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depends on your pickiness. If you have a bullit you can puree almost anything you liked prior to your sleeve. Veggies cooked very well and thinned with some chicken or beef stock is yummy. I particularly liked zucchini that way. Deviled eggs with a little of the unjury powdered chicken broth is really yummy. I didn't not particularly like it made into a broth however but it did make for a really good seasoning for things like deviled eggs and pureed veggies. I added the powder dry to the eggs with a bit of Water to make a paste. It is also good to have some tomato basil Soup, pureed cottage cheese and a little canned fruit pureed into it, Yogurt, go thru some bariatric websites for some great ideas.

I agree it is a long wait. There are so many various requirements which differ depending upon the bariatric center, insurance company, and surgeon. I started the process in January 2008. Between Jan and October 2008, I had to complete many, many, many requirements before I could even meet with the bariatric surgeon. I finally saw the surgeon October 8. I completed the H-pylori on October 10 and completed the upper GI on October 14. All paper work was sent to the insurance company on October 15 and I recieved approval on October 16. Looks like my surgery will be November 11, but I am waiting confirmation. Don't give up hang on. You can do this!:smile:

I have been heavy all my life and just getting heavier. I have been lucky so far as to not have developed any co-morbidities. My husband and I were trying to have another child for the last 3 years. I put $5000 in my flexible spending account for this year and after being told it would be around $20,000 to do invitro with donor eggs - I was looking for other ways to spend my funds. I had been contemplating and researching this for a while. A couple of friends/colleagues had mentioned it a few times as they knew people who had done it and we worked in the medical field so they knew staff and the physicians at the local bariatric center. Once I make a decision, I don't waste time. I went to an info seminar on March 9 and I had surgery last Friday (April 23). I have no regrets and am happy with my decision. I want to be healthy for me and my family to enjoy our lives. I have spent far too long hiding from pictures and situations because of my weight and uncomfortableness. It was time for a change and I'm proud to say I did it.

Well, just came from my PCP's office and I am a fuming!!! He just informed me that he considers my weight loss surgery a miserable failure and he's not going to recommend it to anyone else. I've been hovering between 216/217 For the last few days. Well, I didn't take my normal water pill that I take daily because I don't like to take it until 'm home and near the bathroom. Anyhow, I weighed 220 on his scale this morning which of course I was upset over as well. I was OK until he called me a failure at this WLS and he also said it's ridiculous if you have to keep going for fills and you're still not losing fast enough. Well, I had enough of his negative talk and blasted back that I am not a failure and considering when I first saw him many years ago I was 289. I started my lapband journey at 267 on 12/28/12. I said I've still lost weight and that is what counts. Last time I saw him 3 months ago I wanted to cry because he felt I had not lost weight fast enough (at that point I was down 37 lbs. according to his scale I'm ONLY down 47 lbs and that's not good enough. I should be losing 2 lbs a week, every week according to Dr. "DOOM"! Anyway, I didn't feel like crying this time. This time I wanted to scratch his eyes out. I've still lost 10 lbs in a 12 week period. I still haven't taken my water pill yet but taking that pill makes me lose 4 lbs like in a 12 hr period. Hey, I'm proud of my weight loss and I'm not going to let anyone steal my thunder especially my PCP! I've had many NSV's as well like fitting in smaller clothing, being able to walk more in the stores, etc . If my PCP knew how serious I am with my calories etc., maybe he'd get rid of that negative attitude of his. As far as I'm concerned my PCP is the failure! Not me! I'm still fuming but I'll calm down after awhile. They say 3 strikes and your out. Well, considering the fact he's not a BARIATRIC doctor, I'm giving him one more chance. In Nov. I'll have my 3rd visit with my PCP, if he so much as suggests I'm a failure again, that will be my last visit with him. I already have a new PCP in mind and he's about a mile from my house so I could walk there Just letting everyone considering the lapband, that I love my my band! I may be a slow loser but at least I'm losing. Don't let any doctor talk you out of it. I think all PCP's should all take a course in bariatric medicine before they judge anyone.

