So I had my first fill last week and I've been making sure to eat everything VERY slowly. I notice that I feel quite full with just a little food...is this what everyone means by restriction? I'm not sure what it's supposed to feel like, so I'm not sure if I'm feeling it (does that make sense?).

Being full on smaller portions of food-- that is exactly what restriction is to me.

Being able to eat a cup of food or so and being full for 2-3 hours. I am not one who sought smaller portions, ie. a half of cup of food per meal. I think that is too unnatural. I think restriction differs for everyone.

Thanks for asking this question. I also recently had my first fill and I'm not sure what I should feel. I do get fuller faster but not sure that the full feeling is lasting as long as it should. I'm still trying to get used to eating only when hungry and not just because i'm happy, stressed, sad, bored...etc. You get it.

Your question totally makes sense! I feel the same way many days wondering what "restriction" is like. It seems people differ on their view of restriction. Since my last fill I have noticed that I have to be a lot more careful with eating. If I don't eat slowly and chew a lot then I get a stuck feeling in my chest. My problem is I do feel satisfied but normally only for a short period of time (maybe an hour) then I feel hungry again. My hope is to hit the "sweet spot" and feel satisfied for longer. Great news is that you are feeling full quicker!!!

Thanks for answering everyone! I was told that it would take anywhere from 3-6 fills to get to my "sweet" spot. They said that before I get there I would start to notice that I was a little more hungry toward the end of the 4 weeks inbetween fills. Right now I'm able to eat three meals a day with a protien shake thrown somewhere in between and it seems to satisfy me for the day. The hard part is this - I'm having to learn the difference between "head" hunger and "body" hunger. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. I'll be walking past the fridge thinking about how I'm hungry, then I have to ask myself if I really do "feel" hungry...it's just frustrating, and it's hard breaking old habits.

I had my 2nd fill last week so I now have 6 cc's in a 14cc band. I did the whole liquid thing for a couple days but I definitely notice a difference now that I'm back on regular food. It feels like you've swallowed something too big...kind of a stuck feeling under my sternum. Today I was having a shrimp louie salad at a business meeting so there was salad greens, about 1/4 cup of small shrimp on top and a sliced boiled egg. I chose it for the Protein elements. I took 2 or 3 small bites, chewed well inbetween swallowing and got that kinda stuck feeling. I had to sit back, relax, chat with my table mates for a few minutes til that feeling passed. I ate the rest of the shrimp and the boiled egg but had to quit. I'm at the stage where I'm still eating with my eyes. On all the many diets I've been on before, I want to get as much as I can for my alloted amount of calories. Now with restriction, I kinda feel jipped when I can't eat as much. It's definitely a mental thing. I'm not staying as full/satisfied as long as I would like but the band is telling me when I've eaten too quickly or taken too big of a bite. I can tell this journey is going to be interesting!

I have had my second fill back on the 10th of march and I can still eat more than a cup of food but I eat till I feel full and then I'm full for 3 hours or more I do still drink my cup of milk inbetween each meal like my nut told me to which makes my hunger stay away for a good 4-5 hours. Thankfully I have never have a stuck feeling although sun morning we went to a brunch and I did have 1 small coffee with my food and I could tell that it was too much but I love coffee so much I couldn't pass it up. Next time ill just wait till I'm home for my coffee.

I found that after every fill the hunger stays away longer. I fill up quicker most of the time and have over filled myself since the third fill. But I think it is a game figuring out how everything works and when it is right for you! I think I may have found the sweet spot this time I just hope it hangs around:)

I was banded on August 4, 2010. I've had about 6 fills and STILL don't have restriction. Guess it's a prolonged "Bandster's Hell" for me, although I have lost 82 lbs from my highest weight (which was this time last year). I am more than ready for this band to do its thing!