Bandster Hell

[bethm 0]

Okie.. I'm on day 22 and I am starving. Like ghandi starving. Beyond a regular diet starving. I am HUNGRY.

Since the 22nd of this month I've been on mushies. I have not lost 1 pound since then so not only is the scale not moving but I'm just ravenous all day. I am limiting my portions to 1/2 cup or so of mushy food but it is by sheer willpower alone and frankly it's getting too much for me. I feel like it's been a month since I got a meal.

I have tried drinking a Protein Drink to feel full. It's not working or if it does only for an hour or two.

I know that this is considered bandster hell but I thought I lucked out the first couple weeks because I wasn't hungry at all. Either the scale has to move or I'm going to be found face first in a vat of mashed potatoes with 2 tons of butter on them.

Is anyone still losing on mushies? Please tell me what you're eating and why it's moving for you?

I am getting my 64 oz of Water in.. My Protein is between 60-70g.. My calories average about 800-900. I currently weight 288 when I wake up in the morning. Given my high weight theoretically I SHOULD be shedding my fat on what I'm eating and the small amount of walking I'm doing a day (about 1-2 miles).

Is anyone this hungry? It's not even head hunger. I'd eat cardboard at this point if I thought it would just fill me up.

HELP!

Edited January 1, 2009 by bethm

[goosefraba 0]

Omg I’m not the only one! I’ve lost friggin 3lbs in 2 weeks! WTH! However I just played with my calories and bumped it up to 1190 yesterday and I lost 1lb overnight..So I think me being at 800-900 w/ exercise was making my body store the weight. I’m going to go to 1200 again today and see if maybe I just need to up my calories. I’m just 12lbs off from you (276) so maybe try upping your intake and see what happens. For our weights eating 800-900 should makes us loose steadily..

Oh and as for the hunger thing, I stopped the shakes and just eat a cup of mushies (protein). I generally stay full till my next meal (I eat every 3 ½ to 4hrs)

My typical day:

B:

2 eggs scrambled w/ 1oz cheese

L:

1 cup pureed chicken w/ Ricotta

D:

1 cup pureed chicken w/ Ricotta

Snacks:

Jell-O, SF Popsicles, or reduced fat string cheese chewed very very well.

What do you typically eat? I like to see what other bandsters are eating..

Good Luck and I’m sure will make it out of bandster hell lighter! :Yawn:

[bethm 0]

oh phew.. you're going through the same thing.

I mix it up.. today I had:

breakfast: chicken Soup powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury shake

lunch: pastina with low fat butter and parmasan

dinner: tuna with miracle whip

2 coffees, 2 waters..

The chicken with riccotta sounds good.. how do you make that?

Went out today to Barnes and Noble to pick up a few books and I almost burst through the Cheesecake Factory wall like the koolaid man to get some pumpkin cheesecake. I refrained but I'm a hair away from the frustrated looney bin for sure!

Edited January 1, 2009 by bethm

[slynclark 0]

Hi!

I'm now 2 days into soft solid food so I can pretty much eat anything chewed really well and it's really tough because I get so hungry and I know that I'm overeating!

Do you think this gets better? What will happen after the first fill that I hsve restriction?

[goosefraba 0]

The chicken with ricotta sounds good.. how do you make that?

Went out today to Barnes and Noble to pick up a few books and I almost burst through the Cheesecake Factory wall like the koolaid man to get some pumpkin cheesecake. I refrained but I'm a hair away from the frustrated looney bin for sure!

Pumpkin cheesecake "OH YEAHHH" that is yummy..you have restraint!:thumbup:

my chicken ricotta version:

It sounds icky but it taste pretty good and so filling

I get a 15oz container of Fat Free or Part Skim ricotta, a rotisserie chicken or just breast if available.

Pretty much remove all meat (no skin) and put it all in the processor with salt and pepper to taste pulse until mushy.

