So here I am, 9 days out from lapband surgery and I am feeling better than I could have ever imagined! I have been scouring the internet looking for a Lap Band only forum that is more positive than negative and I hope I have found it here. I by nature am optimistic and I am really excited about learning to live with my Lap Band and being sucessful (sp?) with my weight loss. I was 247 day of surgery and I am now down to 236! YAY! After the 5th day I got very hungry on just liquid so I stared eating chicken and that really helped to fill me up. I think my biggest hurdle will be to eat only 3 times a day with a snack inbetween without grazing. But I know I can do it!! 
So I hope to make some life long friends here in this group to share and learn with, hope you all had a great day!

Angi

Welcome Angi,

This used to be a really great place, a while ago not so much, but it seems to be getting good again.  I don't post much but have been here daily for about 3 1/2 yrs. before and after my band.

Sounds like you will do great,
Colleen

Welcome Angie! Follow the rules, eat your protein first and chew it up like mush, eat slow, don't drink during or 30 minutes after you eat, then drink like crazy to get it all in! It is a huge mind game but you can do it.

I started out like you with 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. I have been losing well as I exercise every day too. But, with each visit to my NUT she kept saying only et when you are hungry. Learn to listen to your body and not your head. Old habits are hard to break!

I got down to the 3 meals with no snacks and she nailed me again for eating when I wasn't hungry and this week I am eating like 2 meals a day! I know it seems crazy, but I am still not hungry til after noon and then not for 6-7 hours after that!

It's working, I feel good, sleep good and still losing. I go to the NUT every 3 months.

Oh, and I have only had 1 fill.

Best wishes to you! We are here for you!

Thank you for the welcome Colleen and Sue!
Dr cleared me to start excersising today so I walked a mile tonight, taking it slow, will work up to my "Old Work out" pre-weight gain . I will see my Dr and NUT once a month for the first year, kinda sucks that they are 2 hours away but I think my insurance will reimburse me for the mileage so that's pretty cool. I'm just crazy excited and uber motivated.
I definately will concentrate on eating only when hungry even if it's just twice a day. I am also using my fittness pal to track every thing I put in my mouth to help keep me on track.

Anyway have a great night!

Hi Angie
Welcome to the losers bench!! We've moved over for you!
Glad to hear you are doing well and well on your way on your new W.L. journey!!
You will find some support and some not so much. But there are a few of us on here for support. Just ask and we will be there for you!

Congrats and continued success!

Welcome! Wishing you much success on your new journey to a healthier you!

Welcome Angi.  This place is great.  We are all here to support you.  Best of luck.  Come sit by me on the losers bench when you get a chance...{hugs}

 Hi Angie!  I've been here about 2 months -- my band surgery was May 29.  So far so good!  The physical part seems to be working well...still have a lot of work to do on the mental part, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

On July 26, 2012 at 4:24 PM Pacific Time, abetran wrote:So here I am, 9 days out from lapband surgery and I am feeling better than I could have ever imagined! I have been scouring the internet looking for a Lap Band only forum that is more positive than negative and I hope I have found it here. I by nature am optimistic and I am really excited about learning to live with my Lap Band and being sucessful (sp?) with my weight loss. I was 247 day of surgery and I am now down to 236! YAY! After the 5th day I got very hungry on just liquid so I stared eating chicken and that really helped to fill me up. I think my biggest hurdle will be to eat only 3 times a day with a snack inbetween without grazing. But I know I can do it!!
So I hope to make some life long friends here in this group to share and learn with, hope you all had a great day!

Angi I was 247 day of surgery and I am now down to 236! YAY! After the 5th day I got very hungry on just liquid so I stared eating chicken and that really helped to fill me up.

Did you really eat chicken 5 days after surgery? Did you add broth and blend it in a blender? Or did you straight up eat it?

Be careful!!! They put us on clear liquids, full liquids, then blended, then mushies, then regular textures for a reason: time to heal! Not all clinic's post op diet protocols are the same, and some will let you progress from liquids to mushies faster than others. Personally, I haven't heard of a clinic that goes from liquids to dense protein in 5 days, though.

One of the "fun" parts about the band is Bandster Hell, the time between surgery and when you get enough of a fill to keep from feeling ravenous all the time (if you ever get there). I've been more physically hungry--actual stomach growling--since my band than I ever was before. So it's an unusual thing for bandsters to be really hungry in the beginning.

