So hungry

[HELEN0001 0]

After having the band fail me in 04 due to infection I had it re-done on May 24th this year. I am still on week 3 of mushy food and have lost some 16lbs which is great. I didn't even feel hungry the first couple of weeks, which was fab....but now....I am sooo hungry. This mush is not sustaining me and I am suppose to be on it for 3 + more weeks.

Has anybody else felt hungry during the 'recovery' period? I was thinking about taking some appetite suppresants until my first fill next month as I am just grazing on everything, good and bad. I am surprised, but I can eat anything.

I understand and can separate the difference between habit eating and just pure hunger...and I am hungry : (

Please tell me after my first fill this hunger will go away. I am very weak and can't handle hunger.

[revren316 0]

hey there, i was banded on may 3rd and while everyone is different, i think a lot of people go through the same thing. Those first few weeks post op are great, your body is sore and food is the last thing on your mind. But i found that each day i got a little more hungry. by the about the end of week 3 i could pretty much eat regularly if i wanted to. What you are experiencing is 100 % normal. Good Ole "bandster hell."

I found that when i was getting hungry between meals, a good Protein shake would hold me over. My doc told me if you really are truly hungry and not just "head" hungry eat some Protein. It will fill you and keep that feeling longer.

He also said that until you get your first fill losing weight really shouldnt be a priority. While most people do, lose in this period, this time is all about healing your body and beginning to make lifestyle adjustments like diet and exercise changes.

Good Luck and take care!

[joecs1 4]

I am with you! Banded may 25th. I am hungry all the time. It is very difficult. I am still on mushies and going for my first fill on monday the 21st. I cant wait. I am starting to feel like i have gained a few pounds back. Most importantly though, we have to eat right(healthy) and heal. The weight loss will come if we follow our Dr's orders. The band is a tool, but its up to us to make it work! Take care of yourself! J

[~amy~ 1]

Yep, happened to me, too. Bandster Hell is a good way of putting it. My doc said that sometimes our bodies tell us that we're hungry when we're actually just really thirsty. For some reason, our brains interpret that feeling differently sometimes. (??)

So my personal rule is that I can eat if I want to, but first I have to drink a full bottle of Water. If I am still hungry after 30 minutes, I allow myself to eat. But it had to fit into my daily caloric intake allowance. I've managed to lose 63 lbs playing it this way.

I've found that it's extremely detrimental for me to starve myself until dinnertime. I'd rather have a small, healthy snack (::gasp!::devil_smile: in between meals, than to starve myself until dinner, at which time I will always overdo it and eat too fast or take bites that are too big.

It won't be easy for the next several weeks, but you can do this!! Find a method that works for you - or talk to your doc about having some smaller Snacks in between...some docs are very anti-snacking; others, like mine, give you basic guidelines and a suggested caloric intake and let you and your band work together to figure things out. I have learned to listen to my body - if I'm hungry, I eat. If I'm not hungry, I don't. Hope this helps - GOOD LUCK!!