I am at 7.2 in a 10 cc band. I had my 3rd fill on Dec 21st. My band is finally working! Hallelujah! I can eat most any consistency except hard cheese and some breads. I have to chew really well and I can eat a little over a cup of food at a time. I have lost around 8 lbs in a little over two weeks, YAY!

Here is my question though:confused:. I have varying levels of restriction and I still get hungry about every 3 hours. Do I need a little added? I know it's not healthy to lose too much per week so I don't want to get so restricted that I lose too much too quick. Any opinions would be much appreciated thx

You have lost an average of 4 lbs per week. You don't list your height/weight. But that is pretty rapid loss. My surgeon said no more than 2 per week for me, based on my starting BMI.

A meal holding you 3-4 hours is pretty good. It is a decision for you and your doctor, but I'd be pretty happy with what you are describing. In fact, that is about where I am!

Denise

I am 5'6" and am currently 190. I was 220 when I started the lapband process. I was banded at the end of July and my weightloss has been at a standstill for much of that time. I do admit that 4 lbs is ALOT in a week. I just want to make sure I'm getting the most out of my band. Maybe I can see if a steady weightloss (1-2 lbs a week) continues and if so, I should just stay at this current fill level ?????

I was in the same boat as you as of Christmas. I was losing at a good rate, but became hungry every 3 hours as well. I went back for a fill the day before Christmas Eve. It was a mistake. I was so tight over Christmas I could only drink liquids, and not a whole lot of that. I was miserable! Here 2 weeks later I have loosened up enough to eat, but my weight loss has slowed. Seems like I had found my sweet spot, but didnt know it, and now I am having to wait until my band loosens up again to start loosing weight again. (I hope that makes sense) I think by eating so few calories while being too tight worked against me, not to mention I felt just awful...Of course this is my own experience and might not necessarily be yours...I think if your loosing good you should hold off for a couple more weeks before going back for a tweek...best of luck to you in whatever you decide!

I am 5'6" and am currently 190. I was 220 when I started the LAP-BAND®®®® process. I was banded at the end of July and my weightloss has been at a standstill for much of that time. I do admit that 4 lbs is ALOT in a week. I just want to make sure I'm getting the most out of my band. Maybe I can see if a steady weightloss (1-2 lbs a week) continues and if so, I should just stay at this current fill level ?????

Hi slpcat...hope I didn't sound like I was prying about your height and weight A larger person could expect higher losses.

While we'd all love to drop 10 lbs a week, that is not always practical or healthy.

When I'd get a fill, I'd often have a larger drop than normal, due to taking it easy on my stomach for a bit. So, the 4 lbs per week might not continue to be the rule.

For what it is worth, and in my opinion, I'd stay where you are at for a bit and see how it goes. If the losses stall, then go back in. If you keep losing and maintain restriction then yeehaw! But, I am pretty conservative in my approach to fills, and so is my surgeon. I have been overfilled, and it is no fun at all. For me, 0.5cc made a HUGE difference.

As a note, my restriction level comes and goes. This seems to be common among bandsters. One day I can eat just about anything, the next day, not so much. My surgeon says it is natural, and that the stomach moves around a bit within the confines of the band making it feel tighter or looser. Depending on where it is riding on any given day.

Besh wishes in your decision!

Denise

I agree with not getting a fill. I just went in for my appt and I was pretty sure I didn't need a fill but just went in to check in and see what they thought. I was overtight in Dec and it was no fun at all.. i had to get some taken out and once you are at sweet spot .2 cc's makes a big difference. So both NP and Doc agreed to leave it alone this month. How they reached that? Well I lost 10 lbs in the two weeks of being overtight... then I got unfilled so they figured I would have gained some back... but 2 weeks later and after the holidays I was down another 2 lbs. So they figured I was good. Made sense to me.

I myself have paranoia about being too tight... some days I eat 800 cals, THEN today as the PMS starts to set in 1500 but 400 of it was slider skinny cows....so band can't do anything about that! I'm 4 months out and halfway to my goal (lost almost 45 lbs) so at this point I'm not in a race. Plus I think more complications arise from too tight.

I have varying levels of restriction and I still get hungry about every 3 hours. Do I need a little added? I know it's not healthy to lose too much per week so I don't want to get so restricted that I lose too much too quick. Any opinions would be much appreciated :smile2: thx

First, it's an old wives tale that it's not healthy to lose too much per week. I mean c'mon...first they tell you to eat only 1000 calories per day (when you've been eating 3-4,000) and exercise (when you've been sitting on your butt) and then tell you that you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds per week. That's just stupid (and my sarcasm is not directed at you but the nutrition/diet 'experts').

