Need Food Tips!

[cmarie317 24]

As I get closer to my surgery date, Aug 29th I can't help but feel happy and nervous. My family says to me that I am going to have a hard time changing my bad eating choices. And I'm afraid I will. I know it'll be hard bc it has my whole life but I think this surgery will push me the extra way I need to to really change! Anyone else have this issue? Will the Dr give me a guide on what on what to eat and drink? My problem is I love pop. Love it. What should I drink to satisfy myself without drinking pop? Is carbonated drinks bad? I guess I'm afraid I won't find foods to make me full and to satisfy me. I hope the Dr gives me a guide like what to buy. What does everyone else follow as far as diets go? That's always been my problem! I need the correct nutrition so I don't go back to bad eating!

[donna12 742]

Hate to break it to you but pop is a no no with lap band. You might as well start giving them up now to make it easier on yourself. I wasn't addicted to pop, all I drank was Water so it wasn't hard for me in that respect. All dr's are different with diets so you will have to see what yours is expecting you to eat. Mine wants me to eat 3 meals a day and drink drink drink, Water of course. Yes I do drink tea every now and again. I do hope you have researched it enouch to know that you can't drink during eating and after you have eaten. Hope this helps.

Donna

[chrissylu 153]

What Donna said. No carbonated drinks. I love love love Pepsi...but haven't had any since January 10, 2012. I mix sugar free hawaiian punch flavors with my Water to get that "something sweet to drink". I also drink tea sweetened with Splenda. Your doctor should give you some dietary guidelines, especially for the first few weeks after surgery. For most people, bread and pastas are no-nos. A lot of it will be learning as you go along. For instance, I'm about 6 1/2 months out from my surgery...and just about a month ago, discovered I can no longer eat watermelon. So just be patient, follow your doctor's orders, talk to the nutritionist, and seek help on this board. There are a lot of great people on here willing to pass along what they've learned. God bless!

[ddrobins 58]

I was worried too. I'm 56 yrs old and have battled weight for most of my life. I was pretty good with my weight in my 30's and most of 40's and then menopause kicked my ass and I think I became depressed and I started eating and couldn't quit. food became a big part of my life and I jusified it to myself and eveyone else. I love to cook and cook, I did, and ate and ate and ate. I've never been a junk food eater or fast food eater, my love is real homemade food.

I really was not sure just how this would work for me. But, I decided I really wanted to do more with my life than just eat. ok, I've done that now I want to do other things. So, I have gone into this with a positive attitude along with fear that it won't work.

But, let me tell you. It's incredible! I have no Hunger. I have no Cravings. I Do Not feel drprived. I eat my bit of food and pay attention to each bite, I try-still learning, and when I get that first feeling like : ok, that's enough. I stop. No matter if I still have food on my plate or I haven't eaten my whole portion. I just stop, wait, yes I'm satisfied. Then I clean up and don't even think about food for 4 to 6 hours. I'm eating 3 meals a day. No Snacks, and it's working great for me. I have no hunger and no desire to eat. My evenings are completely food free and I'm loving it.

I've always loved Water and didn't ever drink much soda . But, I was a big coffee drinker with cream and sugar. Well, my preop Protein , two week diet pretty much weaned me off coffee. Because I could not drink it black....Ugh.

Since I was already used to eating good home cooked food. I really haven't had to change my food choices too much. Just very small portions. And my day is not consumed with cooking.

Today I am making a lasanga with the meat and ricotta cheese and sauce, but with no noodles. I'm just making layers and baking it like that I figure it wll be loaded with protein and still very tasty. I thnk I'm going to put a mushroom layer that may take the place of the noodles. I'm tweaking a lot of recipes and making them Lap Band friendly.

If you want this. Go for it and make it work for you. I'm making it work for me.

[Lannae 46]

Im with the others, I use to drink pop..but to be honest, it has not been bad at all!! I drink crystal light, or Water, and it really is ok..the pay off is way better!!! As for food choices, what I can eat my friend cant and vice versa..You will find what works for you, but for me it is the portions that is the biggest thing...I would eat healthy but it was my portions that were way out of wack!! It will be an adjustment, but work with the band, and you will do well!!

[jrae 38]

I loved diet coke too but the carbonation can cause all sorts of problems. As with any of the "no no" foods you may be tempted to try them to test your band! Don't do it! You may get away with it at first but there will be long term repercussions.

Happy to say I lost my taste for diet coke! I don't know how or why, it just tasted awful even tho I'd been drinking it daily for more than 20 years! So now I love diet snapple tea! I adore the lemon but can only find it in California, not in az where I live. The raspberry is great too. Also minute maid lite lemonade mixed with fresh plain brewed tea is good too. Water is key. I don't like tap so I have sparklettes delivered.

As for not eating pasta- I didn't even try the first year but now I can actually eat wide Pasta like lasagne. I just chew the daylight out of it. thin pasta like spaghetti makes me sicker than a dog.That said, I rarely eat pasta.

At first hearing "don't eat this or that" made me feel rebellious and mournful. But trust me- it's really not bad & I don't miss a lot of it.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Carbonation is the only thing you're not allowed after being banded. Though it passes right through the band immediately, it expands in the lower stomach, pushing upward on the band. This can (and does) lead to slips or even the stomach prolapsing up through the band.

