Hi Everyone I was banded in early June with a 14cc band I was put on a 4 week liquid diet I have had no restriction (since surgery) at all. I can drink the protein shakes/ broth/ soups etc with nothing filling me up. I did really good until last week when I caved in on a drive home and could not resist my craving for Micky D's I ate 2 Big Mac sandwichs, as I ate I cried and said NEVER AGAIN.They both went down fine and I had no problems with eating them at all which scares me terriblly. I went right back to my liquid diet and have stayed there with no problems and no cravings. I hate that I caved into one of my cravings I hate that I cheated on my post-op diet the way I did. I also hate that both sandwiches went down so easily nothing getting stuck not being full afterwards etc. I go for my first fill in about 3 weeks and will be a saint till then. But could something be wrong with my band that I was able to eat that much and still feel hungry? Like I've said I've stuck to my liquid diet to a tee until this episode, have lost almost 15lb. I just f eel so guilty i couldn't control myself but knowing how I felt afterwards gives me a greater (i hope) willpower to never fall off the band wagon again.

sound like me. i drink with my food. :scared2: heres an example meal for me: 6 oz sirloin, baked potato, salad. i eat it all. i got banded in 2005. ..i never was like that though, i dont think. i was down to losing 75 pounds. but, im right back to where i started at.

:scared2: Don't panic! I read some of the posts on here and think I have to be a saint...oh that won't do! I'm no saint. I gave in a couple of times...yes, it sent me into a panic. I won't feel banded until I get a fill. You're where I am. I'm healed, but don't have a fill yet, so food and drink go right down, neat as you please. Only I don't please. I really DESPERATELY want this to work. Banding is a tool. I am looking forward to feeling FULL and I know it's my job to STOP EATING when I am full. There's no magic bullet. I have to remind myself everyday, I want to be healthy and happy, I can do this. Thousands of others have done it, I can too.

YOU CAN TOO!! Hang in there, we're all rooting for you!

The problem isn't really the cheating. I wouldn't say it's expected but it's understandable. Are you sure you've been on liquids for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks, my surgeon put me on mushies and told me to progress to solids before my fill. However, each surgeon is different.

The problem may be the CHOICE of cheat and the AMOUNT. Why McDs? Why TWO Big Macs? We have to cognizant of what got us all here in the first place. Next time, pull out of the drive through and think of some alternatives. Even if it's just a Happy Meal, it will be a better choice than two Big Macs.

You should definitely give a call to your dietician and ask for some coping tools and/or healthy alternatives.

Just my two cents, I'm new to this thing as well. I'm craving some fish right now but I'm holding out for a few more days. :scared2:

I hear ya. I get those cravings too, but I fight it by drinking a Protein shake or if nothing is close by - Water. Cravings last for 15 min and it goes away....so try to fight it with water - works for me.

I was banded 6/9/2010 and believe me, I want to cry when I think about hot wings - its worse when I smell it or see it...my coworker had it last week and he actually said "oh im sorry man!", and put his lunchbox in front of him so I cant see his food and started talking about something else - cravings are like an alcohol addiction and must be treated like so. But through discipline I've lost 25 lbs in 2 weeks postop. Its a constant battle and you have to switch your tactics. If you want fast food, get Pinto and cheese at Taco Bell, or small chili no cheese at Wendy's or Yogurt Parfait at McDonalds', and so on...You dont want to overstretch your pouch while healing due to slippage or whatever. Be strong - remember, cravings are 5-15 min long....think about something or drink water until full. You've come a long way to prepare yourself for a new life - be strong and dont look back!

Edited June 28, 201016 yr by Razo045

I see a therapist once a month and will def talk it over with her. I know I still have head hunger (it's getting much better) and i think I ate those Big macs b/c they were on my lists of foods to eat before i got banded then never eat again and never had a chance to eat then beforee banding and just craved them ike crazy-weird huh. Like I said I have been so good the pass few weeks Thursday will be week 3 on my liquid diet (do during week 2 of my liquid phase is when i crashed) then one more week and I move to regular foods aka week 4. I'm just nervous because everything went down so smoothly is that normal because i am not filled yet. I must not have a pouch b/c then nothing would of went down right? I heard of people just getting banded and the first two weeks could ONLY eat the 4ozs and then they were full~ were they pre=filled maybe? I want NOTHIG to get between me and my band again I am going to do the 15 min rule (but have had no such cravings since the episode for anything) What I'm asking the regulars is it normal for me to eat so much without a problem? Could something be wrong with my band (too big?) I have been following my nut diet plan as I have been all along and I feel great I just hate that I had that one moment of weekness...it struly sucked!!!!

Hey there, I'm about 2 weeks out too (banded on 6/14) and don't worry. . I can eat a ton! I've been eating refried beans, soups, mashed potatoes and I can eat A LOT. Not as much as I used to, but it is disconcerting. My follow up appt. is tomorrow. I'm ready for the first fill! Don't beat yourself up. . be kind to yourself.

Hi, i was banded on 6/10/10 and am also inthe same place you are, wondering if i even have a pouch, i too can eat alot, i cheated and had linguine with sauteed shrimp and every las bit went down, I want to be better than that, i will be filled in about two weeks and hope that things get better for me because i am worried. we need some old timers here to help us out, good luck.

Don't worry - I had the same feeling of not being full. I just had my first fill, and it's a little better than it was but it still isnt super tight. The main point is to be healthy, and patient with yourself.

LOL i am so in the same boat. I have cheated on the post op diet. Although I have not gone overboard it makes me mad at my self. I did feel some restriction but not much... I cannot wait for the first fill. I have started walking lots in the evenings. This not only helps with my frustration but with the loss process. Good Luck!! You are not alone!!!

Alright....being banded tomorrow 07/01/2010....getting nervous I don't want to cheat, I am more afraid of what I can eat and feel like I won't eat or take my medication due to all the stuff I have been hearing. I am ready for surgery....I am ready for pain, and I will and I mean I WILL be sure to have pain meds because I know I just want to rest and heal tomorrow! Then after tomorrow I am afraid, I've heard you can't take capsule meds, or big pills, everything needs to be crushed and opened. It just is making me very nervous about missing a couple days of like my anti-depressant, it's time released so it can't be opened and taken. Ok so this is me being scared I guess....it's been a long time coming!! I can't believe it's already here, 12 hours and counting!!

You will be able to take your pills! It's not until you get your first fill that you have to concern yourself, and even then, it may not be a problem. You will have to find the time of day for you when you are "relaxed and open". So you have five more weeks before you need to be concerned. Hope this helps. I have time-released medication I'm dependant upon also.

Hanging my head in shame... I too cheated... I was banded June 19th. Even though I'm on "mushies" right now I stay hungry!!! I had a homemade beef burrito and a hand full potato chips. I've since behaved myself.... I just can't wait for the first fill!

hang in there - I think we are all in the same spot of time...post-op with major hunger while waiting for a fill....geez, I had read about how people had experienced it - but didnt really see any posts for it until now. Just waiting for my fill on 7/12. Not really losing (or gaining) since going to mushies, (while I wait for a fill) and wondering if the loss will kick in again. What I do, is go for a lap, walk around the office or try to get my attention on something else. But I am able to eat - a LOT. I was able to drink two cups of broth and then most recently was eating lots of things that were on the post op plan, but then emailed the dietician and she said that I should still be shooting for eating only 4 ounces at a sitting!!! I am going to have to work on that!