I am so hungry

[GipsyGirl 6]

It has been about a month since I have had my surgery. I have lost 30lbs and I am very happy about that. I have been hungry for most of the time but doctor put me on Phentermine so I was not as hungry. Phentermine is wearing off and I am becoming more and more prone to eat.

Last two days I have followed my before the surgery failing diet of "I'll just eat bad today and I'll start a new day tomorrow eating the right way." I am so scared that this will continue.

I have no restriction - doctor put 2cc in my 10cc band recently which did not change a thing.

I am just worried that since my diet pills are wearing off I am going to go back to my ordinary life eating everything I see.

I do not feel my band at all. I have only been stuck twice on my first week but that has never happened again.

I am wondering if there are other people here who have the same issues.

[Fluffy_Gurl 3]

I feel that way too! I was banded 6 days after you. I am hungry! I think this is what they call bandster hell. Ive tried to eat more protien if im still hungry instead of eating carbs. However I will admit that I ate like half a tub of cool whip the other day, frozen lol Ive slipped on my diet twice now ..once eating some doritos and then the cool whip incident. I gotta say that they really dont prepare you for the changes you have to make after the surgery. i wsh they had a routine or a better nutrition class before the surgery to help us modify our thinking etc before the surgery. i also quit smoking for the surgery. Let me tell you it is getting harder and harder to not smoke!!!

Stay strong sister we'll get there! Congrats on your 30lbs, ive not lost a lot since surgery maybe 5 lbs the rest was prior to surgery...Its been a rough road, i hope it gets smoother sooner rather than later!

[WrenBird 11]

Last two days I have followed my before the surgery failing diet of "I'll just eat bad today and I'll start a new day tomorrow eating the right way." I am so scared that this will continue.

The best way I find to concur my eating habbits is remembering I said things like that and looking back at how I felt.

When you've just eaten something bad, how do you feel? Guilty? I try to keep that in my mind everytime I walk through the lolly section at the grocery store. It's become such a habbit now that whenenver I look at something bad to eat I think about how horrible I'd feel afterwards, it's pretty much automatic now.

I have no restriction - doctor put 2cc in my 10cc band recently which did not change a thing.

Ahhh, that might be the problem. and once you get filled again it might not work straight away either. It may take a few more.

I didn't really start losing all that much until my first fill...Then that fill kind of wore off a bit (yeah...weird lol) and I got another, now I'm losing again. I think the fills are important with restriction. I've had the same problems, but I've been banded for nearly 2 months and I've found that the fill is the key for me!

I'm cheering for you! Good luck! Remember that you're strong minded and have the willpower to resist bad foods!

[ElfiePoo 109]

Try drinking warm tea or hot broth. I'm trying to deal with my 'hunger' as well and find that if I keep something warm in my belly, it helps *a lot* with the hunger.

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[Melissannde 41]

It's not so weird to need more fill as you lose.. when you lose weight, you don't only lose it on the outside, but you lose fat from around your stomach too and therefore the band becomes looser and you need more fill to get the good appetite dimming again.

I was told that I can always have more veggies if I'm hungry after eating my bandster portion. Provided they are non-starchy (no potatoes, no corn) and aren't drowning in butter or some kind of high calorie sauce.

If Hot drinks work, great. If they don't, try cold. Usually cold drinks will tighten the band just a little bit and help with controlling appetite.

One last tip I was given by one of my bariatric nurses.. sometimes when we think we're hungry, we're really thirsty. I remember thinking.. "yeah, right". But, I gave it a try and it does work.. some. It won't stave off hunger like a good fill will, but it will help.

2cc's isn't much in a 10cc band. Everyone is different, and I do know someone who's got really good restriction with 2cc's.. but I have the same band as she does and I'm almost where I need to be with 5.5cc's. Debating on whether to get another .1 or .2 in a few weeks....

Hang in there, stick to your eating plan as best you can and go back for more fill when your doctor allows.

If you want to work on your eating behavior, you might look at Judith Beck's book "The Beck Diet Solution". It is NOT A DIET. It is a book that can help you change your thinking and behavior about food. But, like the band, it only works if you work it.

[pixistix 1]

You are in the uncomfortable period between surgery and restriction. Search the phrase "bandster hell" for many, many stories about this miserable time.

During this period I tried to focus on good nutrition and exercise rather than fast weight loss. I would have a nutritious snack mid morning and mid afternoon, to keep from getting crazed with hunger. At meals, eat enough healthy food so that you're not starving and you won't be so tempted into old habits. Drink plenty of Water, too.

The most important thing is: keep getting your fills. 2 CCs is nothing. I didn't have good restriction until I had 7.5 CCs in a 10 CC band. Now I feel like the band is really working. Everything is different once the band is actually working!

It's a long, slow process but well worth it! Hang in there. Your journey is just beginning.