I'm due to be banded Jan 22nd and I have a question for the veterans. How long do you go between meals? For example my wife and I generally eat dinner at 5:00 PM, by 8:30 to 9:00 PM (pre-band) I've starving and have found this to be a time when I'm in danger of "raiding the pantry". I'm hoping that with the band I will still feel full and not interested in getting more to eat. What time do you have breakfast so that you're not tempted to snack before lunch etc. I know everyone is different, however I am interested in some of the experiences out there. Additionally, what I have read about being banded has indicated that you shouldn't snack, i.e. 3 meals a day and that's it.

I am new banster, but I just wanted to tell you how I handle meals and Snacks. As you know EVERYONE is different and everyone has different doctor recommendations. I have three meals a day, and try to have two snacks. Most of the time I only have one snack a day though. Eating five times a day is what my doctor recommended, I dont need the snacks though. I try to use the snacks, when I have one, to add in more Protein to my diet. I am always trying to get more protein. Tomorrow I am three weeks post-op, and I do not feel hunger like I used to. So I do not have a problem with wanting to raid the pantry :thumbup:.

Breakfast- 7:00

Snack- 9:00 (usually skip this one)

Lunch- 11:30

Snack- 3:00

Dinner- 5:30 or 6:00

Good luck with all you do! Happy holidays!

Different doctors have different meal plans. Mine is three 1/2 cup meals/day and one healthy snack.

I eat breakfast sometime after 9 am. lunch around 1 pm and dinner after 6 pm. Snack around 9 pm. I do better if I can delay my meals because, like you, I tend to get hungrier in the evening.

I am on a three meal, two snack plan. I too use the Snacks to add Protein. I was bumped up to 1100-1200 calories a day and 80 grams of protein. I find it hard to get in all the protein, so I use the snacks to get that extra protein in!

The SB Meal bars a good chice for protein and a great afternoon snack. I try to not eat after 7:00pm - I used to be in the habit of eating ice cream, Cookies, etc every evening. The band helped me break that habit, but I still have to work at not eating in the evening - most of it is head hunger, not real hunger.

I just had my 4th fill and I am finally having true restriction and able to eat 1/2 cup meals and be full for 3 hours. Definitely, drinking between meals helps!

I find my band doesnt prevent hunger, in fact I get hungrier than before.

That sounds alarming but its really only because before a meal may have been 750 calories and that woudl stick for quite a while, and I also wasnt doing anything much but pottering round the house, a bit of shopping, etc.

Nowadays I might fit in 200 or 300 calories for a meal and I've normally run 10kms and been very active during my day. So I need fuel and its not surprising that my body tells me so.

So even though early on I was like others and had to remind myself to eat, as I've gotten more restriction and eat less at a time, I tend to get physically hungry every 3 or 4 hours or so during the day, so I eat breakfast, lunch and 2 Snacks. At about 5 pm my appetite switches OFF. I could care less about eating dinner most nights, and I dont feel the urge to snack at night - but I was NEVER a night time eater, my pattern has always been to eat a lot in the earlier part of the day and then stop.

I dont see a problem - I eat when I'm hungry, just a little, until I'm not hungry anymore and then I dont think about food again until I am hungry again. Its way better than stuffing food down my gob all day anyway, hungry or not. the band is a huge help in that once i eat, I'm satisfied, I dont have that feeling that I'd like just a little bit of this or that etc. I stop, I dont do all the mindless eating.

I had my second fill December 10. I was able to go without food, not feeling hungry for 6-7 hours with this fill.

Today (two-weeks later), I eat and then feel hungry 4-hours later. This is still great for me, because I am not grazing. I really feel satisified with the meal.

My next fill is on January 14, three weeks away.

3 meals only doesn't sound to good to me.

I was told six small (half cup) meals or 3 meals and 2 Snacks. both with Water in between.

so far though I haven't followed much of any schedule with my all liquid diet. I need to get on it though.

I had my second fill December 10. I was able to go without food, not feeling hungry for 6-7 hours with this fill.

Today (two-weeks later), I eat and then feel hungry 4-hours later. This is still great for me, because I am not grazing. I really feel satisified with the meal.

My next fill is on January 14, three weeks away.

You are very lucky - I hope I feel that way after my fills.

With good restriction I am good for 4 hours or maybe a little more.

You will probably not have that at first. You may want to build in a small band friendly snack at that time that fits your diet plan.

One other thing, when you are hungry post banding, you are HUNGRYYY, at least it is that way for me. I have to be careful sometimes in that when I finally have the urge to eat, I can sometimes eat too fast because I am overly hungry. Instead of hunger creeping up on me, it is just there in full force.

i'm hungry every 3-5hrs - a LOT depends on what i ate at my previous meal & how hard did i work out.

for the last 6+ months i have eaten 3 meals plus 1 or 2 snacks a day.

I eat when I'm starting to get hungry - at this point, it's usually 3 times a day as each meal lasts me at least 4 hours.

My surgeon's instructions have always been 'eat when hungry' and he doesn't prescribe 3 or 4 or 5 set meals/snacks. I think most Aussie Drs do this.

I exercise at night (35-40kms on a spin bike three times a week) but my body seems to be happy on what I'm eating because I'm not needing more food than I'm having at the moment to sustain the exercise.

I eat when I'm starting to get hungry - at this point, it's usually 3 times a day as each meal lasts me at least 4 hours.

My surgeon's instructions have always been 'eat when hungry' and he doesn't prescribe 3 or 4 or 5 set meals/snacks. I think most Aussie Drs do this.

I have to agree completely. I might have 4 hours in between but after being banded for such a long time, I eat when I am hungry. Sometime 3, 4 or 5 times a day. I still lose weight but don't stay hungry this way.

My doctor told me to eat ever 3-4 hours waking hours, whether I am hungry or not. I eat a cup size portion at each sitting.

I'm due to be banded Jan 22nd and I have a question for the veterans. How long do you go between meals? For example my wife and I generally eat dinner at 5:00 PM, by 8:30 to 9:00 PM (pre-band) I've starving and have found this to be a time when I'm in danger of "raiding the pantry". I'm hoping that with the band I will still feel full and not interested in getting more to eat. What time do you have breakfast so that you're not tempted to snack before lunch etc. I know everyone is different, however I am interested in some of the experiences out there. Additionally, what I have read about being banded has indicated that you shouldn't snack, i.e. 3 meals a day and that's it.

Every 2-3 hours as needed when hungry.