enuf

@@enuf, I was banded in March 2014. Four fills and 7.5 in my 14cc band and I think I'm in the green zone. I feel satisfied with a small meal IF (and this is a big IF) I start with lean Protein and eat slowly. If I eat a salad I could probably eat a gallon of it. If I don't chew my meat to mush I can get stuck. But fried chicken strips just slide on down.
My point is that after a month of stalling, or rather, bouncing up and down about 5 pounds over and over, I took a hard look at my food and faced facts.
I was eating huge tubs of popcorn at the movies, sometimes with buttercrap on it.
I was eating fried chicken strips three or more times a week.
I was drinking apple martinis whenever I'd go out to dinner. Sometimes two.
Although I logged every bite, I hadn't looked at those logs and faced what I was eating. I was often exceeding 1900-2000 calories in a day.
Two weeks ago I did a "reset" and got my act together. I cleaned up my food and made a plan. I stuck to the plan. I also began to work on the emotional issues behind my eating.
I'm back on track and I feel empowered. I have a fill appointment on October 2 but I'm pretty sure I'm going to stay at this fill level for now. But I'm still going to go to the appointment. I need that reinforcement and I get such a boost whenever I meet with the nurse who does my fills. It refocuses me.
Please don't give up. We are all learning how to live without excess food and it's so hard sometimes. The band is helping me to not give up on myself when I feel like a failure. An attitude adjustment, a mental recommitment, and I was able to resume my weight loss. That has NEVER happened before. I was on Weight Watchers for decades. First small gain always always always was the beginning of the end. A slip was always a slide back into binging and dropping out.
Not this time.

I think this may be true as well. My mother remarked the other day "by now, I thought you would be skin and bones", but then, if I have a sliming incident in front of her she is all worried and remarks how that is "not normal".
My BMI wasn't extremely high, and I have lost slowly and sometimes don't lose at all. It is frustrating, but the high points for me have been:
1. not regaining what I do manage to lose (first time in my life EVER)
2. Actually not having a hunger that is just ravenous. I feel hunger, but it's nothing like it used to be. (keep in mind, I have had 4 or 5 fills)
3. The belief that I have a tool and although I am not on here at my one year anniverisary (coming up in November) screaming that I have lost 100 pounds ( wish I would be)- I still made a positive choice for my health, and honestly, 100 pounds would have been too much anyway.
But, if I could do about 40 more, which I will, I will be content.....

Maybe your band isn't tight enough I lost the first month but then I found I was getting hungrier and losing less. The last fill I received was tighter and I got my mind back on track and am losing again..

re: "What has not happened is any change in my appetite or eating habits or ability to eat. DOES THIS EVER REALLY OCCUR?"
yes it does....although not in a linear progression
It wasn't until postOp I actually experienced what "SATIETY" is.
Among the many triggers that remain active though, for in in "sport eating"....is ANY amount of corn-syrup-fructose.
I'm not claiming to be 'allergic' to it....what I do notice, is after just a few bites of unguarded non-hunger eating of something with this poison in it...my appetite mechanism kicks into high gear and I lust after moreMoreMORE of anything I can stick in my mouth.
My impression with lower BMI patients, is they seem to work a lot harder to lose fewer pounds. And the high BMI patients usually seem to lose more slowly as their size comes down.

Your expectations that the band would stop the eating demons were ill placed. Head hunger(cravings) don't go away for many of us. Eating processed foods such as anything with sugar/fructose or white flour and fruits can cause a body to want more and more. Easily digested foods which are high BMI foods break down much quicker causing insulin spikes. When your insulin plummets a short time later it's easy to reach for the chips, crackers or sweets to assuage your hunger.
It's unfortunate your surgeon didn't diagnose your personal health condition correctly. But the simple answer to your needs is there is no WLS that takes away your hunger if you don't follow the rules of that particular WLS. With the band, it's eating very small bites, chewing your food to a mush like consistency and consuming fresh non processed healthy food.< /p>
Those eating demons can be mitigated if you follow the eating rules. Not completely of course, but for most of us enough to not seek more food through the night.
This is all about eating the right kind of foods and in the right quantity. You have to choose the right foods and if you follow the rules your appetite can be reduced along with your waistline.

