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I am scheduled for surgery in Austin, TX on 01/14/2014. I only have to do a pre op diet for 2 weeks which is 900 calories a day which contain no more than 30 g of carbs, 10g of fat, and a minimum of 70g of Protein a day. I do a Protein shake for Breakfast and lunch. I ate egg whites yesterday because I hit a starving moment and it did the job. Then for dinner I am eating salads, green Beans, broccoli, or some other green vegtable and about 10 ounces of grilled chicken breast. So far I am on my 3rd day and its not as bad as I thought it was going to be. But I can see what people mean when they refer to head hunger and after surgery when I am on complete liquids only, I hope that I feel just as satisfied now. This is definitely a lifestyle change and I have learned so much already in my journey. I wish you luck on your journey and your upcoming surgery.

Hi there! Now, I don't make "gourmet" food or anything like that--I basically eat what "normal" people eat minus the fat, sodium, tons of carbs, and in smaller portions. No rocket science needed--I promise! If I can do this, you can do this! :girl_hug: The first thing I do is eat out of plastic containers that hold only a cup of food at the most to control portion sizes or I use a dessert sized plate rather than a dinner plate. It's a psychological thing! I usually aim for 1/2 cup of Protein at each meal then add in veggies, etc. Some people can eat more than a cup of food at a sitting which is fine--everyone is different. As long as you're still losing, it's all good! I eat three "meals" a day and I try my best not to eat at all after 6 PM. I don't snack between meals. Instead, I drink Water in various forms and strive to get in 64 ounces a day to flush out fat, keep from retaining too much water, and to stay hydrated. I don't really like plain water, so I got a PUR water filter and flavoring cartridge that I attached to my faucet. I either make flavored water by the glass or keep a pitcher in the fridge to fill up my water bottle. For dairy foods, I'll usually eat the low-carb 4 oz. yogurts although I find that yogurt does not do a very good job filling me up! I do still make Protein shakes with store brand skim lactaid milk (I'm still working on my bottomless container of Champion Nutrition whey Protein powder from a year ago)! I usually make it with about 8 ounces of liquid, 1 scoop of powder, and enough crushed ice to raise the volume to 10 ounces. I buy fat free cottage cheese and eat 1/2 cup with different things mixed in. I might add a teaspoon of sugar free strawberry jam (10 whole calories!) or a tablespoon of yogurt just to add some flavor. My doctor advised me not to add fruit like applesauce to it to avoid eating too many carbs. I eat string cheese sometimes with about 4 whole wheat crackers. I tried the lowfat version once, but wasn't too crazy about it. I also eat Egg Beaters for Breakfast often. Some stores sell flavored Egg Beaters--Southwest/Garden Vegetables, etc. Those are pretty good. I usually buy the plain kind and add something to it (chopped scallions, salsa, a sprinkle of cheese, chopped onions, peppers, and tomatoes, etc.). You can also play with spices as well. I eat refried Beans pretty often. I take a 1/2 cup of fat-free refried beans and combine it with a tablespoon or so of different types of salsa just to make it more interesting (peach salsa, pineapple salsa, etc.). Sometimes I add a teaspoon of fat free sour cream or a little sprinkle of shredded cheese on top (emphasis on little sprinkle--cheese can have a lot of fat). I also eat canned salmon a lot. I'll take a 1/2 cup of canned salmon and stir in different things (chopped scallions, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, dill, etc.). If you buy a couple of plum tomatoes instead of the big ones, that makes enough to mix in without having a lot of tomato left over to spoil. I add to that fat free mayonnaise or a fat free dressing that goes well with salmon. I do the same with canned tuna. I always rinse tuna (packed in water, not oil) in a collander to wash off the salt, too. That's an old habit I picked up from my dad's diet plan after he had a heart attack years ago. I also season salmon steaks with lemon juice and pepper and broil or bake it and then serve it with non-starchy veggies. I enjoy other types of fish as well (bake tilapia topped with salsa or canned chipotle peppers with adobe sauce which is very spicy, bake any white fish with a can of chopped tomatoes over it, etc.). All of these fish ideas can be split into smaller serving sizes and frozen. I make stir-fry often with chicken or shrimp and frozen stir-fry veggies. It's very quick and easy, and you can freeze the leftovers in small portions for another time. I find it's too salty if I use regular soy sauce, so I usually buy the low sodium kind. I make a basic soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch sauce found in most cookbooks. I usually cook rice for my son, but I don't usually eat any because I eat the meat and veggies first in my little plastic container and I get filled up. For chicken, I have the best luck if I use chicken broth to cook it. Dry chicken and I don't get along well! Blech! Sometimes I'll cook a whole package of boneless chicken breast in my pressure cooker with 1 1/2 cups of low sodium chicken broth or a can of diced or stewed tomatoes to keep the meat moist. Once the meat cools, I'll chop it up and freeze it in 4 oz. serving sizes. I'll mix the cold or hot cubed chicken with all kinds of things. For warm meals, I'll heat the chicken up with some salsa, chopped tomatoes, or frozen non-starchy veggies. I'll add the cold chicken to salads, add fat free mayonnaise and scallions to make cold chicken salad, or grind it up with FF mayo and eat it on a few whole-wheat crackers. I use turkey the same way. I haven't quite mastered making pork easy to eat yet. I'm still working on it. I can't eat shake 'n Bake pork chops anymore. Again, if it's too dry, I gag on it! :puke:I do have beef on occasion, but I make an effort to eat fish, chicken, and dairy more often. I do purchase frozed meals sometimes (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, etc.). I try to buy the ones that have just meat and veggies like steak tips and broccoli or turkey and veggies. If it's too much, I'll save the rest for another meal. If I buy a salad, I find that it lasts me for a good 2-3 meals. I dip my lettuce in the dressing as I eat rather than pouring the dressing all over the salad. It stays crisp a bit longer that way. You'll notice that I didn't mention the words bread or potato. I do eat some of these, but sparingly. I'll have a toast with Peanut Butter on occasion for breakfast. I can say now that I no longer eat doughy foods like doughnuts or cinnamon rolls. I avoid processed carbs as much as I can (chips, Snacks in the cookie/cracker aisle, etc.). I don't know if any of this babbling helps at all, but at least there's a few ideas in there that might appeal to you! Part of learning to live with the band is changing your thinking--the hardest part of this journey is overcoming what your brain is telling you from years and years of bad habits. If you make the food taste good and look good, you won't miss junk food at all. I feel like I'm a successful bandster not because I lost 100 lbs. in a year (which I most definitely haven't), but because I'm focusing on the good things I can eat and not bemoaning all of the foods I really shouldn't be eating in the first place. I'm choosing to lose weight at a slower pace than some folks--I'm not in a race with anyone but myself. I'm trying to make good choices to be healthy in order to change my lifestyle. I want to make lasting changes, not fall victim to the "fad diet" quick fix mentality if that makes sense. I didn't spend money to get banded and go back on the cabbage Soup diet, if you know what I mean! My band is just a tool to help me curb my appetite--the behavior modification and exercise is all up to me! Good luck!!!!

