I was banded 3-7-2012. For about 1 month my food intake was MAYBE 1/2 of what it was. NOW, I am almost able to eat what I was before surgery! YUCK ~~ I am scheduled for the first fill May 26th. Will my food consumption diminish after I start getting fills?

Thank you guys so much for the wisdom

Yes it will diminish greatly!! Just hang in there and be assured that it will get better...you are in what people call "bandster hell"...hopefully as soon as you start getting your fills, you will find bandster heaven

Well, maybe it will diminish greatly but may only diminish slightly. I'm up to fill 5 and I can still eat much more than I was told I could eat. One more fill may do the trick for me but Melissa is right, you're in bandster hell and may be there for a while.

I can only say be careful over eating because this is the number one reason people have band erosion because it forces too much pressure on the band.

I am a newbie. I do not profess to know anything.

But honestly, I don't get it. How does the intake change? I don't doubt that it does, but I don't understand how. I'm newly banded and watch the forum for information. I'm not getting anywhere near as many calories as I should, and I know it. I'm just now on mushies and I expect it to get better soon.

I assume (ass-u-me) that when I can eat the Protein I'm eventually supposed to be able to have, I will responsible for making sure I don't have more that one portion.

But am I supposed to be seeing how much I can eat? Right now, I can tell you it's not much. But I see questions like this all the time where people say they can eat more than they should be able to.

I understood or misunderstood, whichever way you look at it, my nutritionist to say the band was a tool to help me feel full faster, but that I would still have to watch my food, be responsible for my intake, and pay attention to my diet. I understood it wasn't about what I could eat, more about what I should eat.

I'm not passing any judgement, because Lord knows I wouldn't be in this shape if I had any good sense about nutrition. Before I get the hate mail that I'm sure will follow, someone explain to me where my misconception is.

it's not a matter of seeing how much you can eat. If that was the case, I could sure eat way more than I am supposed to. Some people have good restriction and it does limit how much they can eat. Unfortunately not the case for me. I weigh and measure everything I eat and that's all I get. Listen to your nutritionist, she knows what she is talking about!

I am using My Fitness Pal ( android app ) to monitor calories. Wow. No wonder I am fat! I had no idea how many calories some things had. We don't really eat fried foods and things like that, but things like the creamer in my coffee! Wow.

Anyone else shocked?

When I first got banded (after initial recovery period), I could eat what I did before banding. But it was my fitness pal that showed me why I wasn't losing weight. Amazing how calorie dense some foods are. When you have something that tells you how much a food puts a dent in your calorie allowance for the day it makes a difference. If nothing else it will let you have a record of what you are doing so you can know what you can improve on.

Of course you have to watch how much you eat. Its not about getting full anymore its about being satisfied. I can eat 4 oz and that satisfies me. I dont push it more than that because when your band gets tighter and you force yourself to eat more than you should that is why erosion happens. Putting too much pressure on the band with too much food forces it to erode in to your stomach. I have never in two years tried to eat more just because I know I could. If I have a day where I am hungry then I eat more frequently.

I agree. My band has no fluid so is basically sitting there waiting to go to work. But because I CAN doesn't mean I have SHOULD eat something.

Went to IHOP at midnight last night. Had two fried eggs. Thought protein, thats good! No bacon, potatoes, toast, anything. Just eggs. Almost 200 calories! Crap! How many millions of times have I had two eggs with all the other stuff???

Walked 25 min today and burned less than the two fried eggs. Much less.

MFP is an eye opener

I am post op since Dec 9. Once I got back to eating "real" food, I too was concerned about my hunger issues and my intake. (I was worried the band failed!)

However, these worries ceased after my first fill. I've now had 2 fills -- the last one being 2 months ago. I am down 65lbs. I keep my calories at 1200 a day. I use the My Fitness App on my phone and count every calorie (it has been an amazing help!). Also, I try to find healthy alternative food choices that make me feel full.

I am now at a point where that mean little hunger monster is sneaking up on me again. I suspect it's time for fill # 3 and I am quite ready for it. Perhaps I will finally be in my "zone" after that?

Hang in there, it is a normal part of the process!

Wishing you the best of luck.