Surgery is 3 days and a wakeup away! I am staring to think more and more about it of course. On my liquids I have lost 13.5 pounds. I have "cheated" though and the guilt is killing me. I am not hungry, stomach wise, but my mental hunger is still there. Please tell me someone understands that. I am used to eating even when I am not hungry. This battle is going to be mostly mental for me anyway. I am spending time this week making homemade Soups and pureeing them, then freezing them. I hate how much sodium store bought soups have. I am going to be making homemade popsicles today and homemade chicken broth so I should be set. I haven't had the surgery yet, obviously, but I scared to death of my first fill. My doc does mainly bypasses and sleeves but since he is an insurance provider that is where I needed to go. He does first fills at 2 weeks post op and I am worried about it. We live 3 hours one way away from the doc so I can't just come back in a few days or so if he tries and it doesn't work...especially not with gas prices :-)! The bad thing is walking around WalMart last night is I saw a lot of people just like me, morbidly obese. It is so sad to me that this surgery isn't easier for people to get if they need it. Seeing those folks renewed my wanting to do this. I want to be healthier and I want to look better :tongue2:. My hubby was helping me take off my bra last night cause it was hurting so bad on my shoulders, he saw the bruises the straps had caused and he just said, you need this surgery, you are going to feel so much better very soon. He is a sweetie, said what I needed to hear! Laura

Asking a question is good, but I recommend you do extensive research from major bariatric surgery center of excellence hospitals, JAMA, ASMBS and other respected publications, attend a WLS informational meeting, WLS support group meetings and discuss your findings and concerns with your PCP and surgeon to address your specific medical needs. Good luck.

All plans are different. When in doubt, contact your dietician or look at your bariatric food stage paperwork.

Wow, thank you! I sleep on the couch right now because I am in between beds at the moment. I do not have a recliner but will def check sales! Did you stock up on protein shakes or anything before surgery? Im not sure what to get. They said to buy some now and try it so I would know what I like but I can not afford to just buy a bunch of them. I am planning on getting the bariatric vitamins.

Hi Ladies @Djmohr: That's so amazing to hear that your medical issues are now gone. This is why Bariatric Surgery saves our lives. Thank you for welcoming me. ???? I will definitely take you up on your offer of support. Ahhhhh I'm so excited and scared too. Soooo many things will be happening soon. @Daisee: congratulations on your recent surgery!!! Woohoo!! How are you finding things so soon after? Do you have any pain and how is your eating? My main concern will be lack of Vitamins. I will be making sure to get every Vitamin in me and drink all of my water/liquids. I just met my nurse last week and dietician and it was serious information overload. Lots to do before surgery in October. But I am up for this challenge for sure. Anyways I will let you go for now, I need to finish painting my nails. Hehehehe. Thanks for your messages. ????????????????

you're doing great! my bariatric doctor has a very balanced approach too. how are you feeling with getting some weight off?

