.....this is what they call "Bandster Hell". I have officially entered and it is definitely hell. The hunger pains are here in full force. It took about 6 days. I was good on Saturday until it hit evening. The fluids are just not enough. You don't really understand what this is like until it hits you and when it hits, its all at once and doesn't go away until the next phase!! I just want to scream and cry....actually, I have done both.

So, I am hungry. I am trying to figure out if its head hunger and I really don't think it is.

Easter was HARD yesterday (BTW: Hope all had a good holiday!). I had to drink my chicken broth and watch everyone else chow down. Hard when I am very hungry. Very emotional day.

So, i called my doctors office today to moan about my hunger pains, my emotional pains and my head pains. The woman I talked to was sooo nice and very supportive and told me all kinds of nice things to do to help keep my mind off of food. Told me to look at the big picture, about how great I am going to look and feel, etc. But, no eating until my next appointment (April 9). 4 more days. I can do it. I know she has heard it all before but i really appreciate how nice and supportive she was. This is really taking everything out of me. I have never been told not to eat! I am actually scared to cheat. I can't cheat. I have gone this far. I will only be disappointed in myself. Plus, if I cheat and everything goes down nicely, whats the reason i won't cheat again?

So, in good news, i have lost 9 pounds since surgery bringing my weight to 202. It doesn't feel like i have lost all this weight though. It could be because i am still swollen where the incisions are and my stomach is bloated. I have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow to check them out so hopefully she can tell me when to expect to feel normal again!

I am off to eat some more jello.

i am thinking of getting banded would love to hear from u melissamae97481@yahoo.com

im in your same boat...hungry...the difference is is that I have cheated...yes shame on me...i popped a couple of cheese its...chewed them up real good..and swallowed...lol...it went down...so for the paste 4 days...ill take a bite here...and a bite there...and it goes down...I know for a fact that there is not enough restriction in my band....but they said that is normal and after my first fill hunger wont be an issue....im tempted to have a small meal....but i dont want to go too far....i notice that if i take a bite off of my mom's plate...it satisfies my craving...other from that...i have been on soup...farnina....baby food....and protein shakes...my family claims they see me getting smaller...however i dont see it...i ordered a scale...so that i can keep on top of my progress...my doc also said...2 weeks of liquids...and i tomorrow makes a week...and i see him on thursday...

Jilly:

I was banded just over a week ago and boy can I empathize. I refer to this current food restriction as the POW diet -- actually we are getting more food than most any Prisoner of War but it makes for a good chuckle when I share it with friends.

Last night my daughters and wife went to my b-i-l's home for dinner; he is a gourmet cook and loves to please the pallets of his family. I elected to stay home until after dinner. I missed the multi-course gastronomical fest. Because I hadn't eaten, I lugged my MagicBullet mixer, container with milk, my scoop of protein mix, a container with my chicken broth, and a little tub of SF lime Jello. While they were eating one or more of the desserts, I brooded over my meal but took my time and kept saying the mantra: this is a small price to pay now for a big reward in the future.

Attitude is 99% of overcoming the hell.

Are you getting enough protein? My nutritionist explained, you pee the protein rapidly out of your system, so don't load up on one meal, spread it out as evenly as possible. Add an egg occasionally to the protein shake or treat yourself to the new SF Chocolate Mousse from Jello as a substitute for the wiggly-giggly stuff.

You did the right thing by reaching out to your doctor. And fortunately you got someone to encourage you. You are on your way to a happier and healthier Jilly. Don't make food your enemy or your friend. It is just food. Something you need in order to live (the old chestnut: eat to live don't live to eat)!

There are plenty of others just like you or those who have trod the same game trail you are on. They are pulling for you, too.

Hang in there, girl.

W B

Can you have protein shakes? That seems to ease my hunger. I also eat cream of chicken soup and egg drop soup they are both yummy and seem to fill me up too. Good luck!

Girl I ate some Chicken Noodle Soup, I could not stand it, go ahead and satisfy that hunger or it will just grow and grow, I made sure I chewed the small chicken bits in the soup (Campbells very good and they went down) I still lost the weight as fast or faster than most in my same group from the hospital, I could not sleep when I was so hungry, I also go to where I would crumble saltine crackers into the soup and eat that. Hang in there it will pass soon, when you get the next fill you will see.