Can you tell if you stretched your pouch?

[slm2007 7]

I was banded 4/18 and have had 1 fill of 4cc's on 6/2.

Here's my question. I've lost some weight (20 pounds) since my pre-surgery liquid diet. Okay, not bad BUT, I wonder if I've stretched my pouch or I just haven't hit my restriction point yet. I put a previous post about "So this is Bandster Hell" but then I started thinking about the stretching thing. I've heard that it takes a lot of constant, constant over eating to stretch your pouch, which I have not done. I would say that I'm eating "less" than I used to but more than I think I should be able to do at this point. As I said in my previous post, I'm hungry. Not head hunger, not boredom hunger.....stomach, shaking hunger. So with that said, I know I'm eating more than the 1,100 calories they are suggesting. I eat Protein first and have to admit that the not drinking with or right after my meal is something I need to concentrate more on. It is a hard thing to break but I'm getting better.

Anyhow, IF I stretched my pouch, how would I know? Would I have symptoms? OR, do you think I just need more fill to get better restriction. Honestly, I don't feel any different than I did before surgery. If I wanted to eat an entire cheeseburger (and not the kids version at McDonalds) and french fries I could do it with no problem and not feel "over stuffed" - just feel full/satisifed. I have no stuck issues, no reflux, etc. I just wish I could feel full faster. My will power is about to go south. As I said in my previous post, I understand this is a "tool" that I have to work with but I'm hoping it was going to help me a little too......If I could have done it without the help of my "tool" I wouldn't have gone through surgery and right now I feel like everything I'm doing is a solo project.

Thoughts?

[gencs2000 1]

I wondered the same thing. I know I have to start monitoring what I eat and that means weighing and measuring my food..but could I have stretched the pouch already?? I hope someone can shed some light on this for us!!

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

I was banded 4/18 and have had 1 fill of 4cc's on 6/2.

Here's my question. I've lost some weight (20 pounds) since my pre-surgery liquid diet. Okay, not bad BUT, I wonder if I've stretched my pouch or I just haven't hit my restriction point yet. I put a previous post about "So this is Bandster Hell" but then I started thinking about the stretching thing. I've heard that it takes a lot of constant, constant over eating to stretch your pouch, which I have not done. I would say that I'm eating "less" than I used to but more than I think I should be able to do at this point. As I said in my previous post, I'm hungry. Not head hunger, not boredom hunger.....stomach, shaking hunger. So with that said, I know I'm eating more than the 1,100 calories they are suggesting. I eat Protein first and have to admit that the not drinking with or right after my meal is something I need to concentrate more on. It is a hard thing to break but I'm getting better.

Anyhow, IF I stretched my pouch, how would I know? Would I have symptoms? OR, do you think I just need more fill to get better restriction. Honestly, I don't feel any different than I did before surgery. If I wanted to eat an entire cheeseburger (and not the kids version at McDonalds) and french fries I could do it with no problem and not feel "over stuffed" - just feel full/satisifed. I have no stuck issues, no reflux, etc. I just wish I could feel full faster. My will power is about to go south. As I said in my previous post, I understand this is a "tool" that I have to work with but I'm hoping it was going to help me a little too......If I could have done it without the help of my "tool" I wouldn't have gone through surgery and right now I feel like everything I'm doing is a solo project.

Thoughts?

Hi, your question could best be answered by your dr/nurse practitioner.

That being said, I also don't feel satisfied with my 3-oz. meals. But I have come to appreciate and savor the tiny bites, and after the "meal," wait the minimum 1/2 hour and then suck down (lots of little sips all day long) liquids and Liquid Protein. I take in 8 glasses of liquids a day and 80 grams of Protein. So I have never felt physically hungry since the surgery 3 weeks ago.

So bottom line, my best friend is lots of protein!

Good luck to you!

[Juliat 6]

I was banded 4/18 and have had 1 fill of 4cc's on 6/2.

