Ok, first fill last Thursday, 1 cc in my 12cc band bringing me to 3.5 total. Yes, I have restriction, I feel every bute as it goes down and certain things that were going down, now won't or are very rough. I emailed nutritionist and asked what should my calories look like for a day. I also fessed up to some high Protein snacking because while I feel full quickly, It does not last more than 2 hours. I am on early stages of solid food. I can not get chicken down too well, though it was great in mush early on. I can't even get mush down.

Anyway.... the Nutritionist replied that I must stop snacking regardless of calories. (That was not my question) She said I must "learn to deal with my head hunger." She also said I should follow 5% rule on carbs and fat. Unclear about that.

I know in email is tough to 'hear' someone's tone, but I felt very chastised. The PA did not judge me like that when I fessed up about a mini Kit Kat.

I am hungry between meals and have NO IDEA how much I should be eating.

I am really struggling lately.....

AAANNDDDD, like most of us my day starts early: at 5:30 am and ends somewhere around 11 pm. How the heck are three 1/2 cup meals supposed to last spread out over 17 1/2 hours.

First of all I would be mad at my nutritionist for not listening to me. Shame on them!!! I wonder if your fill was too much for you. I have yet to have my first fill, but have heard that what you are describing happens if the fill was too much. Call the DR..not the nutritionist. As for the 17 1/2 hour days, I am right there with you. I found if you drink a protein shake between meals it helps a lot...Good Luck!!:tongue_smilie:

Thanks KC. I don't think I have too much fill, I think I just need to slow down and mush up a little more. I just don't know WHAT/HOW MUCH of it I should be eating. Hoping some of the Veterans will pop in my thread.

Maybe it's time to dig out the WLS cookbooks and see what's what.

The plan I was given was only 3 meals per day, no snacking. I follow this most of the time but there are times when I am hungry and I have a snack of low fat string cheese in between meals and lately I've been eating popcorn in the evenings. If I don't lose weight one week, I cut back on my calories a little the next until I find what works. I am not perfect 24/7 but I do stay within my allotted calories most days.

Head hunger is something you need to deal with because you cannot continue to feed it or you will remain fat. Unfortunately, there are those people in the health care field that think fat equals stupid and treat us as such instead of taking the time to make sure we understand.

You are paying for the service of medical professionals, stay on them until they explain what you should be eating. Perhaps you should make another appointment with your nutritionist and have her sit down with you and give you a diet plan to follow.

Until you have good restriction, you have to rely on good old will power to get you through the hunger. Be sure you are drinking at least 64 oz of Water and not drinking with your meals. My doc says try to wait 2 hours after eating to drink your water.

Always eat high Protein for your meals. Greek yogurt is a very good source of protein. Try just nibbling at chicken and see if it helps you eat it. My band is so tight now that nibbling is about all I can do but solid protein is going to sustain you much longer then cottage cheese or Protein shakes will.

Good luck to you!

One thing I forgot to say.....my nut. told me 1200 to 1500 calories per day is my target however, I have found that 1000 calories works best for me.

Hope this helps!

Thanks so much. Of course nutritionist is NOT covered. I am supposed to see her at 3 months out, 6 mos. and 9 mos.

I will try about 1000 - 1200 per day. I need to make a food diary that tracks Protein and calories.

Thanks again, just feel a bit lost....

My nutritionist said to keep it to 1000-1200 cal per day. Drink my Water of course. However, she did say that I could have a mini snack between meals if needed. She recommended Wheat Thins. I like the Tomato/Basil ones but have to be careful with the amounts. They are addictive. No more than 2 oz. She also said I could eat 1 apple per day (peeled). It's good Fiber.

She wants me to get in 60 gms of Protein per day; not more than 15 gms of carbs or 5 gms of fat per serving. As far as drinking with meals, she would rather I wait at least 30 min after eating BUT if necessary, I could take 2-3 small sips of liquid with meals as long as I don't gulp.

I seem to be doing okay so far but still need more fills. I'm going next week for my third one and hope it will give me more restriction.

Thanks so much. Of course nutritionist is NOT covered. I am supposed to see her at 3 months out, 6 mos. and 9 mos.

I will try about 1000 - 1200 per day. I need to make a food diary that tracks Protein and calories.

Thanks again, just feel a bit lost....

Interesting post...My nutritionist explained that everyone has a different life and schedule. As long as you were eating every 4 hours and not hungry in between, it was good! If you are living 17hour hectic days, 3 meals wouldn't be enough for you. I would try to adjust when your eating or spacing out smaller protein filled items. Cottage cheese, etc. Food logs are incredible for me personally. Just my 2 cents worth...

Tell your nutritionist to update her 'knowledge'. Research has proven that six small meals are better than 3 meals with no Snacks because it (6 small meals) stabilizes the blood sugar levels which helps eliminate hunger and cravings.

I am still on full liquids but I still drink a shake every 3 hours. Three shakes are with milk and the 'in betweens' are the lower calorie Isopure shakes made with Water.

