I'll be 5 weeks post op tomorrow and I get my first fill next Friday, 15th. Meanwhile, my stomach now growls 2 hours after eating and then I have to listen to it complain until time for my next meal. I don't know how long I can hold out like this before I cave and eat more than my three 4oz meals. :regular_smile:

Any suggestions/tips on how to endure?

I feel your pain! I am only 4 weeks out- and all of a sudden I have hit the wall.

I am having a hard time. I think it is only out of will at this point that I keep to the rules.

How many calories are you eating each day? Are you still losing weight?

I am feeling your frustration. I was banded on 1/3/08 and even though I am sticking to my 1/2 cup serving size, I have not lost a pound since I started on solid food.

I do have some hunger as well, but not too bad yet.

I am scheduled for a fill on 2/18, but am a little apprehensive.

I have found that increasing my fluids is helping with the hunger - but even when I am not hungry, my stomach is making sounds.

Hang in there,

Meri

I'm not counting my calories, but I'm losing 1-2 pounds a week. I am sticking to the diet, but by willpower alone. Hopefully next Friday will get here quick.

Now i need a fill. I go on Monday and hope i get one. I'm now starting to get hungry a lot faster then i was last week. I'm staying on my diet(about 1000cal) but it's getting hard. We will see. I just need to get past this weekend.

See if you can get a fill quicker....it sounds like you need it! Don't worry the band works but you just have to tweek it until you find the right amount of juice!

Good luck

Now i need a fill. I go on Monday and hope i get one. I'm now starting to get hungry a lot faster then i was last week. I'm staying on my diet(about 1000cal) but it's getting hard. We will see. I just need to get past this weekend.

We were banded on the same day! Am I correct in saying that you are consuming 1000/day? How are you doing it? I am literally stuffing myself and drinking myself waterlogged and I am hovering around 500/day. Please, let me know what you are doing! I can't work out much more than about 20 min at 2.5 mph on my treadmill before I'm exhausted! I do light house cleaning and I'm done! I can't function on just 500 cal/day, but I don't know how to change it!~

Amy

I was having a hard time getting 1000Cal and 60G of protein then i started adding shakes from EAS or Met-Rx they both add about 250-350/day and have anywhere from 25-35g of protein. I just have one a day plus what i was eating at 700 and i feel better.

I go Friday, February 15th for my second fill. I liked being on the liquid/mushie/pureed meal plan. Trying to get in solid proteins have been more difficult than I thought it would be and I am feeling more hungry now. I have 4cc's in a 10cc band.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news guys, but I think we're offcially in bandster hell. At one point I actually felt that I wasted my money. I lost about 19lbs on the liquids, then started to eat solids and gained back about 6. The scale went down everyday and then began to rise just as fast. But I've been reading around and realize that this stage will pass and soon we'll be giving someone advice about how we coped. I can comfortably eat about 12 oz of anything. My scale broke because of overuse LOL. I think its a good thing though. My clothes fit better and my face is so much prettier. I am not tooting my own horn here, people tell me that all the time. Some think its a new hairdo or whatever, but I know it's the weightloss.

Anyways I was scheduled for a fill last week because I was desperate, however the dr. is out of town so I have to wait until he gets back. I have realised that i still do have restriction and even though the scale was not moving in the right direction I feel 'slimmer'. When I buy food my children and husband share with me, whereas before they would not even bother to ask. I am thankful... 12oz is far better than 32!

Let's be thankful and be happy about our small accomplishments. Here's to being positive about our bands!

I read on another website that just as you start to feel better from the surgery, you hit a wall. Exactly what all of you are describing. The explanation was it takes about 2 weeks for your body to figure out how to convert the fat for its caloric needs, so it sounds like you are all on track, just doesn't feel like it. Congrats on the success of the ops.

Congrats on sticking to the diet rules even though you are hungry. I had my surgery 12/26 and had my first fill a week ago...I was starving prior to the fill but just like you stuck to it and was watching the clock until it was time for the next "meal." The fill helped a little, but I'm still hungry...I go for my 2nd fill next Fri and I suspect it will get better little by little. In the mean time I don't want to sabotage myself by allowing myself to eat so I'm staying strong! I truly feel that I haven't lost any weight because of the band...I've lost weight because I'm dieting and have had excellent willpower...I'll be grateful the band is there if I should ever waver or faulter...but I feel that so far it's been all me (and that's kind of empowering!). Keep up the willpower and try to use distraction, fluids, or an extra protein snack if you really have to, but don't turn to foods not on your diet...it's not worth it!

Thanks. It certainly helps to hear it from multiple sources. It makes it easier to stay on track while the scale is not moving!

I was retaining Water all week, and I broke down and bought a scale, it showed I gained 2 pounds. All of sudden today, the dam broke so to speak and after drinking Irish Breakfast Tea, full caffeine, I was in the bathroom 8 times today. Got on the scale tonite, and I am back down 1.5 pounds, so I will probably break even back to last Monday's weight.

I was waiting for the band to tell me I was eating too much, and it hasn't. I feel like I am eating too much, but maybe I am not. I swear, getting in solid Protein is much more difficult than I thought. I thought I would have problems with the liquid/pureed phase, and I went through that fine.

I have a fill coming up on the 15th and I would be happy with a 1-2 pound a week loss. I am not looking for more. Its been 6 weeks since my surgery and I am down 5 lbs.

It has been about 6 wks since my surgery and I gain and lose the same 2 pounds. I will be glad when they are off for good. I go in for a fill on the 18th and boy do I need it. I get so hungry in between meals. Up until last week I was sticking to my 3 meals and that was it, but now I am so hungry I can hardly stand it! My stomach growls all the time, too! It can get so embarassing and my whole family laughs! And this too, shall pass......lol!

I do agree that the solids are much harder than the liquid/puree to get in. I have measured every single thing that has gone into my mouth, but still cannot lose on solids! I am going to try some tea tonight and see if it helps.

I do not feel as full as I did the first month. I had to reschedule my fill for 2/26 and I wish I could get it sooner.

Good Luck!