GRUUUMPY...

Maybe it's how you structure your food intake throughout the day. I had to experiment and play around with mine until I found what works for me to keep me from being hungry. I was at first, but now, am rarely hungry unless it's close to meal time. I start off the morning with a high-protein shake on my way to work. At work, I eat 1/2 a protein bar. (This came throught experimentation too - because along with protein comes calories!) Around 10:30 a.m. I start drinking a can (11.5 oz) of V8 vegetable juice. This is a great way to get your veggies in and curbs hunger til lunch. Then at 3 I have a snack, usually something with protein, like yogurt or the other 1/2 of the bar I had for breakfast. Then supper is around 6. For my beverages throughout the day, I drink Crystal Light - they have a strawberry-banana flavor that suppresses hunger. The also have other flavors that boost energy, increase metabolism, etc. The key is to make one change at a time so you can tell if that one change makes a difference - and give it time too - it usually doesn't make a difference right away, but after 2-3 days, you'll notice. Hope these tips help, everybody's different!

I think you might not be getting enough protein or it isn't spread out evenly throughout the day. I am very similar to Mom..I eat 5 small high protein meals a day..I eat every 3-4 hours. I don't like food when i first wake up so I always have a protein shake for breakfast (I am in maintenance stage now..and still eat this way). Then 3 hours later it will be some sort of protein snack..meat/cheese roll ups. Lunch varies..cheese quesadillas (sorry for the spelling) or some sort of tuna or chicken salad on a couple of crackers. 3-4 hours later afternoon snack..carrots/dip or cheese sticks. Dinner I always cook for our family something high protein, low carb...I have a ton of recipes..I cook a lot by crockpot. One of our favorites is Pizza Soup...tastes just like pizza but no bread and it is about 240 calories. 3 hours later..maybe jello or pudding. If I was needing any other snacks in between those I eat Sugar Free popsicles. Keep in mind you can only process 30 grams of protein at a time so if you make a smoothie or something that has 80 and you think you made your goal for the day..you will be tired within a couple of hours of eating it because you only retained 30 grams of it. I looked at this as a lifestyle change not a diet. I had to make sure that what I was eating to make me lose the weight I would continue to eat after wards. I know this will sound weird but I was actually afraid that I wasn't going to stop losing weight. I lost 130 lbs in 10 months. I ended up gaining 5 back to be healthy. Cooking your own foods and having a great attitude really goes a long way! Every body is different so you can not compare but you can see what has worked. Oh I agree...my drinks of choice Orange Sunrise Crystal Light and Water..to me the strawberry-banana was "too thick"..believe me that sounds funny when it comes to Crystal Light but everyone's tastes buds are different.

Maybe it's how you structure your food intake throughout the day. I had to experiment and play around with mine until I found what works for me to keep me from being hungry. I was at first, but now, am rarely hungry unless it's close to meal time. I start off the morning with a high-protein shake on my way to work. At work, I eat 1/2 a protein bar. (This came throught experimentation too - because along with protein comes calories!) Around 10:30 a.m. I start drinking a can (11.5 oz) of V8 vegetable juice. This is a great way to get your veggies in and curbs hunger til lunch. Then at 3 I have a snack, usually something with protein, like yogurt or the other 1/2 of the bar I had for breakfast. Then supper is around 6. For my beverages throughout the day, I drink Crystal Light - they have a strawberry-banana flavor that suppresses hunger. The also have other flavors that boost energy, increase metabolism, etc. The key is to make one change at a time so you can tell if that one change makes a difference - and give it time too - it usually doesn't make a difference right away, but after 2-3 days, you'll notice. Hope these tips help, everybody's different!

Thank you! I love crystal light grape drink..lol and sunrise.. i have not tried the others… I will give it a try and see what happens the trick is just finding balance i think.

I think you might not be getting enough protein or it isn't spread out evenly throughout the day. I am very similar to Mom..I eat 5 small high protein meals a day..I eat every 3-4 hours. I don't like food when i first wake up so I always have a protein shake for breakfast (I am in maintenance stage now..and still eat this way). Then 3 hours later it will be some sort of protein snack..meat/cheese roll ups. Lunch varies..cheese quesadillas (sorry for the spelling) or some sort of tuna or chicken salad on a couple of crackers. 3-4 hours later afternoon snack..carrots/dip or cheese sticks. Dinner I always cook for our family something high protein, low carb...I have a ton of recipes..I cook a lot by crockpot. One of our favorites is Pizza Soup...tastes just like pizza but no bread and it is about 240 calories. 3 hours later..maybe jello or pudding. If I was needing any other snacks in between those I eat Sugar Free popsicles. Keep in mind you can only process 30 grams of protein at a time so if you make a smoothie or something that has 80 and you think you made your goal for the day..you will be tired within a couple of hours of eating it because you only retained 30 grams of it. I looked at this as a lifestyle change not a diet. I had to make sure that what I was eating to make me lose the weight I would continue to eat after wards. I know this will sound weird but I was actually afraid that I wasn't going to stop losing weight. I lost 130 lbs in 10 months. I ended up gaining 5 back to be healthy. Cooking your own foods and having a great attitude really goes a long way! Every body is different so you can not compare but you can see what has worked. Oh I agree...my drinks of choice Orange Sunrise Crystal Light and Water..to me the strawberry-banana was "too thick"..believe me that sounds funny when it comes to Crystal Light but everyone's tastes buds are different.

I never realized that about the protein and I will give it a try. I too get tired if I have too many carbs.. i get that mid morning crash. Thanks for your input! I love crystal light sunrise too! and congrats with your battle. The lap band is in for life, so you are right diet is not the term.. its more of a lifestyle change.. Thanks!

You just got some great advise and I even learned something new. Thank you.

You just got some great advise and I even learned something new. Thank you.

I am glad you learned some new stuff! I really do not have a filter when it comes to expressing my thoughts when it comes to the band..lol and I am very glad that I have such a strong support group!