chill

I'm 4 months out and have just started drinking carbonated beverages sparingly. Before I was banded, I regularly consumed 5-6 diet sodas each day. Now I drink 4 ounces of diet soda or sparkling water once or twice a day with no ill effects. I do make my own carbonated beverages with a Sodastream machine and use far less carbonation than that found in store bought products. For me, the real danger with carbonated beverages is that I associate them with eating salty snack foods such as popcorn, chips and nuts. So, I keep none of these snack foods around and use a slowly sipped carbonated beverage as a treat after exercising or in the evening.

I was just banded this Thursday. My pre-op diet was the 2 protein shakes and a <300 calorie lean cuisine. Most days I ended up consuming 500-600 calories. I felt like I was starving. Frankly I cheated. One day I had the two protein shakes and a mini teriyaki chicken-veggie bowl. On two other occasions I ate an extra lean cuisine. I know Dr. Miranda does allow you to have a green leafy salad with low cal dressing or a cup of veggie soup as well. Neither of those things appealed to me. I'm not endorsing what I did to anyone...I'm just telling you what I did to get through the pre-op diet for me. I also took two fiber tablets a day. I started the diet on September 9th. I lost 15 pounds. My surgery went well from what Dr. Ortiz told me. Another comment...I will not be cheating in any way, shape or form for this post-op diet. Knowing myself, I do not believe my failure to follow the preop diet to the letter bodes poorly for my chance of success with this lapband. I will not risk a future band slippage by engaging in activites that work against the gift of this band I have received.