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May be best to check with your doctor or nutritonist to see if you can progress. Have you tried having yoghurt instead? I have been thinning out yo pro yoghurt as part of my post op diet which I finish in about 10 days.

@Paul.VDH No worries - OK, my 2 cents on "pouch reset" and "counting calories" - Let's look at it logically.... We all know you have to consume less calories than you burn - Otherwise = weight gain. At 10 months out, let's face it, you're bored with the "diet" and ready to venture into new foods. At least I know I was. For me, I simply had to come to a compromise with myself and knock on wood, so far it's working. You can do the pouch reset, and you WILL lose weight by going through the phases again - IF you're doing that to get back on track, then go for it. IF you're doing it to lose 5-10 lbs quickly and then go back to what you're doing today - It's a temp fix. No different than what many of us have done before on previous diets. Use the app to make yourself AWARE of what you're doing to self-sabotage and make realistic modifications from there. If you want something that's "forbidden" (cake, alcohol, fried food, etc.), have it - BUT, in a reasonable quantity - I was just talking to a friend last night who also did the surgery and we were talking about these things - Instead of eating something like it's the last time you will EVER have it again (food funeral?), have a bite or two and then put it up and replace it with something more reasonable if you're still hungry. Example - Last night my husband had country fried steak (one of my all time favorites - can you say comfort food!!) - Rather than have 3-4 ounces of it - I had two bites and was still hungry so I had a protein shake. A month or so ago, I would have eaten it until I was stuffed and then swear I wouldn't indulge again (and of course I would!). Drinking... well, again, I told myself that if I was going to fall off the wagon, I should make it worth it and over do it. I'm consciously working on enjoying a glass of wine (vs. a bottle) or a glass of bourbon (vs 1/2 a bottle!). At just over a year out, I pretty much eat and drink whatever I want. It's been an adjustment, but slowly but surely I'm getting where I want to be. Many days/weeks I don't track. When I find that I'm self-sabotaging (I get on the scale each and every day), I go back to tracking. Seeing it in black and white (both the scale and the tracking) helps me get back on track to maintain and/or lose. I may or may not ever get to my goal weight, but I'll be damned if I'm going back to where I started.

Guess what? You just got a new job! Isn’t that exciting? Except…it’s a tough job: you will now be the CEO of Lifetime Weight Management. But don’t worry. You can do it, and the pay is fabulous. We’ll get to the job news, but first I’m going to tell you a job story of my own. I’m a writer and story-teller: that’s my job. Often my stories are fiction, but every word in this story is true. Many years ago, I attended a business luncheon with a coworker who was naturally slim. The food was delicious: a huge, flaky croissant filled with chicken and grape salad, a mountain of potato chips (I adore potato chips), and strawberry shortcake for dessert. About one-third of the way through her meal, my coworker stopped eating and pushed her plate away. “What’s the matter?” I said. “Don’t you like the food?” “Oh, it’s fine,” she said. “I just can’t eat any more.” She must have seen the baffled look on my face, because she added an explanation. “I eat a certain amount, and then I reach a point where I just can’t eat another bite, so I stop eating. I’ve always been this way.” I wanted to offer to finish her lunch for her, but was too ashamed of my own greed to suggest it, and I was busy digesting what she had just said. I couldn’t remember ever in my life reaching the point where I couldn’t eat another bite of food. And although I had tried more diets and slimming plans than I could name, it had never occurred to me that I might become slim simply by stopping eating when I became full. My coworker was effortlessly slim and I was effortlessly obese. I subsided into silent envy over her natural advantage. I spent the next 20 years suffering from morbid obesity and developing numerous health problems as a result of it. Finally, after much research and thought, I decided that weight loss surgery was my best option. On September 19, 2007, I had adjustable gastric band surgery. Ever since then I have been learning how to eat, and live, like a slim person. During that time, I’ve accumulated a lot of information, and have cultivated a lot of opinions that may not agree with yours, but of everything I’ve learned during my weight loss journey, there’s one truth you need to heed. Like it or not, no bariatric surgery of any description is magic. The WLS patients I know have all worked hard for their success. Adjustable gastric band. Roux-en-Y. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Sleeve plication. Duodenal switch. The surgical procedure happens only once (good Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise), but one thing, common to us all, happens every day for the rest of our lives. Weight loss and weight loss maintenance require attention, commitment and action every day for the rest of our lives. It’s a job – a career – we must do or die. A smart, mature, diligent acquaintance who did her research before she took the weight loss surgery plunge said to me once, “I had no idea how much work this was going to be.” The work is not just in the weight loss but in lifestyle changes. The work doesn’t end once you reach your goal weight, but believe me: it is so very, very worth it. I love this new job of mine. I love the improved health and high energy and increased self-esteem and size 4 clothing, and I hope I never grow tired of it or take it all for granted. A lifetime of work ahead of you can seem overwhelming. Think of it as a lifetime of learning. Learning is a good thing. If you stop learning, you stop growing. And if you stop growing, you die. My mother, who struggled with obesity most of her life, used to say that there was a tall, thin brunette inside her just waiting to get out. I will always have a short, fat blonde girl inside me just waiting to get out. But having weight loss surgery has given me some wonderful tools for lifetime weight management, and I hope that proves to be the same for you.

