Hi all, I'm a newbie! I was banded on 7/9/14 and lost 19lbs since my surgery 3+ weeks ago (lost another 18 during pre-op diet). At 10 days post op I was down 15lbs from my weight the day of surgery and was so motivated and felt so confidant! I was walking daily and was doing great! Week 2 I went into mushies and the weightloss completely stopped and hunger started to set in. My surgeon doesn't fill the band once it is first put in so I had and felt no restriction. My week 3 post op appt I had gained a pound since my 10 day checkup. I was crushed and my confidence shot. My surgeon gave me a fill (he wouldn't tell me how many cc's he put in which kind of annoyed me) and put me in liquids for 3 days then mushies for 3 then "regular food" after that. This was 4 days ago and I've lost 6lbs since. My problem is I am going to bed hungry almost every night and still don't feel what others are calling this big restriction. I eat very little and play by the rules of portions my surgeon gave me. I'm just struggling with how do I know when I'm satisfied vs. full? I stop eating (drinking) because I know this is the portion I'm allowed to eat, not because I'm satisfied. I'm so jealous of people who say a tiny amount makes them full. Will this point ever come for me? I'm just so sick of feeling hungry all the time, but refuse to eat more because I am determined to be successful. Any tips/advice is appreciated! Thanks so much!

Edited August 3, 201411 yr by yellahb

Hi all, I'm a newbie! I was banded on 7/9/14 and lost 19lbs since my surgery 3+ weeks ago (lost another 18 during pre-op diet). At 10 days post op I was down 15lbs from my weight the day of surgery and was so motivated and felt so confidant! I was walking daily and was doing great! Week 2 I went into mushies and the weightloss completely stopped and hunger started to set in. My surgeon doesn't fill the band once it is first put in so I had and felt no restriction. My week 3 post op appt I had gained a pound since my 10 day checkup. I was crushed and my confidence shot. My surgeon gave me a fill (he wouldn't tell me how many cc's he put in which kind of annoyed me) and put me in liquids for 3 days then mushies for 3 then "regular food" after that. This was 4 days ago and I've lost 6lbs since. My problem is I am going to bed hungry almost every night and still don't feel what others are calling this big restriction. I eat very little and play by the rules of portions my surgeon gave me. I'm just struggling with how do I know when I'm satisfied vs. full? I stop eating (drinking) because I know this is the portion I'm allowed to eat, not because I'm satisfied. I'm so jealous of people who say a tiny amount makes them full. Will this point ever come for me? I'm just so sick of feeling hungry all the time, but refuse to eat more because I am determined to be successful. Any tips/advice is appreciated! Thanks so much!

Well, first, relax, what you're experiencing has happened to almost all of us. It's called Bandster Hell!! It's that period of time between surgery and getting that fill that gives you some level of satiety so you're not hungry for up to 4 hours.

I lost 12 lbs the first two weeks after surgery and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. I felt like I was starving. But, I knew by reading here and being told by a friend who had the band that my issue was temporary. Around my 4th month and 3rd fill I finally felt restriction/satiety and it took another 3 fills to get to the green zone.

B-52(forum member) always said, "Till there's restriction, it's just another diet" So true.

To stave off hunger, I ate healthy food but not the 1/2 cup to 1 cup they recommended. That's why I didn't lose weight. I refused to diet. That's why I was banded. So, no hunger for me, no deprivation, but no chocolate cake or ice cream either. Just healthy foods like fish, chicken, veggies, salads and eggs. Lots of eggs.

It will get better but not right away. Keep bugging your doctor for fills.