Am I eating too much?

[Nicky Cleaver 5]

Hey I am just over a month after my surgery and have been on solid foods for about a week now. I have lost 22 pounds since surgery.

I am eating much much less than I was before and am confident that at the amount I am currently eating I will definitely lose weight. I feel comfortably full. However, I am not eating what is suggested in my handbook, if I was to eat what they suggest I would be very hungry and don't think I could do that long term.

Some ideas of what I might eat in a day:

- standard bowl of porridge (oats so simple)

- sandwich with 2 slices of bread with salad and ham/turkey slices.

- 1 chicken breast/1 salmon fillet/1 fish cake with salad or veg and mash.

- yoghurt/rice pudding

- apple/pear/grapes

I make sure I chew chew chew and all the food seems to go down well. I get burpy but that is it. I have tried red meat but find it unenjoyable because I chew it for so long!

I am really enjoying this process and have my first appointment for a fill on 5th September. I am in too minds whether I need a fill at this point, is there anyone who can share their experiences?

Let me know how you guys are doing

Thanks,

Nicky

[2muchfun 8,927]

Sounds like a minor version of Bandster Hell? Until you get a fill that takes away your hunger you'll continue to want to eat more food. I was where you are for 4 months after surgery. I focused on eating healthy solid food but I didn't eat the 1/2 -1 cup of food they recommended. No way. It's like being on a diet and I didn't get surgery to deprive myself.

Porridge or cooked Cereal is a slider food. It slides through your stoma/pouch and offers very little in the way of satiety. meats, veggies and breads offer much more satiety. Yoghurt, pudding and many fruits are also slider foods. Not that we can't eat slider foods, but just know you may feel hungry soon after eating slider foods. Also, fruit is a high glycemic food and can also cause insulin increases that cause you to be hungry soon after eating them.

Go in for your fills and watch for satiety from solid non processed foods. It may take a few months to get there. It took me 4 months to feel any restriction/satiety and 6 fills(7months) to find the green zone.

tmf

[CherieRyde 227]

I'm go glad you asked this question because I was thinking the same things. I get my first fill on Sept 9, and I'm pretty well looking forward to it.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Congratulations on your success so far! Your hunger will change over the coming weeks. If you can follow your team's guidelines that's the best advice I can give. If it's hard to do, TALK to them. Your NUT is there for just that. Before fills click in, we are often white-knuckling it on certain days. Even while fills are being done but before the coveted green zone is achieved, we can struggle. Avoid carbs and try to make your Protein your first bites at every meal. Don't snack and don't drink until half an hour after eating even if eating is a Protein Shake. Good luck and stay on course!!!!

[Rollo 7]

^{I'm having the same experience your having. I've been banded for 3 months and struggle with portion size. I keep up with my calories each day in my fitness pal and it seems to keep me from eating large portions. I know that if I have between 1500 and 1200 calories a day I won't be overeating, because there is not enough there. That is what is working for me. I personality want to go as far as I can without getting a fill.}

[sweetjonesie 5]

I am having the same experience. I'm only 3 weeks postop but my doc put me on solids last week. Each day I feel hungrier but when I enter my calories, I'm not eating as many calories as it feels. I do get full but I eat again a few hours later. I'm get more active every day (5 miles walking, back at work, etc....) trying to find filling food where I don't feel like I'm eating as much.

[blacktxbelle 99]

I too am having a similar experience but, as I have explained in other posts, I am up 18-19 hours a day and work nights. My band was primed at surgery and I have a .7 fill for a total of 5.7 cc. I currently tolerate solids that are softer and have found that I am struggling to get in the foods higher in Protein. Right now I supplement my protein with 1-2 shakes a day just so I get it in. I am convinced this is a mild case of bandster hell. The fact that you see a difference in your consumption of food however is still a triumph. It's important that you continue to listen to you body and realize when you are satisfied. Should you decide to get a fill you will find that your portions will decrease a little more. Best wishes!

[tifme 5]

I was banded July 18, 2014, had 1cc fill for a total of 4cc , I had 3cc in during surgery, I have lost about 20lbs but I feel no restrictions, I know I'm eating more than recommended but not as much as I ate pre-surgery. Going for my 2nd fill next week, hope to be more restricted, it's a struggle!

[2muchfun 8,927]

I was banded July 18, 2014, had 1cc fill for a total of 4cc , I had 3cc in during surgery, I have lost about 20lbs but I feel no restrictions, I know I'm eating more than recommended but not as much as I ate pre-surgery. Going for my 2nd fill next week, hope to be more restricted, it's a struggle!

tifme, you echo my journey of over 2 years ago. It took me till my 3rd fill where I actually felt enough restriction and satiety. LOL..It was almost like a reward to finally get stuck on food. I finally knew that my band was working and it let me know. I don't recommend stuck episodes to anyone but I celebrated being stuck and it started me on a path of chewing more and eating slower.