I was banded on January 24th of this year and have done great until about 2 weeks ago. I have started picking at food and munching in between meals. I am so dissapointed in myself and am scared that I will go back to my old habits. I am going for a fill next week because I am still hungry after my four ounces. I was wondering if you guys think a fill will help with my snacking at all. I know it is a mental thing. And I think the harder I am on myself the worse it gets. I am going to start listing everything that I eat tomorrow on the what we eat page. I guess I just get scared because I never want to go back to the old me. I love my band and the way I feel since I have lost weight. My husband does not understand the food addiction thing so I just wanted to talk to others who know what I am talking about. But I am starting over tomorrow!!! And I will be back on track. Thanks for listening. I love this site.

Good for you JJB,

Making the committment and taking that first step is half the battle. Stay committed for one day and a time - even one meal at a time if necessary. Food addiction is like any other addiction, one slip and it has you by the throat again. Unfortunately with a food addiction you can't go cold turkey!

What is your plan of action? Are you food journaling? Do you have your meal and snack plan in place for tomorrow? Do you have everything you need to stick to your plan? OK. Here you go.

You're on your way so stay strong.

First, 4 ounces.... WTF? That doesn't sound like normal bandster portions. Who told you to only eat 4 ounces at a setting? Your doctor? Your dietician? Somebody sounds like they've got you confused with a bypass patient.

My understanding of normal bandster portions is 3 oz of solid Protein followed with about a half cup of veggies and THEN, carbs (if there's room, and 1/2 cup at the most). That would measure out to be between a cup and a cup and a half. 4 ounces is only a half cup. It's no wonder you're still hungry after 4 ounces.

You didn't say whether this is your first fill or not, but remember it does take (on average) 3-5 fills to get proper restriction. That's not to say that someone fresh out of surgery can't have restriction. Some lucky ones do. But if you're not eating adequate portions to feel satisfied, it's hard to tell if you have restriction unless you're saying that you feel satisfied with the smaller portions or have difficulty eating at times.

Talk to your doc, or somebody, and ask these questions. Find out exactly what you're supposed to be eating, how much, and WHY. Does your doc primarily do bypass. That may be why he or the dietician recommended such small portions for you. It's what they're used to. Bandsters can eat larger portions than bypass.

Second, don't be so down on yourself. You had surgery for a reason. The tool may not be fully working yet. And again, if you've been told to eat such small portions it's not suprising that you feel the need to snack or graze. Get this cleared up and you'll be up and running in no time.

My Dr. has you eat 4 ounces 3 times a day. With no snacks in between. He doesnt do the bypass surgery. My mom had the surgery in November and that was what she was instructed to do also. I have been sticking to that at meal time and then about an hour after I just get this urge to have something sweet. Its really hard to because my kids and husband always have sweets around. This will be my fourth fill. I have 2and a half cc in my band. I will be happy when I get more restriction. Now I am wondering what everyone else is being told to eat. Maybe 4 ounces is not enough. I will talk to him when I go for my fill.

yep I know what you are talking about, I struggle with the very same issues. For me it is all about support group and this web site. I follow very strickly those that have gone before me. Todate I am down 70lbs.

My eating plan is more in line with ddiedre's - I didn't catch that 4 oz thing when I read your post. I don't think you're getting enough to eat.

I am going to make up a new post to see how much other people are eating. I am really curious to see now.

I wasn't given an amount to eat. I was told to eat lean protein first about 2 - 3 oz then veg and finally carbs; chew slowly, no drinking during meals and to eat until I got a satiated but not stuffed full feeling. It's working for me, I occassionally have a small snack between meals, but I usually don't feel the need to. I was also told not to go more than 4 hours without eating.

I don't really have a specific quantity to eat per meal. I try to have a quantity that makes me feel satiated but not too full, and I do take good care about what i eat: fish, lean meat, lots of veggies, fruit between meals, no drinking during meals, chew slowly and keep on chewing...

if you're not feeling satisfied with your quantity of food, maybe it's time to increase a bit your daily intake of what you're eating. Have you tried taking some Protein? it could help I guess.

hang in there!

niki

For me, when I find myself snacking like that I have to just make myself STOP. The quickest way to do this is for me to count calories. Most of the time I'll go for something and then say "Man, I really don't want to have to write this down" and so I don't eat it. Even when I am counting calories I have some Snacks, but I count them, and usually they are planned.

3 4oz meals a day wouldn't cut it for me, but if you can do it with restriction, that's great! I don't really measure my food, I just count calories. Restriction helps a 'serving' be 'enough', whereas it never was before. There are times I *could* eat more, but I'm not hungry if I don't.

JJB - How many calories per day can you possibly be getting with 12 oz of food per day?? Geesh.

I agree with the others, test yourself. Start eating between 800 - 1,000 calories per day. For Breakfast, have 1/2 C of low fat cottage cheese with 1/2 C of fruit. For lunch and for dinner, have 3 or 4oz of hard Protein like moist fish or chicken, then have 1/2 C of veggies like green Beans, salad, or peas and carrots, then have 1/4 C of fruit. Also, drink a minimum of 64oz of Water a day.

I'll bet you that you no longer feel hungry AND that your weight will begin to drop significantly faster!

Wow! 4 oz? Man I eat more than that after 4 fills. Doesn't seem like enough, as the other have also said. Once you get your complete restriction, the urge to snack goes way down.

my doc says to eat until you are full, mostly all protein and very little to no carbs, and to drink a gallon of water a day and 30 minutes of walking everyday. It sounds easy enough:faint: , but it's not especially when carbs are thrown at you all the time, at work, home and Church. I just try to stay focused, one day I can have a slice of that, or a serving of this, but not right now.:think :cool: