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Vera, have you tried Balsamic vinegars? (about 10 cal. tbl.) You can mix them w/ oil and spices for a marinade also. But I think it's the creaminess we're craving. Hidden Valley has a Ranch Lite w/ 40 cal. tbl.) I love stews, Soups, or a pot of Beans any time of the year. I think it's wonderful comfort food. And aren't we getting our vegetables in that way? (Any excuse to try to make it right. LOL)

Good afternoon! I am scheduled to start my pre-op diet on 10/28/14 per my surgeon's office for my VSG scheduled on 11/11. I have been really contemplating starting my pre-op diet a week early for several reasons. First, my liver enzymes have been steadily increasing for the last 3 years and my pcp said I have a fatty liver which we all know is a risky condition with laparoscopic surgery. I do not want any chance of my surgery being aborted. I have had to make a lot of plans and organize a lot of our life to make this surgery happen while keeping my household operating while I am down. I have also met all of my out of pocket obligations with my insurance for the year. The holiday season will be upon us shortly along with a planned family vacation at the end of January. Surgery has to happen now or it will be a while before I can get everything into position again to make surgery possible at a later date. So with all of that, I am opting to start my pre-op diet a week early and do a 3 week diet instead of a 2 week diet. My surgeon's office is aware I am doing this and they are fine with it. They are baffled that someone would voluntarily submit themselves to another week of this diet when it wasn't required, but they understand why I am making this decision. Besides, an extra week of losing weight before surgery is less weight I will have to lose after surgery. Every ounce matters and every ounce lost will make surgery and recovery that bit easier. I am now trying to find a form of some type to keep track of my weight and body measurements on paper. I am also making a daily check sheet to make sure I follow my diet and get everything in that I should. So tonight I am enjoying pizza for dinner with diet coke to drink followed by a glass of wine and a caramel sundae for dessert. Tomorrow my new life and the journey to a better me begins! It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. Let's get this show on the road!

Good luck tomorrow. I know what you mean about being thirsty. I was told to be at the hospital at 10:00. They did not take me back to surgery until around 1:30. I was glad they did let me have some ice chips that evening but the nausea was so bad that I didn't even want to eat them. I hope things go smooth keep us posted. Chap stick or some sort of lip balm is a good idea.

My doc only gives protein goals and carb maxes... No calorie help at all... I could use some guidance because I feel stalled and dont know if I am eating enough... I am almost 10 weeks out and average 650 calories per day...

Hey guys, I am new to this site and to the idea of surgery. I am looking into a lap band and i think i want to do i t, but i need support.I am 19 and I am tentatively planning for surgery in December. I just want to know about people my age who have done what I am trying to do. I am worried about excess skin. If I go through ALL this and still have to hide Im going to be pissed lol I am tired of dressing around insecurities and really just want to move on with my life. What advise do you have? How successful have you guys been? What is something you guys wish you knew before surgery.

I'm so excited and nervous. I have a meeting on Monday with Dr. Benavides. I'm going to a seminar he is holding on Saturday, February 19 at 10 am at the Surgery Center, Richardson, 610 North Coit. If anyone else wants to attend, call Melissa Jensen at (972) 331-9500. I'll keep you posted on my progress! Thanks for all the great support.

My post op diet instructions went like this first week - thin liquids second week - thick liquids third week - soft foods fourth week - regular foods advance as tolerated by days 8 - 10 I was eating soft foods. I was told absolutely no Peanut Butter. However other folks eat peanut butter just fine. I personally don't like it so I don't eat it. Didn't your surgeon give you any guidelines? My doc had a specific day by day what I could eat packet that I had to read before surgery. Matter of fact he read it to me at my preop appointment.

I used maalox for gas... And I walked. Back and forth from the bed to the door... Maybe 10 times an hour!! I was given liquid pain killer but I never took it. It wasn't that bad. I wish you all the best.

Thanks so much for your input Sleeve Master! I completely agree with you about the piece of plastic floating around! I kind of feel like eventually that's gonna have to come out, even if it's 10 yrs down the road! I feel like I'd be setting myself up for another surgery in the long run and I really don't want to do that. I hate needles as it is! Unfortunately I don't have the money to do it out of pocket. Turns out my insurance will pay all but about $2,000 and I've been saving that up for the last 6 months that I've been doing my diet plan. I really can't afford much else. I'm nervous about surgery because of the risks, but I've been exposed to those risks before with 2 c-sections, so it's nothing new to me. I'm just looking forward to losing the weight, exercising and enjoying it, playing with my little ones, and just feeling better about myself. I used to have such confidence, but it has just plummeted in the last 3-4 yrs, after I had my kids. And, I believe this will help my husband and I's sex life as well. I'm a lights off kind of girl and I hope to be much more confident when this is all said and done! After thinking about it all, it just seems like the sleeve is the most logical solution for me! I'm really happy I found this website about it and actually researched it! Looking forward to feeling happy and healthy again! Thanks again for your input! It is greatly appreciated! Katie

