Hi, I'm almost 3 weeks post-op and I'm feeling awesome. I'm working out again (spinning classes and walking) and generally feel back to normal. But that's part of the problem - my "normal" appetite is back, too. I'm doing my very best to stick to my post-op diet plan (I'm on pureed foods now), but it is seriously hard to make it through the day without eating upwards of 1500 calories. I've been a little depressed the last couple days, thinking this surgery didn't "take," but I'm also reading that oftentimes you don't start feeling restriction until after a fill (or two). Does anyone have some advise? I just made this major life decision (and financial decision - I paid out of pocket) and I'm feeling a bit lost/confused. Help!

Don't worry... it took. You have no restriction right now til the 1st fill... the restriction you felt at the onset was just swelling. I am 3 weeks out as well (well will be after tommorow). I think I MAY have dropped 1# this week and I'm being good.

I am hungry a LOT... drinking lots of tea at nite to keep from eating and work and chores to keep busy with the rest of the time to keep my mind off of it.

for me... I cut back on working out a bit during this time. I will get my levels up- but not the time til I get a fill and that's based on what I have read on this site. I have learned SO much here. 1st... your wt. loss tends to drop off til after 1st fill since your body goes into starvation mode on the assigned diet .. hence the work outs being kept to 1/2 hr. at a time vs. 1-1.5 i was doing pre op.

next... I didn't understand why the wait for the fill and the strict diet til then. One of the folks here explained that to eat too much makes your pouch work too hard... which makes your freshly stitched band move around so could unseat it/ make it slip. That was GREAT info. I had not gotten from my doctor and has been the impetice to keep me on track til my 1st fill.

Hope that helps. Read thru the strings... you'll see you are SO not alone in your hunger and frustration.

:biggrin:

I gained 3 pounds my 3rd week post-op. I was so embarassed to go in for my first fill, but the nurse said that it is very common. It takes time, you need to be patient and give it some time. I realize it is very difficult being that you voluntarily subjected yourself to this kind of "abuse", both physically and financially, but I promise everything is is normal. I've only lost 15 pounds in 7 weeks and then the nurse said, you've averaged 2 pounds per week already. After thinking about it, I'm very happy with that. It'll only take 6 months to get to my goal at that rate :biggrin: You're doing great, just hang in there!

Thanks for the feedback. I'm feeling much better today. This isn't a quick fix, and it also isn't a magic bullet. I need to stay consistent with exercise and watching what I eat, and let the band do the rest. Oh, and I need to add a big dose of patience with that formula. Feeling excited again about that the future holds, thanks to your comments. It's appreciated!! :bored:

I really hate to burst your bubble but... I am 6 months out and had my 5th fill last week. This is the first time since surgery that I feel some restriction! It's been a long 6 months and I've lost and gained a few here & there. I too was fearing that I had gone through all that for nothing. But keep in mind that everyone is different and every surgeon is different and every fill is different... you get the picture. I understand that the doctor doesn't want to fill you too quickly. But the doctors need to understand that 6 mo. is a long time to not have any restriction whatsoever. Since last week I can finally feel what others are talking about regarding feeling full quicker at mealtimes. I don't think I'm at my "sweet spot" because I have never "slimed", become "stuck", have trouble eating certain foods, or vomited - ever. But I am eating less and finally feel that the band can help me. I've never expected the band to do it for me. But by the same token, I never expected to go 6 months without feeling my band. This is just my experience.

If i may, i was banded September 10th. I initially felt the band because of inflmation, i no longer feel hardly any restriction but have until October 13th before my first fill. I went through one day a little panicky because i wasnt seeing the results i wanted to. My mom told me to just focus on diet and exercize. Only eat when you are hungry, drink lots of fluids... She also said dont eat anything that has less than 5 grams of protein, its a waste of time. I kind of like that challenge. I have been seeking out foods like Chili, which i puree with a bit of tomato juice. Lots of good protein, flavor, and keeps me full longer. Split pea soup(Pureed), certain types of yogurt, etc. I walk one hour a day, and when i start to feel hungry i dont let my mind win right away. I am in charge, i paid a lot of money to be in charge, so i wait, do something constructive, drink water and then if i still feel hungry i decide to eat.

Theres a fine line between eating so many calories our bodies get fat and so little that they cant function to lose weight.

When i feel anxiety about my results i just remember that i probably used to eat 3-5000 calories a day and now on a bad day im only eating about 1200 calories plus walking. Which is a huge accomplishment for myself.

Also, get your body measured. I may not be losing much weight(im not), BUT i garuntee i can start to see a difference in my body. I know i have lost a few inches, so try that as motivation.

Hang in there, i plan to-I have seen the awesome results this surgery could have on other poeple. (mom) My mom is a huge inspiration and an awesome success story that i aspire to be like.

I too am a bit frustrated. I'm two weeks post-op and went for my follow-up today and have only lost 5lbs. I expected more so I'm a bit discouraged today. I'm basically starving myself and taking in only 600-900 cals a day for two weeks, so it's frustrating when you don't lose as much as you're hoping to. I'm starting mushy food today so now I'm scared I'm going to gain even though I haven't lost much in the first place. So I definitely know where you're coming from. But I looked at it this way, if I lose 5lbs every 2 weeks then that would be like 40 lbs of weight loss in the next three months which doesn't sound so bad :bored: