I AM HUNGRY ALL THE TIME!

Is this a potentially normal response? I'm three weeks post surgery today and have moved up to "normal" food over the last week.

I weigh the same today as I did on surgery day. I had lost a couple pounds, but they've come back.

Should I just concentrate on the small bites and chewing and wait for my fill to worry about losing weight? Or should I be dieting "the old way" being hungry and miserable all the time?

I am 4 weeks post op tomorrow and I have read that you have to diet before the first fill. I don't really have much hunger, but I have found that if I don't plan out what I am going to eat, I definitely want to eat bad foods. I would suggest planning out your day and portion out the foods in containers so you can just grab what you need and close the refrigerator.

My doctor told me to stay at 800 calories a day. It was hard but he wanted my weight loss maximized before my first fill. It helped me build good discipline.

You are in what's known as "bandster hell". It's the time between surgery and when you start getting fills. Most all of us went through it, and at this point, you essentially have to "diet". It's very difficult, but you will get through it. Once you start having fills and your band reaches its sweet spot, this will all go away. It's pretty miraculous :-) But for now, you just have to white knuckle it.

When you get hungry between meals, try having a ½ Protein shake or some Greek yogurt; something to hold you until the next meal. Another type of food might work better for you, but just eat enough to carry you through. I had my first fill at the 4 week mark, and it made a big difference. Subsequent fills were done in two week intervals, until I was in the green zone. But for me, the first fill made a difference. I hope it does for you.

I would suggest that you develop a pattern/plan as well. It may take 3 , 4 or more fills to get you in the green zone which means months. I wouldn't want to waste that time. Focus on chewing, small bites, resisting snacking, portion control, the works

Normal completely normal. Just hang with it a few more weeks.

I had my fill yesterday. They gave me 1cc. Hope it helps.

However, today being "Weigh-in Wednesday", I see a trend. My weight loss is slow, but I have lost an average of more than a pound a week since surgery. It's not huge, but it is progress and what they told me to expect (1-2 pounds a week). So, I'm not going to worry about it so much and just keep trying to do better.

I was really hungry once I moved back to normal foods too. Not sure if it was the transition to solid food, or that some swelling had gone down, or both. The first fill helped, I noticed that I stayed full a bit longer, and filled up a but more quickly. Just got my second fill yesterday, so I'm hopeful that being full quicker/longer will be more pronounced. Try to stay motivated, I know it's hard when you want to feel the results right away, but you'll get there!