Bandster Hell anyone?

[Rachel412 116]

I am now oh... a little over 2 weeks past surgery. Physically I feel great, BUT every day I'm getting hungrier as that "full" feeling after meals goes away sooner. I'm getting a little worried about what my next 3 weeks are going to be like- I really was loving my initial restriction when I could eat and be satisfied for 3 hours!

Anyone else in the same place yet?

[TKW 501]

I haven't had a fill since December, I have had really good restriction but the last few week I could eat a lot. I get full still but it does not stay with me at all! I have an apointment today for a fill. It is a process, that's for sure. Good Luck, just try to eat healthy if you're hungry and stay away from junk. Remember, protien will fill you up and stay with you longer.

[bellarn09 1]

Yes! And I'm still on liquids and feel like I'm starving. Ill be at 2 weeks on Friday. I've started adding my preop protien shakes and it has been helping with the hunger.

[Rachel412 116]

I was just moved to mushy foods yesterday so my new way of eating is supposed to be 4 ounces Protein, then if I'm still hungry up to a cup of cooked mushy veggies, THEN if I still have room I can add a carb. 3 times a day, no snacking in between. I just wish I liked cooked mushy veggies- Beans don't count right?

[TerriF 9]

I was just moved to mushy foods yesterday so my new way of eating is supposed to be 4 ounces Protein, then if I'm still hungry up to a cup of cooked mushy veggies, THEN if I still have room I can add a carb. 3 times a day, no snacking in between. I just wish I liked cooked mushy veggies- Beans don't count right?

I have been mixing my Protein (usually chicken) with a tablespoon or so of Beans. It's been 1 week today for me. Thought I would try an soft egg this morning but that didn't set very well with the tummy. Start my Vitamins today, have done really well and felt great till the eggs this morn. Going to stay away from that for awhile.

[deidre 1]

OMG, I am so jealous of you guys that are not still stuck on liquids. I am STARVING. These shakes get less and less appetizing every day. I have 2 weeks shakes only, then soft foods starting next Wednesday. So yeah, I'm in bandster hell!

[Woodslass 22]

I started eating regular foods 2 weeks after surgery. I've had no issues with BP'ing or getting stuck, and I've been eating everything in sight. Completely not following any sort of diet. I hate Protein shakes and I don't think that will ever change. I've spent over $300 trying different ones and I just can't stand them. I'm not eating complete junk, don't get me wrong, but I've had pizza and chinese food and even some cake. I can say my portions are still smaller than they were before surgery but not 7 or 8 bites of food and I'm full.

I talked about it with my husband and I think the reason is that I've been reading too much on this forum. I keep reading about people who want a fill but they are still losing weight so the surgeon won't give them a fill. I read about people who are dieting and still aren't losing weight. I read and read and read...and psych myself out. That's why I'm rarely posting anymore and trying not to come here often. It's freaking me out.

I have my old appetite back, I haven't denied myself a thing, because I keep telling myself that I'm in the "healing" stage and I'm not supposed to be losing weight. I've regained 5 lbs but I'm okay with that.

I have my first fill a week from today - and I'm going to use that as my jumping off point to get back into the program. My surgeon should release me to start exercising when I have my appointment and I just bought some new workout running shoes and some new workout clothes. The treadmill downstairs is set up and ready to go, and I need to get off the carbs again and get back to a low carb lifestyle - it seems like it works the best for me.

[brenda62 47]

I started eating regular foods 2 weeks after surgery. I've had no issues with BP'ing or getting stuck, and I've been eating everything in sight. Completely not following any sort of diet. I hate Protein shakes and I don't think that will ever change. I've spent over $300 trying different ones and I just can't stand them. I'm not eating complete junk, don't get me wrong, but I've had pizza and chinese food and even some cake. I can say my portions are still smaller than they were before surgery but not 7 or 8 bites of food and I'm full.

I talked about it with my husband and I think the reason is that I've been reading too much on this forum. I keep reading about people who want a fill but they are still losing weight so the surgeon won't give them a fill. I read about people who are dieting and still aren't losing weight. I read and read and read...and psych myself out. That's why I'm rarely posting anymore and trying not to come here often. It's freaking me out.

I have my old appetite back, I haven't denied myself a thing, because I keep telling myself that I'm in the "healing" stage and I'm not supposed to be losing weight. I've regained 5 lbs but I'm okay with that.

I have my first fill a week from today - and I'm going to use that as my jumping off point to get back into the program. My surgeon should release me to start exercising when I have my appointment and I just bought some new workout running shoes and some new workout clothes. The treadmill downstairs is set up and ready to go, and I need to get off the carbs again and get back to a low carb lifestyle - it seems like it works the best for me.

Don't put the treadmill of till your fill, walking is good for us. I go to the park and walk 2 1/2 miles a day. I joined curves today and will be going and doing the work out there with the walking. They know I am not quite a month out since the lap band was put in, so they will take a easy on me. You will feel a lot better if you just get moving. My fill is on the 4th, we will have to compare notes.

