BabyGotBack

They have two band sized that they can't tell you which one they need to use until they open you up. It varies on the abdominal fat you have. Most need the 4 cc band. Hope that helps!

Everything you say is exactly how I felt too. Especially being a lower bmi'er of 31 bmi. But I don't regret if for a second!!

I think the reason why things were different for me in not gettng tight until I was filled so much, is because 3 years ago I had a full tummy tuck with full abdominal liposuction. Even if I gained weight after the surgury, I never gained it back in my stomach area. I gained it in other weird places though!!:faint: So, I have not abdominal fat around my stomach. When you get a fill and as you lose weight the fat around the stomach goes down. That is why people need to keep on getting fills, most of the time anyway, as they lose weight. I have never had real restriction until now. I am happy where I am and the quantity of food I can eat is enough to be satisfied mentally. A lot of it is mental. I used to eat just because I was at home and bored. I am not an emotional eater, but I like to eat when I am happy. I don't really like sweets much either, but indulge on sugar free fudgsiclses.

Well, I was at 2.4 cc's and went to 3 cc's. The eating and hunger are much different. I am eating totally different. I was eating 3 meals a day plus snacking inbetween each and after dinner. I was hungry a lot and could accomodate what ever I wanted as much as I wanted without getting stuck at all. I now have to be very careful about my chewing and eating in the morning. I can not drink cold drinks before I eat or will get stuck on bite number 1. I normally kinda get stuck on my first bite with any meal and just have to slow down and chew really well. I now only have 3 small meals. Breakfast is now later and is about 1/2 cup of food as wells as 1/2 cup of food for lunch. Dinner I can eat about 1 cup of food. If I am not careful I get stuck and it is very uncomfortable. I have not pb'd since this fill, but do get stuck and it hurts. So eating for me since this third fill is what I expected the sweet spot to feel like. Any more restriction and I would not be able to eat. I am getting about 1000 calories in a day. I am also sticking to protein based meals. Today I had beans and cheese for lunch and was having to eat slowly since I was getting stuck on it. I make sure I get at least 60-80 ounces of water or crystal light in between meals since I stick to the "no eating for 1 hour after my meal" rule. I also have bought sugar free fudgesicles and popsicles and those really hit the spot when I have a little craving. I also got tighter 2 weeks after the last fills so I am hoping I don't get too much tighter. I will keep all posted!

Good to see you Veronica! I was away too for a while. You have done great on your weight loss!!!! I had stalled for a long time. Just got my third fill and am at 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. I finally have some restriction!!!:clap2: My doctor said this one should do me good for about 4 months or to lose the rest of the weight I want to lose, which is about 20 more pounds.

Congrats on the weight loss!!!! Regarding your doctor, just insist on wanting to go all the way with what you started. If you have no restriction, just tell them you are afriad of putting weight back on and that is why you got the band in the first place. You did pay out of your pocket too and should demand to get what you paid for. Hope that helps!!

I asked so many of the same questions when I first came here. I am so happy with my decision to go to Mexico for my banding. It has changed my relationship with food forever. I have chosen to go back for my fills to Mexico since they are more aggresive with there fills and always do them under fleuro for $100. I believe fill centers charge $350 and does not include fluero? I just had my 3rd fill and am at 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. I believe I have hit my "sweet spot". You may want to go back for the first few fills till you hit your "sweet spot" and then maybe maintain with fillcenters. They really sneak up slowly here in the states and normally only put a few cc's in at a time, sometimes missing the port altogether since they do not use fluero. I think I heard it was an option but for more money. I figure what it costs me to get to Mexico and pay $100 bucks for my fill is still cheaper than what I'd pay at the fillcenters. You also have to pay a first time fee I believe with fillcenters to become a patients. Not to mention getting to the "sweet spot" quicker, losing weight faster, etc. Hope that answers some of your questions. Let me know if you have any more!! Audree

I just wanted to put in my 6 month bandiversary experience also! I love my band and know I would not have lost these 25 pounds without it. I was on up upswing in my weight and would have gained 25 instead of losing them. I lost faster in the beginning. I was also taking this awesome supplement called QuickSlim30 which I believe helped me to lose so rapidly in the beginnnig and curbed my appetite also, plus gave me energy to workout. I have been on a plateau for a few months. I just went last week for fill #3 where I got 3 cc' put in my 4 cc band. I definitely have a lot more restriction than I did. I was able to prior to this fill, to eat anything as much as I wanted to. But, now I am only able to eat 3 small meals a day. I definitely get stuck after a few bites in the morning, sometimes the first bite. At lunch I can tolerate about 1/2 cup and at dinner about 1 cup. A big difference to what I was! I don't feel as hungry as I was, but when I do feel hungry I grab some crystal light and drink! I also bought sugar free fudgesicles and sugar free popsicles and they seem to really hit the spot. I also want to buy some more QuickSlim30 when I can, hopefully at the end of the month. I would really like to see if it would get me off of my plateau. I need to start working out more, but for the meantime I have been swimming. I was working and my kids are off for the summer so going to the gym was harder. And it is too hot to go walking. I am eating about 1000 calories a day or so. I was getting sick of bouncing from 165 to 169. When I got my fill, I was back up to 169.:faint: When I go for my fills, he also pulls out exactly what I had in there. Maybe because they use the fleuro? So, I am hoping that I am losing again. It is right before "that time" so I normally retain water and don't know if I want to weigh in right now. Take care everyone and it is great to be back!!! Audree

Gigi!! Thanks! It is good to be back!

That is so awesome!!!! Congrats!!!!

