I need some help...please

 had my Realize Band on 12/10/08 and at first I wasn't able to eat anything, but now I feel like I can eat everything.  I want to eat my old food, I feel so deprived from the foods that I used to eat.  I don't see my dr. until Jan. 5th, should I tell him what I am doing?  I have wanted this for so long, now I am messing it up.  It's like I can't control my hungar.  I thought that's what the Realize Band was supposed to do.  I don't know what I am doing wrong.....why am I so hungary?  Why can't I do this?  What do I tell the Dr?  How do I know if I will get a fill on my first viist?  Help....

:Hi, I have not had my realize band surgery yet, still waiting on the approval from the insurance company.  Sounds like to me you are having anxiety attacks....are you doing any kind of excersize?  When you feel anxious, go for a walk, write in a journal all your feelings and try not to focus on those cravings....it is hard, no one said it would be easy, but from what I have been reading on this site, people are very supportive and have been there and done that, if you know what I mean.  By all means be up front and honest with your doctor, he is suppose to help you and give you the right advice and tools for helping you through these first few weeks.  Try to relax, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  You will be ok, are  you still on liquids, or pureed foods?  When I talked with the dietican for my eval, I asked her about eating baby food, she smiled and said they address that in the beginners class, and that it is recommended.  Maybe you can try that, from what I am reading, eat your protien first...or drink it.  Again, hang in there sweetie, try not to hyperventilate!  You will be OK.  I am not an expert, just a good reader and listener.  In a couple of months I maybe in your shoes.  Have a very nice NEW YEAR and a healthy one.  Farmgirl58

Hi, Nicole:

I had my Realize band Sept.  29, 2008.  I have just had my 3rd fill.   I think part of the secret to this is never go back to the really "bad" food, especially sugar if you can help it.  That just makes you hungrier!  I had lost 26 pounds and over the holidays regained about 4 pounds.  But I am back trying again.

The Dr. reminded me this is a tool and I am the one who puts the food in my mouth.

Don't give up, we CAN do this!!!

Jeane

Hi Nichole,

Unfortunately, neither the Realize or Lap band "control" your hunger.  They just help you feel more satisfied eating smaller portions.  You still have to be the one who chooses what and how much to eat.  Especially in the first few months.  You are now going through what almost all bandsters experience - "BANDSTER HELL".  And it truly is.... until you start gettting restriction this is going to feel like the dreaded "DIET".  Alot of the hunger you are experiencing could be head hunger.  Your mind is very powerful at controlling your will (or lack of as we all know). 

I was banded on 9/15 and didn't start feeling any restriction until after my 2nd fill on 12/2.  Until that point, I had to force myself to stop eating and push the plate away after I had eaten my "allotment" for that meal (1-1.5 cups).  Many times I didn't yet feel satisfied, but I made myself stop anyway.  After my 2nd fill, I began to feel some restriction but believe me... I still get hunger pangs.  The nice thing is that I can usually satisfy them with something healthy and in smaller portions. 

My advice to you would be to 1) stay away from anything with sugar in it - that seems to fuel my hunger 2) really, really watch your refined carbs - I am a carb addict (I swear!) and if I eat more than 60g of carbs a day my body goes into a feeding frenzy 3) ALWAYS try to satisfy your hunger with Protein before reaching for something other 4) yes... talk to your Dr about how hungry you are feeling - if you are not honest with him, he cannot help you.  My doctor's protocol is to fill at 6ks (first time) and then every 4 wks (as needed).  Your doctor may fill earlier (some later).

I am not perfect by any means... but these things are starting to work for me.  I hope I've offered you a little hope.  Hang in there, it does get better.

Vicky

your in bandster he**. i had my surg 9/9/08 i have had 3 fills last one was1cc on 12/10/08 and i have restriction...just stick to the protien first untill you get restriction.i felt like i could eat anyhting untill this last fill! stick with it,you'll be fine! go for a walk drink more water....eat sf jello 10 cal.sf popsickles......water ever you have to do to get thru it.
good luck
lori

I totally agree with Vicky's advice. I had my Realize Band surgery on 12-10 also. I am following the post diet to the letter and losing weight and I have not been very hungry. If I do get hungry I will go for a protein shake or some yogurt or a cheese stick or maybe some cottage cheese. I have been pureeing the main protein part of the meal I make for my family, along with some veggies, so I have not really been that deprived of the meal foods I used to eat. Protein only!  I have cut out all sugar, carbs, bread, etc. My first fill is 1-13 and I expect some restriction then. Sounds like you should speak to the nutritionist or the doctor about how you are feeling. I also found the cookbooks about After WLS extremely helpful for recipes and meal ideas. Good luck to you!
Carol

i'm a 12/10er, too.

I overate on at Christmas and gained a few but have lost them. I follow my surgeon's guidelines-eat slowly, chew, chew, chew and eat for no longer than 20 minutes. That way i don't have to measure. I can have just about anything except beef and pork and raw veggies and after a month I can have those-I'm dying for a salad! If I eat for the entire 20 min. I am definitely satisfied. I was okayed to have a small protein snack like cheese between means, which I sometimes do. I also have 3 bites of protein before a bite of veggies or starch.

The doctor can't help you with cravings. You have to get them under control yourself by not eating your old food. That's what got you to the place of needing help. Seriously, if you stop eating them-and it's real hard-you'll crave them less and less and one day in the future you'll trat yourself and say yuck! that's nof food, it's garbage.

One way to help yourself is to have activities you love to do and do that instead of eat. Walking is also a good thing to take your mind off food and make you feel better so you feel stronger to resist your temptations. Also, don't have the bad food around. If you have a family, they don't need it either and if they say they do, make them go out for it. It might help them to eat less of it.

Definitely tell your doctor. He/she will be able to help you. But it's up to you in the end. The band id only a tool and like someone said-you're the one who puts the food in your mouth. You worked hard to get this so you know you can do the work to succeed!

Good luck. We know you can do it!

Right on ...I needed to hear that again right now as I am getting myself off the carbs again after a Christmas fling which didn't make me happy by the way...but back at it now and I am going for a fill under flouro on Monday as the little (0.8cc) one I got on Dec 23 just seemed to make me hungrier. Eydie

First off, you have made a HUGE step in realizing that you are feeling deprived and that you want to eat your old food.  It may not seem like a huge step, but it really is.  Now that you do feel deprived from that food, ask yourself, why do you want that food.  Does it really taste that good (it might), or is it more for comfort.

Your body is also going through a lot of adjustments and changes, and nobody is perfect 100% of the time.  If you are eating better 80% of the time than you used to, isn't that an improvement and something to be happy about?

The Realize Band is a tool to help you control how much you eat and it should help you stay fuller longer on less food.

Tell the doctor EVERYTHING no matter how hard it may be to tell him/her.  I'm sure they have heard it before and will have ways to help you.  There is no point in suffering in silence!  Speak up, voice your concerns.  If you are honest with them, then they can give you some honest help!

You can do this!  It just may take some time and a LOT of adjusting.  If you find yourself really craving some certain type of food, the clinic I go to offers this advice, and it really does help.  It's called the 3-bite rule (It works for me, as I used to binge eat and not really enjoy what I wanted).

1. Take a bite of the food you were craving, but chew it slow, really think about how it tastes, how it smells, how it feels in your mouth.  Take it ALL in.  Really enjoy it.  Then think about how good it was (I'm sure it was GREAT!)

2. Take another bite and do the same thing, odds are it was good, but not quite as good as the first bite.

3. Now take another bite and do the same thing, was it as good as the first or 2nd bite.  It probably wasn't.

The reason why this happens is because as you get hungry, your sense of smell and taste actually increases.  As you start to feed your hunger, those senses diminish (quite rapidly if you eat slowly enough) and food doesn't taste quite as good, and you no longer get the same satisfaction out of what you were eating.

I am so thankful you posted this. I thought I was going crazy! I am beginning to feel really hungry. I had the lap band on 12/22 and I am doing really well. Recently I have noticed the ability to drink more than a cup an hour. I was beginning to really worry about this. I don't see the do****il next Wed for my follow-up. Some days I feel like I could eat a cow! Thank God my little pouch is not big enough! I understand both the physical hunger and that emotional hunger. Saying goodbye to an old friend (KFC) has been hard bit definitely worth it!

Hang in there!