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You aren't going to stretch you sleeve. You really aren't. Your restriction will "relax" over time as you heal up and fully recover, but that happens whether you overeat or not. Also, it's absolutely normal to feel hunger post-op. The trick is distinguishing between head hunger and actual hunger. For me, head hunger is a craving or like when I see a commercial for something on TV and I think "that looks sooooo good" and then I want to eat it. Physical hunger is completely different. Usually I don't even realize what I am experiencing is hunger. I get grumpy and mean (totally like a Snickers commercial). I don't notice, but the people around me do. I went on vacation with my parents about 5 months post-op and my mom started carrying turkey sticks and peanuts in her purse to feed me when I started being a grouch. Early on post-op, it's hard to get enough calories in to sustain you. So your body will experience true physical hunger.

Pre banding, I lost 24#s and after surgery in Nov. 2011, I lost 28#s but I have regained 15#s much to my dismay. I hit a plateau after July of last year (2012) and I have felt weight gain since the holidays. I must admit that I have not always followed the basics, including exercise. I know how important it is to get your adequate water and protein. I was told once that I may not be getting enough calories. I use to skip meals routinely and I am trying to do better. I rarely have hunger pains so I know that I am getting sufficient protein. Only one month did I feel that I was in the green zone when I lost 9#s of fat even though I had water gain. In my last visits for refills,I have been told that I gained water but not fat when I went for a refill. I am currently at 81/4 cc(s); my band is 10cc. Any way, I need a jump start, because I know it is in my best interest to do so! Exercise, I understand, is the way to go, but I need to be motivated. I am trying to follow the SUGAR BUSTERS DIET as close as possible. Although, I am not losing, I am trying to stay committed although it is frustrating when I think about it at times, especially when I consider how I have given up eating ice creme at night. Hopefully, being a member of lapbandtalk will help!

The amount of saline in your band has little correlation with how effective it will be. Some need no saline and some may need all 10 CCs. The band works by dimming your appetite but needs to be adjusted for this to happen. Eating fewer calories than you consume is how this works but you won't eat less until your band is adjusted so that you're in the green zone. If you can feel satisfied with a small meal for 4+ hours you're probably in the green zone and the band can work it's magic. Good luck.

In short, I had my surgery on 11/3. I Was in the hospital for two days, I haven't had any issues really. I have great restriction and no hunger still so I Track all my food to make sure I get all the protein and fluids I need in a day. I still only eat about 800 calories a day max. My carbs are low because of all the protein I may get 12 carbs a day. It's a work in progress. My surgeon would like me to eat 1100-1200 calories and more carbs but I do what I can. I've lost almost 40 lbs now and I feel great. I am also diligent about taking all my vitamins. It's been a smooth (learning) process so far. I went into this knowing that it was going to be quit a change so I try to stay stress free, I took measurements before surgery with my weight, I only weigh once every couple weeks. I try to stay off the scale. I know I'm not "cheating" I eat clean so I just allow my body to do its thing. It took me years to get as big as I was so I figure it's going to take some time to get it off. I've enjoyed the change! I'm still amazed at the fact that I'm not hungry all the time anymore. I love that my life is no longer focused around food constantly. It's been lovely.

Surgery is about 3 weeks out. I have to do the liver reduction pre op diet and I know about the post op diet stages. Of course all WLS materials tell you " no alcohol " even later on. I know there's calories but at this stage of my life I really enjoy a glass or 2 of red wine on the weekend nights. Is this gonna be a problem long term?

Briefs 199 I felt exactly the same way as you did. On the weeks and days leading up to my pre op diet I felt like I needed to eat everything that I wouldn't be able to eat again after surgery. The last 3 days before the pre op diet begin I started feeling sick of food. It was out of hand. So now I'm on the pre op diet day 3 and I've had headaches each after noon so had to take some Tylenol. But I'm allowed to have four protein shakes a day , 1 protein bar, a one to one and a half cup meal of protein and produce. So it's not so bad but it's definitely a calorie cut from what I was eating and I guess my body is adjusting that's why I have the headaches.

