Dear experienced banders:

Help!!!!I know I am supposed to be patient, I know I am supposed to show control, I know I am supposed to work with the band, but cummON!!! I get so hungry I want to cry!!! ( And some times I do) :thumbup:

I thought the hunger would be a thing of the past, that I could slowly eat my 4 ounce high Protein, lo carb healthy meal, and not be hungry again for 4-5 hours, all the while loosing 1-2 pounds a week. NOT HAPPENING!!! I am VERY HUNGRY two hours after breakfast(2 eggs and two veggie sausage patties) no Fluid for an hour after eating, and again after lunch (lean cuisine something) Stomach growling hungry. Get out of my way I need to eat something NOW hungry.

And after the initial weight I lost after the first two weeks after surgery (5 pounds), I have not lost one ounce more. I am 2 months post surgery. :eek: I have had two fills, and am able to easily eat way more than 4 ounces without having any golf ball pains, or PB's. In fact, the only time I had the mid chest pain was when I waited way too long to eat after being hungry (4 hours) and I scarfed down a big bite of a sushi roll. So I know I have some restriction. But obviously not enough to hold the food I am eating in the pouch long enough to keep me satisfied. Will it ever get better, or am I going to be one of the failures?

My lower stomach-the one that growls, doesnt seem to know the rules. Does anyone have any tricks to help? Any foods to make the hunger go away for another hour? (My doc says three meals a day, and no snacking) I have tried drinking hot tea, cold Water, eating pickles, etc., but my stomach is not fooled. It wants to be fed every 2-3 hours during the day. (Nights don't seem to be as much of a problem)

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Kefirchick

It just sounds to me like you have not yet reached proper restriction. Sometimes it takes many fills and many months to reach that point. When are you scheduled for your next fill? Maybe you need to move it up.

Also, are you making sure you get in plenty of Protein? Protein really does help curb hunger. And, drink plenty of Water between meals as well.

Thanks Susan: I am getting plenty of protein-doc even suggested that I may need to eat less(!!) to loose weight. Not what I wanted to hear. Seeing him again tomorrow, and am scheduled for the third fill in 3 weeks. This interim time is just so damn hard. Hunger has always driven my weight problem, and been the reason I quit dieting before I reach my goal. I get to a point where I just can't do it any more. And I feel like I am getting pretty close to that now. Just hoping someone out there in Band land had some ideas to control the hunger until the correct restriction occurs.

Hi Jack-

I do recognize satiety, and I experience it after eating a small meal. If I eat my 4 ounce high Protein meal, I can lay down my fork, and say "fine" I am satiated. I am no longer hungry. And believe me, I am happy as a pig in s**t after I eat.

But two to three hours later, my hunger reappears with a vengence. Just like a full bladder. It tells me to take care of it NOW, or there is going to be an accident.

I can temporarily wipe out my hunger with phentermine, but I don't like the side effects that go with that drug. Plus, even phentermine slowly looses its effectiveness after a few months.

It is the sensation of hunger that drives me crazy. And the longer I am hungry, the more intolerable it becomes. Doesn't matter if I am under stress, or just hanging out having a pleasant day. Once I get hungry, I am miserable until I get something to eat. (High protein diets keep me more satisfied than Hi carb diets, but I even got hungry when I was mildly ketotic on Adkins!! Go figure.) That is why I took the plunge with the band. From what I read, people are successful because they are no longer hungry. Seemed like the answer to my prayers. I know. I know. Man plans. God laughs. Arrrrrgh!

kefirchick

Protein drinks (ISOPURE from GNC) and sometimes a protein shake help me. The ISOPURE seems to work the best.. and also adds 40g of protein and 20 oz. of water to my day. It's kind of expensive, but often goes on sale. After a while (it can take 3 months or so for some people).. the feelings of hunger and needing to eat immediately are often replaced by just a nagging slight pain that isn't so associated with eating. I know that that is what I have started experiencing. I only have really really hungry days about once a week now, as opposed to 7 days a week pre-op.

Thanks WCFG!

