Does anyone have some favorite foods that tend to stay in the pouch longer before passing through the band? I've learned that the mushy food really DOES pass through faster and I get hungry faster as well. I'd love to hear what some of you eat that really makes you feel full and KEEPS you that way longer. I know the "protein first" rule and do my best to follow it. Just wanting to know what others have experienced once they are eating "normal" food. I'm still having trouble staying full for very long and want to be sure I'm eating what will help me keep that full feeling the longest.

Thanks for your help!!!

I think i am strange. I prefer to have liquidy or mushy food. I get to eat a little more and that gives me a more satisfied feeling.

If I eat solid food I am full with 3 or 4 bites, feels like I didn't even start eating yet. I normally keep eating after the 4 bites and I end up Pbing everything out...

I just posted my experience with this in another thread. No question: Protein makes me feel full longer. Cottage cheese, goat cheese, pate (I LOVE pate and have always avoided it as being too rich and expensive--great to have this time to splurge!), liverwurst, and refried Beans are all plenty dense and filling. I blended up salmon chowder last night and it was a really yummy savory Soup with a gazpacho-like texture.

During this time of mushy foods I'm not worrying about going low-fat. Plenty of time for that later. Now I'm just concerned with finding enough variety to keep my tastebuds happy.

I am self employed and sometimes during the day I have to be places where I can't stop and eat. I take small pre-packaged cheese slices with me. One slice has a lot of protein and is about 80 calories. It stays with me for a long time. How long a particular food will keep you feeling full also depends on your level of restriction. I am quite restricted right now after 5 fills and a small piece of cheese that is less than 1oz. will hold me for a couple of hours. If you are not very restricted that might not be the best choice for you.

Also I drink a protein drink in the morning that keeps the hunger away for hours. It has 40g of protein, plus I use a cup of soy milk that also adds protein. Later in the day, I can eat more and it will take more solid food to satisfy me.

If I knew when you had your surgery and if you had any fills, maybe I could give you more helpful suggestions.

Spring

Spring,

Thanks for your ideas. My surgery was July 17th and I have had one fill of 1.0 cc. It gave me some restriction for a few days, but I am pretty unrestricted now. Waiting to schedule fill #2. I just don't get full until I've eaten quite a lot right now, but I know this will change with a fill. If I eat the mushy food, I get hungry WAY faster than if I eat something more solid. Maybe I shouldn't be worrying about this until I get more restriction????

Here are some of my favorites:

salmon

mahi-mahi

shredded chicken

very tender steak (filet or ribeye, medium to medium rare, please)

Larry,

You are a "green horn" in Band Land. It is just 6 weeks since your surgery. You are right, don't worry until you get the right restriction. I could eat almost normally until about my 3rd fill.

I have had 5 fills(I don't really count the first one at 0.8) I am now at 2.6. My weight loss has been slow...I have lost 40 lbs in 7 months. I have a good restriction now, but still need a little more fill to get the scale moving again. My doctor is conservative and says most of his patients will need between 4 to 6 fills to get to the right restriction. I will have my 6th one in three weeks.

One thing you must learn as a bandster is that everyone's journey is so different. I have read of many people who have lost a lot of weight with only one fill. Also, my doctor says it is important not to compare the quantity of fills because it is so individual.

Right after a fill you should stay on liquids or soft foods for a few days. Tightening the band can cause your stomach to swell. You will be much tighter for the first few days until the swelling goes down.

You are also right about soft mushy foods vs. more solid foods. After 7 months I am finally getting that I shouldn't eat what easily goes down. I was in the soft food syndrome. I am trying to eat more solid food, and I PB a lot because I am a die hard non chewer. That is the behavior I most need to change. I eat too quickly and don't chew enough. Now I am eating a lot more salmon and tuna and sometimes I mix it with pre-packaged broccoli slaw and shredded cabbage and a little salad dressing. I know that may not sound that appealing, particularly you being from Texas with the anit-broccoli movement, but it is crunchy, it makes me chew a lot and fills me up quickly. You also may not be a fish person, but you could try shredded chicken or beef in a salad. I find lettuce even though it is soft, it takes more chewing to get it down.

Also, I don't eat bread, pasta, or potatoes... they tend to get stuck easily at my level of restriction.

Good luck and just remember to be patient our weight losses, what we can tolerate food wise and our level of restrictions are all different. We all have to find our own personal combination of things that work.

Spring

Spring,

Thank you again for all the helpful information!! I have to learn to be patient....you're right!! I DO like broccoli, so I may just try that as you suggested. As time goes on, I'm sure I'll find out what works best for me and what doesn't. Thanks for taking the time to help me out so much!! On to fill #2 and hopefully more restriction at least for awhile!!

Good luck with your next fill. I'm sure it will help!

Spring