I had my surgery on Nov. 21 and I am so glad I did this! The first three days are uncomfortable but not awful and def so worth it! Def was in pain when I woke up until the nurse finally gave me Dilaudid rather than morphine. I don't know what the difference is as they are in the same class. But it made a big difference. I was able to get up several times and walk during that first night in the hospital.I dry heaved several times while in the hospital basically any time I tried to take in any fluids.. but for very short periods, it resolved itself quickly. I never throught I would get through the contrast swallow test which I needed to pass in order to get sprung from the hospital, but the yucky solution went right down! I barfed it up afterward. But again, quickly and it was over. Honestly, the hospital stay could have been so much worse. No prolonged nausea or significant pain to speak of. I was only nauseated when I tried to take in fluids orally. When I was in the hospital, I really didn't want visitors. I just wanted to be alone to sleep and just deal. The challenge was managing both nausea and pain when I got home which I really was able to do with Zorthran (for nausea) and Tramadol (for pain). It was very difficult to get down fluids and I think the most stressful part of this period was trying to get fluids down to avoid dehydration. Because you can take in very little. And I felt like I needed to get up and walk around everytime I took a few sips, to get things moving. You would have to be up all day and all night and not sleep to get down the 64 ounces they say is required. I probably got down 36 ounces (if that) for the first 24 hours home. But I was peeing a lot so I guess the hospital sent me home pretty well hydrated. I had the surgery on Friday. On Monday I was able to start to take in watered down juice and nibble on some sugar free Jello. On Tuesday, I was able to add Propel Water and chicken broth. Hard to keep your energy level up with so few calories. I spend all of my time in bed. Until Monday, I was just sleeping. Didn't even watch TV. But on Monday I started watching TV and got back on my laptop but I still slept most of the day. On Tuesday, I stayed awake most of the day. I see my doctor today for my one week -- because of the holiday it is early. The two issues of concern I will raise with him are: no BM since before the surgery -- however my gas pains are not bad; I have a rash on my belly which I believe is due to the polyester binder they place on you post surgery; and please please please can I move on to thickened liquids? I am getting hunger pains!

try here.. http://caloriecount.about.com/tools/calories-goal There are lots of places like this on the internet

Welcome!! And what great progress you have made so far! A stall since November must really be frustrating. How many calories / Protein grams / carb grams / fat grams are you having daily? Have you contacted your NUT to see if they can help? It seems most folks either realize they have been grazing, taking in too many carbs or just need to actually up their protein to kick it in to gear. Also I have seen people try liquids (protein shakes) for a few days to kick the stall out. Give us a better idea of what you are doing currently and maybe we can help.

That sound really good. I used to make a zucchini recipe similar to this that is soooo loaded with calories it's no wonder I gained weight, and to think I thought I was eating healthy!!! I am so glad that the fresh veggies are coming on strong now. I went to the farmers market in town today just for some green beans and ended up with basil, beans, sugar snap peas, several bunches of lettuce, red raspberries, beets, onions and garlic scapes. I just couldn't control myself :frown: What a great thing to not be able to control. We'll be eating well this week!

You will get there. Those first two months are the hardest post op timeframe. I would really reconsider not doing the applesauce bit, though. Maybe there is an easy carb-free low calorie solution.

I wouldn't think 11#s is "Water weight" .. Do you log the food/calories you eat? Maybe it would help you to do so if you don't.. You might be surprised.. You can also look up how many calories it takes to sustain the weight you are then you'll know what you need to stay under to continue to lose Munky

I wish I had done this years ago. It was a perfect fit for me. I have never been a snacker only a binge eater, my brother had gastric sleeve two weeks before I did and he lost about 30 lbs right away but has struggled ever since because he is a snacker eating often and also drinking calories. If you are a snacker and can't deal with that than gastric sleeve is not for you. I am happy with not having a great deal of loose skin, but I do have some in my lower belly and groin area. Gonna have that skin removed. Skin over my back and arms and legs is just a little loose but not sagging like my lower belly, but I think I am one of the lucky ones with that.,

Considering that your starting weight wasn't very high, I think you've done a phenomenal job! How tall are you? Are you exercising? Do you track your food intake... and how many calories are you eating a day?

I am so afraid that I am going to stretch out my stomach I do not think I am eating enough. So I am seeking advise on how much at once should I be worried about eating before this would happen. At this point in my journey I just this week advanced to soft foods. Fortunately, my surgery went well and I've not had any complications. Everly thing I've read said 2 to 3 oz at a time so up until today It has been work to just get in 300 calories a day. I am only drinking 1/2 Protein drink like twice a day. Yesterday I ate 1/2 hot dog ( because am so hungry and it made my stomach sing like a canary) I eat 1/2 of a potato as large as kiwi and it takes me about 15 minutes to get it down. Today I ate it a bit to fast. Today I was so hungry I managed to get a 6 oz glass of milk drank in 10 minutes but it did not make me sick, just very full. I do not want to develop a eating disorder, so any advise is greatly appreciated.

