Hello I am from Australia first time on this site. I was banded on the 5th Novemeber, struggling with my shakes,Prior to banding I was allowed 3 per day and a salad or green vegies for tea, once banded I have to drink optifast shakes for the next 2 weeks (now at the end of my second week) and allowed some vegie juice in between. Some times unsure if I am hungry (tummy grumbling like crazy) or habitual eater. Struggling and unsure of the next phase (mushy food) I have had the past two weeks off work and ready to go back,should make my routine a lot easier. Over all I do need some one to bounce off and discuss how I am feeling. I have lost 8 kgs ( approx 16 lbs ) in 4 weeks.

Congratulations on your surgery. I, too, had to do the Optifast diet before and after surgery. When you move on to mushies, you can eat things like mashed potatoes, creamy soups, cottage cheese, oatmeal, etc. It sounds like you are doing well. If you feel up to it, go back to work. There shouldn't be any reason why you don't if you feel up to it. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Congrats.... it's sounds like you're doing well. I was banded on the 6th and went through the same thing about difficulty telling if my rumbling stomach was gas or hunger. Taking gasX helped and sipping broth or flavored water helps if my stomach is still rumbling.

Hello I am from Australia first time on this site. I was banded on the 5th Novemeber, struggling with my shakes,Prior to banding I was allowed 3 per day and a salad or green vegies for tea, once banded I have to drink Optifast shakes for the next 2 weeks (now at the end of my second week) and allowed some vegie juice in between. Some times unsure if I am hungry (tummy grumbling like crazy) or habitual eater. Struggling and unsure of the next phase (mushy food) I have had the past two weeks off work and ready to go back,should make my routine a lot easier. Over all I do need some one to bounce off and discuss how I am feeling. I have lost 8 kgs ( approx 16 lbs ) in 4 weeks.

WHERE ABOUTS IN AUSTRALIA ARE U? IM IN MELBOURNE and i was banded on october 30th,, welcome to the forum,...

YOu could certainly be well and truly hungry on nothing but liquids now. Some people get hungry more than others, personally, I have and always had normal levels of hunger prior to banding (just ate anyway, even when I wasnt hungry) and continued to get hungry normally after banding. Its just that now it takes much less to satisfy me. During the liquids and mushy phase, I was lucky, I had no return of hunger for abotu 12 weeks, lost about 20kg in that time.

I'm in Melbourne too.