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I do love sweets and have been learning not to eat them. Since I am type II diabetes I had to learn that first. I make due with some sugar free fat free stuff. And I love yogurt. If I can have just one small thing a day I am fine. Just has to be fat free, sugar free and after I have all my required protein and veggies for the day. I think it will be easier with the lapband . But want also to hear from any other sweet lovers.

My first month out my calorie range was 400 - 600, but my NUT was more concerned with me meeting my Protein and Fluid goals. Being low cal for a bit won't hurt. We have plenty of fat reserves to take care of that. I started the day with a Protein shake with ¼ - ½ cup plain greek yogurt, 1 scoop Protein powder and whatever mixin's I liked, often 1 tbsp of almond butter, sometimes a 1 - 2 ounces of fruit and some chopped spinach or fresh spinach leaves mixed with Water and served over ice. That was Breakfast and lunch was pretty similar. dinner was veg broth or clear Soup with ½ - whole scoop unflavored protein powder. In between that I sipped on my water.

I had RNY June 10. I made the cheese bake this week. It was very good. I also have refried beans with a little cheese, cauliflower, applesauce, greenbeans, and yogurt and pudding. The next thing I'm going to try is roast beef hash. I've been trying to add something new every few days to see how it goes. Still can't do eggs though.

heya, I have 6 days left. In on Wed. They have on our liquid diet options to add 1 low fat sugar free yogurt, a tomato soup, and about half a cup of fruit if you're hungry a day. good luck to you.

my first 2 days i was clear liquid only and only AFTER i had my leak test done at the hospital. now i am full liquids and also having Jello, yogurt, pudding, cream Soups, milk. today i managed to do TWO 21 oz Protein Shakes in the morning, both mixed with extra milk and ice and 2 bottles of Water, so my liquids are met. had yogurt for Breakfast, cream of potato Soup for lunch, sugar free pudding mid-afternoon. tonight it's more soup for dinner and sugar free jello later. i'm getting the hang of it.

I went to see my doc this past Monday because I had trouble with proteins (meats mostly) going down and needed to get them in. Chicken, beef, pork, anything. I chewed till I was blue in the face but they got stuck. I know at the beginning, they said that if you have a problem with sticking your esophagus will swell a little from the problem and to wait a bit before trying again. I have been losing consistently so he did not want to do an un-fill. He said to try liquid protein supplements once a day or so for another month...and see how that goes. Plus I really needed to take the time to eat....i was eating way too fast. I am so glad I waited....I have been taking more time eating (reading books or magazines while I eat) and i have been fine all week! I do drink a Boost when I need to. Also heard that you have lots more restriction in the morning for some reason, so I try to have oatmean or a yogurt, something that goes down easy. Good luck!

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I don't really feel it. I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. I think you might be too tight if a warm Fluid in the morning is too much to handle. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. Any time that drinking fluids is a problem, being overfilled is the likely culprit. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I only give fills 4 weeks to settle down, because the longest time I have heard of for a delayed-action fill to kick in was four weeks. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. The answer for that is getting TINY fills and unfills. That's hard for you because of time/distance/money. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. I think you have given it enough time already. The following is from a post that I wrote a long time ago: "How does a Lap-Band actually work?" This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. Any comments out there?

You can make a really low-fat/no-fat hummus easily...just swirl (mix, blend, food process) garbanzo beans, lemon juice, 1 clove raw garlic, salt, 1 tbsp olive oil and nonfat plain yogurt. You can add one tbsp tahini, or, lacking that, peanut butter. Seriously, peanut butter will taste like the tahini.

Awww... We are here for each other. I am six weeks post op and I've learned I cannot tolerate meat. None. Except chili, go figure. I'm so frustrated and I've had a few break down moments. I've thrown up a few times these past few weeks and I know right now I need too. I tried some turkey burger tonight (3 small bites) and I can feel it sitting in my throat. Tomorrow I'm going back to soft foods like cottage cheese, yogurt, crackers with cheese. For some reason crackers are considered soft. I've also asked myself what have I done a couple of times today. I know I made the best choice for me and I'm still learning. However I am somewhat sad that I let myself get to the point of needing surgery. I've decided to attend a support group meeting next Wednesday hoping that I'm not the only person feeling frustrated. Keep smiling and I heard this will get better over time. The best part is we will be skinny hot babes by summer!!! ????

Perfectly normal to just want water. Listen to your body. You can put your crushed pills in applesauce, yogurt or pudding.