I used Dr Ilian with Bariatric Pal. I've been quite happy. They send you home with a big book on VSG, a 10 week menu plan to follow, and have a gal you can ask unlimited questions of via email. I chose to have a video made of my surgery. (The concierge went to Walmart for me to get me a flash drive since I didn't know about this option before I arrived). They also sent me home with my blood test results (albeit in Spanish) and a disc of x-rays and my leak test. I drink a liquid vitamin from Costco (didn't take vitamins before surgery). I don't​ have much follow up care of my own choosing. I feel good, have energy, and I'm losing weight. I suppose if this were not the case I'd seek local medical support. I'm 3 months post op.

Did anyone have their menstrual during surgery? Mine is may 10 and being that I have to be off birth control 30 days b4 I'm not sure if it'll change but if cycle remains stable it'll fall during surgery time. I can't imagine how miserable it will be. To be sore and cramping and surgery can't be a good combination. Just wanted to know if any others had to deal with this. Crossing my fingers that it won't happen.

I WAS BANDED ON 2/19/08 AND I HAD TO BE A CLEAR LIQUID 24 hours and full liquied 1 week now I can start with mushies. IT IS SO WIERD HOW ALL OF OUR DR'S HAVE DIFFERENT DIET RULES. WOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ON LIQUIDS FOR WEEKS!!! ANY HOW, I HAVE NOTICED IF I JUST GO A TAD OVER MY 2 OZ'S AT A TIME I WILL GET A PAIN IN MY SHOULDER. IS THIS LIKE A WARNING SIGN THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE OR IS IT JUST POST OP??

Wonderful for you! I am 19 days out from surgery and have lost 25 lbs. I found some clothes in my closet that I never wore because I bought them and then quit smoking so gained weight and they were too tight. Now they fit beautifully! My hairdresser noticed yesterday I've lost weight. Others are commenting they can see it! I just know I feel better. And I haven't taken my diabetes medication in over a week! My fasting blood sugars are within normal range! We are well on our way! If it seems slow going just remember the slow weight loss is usually the permanent weight loss!

Hey there everyone, I was banded on March 10 and have not had a pain or gas or anything. Not even sore. Wasn't expecting to come through this good. I am now trying different things to get liquids in for a coulpe of weeks. Glad I made this decision.

Its a diet that the docs have you go on, anywhere from two weeks to three days before surgery, they usually tell you about it, but do be afraid to ask. My docs requirement was a two week liquid diet and lose 10 lbs before my surgery date.

Merry Christmas to all who see's this page-!! Today I got a rude awakening of my old life. Me and my kids got invited by a family where we live at. I got to the party and "oh Lord"--not a skiiny or small Woman in sight. The only small people were the girls who were 11 to 15--except one. You would think this young "woman" was all of 25--she was just 14 and maybe somewhere about a size 22. I've seen her before--but never all of her relatives. I am so thankful for the "Lapband" surgery. I am now 50 and no one thought so. I just hit my 54 pounds loss plateau. I am not struggling at all--but I know I will miss a few of my Gym days--due to the kids being home and the Gym not having a full schedule. But I saw so many Women today who was so large. I mean--ladies who was no less than 16 and close to a size 30. Yes--I know ladies sizes from being married quite a few years. I had to just look and say "Wow"--to myself-! People asked me--why was I so quiet. I said--I don't drink or smoke. I don't play dominos with the guys--I find it boring. So I found myself in the living room watching TV with all of the larger ladies. Now I used to have a beer or 2 sometimes--but since the 6th month of my lap band post op--I had to re-think my theory on that "every now and then beer". I have just gotten to a point of true dedication but it still needs lots of work--trust me. I have one area that needs a boost. That area is me giving 5 days for the work out instead of 4 or 3. I have now made my schedule to move into weight lifting--light weights--trust me--but there will be some weights in my gym program as of Jan-3rd-2008.I am hoping to keep it at no more than 160 lbs. I don'twant to bulk up--I want to refine the muscles and keep the weight loss going as much as I can. As I close this little letter here. I was thinking--"Oh My God"--"Was this me back in the day? (10 months ago and before the surgery) I saw people piling the plates up-then asking me--"where is your food? I simply said--"Where can I put my food? I had the weight loss surgery--a few months ago". I heard--"oh--ok... But I saw the plates eaten that were piled up and then saw the same folks--warm up pie and cake. Then second plates and for some--3rd plates with the same consistancy. I almost dropped to my knees and said--"Thank You Lord--! I feel sooo much better now that I am lighter in weight. Now looking at the ladies & men who were 80% much younger than me--I know--my woirk has to get done and my new life will need lots of motivation to keep it going...Lee:scared::notagree