It makes a few servings so you can put in 1 cup containers that’s what I do and just pop them in the microwave for 1 min or 2 and viola instant lunch or dinner full of protein! :Yawn:

[V-Queen 0]

The only thing that REALLY keeps me full for hours is OATMEAL...not any of the flavored kind just plain old fashioned oatmeal with a little splenda...I'll have 2 slices of turkey bacon and between 1/4 and 1/2 a cup of oatmeal and I don't have any cravings or tummy rumblings for at least 4 to 5 hours.....I usally have for Breakfast and ONLY once a day otherwise WAY to many carbs..granted its good carbs

but carbs none the less...

[Keshia Monae 0]

You're not the only one!

I've been on solid's now for a week and am starving... My dr's reccomendation is 4 oz of food 3x per day but I quickly realized it's not enough and leaves me starving! I've been getting in my protien and Water everyday and still feel hungry! Unfortunatly I've also realized that there isn't much food that makes me sick or gets "stuck" which is in turn making the situation worse, because I want to eat! It's so bad that I've often wondered if my band has slipped ( I pray NOT!) *sigh*

I've boosted my meals up to 1 cup of food 3xs per day and added in Snacks and still some days I'm more ravenous than others...especially being on vacation for the past few weeks!

I did notice yesterday that I actually gained a pound and I'm pretty sure that it's because I haven't been exercising ... I actually started back today! I'm not worried about the gain, because I know it will come back off... I am however worried about no restriction and never feeling full...makes me feel like I did pre-band......

I can honestly say that I'm running to my Dr's office come the 6 week mark for my first fill!!

[Vickie 0]

I was banded Dec. 9, 2008 and I have lost 14 or 15 pounds. My papers say we're still in a healing period and so I wanted to share what it says. Hope it makes you feel better.

4. When you begin soft and regular foods, you may find you are able to eat more than you expected. Remember, your band is not really working yet (for most people), so don’t be alarmed! Choose good, nutritious foods and avoid high-calorie ones, sweets, and junk food, and you may be able to lose some weight during this phase. Try to limit your intake to a reasonable amount each day. Some lose weight on the Fluid phases, but may regain when they start soft and regular foods. This is normal. Any weight loss you have in these phases before the band is filled is a bonus!

5. Start to learn a lot about better nutrition. Learn what foods contain the Protein, Fiber, and Calcium Bandsters need to assist good weight loss. When you start soft foods, aim for 50-60 grams of protein a day for women (60-70 a day for men.). 25 grams of fiber, and 1500 mg of calcium (1200 for women younger than 50). These are all very important to support good weight loss, as well as for regaining your health. These are things you will need to aim for forever, to maintain your lost weight.

6. FitDay.com is a good internet site to help you track your intake and learn what foods contain the nutrients Bandsters need.

7. Avoid sweets, junk, and poor-nutrition foods. Starting with the regular food phase, avoid Pasta, potatoes, rice, and breads – these are all poor nutrition and mostly empty calories. They will often also plug up the stoma later, when you have fills. Choose healthy, lower-cal foods, and you can lose some weight even before you have a good fill.

8. Start some daily, gentle exercise within a day or two of surgery. Even a 15-minute daily walk is a good start. Try to increase a bit every week. Exercise is essential to build up your muscles and strength, and make your body burn fat more efficiently – which will greatly assist your weight –loss efforts, as well as improve cardio health. If you have special medical problems, consult your family doctor before starting an exercise regimen. No intense exercise or lifting more than 10 # for the 6-week healing period, please. We encourage women to join a gentle, formal exercise programs like “Curves” which is ideal for Bandster women.

9. Start to learn about and choose lower-calorie and lowfat foods most of the time.

10. Add a chewable, adult daily Multi-Vitamin when you begin the full liquid phase (as all U.S. adults are advised). Other supplements are not needed, unless prescribed by your family doctor for a specific condition.

11. Expect some extra gas, belching, and stomach sounds until you heal further, and until your stomach gets used to the band. If the abdominal gas is excessive, you may use some Gas-X.