[CLAUDIA TREJO 5]

I had my band put in on March 10 2011, and just yesterday was my first fill. I started progressively eating 1 week after my band. I haven't had any problems either, and prior to my banding I went on an eating spree. Yesterday when I had my fill I also thought it's a great way to jumpstart my diet and get back into a low carb diet. I was told to stay on full liquids for two days. I asked my husband to stop by dunkin donuts and I ordered a milkshake. Although I have been feeling hungry off and on, I am not starving. When I looked at the menu this afternoon and saw all of the goodies my mouth started savoring all of those items. I suddenly realized that the band is not going to do it alone for me. It's about learning discipline and controlling the mind for all those cravings I plunge into. Today I also realized it's my time to break up with food, because I have a relationship with it. So, what I am saying here to you is the following, "what is your story?" Are you ready to sign the divorce papers and tell, pizza, Pasta, cheeseburgers, ice cream, soda pops--GOODBYE? Are you ready to give it all of that up for a leaner and healthier you? As for myself, I am completely terrified I am going to let myself down by not making better food choices, that is why I think it's important to log in to this site or any other support group that I can find in order to stay in course and find the motivation to revolt against the food that has kept me a slave to it for so many years. I am planning on telling my husband to take me a picture of how I look now, and I will begin a journal, and put the picture in front of the fridge to remind me everytime I walk by there how I look. I wish you the best of luck in your journey.

[Musarion 1]

I started adding Soup and yogurt to my Protein Shake regimine today - woo hoo!!. I, too, am SO sick of Protein shakes! My doctor has such a strict food progression plan... I can't eat "regular" (non-chopped/mashed) foods until week 6! I am so excited for mushies next week, although I'm really not that hungry. Just eating real food will be great.

[Amanda Mae 22]

I'm so glad I found this thread.. the last week has been hell .. I was banded on April 11th and for the first few weeks I did fine but I guess since the internal swelling went down - now I'm hungry.. I'm definitely eating less when I do eat but the full feeling isn't lasting as long and I noticed that this week the amount I can eat is more ... I'm scheduled for my first fill on May 17th .. I can't wait! Glad to know I'm not the only one.

[Spot 20]

No hell here. Even though my surgeon is pretty slack with the post-op diet, I started out this whole ordeal sick in the hospital for days, so I didn't really feel like eating too much for a long time after that. Then, a few weeks after surgery, I ate too fast, and probably too much, and my stomach hurt for like 24 hours. I don't ever want that to happen again, so I've been eating small portions, very slowly. I had my first fill two days ago, so now I'm being even more cautious. It'll probably be a while until I know if I have restriction, that's how iffy I'm being with food.

However, count me in with the club who's holding off on exercise and/or using their fill date as a starting date. Since banding, I've exercised maybe 5 or 6 times only.

[Rachel412 116]

No hell here. Even though my surgeon is pretty slack with the post-op diet, I started out this whole ordeal sick in the hospital for days, so I didn't really feel like eating too much for a long time after that. Then, a few weeks after surgery, I ate too fast, and probably too much, and my stomach hurt for like 24 hours. I don't ever want that to happen again, so I've been eating small portions, very slowly. I had my first fill two days ago, so now I'm being even more cautious. It'll probably be a while until I know if I have restriction, that's how iffy I'm being with food.

However, count me in with the club who's holding off on exercise and/or using their fill date as a starting date. Since banding, I've exercised maybe 5 or 6 times only.

You had your first fill already? LUCKY! I'm having mine May 19th, 5 weeks out from surgery- and a week before DH and I head out on a cruise

[Spot 20]

You had your first fill already? LUCKY! I'm having mine May 19th, 5 weeks out from surgery- and a week before DH and I head out on a cruise

I'm 4 weeks post-op, so not getting my fill too much earlier than you. However, I could have had it as early as 3 weeks post-op. I wanted to get it that soon, but figured I should take into account the 4-5 days I was so ill after surgery and not count that has proper healing time.

Have fun on your cruise! Be 100% sure you're comfortable with the new restriction before climbing aboard!

[Woodslass 22]

I just had my first fill today too. I got 5.5 cc's in my 14 cc band. I was on liquids for the first few hours, and I plan on eating some scrambled eggs and oatmeal for dinner, but I can eat normal food again by tomorrow morning.

Eating tonight will be the true test of how much restriction I have. Doc had me sipping Water, then he would put more in, then sipping Water, etc until I felt it backing up. He then took out 0.2 cc's and had me try again. I'll go back in 4 weeks to see how it's going.

The good news is that I've only gained 4 lbs during Bandster Hell, and that will be easy to get off now that I've got some fill in. I didn't get on the treadmill today but I did walk all over Sam's Club and then the mall, so I think I got some exercise in anyway I am going to be more strict with myself and make a goal to exercise at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week from now on.

I bought two new low-carb cookbooks and I'm going to try a few things out. Doc did emphasize that I need to count calories and also keep carbs down but he stressed I was NOT to follow Atkins.

I now have a short term goal - lose 50 lbs and make it under 300 by September 8th, when I will be going to a huge family reunion. It's time to get to work!