Here's my question. I've lost some weight (20 pounds) since my pre-surgery liquid diet. Okay, not bad BUT, I wonder if I've stretched my pouch or I just haven't hit my restriction point yet. I put a previous post about "So this is Bandster Hell" but then I started thinking about the stretching thing. I've heard that it takes a lot of constant, constant over eating to stretch your pouch, which I have not done. I would say that I'm eating "less" than I used to but more than I think I should be able to do at this point. As I said in my previous post, I'm hungry. Not head hunger, not boredom hunger.....stomach, shaking hunger. So with that said, I know I'm eating more than the 1,100 calories they are suggesting. I eat Protein first and have to admit that the not drinking with or right after my meal is something I need to concentrate more on. It is a hard thing to break but I'm getting better.

Anyhow, IF I stretched my pouch, how would I know? Would I have symptoms? OR, do you think I just need more fill to get better restriction. Honestly, I don't feel any different than I did before surgery. If I wanted to eat an entire cheeseburger (and not the kids version at McDonalds) and french fries I could do it with no problem and not feel "over stuffed" - just feel full/satisifed. I have no stuck issues, no reflux, etc. I just wish I could feel full faster. My will power is about to go south. As I said in my previous post, I understand this is a "tool" that I have to work with but I'm hoping it was going to help me a little too......If I could have done it without the help of my "tool" I wouldn't have gone through surgery and right now I feel like everything I'm doing is a solo project.

Thoughts?

I've posted on your other topic and I just want you to know that you are ok. I think you are going though everything that we've all gone through. When I healed and before my first fill, I was so frustrated with not losing weight. There was a 3-4 month period where I didn't lose anything and would see people lose a ton of weight. I ended up gaining 4 pounds before my 3rd fill. Once I got that fill, everything was great. I started losing. However, I did go through the trial by fire of learning to take small bites and chew, chew.

During this period that you are going through, I can tell you that you didn't stretch your pouch. Unless you are in intense pain, most likely nothing has happened to your band. During this time, use it to your advantage. Yes, you are going to eat more but this is your chance to learn the habits of being banded so you won't go through what I did with all the sliming and PBing.

Choose wisely the foods you eat. Don't obsess over the amounts that you eat.. Take small bites and chew, chew. You don't want to get yourself so worked up that you get yourself so discouraged

and send yourself into a depression. Relax and know that in the future this is going to work out. That's how I got through it. Eat when you are hungry and again, make good choices and you'll be ok.

Send me personal messages if you need to. I'm so worried about you and how desperate you seem. It's ok. You're not going to fail.

Take care,

Julia

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

I've posted on your other topic and I just want you to know that you are ok. I think you are going though everything that we've all gone through. When I healed and before my first fill, I was so frustrated with not losing weight. There was a 3-4 month period where I didn't lose anything and would see people lose a ton of weight. I ended up gaining 4 pounds before my 3rd fill. Once I got that fill, everything was great. I started losing. However, I did go through the trial by fire of learning to take small bites and chew, chew.

During this period that you are going through, I can tell you that you didn't stretch your pouch. Unless you are in intense pain, most likely nothing has happened to your band. During this time, use it to your advantage. Yes, you are going to eat more but this is your chance to learn the habits of being banded so you won't go through what I did with all the sliming and PBing.

Choose wisely the foods you eat. Don't obsess over the amounts that you eat.. Take small bites and chew, chew. You don't want to get yourself so worked up that you get yourself so discouraged

and send yourself into a depression. Relax and know that in the future this is going to work out. That's how I got through it. Eat when you are hungry and again, make good choices and you'll be ok.

Send me personal messages if you need to. I'm so worried about you and how desperate you seem. It's ok. You're not going to fail.

Take care,

Julia

Hi, Julia,

You are so wise. I took to heart everything you said. I have been discouraged a bit, thinking I would lose every day, cause I was eating so little! You said all the encouraging things my Mom would have said to me. Thank you so much. Best of luck to you in your continued success.