I had to do the 10 day liquid diet. My suggestion is load up on various soups and protein shakes. Socially i was going to die, no going to lunch with friends or anything by Day 4 it was all good though, I cheated 2-3 times. 2 days I ate 3 baby carrots, and 1 day I had 3 grapes. Not too bad though lol

Yeah from what i've read on here some surgeons are pretty loose with their diet progression...mine wasn't and had a strict week by week plan Weeks 1-2: Full liquid 10 grams of protein per meal 6 meals a day (clear liquids) Weeks 3-4: Blended 10-15 grams protein per meal 4-6 meals a day (blended meat, fish, eggs, or tofu, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, bady food, cooked vegetables, fruit, soups,) Weeks 5-6: Low Residue 20 grams protein per meal 3-5 meals a day (lean poultry, fish, or lean ground meat, creamy nut butters, egg or egg beaters, soft cooked vegetables, light yogurt TOASTED bread) Weeks 7 and beyond: 20-25 grams of protein per meal 3 meals a day (fish, poultry, legumes cooked soft, fresh or canned vegetables and fruit, cooked cereals, potatoes not fried, whole grains like rice quinoa or barley) avoid sweet beverages, whole milk, citrus acidic foods, alcohol, caffeine, fried foods, breads with seeds, fruit with tough skins, high fat meals, soft gummy bread, sugar and sweets that's sort of a skeleton of what to eat if i forgot anything someone please add on

Kare, I am new to this site - was banded on 10/20. So far no fills for my big band and right now I feel no restriction. It is kind if scary as I want to throw myself into this weight loss thing. You have reminded me of my history with weight loss. In the past the only way I have lost weight is to exercise exactly as you are talking about. When I exercised like that, not only did I lose weight, but I looked and felt better. After reading about your exercise and seeing your weight loss, I am motivated to throw myself into the exercise thing. I also have to stay off sweets which is my biggest problem and not really helped with this band. So, my goal right now is - NO SWEETS and EXERCISE. Thank you for the motivation!!!

I feel like if I remain fat or more likely, continue to get fatter, I'm going to be there for hip replacements, knee replacements, certainly ankle surgery. I'm probably gonna get gallstones as I hit the fair fat and forty milestone, there's just a myriad of things that being obese contributes too. The likelihood of those is FAR higher than if I get a band, lose the weight and maybe, just maybe have a slip or erosion down the track. Statistically, its not common, and I guess I feel quite secure too knowing that the surgery team I've chosen has a good 10 years of experience behind them. If it needs maintenance so be it. I find it hard to get my head round the fact though that I could get three years down the track, be slim and healthy and NOT have changed in my head in some way. Keeping weight off is the hardest part, but how can new habits not be ingrained after that long? You'd have to get used to seeing a certain amount of food on your plate, get used to eating very slowly and carefully etc. Would you really go back to wolfing down entire platters of food in 2 seconds flat? I do wonder about that.