I clipped out some member favorites from a previous protein drink thread. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate the thread, but here are the clips: "Nature's Best makes a carb free, clear drink that comes pre-bottled and in fruit flavores. Its called Zero Carb and from what I've read the Frosty Grape is the best." "New Whey Liquid Protein is like 4 oz of clear protein with 25 grams and it tastes like liquified jello @ only 100 calories. www.fitnessfirstUSA.com has them!" "My brand is called New Whey Liquid Protein and I get it from: http://www.wholesalesupplementstore....idprotein.html It tastes fine to me and is easier to get down than protein shakes." "...started with Carnation Instant breakfast mixed with milk and unflavored Unjury protein powder. I have tried a few since being banded (10/04) and now use GNC's whey protein in french vanilla - I mix it with oj, van yogurt & milk and it tastes like an orange julius, or I mix it with frozen strawberries/banana/milk and its kind of like a daquiri."

Mine didn't feel 'stuck' but I did have really bad heartburn the next morning, but more in the esophagus than the stomach. At my first post-op with the surgeon, he mentioned that the esophagus acts like a "pre-stomach" when the stomach is full and I am eating more good. I think that I ate too much that day with my first time to try Soup. I am always testing and will now try to eat that type of stuff earlier in the day and try to stick with clears at the end of the day before bedtime. Sleeved on 6/10/10. 14# lost since. (blasted ticker!!!)

Down 21 pounds, starting weight was 210 today's weight 189.. 7*10*12

The dietician I work with said by not drinking when you eat it helps the Protein stay in your pouch longer and makes you feel full longer. I am not yet to the sweet spot in my restriction. I will need two to four more lapband fills before I know if this works on me. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

Someone (amazing) posted a list of people with October surgeries by date. I would like to be added to 10/16. Could you also repost? I would love to have a buddy.

