list of the things that you always said that you would do when you lost the weight—take a hike, ride a horse, go to a concert, climb a mountain, go sit on the beach and watch a sunset, shop, etc. Write down everything you can imagine and, like a bucket list, do them one by one. Plan these important days, give them to yourself and review the stones in your weight-loss structure. If you can, take the day off on your surgery anniversary and honor your good health. Stone #7—Share the Joy Take some of the new energy of life that is most certainly one of the extraordinary benefits of weight-loss surgery and give it away to somebody who needs it. Do this in whatever way the world calls you to give something back. People carry "weight" in very many ways and I think we end up with an obligation once ours is gone, to help others carry their own or lose it as the case may be. Stone #8—Lighten Up and Face the Facts The reality of my numbers is as follows. The last time I weighed prior to surgery, I was a precious but substantial 327 pounds. I would lose a total of 167 pounds, 18 of which have found their way back. Of course, this predictable weight gain is a fact that strikes sheer terror in the heart of any person who has struggled with weight loss and knows how easy and devious the return of pounds can be. However, using the stone stacking method described here, I have discovered how to maintain my weight within about a two-pound fluctuation over the past year. Put simply, the balance of stones and habits for me that I have in place right now will accommodate maintenance. What I also know is that if I want to be as lean as I have been (which I very much would), I will have to exercise a bit more and trim some additional calories out of my diet to create that outcome. These are facts, not magic and not a failure of the surgery. Just a reminder that I will have to continue to use my stones in different ways everyday for the rest of my life to sharpen the tool of my surgery and create the monument to good health that I want my cairn to be .

My surgery was 2/12. I am in the soft food stage. I tried an egg on the first day I started soft foods ( I wanted to die). My main protein sources are ground chicken, ground turkey, fish and yogurt plus my every day 4 oz protein shake. When I started the soft food stage I was so excited to eat something not liquid and purée, but I still have days I would not mind it again. I can eat 1/4 c of what ever I’m eating. I am cleared to start eating raw fruit and veggies. I had a slice of seedless cucumber yesterday and it went well. Today I will have a cherry tomato with my lunch. Just keep trying. My nutritionist has a great rule that I have used. When you eat something and it upsets you or causes the day long “ I want to die “ feeling the next day go back to a few protein shakes and full liquids. I’ve used it now 2 times in 2 weeks it helped. Everyday is a new lesson we learn with our new stomach. RNY. 2/12/19 HW: 474 (5/16) ST: 412(4/18) SW:308 (2/19) CW: 272 (3/27)

I found a good quality supermarket that did mini meals. I liked the minced meat and gravy topped with mashed potato. Fish pie and a mild minced meat curry and rice. There was plenty of protein in them. I also made a tummy friendly Moussaka with baked aubergine instead of fried. I make a lot of soup, big soup fans. Mushroom with added bacon, blitzed at the end with extra cheese and or a light cream. Pea soup or carrot, sweet potato and red lentil are also great because they are good and thick when blitzed and full of protein. As you can tell I had my surgery in our winter months and needed warming foods. I was allowed melba toast and cream cheese, pate or peanut butter. I had a ton of protein yogurts, soft scrambled and boiled egg, tuna mayo. Good luck with finding suitable foods, it is a bit of a head scratcher in the early days

So i went grocery shopping today (Trader Joe's and Ralph's ) And i could honestly only shop in two isles. The dairy products (cheese & yogurt ) and the soup isle. Made shopping so much easier! I cheated and tried to eat a soft taco from Taco Bell, Half way through my second bite i had to stop because i knew it was such a BIG mistake! I felt that first bite and boy, it did hurt! I also had a turkey pot pie from ralph's (freezer kind) and it felt wonderful going down since the veggies and turkey were so soft! I know its Bad news bears, But honestly, that's me. I'm the kid that had to put their hand on the stove in order to know it was hot. Now That I know my limitations it is soooooO much easier to stick with the liquid diet! Day 9 post OP and feeling Great! only have an itchy Belly button since that's where they hid my port! (Glue fell off wounds, and i can see incisions, but they're closed now) Swelling is down, healing sites looking good just being naughty and testing my limitations with my pups! (Have to take a nap since i'm not getting enough food) Normal?

The last part of your blog helped me. I'm on day two of the liquid diet and I'm starving. I don't like soups or yogurt so it's very hard for me. But your right....... I just better get used to it. And if I loose some weight in the meantime...woohoo.

First and foremost, make sure you're following your surgery and NUT's guidelines. Mine moved me over to pureeds at two weeks and so thicker things like pudding,yogurt and tomato soup were within the limits.

