I am now 9 days post-op and am starting to feel hungry. After surgery, I felt full just from drinking a cup of coffee but over the last two days have noticed that I don't feel full anymore. I'm on a full fluid diet which includes frozen yogurt and pudding (both fat-free/sugar-free), lite ricotta cheese, protein shakes, pureed soups, and skim milk.

I don't know what size inamed band I have but the swelling has come way down even though it's still very tender by the port and badly bruised. Is it normal to be hungry at this stage of the game? I'm following the diet which allows 650 cal/day After 2 weeks post-op, I move to soft foods for 3 weeks at 850 cal/day.

Could it be the decreased swelling that has taken away the full feeling? I would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you. :help:

yes, and that you body is adjusting to the band, I know I went through the same thing as I am sure many others have.

no worries, you just have to have lots of self control untill you get your first fill (4 to 6 weeks)

Thank you for responding, Vegas. It felt so strange to go from feeling full all the time to not feeling full at all.

I know how you feel Im 3 weeks post op, and I have been omg Im going to eat everything!! but remember , take it slow and you will know when your body is full.

I didn't have a post-op maximum caloric intake. They told me that the first 4 - 6 weeks was about healing and not about weight loss. The weight loss begins after your first fill. Even without a fill I've lost over 20 lbs so far.

If you're hungry, I'd recommend you increase your protein a bit and not be so worried about the calories. Disclaimer: This doesn't mean I recommend a bowl of ice cream or a milkshake! LOL

Good luck on your weight loss journey.

650 cal/day.........850 cal/day?! It's no wonder you're hungry. Normal bandster diet is 1200-1500 cal/day. Some don't lose at the higher end, so they keep to the lower end. Man..........who told you that? And why would they have told you such a low caloric intake when your body needs to heal post operatively?

When I was first post op, I was physically unable to get 1200 calories in. I remember being happy getting in 800 cal, but that was because I felt full all the time......not because somebody told me to restrict my caloric intake. In fact, my dietician told me during the first two weeks to focus on healing and whatever I get in, I get in. At that point, I was eating about 5 or 6 small meals a day.

With such a low intake, you may put your body into starvation mode and sabotage your metabolism, aka: weightloss. Kick it up a notch. Choose healthy foods, but don't be afraid to eat. If you're hungry, eat as long as it's within your doctor's consistency recommendations. At 9 days, full liquids seems appropriate. And remember, those that are liquid pass through the band without much resistance so you won't feel much satisfaction from them. Go with some substance. The yogurts, puddings, ricotta cheese.

Good Luck,

Hi Diedre

The dietician that had to meet with at my surgeon's office went over the post-op eating regime and provided me with a booklet of what to eat that even contained sample weekly menus. I looked at the one week pre-op and two week post-op full Fluid diet that includes 60 g Protein a day and made a comment that 650 calories seemed too low for someone my weight. She countered and told me that the shakes provide the nutrients and protein and that weeks 1-2 were 650 cals. This increased to 850 cals for weeks 3-5 (soft diet) and then went to 1000-1100 cals for solids on week 6.

Donna - An icecream shake sounds wonderful. LOL. Thankfully, I found EDYs fat-free/sugar-free frozen yogurt. Four ounces has 100 cals and it's delicious (praline and cream flavor is to die for).

Thank you all for your advice. I actually live for my 4 oz of lite ricotta cheese every day. LOL.