Just please be careful about eating dense protein before your newly modified stomach is ready for it. Maybe people can give you tips on what to eat during liquids phase to make you less hungry.

Good luck and safe healing!
Denise

Edited to add: I just saw your post where your doc okayed you for solid proteins at 10 days out. I guess if you have your doctor's blessing to go for it, then follow his directions. The program where I got my band kept us on liquids to mushies for 6 weeks and the program I'm at now I think goes even longer. I guess to err on the side of caution. It still scares me to think of going on solid protiens so quickly. Be safe!!!!

 What does your surgeon's eating plan say for food at this stage. I would almost be willing to bet there is not a surgeon out there that approves CHICKEN on day 5. This is setting yourself up to fail and this is crazy. 
Not trying to be harsh, however if you are doing this now... you just wasted your time getting the band.

Thanks for the advice all
My Dr and his staff do give a guided manual with a diet progression to follow, however, they did approve me to go ahead and skip the 3rd stage and go directly to the 4th stage which was solid protien. I chew up the protien until it is a tooth paste consistency, I weigh and journal each oz of food and liquid to touch my lips. Sure I could puree it but I am eating slowly and carefully. So far I have lost 13 lbs, and I continue to loose every day so no Alicejohns I did not waste my time, thank you mrs.negativity!

I do appreciate the concern and advice from everyone else and I will most definately heed caution and most importantly do only what my Dr and his staff approve of in my healing process. I guess we all have different expreiences with our own journeys and it's nice to I see each person's individual ways that works for them.

Off to another awesome day with the band!

Angi

You might want to check with your surgeon just to make sure you won't hurt yourself. I'm not saying this to be "negative." I just want you to be on the safe side for your own health.  Most surgeons follow the progression listed in the following:

http://www.lapband.com/en/live_healthy_lapband/the_first_wee ks/dietary_progression/

Dietary Progression After LAP-BAND^®

 

Your diet after LAP-BAND^® System Surgery.

Following the advice of your surgeon or dietician is essential to your progress after surgery. It allows your newly shaped stomach to heal completely and your LAP-BAND^® System to remain in the right position.

A small amount of regurgitation is normal at first. In fact, nearly all patients regurgitate at least once in the first weeks. However, frequent vomiting can stretch the new stomach pouch and increase the chance of band slippage. If this is happening you should call your doctor’s office.

 

1-2 Weeks Postsurgery: Liquid Diet

Your stomach will only tolerate liquids at this time. It’s important to also stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Drinking small amounts frequently may help you avoid vomiting.

Recommended liquids include:

• clear broth or soup (no vegetables, meat, or cream)
• skim milk
• fruit juice
• sugar-free popsicles

3-4 Weeks Postsurgery: Pureed Foods

You can start adding slightly textured foods (the consistency of baby food). You should eat protein-rich foods first, as this helps you maintain muscle while losing weight. Then move on to fruits and vegetables.

Foods may include:

• skinless chicken/fish
• mashed potatoes
• peas
• low-fat yogurt or pudding

Note: In this stage, you may be allowed some foods that might not be permitted in your diet later due to high calorie content.

5 Weeks Postsurgery: Soft Foods

As you progress to soft foods, remember to do so slowly. If they cause nausea, you may return to the liquid diet and introduce these foods again in a few more days.

Meals may include:

• tender, cooked fish
• ground turkey
• moist pork

Some products like bread, red meat, and rice may cause you problems. If so, stick to softer, more digestible foods.

6 Weeks and Longer

At this point you should be able to tolerate solid food, although in smaller amounts. Always cut your food into small pieces and chew thoroughly. This helps reduce the chance of vomiting, stomach irritation and swelling. It may also help prevent any obstruction of the stomach opening created by the LAP-BAND^® System.

Thanks again for the above information but I have my Surgeon's manual here in my lap which is different that the above information, and this is what I am choosing to follow  My Surgeon has been doing this since before the FDA approved the band, he was a part of the FDA approval process here in the USA. His diet progression for stage 4 :

When do I start this stage? Day 14 (2 weeks after surgery)
How long will I be on this stage? Day 14-20 (1 week)
Goals:
          Drink 4-6 oz of fluid per hour; aim for a total of 64 oz of fluid daily.
           Consume 2 servings of a liquid protein supplement daily and eat protein first at meals.
           About 4-6 oz of food per mail. Do not eat more than 4-6 oz per mail. Only consume the amount of food that is comfortable for you wihich may only be one or two bites.

