Butterfly512

Ugh having a hard time...end of 4th day and I usually cave in by now on every other diet and start binge eating from being so hungry and the cravings ..
I hope I don't feel like this after the surgery, right now I feel like I am never gonna be able to enjoy food again :-/

1. Stop beating yourself up. STOP. NOW. That is all. 2-It took me 4 fills to get to "the green zone", it may take more or less for you, everyones different. 3- My Dr. said to follow his rules 95 % of the time to see successful weight loss. Not 100% , just 95 %. That 5% "allowance" made a huge difference for me, because I was "allowed" to eat a little bit of sweets or whatever I craved, because "The Dr. said I could !!!!" Because of that , I was able to stick to healthy foods 95% of the the time, more or less. The weight started falling off of me ! I added in some exercise 3-4x a week, and from the beginning , I was averaging 1-2 lbs a week. So, I started planning my meals out daily, protien 1st, fruits and vegetables 2nd, carbs last, and left 5% for my treats. If your Dr. or Nut. agrees with this, give it a try ! Good luck !!!

Butterfly512, don't beat yourself up. Things take time and you must trust the process. Plan your meals out from Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner & possibly a snack before bed. Measure out your foods as This may help you so you don't get hungry and overeat. I will not get my first full until 7/6 and I am a little anxious & nervous at the same time. I have noticed that I am able to eat more as I am not as swollen as before but I continue to watch what I eat as I don't want to gain a pound back. I hope things get better for you and we are all cheering for you.

Thank you for that info & words of encouragement. I wasn't supposed to get my first adjustment until the 26th, but I called to tell them I am having a tough time now....and they made it for next Wednesday.. hopefully that will force me to do the things I am supposed to because right now I keep wanting to eat everything after being so restricted the last few weeks.

Sounds like a plan, thanks!
Can you give me examples of some choices for the 1/4 cup of carbs part? Not sure what kinds of foods fit into that besides potatoes, bread, etc

Protein Shakes will not give you the satiety you need. You need to eat food, not drink your meals. Can I suggest you try what I did? I followed a weight watchers type of plan. I ate 3 oz. Protein, 1/2 cup of veggies and 1/4 cup of carbs for lunch and dinner. Breakfast was often a packet of cream of wheat or oatmeal. eggs once in a while as well. I tried to stay at around 1,100 calories daily. By following this basic plan, I lost over 150 lbs.

That is what happens if you do not eat properly, or the wrong types of foods....which will only come into play if you have any restriction.
When you have any restriction, you will know it....for me, the way my band is adjusted, I am FORCED to eat slowly, take small bites, avoid certain foods, not drink while eating, and do not overeat...stop when the band says stop.....
If I do not do any of the above, THEN I will get stuck , slime, pain, all the unpleasant things.
It FORCES you to change your behavior, it FORCES you to eat differently, not the way a fat person does, but the way we are supposed to eat....I eat like a bird.
And I have been doing it for so long now, it has become 2nd nature...it's who I am now...don't need to think about it....
Everything I mentioned are the so called "Rules".....they started hammering these rules into my head long before I had surgery.....I did question as to why...sounds like Diet Talk.....
It was explained to me, that the rules are not there to help you loose weight, the rules are there so that when my band gets adjusted to where there I start to have some restriction, then I will wish I knew these rules...it is then I will need them more than ever.....( and they wee right!)
I read posts here all the time where people feel following the rules is what will lead them to loose weight.....I was taught differently...I was taught the Band is what will lead me to loosing weight, (that's why I needed surgery) and the "Rules" will need to be learned and followed so I can get along with the band from day to day....

Hi Butterfly - I hope your fill and doctor's appointment go well. You can use the fill as a jumping off point to stick to the rules, especially since you were in pain after your binge. I know you are discouraged, but you can do this. You just need to get your head in the game. Yes, I know that is difficult. I had to convince myself that straying from a high-protein diet was detrimental to me. I had to keep all binge foods out of the house during the soft food phase. As I recall, I ate a lot of cream Soups. Reminding yourself to eat slowly really does help. Good luck.

Thank you for that info & words of encouragement. I wasn't supposed to get my first adjustment until the 26th, but I called to tell them I am having a tough time now....and they made it for next Wednesday.. hopefully that will force me to do the things I am supposed to because right now I keep wanting to eat everything after being so restricted the last few weeks.

I am down 20 pounds since surgery on the 21st of May and the preop diet..
I have been doing so good with everything until I got to the pureed food stage..then gradually I feel like I am going back to bad habits or just not following the rules.
As I sat here bored, tired & feeling so hungry, I went to the fridge & gave in.
I am hoping when I get my first adjustment next week it will help me stick to eating slow, not drinking while eating, etc.
But right now I am just hungry and after a couple times of being fine after eating faster and bigger portions ..it's made me do it more :-/
Ugh... feeling discouraged.

What you wrote.. Was like reading my story... Incredible ... I 'be in same journey.... I'm here to talk if you want...

Thank you for that info & words of encouragement. I wasn't supposed to get my first adjustment until the 26th, but I called to tell them I am having a tough time now....and they made it for next Wednesday.. hopefully that will force me to do the things I am supposed to because right now I keep wanting to eat everything after being so restricted the last few weeks.

