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Bandiva dont use peroxide on incisions... only alcohol!! I have a ton of piercings that that is RULE #1!! Peroxide bubbles the dirt but then when done bubbling gets back into the deep incision taking the dirt in with it... USE alcohol. It drys instantly and keeps the dirt OUT. :-) I dont want you to get an infection :-)

For those of you now fully in maintenance mode and doing well at maintaining your weight, would you please answer these questions? 0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? Sleeve 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? 3 months 2. What's your current height and weight? 5'6" and 145 lbs 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? Don't count them at the moment. 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? Same as during weight loss phase, only with the occasional healthy carb like quinoa, barley, or brown rice. Not as careful to avoid corn as before, but still no "white stuff" or sugary sweets. 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? Very limited! 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? Still eating lots of nuts, cheese and Jerky. Probably too many nuts. 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? White stuff, sugars, alcohol. 8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? Walking 3-4 times a week and gym once a week. 9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? Active on Bariatric Pal and my local monthly surgery support group. Use sharing my experience with others as my "therapy". 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? See my story for lots of advice and tips.

I know that I was addicted to food prior to surgery. I wa an emotional eater. I craved sweets. On June 26,2008 I had my surgery. At first I had part of my port incision that took a while to heal. Since my surgery I have lost 38.5lbs (a little over 5 months). There are times that I feel that I am compared to a coworker who had surgery several months prior. At 5 months she had lost 65lbs. She has now reached 96lbs. My surgeon tells me that I am right on track. Each time I have been in to see him at 6 weeks I have lost 4lbs. At this rate it will take me several years to accomplish my goal. My coworker has been told that she is losing too fast. They took some of her fill out and her weight still did not slow down. I am frustrated and happy all at once. Help any suggestions? Wondering if should get another fill when see surgeon on Monday. I still feel tightness especially in mornings.:whatchutalkingabout uote=Tabithan;1077322]I wonder if food addiction is somewhat genetic. Like alcoholism - if your parents are alcoholic, you have a much stronger chance of being an alcoholic. Wonder if that works the same, with food. My mom always struggled with her weight - she was never as big as me, but she was always yo-yo dieting, and I started dieting when I was 13. So I wonder if there is some genetic link.... SD CHICK - It's exci5int 5hq5 you will be seeing the surgeon- will you be getting a fill as well?? You've gotta fill us in on whether you feel more restriction after. Wish you the best on this!!! I'm excited to go through this journey with you. Let us know, everyday, how it works with your December goal to measure everything. I did well yesterday - today, I TOTALLY VIOLATED A BAND RULE - I purposely had tea with my afternoon snack - and it my meal slid right down - I already have hunger pangs from it. I hope I have learnt my lesson. I also nibbled on some leftovers my friend brought over -no clue how many calories that held!! Arrghhh - where is the SELF CONTROL???? But so far, I am on track with my three goals - measure everything, 1500 calories a day and writing everything down. I am struggling with getting in all my Water, however!! TOMORROW will be a better day!!! I have found out that in the past, when I am not doing too well with the band, I stay away from LBT like the plague. But I realized, that hurts, rather than helps me - Pushes away the time it takes for me to get back on track as I don't want to be accountable for my failures with my eating. I will try to stick here, document it all - through THICK or THIN. I hope you will do the same, and stay with me as well, fellow strugglers!!! How did you do, fellow strugglers, through the weekend?? GOOD OR BAD - let's put it out there!!! :wub:

Hey Everyone!!! I'm 22-almost 23- and a sorta- single bandster.... meaning for the first time in 5 years, I'm having date #2 with a super awesome guy tomorrow night. I'm what you call a serial first-dater, and never quite make it to date #2, so this is a BIG deal to me! The first date was a group date with him and his friends, and I admit- I met him on Craigslist ( I got tired of being single in MD, so I posted an add with LOTS of pics and he responded!), but everything has been great. He's smart- (Has a BS in Political Science) and cute (in a scruffy, needs help kinda way)... so we'll see... I go to college in NYC so coming home in the summers is hard to meet people. I've never really had problems with self-confidence- just my self-worth... and trust me- its TWO COMPLETELY different things. I'm so girly- I can't leave the house without my hair and makeup done, and I always have my lip gloss on hand. I know how to work a room, and how to make new friends... my problem is that I have always surrounded myself with gay guy friends and never socialized straight guys.. I'm just now learning how to live life around straight guys and I'm having some sort of success! Its hard though- I am so scared to let myself fall for someone when 1. I am more unsure about my body at a size 14 than I was at a size 24 and 2. I know I am leaving town in a month for school again... so its hard. wouldn't it be weird to finally be one of those people we were so jealous of-- holding hands in a mall or something and being all couple-y and such? I would love to feel comfortable doing that- without alcohol, and without thinking I'm not good enough. Ahh well, I'll let you know how date #2 goes... but for now, I'm still single!

