I was wondering how full will I feel after the band. I rarely eat when Im very full, will I feel very full?

Here's my theory, Benway. As fat folk, we've distorted our feeling of "full". In fact, the word "full" implies that there isn't any room left. A better way to describe the band would be to say that it helps you feel satisfied, not "full". Now that I'm banded, that feeling of "fullness" (like I can't eat another bite) is the enemy.......I try to see how little I can eat and still be satisfied.

Really the band is only a tool. It's up to the person to follow the rules to make the band work. Me personally, I love, love, love my band. Will you love it? Only you can answer that. So keep on researching and asking questions until you feel like you can make an informed decision. Good luck to you whatever you decide!!

I find managing hunger and fullness a bit counterintuitive, in exactly the same way as dieting always was for me.

For me, it works the best to eat three solid meals a day - and even though I'm no low carber, those meals need to contain adequate Protein and fat.

If I eat rabbit food - a bit of tuna and a tossed salad for example, I will have cravings and I will tend to eat very badly for the rest of the day. Likewise, a small bowl of Cereal for Breakfast makes me full at the time, but it just doesnt set me up for the day.

So I try to make my meals of the sort that I really feel guilty for eating, lol.

I dont often have Protein Shakes, but I did this morning, with 2 scoops, skim milk and 1/4 of a cup of all bran blended in. That was about 400 calories. That makes me FREAK. 400 calories for breakfast????????

But, I got through to lunch, absolutely no problem, without even thinking about food. At which time I bought a chicken schnitzel sandwich and ate half, threw the rest away. Probably another 400 calories easy. AAARGH. I freak again.

But I guarantee I wont eat till dinner, and i'm tight at night and will eat probably 200, 300 calories max. Correction, I wont want to eat till dinner, but I was planning a couple of prunes and a small serve of nuts before boot camp.

so that's well umder 1500 calories, which is losing territory for me. I've gained a bit recently because I've been trying to lose - yep, rabbit food, cravings and ending up eating tons of chips, chocolate biscuits, iced coffees - it never fails.

so I keep my band a bit looser to allow for bigger meals like that, as it seems to suit me. I dont like eating mini meals every 3 hours, drives me crazy.

When I do this, hunger and cravings are NEVER a proble,. I dont understand why its hard to stick to this routine, but it is. I think because the band makes you a bit lazy and its easier to eat ice cream than a sandwich.

It depends on what you mean by "full." I used to love being full--having eaten a great big meal, not quite nauseous but stomach a little bloated and a sluggish feeling. Sounds unpleasant, but sometimes I still miss that feeling. :thumbup: However, for the most part my perception of full really has changed to being satisfied. I've had enough unpleasant experiences of eating one bite too many with the band that I've become accustomed (and comfortable) with a new feeling: satisfied vs. full. It really is a different feeling for me, but I'm appreciating it more the more weight I lose. :frown:

Thankyou so much for your help. As I said I am new to the website and I didnt think there would actually be people interested enough in each other to try and help. I really appreciate that. I understand what you all said.

I used to be a weight lifting head and running lover but since I gained so much weight I have been out of it. It is so good to see someone doing bootcamp. I cant wait to do that stuff again.

Thanks for the good descriptions of "full" I know exactly what you mean. Thanks again