I have not really been hungry since my banding which was 5 days ago but all the sudden today I am very hungry and able to eat more than I have been. Of course it's just the full liquids I'm just worried. Is this normal ?

I'm not banded myself, but congrats on making it to day 5! I have heard of folks being quite hungry, and also have heard of those who aren't so hungry, it's just a toss up person to person. Good luck to you.

I have not really been hungry since my banding which was 5 days ago but all the sudden today I am very hungry and able to eat more than I have been. Of course it's just the full liquids I'm just worried. Is this normal ?

Very normal. What's not normal is not being hungry. Almost everyone has no appetite after surgery but it comes back as most can attest to.

I has STARVING on day 3. My nurse said this was normal just try and keep your protein up to control it. I drink a small cup of protein water every other hour just to keep me tied over cause once the hunger pain starts it very hard to get mine to stop.

Yes it is normal, Your swelling has gone down and you need a fill. Just stay on the diet your doctor put you on and hopefully you have made your appointment for your first fill. I had surgery on the 14th and I was not hungry for about 7 days. Once that swelling went down then the hunger kicked in. I am going for my fill July 17th.

What your feeling is normal for some people... I can honestly say I didn't really start to feel hungry until I started "normal" solid food.

I’m in my 7^th year of being banded and have talked about this here several times but I think it’s worth repeating for new bandsters.

Try and take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t go into this journey saying “I’ll never be able to eat this or that ever again.” I can eat ANYTHING except rice and apple skins and no carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor. Remember… take tiny bites (the size of your pinky fingernail) and remember to finish what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite.

When I was losing weight I checked in every month with my family doctor to get weighed and measured. (I don’t own scales) I also attended two coffee groups for people that were banded. These things really kept me motivated and on track. I still check in every month with my family doctor to get weighed-in and I host two coffee groups. For me support from fellow bandsters plays a big part in this journey.

Back when I was banded my family doctor came up with something called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger”. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger.

Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – by Dr. Michelle May

I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey.

The second book is:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – by David L. Kessler

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and also if you would like a copy of the “Egg Timer Distraction Document”. --- tomander@bell.net

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 160

tomander@bell.net