No one was at the restaurant is holding a gun to your head to make you eat. I find it humerous that people are suing McD's for making them fat. They chose to go in there, eat that food, and in great volumes I might add. McDs provides a service. Bars provide a service. Bars don't cause alcoholics. They might make it easier for people with obsessions to get a "fix", but they are not the cause. There are healthy choices out there. I hardly ever stop at a fast food restaurant. I really don't think of it. We eat out a couple times a week, but tend to go to restaurants. They are just as costly as visiting a fast food restaurant, but at a restaurant I can make better choices. Sometimes I think people think it is easier to stop at a fast food joint than to cook something or search for something better for them. Its all about choices.

On the subject of the artificial sweeteners debate, I pulled this from americanpregnancy.org, the only government run, FDA approved pregnancy website in the USA. For informational purposes. On the definitions page of this same website, moderate use it described as 1-3 times weekly average use, or less than once daily on medications. Fairy, I'd think about the 4x weekly Sweet n Low use. It's my favorite sweetener too, but I've resorted to using reg sugar or 2 Splendas in it's place until baby is out. Read on: Aspartame: (Equal or NutraSweet) Aspartame is not effective in heat nor for long periods in liquid form. It is often found as an additive to soft drinks, gelatin, desserts, pudding mixes, breakfast cereals, beverages, chewing gum, dairy products, and other foods and drugs. According to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA), Aspartame is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended to limit consumption to a moderate level. Aspartame should not be used by anyone with PKU (a rare metabolic disorder), rare liver disease, or by pregnant women who have high levels of phenylalanine in their blood. Phenylalanine is a component of aspartame, and it may not metabolize correctly in anyone who has these conditions. Sucralose: (Splenda) This is non-caloric sweetener that is made from sugar. Sucralose has been approved for use in baked goods, baking mixes, non-alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, coffee and tea products, confections and frostings, fats and oils, frozen dairy desserts and mixes, fruit juices, sugar substitutes, sweet sauces, toppings and syrups. It can also be used as “table-top sweetener.” Sucralose has no effect on blood sugar, offers no calories, and is deemed safe during pregnancy and lactation. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sucralose is safe for everyone to consume, including pregnant women. What artificial sweeteners are questionable or NOT safe to use during pregnancy? Saccharin: (Sweet 'N Low) Although it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many foods, beverages and other substances. The FDA does consider saccharin to be safe to use for the general public. Former studies that had linked saccharin to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer have been dismissed by the National Toxicology program. But studies do show that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in fetal tissue, so its use for pregnant women still remains in question. . What artificial sweeteners are questionable or NOT safe to use during pregnancy? Saccharin: (Sweet 'N Low) Although it is not used as much today as in the past, it still appears in many foods, beverages and other substances. The FDA does consider saccharin to be safe to use for the general public. Former studies that had linked saccharin to an increased risk of developing bladder cancer have been dismissed by the National Toxicology program. But studies do show that saccharin crosses the placenta and may remain in fetal tissue, so its use for pregnant women still remains in question.

I tried a bunch before I settled on Quest Bars. I can do some Adkins bars but I have to watch the sugar alcohols. They tend to make me nauseous.