Hello! I just had a question about eating and drinking before the surgery. My surgery is tomorrow morning 04/04 and my doctor said not to eat or drink anything after 10 pm. It's almost 10 right now and I ate about 4 hours ago and just drank a bottle of water but I feel like my stomach is full. I'm worried there'll still be some food or water in my stomach and intestines when they do the surgery. Is that possible? It just seems unreal that it could really completely empty out by 5 am...

Quest bars are high in protein, low in sugars and carbs. But they are also pretty high in fiber. I didn't have the wrapper with me to ask my NUT about this. I'm not sure how much fiber you can eat after you have the sleeve. Here's the nutrition label from a chocolate brownie quest bar. (you can also top it with peanut butter for extra protein) 1 Bar Calories 170 Calories from fat 50 Total fat 6 gm Total Carbohydrates 24 gm Dietary fiber 19 gm Sugars 1 gm Protein 20 gm Other Ingredients: Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (100% Natural Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Cocoa, Water, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Lo Han Guo, Sucralose. Hope this helps. It's not been easy for me to find a protein bar that is low in sugars and carbs.

So, after my last blog, when I attended the information class, I decided to move forward with it. I had to pass a physc exam first though, but I guess it's part of the process. I passed the exam, but then my doctor was worried about my high heart rate and blood pressure. So, she has a couple of test for me to do, but, I believe everything is so high from my weight. But she called me 2 days ago and said the refferal was sent! Next stage is orientation and losing 10% of my weight, Which means I have 22lbs. to lose. I am down 1.5lbs. and I just started 4 days ago! Next phase... orientation. :frown:

I gained 10lbs in the hospital. I lost it again in a few days. HW 385 SW 359 Sleeved 10/5/16

I was banded 2/18/13. I am down 43lbs. I have had two fills. One fill was 3cc the other one was this past Monday and it was 2cc. I have a total of 5cc in a 10 cc band. Here's the thing with the first fill nothing and hungry in between meals. The second fill which was three weeks later Im not hungry in between meals. I'm very satisfied on 4oz of food per meal. I am scheduled for another fill in two more weeks. Is this considered the green zone? Is it possible to be there so quickly? Would u all things considered have another fill? Anxious to here your opinions. Thank you.

I'm having my surgery on 6-26 and had to have my surgeon fax in a letter so I could take a leave from work. When he faxed it in he put I couldn't return for a month! From 6-26 to 7-24. I sit at a desk and talk on the phone all day, not light lifting or doing anything. I called and questioned him on it and the nurse says we tell people they need to stay home from work 2-4 weeks. But in my pre-visits I always thought it was 7-10 days. I am having an esophageal hernia fixed at the same time but that should be the only variance from the norm. Work won't let me come back till the doc releases me, so I’m hoping that he will let me go back before then. Has anyone else ran into this?

Seeing that you were banded on 1/07/2009 I would be careful. I was told not to do anything for 6 weeks after surgery. You also have to realize that you have lost weight and your band is now looser around your stomach. Once you have a fill in the next couple of weeks your hard work will pay off. Also muscle weighs more than fat....i have lost weight but I also cut my body fat % by 10% which is huge in 9 weeks after surgery. I am down 44 lbs and got banded on 12/3/08. Stay positive and you'll be fine.

I read on this forum where someone went to the Goodwill store and got on for $5.00 or check out ebay - I just looked and there's a bunch of nice looking scales for under $10 and free shipping. As M2G states above - it's one of those things you will use for years. I personally cannot judge how much I'm eating by eyeballing - my eyes will underestimate how much I'm putting in my bowl.

since this last fill I also noticed that if I can prim my digestive tract I can enjoy food without getting stuck. even if I just eat one little tiny bite of food and wait 10 min's or so the rest of my meal will go down without trouble. but if I try and take mouthful followed by another I will get stuck. you wrote your post so well. I smiled because you are me. so if there is 2 of us. there are more.

