exal

Congratulations on your first step. I would NOT start with soft foods yet if I were you. Sure the hunger is annoying but it will not hurt you. Hunger pains are something you should welcome in my opinion. You likely have not experienced them much until now otherwise you wouldn't be here. Remember that hunger pains are annoying but obesity is deadly. Follow your doctor's orders to the letter. He/she has far more knowledge about this than you do and the instructions for diet are for a reason. Another thought - if you succumb to the hunger at this early stage, what does that predict for you at a later time? Be disciplined NOW! Not later. Best, -Al

I am still pending but I can say for certain that you should NOT expect the band to eliminate any of your cravings. You will still have cravings. You will still be hungry. You will still be able to overeat if you really want to. I hope someone has explained to you that the band will not be a magic cure for obesity. You still have to make a mental change and it will have to be a sincere and SUCCESSFUL effort. The band can fail almost as easily as a normal diet. The difference is that the band will give you a physical slap if you mess up - at least for a while until you stretch the upper portion of our stomach out enough to consume more. Many folks that I have met and read about say that they can only eat a small fraction of what they used to without throwing up. I am talking about half a taco instead of three. I also talked to a man whose wife was banded five years ago and she weighs more now than before because the only thing she "could keep down" was ice cream. So that is what she eats daily. Ice cream is the epitome of bad food. Don't waste your money or your insurance company's if you are not willing to change your habits significantly. You will only disappoint yourself. Good luck to you, whatever you choose to do. Best. -Al