Hi everyone. I was banded a week ago today and everything is going great. I do have some concerns and I was hoping to get some good advice. I have been following my post op diet perfectly and just started on liquid/mushy food. I am really surprised how easy everything is going down. I can eat a lot more than I thought I could. Is this ok? I dont feel full. I have been drinking normally- not needing to sip, although I tried doing that at the beginning. Today I had a bowl of mashed potatoes. First I are half and put it down but quickly realized I was still starving and finished the rest. Is that ok? I am worried that I am able to eat to much. I read so much about people only being able to eat 3-4 oz. that's not my reality and I am worried something is wrong. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi JPC, many people are hungry post surgery -- normal, normal, normal! Just keep following your doctors' post-op protocol and healing up from the surgery. Once you start getting fills you will experience the dimming of appetite. Some people call this time Bandster Hell because they feel able to eat anything and it's basically just a diet until you get the right fill. You are not alone. Take it easy, be patient, listen to your body and get some walking in -- don't forget to congratulate yourself on this big step for your healthy future. Some people enjoy egg drop soup if that's allowed at this phase - filling, savory, yummy.

Thanks for the reassurance. I will keep on track!

Yes, I felt the same way!! I thought there was something wrong with my band...but now 2 fills in...boy do I have restrictions! Enjoy it while you can...things will change real fast once the fills begin!

It actually took me 5 or 6 fills to hit the GREEN Zone.... 6 months post surgery. I lost weight during those 6 months, but I always felt like I was dieting. I sure wasn't eating the amount or volume of food I could eat before surgery, but I sure was eating more than I thought I would after being banded. Thus, like Bandista said, I was in Bandster Hell. What you are experiencing is quite NORMAL. You need to continue to heal and you will start feeling more and more restriction with each subsequent fill. Best wishes!

Thank you everyone for the insight and help!

Thank you everyone for the insight and help!

I am feeling the same way I got banded on the 19th of march an I was thinking something was wrong lol..still taking it easy an I'm losing weight but I'm so ready for April 29th when I get my first fill so I can feel those restrictions..good luck looks like we are in the same boat right now!!

Bandista is right, it's basically like being on a diet at first! I go to a support group and the nutritionist said that this is the part people seem to forget when they get surgery, that after it can take a while to get the proper amount of restriction in the band and until then, it's up to you! When I was on mushies I couldn't ever tell if I was really full. I just stopped when I finished my 2-4oz of food because that's what my nutritionist's guidelines were for each meal. It's REALLY important to follow the guidelines they give you though! If you overeat too often after surgery, it can lead to complications like band slippage. I'm about 6 weeks post-op and I still only eat my 3/4 - 1 cup of food per meal, even if I'm starving after it's gone. It's hard, but I know it'll be worth it in the end best of luck to you!

At this stage there are just a few things to focus upon:

Eating no more than the amount of food and the type of food per your doctors post op eating plan. Eating twice as much because you feel like you can, is a dangerous thing to do. If you're still hungry, wait a half hour to an hour and eat something else, hopefully with some Protein in it, but no more than a half cup. Even though you can't feel it, you do have a band and some stitches and you might not be aware of the damage you could cause.

If you're on purées there are some great options to include protein in your diet.

Cook up and season a pound of 99% lean ground turkey and run it through the food processor till it's very small crumbles, but not pasty.

Add it to lunch, dinner and Snacks consisting of puréed Soups, like black bean, split pea or a favorite of mine, costco carries Stockpot broccoli cheddar Soup, has 5 carbs per cup and a decent amount of protein.

Eat a half a cup of the soup/turkey at a sitting, gradually adding more turkey as you progress to solids.

Soft scrambled eggs are a good choice, add a bit of cream to keep them soft.

Egg salad

Tuna salad, add pickle juice to the mayo to flavor and keep mushy

Dannon light and fit Greek yogurt

Refried Beans, with cheese, salsa, and light sour cream.

Ditch the mashed potatoes, your body needs protein to heal and you need to feel satisfied' not full. Protein is going to help you do this on 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food 3-6 times per day (that was my plan and I lost 1.5 lb per week in the first 3 months before my first fill eating the foods I mentioned above). Logging your food on my fitness pal takes less than 3 min per meal and helps keep you accountable...they have phone and tablet apps.

Best of luck to you.

Lap-Band July 28, 2011. 300 pounds down!

Follow the guidelines! It is just a tool. You have to decide to eat the healthy foods and exercise! If you make poor eating choices, you will gain! It takes a while to get your brain re-set but, it is so worth it! I get to participate in life now....not just be a by-stander!

I wish you well!

Yep this is normal.

Now is the time to learn to reduce your portions. Even though you can eat a lot, you should limit the amounts to 4oz at a time. Yes you'll be hungry and as others mentioned it's bandster hell. Now is the time to get used to the smaller portions - maybe have 6 small meals throughout the day, up your Protein which will help you feel and stay full longer. mushy stage is hard to find variety. Mashed potatoes was on my list but I tried to stay away from them as they are so good and I knew is eat too much of it at that time.

Again, don't be worried. You're normal right now. You won't feel restriction till you start getting fills.

I was banded on March 27th, we can do this!!!

At this stage there are just a few things to focus upon:

Eating no more than the amount of food and the type of food per your doctors post op eating plan. Eating twice as much because you feel like you can, is a dangerous thing to do. If you're still hungry, wait a half hour to an hour and eat something else, hopefully with some Protein in it, but no more than a half cup. Even though you can't feel it, you do have a band and some stitches and you might not be aware of the damage you could cause.

If you're on purées there are some great options to include protein in your diet.

Cook up and season a pound of 99% lean ground turkey and run it through the food processor till it's very small crumbles, but not pasty.

Add it to lunch, dinner and Snacks consisting of puréed Soups, like black bean, split pea or a favorite of mine, costco carries Stockpot broccoli cheddar Soup, has 5 carbs per cup and a decent amount of protein.

Eat a half a cup of the soup/turkey at a sitting, gradually adding more turkey as you progress to solids.

Soft scrambled eggs are a good choice, add a bit of cream to keep them soft.

Egg salad

Tuna salad, add pickle juice to the mayo to flavor and keep mushy

Dannon light and fit Greek yogurt

Refried Beans, with cheese, salsa, and light sour cream.

Ditch the mashed potatoes, your body needs protein to heal and you need to feel satisfied' not full. Protein is going to help you do this on 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food 3-6 times per day (that was my plan and I lost 1.5 lb per week in the first 3 months before my first fill eating the foods I mentioned above). Logging your food on my fitness pal takes less than 3 min per meal and helps keep you accountable...they have phone and tablet apps.

Best of luck to you.