I hope this helps. It sounds like you have an open mind. It will take some time for your body to adjust to what has happened to you. I went into a depression with the loss of my sugar, soda, and carbs I was so sad all the time. I love to eat and I loved to eat tons of food. But my desire to be thin and healthy was strong. How strong is your desire? I even dreamed about eating these foods. I never did eat them. My HEAD was always hungry and it made me crazy.

I helped myself by blogging a lot about my feelings and it took up a lot of my time blogging does help. I took long rather slow walks to keep myself moving and in the out doors I would walk neighborhoods and see the sites. It did help to pass the time. It clears the head.

Your hunger is very real. You are changing the way you have eaten for many years and it is a drastic change. Let me just say after I did the post op program and stayed off all sugar, all soda, and all carbs, it helped me. It is sort of like a detox if you will. I do not crave these things any more. Takes about 2 to 3 weeks maybe less.

I have been banded over a year now and I do eat a small amount of carbs, I have had a soda, and I got into trouble with chocolate just the other day. I am still learning and my journey has been amazing.

Give yourself a chance. It is a choice to follow all the rules and do the best that you are able. It is a MIND over food thing. We have very strong willed minds and once we decide to do something we are usually the best at what we do. I am cheering for your good health and the determination it takes to have power over your HEAD (Head Hunger, Bandster Hell).

I have made many mistakes and I have still done well with my band. I have had fills and Un fills. I try to follow the rules to the best of my ability everyday. I have lost 110 pounds in this year and today is my birthday. The Band was the best gift I ever gave myself. I am in control today! Not the FOOD!!!! Set your mind in the direction you want to go. Best wishes imaluckydog

I was banded June 8th. My band is empty now and I will not get a fill until July 29th, which will make it 7 weeks after surgery. I feel your pain. I haven't lost any weight in the last 3-4 weeks. I lose a few pounds and then put them back on. When can you start introducing oatmeal, mash potatoes, etc? I feel your pain. It will get better when you can add more foods.

yes, that time after surgery and before you hit your "sweet spot" is HELL!!! you are right! that time is for internal healing and also, new habit forming...that's why you are "not allowed" to eat 'normal' food even though your band is wide open. yes, your hunger IS real!!!! I filled up on mashed potatoes (homemade)and mashed beans and babyfood and tomato soup (Tomato Basil by Pregressive is very tasty!) !!! and cottage cheese!!! Humus added to stuff for flavor and protein. I had a lot of Rita's SF Italian Icees. I did not count calories/carbs/sodium, etc (dont know if that's bad or good, just saying what i did) I did not dwell on weightloss during that time b/c i just needed energy from food to keep going. It WILL get better!!!

It takes about 3-5 mouths, maybe 3-5 fills before you hit your sweet spot. So, the band doesnt "start working" until then...right now, for you, its all "mental"... IT WILL GET BETTER!!

I was banded on June 28th and in 2 weeks I lost about 30 lbs because I was not eating due to swelling. Now that my swelling has gone down and I am able to eat while waiting on my fill in a few weeks I have put on a little weight but since then I have staggered with a fluctation of 3 to 5 lbs up and down. I am sure things will kick into gear when I get my first fill and I will start losing the weight. Just keep your eyes on the prize. No journey is supposed to be easy. Good Luck.

I had the banding in Dec 09. The 1st 6weeks were hard. I was on the post op diet for 5 weeks, but you can get creative with the runny foods. I think that might help. Like really runny mashed potatoes, baby foods, etc. YES, you are hungry, you have no fluid in your band. Don't feel bad about that, its normal. Don't worry about losing weight just yet, concentrate on healing. You just had surgery. You will lose weight when the fillings start. Please don't dispair. You are just starting your journey. I know this phrase gets old, but it does get better, and you start to relax. As I have said, "I didn't get obese overnight, it took me years to get to here. It will take some time to get it off." Morale is be good to yourself...

I was also banded on july 7. I had to make a return visit to my dr on july 12 and have 2 ccs removed. I was too tight. felt like a lump all the way to my throat. couldn't hardly drink anything. Now I have no restriction. I go back on aug 16 hopefully for a fill. My dietician told me I could start each new week a couple of days early, just not to skip any weeks on the post op diet. I had tilapia for the first time today. Must say I ate much less, but still hungry. ready for the feeling of fullness. I had lost 18 pounds, but put 2 back on since introducing mashed potatoes and cottage cheese. reading all the posts helps me and lets me know everything i am going through is normal. thanks

thanks to everyone for the supportive comments. today was much better than yesterday and i'm sure tomorrow will be better than today. gotta keep my eyes on the prize and countdown to when i can have the mashed potatoes and cottage cheese, lol. and then "real food" and fills! now that i'm actually working on seeing the glass half full instead of half empty (of protein shake of course, lol), i'm looking forward to the future instead of dwelling on the crap we all have to go through to get there! anyway, thanks everyone! really needed to hear every word!