Some of you may not be aware, but Weight Loss Surgical Center sponsors an Omaha LAP-BAND Support Group each month. The next meeting is December 3 at 6 p.m. at our clinic at 625 North 114th Street. Even though we specialize in LAP-BAND Surgery, we encourage anyone who has a band (even if it was from another surgeon), who is considering a band or has had another type of bariatric surgery to attend.

We realize that everyone can use support in his or her weight loss struggles, and a lot of our challenges are the same, even if we're walking different paths in our weight loss journeys.

Slimfast is awful. I can't even choke it down. I also noticed that it's really not that great in nutrition for the calories. I would call the doctor and see if you can try another brand or type. I used Carnation Instant Breakfast, which comes in sugar free. I still drink it. It tastes SO much better than Slimfast. Also, somewhat better for you, especially if you will actually drink it and stick to the diet. Afterwords you will still need to drink liquids, so it's better to find something you can stand now.

Is their a support group near or around the Norfolk area?

Yogurt went down really well at first...I bought the light variety with the lowest amount of carbs.  Another thing that really went down well was those Banquet TV dinners.  I would buy the salisbury steak with mashed potatoes and gravy and corn.  I would throw away the corn (I was worried my tummy wouldn't like it) and split the rest into 2 or 3 meals.  I also ate sugar free popsicles, sugar free pudding.  I don't like this, but many love cottage cheese and "ricotta fluff" (ricotta mixed with sugar free pudding mix and milk or half and half).  A small amount of scrambled egg with cheese usually goes down well at first.

Sip all day long on water or sugar free drinks.  You won't be able to gulp water the first couple of months.  Chew your food very well (that is not so important now that I'm almost 7 months' out, but it was really important at the beginning).  Eat slowly and listen to your body.  If you feel full at all, stop eating.  It's that ONE extra bite that will put you over the edge and make you miserable until you either throw up or it finally passes.  You might get signals like a runny nose or a hiccup.  Just pay close attention.

You'll do great!  Dr. A and Dr. W are really great surgeons and will take good care of you!  I never really got to know Dr. W very well, although he did assist on my surgery.

Take care,

Felicia

Dr. Anthone has no postop diet either!  It's sorta weird.  He just said eat whatever you want as long as your tummy can handle it.  I had a bite of meatloaf and mashed potatoes in the hospital after he cleared me for eating.

I sort of wished he had had a more strict postop diet as I really struggled for the first 2 months with nausea and vomiting (just had to learn how to eat smaller portions and what did and did not agree with my new sleeve--we have the same size sleeve as a VSGer, but we also have our intestines rerouted as well).

I recommend eating soft mushy foods for the first couple of weeks...but that is just my opinion.

Definitely ask Dr. Winterstein if he has a postop diet.

My fingers are crossed...I hope you get your surgery in December! :)

Felicia