Worried I am eating too much, please help..

[watermum 0]

I am a few days shy of 4 weeks post op. I have healed well and am starting to eat more solid food now I am at the end of my mushie phase. I was told I would only be able to eat about half a cup of food at a time but I am eating more. Sometimes I can easily eat a full cup (measuring cup) before I feel full. I have had no fills yet. I always stop once I feel 'full' and have only overeaten on a few occasions (mainly at the start of the mushie phase when I sometimes ate too fast).

I am worried as I have been the same weight for two weeks even though I am walking for 45min every second day. I am eating well and have only had a few 'naughty' foods since my op. By naughty I mean ice cream or potato bake that has full fat cheese in it.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? I am stressed as I don't want to be one of those people who has the band and doesn't loose any weight.

Edited November 25, 2008 by watermum

[kiz 1]

I had the same issue before I started getting fills. I could eat up to a cup of food, although I tried to split the difference and keep it at 3/4 cup. If I ate much less I felt hungry before time to eat again. I asked my doctor about it, and he said to make my snack another healthy Protein (tuna, Greek yogurt, etc) to help ward off the the huger. That helped a lot. I was also worried that I might stretch my pouch, and he said as long as I was staying below a cup of food I was fine because I was still pretty open, and my food was going through fairly quickly. Now, seven weeks and three fills later, I have very good restriction (at least for now). I'm eating 1/2 cup meals, and after a few minutes, I feel very satisfied.

I used to obsess about getting my evening snack, but I hardly think about it now. I'm working at getting enough Fiber, so often I consider three prunes and 1/2 slice of double fiber whole wheat bread a good snack. I can really tell that my band is working for me now, and it's great.

[P Jhay 0]

WaterMum, you are not alone. I am right there with you. I'm 5 weeks post surgery and at this point I can eat just about anything and trust me it's more than 4 oz. However, I am not giving up or in. You do the same. I hear it gets better once you get a "good" fill. Whatever that means. Anyway, Tootles!

[lapbandtalker 0]

I am a few days shy of 4 weeks post op. I have healed well and am starting to eat more solid food now I am at the end of my mushie phase. I was told I would only be able to eat about half a cup of food at a time but I am eating more. Sometimes I can easily eat a full cup (measuring cup) before I feel full. I have had no fills yet. I always stop once I feel 'full' and have only overeaten on a few occasions (mainly at the start of the mushie phase when I sometimes ate too fast).

I am worried as I have been the same weight for two weeks even though I am walking for 45min every second day. I am eating well and have only had a few 'naughty' foods since my op. By naughty I mean ice cream or potato bake that has full fat cheese in it.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? I am stressed as I don't want to be one of those people who has the band and doesn't loose any weight.

Nah, you are just fine. Eat up! At 4 weeks you haven't had your band adjusted. So you are in the healing phase...not the weight loss phase.

Your focus shouldn't be weightloss...should be healing and beginning to adjust and make better, more nutritious choices.

Again, beginning to make....so you go right ahead and have that ice cream. Put chocolate on top if you wish! It's gonna take some time to learn your body and how much is enough. You know, from time to time even now - on maintenance- I'll overeat. Not often, but I admit it has happened.

Stay close to your doctor and let him/her guide you through this process. Now, if you have ice cream daily...then there's a problem.

Weightloss will come. I didn't diet the entire time, still don't.

Made better choice though...but didn't deny myself anything.

I'll have ice cream every once in a while. Have a chilidog, pizza...whatever. But it's not daily. Just KNOWING I can have it has made me .... not want it as much.

Hang in there and just try to make better choices. This is a process and trying to totally deny yourself any goodies is unrealistic. Over the next few months, get better and better. Then one day you will succeed!

Edited November 25, 2008 by lapbandtalker

[Princess4174 0]

I here all of you talking about what your able to eat after the mushy stage and after fills, how about I went from liquids to Bagels. O.k. I had two, and now I am starting over from the liquid stage because the 10lbs I lost last week I've gained this week....I was excited when I was able to fit boots I wasnt able to wear for the last two years so yes I've got to get my *sh together....But why is it I am not getting full after 4oz or a cup of anything. I dont feel restricted at all....well not since the first week....my surgery was Nov 13th A WEEK AGO! outside of the sour belly I dont feel a difference....AM I GOING CRAZY OR IS IT ALL IN MY MIND OR WHAT? ALL I KNOW IS I DID NOT GET THIS SURGERY FRO NOTHING AND I AM GOING TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT IF I'VE GOT TO DRINK MY TO MY GOALS I WILL....

[LSF 264]

I here all of you talking about what your able to eat after the mushy stage and after fills, how about I went from liquids to Bagels. O.k. I had two, and now I am starting over from the liquid stage because the 10lbs I lost last week I've gained this week....I was excited when I was able to fit boots I wasnt able to wear for the last two years so yes I've got to get my *sh together....But why is it I am not getting full after 4oz or a cup of anything. I dont feel restricted at all....well not since the first week....my surgery was Nov 13th A WEEK AGO! outside of the sour belly I dont feel a difference....AM I GOING CRAZY OR IS IT ALL IN MY MIND OR WHAT? ALL I KNOW IS I DID NOT GET THIS SURGERY FRO NOTHING AND I AM GOING TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT IF I'VE GOT TO DRINK MY TO MY GOALS I WILL....