[Juliat 6]

Hi, Julia,

You are so wise. I took to heart everything you said. I have been discouraged a bit, thinking I would lose every day, cause I was eating so little! You said all the encouraging things my Mom would have said to me. Thank you so much. Best of luck to you in your continued success.

Thank you! I like this board because I'm still getting new info and helping you 'youngins' while you are learning.

Good luck on your journey and let me know if ever need anything or have any questions.

J.

[2beskinny 4]

You have not stretched your pouch, you are in bandster hell...something most of us have experienced. You don't have restriction yet, therefore it's pretty easy for a large volume of food to pass on through to your lower "big" stomach. This is the point of your journey where you do, unfortunately, have to use plain old willpower to keep losing. Some weeks I considered it a victory if I just maintained! The food is probably not even staying in your pouch, just passing through so I don't think you could have stretched it. Also, greasy food is kind of a "slider" food so a burger and fries would probably go down pretty easy! I exerienced that prior to restriction. However, now the bread kills me. I can eat most potatoes, but not fries. I eat 3-4 of them and feel them just sitting there and I know I'll be in trouble if I continue. Now I don't even eat one. You will get there and you will be loving life! I am practically embarassed by the constant comments of how good I look. I bought a couple of size 10 pants this week It will be worth it...it just takes time. Stay POSITIVE!

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

You have not stretched your pouch, you are in bandster hell...something most of us have experienced. You don't have restriction yet, therefore it's pretty easy for a large volume of food to pass on through to your lower "big" stomach. This is the point of your journey where you do, unfortunately, have to use plain old willpower to keep losing. Some weeks I considered it a victory if I just maintained! The food is probably not even staying in your pouch, just passing through so I don't think you could have stretched it. Also, greasy food is kind of a "slider" food so a burger and fries would probably go down pretty easy! I exerienced that prior to restriction. However, now the bread kills me. I can eat most potatoes, but not fries. I eat 3-4 of them and feel them just sitting there and I know I'll be in trouble if I continue. Now I don't even eat one. You will get there and you will be loving life! I am practically embarassed by the constant comments of how good I look. I bought a couple of size 10 pants this week It will be worth it...it just takes time. Stay POSITIVE!

wow! Size 10 pants!! So cool! I was thinking I would be happy when I get into a 14-- not any more! Sky's the limit, right?! You started at about the same bmi as me, so you're living proof it is possible! Thanks for the inspiration! Good luck to you with your continued success!

[slm2007 7]

I think I had my first "if you take one more bit you are going to lose it" moment last night. I portioned out my turkey meatballs (4, and not huge ones) and some veggies. I ate, waited and waited. I was still hungry so I warmed up two more....got 1/2 way through the first one and was like WHOA, what is that feeling. Nope, not another bite because I was literally going to lose it. I didn't feel uncomfortable or "full" but my stomach was telling me ENOUGH. I liked that!

[roziecakes 20]

Thank you for posting this thread. I was wondering this too, and I also have been obsessing over how much I eat, and I have been hungry between meals but have been sticking to it anyway. I think I need to increase Protein, which is probably easier now that I'm on mushies.

I've also been freaked out that I'm losing too much. I have lost 14 pounds since surgery and it's only been a week and two days. My mom says it's probably Water weight.

I suppose this really is the 'bandster hell' of which has been spoken.

My surgeon says that the most we should be doing in the first six weeks if focusing on our healing... and I suppose he's right. Relaxing is probably the best thing for us to do... difficult though. It's a mixed back of fear and excitement.

[oldiebutgoodie2 11]

I think I had my first "if you take one more bit you are going to lose it" moment last night. I portioned out my turkey meatballs (4, and not huge ones) and some veggies. I ate, waited and waited. I was still hungry so I warmed up two more....got 1/2 way through the first one and was like WHOA, what is that feeling. Nope, not another bite because I was literally going to lose it. I didn't feel uncomfortable or "full" but my stomach was telling me ENOUGH. I liked that!

so so cool!! can hardly wait for my first fill, so I can have that stop sign too! That's what it is all about!