My doc says I can drink diet sodas as long as they don't cause too much discomfort (I haven't had a problem with them yet.) He just recommends to pour it over ice and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before drinking. So far so good. Of course he doesn't want me drinking regular sodas, but I have found some diet ones that I like alot...Diet Dr. Pepper, Diet A&W Root Beer, and Diet Sprite (all caffeine free.)

Erin Branscom has a YouTube channel (My Level 10 Life) and also a private (paid) Facebook group that's very supportive and there are lots of recipes, meal plans, and food prep tips. On the Facebook group there is also a weekly Zoom chat. I'm really enjoying it, although I haven't actually tried any of the recipes yet. Some of the food prep tips and maybe some of the recipes are available on the YouTube channel. She has lots of videos documenting her whole process. I don't agree with everything she says (she's big into essential oils and hates "chemicals"), but the Facebook group has been wonderfully supportive.

It could be useful for current patients to get back down to their goal weight if they have some slide back, or just to get rid of those last 10 lbs. But then again, if we already have those hormonal changes, would this injection do any good for us.

I don't have a pre op diet required. I am just on a balanced meal plan, but I don't have to change anything as surgery gets closer. We are expected to loose 5-10 pounds overall with the balanced pre op diet while all your appointments are being taken care of. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had my sleeve on July 16th. They found a hernia that needed repair also, so I figured my recovery would take a bit longer. I went home 1 day after the procedure on liquid pain meds. I had to take them every 4 hours the first and second day home. The taste from the pain meds made me sick so I switched to children's Tylenol. Today, I woke up pain free. Feeling good! Gas pains have lessened. Just trying to get in all my fluids. I found Hood Skim Milk for 10 grams of Protein and it is a treat! Today, I am mixing in Isopure with Crystal Light to get in more protein. HW:228 SW: 214 Current: 210 Goal: 125

GARBGLDKFIHERJBJF Last week they said they are closing at noon today for the pre-op, for the holiday (that makes sense???). I said well when do you open? He said 5am, but don't come early because they'll be busy with people in the hospital. I said so like 10:30? He said yes. Then the preadmission lady calls over the weekend to get questions filled out; and said they close at noon on Monday. I said yep, I'll be there at 10:30. Couldn't sleep well last night, I've been up since 7am. I get the kids ready for our 45m haul to the hospital. We get there early (10:05am), and the lady says, pre-op closed at 10 today!!!! Are you...argh... what!!! I am so pissed right now. I asked if tomorrow is enough time to do pre-op for Wednesday -- she said yes, but her super smart office is the one that re-itterated that they closed at noon today, and I see how far that got me. If my surgery is post-pone due to their incompetence, so help me....

I quit 10 years ago using Chantix. I smoked the normal amount for the first 2 weeks, got down to one final cigarette and have never picked up one again. It was a little hard at first to break a 30 year smoking habit but not as hard as I anticipated. There is no real reason to use the patches as well since the Chantix blocks the nicotine receptors in the brain.

Hi Bunny, I'm booked for July 7th. I too have sleep apnea, diabetes and bad ankles & knees. I started at 276 and am down 10. Just losing 10 lbs. has helped me get control of my blood sugars. I can't wait to see what is ahead!! I'm very optomistic and excited to regain a healthier life:smile2:!!! Carol D'

I had lap-band surgery back on 7/19/2010. My primary reason for the lap-band was to send my diabetes into remission. On the day of my surgery as I waited to be call (got there 4 hours early) I had a horrible tooth ache from a tooth that I found out later needed a root canal. I didn't say anything because I was concern that it would cancel the surgery. The surgery was fine and the only real pain was from my tooth afterwards. It took me awhile to get the root canal done and so I lived with the tooth discomfort for a while. As a result I ate very little and therefore I lost a lot of weight - the doctors thought lap-band, I wondered tooth. When I started the fills food began to get stuck immediately and also pain and discomfort. They stopped the fills thinking I had enough and after all I had lost 20 pounds fairly quickly. I felt good and my AC1 almost return to normal levels. I won't go into the details of port fills and lack of results because we have all been there. Three months ago when I was in the doctors office they mentioned that I was a "lap-band failure" and suggested that one possibility might be the sleeve. My first reaction was I had purposely gone with the least invasive procedure and that to pursue the sleeve was to be going down the rabitt hole permanently. Which frankly scared me. However after thinking about the real consequences of diabetes in the long term and how much I hurt physically with the weight regained I signed up for the conversion from lap-band to sleeve. I have requested that they remove the lap-band and do the sleeve at once which the doctor says that he will try. I am now scheduled for surgery on December 21st. I'm not sure that I have any specific questions. I have concerns about the quality of life after surgery. I am also concerned about the psychological impact of the surgery. Thanks.