What GW said is very true. This is not an easy journey you have to work it. The band or any other WLS tool is not going to change your thinking or eating habits. You have to do that. You want to be compliant in band eating mechanics so you don't hurt yourself.
Go back to the basics and try a "reset" in mind and eating. Add some cardio and resistance training you can do this!!!

I suspect you don't have enough restriction yet. I absolutely feel less hunger. Not no hunger though. What the band does is tamp down the hunger enough for you to make good food choices both in what you eat, and how much you eat. It's not a 'set it and forget it' type of tool. I can screw this up whenever I feel like it. I choose not to because the band helps me to control my appetite. You have to follow the rules though...eat slowly and chew well. It not only helps you from getting stuck, but by the time you are done, the hunger should be satisfied. Don't expect to feel full either. I have been full only a handful of times, and you can go from full to uncomfortable in a split second so I do my best to stop before then.
Please try to be patient. Talk to the doctor about ways to help you be successful with the band and keep reading posts on this forum for advice and inspiration.
This is not a linear journey...most of us have had our ups and downs so know that you're not alone in feeling this way. Good luck and keep us posted on what your doctor and/or NUT says.

I have never been "stuck"... there are just two foods... actually three (no carbonated beverages) that I do not eat. I don't eat rice or apple skins... they don't get stuck they just feel strange going down. I have tried them several times since being banded but they just feel odd.
When I eat I take bites the size of my pinky finger nail and I chew... and I MAKE SURE I finish what I have in my mouth before I take my second or third bite. That was the hardest habit to break. A lot of people don't realize (banded or not) that they don't finish what they have in their mouth before they take their second or third bite.
Just take it slow and if don't rush going to "normal" food. If your doctor says mushies for weeks stay on them for a week.
Back when I was banded I did a 4 week plan.
Also, remember each person is different try not to compare yourself to others and don't be afraid to try all foods... yes you still have to "diet" with lapband but you can still enjoy the favourite foods but in moderation and feel satisfied... that's why I love my band so much... I don't feel like I missing out on anything.
Hang in there... it does get better!!!
Feel free to ask any questions.
Tom, Toronto
Banded July 6 06
Wt. Loss: 160 lbs
EM: tomander@bell.net

Heather Cjj, I just went back to my journal that I kept for the first few weeks and noticed that it was around day 11 to 13 that I really started to get my energy back...so you are on your way...it doesn't help you are dealing with the energy of a bunch of little people all day that might be draining you as well...so know there is light at the end of your tunnel...congrats dearheart and know we are all here for you!!! Hang in there!!! Take care and let us hear from you soon. (there sending you some happy energy)!!!

Thanks for the feedback and the cautions. I did not see the surgeon; it is the surgical nurse that sees the patients. She took the stitch out. She asked how much I was eating. I told her exactly (probably 1/3 c rice) and about 4-6 oz of meat. She did not seem at all concerned but stressed the importance of eating very slowly. She seemed a bit surprised that bread gave me no problem. She did not offer me any warnings or say I should do anything other than continue to eat very slowly and lesser portions.
I have thought about what you have both said and think it makes a lot of sense. I am not concerned with weight loss until the band is filled but I haven't done all this - just to mess it up so I think tomorrow I will make a large soft stew and eat that for the week. Thanks for the tip.
The only thing or discomfort I have is on my lower right side- just below my hip bone. I am completely healthy but am concerned that it is my appendix. It is a dull ache always at the same place. When I walk it gets more intense - but still localized. She said if it were my appendix and given it has lasted a few days I would have been in emergency - so she hypothesized it was just gas.
I am going to post to see if anyone has experienced this and whether it is correlated with the surgery.

