I was banded on Monday 1/26 and just started on Mushy Foods on Wednesday, but I think I'm eating too much. I'm not hungry, but I'm able to eat more than I expected. I had yogurt for Breakfast, a can of tuna with low fat mayo made in the food processor to make it extra creamy / mushy and since I've been home from work today I've had fat-free refried Beans w/ a little low fat sour cream, 2 pieces of gefilte fish and some sherbert. I'm not hungry now, but I didn't get any signs that I was full or can't eat more. I thought I was supposed to feel full after only eating a little. Is this because my band's not tight yet? I have my first fill at the end of the month. Or is this because mushy foods are supposed to go down easily?

PLEASE let me know your experiences.

Congratulations! You are off to a great start!

I've seen it pointed out before, and I believe it to be true, that we, as overweight people, mistake "stuffed" for "full". Having said that, since you are only 2 weeks post-op and have not had a fill, it is quite normal for you not to fill full yet. You said you are not hungry - THAT is what you are looking for, even more than being full. As you move to solid foods, you will find that they fill you up faster and stay with you longer. The mushies that you are eating will move through your pouch fairly easily. But solid Proteins and appropriate vegetables, fruits and grains, when you are okayed to eat them, are going to be your friends. Sherbet, unless it is low-calorie, is definitely going to be something you will want to cut out or limit severely. It is one of those "slider" foods - high carb, high sugar things that slip oh-so easily through the band.

For the time being, follow the plan your doctor gave you, only eating the amounts recommended, regardless of whether you feel you can eat more or not. Keep notes for yourself about how long it is before you feel hungry again, and be on the lookout for head hunger. When I first started solid foods I would eat the amounts on the plan my nutritionist gave me. On the first evening I finished my meal and noticed that it had satisfied my physical hunger. But I still wanted MORE! That's the part the band isn't going to be much help with. But that's why we are all here on LBT - to help each other with the tough parts!

I may could've eaten more after my surgery, I'm not sure, because I didn't try. I fixed the recommended amount of 1/4-1/2 c of food, ate it very slowly and "chewed" even though it was mushy, and realized when I finished that I was satisfied. I probably could've eaten more, but I didn't. I know from experience that I will normally eat whatever I put on my plate, so I put on my plate what I was supposed to eat. It has been enough every time.

Now, almost 7 months after banding I eat around a cup of food at a time. For example, when I eat pizza, I eat 1 slice of a medium. For dinner tonight, I had two small chicken fingers and 6 French fries. I am more than satisfied, I am FULL! I should've skipped the fries completely.

What guidelines for amounts did your surgeon give you for the mushy stage? You may want to fix that amount and try eating it slowly. You may realize that it is enough to satisfy you. Remember, you want to feel satisfied, not really full. Full isn't very fun after being banded.:confused:

hi - i'm with you... totally know how you feel. i was banded in december, and until my first fill, i would have sworn to you that i didn't have anything there at all. In fact, the week before my first fill I had a massive chinese dinner. The only way that I lost weight during that time was to diet like I normally did before the band.

Now I've had my first fill, I'm still not restricted at all, but as the ladies above say, I feel full for longer and my hunger isn't as....urgent. Just live through the next few weeks and wait until you get filled.

s

Thanks so much for posting, and to the rest of you for all the feedback. I am in this EXACT situation (in fact, I logged on just now because I have been really stressed out, worrying about eating too much--I'm one week post op). After days of having no appetite at all, I'm depressed to be feeling hunger again--I almost feel guilty about it.

Thanks for the responses. I didn't eat anymore after posting because I wasn't hungry (not because I couldnt). I feel a little better to know I'm not alone.

They call it bandster hell because your band is in but it's not really working correctly until you get a fill. Most people don't really get help from their bands even with the first fill either.

You won't feel full from just eating a little bit until you have enough fill in there to provide restriction.

I am in the same situation, I was banded on 12/18 and am able to eat way too much. At first I was eating just a cup of food but then I slowly found that I could eat more and more. I guess I don't know the "full" feeling yet becasue I have always eaten to "stuffed". I have had one fill but honestly have felt no difference. I am going for a fill on 2/17 and am hoping for some restriction to control myself!

You know, the thing about it is you do not have much restriction in the first couple of months. It is better think that you do, and get used to eating less (i.e. eating only a cup of food)--as well as--reading the signals that you are satisfied. Because when they start to tighten the band, then you will have less problems of PB, vomiting, etc.

I read some of the earlier comments, and I agree that it is mostly a Head fake. Your head tells you that you want more, when your pouch is already full. And, for me it is hard, because I like the taste of food. You really have to learn to chew and savor your food longer (in your mouth), so that your head does not say "more, more, more."

during my mushy stage I was supposed to have 1/4 to 1/3 C at a time, and I was supposed to eat 3 meals a day.