Well, this is my second time to reply to this thread...the first time my response was deleted when I hit spell check. : ( Oh well, here I go again: 1. how long did it take before you returned to eating normal food -- My doctor had me on liquids for 2 weeks. After that, he had me on shredded and mushie food. Basically I had to food process my approved foods to the consistency of cole slaw for 2 weeks. He had me do that to learn what the consistency should be to help know how much to chew. 2. are there some foods you still can not eat??? -- I only eat what my doctor told me to eat, so I'm not really sure if there are some things that I can't handle. I'm primarily eating Protein (chicken/fish), vegetables, certain fruit, yogurt, etc. 3. did you really give up diet pop??? -- Yep! The hardest for me was giving up sparkling Water. I still crave one, but I've done well with it. Like the other poster, I drink a lot of crystal lite now. There are a lot of flavors, and you can keep it with you and use it in bottled water or at restaurants. 4. how long did it take you to learn to chew your food??? -- probably a week...that wasn't difficult for me. Of course, I've only had one fill and it may be harder as my band is more and more restricted. 5. is vomitting a part of your new life?? -- I have not vomited even once since my surgery. 6. how long after surgery did you return to work?? -- One week (it seemed a little fast for me...it was hard going back to work, but fortunately I have the most understanding boss in the world and she would make sure I left early or worked half days my first week back. Good luck in your decision. I hope my answers have helped. I just encourage you to really think about why you want the surgery. It is not a magic fix. You still have to make the right choices. You just need to view the band as a tool to help you through your journey. I wish you all the best!

Great to hear you're doing well Bee Girl. I think we all need to get used to enjoying different things now and variety helps a lot. My post op diet is now puree food (from 4 days - 3 weeks post - op) and I'm varying a lot with yogurts, custard, very soft cheese, protein smoothies, puréed casseroles. Variety makes me feel very satisfied. Only if it's a few teaspoons at a time

Different surgeons have different protocols, and I'll second and third what other people have said: if you trust your doc to operate, follow their protocols. It's unlikely your doc is going to have you eating purees the day of or after surgery, so even if you go through the phases faster than others, you still kinda do them. For instance. My doc had me on clear liquids the afternoon of the surgery. If I tolerated them (which I did) she wanted Protein Shakes tested the day after (day 2). She doesn't like to send people home until she knows they're able to keep fluids and protein shakes down. So I was technically on clear liquids for about 14 hours, then advanced to full liquids in the form of protein shakes. Interesting note: medically speaking, "full liquids" includes a bunch of things that aren't actually liquid. Yogurt, puddings, jellos, etc. are frequently included in a "full liquid" diet. Which makes it seem like "full liquids" isn't a good term, but it's the one used medically. My doc keeps us on full liquids (including sf pudding, yogurt, sf Jello, etc.) until our 14 day checkup, then moves us to the "soft foods" phase. Which seems to skip purees, mushies, what have you. But her instructions are to start with pureed type foods and advance as tolerated up to anything that's considered "soft" and moist (she had a list, included eggs, shredded chicken, tuna, etc.). So she's not really "skipping" those phases, just allowing the patient to advance as tolerated. Then at the 1 month checkup, I was cleared for pretty much anything, using the same "advance as tolerated" process. Start with the easier to chew/digest food and work up. So the answer to your question is yes, but...

Well I was going to go back to work tomorrow, but I decided to give myself the rest of the week off. I am still having a lot of pain under my left rib cage around where my stomach should be. I am not sure if it is gas, or if it is the band itself. I am using gas-ex and activia yogurt to help. I took a 1/2 mile walk down to the lake and back today to help work out my kinks. Right now I think it has caused a few more, but no pain no gain (not sure that is an appropriate saying for this website.) I should take a moment to thank my Wife Tina and my father for their support and help over the past couple of days! Sorry about cursing you over the potholes on the way home. You guys are great! I do have a tremendous support network and I know I can count on all of them, but Tina is who I live for. She knows how to keep me going, and just when I need that kick in the ass. It is funny to see us in public becuause I am a 6 foot tall biker complete with full beard and frame, and she is a 5 foot 2 inch dynamo who has no problem setting me straight, and I love her for it! Well enough of the mush, boy I can not wait for the mushy foods though. I would also like to thank everyone here for their support also. I have my first surgeons follow up on Friday. I will keep you posted! Biker