I went out to restaurants pre op with the fam - we were visiting the inlaws at the time - and it was hard as h*!!. Also had several sessions of M&M poker and rum - we always use M&Ms as chips (and the rum is for, well, getting toasted) - and that was hard too. But I brought had my blasted Protein shakes and told myself it wasn't going to be forever and these were special occasions for the rest of the fam. Its a lot less hard post op because you're just not hungry in the same way - and eventually you get to eat food. On the other hand, my husband has done all the cooking - and he cooks like a 10 year old (read spaghetti every night) - for the last month because we all agreed it would be cruel and unusual punishment to have to cook for them and not eat EVERY day. Now that I'm in soft foods I'm back to cooking some. You're pulled both ways. I think I'd probably go for the wife's birthday and eat the spinach but see if you can come to agreement that this is the only one until you're certain of yourself.

Yup really soft scrambled. I take 1 egg, whisk it really well. I then add ½tsp of greek yogurt and whisk that in. This helps keep them moist, but you can use a tiny bit of milk if you prefer. I also sprinkle just a little bit of shredded cheese. Then I either cook in a non stick pan on a low heat stirring constantly or I microwave for 1minute, stir and microwave for another 10 seconds if necessary.

I had a 10 pound restriction for four weeks and no running for 6. Soon as that 6 weeks was up I was out there again!

I did a low carb diet for six months pre-op (and lost 99 pounds by surgery day), so I am continuing to keep my carbs below 20 even as I progress through these stages (clear liquids, full liquids, purees, soft, etc.). The downside in that is that there are often limited low/no carb options early on. For instance, I am really on full liquids from Day 10 until Day 21 because all of the new items that you can have at Day 14 are full of carbs (no sugar applesauce, ripe banana, cream of wheat, oatmeal, etc.). My plan is to go right back to my meat and non-starchy vegetables diet with the help of the sleeve's restriction once my new tummy can tolerate those things. This approach is obviously not for everyone, but it has worked wonders for me. Carbs are my addiction and enemy, and I am going to have to minimize them as much as possible for the rest of my life. I'm sure you'll get some other helpful suggestions from other posters, but I'd recommend that you ask your nutritionist as well. Good luck!

Thank you for the advice! I wish I could give her the benefit of the doubt... I did that at 20lbs and when I saw her again after 40lbs, but when nothing was said after 60lbs and then a week later, she tells me how great her friend looks that has lost 10 POUNDS... She was very aware what she was doing when she brought that up without me even asking. I wish I could walk out of the dressing room with that much confidence and say that but that would be totally out of character for me. I'm confident but I try to let it show on it's own! I don't plan on trying on dresses... I'll let her size 4 sister do all the trying on! I'll keep ya posted!

Hi it took me 10 months from start to surgery because there was a long waiting list for my surgeon my insurance required a state of excellence center and I'm from Michigan .

I was originally banded 4-28-11 then my band slipped the beginning of 2015. My doctor told me that the Sleeve surgery would be better for me now since I have a higher chance of my band slipping again. They told me that the Sleeve surgery was like having your sweet spot with the band right off the bat. Wow that sounded great. I had the band removed and the Sleeve surgery done both at the same time on 11-18-15, so I am 10 weeks post op. I went for my 2 month post op check up and explained the problems I was having of not being able to get food down, not able to get liquids down, I have not been able to get Protein down nor any Vitamins due to the constant nausea and vomiting (actually dry heaves). They told me that my body is rejecting the food and that after surgery it is common to have an increased amount of acid in your stomach. Even drinking Water can create acid. They said the increased acid in my stomach is what was causing the nausea/vomiting. So they put me on a prescription strength antacid and a nausea pill. They also told me to take ONE bite of food every two hours for the next week or two to get my body use to food again. So I have been doing that for the last two days. Have not noticed any changes yet and the nausea pill makes me so tired that I cant take it during working hours. Has anyone else experienced this? Also, in the past 10 weeks I have eaten very little I am tired and have no energy to begin with and the last week or so I have been getting really dizzy. My blood pressure is low (around 92/63 to 89/61). At this point I am wondering if I should have taken my chances with the band again because this is not what I thought I was signing up for with the Sleeve. I am just wondering if anyone else is experiencing any type of issues like this and what you did or did not do. My doctor also told me the 3 oz of protein and 1 oz of something else per meal 3 times a day is not realistic and will not be realistic for a very very very long time if ever.

Just started this sleeve journey. VERY sore right now but I am walking and sticking to the fluids and protein only diet for another 10 days. Looking forward to soft foods but really notice how much my life was wrapped up around food. Have to unlearn a lot of bad habits.