Teri818

Thanks so much everyone. I am not in any pain so I am praying that I did not damage anything. I will go back to doing my Protein Shakes twice a day for a few days and a light dinner. Overeating is not worth the guilt and the worry I am now feeling!!! I am praying all is fine.

Hello - I had my surgery on August 13th. I don't get my first fill until September 23rd. I just started eating solid foods. I've done really well in trying not to overeat but am dealing with a lot of head hunger issues - craving certain foods. Today - we had a potluck at work and I know I overate. I ate things I shouldn't have and feel so guilty and worried!!! I am not supposed to eat more than a cup of food per meal and I know I ate quite a bit over that - plus it was things I should not have - a piece of fried chicken, some baked Beans, a little bit of spaghetti, etc....yes I blew it!!! This is first time I've done this since I started this journey - even going back to the 2 week pre-op diet. I had lost 18.2 lbs. from the day I started my 2 week pre op diet to 6 days after my surgery and was happy with that. Without feeling any restriction since I've not had my fill, I was able to consume way more food than I should have!! I will be so glad to get my fill!! So - my question - will this one meal damage anything - I mean - would it have stretched my pouch or the opening or anything? I know I am not going to do this again - I just feel horrible - so guilty....I've been doing so good and then ate all this food today!! People have started to tell me they can tell I'm losing and I don't want to go through all of this for nothing!!!! HELP PLEASE!! Teri

Thanks so much everyone. I am not in any pain so I am praying that I did not damage anything. I will go back to doing my Protein Shakes twice a day for a few days and a light dinner. Overeating is not worth the guilt and the worry I am now feeling!!! I am praying all is fine.

Thanks so much everyone. I am not in any pain so I am praying that I did not damage anything. I will go back to doing my Protein Shakes twice a day for a few days and a light dinner. Overeating is not worth the guilt and the worry I am now feeling!!! I am praying all is fine.

My doctor's instructions on my first appointment one week after surgery was to go on mushies and to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food per meal.

One last comment? Eating slower will be one of the most difficult issues for you to deal with. Don't beat yourself up, it takes months to break this destructive habit. You cannot just change a lifetime's eating habits in a few weeks or months. Especially during the post op phase. Once you can sit down with a normal meal, and your band is adjusted properly, you will be forced to eat slower and chew bigger. Or, you will have stuck episodes, painful stuck episodes.
So, it won't come overnight, and it may not come in months, but these new skills can be nurtured and developed over time if you just commit to it and focus on them.
tmf

From the 2nd week through my 16th week I had virtually no restriction. Like you, I was in Bandster hell. It's no fun and it pissed me off that no one ever told me about this part of my journey. I read about it here all the time and advise others that they are in "Bandster Hell" but I never saw it before my surgery.
It's just a situation you'll have to find a way to deal with. For me, I ate more than the one cup of food but I tried to make sure I was filling up on healthy foods. I did stay away from pizza, taco bell and fast foods(occasional slip) so I lost 12 lbs initially and didn't gain or lose any more weight till my 3rd fill 4 months after surgery. I think I'm somewhat typical.
From what I read here on the forum, most people don't start to feel any satiety/restriction until their 2nd - 4th fill. There are many on either side of that ratio and most all of us have went through some stage of Bandster Hell. It can seem like you're hungrier now than before surgery. I know that's how I felt.
You're going to have to hunker down till you get that fill that takes away your hunger. Just concentrate on eating good, healthy food. Good luck.
tmf

I am on mushy foods now. Did anyone consider very very soft meatballs as mushy food. I ate one last night and one this morning and it hit the spot and seemed to be just fine if I ate slowly.
Also I had parmesan chicken salad that was the same consistancy as tuna fish for lunch today. Very rich but delicious. I highly recommend.

It's an amazing thing when you get over carb addiction and cravings I am 4 weeks post op and it no longer bothers me when people eat pizza burgers ect... Hang in there you will be happy you did

I just found this site today. I am scheduled for August 15.