I had a hungry hungry heffer day yesterday. Gosh I felt like a bottomless pit!! I do feel pretty successful in navigating it though. Here's how I triumphed. I'm writing this down so that I remember it. (I did have a "slight" altercation with pita chips leftover from my birthday--but the up side is I managed to limit them to 9=1serving and combined them with a complex meal rather than just shoving them down my piehole slathered in butter or cheese--something guaranteed to make me hurl in 30 minutes or less.) 1. Managed to do an 18 hour fast yesterday. 2. Made great food choice for lunch. 3. Made an almost great food choice for dinner rather than eating a chili cheese coney with fries at the ballpark like I was craving--and which would have made me hurl in 30 minutes or less. 4. Limited my allotted popcorn at the park from 4 cups for the game to about 2 to maybe 2 1/2 cups (I guestimated on the high side at 3 cups). 5. No alcohol despite wanting a beer or a glass of wine. 6. Exceeded my fluid goals for the day mostly from water, green tea, black decaff coffee. 7. Exceeded my walking for the day with 12000+ steps + did upper body free hand weights and actually jogged for 2, 1 minute intervals. 8. Did not stop for fast food nonsense or a drink after the game like I was craving. 9. Did not eat a heavy meal cooked at home late night like I was craving. 10. Appeased myself with 2oz of PP in decaff as a "dessert/sleep aide" even though it was 11pm--that's better than a low carb breakfast taco with bacon egg and cheese!! Totals for the Day: 865 cals; 63g protein; 46g fat; 60g carbs; 11g fiber; 49g net carbs; 14g sugars Despite doing all those things I did wake up to a 2.2lb up-tick on the scale this morning. I'm sure it was cuz I had 60g of total carbs and about 49g net carbs for the day. My pattern is that I go down, hit a new low, then bounce around above that number before again stepping down to a new low. So it's a jagged, spiky stairstep in a downward progression. So I won't sweat it. I also know I have bad lymphedema in my left arm as of last night, and that may account for both pounds. So I will chill out about the scale and just live another dream day today. I'm only gonna do a 12/12 today and actually enjoy a brunch (homemade). I'll keep carbs lo-low and really munch the protein and see if that gets my hunger back in submission! Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!!! Hugs all around!!

Denise- Waitaminute, he wore a pink floyd tee to a metallica concert?!?! Terry- No I meant to record that HBO series, my dad said he recorded the marathon last night and it looks good. It's a BALMY 60 something degrees here today, not sure what happened! Didn't even need my hoodie today. A customer sent me this today, thought it was cute.. "HOLIDAY EATING TIPS" 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 3. if something comes with gravy, use it.That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 4. as for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating.The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention.They' re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. 8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day? 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. 10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-rea d tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

@@F_it thanks for chiming in on your experience with Cymbalta. We are all so different and such bags of chemicals. Like you, I am very sensitive to drugs of any kind so my trial with low-dose Cymbalta for arthritis relief didn't last very long. I felt like I needed to give it a go and I do think there was some perceived relief, but it didn't agree with me. The first night I took it I felt like I was tripping so I backed off to a lower dose to begin -- that should have been a signal right there. The thing is, at 53 with this much pain if there's anything out there that may possibly work then I want to make sure I've at least investigated. Unfortunately we have to be our own guinea pigs sometimes. So sorry for everything you went through with the Fibromyalgia and your experience on Cymbalta. We have got to do something about these auto-immune disorders, for crying out loud! I have had horrific experiences with steroids -- in fact the overnight weight gain I had from Prednisone (ha, that just auto-corrected to "prisoner") kicked off twenty years of overweight and all kinds of other complications in my body. The arthritis has been really flaring lately and I know that has to do with the change in weather. I have been walking outdoors most and now that the temps are under fifty (we've had the thirties here, eek!) I find that cold really exacerbates the joint pain later in the day. Last night I took a couple of Tylenol -- has never done much for me -- and a couple of tequila cocktails. That is something that helps, and I figure alcohol as a drug is better than a lot of what gets prescribed by various physicians even though they generally disapprove of that. But you got to do what you've got to do! I use ice packs, too. Seems so ironic that cold makes arthritis worse yet ice packs reduce inflammation -- makes no sense!

OMG Gillian, that is so spooky - I paid the same as you (but mine was top back right!) and I thought the tooth fairy would visit too but the bag didn't:mad2: I have had lots of nurofen plus and vodka - although I must say was advised against the alcohol (I never listen). I had my first Christmas dinner on Sunday as my husband goes away to work tomorrow until 27th December (his 50th birthday!!) and I had been having a whale of a time - until my tooth broke that is :-( Never mind there is still plenty of time before the 27th Jan. Hope you are feeling better. TTYL T x

Hi tropical lagoon!!..cant believe how well your doing!!..it must have gone so well for you and I bet it was a big relief to be back home...even if you didnt get your christmas dinner!..I am just trying out my christmas present..a smoothie maker, in preparation!..have just been experimenting with fruit..lovely and surprisingly filling....but my eyes were averted to the alcoholic recipes im afraid...gin and strawberries, vodka, ice and lemons....and something for bigsister....Baileys and ice cream smoothie!...ooh, the calories!...that will be a special treat!. anyway Im glad your back home ok,and hope your new year gets off to a flying weight loss start!