Well I was going to go back to work tomorrow, but I decided to give myself the rest of the week off. I am still having a lot of pain under my left rib cage around where my stomach should be. I am not sure if it is gas, or if it is the band itself. I am using gas-ex and activia yogurt to help. I took a 1/2 mile walk down to the lake and back today to help work out my kinks. Right now I think it has caused a few more, but no pain no gain (not sure that is an appropriate saying for this website.) I should take a moment to thank my Wife Tina and my father for their support and help over the past couple of days! Sorry about cursing you over the potholes on the way home. You guys are great! I do have a tremendous support network and I know I can count on all of them, but Tina is who I live for. She knows how to keep me going, and just when I need that kick in the ass. It is funny to see us in public becuause I am a 6 foot tall biker complete with full beard and frame, and she is a 5 foot 2 inch dynamo who has no problem setting me straight, and I love her for it! Well enough of the mush, boy I can not wait for the mushy foods though. I would also like to thank everyone here for their support also. I have my first surgeons follow up on Friday. I will keep you posted! Biker

I made chicken salad chopped very fine and used fat free ranch dressing instead of Mayo. It was very good. You can add a little chicken stock to it also. Also egg salad chopped very fine with onion powder. I added strawberry protein powder to my yogurt and added it to SF pudding too. Also made chili then used a hand blender to make it smooth. It was so nice to eat something with flavor. Of course cottage cheese and applesauce no sugar added is good too.

Premier protein shakes are ready made. I am almost 11 months out and I still have one almost every day. Usually I have a Quest bar too - loaded with protein and fiber. White chocolate raspberry - yum. Low fat cheese sticks. Sugar and fat free Greek yogurt. All very pleasant and easy. I am down to size 6 from size 20.

I forgot to mention, sugar free fudgesicles and making a yogurt shake, helped satisfy my hunger during the 1st week. The second week, during the day cottage cheese and a protein drink (Boost) and a yogurt shake at night has helped.

That makes me nervous to be put on mushy foods! I have not been adding any protein into my diet right now because the kind I bought tastes terrible. I am getting it in a yogurt smoothie but that is not that much. The nurse says it is ok and not to worry about it. I go to the doctor for my first check up on Thursday the 10th of July. I think I have lost around 10 lbs. I guess I need to start exercising soon...Have you started doing anything?

TIDGE, Looks like a tough start. It sounds like you are out of energy even for healing because of the lack of nutrients getting in your system. Have you tried a vitamin yet? My preference so far has been Viactiv the Chocolate Cherry Chews. You can slowly let them melt in your mouth and drizzle down. Also, Yoplait Light Yogurt Smoothies (just don't swallow the bits of fruit) might give you a boost. I hope you're starting to get closer to feeling human again. It will be worth it all. Keep hope alive! ~Tricia

I eat cheese sticks, eggs, oatmeal, cream of wheat, Special K Protein, protein bars, cottage cheese, jello, pudding, grilled chicken, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, Lima beans, black bean soup, lentil soup, chic peas, refrained beans, cheddar cheese, Laughing Cow cheese, pumpkin custard, egg custard, greek yogurt protein drinks. I have trouble with meats. My stomach doesn't like them. I'm 8 weeks out. I wrote out a 14 day menu and change each day. Easy. Hope this helps.

I don't think I could have prepared for the loss of appetite that happens with surgery. I'm not hungry, haven't been hungry since 8/5 - the day before my surgery. I thought it would be awesome not being hungry. And in a way, it is. I wasn't prepared for how its not. I hate eating right now. I don't struggle doing it, I just don't want to do it. There is no joy in it, it takes up my time, it occasionally hurts if i try to rush it. Honestly would like to take a day off and not eat anything and would be perfectly content but I know thats not what's best for my body. So I guess I'll force down the protein drinks, soups, and yogurts today. I hope this melancholy regarding food goes away at some point.

I have been doing really well but it amazes me ever time I figure out something better for my body. Check out nuts.com. I just received my first order. I always have problems finishing breakfast and not getting all my nutrition in. Now I have Greek yogurt with a healthy granola which helps satisfy me and at night instead of eating my cool whip lite with cocoa I have about 1.5 ounces of a healthy trail mix with raw nuts, dried fruits and seeds. I feel like I answered some important question. I now have healthier days. Protein with meats, fish or beans, dairy, veggies, fruits and nuts. Really cutting out the liittle bit of crap I ate.I would have never made such good choices before. Also on nuts.com you can custom make your own mixes.

For me i started Soft foods (tuna, eggs, yogurt, etc.) in week 2 and Regular diet on week 5.