I was a major soda addict but I haven't had one since the day before surgery. Now, I drink Lipton Diet Green Iced Tea in raspberry, mixed berry, or citrus flavor. It's so good and zero calories. For me, it's a great alternative to soda.

You will likely struggle to change your eating habits in the beginning. It's not easy at all, especially when you have a lifetime of them to break. I would highly recommend making an appointment with a nutritionist before you have surgery. They can help you set up eating guidelines that work for you and your lifestyle. Having clear parameters to follow really does help simplify things and remove all the guess work. I know I attribute my success so far to all the information I learned from my nutritionist. I'd be lost without the guidelines she gave me.

Best wishes to you.

[Kime-lou 648]

I thought I would have a really hard time giving up Dt. Dew, but it was actually the easiest part about this process. I don't miss it at all. Water plain or with crystal light is perfect. My hubby has even stopped drinking it after trying my crystal light and propel. We are now a soda free house and loving it.

[PattyGirl66 1,243]

Your favorite drinks after being banded should be Water and gatorade. I can't express how important both of these fluids are to your healing process. Water you should be drinking a lot of, as much as you can possibly can get in. Gatorade helps with replenishing any loss of fluids through this process, gaining back electrolites, such as sodium, carbs, and potassium. I am 12 days post-op and drink about 60 + ounces of water and about 12 ounces of gatorade. NOOO soda of any kind! Speak with your Surgeon about carbanation drinks for a better explanation.

Best of luck,

[Sojourner 2,446]

If your surgeon has not provided you with detailed pre and post op diet guidelines, then you should consult with a registered dietitian or nutritionist who works with bariatric patient populations. My surgeon's office provided me with an entire manual which takes me in detail through every stage of my diet requirements from 2 weeks pre op through getting to maintenance. I have referred to it often through the months since my surgery.

From experience, you will likely be most challenged to remain compliant with your diet when you are at family gatherings. You just have to remain aware of your rules...and do your best to maintain compliance. Don't expect to be perfect in this, you are human, and honest best effort is going to be what you likely can do.

If you listen to the naysayers who predict your imminent failure, then likely you will become what I always referred to as the "self fulfilling prophecy". You need to believe in your abilities to be successful...and you will be successful if you are motivated to be successful.

And, as others have said...carbonation is a definite NO...you may risk harming your band long term. Nothing can taste that good to place yourself at risk for medical complications. There are many alternatives to carbonated beverages to choose from...I prefer flavored Water which has no carbs or carbonation. go exploring at the grocery store to identify potential substitutes and begin to try some of them now so that post op you will stay properly hydrated.

Best wishes for your successful journey...

[♕ajtexas♕ 3,771]

I was worried too. I'm 56 yrs old and have battled weight for most of my life. I was pretty good with my weight in my 30's and most of 40's and then menopause kicked my ass and I think I became depressed and I started eating and couldn't quit. food became a big part of my life and I jusified it to myself and eveyone else. I love to cook and cook' date=' I did, and ate and ate and ate. I've never been a junk food eater or fast food eater, my love is real homemade food.

I really was not sure just how this would work for me. But, I decided I really wanted to do more with my life than just eat. ok, I've done that now I want to do other things. So, I have gone into this with a positive attitude along with fear that it won't work.

But, let me tell you. It's incredible! I have no Hunger. I have no Cravings. I Do Not feel drprived. I eat my bit of food and pay attention to each bite, I try-still learning, and when I get that first feeling like : ok, that's enough. I stop. No matter if I still have food on my plate or I haven't eaten my whole portion. I just stop, wait, yes I'm satisfied. Then I clean up and don't even think about food for 4 to 6 hours. I'm eating 3 meals a day. No Snacks, and it's working great for me. I have no hunger and no desire to eat. My evenings are completely food free and I'm loving it.

I've always loved Water and didn't ever drink much soda . But, I was a big coffee drinker with cream and sugar. Well, my preop Protein , two week diet pretty much weaned me off coffee. Because I could not drink it black....Ugh.

Since I was already used to eating good home cooked food. I really haven't had to change my food choices too much. Just very small portions. And my day is not consumed with cooking.

Today I am making a lasanga with the meat and ricotta cheese and sauce, but with no noodles. I'm just making layers and baking it like that I figure it wll be loaded with Protein and still very tasty. I thnk I'm going to put a mushroom layer that may take the place of the noodles. I'm tweaking a lot of recipes and making them Lap Band friendly.

If you want this. Go for it and make it work for you. I'm making it work for me.[/quote']

I use zucchini instead of noodles in lasagna, I peel & cut it longways. It's tasty!

[cmarie317 24]

Thank you everyone! It all helps! I know I can't drink before, between and after meals. Also I knew carbonated drinks were probably a no no but thought I'd ask about it. And yeah I have an appt two weeks before my surgery to discuss nutrition and the whole process. I don't have to do the two week pre op diet but i suppose I should cut out a lot now so I'm not stopping cold turkey. I'll try the diet snapples. I don't like tea so I'll try the crystal lite packets and other sugar free drinks.