Getting a little hungry...

[wolfegirl]

I had lapband on Frebruary 9th. I don't get a fill until March 31st. I have been more hungry the further I get from surgery. Will that go away with a fill?

[PhotoNut]

Hey Wolfegirl! Grats on your banding! It's natural to be experiencing hunger at this stage of the game. The swelling from surgery is subsiding and that means you have less "restriction" and therefore the food starts going thru the banded area much quicker. Whether or not you will still experience hunger after your first fill will depend on lots of things - the size of your stomach, the size of your band, how much your doctor puts in your band, etc. With the bigger bands, it often takes a few adjustments before people begin to feel the kind of restriction that prolongs the feeling of satiety after eating a meal.

A good way to help prolong that satiety before you achieve good restriction is by eating between 60-100 grams of lean protein each day. While still on the post-op diet, you can up your protein intake by adding whey protein shakes to your daily intake. You can also buy flavorless protein powder that can be added to soft foods. IF, and only IF, your doctor allows moist fish during the mushy part of your post-op diet, you could tray Gortons frozen grilled fish fillets. They are a great source of protein. I also found Campbell's bean with bacon soup to be very rib-sticking.

I'm sure others can give you some ideas as well. But the main thing is to hang in there and baby your new band. Try to appease your hunger with foods that are on your approved list so that you avoid getting stuck or over eating and causing damage to your newly banded pouch.

[wolfegirl]

Thank you for the message of hope. I was starting to feel defeated. I've also not been too good on the soft foods diet, but I am chewing things very well.

[wilsonpd64]

Don't get discouraged. This is a journey and like all journeys, there are pitstops and potholes. But you are about where everyone else is at your point. I wasn't great on the mushies (I got banded the week of thanksgiving....can you imagine?)but you will get through...a day at a time.

[Wanda]

It may take several fills before you fill some restriction, but everyone is different. I was very hungry before my 1st fill. Then after the 1st fill, I was restricted for a while and then hungry again. Each fill lasts a little longer until you finally reach that "sweet spot" I was banded in 08/08 and I have not reached my "sweet spot" yet. I have good restriction after each fill, but they do not last. I am due another fill on 04-01-09 and hopfeully (my fingers are crossed) this will be the one!

[wolfegirl]

I suppose I just have the same fears as everyone, stretching my stomach. All of things I told myself and everyone else I was going to do I have failed at. A friend had lapband about 6 months before me I remember hearing the things she would eat and saying to myself I'm not going to go that. Well here I am. Hungry and not living up to my own expectations. I am trying to give myself a break. My first fill is the 31st so I am looking forward to the restriction.

[sprintmom]

Wolfgirl,
I hang in there, do try to get fish or chicken in for protein, and also if poss. drink a protein shake and lots of water, are you exercising, this is a important part of the wt loss journey...good luck and keep us informed
ella

[LoYoYo]

Make sure you are getting enough protein & water. It will get better :)

[newlifeat57]

Congratulations on your surgery and welcome to B2G. It sounds like you're right on track. I'm almost a year out and my hunger and tightness ebbs and flows. One day I'm tight and I have a lot of restriction and another day I could eat bunches. The band isn't the mysterious part, it's our systems that cause the stomach to swell and cause some restriction. I had a very stressful day on Friday and it caused me great discomfort. I was very tight and was unable to eat any dense food for about 24 hrs. So I went with liquids. I'm alright now, but am going to be very cautious. You will get to know your system more than anyone else. Pay attention and follow your bandster rules and you will do fine.

Blessings for an adverturous new lifestyle with your band.

[twirl]

I was banded on 12/9/08 and I have had two fills and have lost 26 lbs but I get very hungry

[newlifeat57]

I was banded on 12/9/08 and I have had two fills and have lost 26 lbs but I get very hungry

Twirl, be sure to eat lots of dense protein FIRST then the veggies and if you have room the starches and sweets. Do this even for a snack. Stay away from the crackers and candy when you need a snack. Eat protein first. I make a big batch of chicken and cook them--not quite all the way done---then i freeze them on a cookie sheet. Once they are frozen I put them in a baggie. Personally, I know I need a snack around 2:30pm so I pull out my chx pieces, which I cooked in the microwave, before packing them up and taking them to work, and I eat these for my snack. I also have jerkey on hand or almonds. Stick to dense proteins for a snack. Because I don't do milk products well, I don't eat cheese (which in my opionion it's a solid fat) either. Some like to eat cottage cheese for a snack. Get creative and find a dense protein you will like.

[Wanda]

I can eat chips to beat the band, but let me try to eat some pork and up it comes. I guess it is because the chips would be considered a "soft' food? I try to avoid them at all costs. Just like the Lays commercial. Bet you can't eat just one! Yep, lost that bet too many times.

[wolfegirl]

It seems like hunger is just something you get used to. I don't do well with protein I never have, I'm not a big meat eater. The protein mixes help allot though. so far EAS I have found works for me the best. But every day?!? I guess you do what you have to.

[christie]

You know, now that I have restriction, I'm not hungry very often anymore.

[wolfegirl]

I'm sure I will understand more with time but I am completly dissapointed with my doctors visit today. I was told I would get my first fill today. I explained to her what I have been eating and that I am hungry. Apparently there is a weight loss curve that we are all held to and I lost more than the average person so I can't get a fill even though I am hungry. If I were average I wouldn't have been there is the first place. Isn't the point to eat less? So what is I lost more than their charts say I should, it is only 22 lbs in 7 weeks. Does she not remember that she had me on liquids for two of those weeks? I am just upset and I'm sure I'll get over it but I had my heart set on getting a fill and not being so hungry.

[wolfegirl]

I am still not completly understanding about my last doctor's visit especially after I gained 5lbs last week. Is that what doctor's want? I am eating more protein than I ever have in my life I personally find it gross but I am doing it. I can't fail at one more thing. I have about 11 more years to pay this off from my line of credit I would like to at least have it work until then. Will my next doctor's visit be better? A fill?

[Tracie]

I sorry to hear you are going through this. Weight gain at this point is disheartening!