Initially, I drank something called muscle milk(34 g protein), but it had 17 grams of carbs, and I really didn't think I needed them. My preferred drink is to make a healthy smoothy with kefir (I ferment this myself from low fat milk) to which I add whey Protein, and all the liquid and powder supplements needed (Benefiber and FOS) to keep my innards running smoothly.

I will check out Isopure manaña. Maybe I can use it as a snack. However my doc discourages Snacks and too many liquid calories! He is very strict-worse than my mother ha ha! But worth a try. Thank you! I will let you know if it works for me.

kefirchick

Dear experienced banders:

Help!!!!I know I am supposed to be patient, I know I am supposed to show control, I know I am supposed to work with the band, but cummON!!! I get so hungry I want to cry!!! ( And some times I do)

I thought the hunger would be a thing of the past, that I could slowly eat my 4 ounce high Protein, lo carb healthy meal, and not be hungry again for 4-5 hours, all the while loosing 1-2 pounds a week. NOT HAPPENING!!! I am VERY HUNGRY two hours after breakfast(2 eggs and two veggie sausage patties) no Fluid for an hour after eating, and again after lunch (lean cuisine something) Stomach growling hungry. Get out of my way I need to eat something NOW hungry.

And after the initial weight I lost after the first two weeks after surgery (5 pounds), I have not lost one ounce more. I am 2 months post surgery. :eek: I have had two fills, and am able to easily eat way more than 4 ounces without having any golf ball pains, or PB's. In fact, the only time I had the mid chest pain was when I waited way too long to eat after being hungry (4 hours) and I scarfed down a big bite of a sushi roll. So I know I have some restriction. But obviously not enough to hold the food I am eating in the pouch long enough to keep me satisfied. Will it ever get better, or am I going to be one of the failures?

My lower stomach-the one that growls, doesnt seem to know the rules. Does anyone have any tricks to help? Any foods to make the hunger go away for another hour? (My doc says three meals a day, and no snacking) I have tried drinking hot tea, cold Water, eating pickles, etc., but my stomach is not fooled. It wants to be fed every 2-3 hours during the day. (Nights don't seem to be as much of a problem)

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Kefirchick

How many calories does your surgeon have you sticking to? We are permitted to have between 800 and 1200 per day. It sounds like you need to add more protein and more Fiber to your diet. Try adding a Special K Protein water to your day - 5 grams of protein and 50 calories and a Fiber One Bar(the oat chocolate ones are delicious) - 9 grams of Fiber and 140 calories. The surgeon does not want you to get used to grazing that is why he probably shys away from Snacks. If your not losing than it might be that you are lacking protein. Hope this helps you!

shelli:regular_smile:

Okay, I know this is NOT what the doctor ordered, but I snack. I keep the 100 calorie bags of popcorn around, and the Quaker multigrain rice cakes, and have one when the urge hits me. I watch my daily calorie intake and keep below 1200 per day at all times and usually I'm below 1000. I can't eat much at once, but I do like my Snacks. I've been losing about 10 lb per month since I was banded in October. I am never really hungry.

Sometimes I think you just have to do what works for YOU.

Yep - I snack too if I get hungry!! Otherwise I have a harder time controlling myself when I DO get to eat that I immediately get the golfball feeling or PB after a few bites.

I love the 100cal popcorn bags, pretzels, nuts - whatever works. And just enough to calm the tummy. If I eat too much as a snack I won't be able to eat my next meal.

Good luck to you - you can make it through this time

{{hugs}}

wombat

I keep yogurt and 100 calorie packs and things like that around. Yogurt is often my breakfast, but I also use it for a snack. As long as you keep your calories in check you might consider the 6 smaller meals a day approach. I think we need to listen to our doctors, but I also think we need to consider that our doctors have 1 plan or 1 set of rules, and we are all different people.

I eat 5-6 small meals a day. I just keep it to 1500 calories or less. I find that I lose weight better this way because it fuels my metabolism.

My doc prescribed 3 meals no snacks but he is slowly coming around to the idea a more meals through the day. If you do 3 meals you aren't gettinig ENOUGH calories and the body is going into starvation mode especially if you are exercising. Try it.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Saw the doc today, and he said that I could eat small snacks as long as I keep my calories at no more than 1000 per day. But NO popcorn or pretzels :-(. Just the healthy stuff. (I am actually afraid of popcorn, even though it has always been a favorite food of mine) So yogurt it is. Good thing I like it plain-but only Fage for me. Expensive, but worth it.