I can hardly believe it! 20 mths ago, I weighed 248 lbs. Today I weigh 151 lbs with about 16 more till goal. The first 5 mths were rough, no restriction at all until my 3rd fill. Then I started losing about 10 lbs a month. I love eating whatever I want to eat (this included Pasta, rice and bread) just really small quantities. In Dec of this last yr, I couldn't keep even Soup down after I started taking antibiotics for a bladder infection and started throwing up. Irritated my band allowing me to not keep anything down. Had to get 2cc taken out. Leaving me with 7.5cc in a 14cc band. I've lost about 5 lbs since Dec. Until 2 weeks ago when I had another fill (after over a yr, my 4th fill lasted a whole yr). I've lost an additional 4 lbs this past 2 weeks! I'm pretty tight, I eat VERY small amts, but I'm happy with it. He put 1cc in. Hopefully this fill will last another yr. The dr told me to call him in Oct and if I wasn't losing, he'd give me another fill. My fiance and I went to Macy's the other day and I casually decided to try on a pair of size 8 Levi's, wondering how much more I'd have to lose to fit into them. They fit! I can't believe that I fit into a single digit size! Just 2 yrs ago, I was wearing a size 20. I'm so happy with my band. My fiance, who has lost over 80 lbs the past 2 yrs on a lo carb diet is jealous that I can eat anything I want and still lose. If I buy a box of Cookies, I can eat one - while he has to eat the whole box. So anyone pondering getting the band - do it! It'll be the best thing you've ever done. But don't expect a miracle in the very beginning. For most people it takes several months to get to that "sweet spot" and start losing. I know I won't gain back my weight like every other diet I've been on in the past. I'm looking forward to getting married in Dec weighing 135! It'll be the first time in my entire adult life (and I'm 44) that I've weighed 135. In fact, I weigh less now than I did at my first wedding 23 yrs ago. I'm very happy with my band! Good luck to everyone! Marci

I am really really glad I found a post to share my lap-band surgery experience. I thought about creating a personal blog, but felt it would lack the support from other lap-band patients. So here goes everything: I had my surgery on 10/31/2011. Halloween. Barely had time to grab halloween costumes for my boys-who have been super supportive of mommies post surgery needs-as supportive as 7 and 9 years olds can be:) Surgery went great, post 3-4 days was as painful as abdominal surgery is expcted to be and by day 6-7, I was feeling much much better. I took a three week leave from work which was great to get rest, adjust to the eating routine and just be stress-free to truly focus on recovering. I hated being on the liquid diet for what...4 weeks? That was hard as hell. But by my 3 week appt I had dropped 11 pounds. I started at 256lbs. Im currently at 239 which is a little frustrating for me. But I defintely notice what many weightloss surgery folks notice....my clothes are all big. I was wearing an 18-20 pre surgery and purchased my first size 14 pants a couple of weeks ago. All of my old pants, whether jeans or dress pants, are big on me. I'm wearing my old bra's and buying size large sweats versus extra large. So I'm not too concerned about the scale, but it's frustrating and that's maybe because 256 and even at 239, it's the heaviest I have ever been. I've had one fill and can't recall how many cc's I received, but I have another fill coming on 4/25/2012-which will be 4 months after my last fill. I can certainly feel the restriction. But I do get hungry in between. Now I have a hard time eating the following foods (which is not a bad thing): rice, bread, eggs, pasta, and grilled chicken unless it's extremely tender. Can't eat fast even if I want too! It will come right back up and keeps me in constant control of how I eat which is fantastic. I buy less groceries, I order less when I go out. If I do eat too fast, the pain is a good reminder to not do it again. I was advised during my last nutrion visit to not count calories. They want to know how I do and how I feel just by eating and go about my daily routine. So that's what I've been doing. One constant that I still deal with? Finding time to exercise! The size of my stomach changed (the little band anyway), but my normal every day schedule has not! I'm determined to make this work for me and again, I can physically see that results are possible so I'm not giving up my fight to use this tool I've been given. Especially since the post surgery pain is still fresh in my mind:)

