I had surgery a week and a half ago. I am still on my post op diets and I am doing well. The problem is that my first fill is a month away. I am going to be starving for a month! I am so sick of being hungry. I was on a liquid diet the 2 weeks before my surgery too, so I am really going crazy. I know I am being a baby. Please, I need some encouraging words. :help:

Dear "baby": Welcome to the club. You are now in what's know as BANDSTER HELL. You want to act like a bandster, but without restriction, you are about the same as you were before surgery! We've been there! It's just awful. Here are my suggestions:

1. Don't beat yourself up. IF you could have done it without restriction, you wouldn't have needed the band.

2. Everytime you stay on your diet, you are being a superhuman. Everytime you cheat, you are being human.

3. This is the time to pretend to be a bandster and practice using small plates, saying thin things, doing bandster behaviors. Kind of a fake it til you make it thing for practice. Read a lot on this site and take time to educate yourself.

4. Remember that bandster hell is sooo much sharter than all the years you were in weight gain hell. You have started the journey and you are close to getting to really be a bandster.

5. See if they will do your fill 3 weeks after surgery instead.....

6. Congratulate yourself every day for sticking with the post op diet. Did you even know you were capable of such an extraordinary feat?

7. It's a good time to start to figure out the role that food played in your life. For me, food kept me drugged enough to watch TV at night. I don't do that anymore, and I don't think about food at night as a consequence. I used food when I was bored, so I've gotten some new hobbies...like exercise.

8. Mostly, just know that it's short term and that if you have to sleep through it to get through it, do whatever you need to.....

Welcome and first of all....it get's better. Even when you start on mushies...it get's better....when you go to solids....it get's better and finally when you start getting "fills" it get's better! Remember this is a process. You got banded...your body has to adjust and you have to do an attitude and mental adjustment. As each phase of your journey starts, you will feel better about reaching your goal. Hang it there, read, read and read some more post. Stay busy...not eating or thinking about eating. There are excellent post to read and people to chat with. And your not being a "baby" you just need support and we are all here to help!

Try and stay focused. Eat creamy soups. They are allowed. Anything that can fit through a straw is allowed. That will keep you more satisfied.

Thank you so much. I really needed those pep talks. You all are so right. I guess I just needed to hear it from other people. You all are kind and uplifting. Thank you.