How did you do it and how did you feel? Were you still hungry after the surgery but simply disciplined...or was it easy because you were not hungry at all? I've heard mixed results in terms of hunger levels, so I'm really worried about struggling through hunger after I'm banded on Friday.

Good question, I've only been banded a month so I hope some long timers post.....

Initially, there was a lot of will power.

You do get hungry---but hunger is NORMAL. I think most overweight folks don't really know what real hunger is.......and so it is new to them. I know a lot of what I did around eating was habit or related to some activity (watch football and eat snacks--hungry or not.) Learning to eat to live and not living to eat is a big part of the lifestyle changes needed to be successful.

It does take time, and possibly several "fills" before your hunger is manageable. So, when you eat dense Protein, you feel satisfied and not hungry for 4 hours or so.

Even though it was a lot of will power, it was different for me this time around.....because I knew that I have the awesome tool....that once everything was the way it should be, would enable me to be successful in losing weight and keeping it off!

Jackie

I'm not sure what you consider to be "quick" but I've lost 100lbs+ in 8 months. I exercised and ate properly; indulged very little and stuck to my post-op directions almost to a T.

I'm rarely hungry, especially when I eat every 3-4 hours. Overall it has been a very easy journey; much easier than I expected. When you get restriction you won't be hungry.

For me, it was a combination. I approached my surgery "in the zone". I put myself on a strict diet pre-surgery (for about a month and a half), and not only did that give me a heads up on behavior change but I was off of carbs/not craving starches and sugar and my stomach "shrunk" the way a good diet will temporarily do. I didn't do a last meal, I didn't try to live it up before, etc. I cannot overstate how important I perceive that mental commitment was in the days and weeks after surgery. If you can, make a commitment before surgery and don't think the band will do all the work.

However, I can't ignore the fact that I am really really lucky in that I did get help with hunger right away, just from the band, without a fill. I have 2.5cc's in a 10 cc band and I am at the perfect spot to make me get full on very little food. This is not at all the norm as far as I can tell.

My perception is that for many banded folks, the first weeks and months after surgery still feel like a diet. This is normal, but for most people it gets better as they learn what hunger is, what satiation is, and what "full" is. You don't want to feel full anymore! You want to feel not-hungry. That is a BIG learning curve for most obese folks like me, who used to eat so much for lunch/dinner that I would want to take a nap afterward. Every meal should not feel like Thanksgiving Now I eat enough to give my body energy, but never too much that my energy saps away like a hibernating bear.

I'm a bit curious to see about this myself as well. I lost 10lbs on the presurgery diet and have lost another 8 since surgery (8 days ago) which of course I'm HAPPY about, but also leery. I'm having a very hard time making myself eat because I'm not hungry and a lot of smells are making me queasy. I'm trying to compensate by adding extra protein to my drinks because I know I'm not getting in enough calories at this point. Not sure if this is normal or not. My rational mind is telling me 8lbs in 8 days is WAY too much, but is it normal with the band? Am I doing myself harm at this point by losing weight this quickly?

I'm a bit curious to see about this myself as well. I lost 10lbs on the presurgery diet and have lost another 8 since surgery (8 days ago) which of course I'm HAPPY about, but also leery. I'm having a very hard time making myself eat because I'm not hungry and a lot of smells are making me queasy. I'm trying to compensate by adding extra protein to my drinks because I know I'm not getting in enough calories at this point. Not sure if this is normal or not. My rational mind is telling me 8lbs in 8 days is WAY too much, but is it normal with the band? Am I doing myself harm at this point by losing weight this quickly?

Normal. Focus on your protein intake; it'll help you heal.

Hey Y'all, I was banded on Nov 1st and as of today, I have lost 80lbs without having a fill. I get my first fill later this afternoon, since I have lost a lot of my restriciton. I can tell you that each persons experience is totally different from the next. I had a decent amount of restriction the first couple of months without having a fill, however I also changed the way I eat or view food. So mine was part physical and part mental attitude. I really never experience bandster hell. My biggest suggestion is count, count, count those calories. I mean every single one of them. If it passes your lips count it!!! Avoid sliders as much as possible and pre-plan meals. I know the times I have cheated have usually been the times I didn't pre-plan my meals for the day. Good luck all!!!!

John