4 weeks of the post op diet, then my first fill of 4cc's....I then began to loose weight.
Relax...your band is doing absolutely nothing at this point...all you did was have it installed...it has not been "activated" so to speak with a few fills (adjustments)
It is as though you did not have the surgery, and you are at the same place as before...struggling to loose weight by your own will.....and lets face it...we had this surgery because we could not do it on our own....
Of course you will fail....we all did...that is one of the criteria for being a WLS candidate....failed at every diet we tried.
Your post, everything is I did this. I cannot do this..etc., etc...I, I, I.......what about the band? ask if the band is doing anything, and if not, why??? Ask your Dr. why the band is not making a difference....I did, and got an education about all this.
And the answer is it has not been adjusted yet.

If you feel you will...keep it smooth. No rot-gut like straight whiskey or bourbon....but something more creamy and gentle
Least that's my opinion (only)

I ate when I was hungry when I was on your stage. So don't worry.
I've read once the swelling goes down and you will be able to eat as much as before, that's normal. Just try not to
And if you fall, you can always stand up again

If I hear him say one more time how the wls is going to be so difficult that I won't be able to handle it..
And why can't I just make good choices & eat less to lose weight?
He is a very sweet, compassionate man and I adore him but his lack of understanding of why I need and want this is frustrating! (13 years of struggling with being overweight and depressed because of it)
He is usually supportive, but in this situation on one hand he just says I am find and he loves me how I am & the other side of it is that he doesn't understand my struggle with my weight and trying to lose it.
Can anyone relate? It's annoying when anyone without a weight problem says those things :-/

Get yourself some hummus. on my mushy stage I was allowed corn tortilla chips to go with the chili I was also allowed to have. I can see you sitting in front of the campfire with a little bag of chips and your hummus laughing and talking and being social. make yourself a little ice chest that you have made several dips like stuff. use your blender and get creative. never mind all the food going around. you have determination on your side and can have a great time without food.

I am still finding that doing other things while eating helps alot.
Sitting here playing on my phone is helping me eat this cottage cheese slow..and is helping me take breaks between bites
Eating while sitting and staring at a timer or clock is going to drive me crazy lol.. I think distraction is the key for me as long as I remember to chew each bite thoroughly.

Thanks! I downloaded the app..it's great to get me used to eating this way.

I am still finding that doing other things while eating helps alot.
Sitting here playing on my phone is helping me eat this cottage cheese slow..and is helping me take breaks between bites
Eating while sitting and staring at a timer or clock is going to drive me crazy lol.. I think distraction is the key for me as long as I remember to chew each bite thoroughly.

Bariatric Timer & Mindful Meal Timer are the ones I downloaded.. very good apps

The first 3 months were extremely difficult and down right frustrating to me....I was as hungry as ever, surgery or not, actually gained weight after my first fill of 4cc's, Was told I needed to start counting calories, measuring portions, etc, which is all fine...but that was everything I did on every diet I have ever been on....I didn't need to go through surgery to repeat the same old stuff that failed every time....Surgery was supposed to be different , No?
Felt I wasted all my time , all the preparation, the anxiety, and $$...all for a big nothing!!!!!
But know this, and this is from MY experience only....after a few months, a few fills, things did change....my hunger, cravings, the need for food all were taken care of...the inability to overeat...no more binge eating....all gone!
It did take a while FOR ME to adjust to what the band was doing, not the other way around....but once I did stat to earn new habits, this lap band surgery became the BEST, EASIEST, GREATEST thing I could have ever done....I lost all my excess weight...and it was, and still is, Heaven...
It did become "The easy way out".....HOWEVER...and I did have to go through Hell, (bandster hell) to get to Heaven. It was difficult, hard work.
Unfortunately, from what I read, many people are not up to the challenge, resist change...so they back down....then come back and say the band failed them, it's not working, or they can't keep anything down because they refuse to change what and how they eat...
So yes, it can be tough....and sometimes change is hard....we don't like change, least I don't.
But all I am saying is this thing does work!

Just my opinion, but yes, it does get much much easier. Remember, you have to go through each phase for a reason, and remind yourself they are temporary ,NOT forever. I was banded 2 weeks before Christmas, so I get your whole "cant eat like the others, etc. " But remember, the "others "didn't choose to have WLS, but you did to get healthy and strong ! So instead of trying to turn to food to deal with stress, try finding a non food hobby or something that makes you happy. We've all been in your shoes, so keeping a positive, '' I can do it !" attitude will get you alot farther than an "I can't have it " attitude . When your pants start getting loose and you start getting compliments, you'll know why it was sooooo worth it !! Good luck !!

Take a deep breath. It DOES get easier.
You are only 2 weeks post op so of course you are healing and the hunger is normal. You are doing everything right - stick with the mushiness, and know that this too shall pass - you will be eating solid food again soon. Don't rush it.
My surgeon advised me during the mushies and soft food phases, "when you are hungry, eat". This was helpful for me - having "permission" to eat when I needed to made me feel so much calmer and in control. Maybe this will work for you, too? Keep your tummy full and you will feel sated and in control.
You need to remember the reason you had surgery and keep your eye on that gorgeous prize. Trust in the process - and it is a process - you will get thorough this! Keep breathing in and out and take it one day at a time.
((hug))!

So right now at 2 weeks post op I am hungry alot and this weekend we are camping, so there is good Snacks & food everywhere & I am eating mush.. .this is so hard..not only that but my anxiety & moods are not the greatest (I have a mood disorder already) because I can't turn to food for comfort in times of stress.. I feel like I have no out, I quit smoking over a year ago & now I just feel so deprived & like there is nothing to turn too.
I feel like I am paying the price for wanting to be thin :-/
I don't want to think of it that way though.
I hope I can get past this hard part.