Breakfast - 6 oz apple juice mixed with a scoop of "Daily 5" (its all your vegies & fruites in powder form - 10 calories/2 carbs) Coffee mixed with DeVince Sugar Free carmel syrup, and a little whipping cream (sugar free) Lunch - 4 oz sf yogurt, 4 oz of cottage cheese, a handfull of granola mixed in Dinner - pasta salad with chicken added in Exercise - didn't make it to the gym Suppliments - Daily 5, Viactiv multi-Vitamin, liquid B-12 Weight today - 198.4 (no weight loss this month because no exercise lately and been eating what I want - I am back in control) Notes - I've been MIA lately. Just been so busy at home, at work and everything. I haven't made it to the gym the last few weeks because I've been doing a major remodeling job at my house. DH & I totally redid two bedrooms, including new carpet, paint, light fixtures, window treatments, the whole nine yards. They look great! Now that they are finished, I went to the gym yesterday morning. I managed to do 35 min on treadmill, burned 223 calories. I will be going tonight too.

Hey y'all, long time no type. It's been six months since I had the vast majority of my stomach removed in a hospital in the Austrian countryside! The highlights: I've lost up to 60lbs (down to 253). Went from a tight size 26 to a size 20. Am fitter & more able to exercise than ever before, even the last time I was this weight. I've been on & off very sick (sinus/upper respiratory issues, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia -- all predate surgery, but I wish they'd improved more than they have) I'm worried I'll be stuck here forever Here's a little pic montage! All photos are post-op. I forgot to take pre-op photos (yes really!). In the first ones, I've lost about 20lbs already. Newest ones were yesterday in a fitting room for my new sz 20 jeans. I'm VERY excited about the size 20 jeans. But I'm also super frustrated This graph from the ticker factory kinda shows why: The lowest weight I reached was 250 on Dec 1. My weight shot up 6-8 lbs overnight one night, and fluctuates wildly 3-4lbs on any given day. On Monday, after a transatlantic flight, I weighed 260. Today, 256. Obviously this *can't* be fat. I mean, I don't always stay below 900 calories, but I surely haven't eaten 21,000 calories in a day or even a week or two weeks. And, as I keep trying to remind myself, 60lbs in just over 6 mos is a pretty good pace! But the weeks on end of no real, positive movement are getting to me. I struggle with exercise. I still have pain in the muscle areas under my incisions. I have back and hip problems due to an injury/genetic disorder. My ankles are screwed up from an injury, too. Some days, just 10 minutes of aerobics will leave me exhausted & unable to do anything else, not even think… that's a chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia thing. I take D-Ribose and magnesium, & they help, but don't solve the problem. And it seems like once a month, I get sick enough to require time off and antibiotics. Luckily I run my own biz, or I'd be sooo fired right now. Post-op, I'm definitely better off than I was. I'm definitely *fitter* than I was, in terms of how far/how long I can walk, how fast I can walk, stairs, etc. But it hasn't seemed to help my immune system at all -- and it certainly hasn't made the CFS/FM go away When I'm sick, I don't have the energy to be Super On The Ball Girl with what I eat. I don't eat fast food, and I don't binge… I feel so lucky that I never had an eating disorder, but I'm an "eat to live" girl and when I am so tired or ill, I just don't have the energy to be fussy. I'll eat whatever's easy… my ability to resist is low. It could be (part of) a sandwich or grilled chicken wrap, schnitzel (which is always breaded) or some chocolate. I feel like I'm still eating an appropriate *volume* -- when I weigh my food, I eat about 4 to 5 oz of Protein at a clip. Anyway, that's my rave / rant. I'm so thrilled to be in the size 20. But worried & anxious & frustrated that it's not a size 16, or even 18. And worried I'll be stuck here for ages, since I've been stuck here for over a month. Worried that I don't "have what it takes" & won't ever, not physically and not mentally, to be hard core about it, and that I'd have to be hard core to get much further than this. Blargh!! If you've got something to say that you think could help me, I'm all ears.

