OK ... this might be a silly question but what does restriction feel like?

I have been banded since the 11th October and I had my first fill on the 26th October, so I never really gotten of the Fluid / mushies since my op. I am only having 1/2 cups of mushies at each meal ... so that I learn what full feels like. Which if different to what I thought full was in the past.

Any reply's appreciated.

I struggled with this exact question. I know (now) what hunger feels like. Before banding I don't think I had felt hunger since the 1970's. And, through my own foolishness and old habits, know what too full (oh, my Lord, don't let me throw up and displace my band) feels like. I also know what didn't-chew-well-enough feels like (a hot golfball pressure in my mid-chest accompanied by copious amounts of slimy expectoration and praying for the chunk to either come up or go through, but please, let this feeling go away). You only need that once to drive the chewing lesson home, believe me.

Satiety feels like this to me and this is how I figured it out. I only eat real food for dinner. I prepare my meals in small containers ahead of time because of my work schedule. I came home from work one evening, heated up 2 containers of different mushies and served myself 1/4 cup of low-fat herbed cottage cheese. I calmly sat at the table and slowly took small spoonfuls of food and put the spoon down. I concentrated on how I felt after each swallow.

After finishing one container, I still had about 1/2 the cottage cheese and a little less than 1/2 the other mushy still on the plate. But my feeling inside had changed. My head told me, okay that's enough for now. Put the spoon down and walk away. I have to admit, it didn't sit well with me to see food on my plate and stop eating. But I knew I wasn't hungry anymore, I felt satisfied and comfortable.

My head started jousting with my common sense--don't waste food, you can eat it--try just one more--you'll be starving later. Know what? I threw the rest out and was fine the rest of the evening with my sipping drinks.

The point I'm making is to go slowly and listen to your body and mind. Full is no longer an I'm-going-to-explode feeling, it's I-don't-need-to-eat-anymore. Very subtle. Give yourself time to recognize it.

Any other opinions and thoughts?

MC

MC - i LOVE that response. thank you. i think i am starting to feel what is like to not be hungry any more. i, too, am one that feels guilty for leaving food on my plate. that's the biggest hurdle i have to get over.

thanks!

You get full quickly.

You don't think that much about food.

You forget to eat meals because you are not hungry.

Your favorite foods no longer seem that exciting.

It's a feeling of fullness in the back of your throat (well, lower than your throat).