What's full feel like to you?

[BigOBoy123 67]

What should I be feeling when I am full with the band. I know this feeling may be specific to each person, but I need to know what you guys felt when you were full. As for me instead of just feeling full I feel pain, and I have spasms all the way up my neck. I havent had a choking feeling or anything, but I definately feel a pain in my throat. I have also noticed that my stomach growls and bubbles a lot. Is that normal? And my hunger has come back as well. I am 12 days post op and I have no gas pains or any pain near or around my port or any of my incisions, the only pain I have is when I am guessing I am full. Even though the scale says different I feel like I have gained all of my pre op weight back. I was down to 274 and now I am back up to 278 which really makes me angry. I have read on here that the hunger will return as you heal after surgery so I kinda understand the weight gain. I just hope I dont have to wait much longer on my first fill. I would imagine I'll have to wait until my incisions are completely healed up. My Doc said that by the #rd of July which is my next appt. with him, I should be eating fish and today I ate two pieces of fish from Captain D's so I guess thats following the Doc's orders. Anyways, what I am trying to say is that I feel like I have taken a step back instead of forwards with this weight gain. And I so dislike seeing the hunger return. Although I have enjoyed being able to eat somewhat solid foods I would rather the hunger stay away. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.,

[kll724 3,055]

Most of us do not go for the "full" feeling. We go for the satisfied feeling. If you eat t\'til you are full, you are probably going to be uncomfortable and not lose weight. stop when you are satisfied. That is, no longer hungry. Best wishes on your successful journey! Karen

[mrsto 2,925]

You are still early out of surgery. It's going to take some time to get used to the band, and the signals it sends. I'm sure you've read all over these forums, about bandster hell? There comes a point when hunger returns, and you have to white knuckle it until you start getting fills.

Are you tracking your calories and Protein? If not, I highly suggest that you start doing that today. It's amazing how quickly the calories add up; even on "healthy" foods. I'm not familiar with Captain D's. Is that fried fish, or do they have grilled as well?

It took awhile for me to get in touch with the band signals. As Karen above said, most of us do not eat until we're full. Once we hit that point, there is a lot of discomfort involved. When I eat, I go very slow, take small bites chewed VERY well, and listen closely for the signal. My doctor says, take 20 minutes to eat, and then stop (even if there is still food left). I'm usually done before the 20 minutes, but I do notice that I'm satisfied at around the 15 minute mark.

This is a whole new way of life when it comes to food and eating. The stomach growling & bubbling part is very normal.....especially in the beginning. I used to gurgle, but now that rarely happens. At 12 days out, what you feel now will change as the weeks & months pass. Once you start getting fills, I think you will notice a huge difference. And I can't stress enough at the importance of tracking your food; calories and Protein.< /p>

[Toddy 758]

I just feel comfortable... and tired of chewing! I also start sneezing... weird, I know. If I overeat, even just a tiny bit, I'll feel nauseous and have to kind of fight a gag reflex... needless to say, I try and never overeat!

[GuyMontag 1,264]

As you heal you may find that you have little to no restriction and can eat just like before you were banded. This is pretty common. It's important that you get fills as often as you can so you can get into the green zone quickly. I can tell when I feel full because I now eat REALLY slow and give my stomach time to let me know I'm full.

[2muchfun 8,927]

The pain you describe is not normal. Don't ever think it will be this way or you may damage your pouch or esophagus. The pain in your neck sounds like you're pouch is full and food is backing up into your esophagus. Over a period of time this can stretch out the pouch and esophagus and cause a revision.

Stop thinking "full". Start thinking, "am I hungry"? The am I hungry or am I just craving will be your biggest test for many days. It took me 4 months to understand this concept. There are stop signals you might want to look for? A runny nose, hiccups, heavy sighs are all signals that you don't need to keep eating.

2 pieces of deep fried fish is not recommended btw. 2 pieces of baked, grilled or poached fish is fine. Start thinking healthy food? It's not that you can't eat fast foods, at this point in your recovery it's not advisable. If you want to lose weight or at least stay even till you get some fills, you may want to eat more of the baked/grilled fish/chicken/beef and eat more vegetables? Until you start to feel some restriction from your band, this is just another diet.

tmf

[kll724 3,055]

Great advice from the men. I agree with both!

[KAATNS 1,473]

For me, I no longer have a desire to feel "full" but rather just satisfy my hunger. I didn't fully understand the concept until I was properly adjusted and learned to live with my band. It does takes some time, practice and patience, but you will get there.

[B-52 7,113]

After being in the Green Zone for over 2 years, I have NEVER felt full.....I'm simply not hungry and have no interest in continuing. If I'm even interested in eating in the first place, which is rare since I'm not hungry most of the time, 24hrs....

Now if I eat sliders, or have more than one beer...then yes...I get that old fashioned full feeling...much faster than I used to because my stomach has shrunk from not eating as much.

But eating with the band? Never.....

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

not sure if my plication helps, but i do get a (full) feeling at the allotted amount cut off that my dr told me about.......its like you need to un-do your belt after a thanksgiving dinner at my grannys..very uncomfortable feeling and not something i enjoy either..bloated feeling.....the others said it perfectly, dont eat til full...eat til you are (satisfied)....the band is a great thing...(and let me add, just because one can eat more than they are suppose to, doesnt mean they should)...need some sense to not push boundaries..

[BigOBoy123 67]

Thanks everyone. The fish I ate was baked fish and the two pieces I did eat had been the biggest meal I've had since my surgery. After those two pieces of naked fish I felt stuffed. My hunger like I did has returned but not as much as before my surgery. I jus keep body with walking and exercising to keep from paying too much attention to head hunger.

[LeeB1946 261]

Naked fish, I love that. I was never much of a fast food person. Taco Time now and then for a Taco salad, but no MCD's, etc. I am 5 months out with 2 fills and 5cc total. Had 2 and surgery, 2 at first fill and 1. Hunger still gets me a bit, but getting better. My broiler and over are getting some use as I stay away from fried as much as possible. Best of luck on your journey. Walking helps me alot to forget about the food and eating.

[Karen WS 78]

I love the saying"eat to live instead of living to eat"

[NWgirl 574]

I only eat until I'm not hungry, I do not focus on full. Full for me with the band is very uncomfortable- hiccups, pressure in chest, hard time swallowing, possible pb's, etc.

It took me awhile to figure out that I didn't need to be full at the end of my meals. I stop eating when I am in the middle of hungry and not hungry, not when I feel like what I would have considered full pre-band.

[Summerrain 520]

To be honest I haven't had that full feeling since before being banded, you know that feeling like you're going to explode because you ate too much. I eat till my hunger goes away so I never feel full but satisfied and no longer wanting nor having an interest in continuing to eat but also I am in the greenzone and have been so since last October. Before being in greenzone I would just eat my allotted amount which was no more than one cup of food three times per day and only eat when hungry, the days I would be extra hungry I just drank tea or Water or go for walks or distract myself with other things.

So full to me now feels like I felt before I started eating but satisfied with no hunger feelings if that makes sense.