You have done great!!! I have lost 25 since being banded 6 months ago and even though I wish I could have lost more, I am grateful for the slower weight loss since my skin was able to catch up and not sagging like it was when I first dropped a quick amount in the beginning. I was worried about my thighs, but they are doing better with a slower approach to losing. I do walk some and have been swimming, but need to step it up. I just got my 3rd fill in Mexico, where they are more aggresive with their fills and am now at 3cc's in a 4 cc band. I am very happy with my restriction level. I can eat well, but not too well. I am not really able to eat in the morning or else I get stuck. But I can eat an early lunch. I am able to eat about 1/2 cup at lunch and about 1 cup at dinner. I have only been eating 3 meals since I down my water in between meals to stay hydrated. I am not hungry like before. We just need to keep focused that we are headed in the right direction for the first time, losing!!!! Welcome!!!:biggrin1:

Hey Debbie! Nice to know you! You have the same exact stats of a woman named Debbie that got banded the same day I did. Funny! Audree

One thing that helped me was the Gas X strips. I did have gas but not as bad as most since I actually vomitted and a lot of the gas came out at that time, right after surgury. I am sensitive being put under. Walking helps too! The heating pad also helped with my gas pain at night. Hope that helpls!!! Mini Pearl#2: Thanks for the encouragement!!!

Hey Olga! So by saying you are in Onderland, do you mean you hit your "sweet spot"? I am just wondering with this kind of fill if I will start to lose again. Sometimes I feel like I never will lose the rest of the weight, but with the band I know this is all new territory for me. Not like previous diets. I don't feel hungry and that is new to me, well since right after surgury. What do you eat in a day? Audree

He Bandida!!! You look great!! Good to see you back. I actually started back here about a week or so ago. I am on fill #3 and hope this is my sweet spot. I am at 3 cc's in a 4 cc band. I definitely have restriction now. I couldn't get cold water down this morning which is what I normally do, had to have warm tea. Then I had some soup with crab pieces for lunch and had to really chew. Almost got stuck once and I am feeling very satisfied and full with that. I was normally pigging out all day. Keep in touch! Audree

Hey Debi! Didn't we get our surgury on Jan 5th. I noticed our dates were different that is why I didn't know if it was you or not. My fill went good. I am definitely experiencing restriction. Keep in touch!!! Audree

Thanks Shawn!!!!

Just wanted to check in! I had fill #3 with Dr. Ortiz yesterday. I went from 2.4 cc's to 3 cc's I feel fine so far. I don't feel hungry and that is cool. I have had one cream of pea soup today and water, thats it!!!! I will keep you posted! Audree

I just wanted to check in today!!! I had fill #3 done yesterday with Dr. Ortiz. I went from 2.4 cc's to 3 cc's. So far everything is fine. I had water today and a split pea soup. I don't feel hungry. I didn't have any problems passing the soup. Hopefully the weight starts coming off!!!! Audree

Welcome to the group!!!! If you are on the mushy stage, the things that got me through, was that I bought Chili and ground it up in a food processor (got one cheap at Wal Mart). Even added a little nacho cheese to it!!! I could barely eat at this time and was weak. I needed calories and this is what I did only at this time. Not later since it is high in calories. I also love creamy soups from Campbells, like cream of chicken, etc Andersons Split pea soup and I also bought a dry mix from the store to make tortilla soup. I made it just as it was and didn't add chicken. Did add cheese and put it in the food processor. Of course protein shakes. My favorites are the Nectar fruit shakes from bariatriceating.com Hope this helps and feel free to ask any questions you may have!!!:clap2:

Debbie, is that you??? This is Audree!!! We got our surgury on the same date!!!! Good to see you hear!!!

Are we still going to be doing this thread?? I think I am finally ready now!!! Audree

It is nice to be back!!! Nice to see you are here!!!

I just wanted to come by and say hello! I am still sticking to hard protein and keeping hydrated. I had eggs and some imitation crab for breakfast with a side of beans and cheese, with salsa (South Beach Diet friendly) I have had about 40 ounces of Crystal Light with lemon squeezed in. I have had my daily vitamins, Cell Wise (Herbalife supplement) and Total Control (Herbalife appetite suppresant). I went to Sams and bought some Light Laughing Cow cheese, more imitation crab. I want to try the Parmesan crusted Tilapia to that I heard someone bought at Sams. I am doing the South Beach Diet again and integrating it with my bandster rules of hard protein first and veggies or a side of beans. I am feeling good and looking forward to my fill next weekend. How are you all doing?

Congrats!!!! I have found there is always something in our lives coming up that revolves around food. I remember in the beginning, I felt frustrated, at least when I still had the restriction after surgery, of what was the point of going out if I couldn't eat. I realized how much of my life revolved around being social and eating. I had to re direct and shift my thinking. I had to think about new things, the fun things I got to do when I went out, besides food. Like dancing, shopping, window shopping, etc. Just take what ever appointment they give you and just adjust to it. I had to also realize that food would ALWAYS be there, and it wouldn't be my last opportunity to eat that food. But I wanted to lose weight. The pain of being overweight had to over ride the pain of not eating at the moment. I began to use little tricks I have picked up over the years. Like making sure I ate BEFORE I went out to a function. Like a little piece of hard protien. Also making sure I am hydrated because sometimes our bodies mistake thirst for hunger. I always use very small plates and have stopped trying to rebel against the bandster rules and do eat a hard protein first and a veggie if I can (which right now I can since I have very little restriction). I only drink Crystal Light or water. I have also started brewing black tea that is fruit flavored. It helps with the hunger and gives energy. You can also drink green tea. I am now ready to begin really exercising since I have not really stuck to a regular exercise program. But I want to now. I have been swimming everyday which I love and building up my strength. Starting little by little, I now feel ready to begin going for walks and heading back to the gym. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing!!!:clap2: