Reasons Why?

[LuvDreamin]

Hi, Can someone tell me why there are stages of foods to eat? I get very little support from the doctors office staff. (too busy, no return calls etc). Im one week post op. I did the liquid diet for 5 days, they told me I could progress to the softies. In my mind, I cant find a difference between softies and just chewing your food thoroughly. So I have been eating pretty much what I want in much smaller portions. I have not vomitted, or had any trouble, except one "knot in my chest" for eating two spoonfuls too fast. Is it ok, to eat the "normal" foods right now if I can handle them? I haven't tried fruit and vegetables which I really miss. Is it ok to do that? I have lost about 8 lbs in the last week.

[Lindsay]

Well, in a nut shell, you just got a 'new' pouch for a stomach.

You don't want to stretch it out.

Eating solids too soon will stretch it out, and can also cause your new band to slip.

Dr Martinez explained it to me as allowing your band to heal, and allowing for the natural scar tissue to build up - this will help preventing your band from slipping in the future.

Just because you don't feel it now, doesn't mean in 6 months, you won't experience the side effects from eating solids - stretching your pouch.

At the OCC, they also don't restrict (or fill) your band until you've reached the 6-8 week mark, to enhance healing.

From everything I've read, some doctors have a far more in depth post-op diet.

For us, it's only clear liquids for the first 7 days.

Then creamy liquids for the next 21 days.

Liquids go through you a lot quicker, and they don't stretch your stomach out like solids do - they just sit there, until your body digests them.

Sorry I can't explain this better -- but hopefully I'm making sense.

[JazzyJude]

Hi, Can someone tell me why there are stages of foods to eat? I get very little support from the doctors office staff. (too busy, no return calls etc). Im one week post op. I did the liquid diet for 5 days, they told me I could progress to the softies. In my mind, I cant find a difference between softies and just chewing your food thoroughly. So I have been eating pretty much what I want in much smaller portions. I have not vomitted, or had any trouble, except one "knot in my chest" for eating two spoonfuls too fast. Is it ok, to eat the "normal" foods right now if I can handle them? I haven't tried fruit and vegetables which I really miss. Is it ok to do that? I have lost about 8 lbs in the last week.

Hi Luv ~ first, congrats on you being banded and may your weight loss journey be a good one!

You've just been banded and you may have swelling still. You need to give yourself some healing time, like any other surgery, for your stomach and band to adjust to their restriction thus far. Granted, your band and stomach is quiet upset at you so you want to progress from liquids to solid foods to ease the process and to make it a comfy transition in between.

At OCC, the patients does a 21 post op care. The first stage is the 'clear liquids' for 7 days; the 2nd stage is the 'creamy soup' stage (full liquids) and then we progress to the 3rd stage, solid foods. When going on the solid stage, we 'test' ourselves to have softer foods, such as an omelet with bacon and cheese and salsa, oatmeal, cottage cheese, pinto beans and cheese, fish, etc. Then progress to the harder foods such as steak, chicken, nuts, etc.

Like Lindsay, we don't want to stretch our pouch by risking eating the wrong foods too quickly. After the 21 days, when on solid, we shuold eat 1/3 of what we use to eat, 3 meals a day and up to 1200 calories total for the day. Now, after 3 months post op, when you start with the heavier exercises (strength training and cardio), you may want to up to calories as you will be burning calories more.

As for restriction, at the time of your surgery, your band is empty of saline, so your band and you can heal together and get use to having the band around the stomach. Between 6 - 8 weeks post op, you will want a fill to continue with your weight loss. And you will continue to follow your doctor's instructions on your diet program you're on until you are not losing weight and schedule another fill down the road.

Everyone is different and will travel the road differently...listen to your body and be sensible. You have an incredible adventure ahead of you!

Hope this helps...good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing!

[KatyG]

JazzyJude,

Just wanted to tell you what a great post this was. Especially helpful and insightful... and you've got ME all encouraged!! WTG!