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[AngieB]

Please feel free to discribe what was a breeze and what was the hardest time to get through.

I have not been banded yet. Interested in seeing if there is a common theme or if everyone is different.

[Jnlebean]

For me it was easy! I want this so bad that I made myself follow the rules, I didn't want to mess anything up this was surgery!!

By the third week it was harder, I was sick of liquids all i wanted was to chew something!

[PAMMIE]

I GOT LUCKY AND DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ONE BUT I DID WATCH WHAT I ATE

[fatfreeme]

The first week it wasnt so bad...not really hungry and little sips were easy...the hardest days of that phase were the last day I had to drink clear liquids. The Second phase (drinkable yogurt wasnt easy at all as I was tired of sweet things and for some reason the yogurt felt as if it was coming down with a ton of air and it hurt a bit) I fould a liquid protein I like called Mix1..that made the phase three easier. Also being able to eat soups was fantastic because I was craving savory foods. I have 5 more days to go in phase three and its a little hard. I am a mother and cook every meal. Its hard because you cant eat solid...but finding a variety of soups to fit what kind of meal my family is having has made it easier. I have tried creamy corn and lemongrass, cuban black bean bisque, golden butternut squash, garden brocolli, tomatoe, acorn squash and mango...the list is endless and these are all 100% creamy soups without the high fat content. I love soups so this hasnt been that bad.

In five days I will have my first meal after 21 days of liquids. I think this will be the hardest phase until my first fill. It will be 100% willpower and mindfull eating. But that is what this whole thing is about. Watching your portion and making sure you are putting quality, not quantity into your body. I am up for the challenge. I will let you know how its going next week!

The reality is this liquid diet is for a reason. I payed good money for a tool to be put into my body so that I could be healthy for years to come. I am not going to give up trying to follow as closely as I can to the diet because its important to me. Being able to see the pounds drop while on the liquid phase is great. Many people I have read would like to stick on the liquids or use the liquid phase to jump start their weight loss again. Everything I have read and every thing Dr. Ortiz has told me says that the band is not ment to be used with a liquid diet except during the healing process. So once the liquid phase is over you will find me eating real food along with drinking my water (1 hour after meals) and exercising. I know that I will lose weight slowly. Slow is good....tons of studies have proved that those who keep the weight off the longest are those who lose it slowly.

The band was the best thing I could have done for my body...and I haven't even gotten to really "use" it yet. I hope you have a good experience. Let us know how you are doing.

[AngieB]

The first week it wasnt so bad...not really hungry and little sips were easy...the hardest days of that phase were the last day I had to drink clear liquids. The Second phase (drinkable yogurt wasnt easy at all as I was tired of sweet things and for some reason the yogurt felt as if it was coming down with a ton of air and it hurt a bit) I fould a liquid protein I like called Mix1..that made the phase three easier. Also being able to eat soups was fantastic because I was craving savory foods. I have 5 more days to go in phase three and its a little hard. I am a mother and cook every meal. Its hard because you cant eat solid...but finding a variety of soups to fit what kind of meal my family is having has made it easier. I have tried creamy corn and lemongrass, cuban black bean bisque, golden butternut squash, garden brocolli, tomatoe, acorn squash and mango...the list is endless and these are all 100% creamy soups without the high fat content. I love soups so this hasnt been that bad.

In five days I will have my first meal after 21 days of liquids. I think this will be the hardest phase until my first fill. It will be 100% willpower and mindfull eating. But that is what this whole thing is about. Watching your portion and making sure you are putting quality, not quantity into your body. I am up for the challenge. I will let you know how its going next week!

The reality is this liquid diet is for a reason. I payed good money for a tool to be put into my body so that I could be healthy for years to come. I am not going to give up trying to follow as closely as I can to the diet because its important to me. Being able to see the pounds drop while on the liquid phase is great. Many people I have read would like to stick on the liquids or use the liquid phase to jump start their weight loss again. Everything I have read and every thing Dr. Ortiz has told me says that the band is not ment to be used with a liquid diet except during the healing process. So once the liquid phase is over you will find me eating real food along with drinking my water (1 hour after meals) and exercising. I know that I will lose weight slowly. Slow is good....tons of studies have proved that those who keep the weight off the longest are those who lose it slowly.

The band was the best thing I could have done for my body...and I haven't even gotten to really "use" it yet. I hope you have a good experience. Let us know how you are doing.

I really appreciate your reply. It's great that you are going doing it right now! Awesome! I was curious how hard it would be. I will let you know how I am doing for sure! I am enjoying this board and look forward to being a more active member. For right now, I am reading, asking question. I don't have to much to offer because I am in the early/begining stages. I am on day two of my pre-op diet! So far so good, I have my main problem in the middle of the night. I wake up and eat. Nice, huh. That will be my biggest battle in the pre-op phase.

[CanadianBandster]

honestly when I had a hard time I had to chew and spit or I wouldnt have made it.

I actually find going on liquids after my fills is way my difficult than the 21 days.

[AngieB]

honestly when I had a hard time I had to chew and spit or I wouldnt have made it.

I actually find going on liquids after my fills is way my difficult than the 21 days.

It never dawned on me to chew and spit if I was in a foody moment. I am glad you mentioned that because if I get in a spot, I could do this with out stretching out my new pouch, or cheating.

