Hello everyone:

I am feeling a little down and depressed about my band. I was banded on 1/17/08 and this thursday it will be 3 weeks since I was banded. I am feeling pretty good except for the port area which is taking longer to heal but I will get there. I have not started exercising yet and have no good reason why. I need to just do it. I am noticing that I can now eat more than before and sometimes I eat too much and it gives me bad pains in my side when I do. I guess my head hunger overcomes me. This morning I didn't do too bad and had cream of wheat for breakfast and for lunch I had mashed zucchini and squash with tomatoes with fresh garlic and olive oil. It was good but then I had to go and have a some vanilla wafers just because. I am mad at myself for eating them when I didn't need them it was just out of habit. I'm afraid I am going to resort back to all my snacking issues because I feel no restriction at all. My first fill appointment isn't until March 4th so I have to really focus and be good. It is still early on and I was always an emotional eater and now I don't have that anymore. I know I have to find other ways to focus my stress/emotions onto but food was always my comfort. Did anyone else have trouble sticking to the bandster rules of eating before they had their first fill. I still drink when I eat and I think I take bigger bites than I should but it's hard to remember since nothing is happening since I didn't have a fill yet. I hope all that changes after my first fill. I'm just venting and disappointed in myself. I really need some encouragement and advice right now. Thanks guys.

Jeni in PA:frown:

Jeni, be good to yourself. Restriction will take some time to get there. Just try to stick to either 800-1k calories a day, or 1 cup per meal. Good luck.

I've seen several listing about what to eat to keep protein up during this "hell" time, 2-5 weeks post op. But I'm wondering....I will take a small portion of whatever I make for the fam and puree it, is that wrong? Like the other day I pureed about a 3 inch section of lasanga and put about a 1/4 cup more of sauce in it and thinned it out a bit more with water. It was smooth and loose, but it had ground beef, mushrooms, olives, onions, pasta, and ricotta. Is anyone else doing anything like that, or am I totally in the wrong? My doc said that if you can put it through a sieve and it can fit through a straw, you can eat it, and that's pretty much what I do. It is soooo much more appetizing than just plain creamed soups. I also have purred cottage cheese, put pureed sauce and cheese and bake that, ummmm

curious is anyone thinks that I'm doing an injustice to my band, or not letting myself heal properly. Because that is the most important thing.

rakes,

i did that too. i pureed some chicken parm from my favorite restaurant... added a bit of sauce and SOOO good

The only thing I will ask is if you realize that your new pouch needs time to heal? Digestive enzymes are very hard on it, and you risk band slippage.

It's very obvious that you weren't mentally ready for this surgery and the key word in these few weeks is "discipline".

How can somebody be 'mentally ready' for this procedure? If one was 'mentally ready', and had 'discipline' they wouldn't be obese in the first place.

Nobody can anticipate the feelings of deprivation and hunger post-op before they achieve a successful fill. Even after a fill, it is still a huge issue to tackle being overcome with cravings yet not having the stomach capacity to eat it all.

Jen, hang in there. We're going through the same boat, and we can make it through this!

its a learning process ..my dr. says its ok to take a sip or two at the beginning while eating beacuse it is a hard thing to break..he says to never gulp or drink more than a few sips... and for 2 wafers, hey we are not perfect..just learn for next time.. i have had a few,slips but im learning and will try for the most part to not sabotage myself..we are striving to gt better not perfection since no one is perfect cause if we were we wouldnt have had needed weight lose surgery in the first place...keep ur head up high and keep smiling sweetie.