Hi Jackie, I no it sound daft bt i was plannin on takin a flask of bovril as i luv this the most and stickin to ice water at th reception. I feel guilty if i dont go as it's a close friend and nobody knows apart from my partner and mam that im havin the surgery. I'm plannin on tellin my freinds after the weddin bt dont want them 2 worry as they al hav so much 2 worry about at th min!!! As for th questions i'll gt asked when i wip my flask out and they see i'm nt eatin n drinkin alcohol. I suppose I'll hav to tell a few white lies and say i'm feelin a little under th weather.... The weddin is at 12.30 and its about an hours drive from where I live so I'm just gonna take it easy and hope to stay as long as i can bt i'm nt goin to be stupid. I'm gonna come home as soon as i start to feel tired, as i really dont want 2 over do it. Thanks 4 reply SJS x Being Banded on 1st September

I guess it depends on the surgeon but my surgeon said there are no "nevers" as in "you can never have X again". My understanding is if you want a drink (even a beer) a year out, you can in moderation. Some people will not be able to tolerate the carbonation and you need to be very aware of the liquid calories, but it can be done. Just plan on a designated driver because the alcohol will affect you much differently than before. Clearly, if your friends are going to ditch you because you can't drink with them, it's less about figuring out how to drink and more about finding new friends... I suspect though that your friends are just as scared as you are. They love you just the way you are and are afraid your physical change will change who you are on the inside as well. I think they'll be pleasantly surprised when you're still the same guy except you don't need alcohol to get a buzz because you'll be high on life! Congrats fellow "Octo-sleever"!

So happy for you, SueJersey!!!! "You look MARVELOUS!!" When's your next cruise?!? I just got home from Hawaii :-) I'm 51 weeks out & have been stalled at 70-75 lbs lost since June. But I also added alcohol & sweet tea back into my diet about that same time. It's been a great ride & a fun summer but I'm hoping to get it kick-started again soon with a 2-week liquid (Optifast) diet. But even if I don't then I'm a happy camper right here at 5'6", ~175lbs, size M/L & 14/16 !!!!!!

"But terminating the pregnancy caused her so much pain that she tried to cover it with "drugs, alcohol, partying and a promiscuous lifestyle," she told radio host Rich Buhler in an interview with KBRT AM-740." Great piece of "news" from our favorite "news" source: Fox News. Anyone besides me think that this could be another couple who are doing all they can to further their argument against women's right to choose, rather than a sincere effort for the man to "adopt" dead tissue - which, btw, makes no sense at all on the face of it. It's shocking, I'll give them that. But then methinks that is the idea. Last point being, I'm sure that she did no "drugs, alcohol, partying" and didn't have a "promiscuous lifestyle" prior to her first pregnancy. She was a totally virtuous young lady, who was simply taken advantage of by some big bad boy. Only after the first abortion did she ignorantly choose to have unprotected sex that resulted in a second unwanted pregnancy and second abortion. Great story. Heart warming.