It sounds like you skipped the mushy phase, just get back on track. You don't want to mess up the band this early in the game.

[Princess4174 0]

YES I DID, I am starting over from stage 1 and will proceed to stage 2....I truly want to succeed with this surgery... This website really does help....I wish you guys were home with me when I get really hungry....like last night...to avoid from eating I just drank some Water took a pain killer and went to sleep.....dont want to trade one addiction for another....

[lapbandtalker 0]

I went from liquids for 1 day to mushies for a day or so then to solids....

it was what I could tolerate. Eat a tiny bite and chew well...after swallowing ask, can I have another?

It still amazes me I can eat a taco better than I can 1/4 cup of applesauce. Mushies have never set well with me whereas solids are just fine.

Don't recommend this - ask your doctor/ follow their advice. But luckily mine said it was 'as tolerated'.

[Princess4174 0]

See I did do all of the liquids but by the time I got to the mushy's my first mushy meal was veggie Beans and chicken vienna sausages.... I was able to inhale a whole Cereal bowl full.... then came the bagel..... with no side effects or filling... I guess I just have to put it in my mind that I am full and satisfied ...

but I have to ask HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GO FROM A SIZE 24 TO A SIZE 6??? Currently I am a 16 (on the bottom) and a about a 20 -22 up top (top heavy) .... I hate my shape, when I do lose weight it always comes off the bottom first....any suggestions on how to get rid of the arms, back, stomach, breast....

lol HELP!

[gentylwind 1]

Princess, I think first you need to chill and just concentrate on learning to do what you are told will work. The issues with your shape and body morphology are not going to be solved this quickly, and going from a 24 to a 6 isn't going to happen overnight. Before you can look at a size 6, just look at the plate in front of you and ask if what you are contemplating eating is going to push you toward your goal...or away from it. There's no in between.

Focus right now on healing your body and learning to do what you are supposed to do. The rest will come later on.

[mgirl 0]

I am feeling the same way. I am 14 days post op and am worried that once I start eating normal foods that I will gain weight. I have been sticking to the 1/2 cup and it seems to fill me up for 1 -2 hrs. I am assuming that once I start eating solids that it will fill me up for a longer period. I know everyone has been through this period but it is scary. I won't get a fill until after the first of the year. Once your body is healed how do you get through those few weeks without starving?

[bjbstoney 1]

Hi new banders. I am coming up on my 2 year aniversity in Jan. Don't worry about what you can and can not eat right now. It will sort itself out when you start getting fills. It takes anywhere from 3 or more to start feeling a restriction. I can most times still down more than 1/2 cup of food at a time and there are times 3 bites is more than I can tolerate. It changes from day to day. You will learn what is right for you. I do not crave sweets but now and than I treat myself but prefer snacking on Protein if I need a snack. I find nights my enemy and tend to eat more than but I am fine by sticking mostly to protein snacking. Follow the rules and you should lose the pounds. I was wearing 4 and 5 X's and now wear size 10 after losing 167 pounds. Hang in there and don't worry so much it will be fine.

[Angelsma 1]

Thank you Jack, your post make so much sense and very helpful to someone who grew up hearing/believing the same things. While I was banded in July '08 I am just now learning to "work with my band" by FEELING / LISTENING what my body is telling me.

[flowers 0]

Thank you Jack, your post make so much sense and very helpful to someone who grew up hearing/believing the same things. While I was banded in July '08 I am just now learning to "work with my band" by FEELING / LISTENING what my body is telling me.

It looks like you are another July butterfly. I was banded the day before you.

Iv walked pretty much every day. I also dont have age in my favor, Im 58, but you can sit there and add up all the reasons why something is hard and if you are determined enough you will lose. Im sure Im overeating and not at restriction, but I am not eating any sweats, and like someone else mentioned, if Im hungry I have a Protein snack. Have some turkey pepperoni in the microwave. Have some rolled up ham. Fry and egg in pam. Low fat hotdogs are about 50 calories fry one in the skillet in pam and so on. I know how to eat to lose, but I slip slided away last winter, but Im moving back where I need to be, no matter what it takes.

I reread my post, I combined two things, one I was saying hello to another July butterfly, the other I was saying what works for me to lose weight if I stick to Protein Snacks and cut the sugar and walk every day. Im hoping to get to where Jack and some others are and that I dont want to eat so much and that this gets easier, but to me its still working it.

Edited November 26, 2008 by flowers

[silversurfer 0]

hi i am new here banded 6 days ago, i don't understand how can we eat anything, i thought it was going to take a long time, i know about the fills, but it doesn't seem like to much bothers any of you, please help a newbie