Please read this.. Need help!!

Please read my post on the lapband forum that I just posted. It is too long to write here and I need all the help I can get. The title is Support needed for bandster hell. Thanks all... Dotti

A little copy/paste... I have been reading the recent posts so I know what has been said regarding bandster hell. i researched WLS for 2 years. Went to numerous seminars, group meetings, and read all I could online. Unfortunately, i didn't find this site until 2 months begore surgery and for some reason did not pay attention to BH posts. I'm sure I read them, but with all the cheerleading about the band, I guess they didn't redgister as much as all the good and supportive posts. i guess we all search for what we want to hear. My dilemma (sp) is I am 3 weeks postop. have posted recently. Can't get fill for 5 more weeks. Doctor is unyielding on this point. Have followed every thing taught to me regarding the band. Have been on regular food for 1 1/2 wks. I chew,chew,chew-drink,drink,drink-stop drinking 1/2 hr before and 1 hr after eating, protein, protein,protein-following NUTs advice for 1000 cal in- and guess what??? I'm MISERABLE....... I am always hungry. Getting between 75 and 85 g protein/day. Could eat a 16oz steak if I wanted (don't yell. I haven't eaten any beef but ground. i just know I could). Walk 30 mins each day and 3-4x/wk swim for 30 mins and do 1 hour aquasize class. Here is where I'm asking for the support. I have been religious about all the above. Not one piece of Easter candy even. Since last week I have gained 2 lbs while starving all the time. i am very active and hardly ever home. I take my meals with me, carefully planned out and recorded on fitday before I leave the house. Snacks are pears, apples, Baybel (sp?) light cheese rounds and turkey breast. Drink protein shots in my water=14-28 g/day if needed after I view the graph. i really don't like meat and don't eat fish, so it is a challenge to find the exact formula for the protein, but I honestly worked very hard at it. My question to all of you experienced bandsters is: I know what to do with the band. Right now it is if I don't have one and The way I'm eating is causing me to gain weight. In the past I have been able to loose weight on high complex carb diets, whi*****luded a lot of salads, veggies, grains and beans, with a little chicken or steak (rarely). Since I can eat all these things now, and know I would loose some weight, do you think I should go back to that for the next 5 weeks until the fill??? I know it is unorthodox, but I really am starving. I know this method has never brought me permanent wt loss, but it does work for me in the short run. Should i continue with the program even with no restriction and possibly continue to gain wt?? I am excited to get my first fill so I can have the benefits of this wonderful "TOOL" but until then, it's like nothing ever changed. Please be nice. i am educated and know what I will have to do for the rest of my life. i just don't want to gain wt for 5 more weeks. sorry this was so long. I just really need help and you can't really rely on the dr's office for all this. Thanks in advance. You guys always come through. I really appreciate all the help so far...Dotti

Thanks for the copy/paste. I just got my Mac upgraded to Leopard and can't seem to get anything to copy/paste. They have this new neat little button and everything shows up, I just can't get it to go anywhere. Anyway, I was never very computer literate. So, again, thanks.

Dotti, Huge HUGS Dear - you are doing things correctly. Your exercise routine may be changing the body to muscle, which weighs more than fat. Get off the scale and get out your tape measure. Exercise is a good habit and you are on the right track. My experience has been that it may take a while to figure out the correct timing to eat for a bandster. (My information is from the support group members). Some of the people have to eat smaller amounts more frequently to feel full and satisfied. If they wait too long between feedings they are ravenous and then over eat. Our dietician recommends 5 - 6 mini meals a day. She also recommends taking 30 - 45 minutes to eat a meal to feel satisfied. Are you certain this is physical hunger and not head hunger? That is typical at first for many having WLS. From your earlier post I see you are having a very good weight loss. Women reatin fluid and that can be discouraging too. Increase your fluids to keep things flushed out and moving.  You are very new at this and it takes time to figure it all out. I read the replies from the LB forum, they had good suggestions and great support for you. Be patient. Stick to the plan as best you are able. This is not a fast or easy process, but it works. Kisses Annette

Dotti, I know this is really hard so hang in there kid.  You are doing all the right things.  My doc had me on clear for two days after surgery, then four weeks of full liquids and two weeks on mushies before I started regular food.  During those times I was doing more like 800 calories a day.  I did feel very hungry from weeks four to six.  It is a struggle but please stay in control.  Sometimes it was head hunger, sometimes I was thirsty and really needed to drink instead of eat and sometimes it was nastalgia for food.  Try not to watch the Food Network, LOL and don't put yourself in situations with food.  I pretty much had no schedule just ate small meals throughout the day. All this changes when you have your first fill.  You will not be as hungry. You will need to get on more of a meal schedule.  Prior to WLS I did not eat breakfast.  All the nutritionists are right - you must eat breakfast.  With the band you can't eat more at one meal to make up for what you didn't eat at another.  You have to consistently fill your pouch throughout the day.  I eat breakfast before work in the morning, have a ten o'clock snack, lunch at noon, a three o'clock snack and dinner around 6:30 p.m.  If I have anything else in the evening I make sure it is before 9:00 p.m. Some days I'm watching the clock for my snack and some days I'm busy and skip it altogether.  Water, protein, exercise are the most important and you seem to be doing it.  I suspect your body is just holding on to the weight and eventually it will let go and let go big time. Don't despair, pump yourself up, you took a big step to make yourself healthier and gain a free-er lifestyle.  Put up your old pictures, hang that dress or jeans out where you can see it, that you want to fit into.  Post your "want" list on the fridge of all the things you want to be able to do.  The biggest thing is to take your mind off of food. Right now I'm a little too filled and not eating snacks at all because I don't need them and am not hungry for them.  But this is what I wanted.  I feel better now than I did at 30 and I'm 55. You will get there too. It will come to you. I know it.  You sound like a very strong woman.  This trial is short-lived - in a few months it will be but a memory. Good luck, Bev

Thanks Bev. I am currently eating 3 meals B at 7am, L around noon, and D at 5p. The NUT told me to use fruit, cheese or turkey if really hungry in between. Then there goes tha****er thing. Non 1/2 hr. before, 1/2 hr. to eat, none 1 hr after. There just isn't enough time in a day. I have done all those things you have suggested although those before photos in my undies are not out anywhere in public. I do look at them when I'm getting dressed occasionally and plan on doing new ones each month. I appreciate the time you took to answer. Thanks a lot.. Dotti

My best friend is a bandster, she is in Nebraska, go over to the nebraska board and tell Beth T or Jimmy that I sent you, they are both bandsters and support group leaders.

Hi Dotti. I met with my surgeon today and heard her tell people about to get lap band surgery that the first fill would be 2 months after the surgery -- and she did not expect people to feel the restriction and lose much weight until after the fills make your band have the right restriction. She said some people do lose weight after the surgery with the restriction of the ring. Hope this helps, Marilyn W.