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I would check with your doctor, 4 weeks seems like a long time unless there was something unusual with your surgery. For my surgery, the first 2 weeks are things like protein supplement drinks, clear or cream soups with no chunks, yogurt, applesauce, baby food, etc. Phase 2 is 2 to 4 weeks and includes soft solids like soups with noodles or small chunks, cottage cheese, eggs, mashed beans, oatmeal, soft cooked veggies, canned fruit...I`m looking forward to phase 2 but am only 3 days post op. Did your doctor give you any kind of handout at all...I would definitely check. Four weeks seems like a long time but I wouldn`t do anything without checking first. Good luck!

I am scheduled for lap band in Feb. and the three weeks of liquids( post op) has me nervous! Do you feel hungry? I think I will be fine as long as I am not ravenous. i have to cook for my son and I don't want to be sobbing while doing so! LOL

My father is the difficult one in my family and I was very concerned about talking to him about it. He is very judgmental and opinionated. As much as I know he loves me more than life itself and just wants me to be happy, his way of expressing himself is usually aggressive, antagonistic, leaves no room for discussion, and can be very hurtful. I couldn't have the surgery without telling my parents and my brother, though. I knew it would be difficult so I prepared myself for the worst. There was strong resistance initially, but after I contained my desire to yell and argue and I was able to express my feelings about why I wanted to have the surgery and why I think it is the right choice for me, my family surprised me beyond belief and no one more than my father. You may want to give her the benefit of the doubt. I am not saying it will be easy. For me it took the entire 6 months pre-op while getting insurance clearance to get through, but we never argued because I did not let myself get roped into arguments. A few weeks ago I scheduled an appointment with my surgeon for my parents to join me at so they could ask all their questions in the hopes that it would bring them peace of mind. I went in prepared for my father to be a jerk to the surgeon. I even told the surgeon in advance that my father is against the surgery, but has accepted my decision and is being supportive, though he has a lot of questions and may get a little obnoxious. You can imagine my shock when, instead of antagonizing the surgeon and challenging him, my father's eye's welled with tears as he told my doctor that he is just so afraid to lose me and then proceeded to have a very rational and fair discussion about his concerns. My surgery is scheduled for Monday and my whole family is behind me and I am so grateful for that. At the end of the day, I was going to make my decision for myself one way or the other, but it means so much to have my family's support. My situation is a little different, though, because I am single and have no children so my parents and brother are still my main support system. I hope you can talk to your mother and can get her support in the end. Like me, you may be surprised to find that her positively awful way of expressing her feelings may just be the only way she can deal with being absolutely terrified of losing you and hurting so much seeing you unhappy with your body. I don't know if it will work for you, but over the last 6 months I have learned that so much of the pain I have dealt with as a result of my father's way of expressing himself has to do with how I react to the things he says. Now, I listen to what he says and I process it completely differently than I did before. I take the words he uses and convert them into what I know he means. This way my response is always to what he means and not to the way he says it so we just don't argue anymore. It has done wonders for our relationship and for my own self esteem. Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best. This is you taking control of the problem and helping yourself so don't let anyone make you feel bad about that. Good luck!!

You have some discomfort and pain mainly where the main area of the stomach is operated on...you will feel bloated and gassy. You look forward to farting lol....just to get it all out. Takes pressure off your stomach and helps not being so bloated. I haven't had any problems with drinking or eating...I'm on yogurt, cream Soups, hot Cereal, etc. You will do just fine. I thought the two week liquid diet was worse than surgery!

So I am 1 week out and have been faithfully drinking out of the 1 ounce medicine cups that they gave me at the hospital. I was not getting in nearly enough fluid and was burping 24-7. then I opened the cupboard to get my 2 yr old a drink and a stack of those cheap plastic sippy cups (no valves, they com in 5 packs) fell out at my head. I decided to try it. FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC! Burping is seriously reduced., there fore I and getting in much more fluiids. My protien shakes were the worst before, painful gain and I could barely get 1 shake down with gas x, now just a little burping and the shakes r going in. Hopefully I will actually drink all 3 tomorrow like Im supposed to! Hope this helps somebody get past that miserable gas! ing is seriously reduced., there fore I and getting in much more fluiids. My protien shakes were the worst before, painful gain and I could barely get 1 shake down with gas x, now just a little burping and the shakes r going in. Hopefully I will actually drink all 3 tomorrow like Im supposed to! Hope this helps somebody get past that miserable gas!

