LilAngel

How do you know when you are full? Sounds simple, but I swear, I just can’t tell. I am embarrassed to admit it. I try to eat super slow, then kind of slow, then not-so slow, and chew, chew, chew, drinking, not drinking, and eating different stuff, yada, yada, and on and on. I don’t know how can you NOT know when you're full? I think I have to be stuffed like a T-day turkey to feel anything. Talk about needing to get your brain banded. My head definitely has some catching up to do. Thoughts? <O:p</O:p By the way, I just stopped eating my lunch, thinking, it must be time for me to be full (I'm sure that sounds weird, but you at least have to guess, right?). Literally minutes later my big tummy actually seems to be hurting from hunger? Maybe the different pouches (big and little) decide their levels of hunger separately? ?? Yipes—such a novice. :thankyou: <O:p</O:p THANK YOU!

defintely an important question these days... i think the "easy way" theory is certainly a big part of it. it reminds me of those folks who seem to resent other folks who are born into money and don't have to work unless they want to. i can see why they are jealous. but i personally think the rich cats are lucky and why should i resent them for good fortune? know what i mean?

wow. i really should pay more attention to what is happening. bad angel!

Thanks guys! Interesting comments. Jenna, good question. I am filled--to 2.8. It was my second fill. Before that I didn't even feel like I had a band. Funny how some folks have mentioned about getting to the point of not wanting to be bothered with eating anymore. That has defintely been happening to me since I learned to take nibbles and slow down. I don't know if I am full, but I stop. The problem is when it tastes so good that that moment doesn't come. **sigh** Thanks for your help, though. I am glad to find out I am not the only one still stuggling with this.

It’s a shame I haven’t posted in ages, but until my last fill up to 2.8 I felt like I didn’t even had a band. The fantastic thing is that just like when I left, there are great people asking great questions that help me out even before I have to post. It is just like coming home. Now, to the issue at hand. I am currently going through the same thing as far as every time I try to eat solids the first few bites definitely have the “golf ball” and fun slime/PB effect. I’m personally refusing to get an un-fill though because I haven’t lost anything. A big ZERO. I am still thinking that it is me, and I think maybe what I thought could be small bites, really should be nibbles. At least at first because after a little bit I can eat quite a bit (????). I am trying to work it all out, but I think it is just a practice thing for me so far. But what concerns me about your case is when you said liquids wouldn’t go down. I have NO problem with liquids, so that seems to me like the determining factor. Just from what I have read here, I would get an un-fill if I were you. It’s too much to risk tempting fate here. I am sure you know your body best, but there is my two cents if you are interested. Sending well wishes your way—hope it all works out.

Sometimes I think I make up problems, but this one threw me. Am I crazy? Is that my esophagus hurting? Sure seems to be. I am in disbelief. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Anybody know why it would? If you have been lurking here the last couple of days, you know that my first fill isn't taking place until Monday and I don’t have any restriction. But yet, here lurks the evidence that something is different. There must be a band there after all?! LOL In all seriousness, however, thought, ideas, concerns? Share share.

I don't know why I doubt myself so much, but I always wonder if I am nuts. It certainly feels like where my food goes down is where it hurts. the whole thing, top to bottom, from where I swallow, to my little tummy. Not burning, but just aches, I guess. It never happened to me before the band, though, and started a week or two in. It, naturally, follows eating. I guess I should defintely look at those links. Thank you for taking the time to find them!!!

Do they have head bands? Seriously, I loved that phrase. I simply must get my head banded too!! I am deifntely going to use that one.

How many of you folks saw a marked improvement in weight loss after only your first fill? If not, when did it start to happen for you? I have my first fill on Monday. I am very excited, but I am trying to temper my expectations. I am just wondering if I can get a feel for the norm here. Care to share your experience? THANKS!

wow. looks like the first fill isn't much to get excited about. is it that dr's are usually so conservative with the first one? i still just don't understand how it works exactly. are they striving for the least possible mount of restriction needed you think? man, i just want to get started losing so badly. well, at least stop gaining. yipes!