This is my personal record of my progress at twelve weeks. A bit dull so don’t read it! But I kinda need to get it down. And I have to admit, it has been a dream run. 14 December, Lap band removal and RNY in one. Fobi Pouch (‘no stretch’) type RNY, with intestine sewn over the incision line for my long thin pouch, making it very thick and non-stretchy, also with a small non-adjustable silastic ring sewn in to maintain the girth size/shape. Open surgery, but even that was pretty easy. I did take 4 weeks off, then built up my hours over the next 3. I have a stressful job with 1000 staff, so I wanted to come back carefully, knowing I would not collapse. And steady weight loss averaging 3.75lbs (1.7kg) a week ever since. The MyFitnessPal graph below- at the start the pre-op diet for 3 days, the flat drop in the post-surgery out-of-town-so-no-daily-weighing days, and daily weighings first thing in the morning since. I am so glad that I faced up to the non-working band and made the call for surgery before letting my weight get right back up to my pre-band weight. In only 3 months I am less than 5kg off my band-working weight, so my reward has been like instant gratification. Back into many of my old, carefully stored clothes. Walking, without feeling self conscious. Hips, knees much less sore. Proud of my eating. Back into my motorcycling gear - so bought a new bike in the weekend!! She’s a beauty. And going scuba diving in the pacific at Easter. Amazing the lifestyle difference 45lbs makes. Being ‘obese’ and not. I can eat more than I want - I think. Too much sweet gives me dumping - or did. I am too scared to try sweets again! I have a piece of liquorice each night, fine. I can eat bread easily but if I eat a bread roll that is my whole meal, so I don’t. I feel like I can eat a lot, but after a meal maybe 1/4-1/3 the size of my partner’s, I kinda stop eating - not feeling full exactly, but feeling ... finished. Disinterested in having more. No drive to eat til stuffed. 3 or 4 potato chips and I am done - these were my nemesis. Am never driven to buy them. I am pretty good about ‘protein first’ each meal. I get 45-60g a day. My calories are 750-900 a day and very slowly climbing - I am on strictly 3 meals a day but I think I may need to add one to get to 1200 calories/60g protein. I eat too quickly and I sometimes forget and drink with a meal, to no ill effect. I drink lightly carbonated water, my coffee is mostly decaf, and I start each day with a Nescafé pod/ice/trim milk//‘balance’ vanilla protein powder frappe on the NutriBullet. Lunch - sardine or chicken salad. And a good dinner, which I love to cook for us both. My normal-sized partner’s wee pot tummy is gone because I am not being a bad influence! And this forum has been a constant source of inspiration, chuckles, and fascination. Many thanks.

I had my colonoscopy/upper-endoscopy last Thursday, and the prep for that was a struggle - I think my body registered the Miralax solution as a poison because I could not keep it down, and I got a migraine from not eating. But the procedure went fine, except... and this is so embarrassing... I think I ended up singing during it! I know I was all drugged up, but I am so mortified about singing a love song while there was a camera in my colon! Anyways, ever since then, I have been eating like a crazy person again. Just always feeling that deep, deep hunger, and I'm struggling to control myself. The other day, I ate more than double the amount of calories I was supposed to, ugh. I think it may have to do with the fact that I'm feeling very depressed lately, and I have always tried to use food to comfort myself (like many of us here, I'm sure). I'm also struggling with the exercise portion of this diet. At the beginning, I took a 30 minute walk, and my lower back seized up after about 10 minutes - and, of course, I had just gone down a steep hill, so I HAD to continue around the loop to get home via a much easier hill. That was very very painful, and I've been afraid to walk more than 10 minutes ever since. I do, however, go rollerskating twice a week, which is AMAZING exercise, low-impact, and it doesn't hurt as much even when I skate for an hour. But there is a huge fire happening in my area, and the fire department is using the parking lot of my local skating rink, so they're closed for a few weeks. What will I do? I love to skate. Hopefully I can knock this depression soon and just get on with life. Just wish I could skate it off.

