Current Mood: The title says it all :biggrin:

Here I am 12 days post op, having made bets on how much weight I would lose by the time of my first post op doctor visit, and I'm stalled.... already!

Ok, I get that the first 5 pounds just dropped off from being on liquids for a couple of days, then the next 5-6 were probably from this very low calorie soft food diet and not being able to eat much as a result of swelling. Now, however, the swelling is down and I don't feel any restriction. I am trying to make the right choices and I'm walking around hungry most of the time but the scale has not budged since Tuesday except to go up or down the same 2 lbs.

Restriction: My doctor put 3ccs in my band when he put it in 12 days ago. Last night I ate the inside of a calzone (ricotta, mozarella, mushrooms and a bit of ham). I chewed, I made it last, I swallowed small bits at a time and did not drink. I still managed to eat all of it which was more than the 4 oz my pouch is supposed to hold...it was more like 8 oz and I just couldn't stop myself!

I know the band is only a tool and it will take a lot of work and self control on my part but I thought one of the major functions of this tool was to make is very unpleasant to eat too much. It's not doing that for me yet. I guess that's why it takes 5-6 fills to get it right.

Also, I'm disappointed with myself for lacking control. I've just gone through this physically painful ordeal, subjected myself to surgery and anesthesia, taken off work and put my family through some major machinations yet I couldn't even make it through 2 weeks of the prescribed diet! I am weak.

And, to make things even worse, I am so constipated from this high protein diet with practically no fiber from vegetables and fruit. I remember one of my many past diets was Atkins - I felt the same way then and got very corked up and cranky. I just went off that diet and everything normalized. That's no longer an option.

To top it all off, I'm pre-menstrual and this is my "ravenous hunger" week. I dreamed of pizza!

That's certainly enough bitching and moaning for one post. If you've made it this far, I apologize for you having read my crankiness. I will try to think and act positively.

Positive: My pants were definitely sliding down my hips yesterday and I am no longer short of breath.

I hear ya! I was just banded on Monday and I am so hungry- I am dreaming of eating food too! My dr said I can't start mushies for 2 more weeks, but I seriously feel that I could start now- I feel like I have no restriction at all. I am nervous that I have put myself and my family through all of this for no reason- that I don't have the will power to make it work. So, you are not alone- but I guess we have to look at it as a process- no matter what, we are better off than we were before we started the process- think of how far we have come! You can do it!

Hi there, I did not feel any restriction until I got my third fill. I remember someone saying to me on this site, that if I eat more than the rules say I can stretch my pouch. OK, I was cool with that. I remember being able to eat more than I was supposed too. I do remember those days and they are LONG GONE.

Now after the third fill I can take about four or five bites and I am done. Yes finished. Miss food oh yes I do. I need to eat maybe 6 small meals a day now to be sure I can get all the protein in and keep my energy level up for all the dancing around the house I do. When people say why are you not eating very much, I tell them I shrunk my stomach. Well it is true!! I just do not tell them I have two stomachs now. LOL imaluckydog smiling

Okay BarbaraWM

We need to talk, im in the same boat as you. i lost 15 lbs(pretty much a pound a day) than nothing. I have been losing and gaining two lbs for the last week. I have not cheated at all and im still in the soup stage. Whats going on? Im scared it won`t work for me which doesnt make sense but the mental games are overwhelming. Im getting rid of the scale cuz its making me crazy