First, I'll make some bold statements here. I'm looking for advice as well. That being said, if I need to be corrected, please dont hesitate.

SO....I'm 3 weeks out of surgery today. I'm down 18 pounds since surgery, 34 as of 8/1. I'm happy with that.

I've been reading a lot about Bandster hell. This is the period of time where you're healed, have little restriction, transition to mushy then solid, and stop losing, or even gain a little. All waiting for your first fill....

Well, I'm not down with that. Maybe it's all a headgame, I'm thinking. I've decided that I need to come up with a strategy of transitioning to solid food, while exercising and at least staying the same weight...BUT I WILL NOT GAIN.

So I post this to ask for advice, or to hear from more experienced people regarding this dark time for so many. Am I nuts? Will a slower transition to solids ensure a better hell period? I'm not sure...I'll speak to the doctor at my next appointment.

I don't want bandster hell to be an excuse for BAD food choices, or kidding myself into thinking McDonalds shakes are good for me.....

Thanks EVERYONE....couldnt be doing this without all of you!

Bill:tongue2:

I was banded on 8/20 and go for my first fill tomorrow. I am down 23 lbs since surgery. I have not experienced Bandster Hell.

I followed my doctor's directions to the tee, track my Protein and calories and have not had an issue.

Drink the fluids, eat only every 3-4 hours -- works for me.

Now, it may get tougher as I go from fill to fill, but the initial period has been a honeymoon phase for me.

(Maybe because I have to drink liquid potassium and I stretch that out during the day. You will not be hungry after that wretched stuf.)

I'm right there with you! I was banded 8/24 so I'm 3 1/2 weeks out. I'm starting to eat real food and have no restriction yet. I'm scheduled to see my Dr. 10/2 and he'll decide at that time if I get my 1st fill. I want a fill!

In the mean while I'm treating this as though I'm on a strict diet. I'm weighing & measuring my portions. And I'm documenting everything I eat with an iPhone app called Lose It!. I've never done either of those things before but I'm really finding it helpful. Its really helps keep me focus and within the boundries I've set myself.

I also refuse to go back. I spent WAY too much on this - and it is too important to my life.

Good luck getting through this time. Hopefully once we get filled and have restriction it will become a little easier.

Bill, first thing, you are doing the right thing -- asking for help and refusing to give in! Pat yourself on the back for that! Second, not everyone gains during bandster hell. In fact, most people just go through a slow down in weight loss or a plateau. Don't give yourself *any* excuse for a milkshake. That was one thing my surgeon was adamant about before I had surgery -- I had to say goodbye to milkshakes and ice cream because he saw too many people gain back their weight due to ice cream. It is easy to get down (slider food), tastes so good, but is so full of fat and empty calories. It's just not worth it. :drool:

You will get through Bandster Hell. You got through the awful liquid diet right before surgery, right? And the liquids and mushies afterward, right? Now it is time to move on to solids. Follow your surgeon's advice. S/he knows what is best. And be sure to exercise as much as you can. It won't be long before you get your first fill, and then the weight will really drop and you'll be so glad you didn't give in to the ice cream. Don't sabatoge yourself -- especially this early on!

Also, you may want to start tracking your food, Water, exercise, and weight on a free online tracker such as Daily Plate. It's easy to use and really helps you get a good grasp on what you're eating every day.

And come on here for support! Most of us have gone through it and many are currently going through it. We will help you day by day if you need it. Just hang in there!!!

Good luck!!!

I hear ya! My 'bandster hell' period was not really hellish, it was just a learning curve, not easy, but not hell either. And, I did NOT gain any weight during that time. I don't think gaining is a given, but I can see how it can happen.

I agree with the previous responses about tracking your food. I credit my use of 'lose it' on my iphone and sparkpeople onlne for keeping me accountable and keeping me from getting careless and gaining. I've loved my band since day one and did not get my first fill until almost 4 months after being banded. You've got a great attitude about it, and I believe you will do great!

I went through Bandster Discomfort. When I transitioned to solids, I at less than I would have pre-op. I was hungry a lot, and I think that's what trips up some people. I lost weight during that period, but it was as tough as when I was on other "diets." I had my first fill and restriction kicked in about a week later and not I have to be careful to not eat too much.

You sound like you've got the attitude to sail right through it. Good luck!

Most people go through Bandster Hell, i did but i did not gain through it. I have never gained although i have stayed the same weight for long periods. Just because you are hungry does not mean that you have to eat McDonalds just try to make sensible food choices. If you stick to that philosophy then even IF you do slip up occassionally it should not be enough to gain.

