I was wondering when and how often should I be getting a fill?

I had my first fill last month around this time and it was wonderful, but have started to notice this past week that:

1. I'm not losing weight.

2. I get hungry quick (with in 2 hours).

3. I'm not losing weight.

So I was thinking that I may need another fill. But is it common for the fill to "wear off" with in a matter of weeks or months?

I have a small band only 4cc's and am at a fill level of 3cc right now, I sure hope that if I get another fill it will help me lose weight and feel satisfied for longer. I can still eat 1-1 1/2 cups of food at a meal. And was told that with proper restriction I should not be eating that much.

Thanks everyone for you help.

Here is a sample of what I eat during the day:

Breakfast:

1 whole bagel with cream cheese

8-16 oz of coffee with creamer

Lunch:

1 whole sandwitch with mayo, turkey ham (3 slices), lettuce, tomato

1 fruit

1 small bag of chips

Dinner:

1 piece of chicken or other kind of meat

1 cup rice, or some other kind of starch

1 cup of steamed veggies

Snack:

nuts ( haven't measured how much)

I know it's not the best menu so any assistance with it will also be appreciated

I had my first fill at 4 weeks post op... my second 6 weeks later, my third another 6 weeks later and finally... this past fill was 8 weeks later. I find that a couple weeks before a fill I can eat more than I think I should. Just try to stay with healthy choices and you will be OK!

Well I was banded on oct 19th. I have not gotten my first fill yet. But I know my Dr. told me that whenever I get hungry and stop loosing weight to come in right away. As far as your menu I think you should cut down on your carbs and add more protein. Especially in the morning. Try a boiled egg and fat free yogurt to start you off. For the next week just try no carbs and that should jump start your loss again. I have stuck to this as well as excercise and have lost almost 30pounds in 4 weeks. Try also keeping a food journal. That really helps me stay on track. I am consious of everything that goes in my mouth. If it has no nutrional value I dont eat it. oh yeah wendys chili has lots of protein so try that for lunch. I hope this helps. Good luck on your journey.

i go back every 6 wks for a check up. now i don't have a fill everytime either. i've only had 2 since being banded in may. have you thought about not having the bread, starch, rice and bagel? carbs will make you feel hungrier faster. i'd start there and start substituting something else in it's place. yogurt or eggs for breakfast, even cereal if it's low carb and high in protien. kashi has some good one's, oatmeal, cream of wheat. using lettuce as a wrap for the sandwich instead of bread. do you have snacks? you can have sugar free jello, pudding and such. The United States Department of Agriculture sets a serving size for fruit or vegetables to be equal to about one-half cup. Greens like spinach and lettuce have a serving size equal to one full cup. One serving of sliced fruit is equal to one-half cup; however a single piece of fruit, such as an apple or an orange counts as one serving.

I have the larger 11 or 13 cc band. I received my first fill 4 weeks after surgery, I think it was like 3.5 cc's. I see my surgeon every 2 weeks and have had little fills ranging from .25 to 1 cc all except one visit, I thought I was at the magic sweet spot. Wow, was I wrong!

I have honestly lost track of what cc's I actually have but I'm pretty sure I'm really, really close now but thinking I need just a little bit more. I am really tight in the morning but come dinner time, so long as I eat REALLY slow and CHEW CHEW CHEW I can eat well beyond the 1/2 - 3/4 cup guidelines.

I envy you for still being able to tolerate bread! I haven't been able to even eat crackers since September and any doughy bread has been out for even longer.

Sounds to me like you may need just a little bit more of a fill.

Thanks everyone for your replies.... I will be going back for a fill hopefully in December if not sooner.

And I know I need to eat better thanks for helping me out there as well. Come tomorrow I will start drinking my protein shakes so I can get more protein and cut back on my carb intake hopefully that will help....

Are you drinking while you eat? I know for me this is a pure demon that I have slowly overcome. Also it seems like you can eat breads and bagels which if I tried to eat at this time (6cc in a 10cc band right now) I would choke to death.

I'd definitely also comment on your quality and quantity of foods, but as mentioned . . they certainly need to be better if you want to notice weight coming off.

I can sympathize with the hunger tho, cause I get full on very little food (1/2 - 3/4 cup) but am not satisfied. I'm hoping more fills and sticking it out is what it takes. . . . but just remember you went through the surgery to not only lose weight but to change your life with a new tool, and as any tool . . it takes some work from us as well!

Good luck and I wish you the best in your journey!!!!

I agree with gypsy & Billy, it's most likely the high glycemic carbs that are making you feel hungry. I would try very hard to avoid what are sometimes called the "white carbs": potatoes, rice, bread, & Pasta. Also all colors of corn. You may eventually be able to allow small amts back in your food plan, but for now you'll be less hungry if they are verboten.

What happens is that they cause your blood sugar to spike upwards and then crash.. and when level crashes, it causes hunger to rear it's ugly head.

You may need to "wean" yourself off of carbs. Some people can go cold turkey.. I did it more gently. I went to whole grains. I don't eat bread very often now, but when I do, it's Ezekiel bread.. toasted. Same with Rice.. rarely have it, but when we do it's brown rice. Any pasta served here is whole wheat. Again, I rarely eat these things, and when I do I know I will be fighting increased hunger the next day.

Oatmeal is very good for breakfast if you like oatmeal. Steelcut is the best choice..while it is a carb, it's low glycemic. I make mine in an individual bowl inside my crockpot overnight. When I get up in the morning all I have to do is add whatever extras I want.. and it's ready to eat. No fuss, no muss.

You can make a faux fried rice using cauliflower. I've never made it (sounds like too much trouble 2 me), but the recipe I think is on the caloriecount.about.com in the low carb section.

If you do get a fill, I'd ask the docs to make it really small. I think if you ditch the white carbs you'll see some good results.