I am new to this whole thing, so pardon me if I am asking dumb questions. My surgical eval is 4/14 . . . but in the meantime, I'm excited, nervous, excited, scared, excited . . . did I mention excited?

I know that the band controls "stomach" hunger and it gives you the sensation of being full on normal/smaller portions of food.

But I know that with every "diet" I've ever been on, I've felt hungry in more ways than just with my stomach . . . I get headaches, I get shaky, I get irritable. Do you get this when you are eating less with the band?

I just look at my portions now and I'm questioning how it is EVEN possible to mentally feel full after eating so little.

I guess my other question, too, is what size portions do you eat? I hear an awful lot of talk about 2-3 ounces of food . . . I have twin babies and their baby food jars come in 4 ounces and 6 ounces! :tongue: Makes me nervous!

Thank you in advance.

This place is extremely helpful!

I don't have symptoms such as you described. I find the band mostly helps me to not really be hungry at all. If I haven't eaten for 4 or 5 hours, or conversely if I am quite full, I tend to get a sore shoulder (the same aching pain that people get after surgery that is associated with gas). I do still have "head hunger" though. Head hunger hits me in the evening, right after I eat dinner (traditionally the time I always started to eat uncontrollably). I know I am full, but I still have the urge to look for something more to eat. If I am able to distract myself for about 1/2 hour, I am fine. I do plan for 1 or even 2 evening Snacks (usually under 100 calories each), just in case I am actually hungry. I do usually have one snack about 9:00 pm.

How much you can eat is variable and depends a lot on your level of restriction. I am not overly restricted (I can eat anything as long I really chew), which I am VERY happy with, since I am not hungry but I can still control my portions. I have a fill of 7 cc's in a 10 cc band (got 3 cc's at the time of surgery, 3 more cc's in November and 1 more cc at the beginning of March).

I can eat 1 package of instant oatmeal for Breakfast, about 2 oz of Protein (lunch meat or cheese or 1/2 c of cottage cheese) plus some carbs (crackers, bread) and veggies or fruit (1 piece) for lunch, a small yogurt for afternoon snack and for dinner I usually eat 2-4 oz of protein and 1/2 to 1 cup of veggies. A three oz piece of meat is about the size of a deck of cards (or the palm of your hand). Occasionally I have Pasta or potato with dinner, but not too often. My evening snack is often a 100 calorie pack of something (I usually go for the popcorn), 1 or 2 turkey pepperoni sticks (45 calories each) or a sugar free pudding (60-90 calories each). I usually end up around 1000 calories per day.

I hope this helps . Good luck!

Thank you soooooo much for your response. I see that you have lost 107 pounds . . . WOW! Good for you!!!

-shawna

I don't have symptoms such as you described. I find the band mostly helps me to not really be hungry at all. If I haven't eaten for 4 or 5 hours, or conversely if I am quite full, I tend to get a sore shoulder (the same aching pain that people get after surgery that is associated with gas). I do still have "head hunger" though. Head hunger hits me in the evening, right after I eat dinner (traditionally the time I always started to eat uncontrollably). I know I am full, but I still have the urge to look for something more to eat. If I am able to distract myself for about 1/2 hour, I am fine. I do plan for 1 or even 2 evening Snacks (usually under 100 calories each), just in case I am actually hungry. I do usually have one snack about 9:00 pm.

How much you can eat is variable and depends a lot on your level of restriction. I am not overly restricted (I can eat anything as long I really chew), which I am VERY happy with, since I am not hungry but I can still control my portions. I have a fill of 7 cc's in a 10 cc band (got 3 cc's at the time of surgery, 3 more cc's in November and 1 more cc at the beginning of March).

I can eat 1 package of instant oatmeal for breakfast, about 2 oz of Protein (lunch meat or cheese or 1/2 c of cottage cheese) plus some carbs (crackers, bread) and veggies or fruit (1 piece) for lunch, a small yogurt for afternoon snack and for dinner I usually eat 2-4 oz of protein and 1/2 to 1 cup of veggies. A three oz piece of meat is about the size of a deck of cards (or the palm of your hand). Occasionally I have Pasta or potato with dinner, but not too often. My evening snack is often a 100 calorie pack of something (I usually go for the popcorn), 1 or 2 turkey pepperoni sticks (45 calories each) or a sugar free pudding (60-90 calories each). I usually end up around 1000 calories per day.

I hope this helps :regular_smile:. Good luck!

This is excellent info:thumbup::biggrin::thumbup::frown::thumbup: