Ok gang! I'm newly banded on 11/17 and had first small fill on 12/15....but am going back 1/9 for a little more.

Question, when you reach optimal or good fill point...........do you actually feel full after eating "say 1 - chicken breast? or a salad or a few bites of potato or oatmeal or whatever....and I mean that feeling right under your breast bone that says I'm stuffed?????

At this point.....i can eat an awful lot and still not hit that real full feeling?

So - is that what I should be shooting for when I get filled? and when you hit this point..............what can actually get thru the small hole?

Right now - I'm just struggling to maintain? HELP PLEASE NEED INPUT! :) ;)

I am over 1/2 filled and can still eat 1 1/2 cups food at a time but I'm only hungry 2 times per day, maybe 3 sometimes. Sometimes it takes alot of fills, some people just a little. Everyone is different. Don't worry though - at your stage I could eat ALOT too. They say the "sweet spot" is where you can eat, not feel hungry that much, and still lose." I think I'm almost there b/c I'm not hungry between meals and I am losing (slowly, but still).

As far as what you can eat - maybe anything. Some people can't eat rice - I can, some people can't eat bread - I can, I can't eat chicken easily though. Basically you can eat anything that you chew up to mush so that it could got thru a hole the size of a Pencil/straw,,, but every bandster is different and it's trial and errore until you find out what works for you. Don't worry right now, you just need more fills and time to heal.

I lost weight for 2 weeks after surgery and then I stalled out for 10 whole weeks while getting adjusted. And I am going for another fill next week! You're doing great maintaining. Also, remember that exersize can help you lose.

Thanks lovecats85 for the reply.........now I don't feel like i am crazy or it will always be this hard.

It's kind of hokey to say....but when you have it, you'll know it. You'll eat a small amount and know you are done and not feel hungry for HOURS.

Hang in there, finding the right level of restriction is an art not a science. Just work with your doctor and you'll find it.

Also, for some of us, for whatever reason, it takes a while before a fill "kicks in". You just had a fill on the 15th. It may not be there yet. I think you'll see a difference with your next fill.

Hang in there.