Thanks for you reply.

[AngieB]

I GOT LUCKY AND DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ONE BUT I DID WATCH WHAT I ATE

You didn't have to follow a post op diet? Do you mind telling me more? (I am fulling intending on sticking to the post-op, but curious as to what your situation was.

[CanadianBandster]

its the only thing that got me throw it - I was banded THREE days before xmas!!!!!

Yah - howd u not have to do a diet after???

[PAMMIE]

You didn't have to follow a post op diet? Do you mind telling me more? (I am fulling intending on sticking to the post-op, but curious as to what your situation was.

MY BMI WASN'T THAT HIGH, I JUST WATCHED WHAT I EAT AND MADE SURE I DIDN'T GAIN ANYTHING BEFORE SURGERY. TAKING IT EASY ALSO GOT ME READY FOR THE LIQUID STAGE AFTER SURGERY

[sandra09]

Please feel free to discribe what was a breeze and what was the hardest time to get through.

I have not been banded yet. Interested in seeing if there is a common theme or if everyone is different.

I'm getting banded on 04/20 at the OCC and on day 3 of preop, and I have to admit the preop phase has been hard. I just keep reminding myself that I have to do this the right way and be honest with myself to succed in this journey. No more excuses for me!! Which preop diet are you following?

Sandra

[AngieB]

I'm getting banded on 04/20 at the OCC and on day 3 of preop, and I have to admit the preop phase has been hard. I just keep reminding myself that I have to do this the right way and be honest with myself to succed in this journey. No more excuses for me!! Which preop diet are you following?

Sandra

I am doing Diet #2. I do great during the day. Don't feel hunger pangs at all. When I get home, I do feel a bit more hunger. I eat a small and sensable meal. I do have one hang up, ever since I was a small girl I would get up and eat durign the night. I today is day 4, and I have eaten 2 nights. I feel very down hearted about it and have made plans to wake my husband when I get up to help put a safe guard in place. Given the importance of this, and what it means I want to walk the line and do right by the instructions. I think my major hang up at night is I am not awake all the way, which makes it hard to have reason. So far I am down 4 lbs. Yay!

What diet are you following? Where are you getting hung up. Is it mental or more physical hunger?

[Smiley]

I think my major hang up at night is I am not awake all the way, which makes it hard to have reason. So far I am down 4 lbs. Yay!

I know a family that adopted 6 of their 7 children. These 6 children have some problems and the mother doesn't trust them at night. She went to Lowe's or Home Depot and got these little buzzer things that she put on their door frames. The children all sleep with their doors shut and if they get up in the middle of the night and open their bedroom door the buzzer goes off so that she knows someone is up and can go check on them. Maybe this would be a solution that would work for you to not only help wake you up, but also to wake hubby up so that he could reason with you and convince you to change your mind and go back to bed. Also, if you truely feel hungry in the middle of the night keep a glass of something to drink on your nightstand, it might just be that a drink or two would help your hunger subside.

[AngieB]

I know a family that adopted 6 of their 7 children. These 6 children have some problems and the mother doesn't trust them at night. She went to Lowe's or Home Depot and got these little buzzer things that she put on their door frames. The children all sleep with their doors shut and if they get up in the middle of the night and open their bedroom door the buzzer goes off so that she knows someone is up and can go check on them. Maybe this would be a solution that would work for you to not only help wake you up, but also to wake hubby up so that he could reason with you and convince you to change your mind and go back to bed. Also, if you truely feel hungry in the middle of the night keep a glass of something to drink on your nightstand, it might just be that a drink or two would help your hunger subside.

Great suggestion. I will talk to Jim about the buzzer thing ma bops as soon as I log off of here. Eating at night sadly enough is not because I am hungry. To be honest, I don't know what motives me to do it? It is difficult to break the cycle. I have done it for long periods, then one time of eating and bam I am back at it again. If I could wake up more, I believe this would help. I am able to make good decisions when I am alert.

I appreciate your input!

[sandra09]

I am doing Diet #2. I do great during the day. Don't feel hunger pangs at all. When I get home, I do feel a bit more hunger. I eat a small and sensable meal. I do have one hang up, ever since I was a small girl I would get up and eat durign the night. I today is day 4, and I have eaten 2 nights. I feel very down hearted about it and have made plans to wake my husband when I get up to help put a safe guard in place. Given the importance of this, and what it means I want to walk the line and do right by the instructions. I think my major hang up at night is I am not awake all the way, which makes it hard to have reason. So far I am down 4 lbs. Yay!

What diet are you following? Where are you getting hung up. Is it mental or more physical hunger?

Good job on the 4 lbs!!

I'm also doing diet #2 and I'm still experimenting with protein drinks. I work long hours at night and in the past I ate alot during my shift to keep me going, so thats been a big adjustment. I've been having the fiber choice chewables twice a day and the protein water and I feel that has helped because I dont feel physical hunger, its more mental for me.

Sandra

[Cristy]

I'm only four days post op but have had so much gassiness I'm having trouble doing anything...even clear liquids. I went to my surgeon yesterday and he actually took 3 cc of fluid out....he said he usually leaves them empty for four to six weeks and wasn't sure why I had fluid in it...guess it was some sort of residual from the testing. But it is better know, although still couldn't imagine rushing through the early week diets.

Cristy