Not necessarily, but I wouldn't go overboard. Your stomach is healing. I stuck with Protein drinks, yogurt, and Water. I could have used crystal light to flavor the water, but I figured that it would be one less thing for my belly to worry about while healing. Im on soft foods now, and I love cooking with spices. Spice and flavoring can also have nutritional value, but watch the salt and the processed flavorings. Just my opinion. I'm new to this, so I could be wrong Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using the BariatricPal App

https://www.buzzfeed.com/carolynkylstra/mason-jar-salads?utm_term=.iu9MzP7pQO#.fjMqE6XOap Bariatric patients look at these and think....would be nice, but WAY too much bulk there to eat.. And it's true...it's a lot of food for a bariatric patient. But if you're eating six small meals a day, it can be nice to have leftovers handy for the next little meal:) Also...you can make these geared a little more to the bariatric diet. Consider the following layers: Hummus Turkey bacon Tuna salad Tofu Shrimp Chicken breast Black beans Chick peas Lowfat hard cheeses Cottage cheese Fetta cheese Olives Banana peppers Avacado chunks Sweet potato chunks Hard boiled eggs Yogurt Pickles Reduced fat reduced sodium salami (great in greek salad!) Protein Pasta (made of chick peas, lentils, and whole wheat) Think of all of your favorites. Include some fruits. A few raspberries, peach slices, fresh apple chunks, pineapple, blueberries Some nice finely diced veggies like peppers, cukes, tomatoes, mushrooms, brocolli bits, onion, fresh herbs Make homemade dressings with low sugar and fat Oh! and if the idea of carrying glass jars around scares you....consider stopping at Gordon's food service and picking up tall plastic deli containers. You can get 50 containers and lids for under ten bucks. The more variety you're including in your diet....the more diverse your gut microbiota will be. Diverse gut bugs are correlated with better weight loss during diet attempts. Switch it up. Get lots of fiber in addition to meeting your protein goals. Get you some wonderful phytonutrients:) And enjoy flavor!

Hi, I'm almost 4 weeks post op and I am trying to figure out ideas on foods to eat and Snacks to have, especially at work. I've been on Protein shakes, greek yogurt, cheese stick, I've also had chicken & fish. Ineed more options. Thank you Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App

At your stage my surgeon had me drinking milk only for a snack. Food i was eating cottage cheese, yogurt, protein shakes, cream of wheat, I was also allowed pureed meats and eggs but they did not agree with me at that stage so i live on yogurt, cottage cheese and protein shakes until i hit the soft food stage.

early on - i really limited my carbs and i'm not sure if that's why i was a slow loser in the beginning or i was just lucky:rolleyes: i try to cook as many meals possible on sundays & have my house fully stocked w/good Snacks, fruits & veggies to pick on. i found if it's not in the house - i don't eat the crap (husband is also banded). till this day i still eat off a salad plate, it more than holds all i need to eat to keep me satisfied..... i really eat what i'm in the mood for these days - for example: breakfast - WW toast w/cream cheese & smoked salmon / tomato, hummus & veggies, organic waffle w/peanut butter, greek yogurt w/fiber one Cereal, veggie black bean burger w/pico de gallo.....etc. lunch - egg/chicken salad in lettuce cups, sushi, Soups such as lentil / white bean chili, salads. diner - i like to have some type of Protein w/veggies & carbs (good ones) or a salad loaded w/all the "good stuff"....i do splurge & have Pasta & mexican food occassionally. snacks - cheese, edamame, nuts, greek yogurt, fruit. i exercise 5 days a wk - some days harder than others & i've realized on the hard days ... i will eat more.

Im right here with you. Im barely a week post op..and I already mourned the loss of food. It really is something that you need to do. Think of this..how long it took you to get that band. How much money/time you put into it. How you felt being overweight before getting it? Is that really and honestly worth a few extra meals? Just give it time. You will adjust to it. Its hell for now..I know. Also..MILKSHAKES?? Wow.. honestly I was told to avoid the high fat easy to down foods like milkshakes. If you drink a ton of fattening foods, it really nulls the purpose of the band doesnt it? I was told I can add soups..I added soup..and then if I can tolerate it potatoes. I thought maybe this was a mistake, but If I Water them down mashed tatoes work for me. remember EAT SLOW! Yogurt works for me to. I honestly just do what I can..otherwise I cant stick with it. Hang in there. You will be happy you did!

Suntres, I too am in my 2nd week. Count yourself lucky, I am not allowed mushies. Week one was all clear liquids, Day 8-10 add yogurt (creamy only), and then ONLY adding protien drinks until Day 22. I would kill for some creamy tomato soup or cream of chicken soup right now. I am also a very picky eater. I keep thinking about bread and pasta. I had to go to my grandmother's birthday party yesterday where they had catered Texas BarBQ. Thought I was going to DIE from the smell!!!!! My husband says the same thing too. It helps sooooo much to know someone else is feeling the same things and I'm not alone. Thanks for sharing your story. KH day of surgery 4/15/05 Loss to Date: 13.5lbs.