Good Luck!

I gained and lost the same couple of pounds at least twice but never got on the doc's scale with a gain. But it was VERY frustrating to have the band and not see pounds falling away steadily.

I went through a little hell,but i refused to give in and eat what made me fat to begin with, I have kept the mind set that I didnt go through all this to end up messing up and eating what i shouldnt.I will admit it isnt always easy,i have lost very slowlyyyyy! and get frustrated sometimes about it but i am so happy for the weight i have lost so far.just keep in mind it will pass. i think i went through more of a mourning of food than bandster hell ,food was my comfort all my life so for it to be taken away from me was traumatic at first...best wishes!

I agree with all that talk of tracking. I have not had my 1st fill yet either, just 2 weeks post op but I think tracking helped me SO much pre op and is now.

I use the livestrong site./ my plate. It's slow but it's wonderful. It tracks the nutrition but also water, excersise (and the excersise has everything you could imagine on there- and it goes by YOUR weight... not some silly graph on a piece of equipment). Another thing, it has a diary on each day as well... so you can journal at the same time so if you slip, you can track it to a mood or stressor.:thumbup:

Oh for the love of Pete that liquid potassium is the worst thing known to mankind. So sorry anyone would have to endure that. As you can tell, I, myself had to drink it too.....more awful than anything imaginable!!! No joke, really really bad

I think the hardest part, and the part which made it hellish (for me anyway) was that the weight came off so quickly at first (especially while on liquids). Then weight loss slows (to a healthier pace) and for me, I was so used to getting on the scale and watching it consistently go down that it was hard to stall out. I didn't gain, I was real careful about my food choices and serving sizes but it took A LOT of will power and I stayed the same weight for about 4 weeks. I think if you are aware that it may come you are already better off. If you get stuck in hell, start a new thread, we are here to help each other! Good luck Angie :thumbup:

I went through a little hell,but i refused to give in and eat what made me fat to begin with, I have kept the mind set that I didnt go through all this to end up messing up and eating what i shouldnt.I will admit it isnt always easy,i have lost very slowlyyyyy! and get frustrated sometimes about it but i am so happy for the weight i have lost so far.just keep in mind it will pass. i think i went through more of a mourning of food than bandster hell ,food was my comfort all my life so for it to be taken away from me was traumatic at first...best wishes!

Yep, you hit the nail right on the head. A mourning period for my comfort foods is exactly what I've been going through... still am to some extent. I hadn't found the words for it until you just gave them to me. Thank you!

Hello, I am living in BANDSTER HELL as we speak. I am 5 weeks post op and I am not only starving, I am gaining weight slowly but surely. I have gained 4 lbs. in 2 weeks that I have been on foods and I have to say that it is the most discouraging thing I have ever been through. I am walking every day, feeling stronger, but my eating is not what it should be, I know that. I have been on every diet on the universe! I don't have an appointment yet for my first fill but I am going to do that soon. I have lost 40 lbs. since July 9th, with 20 of that being after surgery. So, I am not doing too bad but it has been hard to say the least. I cannot tolerate any protein drinks. Just the smell makes me heave and I am not doing that to myself. So I am just dealing with things the best I can and hopefully after my fill things will get better. Every one is different and maybe you won't experience what I have. Best of luck. Lori

I am thinking the same thing. I am going to go back to Atkins Phase one. I know I will still loose weight. I know it works if you just have meat and keep the rest under 20 carbs.

Don't want to discount anyone's bandster hell experience, as I am sure for some it is a real physical insatiable hunger. But, I am inclined to think a big part of it is mental.

I don't think I have experienced anything in my band journey pre or post-op that I could characterize as "hell". Some discomfort from time to time, sure. A little hungry on occasion, yup.

Another thing I notice is people seem to put a lot of pressure on themselves in the early post op phase to lose a lot of weight quickly which contributes to their emotional/mental distress.

I was 5 weeks post op on this past Tuesday. I have lost weight every week as I move through the post op nutritional phases. I'm currently on regular food. I've lost 19 lbs since surgery on August 11 and a total of 37 lbs since I first discussed this surgery w/ my PCP in January '09. Of course my rate of weight loss was fastest in the 1st week or two. I am now typically losing 1 to 2lbs per week. It is not a given for every bandster that weight loss will stall or go up during the bandster hell phase. We are all different. One thing that is true for everyone, in my opinion, is that the band is only a tool and if you work it, it will work for you.