And I did manage to find the Isopure-WOW. Talk about pricey! I have bought martinis for less than that stuff. But I bough 4 bottles, and will take them to work. Lots of protein for very few calories. I just hope it tastes and smells ok. Thanks for the recommendations!

And here is a pearl for everyone that I have known about for ages, but no one around me seems to have ever heard of. If you get the hiccups, eat a few green olives. Works like a charm!

Thanks again!

kefirchick

Thanks everyone for your input.

Saw the doc today, and he said that I could eat small Snacks as long as I keep my calories at no more than 1000 per day. But NO popcorn or pretzels :-(. Just the healthy stuff. (I am actually afraid of popcorn, even though it has always been a favorite food of mine) So yogurt it is. Good thing I like it plain-but only Fage for me. Expensive, but worth it.

And I did manage to find the Isopure-WOW. Talk about pricey! I have bought martinis for less than that stuff. But I bough 4 bottles, and will take them to work. Lots of Protein for very few calories. I just hope it tastes and smells ok. Thanks for the recommendations!

And here is a pearl for everyone that I have known about for ages, but no one around me seems to have ever heard of. If you get the hiccups, eat a few green olives. Works like a charm!

Thanks again!

kefirchick

I forgot to warn you about something with the Isopure. The taste is just slightly different from what you expect it to be. It's not bad.. it just takes some getting used to. For instance, the Grape Frost smells like grape... but the taste when you first are adjusting to it doesn't taste as grapey as it smells. The good news... after your first couple of bottles, your taste adjusts and it actually tastes pretty good. I must warn you, though, that the apple-melon is really really melony in a weird way. I still have 5 more bottles of that to cough down. Surprisingly, my favorite is the pineapple-orange. Oh, another tip.. drink it very very cold. It tastes best that way... and don't nurse it too long to let it warm up. There. I've made it sound probably far worse than it is. You'll probably open your first one and wonder what the heck is wrong with me.

It really is a great way to get 40g of protein in one shot. Although, I wish for the money that I could get the same amount of protein in a martini! :smile2:

Hi WCFG!

Thanks for the warning! I SO can't wait to try my Isopure drink tomorrow......:wink2:. I bought one called orange blast, and one called punch something. Didn't see the grape, or I probably would have bought it too. I passed up the apple melon one-maybe that was a good thing ha ha.

And dividing my calories into 4 meals helped diminish my hunger somewhat. I don't know why my doc has been so adamant about the 3 meals only and no snacking rule. Maybe he can do that, but not me.

BTW: Congratulations on the 38 pounds-very impressive. :scared2:

Seems you need more fills! I've had five fills and I'm still not at restriction. It's a gradual process and we just have to be patient. Trust me, I know how hard this is. I am struggling with this myself right now.

do you have another fill appt scheduled?

I forgot to warn you about something with the Isopure. The taste is just slightly different from what you expect it to be. It's not bad.. it just takes some getting used to. For instance, the Grape Frost smells like grape... but the taste when you first are adjusting to it doesn't taste as grapey as it smells. The good news... after your first couple of bottles, your taste adjusts and it actually tastes pretty good. I must warn you, though, that the apple-melon is really really melony in a weird way. I still have 5 more bottles of that to cough down. Surprisingly, my favorite is the pineapple-orange. Oh, another tip.. drink it very very cold. It tastes best that way... and don't nurse it too long to let it warm up. There. I've made it sound probably far worse than it is. You'll probably open your first one and wonder what the heck is wrong with me.

It really is a great way to get 40g of Protein in one shot. Although, I wish for the money that I could get the same amount of protein in a martini! :wink2:

Dear WCFG: Thank you so much for the Isopure tip. I tried the Orange flavor today at work, very chilled and over ice as you recommended. Odd aftertaste, but not bad. Not bad at all! And it did seem to take the edge off my hunger. At least I made it a whole 4 hours before the hunger beast attacked!:biggrin: