Hi All.. just recieved my 4th fill and am finally getting some restriction. I was banded in Nov and haven't really lost much weight. My MD's been fine with it, as I haven't gained and went through bandster hell during the holidays.

I've shared my frustration with him as to progress and he's been great telling me to be patient, eat till I'm full and I'll get there. One big problem, is I've been hungry all the time so I'm eating those old foods that actually stop my hunger- Pasta bread non diet foods. I stop when I'm full, but I can really mow it down!! I'm now back to full old eating habits to stave off hunger. Seems to keep me at a maintained weight.

I now have 8.5 cc's in my 12 cc band. I'm finally feeling some decent restriction, but can still eat what I consider larger quanties of food if they're chewed well. I'm not drinking when eating and eat regular textured foods. Can pretty much eat anything.

It's all so new. It's like I'm learning the process all over again. It's been 5 months and I can finally put all that info to use.

Anyone been on the edge of restriction? What tells you you're at your sweet spot? Food measurement and then you stop when feeling somewhat satisifed? I'm trying to step away from the plate after completing a measured meal, but find myself hungry relatively soon. If you chew regular textured foods extremely well when you're in the zone, does it pass through the pouch allowing you to still eat more than textbook amounts at a sitting?

I've been trying to use ricecakes when I'm in between meals, but I ate a family meal the other night shortly after my fill. Thought I'd test it out as to what I could actually eat before feeling full and ate 3 pieces of pizza!

Another fill or mutliples at this stage? Whats been your experience? Is this common? Thanks for reading.

food measurement and then you stop when feeling somewhat satisifed?

Yep---this is what I do. And I've done it since banding---even when I wasn't even "somewhat satisfied."

As I teeter on the edge of restriction, I do achieve fullness (though it passes quicker than I'd like). It's VERY different from my old perception of fullness--if I were to chase that feeling again, given the anatomical changes, I'd be tilting at windmills.

In your shoes, I would weigh and measure portions and, starting around halfway through the meal, slow down and really listen to what your body is telling you after each bite you swallow.

You are going to get different messages now. You need to learn to recognize them.

(You might also want to rethink eating the foods you relied on preop. Really, the goal is NOT to have a perpetually-full stomach. It's to put the proper foods in, in the proper amounts, to promote weight loss. As you get closer to restriction, you'll find that these satisfy you longer than you're currently experiencing.)

Another thing you might want to try is the 5 day pouch test. Here is the website. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test I am not saying that you have stretched your pouch or anything but this can help people kick start thier wieght loss or if they think they have stretched thier band it can help them bring it back to where it should be. It is just a thought. Each time I get a fill my doctor makes me follow this "diet" although he doesn't call it the 5 day pouch test.