I was banded 1/14 and am now in the pureed/mushy stage of the diet. I am trying to follow the diet guidelines and am struggling. I am supposed to drink protein throughout the day (but not 30 min before/after eating) and have 3 small meals. My biggest problem is that I am huuuuuuungry. On average, I am getting about 50-60 grams of protein from protein drinks, but my food portions are tiny. For example, I had a protein drink this morning and 4 oz of yogurt for breakfast. Now for lunch I am having 4 oz of lentil soup. I am doing my best to fill up with water and tea, but still very hungry. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!

Hi, I was banded January 19 and my problem is similar to yours...I still eat fast and am eating my creamy soups/puree in 6oz. I believe the best thing to do is to prepare soups, tuna salad with fat free mayo and eggsalad with fat free mayo to feel fuller. The more protein the better in our meals and definitely eating every 3 hours is a must to stop the hunger. I am going to see my surgeon on Feb. 19 and hopefully will get my first fill so I can start feeling more satisfied with less food. Hope this helps! Evatatiana

By the way, pre-op I lost 12 lbs. on the full liquid diet and then since Jan. 19 when I had my lapband surgery, I have lost an additional 11 lbs..total 23 lbs. in a month. How many pounds did you lose since your banding and are you finding that the weight loss is now about 2 or 3 pounds per week...when before it was a lot faster???

I hate to beat a dead horse, but more protein. Try adding Beneprotein to your meals as well. As far as I know you can only get it online. I get mine from Walgreens online.

Also try running mashed potatoes if your doc allows, it stays in your tummy longer. Helped me.

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?:thumbup:

Surgery Date: May 21, 2009

Starting Weight: 280lbs

Dr. Michael Metz - St. Luke's Hospital Denver, CO:thumbup:

Follow my progress thru photos:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/members/5...lbums3475.html

Thanks, all. It is tough at this point. I am getting lots of protein, but still fighting hunger. Today I made sure I wasn't drinking for at least 30 min. before/after my lunch and it seemed to help, but the 4 oz of lentil soup still felt pretty meager.

By the way, pre-op I lost 12 lbs. on the full liquid diet and then since Jan. 19 when I had my LAP-BAND® surgery, I have lost an additional 11 lbs..total 23 lbs. in a month. How many pounds did you lose since your banding and are you finding that the weight loss is now about 2 or 3 pounds per week...when before it was a lot faster???

Yes, I'm experiencing the same thing. I was on liquids starting 1/5 and on my surgery day I think I had lost 13 lbs. Since surgery, I've lost 7 lbs for a total of 20. The weight came off pretty fast except the last lb. It seemed I was forever crawling toward 20. I think it took about a week to a week and a half to clear the 20 lb mark.

And yes, now the loss has slowed.:thumbdown: Even though I feel hungry/empty frequently, I'm still losing much more slowly. I started exercising last week and that is helping my spirits and my shape, I think. But the scale is still stubborn.

Hang in there. I'm sure after the first fill we will both see a rise in the weight loss. :thumbup:

Some meals you may want to try are: breakfast-one egg cheese omelet, lunch-tuna salad and six crackers & A SMALL microwavable bowl of chilibeans, dinner-soup. if after all that and some water I feel hungry, I get a 1/2 cup skim milk and a mozaralle chese stick. Sometimes for dinner I have a small helping of chicken, or fish and either macaroni and cheese or pork and beans--the real small cans that fill a 1/2 cup. I have been feeling full most of the time--lost 25 pounds so far since 4 Jan 10. Hope this helps.

try eating a snack in between. I am on the same stage as you. I was banded on Jan 14th! I am just finishing up my pureed/soft foods. right now I do a protein shake or carnation instant breakfast around 8-9 then 10-10:30 I have a sugar free pudding or 1/2 cup of cottage cheese then around 1 I have lunch then around 3-330 i have another snack then i have dinner. that really cuts down on my hunger pains. at first i was having bad hunger pains, now it doesnt bother me. Just make sure you are eating every few hours. Dont just do your 3 square meals a day!!!

CABOT cottage cheese. 1 cup has over 22 gm of protein and it keeps me full for a while.

Right now i am eating like a i was prego... small meals every 3 hours, just so that i dont feel "hunger pains" and i am trying not to drink with my food or right after

good luck

Some meals you may want to try are: breakfast-one egg cheese omelet, lunch-tuna salad and six crackers & A SMALL microwavable bowl of chilibeans, dinner-soup. if after all that and some water I feel hungry, I get a 1/2 cup skim milk and a mozaralle chese stick. Sometimes for dinner I have a small helping of chicken, or fish and either macaroni and cheese or pork and beans--the real small cans that fill a 1/2 cup. I have been feeling full most of the time--lost 25 pounds so far since 4 Jan 10. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice! I'm trying to stick to 4 oz. meals and it's hard. Sounds like you've got good healthy solutions in your routine already.

CABOT cottage cheese. 1 cup has over 22 gm of protein and it keeps me full for a while.

Right now i am eating like a i was prego... small meals every 3 hours' date=' just so that i dont feel "hunger pains" and i am trying not to drink with my food or right after

good luck[/quote']

Thanks! I'll look for CABOT. Not drinking liquids has been very important for me to feel full.

try eating a snack in between. I am on the same stage as you. I was banded on Jan 14th! I am just finishing up my pureed/soft foods. right now I do a protein shake or carnation instant breakfast around 8-9 then 10-10:30 I have a sugar free pudding or 1/2 cup of cottage cheese then around 1 I have lunch then around 3-330 i have another snack then i have dinner. that really cuts down on my hunger pains. at first i was having bad hunger pains, now it doesnt bother me. Just make sure you are eating every few hours. Dont just do your 3 square meals a day!!!

It's strange, because I agree with all of you who say eat between meals to stave off hunger, but my nutritionist said no. One thing that has really helped me do that is Naked smoothies. They have a lot of protein and 440 calories. I know the calorie count is high, but it's all good stuff with 30 g protein and it goes a long way for me. For a low-cal protein drink, I drink Pure Protein by Worldwide from Trader Joes. Those things have been instrumental in my weight loss. 35g protein with only 170 calories and 1 gram of fat. They taste fine, too, and come in single-serve cans which is very convenient.

I hate to beat a dead horse' date=' but more protein. Try adding Beneprotein to your meals as well. As far as I know you can only get it online. I get mine from Walgreens online. [/b']

Also try running mashed potatoes if your doc allows, it stays in your tummy longer. Helped me.

Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?:thumbup:

Surgery Date: May 21, 2009

Starting Weight: 280lbs

Dr. Michael Metz - St. Luke's Hospital Denver, CO:thumbup:

Follow my progress thru photos:

Thanks for the advice. "Protein first" is a mantra for me. Running potatoes? Did you mean runny?