its hard, no doubt but in all seriousness, its a mind game we go into this thinking (we cant or its too hard) i never ever thought i could do it.....i dreaded my 2 1/2 weeks i had to do,,but on day 4 or 5, its not that bad...you detox from sugar and all toxins and you actually start feeling okay......the Protein is your fuel....so you wont starve....by drinking alot, you will realize what is really hunger or you just think you are hungry..... my saving grace was SF popsicles... just remember, this is to help shrink your liver into a piece of gorgeous so they can operate. its only for a short time but when your own it, its like forever..but you can do this if you want to. dont think you cant because deep down, YOU CAN

You get used to not drinking with meals. Occasionally I will have a small sip if I am eating something really dry, like chicken, which still does not go down well (7 weeks post op). You obviously can't gulp down like you used to, and that you become accustomed to as well. I've never really been a soda/pop drinker, but I imagine you could eventually try a small amount and let it go flat (I've heard). Now, if I had to give up Crystal Light, they'd have to take me out in a straightjacket... that, Vitamin Water Zero and Atkins protein shakes (milk choc) are my daily go-to's.

Me too.. I have a 12 noon date with my surgern on 1/11/13. Yes God is great... I am thankfull that I can call on Him. Pre-op went fine for me... I actully like the taste of my protien shakes. I lost 12 lbs in the week of pre -diet. See you on the lousers bench!!!

There is normally a stall around week three or so and you will stall-- I call them PAUSES, actually--- now and again throughout your journey. I read somewhere that we don't lose pounds and inches at the same time. While you're 'pausing', you're probably dropping inches from all over. Your body needs some time to adjust itself. You just dropped 30 lbs. It can't keep going like that without some kind of recovery. Push through the break, stay on food and keep advancing your diet. Focus on Proteins and get in your Water. It will pick back up!

http://www.livestrong.com/article/309453-how-many-calories-do-i-burn-a-day-by-just-existing/ You will burn at least 1,300 calories a day just existing. What's my point? It is physically impossible for you not to lose weight if you burn more than you eat. What you are lacking is patience. You question is the most frequent one asked here, I think. We think that bodies will give up the fat like a vending machine gives up a can of pop. The body is a very complex mechanism with many safety features. Security against starvation is over-zealous for sure but we have to deal with it. Give it time, it will get the picture. I had many stalls and gains throughout my drop. Don't be a slave to the scale. Stress brings on appetite, ignore the scale for a while.

I've been doing the same thing. Started my two-week liquid diet today in anticipation of insurance approval at the end of the month.

Yep...call, be very, very polite and charming they can't get too upset about a polite inquiry. I probably could be post op right now if I would have called when I thought things were taking too long. I found out I was forgotten for a few weeks at one of the steps. When I called, I got the appointment date I was needing the next day.

How about looking in the mirror and welcoming the new you. Sometimes saying hello to and welcoming something good, like a wonderful new future, is better than saying goodbye. I think it's great what you are doing though. The best suggestion I have for someone before the pre-surgery liquid diet is to cut out as much as you can BEFORE having to do the liquid diet. The more carbs you get rid of pre-liquid diet, the easier the liquid diet is. Also, those that spend the week before the pre-surgery liquid diet feasting or doing "last meals" seem to suffer more during the pre-surgery liquid diet. Weaning is the best way to go usually. The day before the liquid diet, the lower your carbs the day before the liquid shake, the easier it is. Remember the first three days is usually the hardest.

Congratulations !!!! Im 2 weeks behind you, I started my preop diet today.

I am on day 8 of a two week pre-op diet. It does get easier as the days pass. It's almost like your body does an about face knowing that it can and will survive on the diet. The first 3 days I thought I was going to starve and die, but stick with it, the hunger pains will subside. Stay strong and don't watch the food Network whatever you do! you can do this! keep your eye on the prize!

thank you guys so much. you're words, advice, and experience really helps me and it means a lot. thank you. i am really excited to see what life will bring with the weight loss. i've been heavy pretty much my entire life. probably starting around 12,13,14 somewhere in there. always husky and overweight with a belly. id say after highschool, college time, i really blew up. about 5 years ago i lost about 80lbs. kept it off for maybe a year. even then though i was still weighing around 265-270lbs. which is still a lot. you know? but back then i watched what i ate plus worked out 7 days a week for 1 year solid. but back then i was living at home, no wife, no kid, and only 1 mediocre job. now i got married have a baby bought a house and work 2 jobs so its like how can i work out??? i mean i know i shouldnt eat crap still but id say lack of exercise is my downfall and the fact that i have no time now. but still like i said there's no excuse for fast food like mcdonalds and chinese and soda and chips and icecream etc :'(

