I had my surgery on 8/28/06. I know that I don’t and won’t have any restriction until my first fill. But right now I am eating just as I normally would pre-surgery, which is NOT healthy eating at ALL. And Ive gained back the 10 lbs I lost in the liquid phase. I’ve had no vomiting or uncomfortable feelings at all. (Which I kind of wish I had so that I could stop eating)

How much of a difference does a filled band make verses an unfilled band? I understand that its not a cake walk but it has to be easier than this or I would have just dieted without the band to lose weight. It certainly would have been cheaper. I’m really starting to wonder if they even put a band in there, lol.

I am really disappointed in myself but am mainly curious to know if this eating like this now could cause some type of problem when I actually get the fill. Am I setting myself up for failure?

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I guess what I am really asking is, how many of you pigged out when you found that solid foods were okay? And was it easier when your band was filled? Am I abnormal? I’m really depressed about this, no more’Yay, happy I’m going to lose weight’ feeling. HHHEEELLPPP

You will definitely be hungry. At least I was. You do need to exercise some self control until you get a fill. I tried immediately to live like a banster. I didn't want to "stretch" my pouch. Also during the healing phase you don't want strain on the stiches, etc. Just because you can eat it doesn't mean you should.

The hunger will start to go away after a fill. You will need less self control, but you still need to watch what you eat. Try portion controlling your food so you can "see" what you are eating.

Good luck

I read something in another group that got me thinking, as I go off liquids tomorrow to real, if mushie, food. This person said she challenges herself to see how little she can be satisfied with, and make healthy choices.

For me, that was a mindset change. I realized I was thinking more about trying to see how much I could eat, and what types of foods that weren't good choices.

((((hugs)))) You need to back off the food now. You've only been banded a couple of weeks, and you should only now be eating soft foods, at the most. Please dig out that copy of your doctor's meal plan AND STICK TO IT.

You could be putting your band and health at risk by eating too soon. The reason we are put on the liquids is so that our stomach does almost no processing, no churning or turning while the sutures heal.

Trust me, you are not going to starve in the next couple of weeks.

The reason you "gained" weight went you went back to solid foods after being on liquids is that you have put solids back into your colon. This doesn't mean you've added 10 pound of fat to your butt, but you have replaced the matter in your colon.

I think just about every baby bandster freaks out when they go back onto solid foods. I know that even though I knew I woudl see the scale move in the "wrong" direction when I went on solid foods I freaked out. It's as normal as we get.

And as for the difference between a filled band and an unfilled one? Well the band is not designed to work if it isn't filled. You will probably be able to eat everything you could before your banding with an unfilled band. Again, it is DESIGNED this way. In case you have to have the fill removed, or for when you reach goal and feel that you don't need a fill to help you maintain.

How much of a difference does a filled band make verses an unfilled band?

I can only speak for myslef, it makes a big difference. If it didn't I would not of lost 100 + lbs, but my head and my band were a team.. Right now what you are feeling is normal, it has only been a few weeks, the first 6 weeks is not about weight loss!!! Did your doctor NOT tell you this??? This time pre-fill is about healing, any weight loss you have is a bonus! There is a grwat thread I started here sometime ago it is called for struggling new bandsters ..do a search for it at the top of the page and read it! It will help you...Relax, take a deep breath but I agree with Vinesqueen, solids this soon is not good, I was not allowed solids for 6 weeks. I wil lsay this though,,, the band is not a magice wand, even when it is filled it will not do all of the work, you have to do some of the work, your head and your band have to be a team and work together, even with the best of fills there are ways to eat around the band if your head is not into this...Good Luck to you :girl_hug:

shaunaruder......you poor thing....the head hunger is a killer!

I must admit once I went onto mushies (3rd week) and until I had my first fill (week 6) I was STARVING!

Then I had my first fill 8 days ago and the restriction now compared to before is amazing.

BUT......you have to have a bit of restraint and stop sabotaging yourself. It's only for a few weeks until you get your first fill....then things will start to improve.

lisah25 has given very, very wise advice, as did vinesqueen. Please be willing to give yourself a whole new outlook on food. Challenge yourself to view food through new eyes. It's not how much food can I possible push through this band...it's how much nutrition does it take to keep me healthy, and give me a satisfied feeling?

It's a mental revolution!

Treat yourself to some respect, and make sure your stomach is healing properly...you are introducing too much solid food too fast to be sure those sutures are properly healed and that band is nice and firmly in place.

((hugs)) Take good care of yourself, and it's not too late to make good choices!

Thanks for all the help and support, it was just what I needed.

Early on I read on this board "just because you can doesn't mean you should" -it really helped me put a perspective on my eating. Just because I can eat a giant dinner, doesn't mean I should. And over eating can cause long-term problems, that keeps me honest, most of the time.

I guess we all get head hungry. And even an unfilled band can (might not but can) give some restriction. Mine did.

I have a few "band buddies" that I contact pretty regularily to keep me honest. They ask me if I am really following the rules of the band or just in denial. Maybe something like that would help you.

Take care and best wishes on your journey.

I am not yet banded but it is the thought that too much food will hurt my band that I am counting on to keep me in line during the time that I don't have enough restriction. I know that is easier said than done but I sure hope it helps.

Good luck!!!!!!!

Jill:D