Yet more questions, hunger? liquids? protein??

Ok I thought I should just ask all my questions at once instead of posting sevearl.   1.  I too feel hunger.  I agree it has to be more head hunger than anything but I don't feel full after I eat / drink my creamy soup or apple sauce or pudding or liquidy oatmean.. well the oatmeal seems to help a little more.  I am working on drinking more!   we are supposed to have no more than 4 oz. at a time right?  and try to make that meal last for at least 20 min?  ( that is very hard)  is anyone else struggling with this? 2.  As for liquids  I am getting the 64 oz. in most days but again, its a struggle, we aren't supposed to drink more than 4 oz an hr right?  This means I end up trying to watch the clock to see if I've had too much or too little.  I don't know how some of you are getting more than that in, some days I don't get the full 64 oz in!  am I missing something here? 3.  Protein.  Ok I am having 1 unjury protein shake which has 20 grams and then 1 20oz bottle of Isopure which has 40 grams.  is 60 grams the right amount for Lap banders?   I have 50 written down on my food  phase II weeks 1-4  I was told 50 was enough but I am getting 60 from those two drinks so I thought better safe than sorry.  Yet, it seems that I hear lots of you are having 70 or more?  is that for the RNY'rs?   HELP LOL I need lots of help... I just want to make sure I'm doing this right so that I don't make it harder on myself! Thank you everyone!

Hhi Lovinit,



I had my surgery close to you, but I had RNY. Let's see if I can answer some of your questions.



1. My instructions were if I'm still hungry on liquids, add another protein shake. You may have different instructions. If it is actually head hunger, get yourself busy and keep your mind off of food.



2. I'm not sure of your surgeon's orders, but the 4 oz. per hour for me was a guide to try to get all my fluids in. At this point, I still sip all day long, but I'm able to reach my 64 oz. goals because I'm not so swollen and full. I can drink a 16 oz. bottle of water in an hour.



3. Every surgeon has their own requirements for protein also. If you are meeting your surgeons goals for you, you are doing well. I don't believe that getting more that that is a problem at all.



Now, of course, I'm still new at this. I just wanted to give you my opinion.

Hi Purple Passon, Thank for the suggestions.  I really think the issue of "getting myself busy" is very key.  I have to find more that takes my mind off of food.  Right now I am really struggling with pain management on the knees.  Exercise is out with the exception of some I can do from a chair.  My doctor wants me to get in a pool but I actually don't think I could get out.  My knees are so week and the pain would only get worse and right now there isn't anything I can do for it but ice and take the Tylenol Arthritis that doesn't do much for me.  So I do very little.. quick trip through the grocery store is big for me.  Doctor visits is about all I'm doing right now.  My life is in this apartment.  And for me that is very hard.  I am a people person who raised 3 sons and I was a go go go girl!!!  I think it was more important that I had a car then a home once upon a time LOL J/K   Anyway.  I read and I have my pogo games but I need to get passionate about something to keep my mind off of eating.  I guess its time to bust out the crafts and start on my Christmas gifts!  I have been putting this off.   Ok too much info?  LOL sorry! I am going to meet with my Nutritionist tomorrow and ask these questions and find out what exactly I need to do.. that my doctor requires/suggests!  It all came at me so fast when I first met with her to cover all this!  I do think its different for Banders and RNY'rs!  but a lot is similar  again, Thank you! Sandra

Oh, I understand about the knees. I'm not as bad as you, yet, but my I'm in constant pain with my knees. I've been trying to move some and do exercises that don't cause any knee pain...mostly upper body. I think we at least need to move some. I'll do some stretching and do some arm exercises for now.

Let us know what the Nut says. I'm curious as to what her suggestion to you may be.

