I know that I should be eating close to (at most) 1/2 cup of food, but I'm eating way more than that just to feel satisfied and I know that can't be right :sad:

I don't even feel like I have a band in my stomach at all. I have not had my first fill but will have it on the 23rd. I'm on canned foods this week, but I did cheat and have normal food and ate A LOT of it. I don't get it! Shouldn't I feel satisfied sooner?? :sad:

the biggest part about the first month for me was will power. you need a lot of it. all i kept in the back of my mind was do i want this to work. do i want my band to slip. if you do over eat or eat foods that are too tough in the first month it can cause you band to slip cause it not healed yet. thats why you have to be soo careful. and your in band hell.. you have to wait for a fill to start feeling any restriction. but right now i would tell you to fight through the hunger. stick to the plan the dr, gave you. i was one liquids for 2 weeks and mushie for 2 weeks. think that the suffering now will pay off later. stick with it i know is hard but itll be over b4 u no it!

I am sitting in the same boat with you. I was banded 9/24 so 17 days. I am hungry ALL the time. I was doing great until the swelling went down. My stomach growls so much that other people comment! I am supposed to still be on mushies, but, I can't get satisfied. I don't get a fill until 10/3. I read in another post to make sure to drink all the water and add more protein suppliments. I am not sure I have been doing either to my fullest amount. I am going to try both today and see how it goes. At least I know we are in this boat together.

If my band did slip, I would know it, right?

You're very early into this and haven't been filled yet. So it is normal to not have any restriction yet. Most people need several fills before they start to get real restriction.

What I did for until I started to be restricted (for me it happened on the first fill but that seems to be unusual) was put myself on a strict diet. No fun and NOT the way I wanted or thought I was going to have to go. But it worked.

I'm now 7 weeks out from banding (8/24/09) and I'm down about 48 lbs. ) Now that I'm restricted I can't eat more that I want.

As a note: one tool I found absolutely invaluable was to keep a journal. In all the diets over the years (and there have been LOTS of them) they always tell you to do this and I never have. This time I got an iPhone app (I'm using Lose It!) to track my intake and I've kept it religeously. And its been an absolute life saver in keeping me on track. I can't begin to tell how much of a difference that one thing has been for me.

Good luck.

Sounds like your swelling has gone down so you probably have about 0 restriction. I am just starting solids.(banded the 23rd) I am trying to keep it at about 800-900 calories per day. I lost 8 pounds 1st week on full liquids but did not lose on mushies. My guess is body is adapting to the low amount of calories. Eventually I will start losing again. My fill will be in about 2 weeks. I still try to have small portions but I do find myself eating more often. I am hungry but try not to think about it as much.

Greg

You really need to follow the post-op diet your surgeon gave you. This is very important! Eating solid food too soon can cause you problems later.

The first month or two after surgery is meant for healing not weight loss. If you do happen to shed some weight during this time is an added bonus.

The time span between surgery and your first fill is known as bandster hell. It is called this because you have little to no restriction and are hungry all the time.

You are not alone. All of us bandsters have been through this. Make sure you drink 64 oz. of water. The water will help somewhat with the hunger. When the hunger becomes unbearable, change your focus. Go for a walk. The exercise will help keep the hunger at bay for a little while anyway. Repeat as needed.

Hang in there. It will get easier.