I am having this same pain below my left breast and have put off posting about it (out of pure laziness-how sad is that? ). I don't really have any restriction, so I can't figure it. Anybody have any idea what might be going on with us? Thank you for your help!!!

welcome and good luck on your surgery! you have found a great place for support. I love this board. oh yeah, almost forgot...try looking on the board for fills for someone in your area. or maybe give a search a try. I don't know the area, so I am no help there. Lets us know how you are doing. GOOD LUCK!!

Wow. I was just coming on to post because I was wondering about how many folks gained initial weight loss after surgery, but before a fill. I am still down over all, and not really that stressed since I don't have a fill, but I was just wondering if it was normal. I think all will be well after my fill. I am already eating so much less, but somehow still putting on some of what I have lost. Can't wait to get my fill. I want to get this show on the road! DBanner, I am sure we aren't the only ones this has happened to. Probably at least a few folks, who now have had great success, went through a time like this. Hang in there, better days are coming!

Thanks for sharing so much Nykee. I always enjoy your posts.

I thought I would, but did not. I was so glad.

I am just over two weeks out from surgery, and I get so hungry at times it makes me feel almost ill. Yep, physical hunger, not head hunger. I still have head hunger, but I am trying to ignore that demon. Anyway, I caved. I just had what I think to be a cup of tortilla Soup, soggy tortilla strips, rice and chicken included. Unbelievably, I still feel some growling in my big tummy. And I wish I could say that was the only solids I have had but it isn’t. Though in very small, chewed-to-goo, quantities, I have screwed up a couple of other times in the last couple of days too. I know my food went down though. I feel everything just go “kerplunk” into my big tummy. Especially liquids, of course. I don’t feel anything in my mini-tummy and no problems eating anything. I guess all the swelling has gone down. I have no restriction that I can tell. I expected this, of course, but not so soon. What have I done? Did I just totally screw something up? Could I have done damage? It seems like everyone else does so well on their post-op diets. I feel like a heel. Help? In other fantastic news, however, it feels great to burp big again. Yea!<O:p</O:p OK, I am off to drink some Water or something. Thanks.

Jodie, It's good to hear from you! I am so glad to hear that you have lost 23lbs already!!! Sounds like it is working to me. I have only been banded for a couple of weeks. My body freaked out for a bit at first when I was barely taking in any calories. When I started taking in more I actually gained a few pounds back. But thankfully I have lost those pounds and I am on my way back down. I think I just had to adjust or soemthing. Bodies are weird and do weird things. I give up trying to totally figure it out. Just remember, you are making progress, AMAZING progress. Keep your chin up!

NJ Chick, Very awesome thread. You're great!! I hope your're doing great today. TODAY IS YOUR DAY!!! Warm thoughts and best wishes to you!

Thanks everyone. I am doing better. Still not perfect, but better and being careful. Daniela! Thanks for your thoughts. Good to see you are doing so well!!! That is fantastic. Keep kicking butt, girl!

I was an avid diet soda drinker and always suspected it was giving me some headaches that seemed sent by the devil himself! I gave it up a few weeks ago for the surgery and POOF! the headaches are gone. Just sharing this in light of the crap that is in diet that folks have mentioned many times in this thread. Who knows. There are a lot of variables here considering how much my eating habits have changed during this time. It could be attributed to a number of things. But I do wonder...

I wish I were on mushies. I am still onliquids adding only yogurt and prtoen shakes at this stage. Including my pre-op diet, that puts me a few weeks at this, and I am defintely fighting serious head hunger. PHEW! --whispering to myself--"It will get better, it will get better..."

Wow, you really are radient. Thanks for the pics. Newly banded, you're post made me feel so much better about my current battles and the journey ahead. THANK YOU!

Wow. That was pretty insipiring actually. Great attitude and congratulations!!

BIG BIG HOORAY!!! I am glad you have your date and you are solidly on your way to such a great change. I just got back Saturday. After wrestling with "should I or shouldn't I" for so long, I can safely say so far, absolutely on regrets. I have never felt so positive in my life! GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!! I am sure all will be well.

Hey Judy, Hope you're still doing well. Good luck and keep us posted on your journey!