Suzanne, when I lost my weight, I was down to 160-165 pounds. I was a size 8/10. I felt fantastic. My blood tests were great, my blood pressure was great--------but many of the height/weight charts still had me needing to lose at least 20 more pounds. I was able to hover at the 165 and eat comfortably, do minimal exercise (for health as opposed to weight control)--without working at it. I did that with no fill for months! Until the stress and the steroids--then it went to hell in a hurry!!! But I will never strive to be 140 pounds or less---it is not the number I need to see. When I can easily walk in any store in town and buy a size 8 or 10, and be healthy, and not be ashamed of my size, or even the number on the scale----then I am happy about it. My BMI was on the high side of normal-------but it was normal!!! The better muscle tone you have the more you weigh----so most body builders show up overweight both on the charts for weight and for BMI-----yet their body fat percentage is super low. so there is no ideal way of determining what weight you should be. To say I am at a good weight because I feel good could easily be a cop out------I did not feel bad physically when I weighed 289 pounds----I did not waddle, I kept up when we hiked, I went on motorcycle trips---it did not hold me back, I did not FEEL bad. My body told a different story tho! My blood pressure was high, my blood sugar was high, my cholesterol was high, my joints were having issues, that caused me to have knee surgery several times.......so I was NOT healthy in any way shape or form!!! But got around better and did more than many thin people I know. If I can get back to the 165- 170 range where I can hover without worry, I am going to be a happy camper!!! Well made it through another week!!! Stopped and bought some groceries, and now I still do not know what I want to cook!!!! In the store, I saw an old friend. She and I were friends from before Junior High. Then a few years ago, I found out through happenstance that she was involved with my ex husband. That alone would not have been an issue, except she had been lying to me for over a year about it, and had caused friction between my DD and I. My ex, knew things, that I accused my DD of telling him----and when she denied it, I thought she was lying, so it messed with the trust I had in my child. THAT broke the friendship.....if there is no trust, there is no friendship. Well they recently split, and she is supposedly sobering up. So she stops and tells me I look great, and asks about the family like all is good again now that he is gone. I did not want to cause a scene in Albertsons---------but he was not the issue!!!! She kept smiling at me, and I swear she would see where I was going and head down the aisle opposite....and EACH time, try to talk. I mention it, because I just got the chime I had an email-----from her! Seeing me, made her realize how much she misses our friendship, and how can she mend things? I so badly want to send back something like "get a moral indicator, because yours is obviously faulty" or something..... I think she soaked her brain in Southern Comfort for toooooo many years!!! Feel better Jenn--praying for you. Laura, that you and Russell have managed with the cash flowing that way is testement to how well you have done.....Not many young couples do so well. Pamela, feel better, but watch the alcohol and the pills......that stuff scares me...A LOT!!!! Tracy-------I wanna see your gym---you said you took pics----------so lets see um! Well I am off to find something to cook and call dinner. Will check in later, or tomorrow. XOOXOX

hi hun glad you got date sorted out,it's now going to be your new beginning,after surgery you do feel sore and rough but the next morn i felt fine ust a bit tender,they get you up out of bed and take your drip out,then give you somthing to eat and you get sent back to your hotel around 1 to rest,but believe me you dont feel like eating i know i never,that lasted for about a week,then i just had shakes and tom soup lol,when you appetite comes back you just have to try and control it get your first fill asap and your second from your second fill onwards you will start to feel a bit of restriction everyone is different,but your pain eases each day it really does,we drove home from belgium up till scotland and back to ni and i was fine so it cant be that bad lol.i got banded in end of july and couldnt get a fill until 23 sep,then got my second oct and have lose 28lb i could have done better if i wasnt drinking alcohol and rubish but it is out of my system now and hopefull with my next fill i will be flying again lol xx

To all I thought this info was really helpfull. For those that have been banded by Dr Chris, what aftercare is offered is there a contact in the UK. What to Eat WheN - After Lap Band Surgery In hospital straight after surgery to day 1 CLEAR FLUIDS OVERNIGHT water clear fruit juice and cordial only [*]don’t drink everything at once [*]small amounts often – 50mls every 10 minutes [*]suck on ice if thirsty or dry [*]no fizzy drinks NO SOLID FOOD - CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Do NOT eat anything other than water, clear fruit juice, clear consommé, and black tea/coffee or cordial – even if it has been delivered to your room – it is probably a mistake. EATING UTENSIL Slim straw only Days 2 to 21-28 - Liquids Only LIQUIDS ONLY – small amounts frequently to keep you hydrated – 50mls every 10 minutes (up to 2 litres per day). Within a week you should be able to drink 1 cup of fluid slowly. 120 ml fruit juice 250 ml vegetable juices/ vegetable soup (pureed, thin) protein drinks reduced fat milk fully vitamised chicken/meat & vegetable soup no fizzy drinks NO SOLID FOOD - FLUIDS ONLY VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Drink small amounts often. Your new stomach pouch is small. Don’t overstretch it by drinking too much at once. Sip slowly, Small mouthfuls. If you can’t get it through a slim straw easily you can’t have it. EATING UTENSIL Slim straw only Days 21-28 to 35 - Sloppy Low Fibre Foods SLOPPY LOW FIBRE FOODS ONLY – EASILY SQUISHED THROUGH THE FINGERS - OR – THE THICKNESS OF BABY’S FIRST FOOD OR SMOOTHED MASHED POTATO turn off the telephone, lock the front door, occupy the kids, totally concentrate on eating sip very small amounts very slowly wait for a minute between sips no more than 200mls at a time 2 lite dairy/soya serves daily (1 serve= 1cup milk or 200g lite yoghurt or 35 g cheese) ½ cup pureed fruit or mashed banana puree cooked veal, pork or chicken, avoid beef (too fibrous) eat small amounts slowly but more frequently, hunger makes you eat faster avoid lobster, squid or prawns avoid home-cooked spaghetti & rice tinned spaghetti & tinned creamy rice are okay no fizzy drinks VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Eat very slowly and chew very well – 30 times each mouthful Low fibre fruit & vegetables only Low fibre means without the fibrous skin. Dried fruits like prunes, raisins & sultanas are also off the menu for this month. Drink 15 minutes or more before eating, and one hour after eating. SLOPPY/PUREED LOW FIBRE FOODS ONLY EATING UTENSILS MacDonald’s sized thicker straw or Teaspoon ^top Days 35- 42 - Transition Phase TRANSITION PHASE – gradually introduce solids from 5 to 6 weeks only very cautiously turn off the telephone, lock the front door, occupy the kids, totally concentrate on eating do not increase the portion sizes you have become used to over the last 4 weeks eat very small amounts very slowly wait for a minute between each mouth full cautiously introduce cooked unblended chicken or veal – 50 grams in total to begin with cautiously introduce cooked unblended vegetables cut fibrous vegetables into tiny pieces, then chew very well VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Eat very slowly Chew very well – 30 times each mouthful Cut meat into tiny pieces Drink 15 minutes or more before eating, and one hour after eating. EATING UTENSILS Teaspoon or Equivalent Size ^top What to eat for the rest of your life turn off the telephone, lock the front door, occupy the kids, totally concentrate on eating do not increase the portion sizes you have become used to over the last 4 weeks continue the further introduction of solids that you began to introduce at 5 to 6 weeks very cautiously the volume and coarseness of the food should slowly be increased over the coming weeks eat very small amounts very slowly wait for a minute between each mouth full continue to cautiously introduce cooked unblended chicken or veal – begin with 50 grams continue to cautiously introduce cooked unblended vegetables cut fibrous vegetables into tiny pieces, then chew very well 30 times each mouth full by about week 10 you should be at the point where you can attend a restaurant and eat an entrée sized meal in both volume and consistency – the time it takes you to eat this meal should equal the time it takes your eating partner to consume both entrée and main meal VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Eat very slowly Chew very well – 30 times each mouthful Cut meat into tiny pieces Cut fibrous vegetables into tiny pieces Drink 15 minutes or more before eating, and one hour after eating. EATING UTENSILS Teaspoon or Equivalent Size ^top Tips for Eating Out the drinking rule still applies, 15 minutes or more before eating and one hour after eating; special exception because you’re eating out, you can take tiny sips of liquid while eating while we’re on the drinking subject, for those of us who don’t mind a tipple, with the Lap Band in place alcohol will be absorbed much more quickly and therefore if consumed should be done so very slowly – remember, less is more and a lower tolerance can mean higher blood alcohol levels, so if you’re going to drink, please don’t drive just because you’re eating out, don’t decide to “make a meal of it” so to speak, and consume more than you have become used to over the last ten weeks eat one entrée sized meal only over the time it takes your eating companion to consume both entrée and main course if you don’t like the entrée choices, ask for the main meal served entrée size remember, we often eat just for taste, and not for hunger; if you remember this then savouring one tiny teaspoon of your partner’s dessert for the taste is all you really need if you’re worried about drawing attention to yourself by making the above requests, or by seeming to eat less than you have in the past, remember, this is the new you, you DO eat less now, your appetite isn’t as great, you don’t seem to need as much to satisfy you anymore, perhaps you’re coming down with something (any of these statements, casually uttered should deflect the curiosity of family or friends used to the old you, if you’re the shy type and think it’s none of their business. Otherwise feel free to be loud and proud and espouse the wonders of Lap Band surgery.) locate the toilets on arrival so you know exactly where to go if you’re not concentrating on each mouth full and you need to make a hasty exit by now you should be able to judge what “tiny” mouthful means and should be back to using knife and fork ^top BMI Calculator Does my band need adjusting? Post Op Pointers