Banded on 6/2 - Will cravings ease up?

[jtejada 0]

Hello,

I was banded on 6/2 and have already lost 20 pounds. I'm so glad that I made the decision to do this.

One question....will it get easier?

[LindaD 3]

I think you are in the same place as I am - I was banded on 5/29.

We have the band in, but it's not yet filled so it's not yet offering the satiety that we're hoping for. Especially if you're doing a lot of liquid or soft foods - they can go right through the band.

I don't claim to know much yet, but I'm hopeful that once I start eating more solid food, it will stay in my upper pouch and help me feel more full. And then, of course, getting to the right fill level will help too.

Hang in there - keep doing your best to eat right and make sure you're getting in your exercise. I was fighting hunger all day today, I just could not get past it. I came home from work and had 3 scrambled eggs and some cheerios (and that's a lot, I know - it's way more than 2 ounces of food!!) and I'm finally not feeling so desperately hungry.

I expect it will get easier, yes. Still hard work, no doubt, but easier when the effect of the band is realized.

[jtejada 0]

LindaD,

I'm sure you are right. I knew it wouldn't be easy when I decided to do this, but today was such a challenge as the office was filled with pastries and I was hungry. I was a good girl though and I'm sure tomorrow will be better.

THANKS!

[TopTier 0]

jtejada, good girl! I know that was hard! But you chose wisely!

[jtejada 0]

Thanks. Good luck to you!!

[lisa s-p 0]

Linda - we were banded the same day so I am curious what you are eating. I had my first scrambled egg yesterday, but nothing like Cereal yet. How have you lost so much weight already???

[LindaD 3]

Lisa, I lost a bunch of it starting in February getting ready for my surgery. I used an Rx to help with appetite - Phentermine. But I went off of that before surgery and that last week on clear-liquids, I lost 20 more.

I haven't lost anything since. Well, I guess 4 or 5 but that was like the first few days after - the scale hasn't moved since.

My post-op diet was: week 1 Clear Liquids, week 2 full liquids (he allows oyster crackers, saltines, and graham crackers on your full-liquids phase), week 3 (where I am now) is soft foods. He allows Cheerios and Corn Flakes on this phase as long as you chew them to the consistency of toothpaste.

I just started soft foods on Friday. I've had guacamole a few times, I had a cheese enchilada (it was VERY soft so I'm assuming it was OK - I took very small bites and chewed well), I've had scrambled eggs several times. I had re-fried Beans with cheese.

Starting Friday (week 4) I'm on regular foods only I'm still not to eat any bread, fibery vegetables, salad, red meat, or pork and no alcohol or carbonated beverages.

I have lost little weight since surgery. When I was on the post-op liquids, my calories were very low, and now they are higher but still very much lower than they used to be maybe 1000-1200 a day. I've been very hungry but I still think that keeping it down that low is no over-indulging. But the scale isn't moving right now. It will, though.... I'm going to be patient and keep working at doing the right things.