If you're eating regular food, a hard boiled egg, string cheese or a tablespoon of Peanut Butter in a stalk of celery or half an apple are great mini-meals. Even a low cal Protein shake would be good.

Tell your nutritionist to update her 'knowledge'. Research has proven that six small meals are better than 3 meals with no Snacks because it (6 small meals) stabilizes the blood sugar levels which helps eliminate hunger and cravings.

I am still on full liquids but I still drink a shake every 3 hours. Three shakes are with milk and the 'in betweens' are the lower calorie Isopure shakes made with Water.

If you're eating regular food, a hard boiled egg, string cheese or a tablespoon of Peanut Butter in a stalk of celery or half an apple are great mini-meals. Even a low cal Protein shake would be good.

All other diets I have tried suggested 6 small meals per day. This is not a diet as we all know it is a lifestyle change. I believe the lesson being taught by most of these surgeons is to only eat 3 meals per day so that we are not eating between meals and not eating when not hungry.

My surgeon has performed over 3,000 bariatric procedures and knows his stuff. I trust him and my nutritionist when they tell me that lapband patients should only eat 3 meals per day.

All other diets I have tried suggested 6 small meals per day. This is not a diet as we all know it is a lifestyle change. I believe the lesson being taught by most of these surgeons is to only eat 3 meals per day so that we are not eating between meals and not eating when not hungry.

My surgeon has performed over 3,000 bariatric procedures and knows his stuff. I trust him and my nutritionist when they tell me that LAP-BAND® patients should only eat 3 meals per day.

Exactly where is stamped on our butts at birth that our bodies were designed to eat 3 meals per day? It's not. Somebody in the medical/nutrition industry made this decision and pushed it as 'fact'. The same way they pushed the food pyramid as fact...until a year or so ago when they said 'oops' and upended it. So much for their 'experience'.

If you're happy on 3 meals a day, then by all means stick with it. However, for those who are having difficulty, 6 smaller meals a day is an acceptable substitute and it's not a diet...it's a lifestyle change.

To the OP. Find what works for you. Doctors and nutritionists are nothing more than one more source of information. They aren't infallible and they aren't God. If you're hungry and craving between meals, break your meals up into six smaller meals. If that works, does it really matter what anyone else says?

.

Exactly where is stamped on our butts at birth that our bodies were designed to eat 3 meals per day? It's not. Somebody in the medical/nutrition industry made this decision and pushed it as 'fact'. The same way they pushed the food pyramid as fact...until a year or so ago when they said 'oops' and upended it. So much for their 'experience'.

If you're happy on 3 meals a day, then by all means stick with it. However, for those who are having difficulty, 6 smaller meals a day is an acceptable substitute and it's not a diet...it's a lifestyle change.

To the OP. Find what works for you. Doctors and nutritionists are nothing more than one more source of information. They aren't infallible and they aren't God. If you're hungry and craving between meals, break your meals up into six smaller meals. If that works, does it really matter what anyone else says?

.

I agree to the OP that you need to find what works for you and am not interested in arguing the merits of either opinion. I just felt it was important to share with you what I have learned and I have been pretty darned successful with the advice I have followed.:biggrin:

It's interesting how all nutritionists and programs are different. I was told three meals(about a cup each) but definitely have a high protein snack if needed (usually string cheese).

Thank you all. I find that late afternoon and evening are my bad times. For a while I was eating my first meal at 1pm and then could eat 2 meals later on. I am tight in the morning and have my tea/protein then and can barely get that down some mornings. I have trouble when I eat at 7am, 1pm and at 6. I need more later in the day.

I knew going in that it was 3 meals period, but knowing and the reality are 2 different things. The nutritionist said there is no calorie count. I think this is to avoid the Snacks if your meals leave you calories. I read an article that talked about how the 3 meals goes against everything lifelong obese people are told when dieting and that is why it is so hard to change. I am trying and have been Ok today except for my fudge pop (40 cal) earlier. I am floundering as to WHAT to eat now. Getting sick of mushy and should be slowly adding solids, but WHAT?

:biggrin:

Thank you all. I find that late afternoon and evening are my bad times. For a while I was eating my first meal at 1pm and then could eat 2 meals later on. I am tight in the morning and have my tea/protein then and can barely get that down some mornings. I have trouble when I eat at 7am, 1pm and at 6. I need more later in the day.

I knew going in that it was 3 meals period, but knowing and the reality are 2 different things. The nutritionist said there is no calorie count. I think this is to avoid the Snacks if your meals leave you calories. I read an article that talked about how the 3 meals goes against everything lifelong obese people are told when dieting and that is why it is so hard to change. I am trying and have been Ok today except for my fudge pop (40 cal) earlier. I am floundering as to WHAT to eat now. Getting sick of mushy and should be slowly adding solids, but WHAT?

:biggrin:

solid food will keep hunger at bay longer. Start off with tiny bites of chicken, non-fat Greek yogurt, tuna, eggs (if you can tolerate) cottage cheese. You just need to find solid Protein that you can enjoy.