I am scheduled for lap band surgery April 5th. I am flying from Branson, MO to Dallas to have surgery with Dr. Marsden in Richardson TX with True Results. I have struggled with weight loss for almost 20 years now and can relate to so many of the stories I have read on this site. I have been looking into Lap Band for a couple of years now and I'm ready to take the plunge. I am nervous because the success is so widely varied but I am praying that my determination will be enough that this tool will enable me to be successful for the rest of my life. I start my 11 day pre-op diet in the morning. I am happy to see that it seems less harsh than most I have come across on this forum. I have been instructed to eat 4 meals per day, 2 of which are Protein shakes the other can be my choice of 2: Yogurt, fruit, whole grain Cereal, toast, muffin, bagel, waffle, and the 4th meal should be 4-6 ounces of lean meat and a serving of a green vegetable. I stocked my fridge with everything I will need for the next10 days before I fly to Dallas. I am blessed to have a great support system at home and pray that my surgery team is amazing. I am also very glad to have found this site with so many inspiring stories to help keep me motivated. God Bless!

Greek yogurt, light mini baby bel cheese, Quest protein bars, low sodium ham, turkey, homemade mini protein muffins, shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp! Water, mio, crystal light, Tazo passion herbal tea. Lots of fish, cod, haddock, salmon even skate wing! Turkey meatballs.

Nonfat protein milk with sugar free Cinnamon Dolce syrup, Dannon light & fit greek yogurt, Bare Fruit organic apple chips, Mio water enhancer, cheese, baby carrots, preimere protein shakes, quest bars.

unjury chocolate Splendor Protein, organic skim milk, cracked pepper thin sliced deli turkey, string cheese, Dannon Lite & Fit 2 x protein yogurt, sugar free Popsicles, Tevana Apple Cider tea. Just got some protein hot chocolate from Nashua Nutrition. Will see if it becomes a winter staple. Sent from my iPad using VST

The soup sounds like it was a good choice. Good job! I went on my pre-op diet Saturday the 22nd and have about the same experience as you. I too ate a reasonable plate of food on Christmas (nurse said it would be OK). Here's what I have been having and the results. Breakfast - 10 oz skim milk with 1 scoop unjury Protein powder and sugar free Carnation Instant breakfast. lunch - 1 scoop chicken flavored Unjury made with 8 oz Water 10 baby carrots Snack - 1 Light Yogurt dinner - 4 oz lean meat 1 cup veggies Snack - Sugar Free popsicle Pre-op Appt = 225 (with clothes) Today = 217 (without clothes) The first few days I was so weak and lightheaded and my sugar dropped several times (I'm hypoglycemic). I seem to have adjusted now. My surgery is Jan 4th. When's yours? Suzanne

I'm coming up on a year with my Band and I feel terrific, having lost 60+ pounds. I'm at the perfect tightness and I quite think I'm going to maintain around this weight. My problem? I'm having trouble coming up with anything different to eat day-to-day! I have 2 Protein shakes, one for Breakfast and one mid-afternoon to make sure I'm getting my protein numbers. I DO generally have yogurt or a cheese stick mid-morning. Then I have a mini-meal at lunch (1/4 cup leftovers, i.e. baked Beans, spaghetti, sloppy joe) and about 15 wheat thins (or other crackers). My real problem is with dinner: I find I have such trouble with EVERY type of meat except ground meat--cannot do chicken, beef, or pork--and I am even at the point that I can't do refried beans. Of course, no breads, but I can easily do meatloaf, hamburger, sloppy joe, spaghetti, chili. But then I find myself eating potato chips and dip as a side dish! (They go down so easily!) My dear husband, who really really roots for me, even mentioned tonight how many times he's noticed that I'm eating chips and dip for dinner--and that can't be right--it's easy, but I KNOW I've got to get away from it! I have trouble with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese--should I just steam the heck out of vegetables? I'm still losing--but I KNOW I've got to go for nutrition. What do you long-time banders have daily?? :tt2:

Sugar free frozen yogurt, make a smoothie, if you go to a medical store or health food section you should find sugar free cake for diabetics, and a little piece of that wouldn't be bad. I can not lie I went to the frozen yogurt place in town and about 2 oz of the REAL deal for a treat for my birthday. Just the yogurt, no toppings or anything. It was a nice treat, although I did get a sugar headache and wolnt do that again for a while!