I am doing OK. First few weeks weren't too bad, but I had a lot of trouble with nausea and constipation the last 10 days or so but it is finally subsiding. Could have been several different reasons, but as long as I am feeling better, I don't care why! I still am having issues learning to eat slow enough and chewing enough - mostly with meats - and have vomited a few times but I went back to liquids for a couple of days and have stayed on pureed since. I think I just started the more dense foods too early. I have my 6 week follow up Tuesday, so dr will advise how to advance foods. You will find on here that there are so many different plans, and it can get confusing, so just remember to stick with what your surgeon and NUT (nutrionist) require. They know you and your body. The pain really isn't too bad for too long. I mean I took my pain meds, trust me. It is difficult to bend at the waist for a couple of weeks. But by 3rd week at least it was mostly gone. I have an occasional ache near a couple of the incisions but I think that is when I overdo it (I did a 2 1/2 mile walk with my sister this morning and probably 1 1/2 miles yesterday, so I am sore and tired. Probably shouldn't have just jumped in that far, but I was so happy to be feeling normal!) No real complications other than the nausea and constipation and I think it is partly because I was still taking pain med when I probably didn't need to be (I passed 4 kidney stones since surgery which is unrelated to RNY and have a stress fracture in my foot that is healing). Primary rules - fluids, Protein, Vitamins. It is tough getting in even fluids in the beginning but it gets easier. My sister asked me today what the one thing was that surprised me the most and I said the small amount I can eat. And it varies. I just ate 4 ounces of Soup and it was just perfect. I ate just less than that at lunch and was full. Yesterday, I was only able to get in 2 Tbsp of Ricotta Bake at dinner before becoming too full because it is very dense (check out TheWorldAccordingToEggface.com when you get a minute. It is a bariatric patient's blog and she has some great recipes. @@Djmohr has also posted a few good recipes for us lately.) Have a great evening! And thanks for the reminder about nails. I KNEW there was something I meant to do tonight!

Hi All! Finally have a surgery date for 11/25, the day after Thanksgiving! I know I am prepared for this new journey! I have really been getting my mind and body prepared as best that I could. For anyone who went through the process or are going through the process, any advice? Anything to buy before hand? Bring to the hospital? Do in the weeks after? Thank you all so much! Also anybody have a date close to mine or the same date? Anyone in Boston who has been through the process?? I would love to meet other bariatric patients in the area.   Sent from my SM-G920T using the BariatricPal App

Hello all-- So far I have gone to a WLS orientation (12/16/09)....a Bariatric Program orientation (1/10/10)....and I have ANOTHER appointment with a Surgeon & Nutritionist on (1/22/10)... is it "normal" or ok for me to be this FRUSTRATED & ANXIOUS?!?!?!? I just want my band NOW!!!!!!!!! all these appointments are VERY informative & helpful but they are making me crazy....any advice out there on how to RELAX and go with the flow?????????????:huh2::w00t::smile::ohmy:

Hello all-- So far I have gone to a WLS orientation (12/16/09)....a Bariatric Program orientation (1/10/10)....and I have ANOTHER appointment with a Surgeon & Nutritionist on (1/22/10)... is it "normal" or ok for me to be this FRUSTRATED & ANXIOUS?!?!?!? I just want my band NOW!!!!!!!!! all these appointments are VERY informative & helpful but they are making me crazy....any advice out there on how to RELAX and go with the flow?????????????:cool::thumbup::smile2::)

OMG. I am now 12 weeks prego and starting at 4 weeks all the way to 8 weeks I was puking my guts up. Probably like 20-30 times a day. At the end point, I was just eating to be able to actually throw up food instead of stomach acid. Durring this time, I had 1.2cc in a 4cc band and could not make it out to my local fill center to get an unfill because I was so sick. My OB gave me Zofran (witch is I believe the strongest antinausia med you can take,not positive though) I also got phenergan suppositories since anything going in my mouth was comming right back out. Eventually, I had lost 15lbs and was so dehydrated (and had not peed it 3 days) and fed up I went to the ER and was given 4 bags of IV fluid. Even with all that fluid I still didn't urinate that day or the next morning so I went to my OB and they immediately admitted me and I was in the hospital for 4days on IV's. Upon arrival at the hospital I was immediately seen by a GI doc (due to throwing up blood) and a Bariatric surgeon (due to the band still being filled) They ordered an xray of the band and immediately unfilled the band. Luckily the band had not slipped (THANK GOD!!!!) and after the unfill and 4days and 10lbs of fluid put back into my body I have not thrown up since. It was really rough. So if there is anything I can advise people that are acutally throwing up constantly, make it your first priority to get your band unfilled. I personally think that if my band was unfilled I probably would not have gotten into such bad shape as I was in. I was hoping to actually leave my fill in through out the pregnancy because it was not that tight, but I'd rather be healthy and pregnant than skinny and pregnant. This time baby is priority and not me. Even though this was an accidental pregnancy!!!