My doc says no caffeine ever pre-op/post-op. The # 1 reason I have been given is that it can contribute to ulcers. Other reasons I have been given is that it functions as a diuretic and after WLS it is very important to stay hydrated. I have also been told that caffiene can stimulate the appetite. I was a heavy coffee drinker -- 1st cup at 5:30 am and drank straight through unil about 3:00 pm daily. Probably had about 10 cups a day on most days. I started to wean myself off by setting a # of cups of regular coffee. I allowed myself 3-4 cups a day. I did that for a week or so. Then for a couple of weeks I drank 1/2 caf. Finally, I move to straight decaf. It was rough, that's for sure. I had headaches for about the 1st week after I went totally decaf.

I am thinking it has to be centimeters... 10 inches is about the size of a skinny girls calf... :]

I got my Inamed book from my doctor with all my band information on it (Size, Ref #, and seriel number) I have an 11.0 cm. band that holds 9cc. according to my book BioEnterics Inamed Adjustable Gastric Banding Systems come in 4 sizes. 9.75 cm. maximum fill volume is 4cc. 10 cm. maximum fill volume is 4cc. 11 cm. maximum fill volume is 9cc. and the Vanguard maximum fill volume is 10cc. It doesn't say how big the Vangaurd band is at least on the systems components page where I got the rest of the information. It gives the access port features but doesn't mention there being more than one size, but I know I have heard of a mini port before. It could be there the book has 97 pages and I didn't look at all of them. It also says the port has been tested to over 200 hundred punctures with a 20-guage non-coring needle. I hope I don't need more than 200 fills .

I'm SO excited! Got my surgery date ~ May 24, 2010!!! I'm a Medicare patient with Ft. Worth LAP-BAND® (everyone there is great!) and this 6 month pre-op has seemed like forever. WOW!!! I can't wait!!! It's a good thing my husband & I are taking a trip for 10 days so I'll have something else to think about (if I can). jlblove :thumbup:

HI Everyone, Two weeks agao I had the stomach flu and vomited off and on for about 10 hours...of course nothing would come up but It was horrible anyhow. Ever since, I couldn't hardly eat or drink anything and was NEVER hungry. I decided to go to the Dr. and he thought I was swollen around my band because of the pressure from vomiting. He took out 3cc's and I feel great now...except NOW after I eat anything I get a pain right below my port/rib on the left side. What is this? It goes away after about 10-15 minutes??? Is this my food passing through and I can feel it? Am I eating too much? Thanks for your help.

Hello all, I had my surgery on June 5th and the weight I have lost so far is mostly from my pre-op diet and I have been stuck on only 10lbs weight loss since surgery. I am still on purée, I am barely hungry but I make sure I take my Protein drink if not, I will feel like something is missing. I have been walking about 10 mins from train to work, 15mins during lunch time and 20mins to the train station. Am I not doing enough? I actually do not have the energy but I just push myself cos I know I will see results eventually. Why is it taking so long? Almost a month and only 10lbs? I know someone that did not exercise until they got to a 50lb weight loss. Why is mine different? By the way, I was so upset that I decided to be getting my weights at my surgeon's office instead of home so I have not weighed myself in a wk but I don't think it's going to make a difference. I will see my doc next Friday and I hope and pray that something will change.

Hi All I have a surgery date of July 23rd 15 , which makes 30 days today until I go under the knife! What concerns me most is how much of a mental thing the pre-op diet is. I have been on/off diets all year with my only success in January, when I did 28 days of Protein shakes only (its a diet called EXANTE here in the UK). Since then it has been an absolute struggle to do anything, hence the decision for surgery. Yesterday was supposed to be the start of the pre-op diet (which I have been told I only need to do for 7-10 days before, but wanted to make a good start). However, I ended up feeling hungry and then went into an overeat mode in the evening, sigh. I have woken up very early this morning with load rushing through my head, and I am now thinking that as I am paying £9000 out of my own pocket, I should really make a better effort. So my question is, what do I do? Stick to my 1000kcals a day and suck up the hunger Return to the Protein shake diet which is really hard, but will give the best start to my surgery Don't worry about the pre-op diet until 7-10 days before my op I don't want an out, so I am not looking for all you nice people to say "Go for 3", I am looking to you guys that were or are in the same position to me to let me know what you did, why you did it and what motivated you. Thanks all.

I am 10 days post op and I am finding myself to feel worn out at times. Even if it's after taking a shower. I am wondering if anyone can tell me how soon after surgery can you start taking chewable Vitamins? Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Tilt your neck/head back open your mouth slowly and close it slowly you could feel the workout on your neck do 5 reps of 10 like 3 times a day. I'm 30yrs old my insanity trainer told me to do that. I could feel it.