I went through this same thing and still have some pain.. I am 10 days post op- each day gets better-

In a new position statement, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) have replaced the word “obesity” with “Adiposity-Based Chronic Disease” (ABCD). While that sounds like a clunky switch, the authors have laid out why a simple notion should be replaced with what they call a "complications-centric" approach to the diagnosis and treatment of excess body fat (adiposity). It's more complex than something like BMI. By making this change they have decided to use a new term that puts more emphasis on the chronic diseases that result from excess body fat. Here is a link to the article that discusses this change. http://acsh.org/news/2017/01/20/abcd-obesity-has-new-name-will-it-stop-epidemic-10751

Hey all, I'm sooooooooooooooooooo thrilled!! Last year 10/07, I started the whole process of getting the approvals from the doctors (cardio, lung, psych)..2/12/07 I was scheduled for surgery...and RIGHT before the day, I cancelled...unbelievable! Recently, I started rethinking everything...and decided to start once again. Luckily, I didn't need to be re-evaluated. Today, I got the call from the cordinator. I go to pre-op class on 9/22 and Surgery is scheduled for 10/07/08!! whooooooo whooooooo!! wish me luck and any positive feedback is morrrrrree than welcome!! Peace out-

Hi laura, i have finished my 6 month diet they require, and the doc test, i need to turn one more paper in from the doc office and i have an appointment with doc on the 19 of this month. and then they summit to insurance. i don't know of anything else that needs to be done. they haven't told me anything else. hope everything goes well with you tomorrow. tammy

I've visited this wensite a few times over the past few months. Mostly looking for info and thoughts and support and everything inbetween. I never signed up, but I did today. My surgery is scheduled for the 26th of this month. As in next week. As in 6 days. I have been so sure of everything I was doing. So confident, and right now I am scared out of my mind. I am so worreid about complications and dying on the table. Not waking up. I'm worried that the surgery is going to go wrong and I am gonna be using a feeding tube for the rest of my life. I'm wondering if I should back out and get my $2000 co-pay back and really work hard on regular excerise and eating right (which never worked before for any decent length of time). I have a baby at home, well a toddler. I'm doing this surgery for her. So I can be a healthy fit mom. So I can run around with her and not be easily winded. So I can show her what being healthy is all about and what to eat and do to live a long healthy life. I want to be a good example. I want to be a better wife. I want to be more comfortable in sexual situations. My God I have been with my husband for 12 years. Married for 5 on 10/5/12. Why do I shudder when he touches my stomach!?!?! I'm one week into my liquid diet, which is so confusing. I always feel like I'm doing it wrong. Which I would be lying if I said I did it by the book, but over all I am proud of myself. I quit smoking on 9/3 started a liquid diet on 9/12 and today I just drastically cut down on my coffee intake. My liquid diet consists of full liquids. So I'm allowed to have cream soups and cottage cheese and farina. I'm allowed yogurt also. I've lost 10lbs this week. I spoke to my bariatic coordinator about an employee party that was suppose to take place tomorrow but was postponed to next week. I wanted to know if it would be okay to eat a piece of chicken. Not that I wanted to cheat but I wanted to know. She said yes, but to chew it til it was paste and then swallow it. She said the issue is I should not be producing stool. Well, I am. Not alot of course and nothing like before but I still am and I told her that and she said everything is fine. So it brings me to the question of whether or not this diet is 100% neccessary. You can shrink your liver by cutting out carbs and sugars, you don't have to go to straight liquids. So why am I not suppose to be pooping, or why do I need to avoid producing it???? Does anyone know? And cottage cheese isn't a liquid so wouldn't that come out a solid??? Very confusing to me. Any advice anyone has and words of encouragement and info on the pre-surgery diet would be so nice and helpful!