I had such an awesome birthday this year! Friday: It started with a 1.89 hill training walk (after doing 5.21 miles the day before). Then I got a pedicure. I hadn't had one since my sister got married in 2008. Then the rest of the day was a blur from the lovely April 20th holiday. Saturday: I finally got to a support group. It was good. I hadn't been to one all month b/c of work, and I felt really re-motivated to get back on track. We did this exercise where you write on a index card "Today I will" and whatever you want to do. Whether it's exercise, or take your vitamins, or stick to your meal plan, or not eat cake. After this specific group we have a clothing swap. I found this super cute dress that was too big, and I'm saving it for the sewing class I'm going to take next semester. The fabric was too cute to pass up. After that I went to the mall for 3 hours. That is nothing in Liz time. That's like 1 store. And I was able to hit 4 or 5. MAC, Sephora, TBS, Victoria's Secret, and Nordstrom. I renewed my card at MAC. At Sephora one of the girls there applied some blush and lip products on me. Another employee even took a picture of us and texted it to me. That was way awesome. I bought some stuff from the Sephora Pantone collection. At first I was unsure of my purchase, but now I don't regret it one bit, I love it! Then I went to The Body Shop b/c I had $25 in store credit to use ($10 for my birthday and $15 for reaching 4 points aka spending way too much money there. Seriously, I have enough body stuff to last me AT LEAST a year if not longer!). I got this set that has chocolate scented stuff and a loofa, which brought me up to my 8th point giving me a $25 credit I think, and renewing my membership for another year. After the mall I came home, got dinner for Jess and then dinner for me and packed for the hair show and stay at my brothers house. Sunday: I got up super early, went to the hair show and spent way too much money. Monday: I did the same thing minus the spending. I only bought a couple of things. I pretty much didn't eat anything until dinner. I had brought a protein bar with me but it was DISGUSTING!!! So I just went without eating anything b/c everything they had at the show was either super expensive or things that I can't eat. On the way back I stopped at Starbucks and got a grande decaf soy iced white mocha. It was yummy. And I got an extra one which I gave to my sister in law b/c they didn't make it decaf the first time. When I got back my brother, sister in law and nephew took me out to dinner for my birthday. Today (my actual birthday): I got up early, went to Denny's and got my free grand slam. Went to work, got my hair cut/fixed by my manager/friend (another coworker who doesn't like me didn't do such a great job on it). Then I went to Ulta for my free birthday brow wax and the girl did my makeup too. I felt bad for not tipping her more, but I'm so totally broke right now. I really hope she doesn't think I'm a total cheapo. Then I got my free birthday car wash. Then I came home, changed clothes and we went out to a hibachi grill for dinner. After dinner I dropped the bf off at home and went to Ross. There I found this pair of capri/petal pusher pants that I had been lusting over but every time I saw them they only had super tiny sizes like 3 and 5 or the shorts version (I can't wear shorts b/c of my legs). I did a happy dance in the dressing room. It's conceivable that I could fit the next size down (which they didn't have), but entirely possible that I couldn't b/c of my legs, either way, I'm used to wearing belts, so I'm ecstatic that I found them! I also found a super cute dress (I just need to find tights or something to wear under it). Finding the capri pants was the cherry on top of my fantastic birthday. I am so content! And and and I almost forgot. I tried on a pair of size 6 pants (just for the heck of it) and they fit! But they weren't cute enough to justify the price. I think birthday sex may be next and I am so looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow (if I can get to bed at a decent hour).

Yes told my trainer though I don't tell everyone. Basically I do a need to know basis. But trainers at my gym take continuing education and learn about bariatric surgery, working with people who are obese or have asthma etc. so it is good for them to know.

