I just found this site and am so happy I did. My surgeon's office referred me to several resources, but this wasn't on the list.

Anyway, I received the band on June 25 and it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I was down 16 pounds at my three week visit last week and I believe I'm down another five though I try not to obsess over the scale. I'm scheduled to get my first fill on August 8.

I'm wondering if anyone's having trouble with feeling bloated in the evenings? I'm transitioning from soft foods to whole foods, but it seems like no matter what I eat, nothing sits well in the evenings. No, I take that back. If I avoid any "real" food, it seems to go better than if I try to eat anything of substance. It feels like everything takes longer to digest after lunch. Sometimes, I still feel a heaviness in my lower abdomen several hours after I've eaten and occasionally when I first wake.

Just to be clear, I'm not overly concerned, I'm just wondering if I should switch to just shakes or yogurt in the evenings and am curious if anyone else has experienced this?

You have to look at what you are eating. Your body may not like some things now. And, are you eating finger nail size bites and chewing them to mush and waiting before you take the next bite? I found for the first several months I was only eating two meals a day because I wasn't hungry. Listen to your body. You do not have to eat three square meals a day anymore. We are not "normal" people anymore, we ARE special!

Your dr may have given you a fill at placement, so don't get excited about getting another fill if you can't eat an evening meal. You need to figure this out fist. Some people need fills, some people don't. I only had one.

Pay close attention to what and how you are eating. If you are not logging your food, start now and add notes that tell you what is working and what isn't. It will help you in the long run.

Hi SueBee!

I'm really good at following my team's instructions, so I check my portion sizes, I take small bites, I chew everything well and I pause throughout my meals. I used to be a fast eater so I'm very mindful of how I eat now - no worries there. You're right though, I am special and maybe I should stop eating in the evenings period!

I've gone back over my journals and I can't find a pattern. Although I keep trying different things, so it's difficult to pinpoint one particular thing, at least right now.

Sometimes I get so caught up in how it's supposed to be done that I forget this is MY journey and maybe I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss my body if it wants to do things differently. Thanks for the advice!

Could it be your bowels? I found since being banded, the change in diet with fewer carbs has affected my toilet patterns which leave me feeling a little bloated

My other question would be, are you hungry? I am rarely hungry and just eat because you are supposed to. Listen to your body, it will tell you when it needs food. That is the hardest!

I typically ate at noon and 8 pm while I was losing. My husband just learned to live with it. I know people that have families still have to take care of their meals, but don't eat just because everyone else is. Do what you need to do.