I'm still very new to all of this only being 6 weeks out as of today. I had my first fill on Wednesday. To be honest, I can't say it was pain free like many of you. I got the numbing shot which BURNED and the DR was having a hard time getting to my port. The needle was moved around A LOT until finally I could hear a pretty big POP....ugh...but I digress....

I was filled with 3ccs and I know that most experienced people with this say that it takes a few fills sometimes to finally hit that elusive "sweet spot"...but what exactly DOES it feel like? Do you feel FULL after a small amount of food..or do you feel "Not Hungry"?

I'll be honest..after this first fill... I can eat still... A LOT if I wanted to probably. Do I feel full? NO! Buuuuut......I'm also not hungry. Oh sure, I have head hunger and if I felt inclined could probably go get a 6 pack of Cinnabons and wash it down with a 64 oz. soda (don't worry....I wont )...BUUUUT.... I'm not "hungry".

Before the fill, not long after, my stomach would start to growl. Now? The growling is gone. I definitely don't feel like I'm full and could eat more...but I'm not "HUNGRY". Did all of that make sense???

Anyway, I'm wondering if this is what good restriction is supposed to feel like...or do you actually feel FULL with a much smaller amount of food? Is this it? Should I keep experimenting with more saline?

I don't feel "full." I feel not hungry, or satisfied. When you have restriction, even one bite too many can push you from not-hungry to real discomfort--so you really learn to listen to your body's cues.

I find that I get "full" (new version of full) with a very small volume of food, and stay not-hungry for 3-4 hours.

Some days I'm hungrier than others---and some foods have more staying power than others. You just learn to listen to your body

I'm six weeks banded also. I've been wondering the same thing.

This is a great question - I've had 3 fills so far and I honestly have no idea. I'm continuing to lose weight, however, I'm really strict with how much food I'm taking in and will stop because I know I shouldn't be eating more than what I do.

It's a STRANGE thing... I've gotten so used to my stomach constantly growling over the last 6 weeks that it's really odd to not have this happening. I was walking around the mall with my daughter and I would notice here and there that my stomach was quiet! Could I eat? SURE! But I wasn't HUNGRY...I wasn't FULL.... but I wasn't hungry either....

It's taking some getting used to! lol

I'm wondering too-I think it is different for people though. This morning I was over restricted- uncomfortable to have more than a teaspoon or 2 in me, painful to have over a tablespoon- Now minus just 1 cc I am not quite restricted enough- able to eat 1/2 cup (probably a little more) easily- although not hungry from this portion.

With my band full=pain, so I try to stop at not-hungry or as I call it the "2 bites before full". This is a learned behavior there is no way to teach it. I had to sit and eat by myself, take a bite, chew well, swallow, wait about 30 seconds and think about how my chest felt, then take another bite. When I ate too much and had pain, I tried to think back to exactly how I felt 2 bites before the pain and that is how I learned where my stopping point was. Now (unless I am mindlessly eating) as soon as I get that "2 bites till full" feeling I stop right then. However, I am a slow learner cause this took about 6 months to learn.

For me it isn't "feeling" the restriction. When I have good restriction I don't get hungry for several hours after I eat. Like Leigha, I have learned to stop before that feeling of pain and one bite too much feeling. Sometimes it is a hard lesson to learn.

I am tossing around the idea of going in for a tiny fill because the hungries are sneeking up on me way too soon after I eat.

I also just had my first fill (4.5cc in 11cc band) and while I can eat anything I want I do feel less hungry. Thanks for starting this thread. I was wondering too. I was hoping I would feel "full", but I will take "not hungry" if I can get it.

Gypsy,

I think we need to redefine what 'full' is. For most overweight people, 'full' is when we push back from the table and feel the need to undo the top button of our pants.

At some point on my way to overfill, I think I passed my sweet spot (and am currently looking for it again). I remember there being a point where I just knew that I had enough...and if I was dumb enough to take that next bite, it would be too much (and was if I was dumb enough).

.

I agree the feeling is much more "not hungry" rather than "full". It takes a little time, but you'll learn when to stop.

I am six weeks post op too and I should get my first fill in about a week and half. I can't wait to feel a little restriction like I did in the beginning.

I am six weeks post op too and I should get my first fill in about a week and half. I can't wait to feel a little restriction like I did in the beginning.

I too am hoping for that restriction that I felt the first 2 or 3 weeks after surgery...Hope I get it soon.

04948749-FFAB-E84C-90A7-1D94AFDDA05E

1.03.01

I was banded 3/29/10 and have a 10cc band and I have had five fills, I am at 6.5 right now and I go for another .5 fill this Thursday. I think I am just on the edge some days of my 'sweet spot'. Some days are good food days and some days are take 2-3 bites for lunch and just have a Protein drink for dinner.

I am diligent though to keep my appointments for a fille every 4 week for the first four months so I didn't have that "can eat without any restriction" feeling. Now, I am doing every 6 weeks and getting the .5 cc.

I know when I take a bite and put the fork down and swallow if that needs to be the last bite, it goes down slower and you just mentally know that is it.

Good luck :thumbup:

You sound restricted to me. I never PB and almost never get stuck. I could eat a lot if I wanted to, but I try not to and sort of lose interest along the way. I stay satiated between meals. From what I read on these boards, I think I have a perfect level of restriction--the good without the bad--and you sound quite similar. Good luck!

I think we all feel the same way as this post at one point and I am no different. I have had 2 fills and I am still waiting to feel the 'bubbles' when you drink something carbonated..that doesn't happen, nothing gets 'stuck' and I feel like I can eat more than I should. I have 3 cc's in an 11 cc band...I just feel like its not enough. I go back on the 25th for another fill but part of me wants him to give me more than the standard 1.5 cc's per fill...I just want to be tighter rather than loose because I feel like I am failing at this as I have not lost any weight this past 3 weeks and was losing at least 1 lb a week for all the others.

Whats the secret? I know everyone is different but really, how do you find the secret to to your own success with the band?