Just wondering if I am about the only guy getting banded? Or perhaps one of the only ones online and talking about it? So glad to be meeting all the awesome ladies on here who are going through what I am, but wondering if I am the only 30ish guy getting this done? There seems to be more of a stigma (where I live at least) for guys getting Bariatric Surgery.. what about where you live? 17 days and counting! Anesthesiologist Consult on May2nd Surgery May 10th www.benworship.wordpress.com

How much do you have to lose???? I had over 100 pounds to lose and around 5 months out I had dropped around 90-95lbs. There is no average since the percentage of weight loss is the primary indicator for weight loss surgery patients and not actual pounds lost. A patient that has 100+ pounds to lose might lose more number of pounds as someone with only 70 pounds to lose, but it's the percentage of weight loss is what is used to figured "average weight loss" for bariatric patients.

So I have posted several times about my difficulty in taking my bariatric Vitamins. I take the Celebrate brand chewables: Multivitamin, the Calcium, and twice a week, the sub-lingual B-12. The multivitamin is the one that makes me the most queasy. I try to take it with a bit of food, but it is so unpleasant to my stomach that I have to lay down afterwards, sometimes with a bucket, "just in case" (although "in case" hasn't actually happened). Today, I was upset and couldn't eat, so I didn't eat anything and took my multivitamin with just some of my daily coffee/Muscle Milk drink. Within 30 minutes, I had crushing chest pain. My husband was at the airport, leaving the country for work, so I packed a bag and tried to get myself to the ER. I just couldn't get the courage to drive there! But I was afraid to call for an ambulance or bother my neighbor or friends because I was sure it would subside and maybe it was just gas or something stupid. Or, maybe stuck food (although I hadn't eaten - go figure). I wanted to get to the hospital where I had my surgery, so that they would know my situation, and where my surgeon practices - but that is maybe 15 miles. I couldn't drive there in my condition in case I caused an accident and hurt someone. So I drove part way through my neighborhood, changed my mind, pulled over and considered calling 911, and then most of the pain subsided. This is the same reaction I have to codeine, which is an allergy of mine. I don't have many allergies, just codeine and guinea pigs, and bleach. Codeine does this exact same thing to me, or at least it did the last time I took it, maybe 25 years ago. I did go on to the hospital. They took me back immediately in a wheelchair, so I bypassed the full waiting room and all the forms. I had an EKG, blood tests, and chest x-ray. The EKG had some slight irregularity, supposedly not heart attack related, but everything else was normal. My alarm for low breaths per minute (or whatever) kept going off. They wanted me to stay over for monitoring but I desperately wanted to go home, especially with my husband out of the country. I agreed to get a stress test from their cardiologist tomorrow and I agreed to no physical activity until then. Bummer because I wanted to start Water aerobics tomorrow. I am a healthy woman, 47, no comorbidities, pretty active. I am 99% sure it is an allergy, but will do what I was told and update. The first nurse I encountered today was kind of a know-it-all and told me it wasn't an allergy because I didn't have hives. Hello, I never had hives with codeine either. Also, she cut off my circulation (to the point of immediate pins and needles) with the blood pressure cuff, which has never happened before, and when I mentioned that, she acted like that happens when blood pressure is taken.