12. It is normal to have looser stools when you are on liquids. If they become excessive, you may use some Immodium AD with your family doctor’s permission.

13. We urge you to become active in an online support and education board, if you are not yet, where experienced Bandsters will answer questions, explain things, and guide you through the healing and weight-loss Banding phases. ObesityHelp is a good place to start: www.obesityhelp.com

[hhobbsmichael 0]

Hello everyone, I am pretty new to this site. . . it is so big, I just don't know where I fit in! I was banded on New Year's Eve and just started soft foods on the 14th. I am still drinking two shakes per day and just having some Protein and grilled veggies for dinner. I too have noticed that my weight loss has slowed down! I am down 30 pounds since my two week pre-op diet started, but the scale has not moved in the past 4 or 5 days. And, I am hungry. . . I am so used to not being hungry, that this almost has me scared. I am finding that I am gritting my teeth to keep from eating and am a little too excited about my evening meal. I keep my portions really small and chew, chew, chew. But I am having the worst time not drinking with my meal. I get my first fill on Feb. 2nd, so I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Good luck to everyone!

Heather

[agatoprincess 0]

Wow, Thanks everyone!! I had no idea that this period was called bandster hell. I was telling my husband last the other night that I am starving all the time, and its making me crazy. I had no idea that this was a common phase. I feel much better now.

[barbvee 0]

i am sch for band surgery in april and reading this is pretty scary. my dr wants me to have the rny and i am just terrified of this surgery so opted for band. has this surgery helped anyone, i need to lose alot of weight and it sounds hopeful but i need some encouragement i dont want to do this if it doesnt work. help pleas barb

[mountainmomma 0]

Hey, I was Banded on new years eve and am doing pretty good, yes I get hungry but I am trying to eat better, however my Dr did tell me that I might not loose anymore weight till I got a fill, he said not to be upset if I did not loose but to try not to gain any. I have can feel when I have had enough, which is more then I thought, but I do not want to take the chance of making myself sick or getting another Hyatal hernia, DR warned me about this before if I were to overstuff after the band, however when he went to put my band in I amready had it, so he fixed it. Maybe that is why I fell a slight restriction. But I try very hard not to over do it and Oatmeal is good, I get the weight control flavored stuff with No sugar. Love it! I usually can do 1 egg with some grits, or 1 egg and about 1/4 can of corned beef hash. This is breakfast and whatever other meal If I am too lazy to cook anything else. Kinda scared to do anything else.

[mountainmomma 0]

Don't be scared! Be comfortable with your Dr and go for it! You will thank yourself later, I already am and am getting anxious to get going. Good luck!!!

[barbvee 0]

thanks guys that is encouraging. it is hard to find positive reinforcement for the band on a rny site. the weight loss is so much more for the rny but that is not for me. and i am trying to be comfortable with my decision and to know that i can lose weight using this tool. i am low carbing at the moment. trying to get a head start on surgery. and learning to read labels to eat smaller portions and more often and to sip and chew instead of chuggaluggin.

i hope that i can do this. i am 60 years old and ya know i believe this will cause me to live longer and feel better and i need to do that. thanks for your help. my email is barb_verrett@yahoo.com if you want to email me there. i dont always get to this site. thanks again

[Vickie 0]

thanks guys that is encouraging. it is hard to find positive reinforcement for the band on a rny site. the weight loss is so much more for the rny but that is not for me. and i am trying to be comfortable with my decision and to know that i can lose weight using this tool. i am low carbing at the moment. trying to get a head start on surgery. and learning to read labels to eat smaller portions and more often and to sip and chew instead of chuggaluggin.

i hope that i can do this. i am 60 years old and ya know i believe this will cause me to live longer and feel better and i need to do that. thanks for your help. my email is barb_verrett@yahoo.com if you want to email me there. i dont always get to this site. thanks again

Sounds like your on the right road, I'm 58 and just recently had the band. It is a wonderful tool. Stay away from sugar.