The farther we are from our target weight, and the more drastically we cut our calories and the more active we become, the greater our initial weight loss. For example, a recent poster said she lost 100 pounds in 4 months. I'll bet if she continues what she's doing, she'll lose 100 pounds in the next couple of months too because she still has to lose over 200 pounds. However, the closer she (and we) get to our goal, the slower we will lose because the amount of calories needed to maintain that goal weight are not significantly different than the calories needed to maintain 50 or 60 pounds above that goal weight. Hope that makes sense.

Second, if you're getting hungry after 3 hours, you 'might' need more fill. I normally drink a low carb, low cal Protein shake between meals just to keep my blood sugar stable so even after 4 hours I'm not really hungry although I know it's time to eat something. When I forget to drink the shake, I'm hungry about 3-4 hours after a meal. However, I've had to go back to my Protein Shake with milk and banana in it for Breakfast because I've found I'm so tight in the morning that food gets stuck.

I appreciate all of your responses!! So informative! I was able to eat an entire plate of food last night :smile2: but then when I got up during the night to drink some water, I accidentally took a big gulp of water and it went down very slowly??? I guess the variation in restriction is my main concern but maybe that is just the way it is. I will call my dr. office closer to the time of my scheduled fill and ask them if they think I might need a few cc's or not. I definately don't want to be too tight.

First, it's an old wives tale that it's not healthy to lose too much per week. I mean c'mon...first they tell you to eat only 1000 calories per day (when you've been eating 3-4,000) and exercise (when you've been sitting on your butt) and then tell you that you shouldn't lose more than 2 pounds per week. That's just stupid (and my sarcasm is not directed at you but the nutrition/diet 'experts').

The farther we are from our target weight, and the more drastically we cut our calories and the more active we become, the greater our initial weight loss. For example, a recent poster said she lost 100 pounds in 4 months. I'll bet if she continues what she's doing, she'll lose 100 pounds in the next couple of months too because she still has to lose over 200 pounds. However, the closer she (and we) get to our goal, the slower we will lose because the amount of calories needed to maintain that goal weight are not significantly different than the calories needed to maintain 50 or 60 pounds above that goal weight. Hope that makes sense.

Hi ElfiePoo...

That is the point I was trying to make earlier about a larger person could expect higher losses.

It is mostly mathmatics. The more you weigh, the more calories it takes to maintain that weight. So if a 400 lb person and a 200 lb person each eat a 1000 cal a day diet, the 400 lb person will lose much more weigh each week, all other things being equal. Simply because the daily deficit is higher.

This is very simplified of course...But is the reason behind why I mentioned that Slpcat hadn't stated height and weight when mentioning the 8 lb loss in about 2 weeks time. The closer you are to a normal BMI the slower it comes off.

Sucks, but is true. But means you are closer to a normal BMI! :smile2:

Denise

This is very simplified of course...But is the reason behind why I mentioned that Slpcat hadn't stated height and weight when mentioning the 8 lb loss in about 2 weeks time. The closer you are to a normal BMI the slower it comes off.

Sucks, but is true. But means you are closer to a normal BMI! :thumbup:

Denise

Yes, I did see your post after I responded. I have a tendency to respond as I read. If I'd just read through a whole thread first I could've just said "Ditto". :smile2:

So is losing weight slower because your BMI is lower the 'glass half full'...or the 'glass half empty'.

.

Yes, I did see your post after I responded. I have a tendency to respond as I read. If I'd just read through a whole thread first I could've just said "Ditto". :smile2:

So is losing weight slower because your BMI is lower the 'glass half full'...or the 'glass half empty'.:thumbup:

.

I thought you explained it better than I, however!

You are going to have varying restriction all the time. Alot has to do with Water retention etc. I have been filled and unfilled several times now and it has been a roller coaster of a ride. Be careful of "slider" foods. Soft foods that go down easy. You will have your best restriction with solid Proteins. As for getting hungry every 3-4 hours. I still do whether my band is too loose or too tight. I usually drink some tea between meals to tide me over. try a small snack in between meals like a 40 calorie bag of sliced apples or a small handfull of almonds, a Protein shake. It's all about making wise choices now, but you still have to have a quality of life too.

Believe me, I've been unfilled several times and you do not want to have too much fill. It is very painful and miserable. I'd rather count calories.

You are going to have varying restriction all the time. Alot has to do with Water retention etc. I have been filled and unfilled several times now and it has been a roller coaster of a ride. Be careful of "slider" foods. Soft foods that go down easy. You will have your best restriction with solid Proteins. As for getting hungry every 3-4 hours. I still do whether my band is too loose or too tight. I usually drink some tea between meals to tide me over. try a small snack in between meals like a 40 calorie bag of sliced apples or a small handfull of almonds, a Protein shake. It's all about making wise choices now, but you still have to have a quality of life too.

Believe me, I've been unfilled several times and you do not want to have too much fill. It is very painful and miserable. I'd rather count calories.

THANKS FOR THE GOOD INFO. I agree with all of it! I def need to start counting calories, for sure!

I