High Protien Foods: Deli Shaved  meats, fish, shellfish, tofu

Other Foods: Vegetraian meat substitutes, Beans and lentils(cooked), yogurt (w/chunks), Toast, crackers (less than 3 gm of fat per serving), cheese (less than 5 gm of fat per serving), cream cheese reduced fat, nut butters creamy, soups reg. consistency, oatmeal reg. consistency, low-fiber veges, raw salad greens, fruits soft fresh and low sugar/low fiber cereals softened with low fat milk.
Useful Tip: Do not puree fods once you start stafe 4, eating liquid consistency foods longer than recommended can cause problems long-term, a condition known as maladaptive eating. Soft foods do not provide long-lasting satiety like foods you must chew. Satiety is important for long-term weight loss and wieght maintneance. Eating protein first will help you feel satisfied.

Sample meals:
Meal 1: 4 T. cottage cheese, low fat/ 4 T. yogurt light
Meal 2: 2 oz shrimp, 4 T. eggplant grilled
Meal 3: 2 oz tofu seasoned, 2 T. sauteed mushrooms, 2 T. sauteed green peppers

Sample meal 2:
Meal 1: 1 egg, poached, 1/2 slice toast
Meal 2: 2 oz thin deli-meat, 1 slice American cheese made with 2% milk, 4 crackers reduced fat
Meal 3: 2 oz salmon baked, 2 T. summer squash, 2 T. mashed potatoes

This is the stage I am on with the exception of  switching out chicken for deli shaved meats with the approval from my Dr. As you can see it varies from the above recommended meal plan on the webiste. I actually can't eat all that food suggested above and don't even try. I stop with the protien because it fills me up and keeps me full. Basically I am eating 1 boiled egg for breakfast if I am hungry, most mornings I am not.  Lunch is 3 oz of baked chicken with a low fat mozerella stick or a 4 oz can of sardines, or another boiled egg and dinner the same as lunch. I may eat a couple cubes of low-fat cheese 1/4 oz with lunch or dinner if I am still hungry but that is all I have actually expanded my pallette for now and I am satisfied with my food choices. If  or once I start getting hungry past the protien I will cross that bridge of adding new foods but so far I have not gotten there yet and don't really care too. I am one of those people that do not want or need a large amount of different foods to choose from, I am happy eating the same thing every day as long as I like the taste

 When do I start this stage? Day 14 (2 weeks after surgery)
How long will I be on this stage? Day 14-20 (1 week)

Day 14, not day 5....I was on the exact meal plan you were on, but my nutritionist said I could add ONE new solid food per day, too see how I responded.  Took me weeks to get to eating a large variety of protein and veggie options.  I wasn't allowed raw veggies or salad until 8 weeks post op.  

While I get that every body is different, it appears from your response to Nic, that you have decided to do your own thing and we would be doing you a huge disservice to ignore this or tell you too go ahead and eat foods your body isn't ready for.  We've seen a lot of people post their meal progression and I don't ever recall one saying to eat solid food at 5 days.  Please take this in the spirit it is given, to help you...sometimes support comes in the form of urging caution and polite questioning of a poster's decisions.

Hang in there and be careful....your body is healing, baby your body, treat your mind like an incorrigible teenager....

Sorry you feel that way, I just respond with fact, please do not read negative emotion in my post. Nic posted information from the webiste, I posted information straight out of my Dr.'s book. As stated above I do appreciate all encouraging questions/recommendations and will take them into consideration .

Thanks!

Just be really careful while you're healing. Wishing you the best.

 What's up with the chicken five days out....did your doc have that on your diet progression?  I'm alarmed that you were able to eat it, but I guess everyone is different...best of luck with your band journey, but please don't rush things.

This post is getting long so quite possible people are not reading each one which is normal, I don't read each one in all threads either, so I will say again, everything I do is with my Dr.'s permission, 100%

And people wonder why doctors are sometimes called quacks... oh sorry that would be duck rather than chicken.
An actual doctor that truthfully cares about their patient is NOT going to okay CHICKEN 5 days out from surgery. Even going against their own meal plan which states 2 weeks which would be 14 days.
I did get your email that you were blocking me... thats fine...PS.. I did read each post... and even you yourself did state doc said 14 days.