Ok, before I got my 1st fill I was at the point where I could eat basically like normal and now that I have a fill it doesn't make a darn bit of diffrence. I am getting another fill on Thursday. Why can I eat so much? I ate a ton of food over thanksgiving! I feel like I'm in this eating frenzy and I'm depressed b/c of it. I have a band and yesterday I still could eat leftover turkey, dressing, potatoes, piece of pie, then I had pasta anc chicken for dinner and 2 bowls of ice cream! Help me! I'm sad - I haven't lost any weight since the 1st 2 weeks. I can eat a ton. i'm so sad! And on top of it all I'm worried that my pouch might be messed up or I'm slipped b/c I can eat so much!

i had my first fill of 1.5cc on 11/17 and i dont feel any restrictions. I am going to call my dr and ask if is normal. I stop myself from eating and eat small portions. I dont know if my insurance will pay for another fill until a month.

I was the same way- after I got my 1st fill, I hardly felt any restriction. I waited until I got a period, and restriction kicked in. I noticed that for Nov, I was able to eat anything I wanted for about 2 weeks and I didn't lose (or gain) weight. The week before my period, I felt more restricted and I lost 3 lbs... and this was during Thanksgiving week! I'm thankful for that because I wasn't able to pig out like I normally would have for T'giving.

Anyway, I would say wait until you get a period to see if your restriction kicks in.

that's another thing - I haven't had a period since my surgery and I'm not preggo - what's up with that?

Give a couple of weeks for the restriction to happen. It'll kick in! I have lost about 7lbs since I had mine done, Thanksgiving and all! It's amazing what you can and can't get down when you have a fill. Plus, knowing that I have had the fill, I make better choices and I am more aware. Good luck.

Hi Laura,

Don't despair! I think that the hardest thing about getting the band is that the surgery date isn't the start of the weight loss for some people. There are many, many people on here who have had to wait until fill 2, 3, 4, or even 5 before they find the right level of restriction. I know that stinks, because we're constantly told to be patient (wait for insurance, wait for an insurance date, wait for solid food, wait, wait, wait!). I'm sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time. Unfortunately, it's all about making healthier food choices until you get the restriction you need. I know.. easier said than done during the holidays, but it can be done. Try concentrating on exercising instead of food right now.

As far as the period, that's another common thing. I didn't have a period at all for 2 months after getting my band. For some reason the surgery throws a lot of us out of whack. I used to get my period like clockwork and I'm still out of whack.

Hang in there, and good luck with your second fill. Hopefully you'll hit that sweet spot!

I am so hungry too. I lost no weight last week but thats because every time I walked into the kitchen, I was picking on a cookie or pumpkin pie...uhh!! I feel like a bottomless pit and I'm not getting a fill until after the new year AAAAAAAAAAH !!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how I'm going to survive christmas w/out gaining

When I stick to one cup of food, I'm SOOOOOO hungry, 1 hour later.

We'll just have to hang in there and be patient huh HUGS

It took me 3 fills to get restriction. Just leep getting them until they get it right. THe band can't work without the fills...in the mean time try to fight that craving knowing it will make it easier once you have restriction not to be such a sudden change.

I am right there with you. I really do not feel much at all after my first fill of 2 cc. Actually, I feel more now (12 days later) than I did right after. I have been told to wait at least 6 weeks before I get another.

I am going to wait... and go with the idea that this is a process, and I did not get fat over night. No matter how tight I am, I will not be able to wake up tomorrow a size 8.

Do not get discouraged - look on the bright side... you got to eat some good food for Thanksgiving :-) You can also be thankful that you are on the banded side of things - and it will only get better from here.

Good luck... we will hang in there together!!!

I just came into this site thinking the same things you're saying! I'm eating way too much and I'm afraid I haven't lost nearly as much weight as I should have. I was banded on October 7th and I only lost 17lbs so far. I'm having my first fill on Thursday and I'm so afraid of what my surgeon is going to say. Thank God I'm not the only one going through this!

Vanessa

SLOW DOWN, KIDS!!!!!

I had my first fill on 10/31. I felt NOTHING until November 14, and I mean nothing. Then when it hit me it was like a MACK truck. I have 1cc in a 4cc band, and 7 or 8 bites of food and I am done. We went to a Thanksgiving buffet in Lake Tahoe last Thursday, and I had 3 bites of prime rib, two bites of mashed potato, two bites of sweet potato, one bite of stuffing, and 2 green Beans. I almost pb'd on that amount of food. On the way home my husband wanted In-and-Out burger so I got a Protein style cheeseburger (wrapped in lettuce leaves instead of a bun- is that cool or what!), and that turned out to be THREE MEALS for me!!!

I know everyone is different, but I implore you all to wait at least two weeks before getting another fill. Especially if you have to pay for it. If I had any more saline in my band right now I would be choked off. And I remember those first two weeks thinking I didn't have enough!

And Laura, my period was due the day after my surgery. I just got it November 22th, after spotting for 13 days. Apparently that is not abnormal after surgery like this.

Heather,am I understandig correctly? You got a fill on oct 10/31 and you felt nothing but then all of a sudden on November 14 you felt restriction from the fill on 10/31????? why does it take so long? I haven't had a fill yet and I feel like I am starving all the time,I need restriction now!

I'm glad I've read so much about this and am psyched not to expect instant, effortless weight loss.

But I figure you have to look at it this way, because what choice do you have: This is the LAST time in your life that you will have to "diet". You have done it before, we all have, we can all diet for five, six, seven weeks. You know what healthy food choices are and you know what healthy portions are. Summon up that willpower for one last time in your life and ride it out. You absolutely can do it.

Even with this prediet Optifast hell I've descended into, I know that this time, the effort needs only to be shortlived, and when it's done, I wont pile the weight back on and then more, therefore the effort actually seems worthwhile.

Someway, somehow you need to get your head round this and not test the band out for how much you can eat.

The only restiction I have right now is that I have to chew my food really well or i feel sick. It takes me a half hour to 45 minutes to eat a sandwhich and fries or whatever i'm eating.

I know i shouldn't be eating that but I only eat it once in a while.

By the way, I haven't weighed since my fill but my clothes are fitting great and i am getting compliments on how i look. thats better then what the scale says at this point

I am with you. I was banded 9/23. My first fill was 1.0 and my second was .6 for a total of 1.6 in a 4.0 band. I just called today and scheduled another fill for next Monday. I feel very little restriction, and it doesn't seem like I have to even be sure to chew my food that well. I am holding out now with a lot of willpower, but I am afraid that I have gained or not lost any more at all.

Yes, Pepsi, I did not feel any restriction for two weeks. I don't really understand why this happens but it seems pretty common for it to take a while.