The first couple weeks it more of a mind thing. I was miserable. I wanted to eat. I'm only 3 weeks out n still sad but knowing soon I can eat brings light. 6weeks is insane. I said if I can do a liquid diet period I wouldn't need this surgery. I started my preopt a little earlier then then said trying to do a little extra it went good until the weekend b4 surgery. My mind lost it. I gave up. My mind was what good is being thin if I'm not happy eating food brings me happiness. That's where I'm stuck on. But yes the food intake is small. I eat some mash potatoes only child get about 4 small spoons full max. Eggs etc. Good luck with everything. I think we all feel the same emotions u mentioned. But I went to Mexico n came out alive;) so I'm sure ull b fine

Thanks! Ok the nurse said they will accept it I guess I'll find out soon. But the office that I'm going to offered a three and six month program also. I did the first one which actually part of the NUT program and went to the second meeting then found out I didn't need it because of WW records. They didn't charge me so if they submit in next week and turn me down I can do third month with them n get approved. Okay in kinda of bummed now. Also worried my insurance may change in March n new insurance may not cover it.

I have Cigna Open Access and got approved first try and within 5 days. Hubby just submitted to insurance about a week ago too and they came back with approval within 5 days too. I don't think the 3 month results from Weight Watchers will work. They are looking for 3 months of consistent monthly check-ins with your PCP following a doctor supervised diet. Good Luck!

I too am worried about feeling okay for Christmas. My surgery is December 17th. I'm a school bus driver and took off week before Christmas and off the school vacation week. I also took off the first week of January if needed. Since we have a split shift driving I'm hoping I can get back after vacation. Otherwise I took that first week of January just in case. From what everyone is saying we should be okay enough for our kids at Christmas. Feel free to in box me if you want to chat.

Yeah, I do that when I stall.

I had sleep apnea before my surgery. I had surgery in July. They are droping off a machine to retest me at home this week. I dont know how much it cost cause I have insurance.The machine is just like the one I use for my sleep apnea. Except the machine will adjust the pressure for what I need now. And there is a sd card in the machine that they get the information from once the study is over with. They said it takes about 2 weeks at home.

Congratulations! I am glad to read positive posts, because, just when I think I've made up my mind to get banded, I read several posts that scare the wits out of me. I follow Weight Watchers program (or at least, sometimes, when I'm not in over eating mode, like I have been lately) and last night I did a search on the boards there for Lap band topics and most people were negative about it, and most of them because of others they knew that had problems, etc..... It's so scary. but also so motivating (with all of the positive posts AND to see folks I know that had it done and they look fabulous, and love their band) to see that, as a tool, it would help me to get the weight off by not overeating and to stay off once I get it off, while not going too crazy with the "not so good for me" foods. Eating the 'right' foods, I get. I feel as if it would not be a HUGE change for me, once I would get past the first stages of eating liquids/soft foods. Once I reached normal food stage is where I am thinking I would be okay, as WW teaches smaller portions as well. It's also important to keep in mind, that WHAT we choose to eat does make a difference in our HUNGRINESS (is that a word? lol). I have truly found that out by following a good healthier diet some weeks, with fruits and vegetables, Proteins. Not too many carbs, but I did have some, like bagel thins, etc... I found that when I did that, I did NOT even think about junk food so much. And that is saying something for me because I am a self proclaimed SWEET TOOTH FANATIC. I am usually okay with just a snack size candy bar if I really want it. My problem is when I get on these mindless, crazy binges. That's why I want to be banded, to help me from going too overboard at times like this. I wish much success to everyone. I am still thinking I want the band, I'm just a bit terrified too.

Hello all. Just started my journey. My psch eval and nutrition eval is scheduled are happening within the next two weeks. Then my infor goes to the insurance company for approval. Any insight on approvals from united healthcare

Don't worry. Stalls happen. Try eating a little bit MORE as Sunnyway said. Six spoonfuls is not a lot. Energy in vs. energy out - you are doing more than you are eating, so the stall WILL break and you WILL lose weight once again.