Wow, Jayne, you're making everyone else look bad! But we're happy for you indeed. What sort of exercise are you doing that burns up so many calories? Marathons? Congratulations on your amazing progress and we're glad you found us!

I have always enjoyed margaritas with friends at the local cantina along with the rich food. Since the band yes there were major cut backs. I continued to drink though and really to much and to often. My weightloss was consistent but slow. For the last 5 weeks I have not been to my favorite spanish resturaunt and the scale has noticed. My weightloss doubled over the last three weeks. I was drinking a lot of calories bottom line. Eating the food went hand in hand. I am now getting back into cooking my own food. My band is good to me as I can eat most anything with caution and limits. I wanted to share this because I did not think a couple drinks a couple times a week would have such an effect on my weight loss but it did. Don't be fooled like me and don't let anything stand in the way of our quest for being healthy! I'm in the 50lb club now and with renewed vigor!

Once I dropped the first 80lbs, I did incorporate nuts, Peanut Butter, avocados into my diet because I was losing so fast. I stuck with refried and pinto Beans, and it was such a small amount after my meats, I didn't fret over the carbs in those foods. I had the same mindset as you do when it comes to taking things off the menu until I was close to goal. I just did it because I had to do it because like you, I'm a mile (plus 10) taker, and I wasn't willing to give in during my losing stage. My only words of caution is to watch out for the nut grazing that I got wrapped up in. I would grab the jar, have a few nuts, and then kind of grave and before I knew it 1/4 of the container was gone. Those little buggers slid right on through without restriction, without issue, and they were yummy. A whopping 300 calories, tons of fat grams later, I freaked out and then measured my "allowed" portion for the day and put the container in the pantry. I would mainly do this grazing thing while doing housework like laundry folding, or during a sappy movie. Totally mindless eating.

I would at least have beans for the time being, just because of the grazing. I just had some refried beans with melted cheese and 1/4 of a low calorie wrap for dinner

I am 4 wks post op today and I'd say the "bandster hell" is the worst part. for the first 2 wks I was doing fab goin' through the "honeymoon phase" w/ restriction, losing weight left and right. But now I have no restriction and I'm giving in to the snack monster. I have faith I can do well b/c I have done really well just minor slip ups. I stay under 1100 calories a day, and work out 30 mins a day, so I'm just keeping my focus on that until my first fill on 7/28!!!

I disagree about the band not restricting how much you can eat. I am restricted on how much I can eat. I read some of the posts on what others are eating and there is no way I could get all that down! I can eat about a half a cup at a time and I am never hungry till the next meal. I try to eat 4 of these meals a day and make sure I get enough calories and protein for the day. I have 5.7ccs in a 10cc band and I feel great and have lost about ten pounds in the 5 weeks since that last fill.

I totally relate. Its been over 10 months for me and Im at 45 lbs. If I may offer a suggestion...start lifting heavy weights in your workouts. It will NOT make you bigger. The muscle building increases metabolism and burns more calories. I think you will see better results. Do that 3x/week. That being said....I have been lifting heavy for many years now and I still will only lose half of a pound a week.... maybe. Its very frustrating. I had no idea how hard , how much exercise and how much dieting was involved with this. Basically, I think the band contributes 15% but the rest is all up to us. I can eat whatever I want and if I sit there long enough....I can continue to eat. Im done with all the fills and un-fills. Im staying where Im at. I must now do what it takes on my own. Soooooo HARD!

Hello everyone. I haven't posted for a while. I hope you are all doing okay. I am at the stage post op where I can have all textures of foods. Problem is I don't really have a specific plan to follow, and it is difficult to stick to the diet when there aren't specific instructions. I've found that now that I can eat, I want to eat everything. Being hungry for the 3 weeks ppre-op, and then the past 4 weeks post op was difficult, and I think now that I am able to eat anything, I want EVERYTHING. I did not do well during the mushies stage, and in fact, I had a lot of high calorie puddings and yogurts. I was so hungry and after feeling deprived, my brain kept telling me that it was okay to eat. Anyway, I need to get recommitted and get started losing weight. It has been 10 days now since my 2nd surgery (unrelated but I have 6 inch incision in my abdomen and a 2.5 inch one in my back, and the recovery hasn't been easy). 2 surgeries within a month was a bit much for me and I haven't had the energy to fight through the dieting. So, I need to get completely back on track. What kinds of menus are you guys having. I need suggestions. Thanks, Cindy