I have the same question as enjoythetime?
But, don't take this personally, what you did is not recommended by any means. Some of us have very little swelling right after surgery. This means the stoma/band is wide open and the swelling in the stoma area doesn't interfere with food passing to the lower stomach. I too was one who had no swelling. But, we enter Bandster Hell so much sooner and some can't handle the hunger and break the rules.
Most patients experience a lot of swelling and eating solid food so soon after surgery could compromise the integrity of the sutures and the position of the band. This could result in a quick return to the ER or hospital for a band revision.
So, if you're a newbie, do not disregard the no solids rules till the Doctor clears you. You may not be as lucky as Enuf?

enuf, I'm glad you're loving your new tool and congrats on your lose, thats awesome!!
Can I ask you a question? What did your doctor say when you told him you weren't sticking with the post-op diet phases? Please don't take this the wrong way but there's a very important reason why they have you on that post-op diet so I'm just curious what his response was.
My surgeon told me absolutely no veering from the plan they provided me. He told me the reason is because you're still very swelled and your body is still healing from major surgery and even though you're able to eat these things with no pain, stucks, etc. doesn't meant it's ok to do so. If you were to get stuck or if you were to PB or anything at this point you could cause your band to slip or various other things and even if you didn't have one of these episodes you can have side effects you may not be aware of until later. You're just doing such a great job I just don't want you to experience any set backs.
Best of luck to you!!

I am 2 weeks post surgery and have lost about 10 pounds. I just had my first post surgical visit and it went well. I was quite honest that I have not been sticking to the limited puree diet - but frankly have had no difficulty with rice, meat, potatoes, corn, and last - night - a full chinese dinner. I have also had no problem eating 1/2 a roast pork sandwich. The secret is chew chew chew and lots of space between bites. The only thing that has given me pause this week is an orange for just a mini-second. I think I am going to love this tool!
I was told that there will be no fill for 2 weeks. (My surgeon puts 3-4 mg in upon insertion).
The best news was that after my visit I knew I had to go grocery shopping. I had no eaten today and it was lunch time so on my way to the store I stopped at harveys and got a junior burger with tomatoes. I immediately took off the top bun and ate the burger slowly. That was 2 hours ago and I am still feeling absolutely no hunger or no desire to eat!
Thought I would post this as a good news story for those afraid or those newly banded.
So far - so good. It was well worth the first few days of discomfort and fear.

I am 2 weeks post surgery and have lost about 10 pounds. I just had my first post surgical visit and it went well. I was quite honest that I have not been sticking to the limited puree diet - but frankly have had no difficulty with rice, meat, potatoes, corn, and last - night - a full chinese dinner. I have also had no problem eating 1/2 a roast pork sandwich. The secret is chew chew chew and lots of space between bites. The only thing that has given me pause this week is an orange for just a mini-second. I think I am going to love this tool!
I was told that there will be no fill for 2 weeks. (My surgeon puts 3-4 mg in upon insertion).
The best news was that after my visit I knew I had to go grocery shopping. I had no eaten today and it was lunch time so on my way to the store I stopped at harveys and got a junior burger with tomatoes. I immediately took off the top bun and ate the burger slowly. That was 2 hours ago and I am still feeling absolutely no hunger or no desire to eat!
Thought I would post this as a good news story for those afraid or those newly banded.
So far - so good. It was well worth the first few days of discomfort and fear.

Thanks for the tips fellow bandits! Since I posted I had 2 large glasses of Tomato juice and 2 pulverized hard boiled eggs. (Just noticed that my surgeon states no vegetable juices yet...) I am still fantasiging food but maybe you are right about keeping busy. I am bored and lying watching tv since i took the week off work The canadian spring (which hasn't materialized) has kept me housebound. -8 today. So I will sit and read all of the posts here to keep my mind occupied. How encouraging to have people who have been there help me out! Here's hoping!

Dec 2, 2013 - Pre-op appt - 208
Dec 16 - Surgery date - 202Dec 30 - 2 week post op - 194.5Jan 24 - at 6 week post op - 189 March 15 - 3 month post op - 175
So 27 lbs within 3 months.
Now down to 170.
I've somewhat hit a stall lately, but I've included more alcohol in my diet too so that's slowing me down. You might make it too. Some people lose quicker some lose slower. I have missed the gym more than gone, but I've definitely kept up my walking.
Try your best to really limit portions. Stop when you've eaten the 4-6 oz even if you don't feel full. Hang up a swimsuit for motivation.

Here you go TMF.

