When To Get Serious About This Post-Op?

How soon is to soon? I'm three weeks post-op today and I was told to just take it easy until my first fill, which will be another two weeks. Started 320 got down to 275 and am now back to 281. I'm going the wrong way!

I havent been walking as much as I could but what does "take it easy" really mean? With NO restriction, I feel I could eat a horse. I have tried to eat as I should, small portions, healthy foods & veggies but the pounds keep creaping back up. I plan to call the Dr. today but they were VERY adiment that there would be NO fills before the five week period.

I understand self control but when you know you can eat more it sure test the will power! Any advise would be greatly appriciated. Thanx, Steve

I am almost two weeks out of surgery and feel the same. I am still losing because I am still on shakes/yougurts/baby food. However, I know I could eat more if I could. I am nervous about what happens after the shakes go away, which is next week. Then it seems like 2 weeks in a gray area where I hope I don't screw this up, but don't seem there is much guidance. Would like to hear how other people dealt with this as well..

Hi guys, 2moro will be one week out of op, The odd thing is im not on shakes or baby food. I have been eating porridge oats alot when I feel hunger coming on I have also had cottage cheese on chrisp bread and even low fat macaroni cheese. Mash potato and a boil in the bag fish meal. The thing that helps me is not to big a meal and chew it like crazy. I did eat salmon the other day but that got a bit stuck and was V painful. So far ive lost about 16 lbs. so something im doing is right for me.

I guess every doctor is different - mine does not want me eating those things yet, so I'm sticking to the plan. The big upside to this is the 30 lb's lost in two weeks !

The advantage of being in the liquids-only phase is BIG weight loss.
Starting to let the nose of the camel under the tent flap with ANY concentrated carbs will certainly set a metabolic fire making it that much more difficult to follow "the PLAN".....

This is the part of my own journey that I began to discover the difference between 'being HUNGRY' and 'being FULL'....

No Bandster has yet starved to death, officially at least, so gird your loins one and all and recognize the path to freedom requires discipline that becomes habit.

When you are cleared to 'mushies' phase, learn what hard proteins and low fat yogurt can do....4 oz was plenty to keep me 'not hungry' for hours and hours.

If you have specific questions I'll do what I can to answer them.

In my own 'mushie' phase I carried the liquid shakes along with jars of baby food when I traveled, as I wanted to have my own back-up if needed.

Safeway soup deli had decent choices for that phase also. Even thin sliced deli meats gave me trouble, but I learned how to puree them.

I've not been in a fast-food place now for over 3 years!!!

"Nothing tastes as good as being THIN feels!!!!"

Jack - I do agree - this is a mental battle (head hungry or stomach hungry?) and I guess we do need to show some discipline here...

Mr. Jack,

I have followed many of your post to find great wisdom, there is nothing like learning from the pro. Your 4oz's you speak of, was that before your first fill? I am 3 wks post-op today and feel I could eat everything put in front of me.
Although I make myself quit eating, the urge is still there. Seem's I was fine until I could start on "soft food", baked potato, veggies etc. but that's when I noticed the additional weight starting to slowly come back.

Anything at this point is a hell of alot better than blended fish or chicken. Great the first couple of bites, but taist like saw dust after that! And I was right, NO FILL'S until 5 wks. Guess I'll have to use my head for something besides a door stop.

steve i know i can eat alot more but get first fill 3/12/08 can,t wait down 23 lbs and holding 5 more days band on 2/9/08

Fellow Men's Roomers:

This is a crucial part of our postOp experience!!!

"Take it easy" could well mean "don't eat TOO DAMN MUCH".....

My first fill was SIX MONTHS postOp...

And frankly, those were the months of MOST weight loss and MOST useful insights about my own over-eating compulsions....

Strive to learn the difference between 'full' and 'satiety'. And strive to discern the difference between 'not full' and 'not hungry'....that was a BIGGIE for me!!!

STRENGTH!!!

Guys:
I think take it easy means slow down and begin the process of learning. This is not a quick fix nor a short journey. You didnt develop the old habits overninght and youo are not going to get new ones in just a few weeks. 2 years post banding and I am still just beginning to learn about myself and what it takes to make such radical changes. I very much agree with Jack. I was not filled for the first time until about 6 months in. I still have never felt the restriction a lot of people talk about but I HAVE lost 130 + Lbs. The band is a tool. You will hear that over and over and its SOOO very true. Learning to use it to the best advantage takes time and dedication. Take it easy and good luck :-)

Thanks for the advice guys !

I'm realizing that the way Dr. Fielding at NYU manages the post-op diet thing is set up to bolster the New Approach to Eating thing that you guys are talking about. It's liquids for two weeks, then mushies, then inflation at the fourth week. After inflation, back on liquids for a day or two, then forward with solid food, but restricted.

I wonder how long the liquid diet is safe. I've done pretty well on it, and I don't yet feel the need to move forward, but I'm banded now, and I don't know how I'll feel once my guts settle down and get used to the noose...

I'm nowhere near as long as Jack and ccar50, but I just had my first fill 1 1/2 wks ago at my 6 mo. checkup. I've managed to lose just over 100 lbs in that time by watching my diet and exercising ALOT.

I've found that even though, like ccar50, I don't feel the restriction alot of people talk about, I do know when to stop and how I feel w/i 1/2 hr of stopping. I know if I wanted to, I could eat through the band, but I don't want to. If I just wait that 30 minutes, I am full and remain so for around 4 hrs. If I can't make it much longer, I simply get a healthy, small snack like 1/4 c of cottage cheese.

It's never too soon to start working at the weight loss. It's ok to push yourself in the exercise dept. Just don't overdo it in the eating dept. Use your head and listen to your body. It will tell you what you can handle.

Its never too soon to start making good eating choices. Fill or no fill, we should be changing our life styles. THats what this process is all about. The helps up learn that behavior, but if you can do it short term until you filled right, then by all means go for it.

Sorry to kinda "break" the topic, but I wanted to ask Ceradad, if it's not too personal: About how tall are you?


I noticed on your ticker that we're close to the same starting weight, and pretty fairly close (I think) in ending goals. I read somewhere that you were a powerlifter, and I'm built like that too. I never lost all my muscle......only put a thick layer of fat over it.

Anyway, I'm pushing 6'4", and don't have a super clear idea of a weight goal. I told my doc I want to get down to cardiac-healthy waist size (36- 34). I'm trying to get an idea of what weight (ballpark estimate) goal I should be. Just as a yardstick to judge how I'm doing.