How long between meals

[Big08 0]

I'm due to be banded Jan 22nd and I have a question for the veterans. How long do you go between meals? For example my wife and I generally eat dinner at 5:00 PM, by 8:30 to 9:00 PM (pre-band) I've starving and have found this to be a time when I'm in danger of "raiding the pantry". I'm hoping that with the band I will still feel full and not interested in getting more to eat. What time do you have Breakfast so that you're not tempted to snack before lunch etc. I know everyone is different, however I am interested in some of the experiences out there. Additionally, what I have read about being banded has indicated that you shouldn't snack, i.e. 3 meals a day and that's it.

[wstorms 2]

I am new banster, but I just wanted to tell you how I handle meals and Snacks. As you know EVERYONE is different and everyone has different doctor recommendations. I have three meals a day, and try to have two Snacks. Most of the time I only have one snack a day though. Eating five times a day is what my doctor recommended, I dont need the snacks though. I try to use the snacks, when I have one, to add in more Protein to my diet. I am always trying to get more Protein. Tomorrow I am three weeks post-op, and I do not feel hunger like I used to. So I do not have a problem with wanting to raid the pantry :thumbup:.

Breakfast- 7:00

Snack- 9:00 (usually skip this one)

Lunch- 11:30

Snack- 3:00

Dinner- 5:30 or 6:00

Good luck with all you do! Happy holidays!

[kiz 1]

Different doctors have different meal plans. Mine is three 1/2 cup meals/day and one healthy snack.< /span>

I eat breakfast sometime after 9 am. lunch around 1 pm and dinner after 6 pm. Snack around 9 pm. I do better if I can delay my meals because, like you, I tend to get hungrier in the evening.

[krtork 0]

I am on a three meal, two snack plan. I too use the Snacks to add Protein. I was bumped up to 1100-1200 calories a day and 80 grams of Protein. I find it hard to get in all the protein, so I use the Snacks to get that extra protein in!

The SB Meal bars a good chice for protein and a great afternoon snack. I try to not eat after 7:00pm - I used to be in the habit of eating ice cream, Cookies, etc every evening. The band helped me break that habit, but I still have to work at not eating in the evening - most of it is head hunger, not real hunger.

I just had my 4th fill and I am finally having true restriction and able to eat 1/2 cup meals and be full for 3 hours. Definitely, drinking between meals helps!

[Jachut 487]

I find my band doesnt prevent hunger, in fact I get hungrier than before.

That sounds alarming but its really only because before a meal may have been 750 calories and that woudl stick for quite a while, and I also wasnt doing anything much but pottering round the house, a bit of shopping, etc.

Nowadays I might fit in 200 or 300 calories for a meal and I've normally run 10kms and been very active during my day. So I need fuel and its not surprising that my body tells me so.

So even though early on I was like others and had to remind myself to eat, as I've gotten more restriction and eat less at a time, I tend to get physically hungry every 3 or 4 hours or so during the day, so I eat breakfast, lunch and 2 Snacks. At about 5 pm my appetite switches OFF. I could care less about eating dinner most nights, and I dont feel the urge to snack at night - but I was NEVER a night time eater, my pattern has always been to eat a lot in the earlier part of the day and then stop.

I dont see a problem - I eat when I'm hungry, just a little, until I'm not hungry anymore and then I dont think about food again until I am hungry again. Its way better than stuffing food down my gob all day anyway, hungry or not. the band is a huge help in that once i eat, I'm satisfied, I dont have that feeling that I'd like just a little bit of this or that etc. I stop, I dont do all the mindless eating.

[TQUAD64 9]

I had my second fill December 10. I was able to go without food, not feeling hungry for 6-7 hours with this fill.

Today (two-weeks later), I eat and then feel hungry 4-hours later. This is still great for me, because I am not grazing. I really feel satisified with the meal.

My next fill is on January 14, three weeks away.

[SweetZ 1]

3 meals only doesn't sound to good to me.

I was told six small (half cup) meals or 3 meals and 2 Snacks. both with Water in between.

so far though I haven't followed much of any schedule with my all liquid diet. I need to get on it though.

[LSF 264]

I had my second fill December 10. I was able to go without food, not feeling hungry for 6-7 hours with this fill.

Today (two-weeks later), I eat and then feel hungry 4-hours later. This is still great for me, because I am not grazing. I really feel satisified with the meal.

My next fill is on January 14, three weeks away.

You are very lucky - I hope I feel that way after my fills.

[HeatherO 7]

With good restriction I am good for 4 hours or maybe a little more.

You will probably not have that at first. You may want to build in a small band friendly snack at that time that fits your diet plan.

[HeatherO 7]

One other thing, when you are hungry post banding, you are HUNGRYYY, at least it is that way for me. I have to be careful sometimes in that when I finally have the urge to eat, I can sometimes eat too fast because I am overly hungry. Instead of hunger creeping up on me, it is just there in full force.

[luluc 6]

i'm hungry every 3-5hrs - a LOT depends on what i ate at my previous meal & how hard did i work out.

for the last 6+ months i have eaten 3 meals plus 1 or 2 Snacks a day.

[lellow 1,713]

I eat when I'm starting to get hungry - at this point, it's usually 3 times a day as each meal lasts me at least 4 hours.

My surgeon's instructions have always been 'eat when hungry' and he doesn't prescribe 3 or 4 or 5 set meals/snacks. I think most Aussie Drs do this.

I exercise at night (35-40kms on a spin bike three times a week) but my body seems to be happy on what I'm eating because I'm not needing more food than I'm having at the moment to sustain the exercise.

[HeatherO 7]

I eat when I'm starting to get hungry - at this point, it's usually 3 times a day as each meal lasts me at least 4 hours.

My surgeon's instructions have always been 'eat when hungry' and he doesn't prescribe 3 or 4 or 5 set meals/snacks. I think most Aussie Drs do this.

I have to agree completely. I might have 4 hours in between but after being banded for such a long time, I eat when I am hungry. Sometime 3, 4 or 5 times a day. I still lose weight but don't stay hungry this way.

[*Love* 2]

My doctor told me to eat ever 3-4 hours waking hours, whether I am hungry or not. I eat a cup size portion at each sitting.

[jms462001 9]

I'm due to be banded Jan 22nd and I have a question for the veterans. How long do you go between meals? For example my wife and I generally eat dinner at 5:00 PM, by 8:30 to 9:00 PM (pre-band) I've starving and have found this to be a time when I'm in danger of "raiding the pantry". I'm hoping that with the band I will still feel full and not interested in getting more to eat. What time do you have breakfast so that you're not tempted to snack before lunch etc. I know everyone is different, however I am interested in some of the experiences out there. Additionally, what I have read about being banded has indicated that you shouldn't snack, i.e. 3 meals a day and that's it.

Every 2-3 hours as needed when hungry.