Thanks for the tips fellow bandits! Since I posted I had 2 large glasses of Tomato juice and 2 pulverized hard boiled eggs. (Just noticed that my surgeon states no vegetable juices yet...) I am still fantasiging food but maybe you are right about keeping busy. I am bored and lying watching tv since i took the week off work The canadian spring (which hasn't materialized) has kept me housebound. -8 today. So I will sit and read all of the posts here to keep my mind occupied. How encouraging to have people who have been there help me out! Here's hoping!

I feel relatively recovered. I am so hungry. Am supposed to be on pureed foods this week. Had a jar of baby food and an egg in the last 12 hours with no problem. The issue is that I am so hungry I feel I could eat anything. I know that I am only supposed to concentrate on healing this month but I am also concerned with calories. I have lost 13 pounds in one week but feel it could go for nothing if I let myself eat the amount of even pureed foods that I want.
Is this bandster"s hell? Help!

Hi Enuf!
Totally normal! Not a lot of us were told about this "bandster hell"....but it's very real for many. It was for me. The swelling from surgery subsides, and you feel no different than before banding. Exactly how it was for me too. Rest assured, after you start getting adjusments, the band works. Until then, its just willpower that will get you through this phase. Hang tough and do your best to limit your portion sizes. And try not to test the types of food you can eat. Stick to your surgeons choices and allow yourself to fully recover from surgery. There'll be happy days ahead! Best wishes!

hmmmm... harsh isn't what I was trying for - as for getting facts from my doc about when he did ww, jc or ns while having a lapband - not probable - no?
I'm just saying here that I'm looking for information from those who have actually tried these diets - not those who know they don't work (without a band) - I already know that - I'm looking for someone(s) who have lapbands and who have also done these programs post op... I'm not trying to be harsh nor slap the hand of those trying to be supportive i'm merely looking for anyone out there who fits this description.
Again, I completely get that it's better to eat real food not from a box - I get that - and I like how chickie explained that it looks like I may be "cheating" the system - yes - that i can agree with b/c I'm looking for a more stable reliable immediate gratification results - so if JC can give that to me - well, I'm ok with that because I BELIEVE that the band will help me from gaining weight back b/c it's nearly impossible to over eat - which is MY problem - I over eat - I don't necessarily eat the wrong food - I over eat all foods... so, I AM looking for the shortest distance between 194lbs and 140lbs - yes I AM! So, if this sets me up for failure and there is someone out there who this failure has happened to - well that is the story I am looking for here. Like I said in my original post "be careful what you ask for" I get IT!!!
Further - go back and read Cheryl's post - it says "Learn to eat with your band healthy foods and you don't need JC to do that. Spend what you are spending on them at the grocery store. What is wrong with making chicken salad, tuna salad, cottage cheese with some fruit. Certainly these are a no brainer to make. I refuse to let those kind of people take my money again when it never helped to begin with."
This sounds like a scolding - and if I wanted to make all of the stuff I'm getting in JC neat little boxes it cost me far more than $70 a week. I'm just saying what I'd like to hear is "I did this and this is the results" - that's all I'm saying (I would call that facts but it might be the auditor in me). Not being harsh - look we're all tired of freaking dieting - but life is one big fat freaking diet - the reason I put a band around my stomach is to prevent me from over eating so dieting can go out the window... right - well that's my case.
anyway - it doesn't seem like anyone here has done any of these programs post op... maybe I'll be the first one. I'll let you know how it turns out - little cheater me - maybe I need to change my user name
Peace