I had a lot of those cartons of creamed soup post-op, which I often added milk and unflavored protein powder to. I also used a lot of protein powder (both unflavored and sugar-free flavored varieties) and smooth greek yogurt. I bought oatmeal but discovered I could only stand the unsweetened stuff immediately post op, the normal stuff was WAYYYYY too sweet for me to tolerate. High protein milk (Fairlife in the USA, Natrel in Canada) was a great way to get in some more protein and a hundred or so more calories a day, as well as upping my fluids when water was weirdly awful to drink. I think I had some unsweetened applesauce, but not often. Basically my rule for myself was if it wasn't a source of protein, I didn't eat it those first couple weeks. There was just so little room in my tummy or will to eat, I needed to make every single bite "count". I think the biggest surprise was how much sweetened stuff in general disgusted me and tasted bad though. Pudding cups, popsicles, protein shakes, oatmeal... I had absolutely zero interest in sweet things. I lived off of savoury for at least a week before introducing limited amounts of sweeter foods. (AKA going from plain oatmeal to plain oatmeal with half a teaspoon of raspberry jam VS the high protein maple brown sugar oatmeal I'd been suggested to buy). I know some surgeons include baby food in their post-op diet plans, but I can't imagine myself eating that post-op. If it's not specifically recommended for you, I would like to say it really isn't required. I was kind of emotional and crotchety after surgery and was even resentful of the pureed soups, so I can only imagine how crabby I'd have been to be eating food meant for a baby LOL. Your mileage may vary on that one. I think my biggest piece of advice from one planner to another though... is DON'T OVERBUY. I was totally like "oh yeah I'm gonna stock up on all this stuff and it'll be perfect!" and then things I stocked up on... I ended up not wanting to eat and not liking. Stuff like said high protein oatmeal which I had always enjoyed before suddenly tasted terrible and now I was stuck with four stupid boxes of the stuff. Buy enough for a few days so you're not stuck with stuff your new belly/tastebuds aren't digging. Yes it means you're a little less prepared for the post-surgery apocalypse, but there's always online shopping and grocery delivery if you don't have enough of something. Post bariatric surgery is the one time I'd actually advocate "better to need it and not have it than have it and not need it". Also, I really looked forward to grocery shopping post op because it was a great way to get out of the house and do some limited walking

My office has a psychologist working within the clinic. I would gander many "bariatric clinics" do as well. Something to look into.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother had a "tattletale" cookie jar. It was what Grandmama called a "German Hausfrau" - the part that held the cookies was her full skirt of dotted swiss and the top was her head and torso. She was a plump lady(the cookie jar - not Gran) with a kerchief over her curly hair; rosy cheeks and her mouth was an open "O". One arm was raised and held a rolling pin the other hand was raised with one finger caught mid-wag as in "naughty - naughty". When you lifted her torso to get a cookie, a voice box in the torso would cry out "Mama! Mama!". That cookie jar came to mind the other day when reading some of the comments other bandsters post. If you're a doctor, nurse or other bariatric professional, please say so. If not, if you're just like me - banded and providing your anecdotal account of what you're going through, please - for the sake of your readers - drop the preachy, holier than thou, dogmatic, goody-2-toes, "I always do just what my doctor, nurse etc say to do delivery of your message. Reading it can be a real burn-out:w00t:!

Met with my NUT practice today(not the one affliated w/my surgeon). I explained that I was confused about what to eat and how much(don't know about everyone else, but I've gotten so many conflicting tidbits that I've got pages of notes). So the ladies get out the ADA Pocket Guide to Bariatric Surgery - Appendix C - LAGB Stages and Postadjustment Diet Instructions. Right there on the front it says, "Note: There is no evidence supporting a specific diet transition. Expert opinion suggests (a) a staged approach; ( diet advanced as tolerated. Some other notes of interest: Stage III (whole grain crackers may be added to eat with protein) StageIV (your calorie needs are based on height, weight , age and activity - so much for the "1,000 calorie" pat answer) Another great help was the ADA's EatRight - Bariatric Surgery Blended and Pureed Nutrition Therapy which provided a Sample Menu by Hour with amounts to consume - you are literally eating or drinking every hour from 8am to 10pm! I had no clue - so this will help as I go through the stages again following my fills.

Excellent video about regain or inadequate weight loss after surgery: http://vimeo.com/25570146 This is a video of a talk that Dr Mitchell Roslin, Chief of Bariatric Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in NY and Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt Kisco, NY gave at the ASMBS in Orlando in 2011. The purpose of the talk is to try to explain some of the physiology behind bariatric procedures and weight regain or inadequate weight loss following bariatric surgery. I hope this helps someone.