The surgeon in Vancouver has given me a "recommended food list" and a bit of an eating plan, but doesn't have a tonne of support, not like there's a dietician on his staff that consults with you. I am going to go to Weight Watchers. I really need to learn portion control and I think that it would be good for me to have a support network, especially for once the balloon is out! My two biggest problems are not really what I eat, but how much - both in terms of meal size and then snacking between meals. So I am hoping the balloon will help me get used to smaller meals and not snacking so much.

I have to say this forum is great, as I was feeling pretty alone about this whole thing. I have only told my husband, as I just don't want the negative energy that I know will come if I told people. I also don't want to have to explain things over and over again, and have people figure I'm some sort of desperate freak taking the easy way out. I don't think this will be easy! So it's great to find this support network online.

Ok sorry for the long post but thought I would share this...my doctor has provided a diet plan

First day diet:
Cold tea and water:
• Drink slowly in small sips.
• Wait in between the sips for a minute or two.
• Do not drink more than 100 ml at once.
• Nothing but tea with or without sugar, or still mineral water.
• Wait for least 10 minutes between drinks.
Your total fluid intake should be not less than 2.0 liters per day.

Recommended dietary regime during the first week after BIB
• High Protein Diet with vitamin/mineral supplements - or-
• Breakfast
1/3 cup pureed fruit
½ cup yogurt
Lunch
½ cup consommé or broth
1/3 cup pureed fruit
Dinner
½ cup yogurt
½ cup pureed fruit

Recommended dietary regime during the second week after BIB
• Clear broth or soup without vegetables or meat and not too creamy.
• Low fat, sugar free yogurt.
• Skimmed milk.
• Natural fruit juice or pureed soft fruit (apple, banana, pear, etc).
• Vegetable juices.
• Low calorie drinks.
• Sugar free protein supplements, with skimmed milk.
• Water ( 6-8 cups / 2.0- 3.0 liter a day).
In between meals you may drink vegetable juice, milk, fruit juices, water, to ingest sufficient
liquids and prevent dehydration.

I also have a meal plan for the following few weeks as well and it seems that a main meal is basically small portion of protein 1/4-1/2 of a chicken breast or fish with veg etc to be honest my problem is similar to alot of people its the size of my portions not what I actually eat. I dont have a sweet tooth but could easily eat a full roast dinner ...twice lol....I think this balloon will give me six months to enforce the new eating habits and I know that after all this I wont go back to old habits I will not be back in the same postion a couple of years down the line.

Hope you are all well ...Amy

that meal plan is b***ocks, its the one from prague beauty isnt it? that will last you a few days. the balloon wont make you feel full as such you need to know when to stop. i was told not to eat solids for a few weeks, but it turned out to be a few days. there is no need to be that harsh with the diet, it could lead to bingeing anyway.

good luck, prague beauty were great

Glad to hear prague beauty were great, hopefully I will have the same experience...I do hope to be able to stick to the diet but will take each day as it comes ..it seems everyone has different experiences with some seemingly able to eat the same as before and others who cant even manage the diet I posted..i guess its hit and miss.

I hope I am not in the first group as I am determined that I wont be overweight this time next year..

Mind you I think I read on the other thread you have lost 15lb in 3 weeks which is good going so something must be working...

Ok its official I am cant wait to get this balloon in ... I actually couldnt sleep last night!!!

I am just like a child before christmas lol

I have read so many stories on here which have been really helpful in coming to my decesion you hear the good the bad and ugly and this is far more useful that the sterile sales pitch you see on so many of the clinic websites....

I'm glad I am forturnate enough to be to have this balloon , just hope it works for me.

@AlligatorCAN- I am in the same position- I do not expect there will be much support after the balloon. The place I am having it put in is a private plastic surgeon's hospital.
They've told me that I ll be able to eat everything (so no food will be off limits).

@ Amy- I, too, hope that this will work for us! I was so very excited at first, but now, reading that it doesn't "work" always, I am worried.
It would be such a relief if it really worked. OMG, mu life would change!



Girls, so do you work out? Or intend to?

I do hope to work out I walk lots but want to get back to running I think If Iost a stone I would feel comfortable getting back to running without my knees screamimng ouchhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I intend to work out, I used to be an athlete and would like to be that again someday. I've always found in the past that I feel great with more muscle, so I'll be lifting weights, riding my bike, and swimming. I want to return to running once I've lost some weight - same reason - too heavy for my knees!

I am using the balloon as a tool to change my life. Eating less, picking up better habits, and exercise - all things I need to do to get myself to be better than before. I turn 40 next year and I want to be an in-shape 40, not wishing I was something else. I also get nervous when I hear stories of it not working, but I hope that I can do it, and I really feel deep down inside like this is what I need to do.

I wonder if post balloon insertion whether I will feel the balloon for the entire 6 months..all this talk of excercise has got me thinking will I feel it 'giggling; about?? I guess I will ..how can u not when running for example....

The same as everyone else who has planned this op I hope this works for me but am realistic and know this will take will power..

Is anyone planning a last supper I will take the opportunity pre op to have a nice meal with my nearest and dearest in case it is somewhile till I feel able to sit down for a 'normal' meal...nothing extravagant as I dont think that would be the right path but perhaps a nice steak and salad ...

Just wanted to say best wishes to Orchid_girl and Amy! I'll be thinking of you over the next few days and wondering how things are going. I'm 3 weeks away from getting the balloon and will be watching for your posts.

Amy - what did you decide about the "last supper"? I still can't decide if I want one or not...

Well two more days left to go, I have to stop eating at 5pm tomorrow for the op first thing Friday morning...I have tonight had a steak and salad as a kind of last proper meal treat, I plan to be sensible tomorrow as I dont want to over do it before friday morning.

I got my banker draft for payment to the clinic today...so its kind of all very really the money is no longer mine just sitting there waiting lol

I have stocked up on jelly, yogurts, fruit to puree,, broth ingredients etc ready for post op and I have also invested in some anti sickness braclets as someone else mentioned these really helped , I guess its worth a shot.

I will post up to tomorrow night the as soon as I am able after the op.

hope everyone is well...amyx

Well...I am now nil by mouth in preparation for tomorrow mornings op.

We are flying out at 5am from the uk so will be up from about 3am and no doubt I will be rather hungry.

I am really nervous about the operation itself, I hope I dont feel anything when swallowing the balloon down, I just want it over and done with.

How is everyone else doing, hope your all well. I will post as soon as I am able to. Wish me luck...

Well, its done , I am suffering somewhat I have to say the reality has hit me like a tonne weight. I am sick, crampy and the most horrific acid , I have also hads moments where I have said that its I want it OUT!!!

I am dertemined to make this work , any postive stories would be great right now as at the moment I just feel crappy.

the good news is everyday u will feel so much better dont expect anything major from urself these next few days as the crappiness is worse the quicker u try to get back to normal, in a week or so u will be eating ur little dinner thinking this is great i love this balloon and the lovely lower number on the scales each week will make these few days worth it

Hang in there Amy! It will be all be worth it.

Orchidgirl - how are you doing?