well... I do hear all of you loud and clear, that's the reason I posted this - I sure wish there was a book out there that published a 4 week menu of eat this and the results were proven, the food easily prepared and the portions were stated. I've been looking and looking and looking - So coping out a little here with JC because it's already done - EASY... plus I'm more satisfied than I have ever been with these foods b/c after being banded for 5 months my appetite is way down - something I believe will be maintained forever now that I AM banded... NO? Because before the way I gained the weight back was from pigging out for an entire year, day after day 5,000+ calories - something I don't believe that I'll be capable of doing ever again b/c of the band... no???
And honestly the food is good - I had Cranberry Almond Cereal w milk, black Beans corn and orzo Pasta for lunch and turkey, mashed potatoes and green Beans for dinner - how is that any different than making the stuff myself? I'll tell you how it's different, once it's gone there isn't anymore to eat - no leftovers and no temptations to eat more than I should b/c at this stage even eating 200 more calories slows the weightloss - which is different from maintenance and gaining.
I completely GET that this banded life is so much more than the amount of food you put into your pie hole - I get that I am a Food Addict and I have to deal with that - that I have to learn how not to be triggered by shoveling food into my mouth to comfort the suck ass day that I've had... so, this really isn't about that - this is simply about what am I going to eat today. And now I look at my menu, and I'm like - oh - I get to have an omelet with potatoes, tuna salad & peaches for lunch and Salisbury steak for dinner - it's just a bit of a reprieve and pressure off from menu planning - I know I'll be back to that - that's life. Simply.
I've got a question from the posts above:
Learn how to use the band... hmmmmm I think I'm learning quite well thank you - I eat WAY less than I did pre-band and I don't eat bread, Cookies and ice cream... I went from eating an average of 5,000 calories a day to eating 1200 or less and eating way more lean Protein... is there something I'm missing with my education on the band? Fortunately for me now I eat a good helping and I'm satisfied for quite a few hours and I don't snack and I'm in really good spirits - plus I made it to the gym 5 days in one week this past week and even did lunges for the first time in nearly 5 years... why, I think I'm learning quite well - does doing JC mean I'm failing and I'm not learning to use the band? I'm just wondering this - has anyone been banded and used JC, WW or NS to shed some of the weight and get used to eating small portions? With all due respect to the four who have commented - if you haven't tried this WITH the band and gained all the weight back - well how do YOU know it's bound to fail? I like facts - if you look at my posts I write facts, I don't point my finger and shake it saying you should do this or that - I say "I did this & In my experience"... Cheryl it sounds like you've got a bad taste in your mouth (no pun intended ha) from these programs like they did you WRONG... I'm interested in how they did you wrong - if you don't mind sharing? Facts please - not "why don't you"... I'm truly interested
Has anyone tried these programs post band and have you been successful - ie, lost what they need to lose and have maintained outside of the program? If you have used these programs but were not successful - why weren't you?

I'm doing two amazing things at the same time, thanks to the miracle of modern medicine: I am losing weight (thanks to the band) and I am on day 5 without a cigarette (thanks to Chantix). Smokers fear gaining tons of weight when they quit...not enough of a reason to keep smoking, but I am so happy to say that thanks to my band my weight is easier to control and thanks to chantix I'm not going ape shyt crazy or eating everything in sight.
I'm a loser and a quitter and I've never felt so proud of myself.

I used to do the Isagenix shakes, then I switched to powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury vanilla and chocolate, PLUS a canister of the unflavored Protein that I can add to a shake, OR I often add it to my Tomato Soups and cream of chicken soups. It's 90 calories and 21 grams of Protein. You can even add it to coffee, but I don't drink coffee.< /p>

I strongly suspect that the weight that we lose immediately after surgery is phantom weight anyways. What I mean by that is that it is a result of our system being completely absent of any food but Water weight. When my hubby goes on the Atkins diet and then tries to tell me after 4 days that he has lost 10 lbs I just silently roll my eyes. Because I know, from experience, that it is nothing but Water and as soon as he starts to eat again, the scale will be back up. So I don't really look at the 11 lbs i have supposedly lost since my surgery as anything but an illusion which will be gone as soon as I open my "pie hole". Strike that: "my Kale and other nutritionally acceptable food hole"
I really do agree that as much as we want and need to see the scale go down, this month is to ensure that the band has settled in and proper scar tissue has developed. It is only after that - that the real work starts. Easy to say....but so tough
I am now 6 days post surgery.
I eat a shake for Breakfast and then for lunch and dinner I eat a cup or so of the boxed Tomato Soup etc.. I water it down with chicken broth so that the calorie count is lower since the Tomato Soup is about 100 cal per cup and chicken broth is 10. I do take the isogenix shakes for the Protein. 2 scoops is 240 calories though and only 21 g of Protein. Anybody know any other shakes that are less cal with more protein?
No doubt about it though - I want to eat more! Whether it is head hunger or stomach hunger - it feels almost overwhelming. I am afraid to go to the kitchen.
I had the isogenix around from one of my 500 prev failed diet attempts...