Post Adjustment Rules Food Clues Inamed Lap Band Process GP Info and News What to Eat WheN - After Lap Band Surgery There is a printable version of this information available here in PDF format. The PDF version also contains some menu ideas for the different phases. In hospital straight after surgery to day 1 CLEAR FLUIDS OVERNIGHT water clear fruit juice and cordial only [*]don’t drink everything at once [*]small amounts often – 50mls every 10 minutes [*]suck on ice if thirsty or dry [*]no fizzy drinks NO SOLID FOOD - CLEAR FLUIDS ONLY VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Do NOT eat anything other than water, clear fruit juice, clear consommé, and black tea/coffee or cordial – even if it has been delivered to your room – it is probably a mistake. EATING UTENSIL Slim straw only Days 2 to 21-28 - Liquids Only LIQUIDS ONLY – small amounts frequently to keep you hydrated – 50mls every 10 minutes (up to 2 litres per day). Within a week you should be able to drink 1 cup of fluid slowly. 120 ml fruit juice 250 ml vegetable juices/ vegetable soup (pureed, thin) protein drinks reduced fat milk fully vitamised chicken/meat & vegetable soup no fizzy drinks NO SOLID FOOD - FLUIDS ONLY VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Drink small amounts often. Your new stomach pouch is small. Don’t overstretch it by drinking too much at once. Sip slowly, Small mouthfuls. If you can’t get it through a slim straw easily you can’t have it. EATING UTENSIL Slim straw only Days 21-28 to 35 - Sloppy Low Fibre Foods SLOPPY LOW FIBRE FOODS ONLY – EASILY SQUISHED THROUGH THE FINGERS - OR – THE THICKNESS OF BABY’S FIRST FOOD OR SMOOTHED MASHED POTATO turn off the telephone, lock the front door, occupy the kids, totally concentrate on eating sip very small amounts very slowly wait for a minute between sips no more than 200mls at a time 2 lite dairy/soya serves daily (1 serve= 1cup milk or 200g lite yoghurt or 35 g cheese) ½ cup pureed fruit or mashed banana puree cooked veal, pork or chicken, avoid beef (too fibrous) eat small amounts slowly but more frequently, hunger makes you eat faster avoid lobster, squid or prawns avoid home-cooked spaghetti & rice tinned spaghetti & tinned creamy rice are okay no fizzy drinks VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Eat very slowly and chew very well – 30 times each mouthful Low fibre fruit & vegetables only Low fibre means without the fibrous skin. Dried fruits like prunes, raisins & sultanas are also off the menu for this month. Drink 15 minutes or more before eating, and one hour after eating. SLOPPY/PUREED LOW FIBRE FOODS ONLY EATING UTENSILS MacDonald’s sized thicker straw or Teaspoon ^top Days 35- 42 - Transition Phase TRANSITION PHASE – gradually introduce solids from 5 to 6 weeks only very cautiously turn off the telephone, lock the front door, occupy the kids, totally concentrate on eating do not increase the portion sizes you have become used to over the last 4 weeks eat very small amounts very slowly wait for a minute between each mouth full cautiously introduce cooked unblended chicken or veal – 50 grams in total to begin with cautiously introduce cooked unblended vegetables cut fibrous vegetables into tiny pieces, then chew very well VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Eat very slowly Chew very well – 30 times each mouthful Cut meat into tiny pieces Drink 15 minutes or more before eating, and one hour after eating. EATING UTENSILS Teaspoon or Equivalent Size ^top What to eat for the rest of your life turn off the telephone, lock the front door, occupy the kids, totally concentrate on eating do not increase the portion sizes you have become used to over the last 4 weeks continue the further introduction of solids that you began to introduce at 5 to 6 weeks very cautiously the volume and coarseness of the food should slowly be increased over the coming weeks eat very small amounts very slowly wait for a minute between each mouth full continue to cautiously introduce cooked unblended chicken or veal – begin with 50 grams continue to cautiously introduce cooked unblended vegetables cut fibrous vegetables into tiny pieces, then chew very well 30 times each mouth full by about week 10 you should be at the point where you can attend a restaurant and eat an entrée sized meal in both volume and consistency – the time it takes you to eat this meal should equal the time it takes your eating partner to consume both entrée and main meal VERY IMPORTANT NOTES Eat very slowly Chew very well – 30 times each mouthful Cut meat into tiny pieces Cut fibrous vegetables into tiny pieces Drink 15 minutes or more before eating, and one hour after eating. EATING UTENSILS Teaspoon or Equivalent Size ^top Tips for Eating Out the drinking rule still applies, 15 minutes or more before eating and one hour after eating; special exception because you’re eating out, you can take tiny sips of liquid while eating while we’re on the drinking subject, for those of us who don’t mind a tipple, with the Lap Band in place alcohol will be absorbed much more quickly and therefore if consumed should be done so very slowly – remember, less is more and a lower tolerance can mean higher blood alcohol levels, so if you’re going to drink, please don’t drive just because you’re eating out, don’t decide to “make a meal of it” so to speak, and consume more than you have become used to over the last ten weeks eat one entrée sized meal only over the time it takes your eating companion to consume both entrée and main course if you don’t like the entrée choices, ask for the main meal served entrée size remember, we often eat just for taste, and not for hunger; if you remember this then savouring one tiny teaspoon of your partner’s dessert for the taste is all you really need if you’re worried about drawing attention to yourself by making the above requests, or by seeming to eat less than you have in the past, remember, this is the new you, you DO eat less now, your appetite isn’t as great, you don’t seem to need as much to satisfy you anymore, perhaps you’re coming down with something (any of these statements, casually uttered should deflect the curiosity of family or friends used to the old you, if you’re the shy type and think it’s none of their business. Otherwise feel free to be loud and proud and espouse the wonders of Lap Band surgery.) locate the toilets on arrival so you know exactly where to go if you’re not concentrating on each mouth full and you need to make a hasty exit by now you should be able to judge what “tiny” mouthful means and should be back to using knife and fork

