I am 8 days post op and the hunger is killing me!!! I don't know what to do. I am able to start introducing potatoes today so I had a whole baked potato from Wendy's! After I ate it I cried because I can't believe I ate it! I know once I get my fill things will be differnt but these weeks with no restriction are going to kill me! I am still staying away from the bad foods but I don't know how long I am going to last!!! I am feeling like a faliure already. This is not good either because I like to eat when I am feeling down and right now I can. Please give me some ideas on what you did durning this time to keep you from not starving plus eating right.

when i was in your situation, i called my doctor. and i was in your situation, exactly 8 days after surgery. i was lucky, my doctor told me to go ahead and move to mushies. there is theory that rushing your diet can lead to slippage. my doctor has done over 1000 bands, with no slippage, so i trust him.

anyways, i called my doc and told them that i was starving right after i would eat a whole can of pureed Beans. she said, move to mushies. since then, i get full fast and stay full.

don't feel like a failure, you are not. you are human, and your swelling has probably just gone down faster, which is a good thing. this stage is very hard (i'm struggling on mushies with head hunger). you'll get through this..and besides think, before band what all else would you have eaten with that baked potato. i know for me it would have been a whole chicken sandwich, a yogurt, & a large coke. that's A LOT more calories than just the potato.

Please do not be too hard on yourself. It is hard till you get a fill or two. I have had three fills now ( got one yesterday) and i can hardly eat anything. Try to drink a lot of water and stay as busy as you can. It really will get better. Donna

Nessa, I was also banded on the 1st. I am glad that someone else is as hungry as I am. I was banded by Dr. Erbella in Brandenton, FL., 2 hours north of where I am. I have an appt. on Monday and I can't wait to talk to him. I have had no complications and am able to take medications whole. My only problem is gas, gas pain, and not "going". But the hunger is just not being dealt with by all the liquids I am eating. I am wondering if starting early would be a problem? I guess I have to wait to find out. Please know I am exactly where you are so there are 2 of us in it. Take care and stay strong!

Thanks guys for you support. I have already started the mushie phase and even after eating that potato I was still hungry. I don't have my post op appointment until Wednesday so I guess I will find out when I get a fill then.

Nessa, you have to eat my dear. Try and keep your meals to 1 cup of food avoiding carbs. A baked potatoe will not kill you. In fact, they are really good during mushy stage. Make sure you eat a ton of protein. Cottage cheese and tuna salad is really good for you on mushy stage. Good luck.

I work in a surgery center that does the Lap Band, and I get this all the time. The first month your band is completly open, so you really don't have any restriction. Try drinking lots of water. Do extra protein shakes if you need to. Protein will be better for you than extra carbs. It gets easier every day. Take it one hour at a time.

John

I'm at Day 9 today (can't believe it's gone so quickly) and even though I'm not feeling full on hungry, I am getting twinges of it... not sure if it is head hunger only though. I have an appointment with the dietician on Tuesday so will work it out with her.

I say hang in there... we're only human and this is a totally new experience for us, a learning process.

ok so im 3 weeks post surgery and i have to say i just started to get really hungry but the hardest part was the first 2 weeks bc i wanted to eat everything and i culdnt...dont worry hang in there and you will appreciate the results!! good luck

I just had this conversation with my 37 year old nephew today. He is two weeks out from having gastric by-pass. When he said he wasn't sure he could "do this" I asked him to focus on the reason he had the surgery to begin with. I know his reason. He wants to live so he will be here for his daughter. Certainly, his reason (the love of his daughter) can help him get past any hunger he might have. He agreed.

The only failure is that of not trying. Hold fast to your convictions that you are going to give yourself the gift of good health because you deserve the best in life! And when I am at this point please feel free to give me back my own advice.

Warmest hugs,

~ D ~

I hate to tell you this but - you are going to feel hungry at times..

I still think i am hungry after i have eaten and I am truely tummy full - it's because i only ate 1 cup of whatever and not 3 bowls full and i still want to taste the food. They banded your tummy not your brains - the band is only going to do 25% of the work and the other 75% is up to you.

Weight loss is about calories in and out - but most of our problems isn't that our tummies are hunger it's cuz our heads are telling us we need that seretonin to calm us so we eat to create more seretonin.

What you need to do is make healthy food choices - low calorie food - low in fat and sugar free until you have proper restriction - (which can take a while) when I am hungry and still want to eat I eat extra veggies.

Make soupy instant mash potatoes with skim milk only no Water a tad of butter salt and pepper - creamed Soups helped me too - if you are on mushies cook up some zuchinne (over cook) drain, mush it up add some I can't beleive it's not butter spray - salt & pepper and go to town..

When you make your protien shakes add some banana - or frozen fruit and yogurt to them - makes they yummier and more filling. Have a sf pudding or fudgecicle -

I am almost 4 months out and still get hungry and bad food go thru the band with no problem even with proper restrictions.

You gotta do the head work too and true think am I really hungry or is it just cuz i am so use to eating so much more and a whole different type of foods.

Good Luck - Welcome to band land....

I was told, and believe it to be true, that Protein keeps the hunger away. Carbs/sugars trigger cravings and fluctuations in blood sugar.

A baked potatoe isn't going to be the end of the world...I've lost weight eating potatoes for dinner! But I'd suggest protein first. Then if you have room, try the spud.

My doc said protein first, then veggies, then fruit then carbs...not that I always do that, but I try more times that not.

Oh, one more thing...you must understand that this is a healing time for you for about 6 weeks and it isn't really set up for weightloss,altho many people do lose weight. I considered it my practice stage for when I do have restriction...trying to eat right.

You are all very encouraging and full of kind words. I am so glad that this board is here. For dinner I had a cup of brocolli and a sf fudge bar later on. I know that a lot of it is mind controll but I also know that it will take a lot to controll my mind. Next time I think of food or start to feel hungry I am going to do what prior post said and think of my daughter. She is my life and I want to be there for every milestone.