To my fellow Bandsters who were banded long before me, I have a question!

I have seen people say here and there that while the band makes them feel full, they still feel hungry at the same time.

Have you found this to be true for you? It's starting to freak me out a bit!

Amy

Amy,

I have yet to feel "full" with my band. I feel satisfied, not full. Don't expect to feel the full feeling you experienced pre-band, it will never happen.

I probably should have said satisfied. I'm more worried about always having that gnawing hungry feeling (like I've had since the second day after surgery). I don't expect to be full - but I want this gnawing hungry sensation to GO AWAY!

Thanks!

It will go away when you get some restriction. You will reach the point where you feel satisfied for several hours after eating only a small amount.

In the meantime, maybe you can add a snack of a hard boiled egg or low fat string cheese to tide you over between meals.

You are right around the same size I was when I got banded.

Thank you so much! I am still on full liquids, so Snacks like that are a bit off. I just started worrying as so many people that had surgery when I did are talking about how they aren't even hungry, and I've been hungry since day 2!

You've done really well! I hope I can be down 82 lbs at 7 months post-op.

Thanks again!

Amy

You can! Just work hard and keep moving. If you feel head hunger come-on. Get up and walk, run or go to the gym. Try not to compare yourself to other people though because everybody loses at their own rate. When it comes to fill levels, try not to compare either because there are different size bands on the market and everybody reaches their "sweet spot" at different levels. Just focus on eating your Protein, taking your Vitamins and getting your Water in and you will do great.

It was much easier to lose the weight during the summer months when the weather was nicer and it was light out longer. I'm having a little trouble losing now that I can't ride my bicycle everyday after work. I go to the gym everyday Monday through Friday though and work out hard.

I have been really super motivated this entire time. Failure is not an option for me. My hope is to be pretty darn close to goal by the end of my first year. I feel great and have a much more upbeat personality when I am exercising.

You are doing a great job! You've already lost a lot of weight.

HI Amy.. I was banded same day as you and the first few days I wasn't hungry.. but ever since monday.. I feel like i'm hungry all the time. I'm supposed to be on full liquids but I've had some cottage cheese...and this is so crazy.. yesterday i was down 11 pounds.. and this am I had put on 3 pounds over night??? I'm frusterated. I guess I should not get on the scale every day for a while. Are you in michigan? I saw the great lakes thing.. I am down by detroit. Hang in there... we will make it!!! Take care, Carrie

Carrie, I am in Toledo. Great Lakes Weight Loss is right in Detroit at DMC. Where did you have your surgery done?

I'm glad to hear that someone else is hungry. Not glad you're hungry, but glad I'm not alone! I am also on full liquids until next Wed...I'm gonna try really hard to make it until then...

Amy

To my fellow Bandsters who were banded long before me, I have a question!

I have seen people say here and there that while the band makes them feel full, they still feel hungry at the same time.

Have you found this to be true for you? It's starting to freak me out a bit!

Amy

I normally get "full" quickly and stay satisfied for long periods. And I do not still feel hungry. In fact, I rarely feel hungry. When I do it's because I have not eaten anything for a very long time. So don't worry about always being hungry. You will make it through this healing period and once you start having fills things will change! Good luck to you!

Hi Amy-thanks for responding. I had mine done at U of M in Ann Arbor...I work for the U so it was with my insurance. It's funny I see so many different after surgery 'diets' on here.. my full liquid diet includes soupy mashed potatoes and cream of wheat... I thought it also included soup and cottage cheese.. but that's not till 2 weeks out.. oops.. I've been living on that because the protein powder drinks are awful. I'm having a hard time with those. I go on tuesday for my 2 week check up. Gonna try harder to just do the drinks. I think I'd see more weight loss. Do you know what the "PB" on here means? Not in this thread.. but I see it a lot and don't know what it means... feeling dumb :w00t: Hope you have a good day...if you want you can email me at csoukup@my.madonna.edu

Carrie

Thanks, everyone!

I'm sipping on a Starbucks skinny decaf latte this morning and for the first time in over a week, actually feel a sense of satisfaction. Hmmm...

Carrie, I will email you later! We'll have to do a meet-up some time since we're so close. DH is a HUGE UM fan, so he'd go nuts knowing you work there. :w00t:

Amy

I have to respectfully disagree that you can't feel full. I think it varies for everyone. Personally, the feeling of full is pretty much the same as it was before surgery. So in that repect I am different from Happy2Lose. Please don't fret about not feeling satisfied. That shouldn't be a factor for anyone who is at the proper restriction.

Best of luck on your progress!

I don't feel the same kind of "full" as pre-band but I do feel satisfied when I am thru eating. Tho' sometimes even 2 yrs later my "head hunger" creeps back up and I just think I am starving. Generally if I distract myself with something else it passes.

Carrie, I am in Saline and noticed you said you had your band done at the U of M. Do they have a support group there? I recently relocated to Michigan and need to connect with some bandsters.

HI Amy.. I was banded same day as you and the first few days I wasn't hungry.. but ever since monday.. I feel like i'm hungry all the time. I'm supposed to be on full liquids but I've had some cottage cheese...and this is so crazy.. yesterday i was down 11 pounds.. and this am I had put on 3 pounds over night??? I'm frusterated. I guess I should not get on the scale every day for a while. Are you in michigan? I saw the great lakes thing.. I am down by detroit. Hang in there... we will make it!!! Take care, Carrie

The cottage cheese didn't make you gain weight. Your body naturally fluctuates that much from day to day.. Even a drink of water will show up on the scales. I only weigh once a week in the morning before coffee or anything. It is the best plan to keep me motivated because those daily fluctuations can really be discouraging. Best of luck!!!

I was banded back on Sept. 21, 09 and I have to say I still have that "head" hunger as someone mentioned. I have lost 35 since surgery and 51 since July 1. I think if I could stop eating when I was "full" I would lose even more weight. I have only had 1 fill so I am wondering if I will be able to acknowledge that "full/satisfied" feeling once I get another fill? Maybe I need more restriction? I have to say I was initially not going to get a second fill in December because I was doing so well without it but now I am thinking I am going to need more help. SOmetimes I feel like I can eat as much as I want, luckily I still have the "fear" and don't do it but it seems to be harder and harder to keep my appetite in check. I was a perfect candidate for lap band surgery because I wasn't much of a snacker just a big meal eater.

I love this website!! Everyone is so helpful (most of the time!) and it is great to have people to ask questions that a doctor might not understand!!!