Breakfast i normally eat a 1/4 of a piece of Good Seed bread or if im at work i like the Special K pastry crisps. Lunch today is steamed cauliflower Dinner last night was a 1/2 cup of homemade chili My cals come in the alcohol....

hah! Your friend is probably an awesome friend. My life long best friend is a recovering alcohol and I bought her the same bracelet. 😉🤣

Yes... it easy to eat around the band... and, folks have failed the sleeve for the same reason. The band requires a bit of work--you have to listen to what it is telling you. Many folks simply don't learn how to live with a band, or they don't, or can't, do the requisite follow up visits. sometimes it is the fault of the surgeon, sometimes the fault lays with the patient. With the sleeve, it is a bit harder to cheat, but folks have managed to figure out they can graze all day, or simply eat beyond what their stomachs can hold,and finally they stretch the small stomach to to a point where the surgery is no longer effective. I've seen a lot of posts where folks have gone from the band, to the sleeve, and from the sleeve to RNY bypass. I've seen folks who lived in misery with a procedure for years, and you have wonder why in the world the problem wasn't addressed immediately? That isn't a fault of the surgery if it is allowed go on that long without medical intervention. I've seen posts where WLS patients are asking about drinking alcohol, and not in moderation... really? And they would expect to receive absolution from strangers in order to justify imbibing hundreds of extra calories and sabotaging what they have worked for? As Pogo wisely said, I've I meet the enemy, and he is us.

@LisaCaryl I wouldn't worry about it too much yet. We're still pretty early out from surgery and according to the nurse practitioner in my office, a lot of the results at this point are in flux. My A1c went down a bit, but my cholesterol was all sorts of weird. Just keep doing what you're doing and give your body time to adjust. I doubt you're getting too much sugar or carbs at this point, but if you're doing a lot of sugar alcohols (sometimes in "low sugar" processed foods) you could maybe see about cutting those back. Otherwise, a lot of the studies for A1c and bariatric surgery are looking at results a year out or more from surgery, not a few months.

So, I'm a bad example, I'm really proud of not drinking - It'll be 11 weeks without a drop of alcohol for me next Tuesday and I was quite a heavy drinker so I never thought I'd make it so far. The non drinking I'm proud of. However - I'm still smoking and I know how bad it is, but I just can't stop, I've tried nicotine gum, vaping, patches, therapy etc etc ... and also true to Parisienne form ... I still have 5/6 coffees a day .... and I drink the carbonated diet beverages. But I'm trying to be as kind and non jugemental to myself as I try to be to others and take it one step at the time... I never thought I'd be able to not have alcohol for so so long and so once the novelty of being sober drops off I'll try and reduce the cigarettes ... getting rid of caffeine will be last though, it's cultural here really and I work long hours and swap time zones often so I do use coffee as a crutch ... maybe one day I'll get that sorted but it's not an issue for now for me. My partner is a doctor, not a bariatric doctor for sure, but he's still good a good grip on biology etc ... I had the operation with out telling him and told him afterwards ... but he has said, as has the cardiologist friend he sent me to chat with that it is still better to be a non overweight coffee drinking smoker than an obese, coffee drinking, big social alcohol drinker smoker ... So I'm going with that and trying to tackle one issue at a time ....

I had my surgery about 5 years ago and now when I drink alcohol it seems like I go straight from tipsy to not feeling well. Anyone else feel that way?