How Does the Pouch Work?

[stevey820 0]

I was banded in June and have been slow to lose weight mainly cause I didn't have restriction till my last fill (8cc in 11cc band) and now have better restriction. Up until 10 days ago, I wasn't getting hungry till like 4 hours after a meal, now it's more like 2.5 - 3. My question is if the reason we feel full is becuase our small pouch is full, and it takes one hour or so to empty the pouch, then how do we stay full for 4 hours? How do we feel full for hours when our small pouch empties out in an hour or so?

Thanks!

[beckyrlnd 2]

The nutritionist at the dr office i go to says that you eat your Protein first. that is the heavier of all the foods and will take longer to digest and pass. then you eat veggies and then starch. Now this is talking after you have gone to regular food. the protein is what is to sustain you. so they say (and I speak on just conversations with the nutritionist) if you are hungry any sooner than that it is a sign of needing another adjustment. I have not had an adjustment yet. but even without a fill in the band i have i have to eat every 4 hours. i try to make sure whatever i eat is protein enriched. it does help but my eating schedules are so far apart i am having to have a snack of some sort in the afternoon. my nutritionist says not to get into a habit of that but it has been difficult. between lunch and supper it could be up to 8 hours before i am able to eat again. definitely speak with your nutritionist to make sure you are getting enough protein and Vitamins in your system. i have found also if i take my recommended vitamins and Calcium i am not as hungry also. this weekend i forgot to get my vits in and i was starving. the next day i took them and i was a lot better able to stick with plan better. Good Luck on your journey. We can only take this one day at a time!

[honk 780]

Stevey, It sounds to me like you need another fill. I have 9.4 cc's and am just now getting restriction. My doctor says if you can't go 5 hours before being hungry you need a fill. It could be that you had restriction; lost weight around your stomach, and now the band is not tight enough, thus needing additional fill.

Cindy, I have similar a simular situation where sometimes I have a hug gap between lunch and dinner. And to top it off I go to the gym in between. Anyone who tries to go 7 hours between meals is going to be ravenous. I think your Nut is concerned you will train yourself to need a snack and will have it even after restriction when you aren't really hungry. But again if you have'nt eaten in 7 hours you ARE hungry. My Nut approved in those situations having a low fat cheese stick, or a low cal/fat Protein shake. I like the Premier chocolate from costco (160 cal, 30 g protein).

[djmixon 1]

I am getting 60+ grams of Protein a day and have been having awful cravings.

First (5 days in) it was cheesecake (which slides down like magic - if only it didn't stop at my ass and hang around so long), then it was no sugar added ice cream and now today (12 days in) it is sushi. I want it soooo badly..... I bought some and put it in the freezer. I know I can have the mushy foods starting Thursday and will be happy for it. I am already cooking broccoli (and fake) cheddar Soup in the slow cooker. I plan to then run it through the food processor and then the blender if I have to. After that, I am fixing a Texas Spicy chicken Soup that will have to go through the same process.

So..... how many grams of Protein do we need to hold the hungries at bay? The doc filled me as much as he could and still get thinned out barium down me on the day of the surgery. My post-op appt is later this month and my doc's nurse isn't the greatest about answering emails. And my support group isn't until the third Wednesday of each month, if my son isn't using the car and my husband isn't in class.

How many grams of protein per day??