Good luck!

well finally I thought I was going crazy I met someone who experienced the hunger like me well first of all my band is not filled yet so I kinda sucked it up and said I have to wait till October in the first week to probably get a fill which my doctor has yet to decide for me I posted a message similar to your post but me i cried every time I cooked for my family in my room I really had alot of anxiety what i did was I discussed it with my surgeon and he told me it takes adjusting to this but in the meantime he gave me a prescription for 10 5mg. valium and I took one that night one the next day and never took another valium again I dont know call me crazy but all of a sudden I was no longer hungry and two days after my doctors appoitment he put me on the puree stage which I think has helped as well I eat 3 pureed meals a day and I cannot finish them with an exception of my breakfast my oatmel or farina I love it and it fills you up also when you get that sweet tooth I just found Kozy Shack rice pudding comes now in sugar free 90 calories delicious also comes in taphioca and other flavors when I came home i had to drink 3 whey protein shakes and eat jello which by the way I am so sick of and chicken broth and the water sip sip sip which I did at that liquid stage I was starving Thank God for the puree stage I feel for you  Oh and the water I struggled with to but Crystal light on the go packs saved my life  I actully enjoy my water now God Bless Love Kelly

Hi Kelly, Yes we are sisters in the true sense of the WL world LOL  I realize I am not doing anything that so many others before me have already struggled through and done.  That helps me to set my mind to what is important and what it is I want out of this.  First of all to lay down a stronghold in my life.  I am tired of being a slave to food!  This is how I see it understanding that I realize that isn't the case for all of us.   My first week out I was really struggling when the DH would cook up his wonderfully smelling stakes and chops etc lol and don't even go there where the Italian food is concerned.. he can cook!  I thought OMG can't he just make himself a stinking SANDWICH!  I am starving here!!!  hahahaha After a couple days of that I was sick of myself and thought this has to change.. what is it I can do today to make his life easier.. and from that day on I've been cooking.  I talk all the way through it lol he loves my voice ( yeah thats it )  lol and I try to get pleasure out of his enjoyment.  Then I sit down and have my cream of wheat and think this is what I need for me, this is enough.  Its all about the head games!  Then by 8 or 9 I am hungry and thinking ok I'm starving now lol and I get online and play some games and try to not think about it but I am hungry.  So I do think I will be needing the fill.  I do think some of it is gas lol is it common to still have gas 22 days out?   Thank you for the food tips.. I did see the rice pudding you mentioned but I wasn't sure if that was pureed enough so I thought I'd hold off and see how my tummy did with the other stuff and since have forgotten about it.  I will pick some of that up! I'm glad your doing better now with your battle there and my heart goes out to you.  Sandra

Drink what you can.  I did not always consume the entire amount of protein they suggest and I have had absolutely NO issues with that!  I do try to drink 2 liters (to 3 now) of water or crystal light a day.  I was never told there was a specific amount you can drink at a time.  From very early on I found out I can CHUG fluids!!!  DRINK DRINK DRINK!  I was drinking as much as I could all day long!  40 - 60 grams of protein is what I was told.  I barely hit 40, even at first.  Now, at 3 1/2 months out I MIGHT have a CIB once or twice a week.

Eating over 20 minutes?  NO...maybe day one...lol  As long as you're chewing very well, nearly liquifying your food, you'll be fine!

Ask me anything..add me!  I LVE MY BANDDDDDDD!!!!  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Thank you Cheri the Bandster! I will add you and I will ask ask ask!  No worries on that end!  I have one question you said you MIGHT have a CIB once a or twice a week? what is that?   I guess I need to ask the Nutritionist / and maybe doctor about the liquids thing cuz I was told too much at once would stretch out my pouch.  But that doesn't seem to have happened to you.  You are doing GREAT at just 3 1/2 mo. out!  YGG!! I'd rather drink more.. but I am paranoid now!  and I'm real over this clock watching.. I've never had a problem with drinking.. I am a drinker I tell ya! Sipping is growing on me.. I could sip like a crazy woman but I drink up that 4 oz in 15 min LOL  soooooooo what to do... I'll let ya know what the Nut. says! Thank for your imput!  Love it! Sandra

CIB is Carnation Instant Breakfast...the blue box is sugar free.  If you mix it with 1% or skim milk, it's 14 or 15 grams of protein and MUCH more palatable!  No, I have not had any trouble getting fluids in or stretching my tummie/band.  Let me know about the nut convo...HAHAHA @ NUT CONVO...I have those daily, sometimes with myself!  LOLOLOL