Holly Dolly

You are only 3 weeks out from surgery, still in the healing phase. Your hunger will more than likely come back. I measure out my 3 ounces of protein and if I feel I have had enough I will stop around 2. It's not that I feel full, but I feel satisfied. I had my first fill 5 weeks after surgery. I had quite a few fills also that first year. Once you do start having fills you will know you prob need another one when you don't go 4 to 5 hours before needing your next meal. Unfortunately for me, I don't go that long before feeling hungry. But I choose not to go tighter because I do not like getting things stuck. I have done well because I measure, weigh, and track everything I eat. Good luck!

I could always eat more than a cup of food also, but I think my meals are around 1-1.5 cups, as I weigh my protein not measure it in cups. You are going at least 4 hours before getting hungry so that is good. I have 2 friends who both had their bands emptied before surgery and now are doing fine without having nearly as much fluid in their bands. One got almost filled to where she was before and ended up being too tight. It's not really about restricting how much you can eat, it's about controlling your hunger. I would love to go 4 hours before being hungry again.

i DO WHAT mISSY DOES!

That's one thing I hate about the self serve places! I have gotten pretty good at measuring out 4 or 8 ounces. depends on how many calories I have to spare!

love my band, down 102 pounds.

I never feel full after eating. It was a hard thing to get used to as I used to always eat until I was stuffed!

I am 2 years out and no problems either. I hadn't been on here for quite a while either but now that I am trying to lose a few more pounds it is a nice site for motivation and support.

I eat popcorn with no problem. I just make sure to have the 100 calorie bags for myself.

don't be sad, put the past behind you and move on! Rock these lapbands girls!

wow, June!! That was quick to be let out of there!

I battle the head hunger all the time! At night time when it gets bad, I just go to bed and watch tv. When I first had my surgery I was told to have only 3 meals a day, then they said adding an additional small meal was ok. So if I have room for the extra calories I will have a protein bar or a CarbMaster yogurt. The last few days though it has been a Jello sugarfree pudding!

good for you, you are doing awesome! I contribute a huge part of my success to logging my food everyday. You seemed to figure out a lot quickly!

I went from squeezing myself into size 22's to a 4 and my wedding dress falls off me now! Oh, and I am a runner now! That to me is just as huge!

I took a week off. I was at the hospital at 10 am and left by 8 pm. Best thing I have ever done!

You need to have the mindset that you are going to lose weight. Let me tell you, the lapband is still work for me and a lot of other bandsters that I know. So if you aren't willing to put in what it takes to make the most out of the band don't do it. Look at Mis73. She has been super successful and down like 200 pounds in a year. It can be done if you follow the rules. Now, with gastric, you will lose a lot more quickly in the beginning but my dr says the long term success rate is still higher with the band. I have heard a few too many stories of gastric bypass dumping and I love my chocolate too much to give that up! But everyone is different. All I can is that I LOVE my band.

Best $14,000 I have ever spent! People think nothing of spending $30-40,000 on a car but have a harder time when it comes to paying for weightloss surgery. But that's just me......skinnier and driving around a 2001!

why are you disappointed? Even though it doesn't control my hunger as much as I would like I couldn't be happier with my band. One thing I learned is a really hate being hungry!!! That's what got me so big in the first place, I never let that happen! But I try and follow the rules 90% of the time and have been successful.

I have no problem with ham either. You may find that some foods get stuck at times and other times no problem.

For me it does not control my hunger as much as I would like. I go about 2 to 2.5 hours if I am lucky before feeling hungry again. But when I eat, I am satisfied on the smaller portions that I am supposed to be eating. The few times that it did control my hunger for 4 hour stretches I was too tight and had to go in for an unfill.

I don't take a minute to chew but I do wait around a minute in between bites. In the beginning I would eat breakfast near the cable box, lunch on my computer and take a bite and wait for the clock to hit the next minute. I don't do that anymore now that I am used to my band. Also, I was never told to finish my meal in 20 minutes but I have read that many times. I also thought to myself there is no way I could get all 3 to 4 ounces of protein and veggies and any starches down in less than 20 bites. Luckily my husband has always been a slow eater and we take about 45 minutes to eat dinner.

Every dr is different, but mine wanted us to drink 3 protein shakes a day and get in 60 grams of protein. They do have protein soups, maybe the soup being hot will go down easier for you. He said the reason you need protein after surgery is to help with the healing process.

My dr charged a program fee too that included 6 months of nutrionist and pyschologist visits plus 3 months of fills. I am not sure what the amount was now. I paid out of pocket for everything.

I would def give dr # a try!

How are you doing 7 years out?