I was banded 1/25/11 and including the 19 lbs I lost pre-op I have lost a total of 50 lbs (and I have 60 more to go). With my first three fills I felt no restriction at all, but about 3 weeks ago I got another fill and definately know what restriction means now. For the first few days I couldn't eat anything but was told to wait it out. Now I can easily drink my protein shake for breakfast. I have been eating soup or cheese and deli meat or really soft casserole type leftovers for lunch and dinner but can only eat maybe 1/4-1/2 a cup. Last night I had the toppings (cheese and pepperoni) from 1/2 a slice of pizza and it was fine. Today I tried a 1/2 size BLT salad from Wendy's and only took a small bite or two of chicken before I got stuck. Liquids go down just fine. Unfortunately so do chocolate and pirate's booty, but I'm doing alright with that. I'm just worried I'm hurting my pouch by it being too tight. What do you think? I'm scared of going back to no restriction.

Nay - I'm more concerned with you eating "bad" stuff. 1/2 cup of food is all you should be able to eat at a time. For example - I'm at goal and today for luch I had fresh spinach and fresh chicken salad (1/2 cup) and that was 3 hours ago and I'm still full.

BUT - here's the deal - I like being tight. That way I can't eat bread or pizza and I've lost all the weight I wanted in 18 months (110 pounds). What you can't do is eat the bad stuff! Stick to Protein first, than green veggies, and then carbs if you have room. Sometimes, I just had birthday cake and ice cream for dinner - LOL - but not often.

So, what you are experiencing is your first real restriction.....you'll have to learn to live with it and not eat the bad foods.

Good luck!

Honestly if I were you, I'd go back for a teeny unfill.

Get a slight unfill. Being too tight will cause weight gain (because you revert to sliders) will cause swelling and vomiting and many more unpleasant symptoms. I speak from experience.

I was banded 1/25/11 and including the 19 lbs I lost pre-op I have lost a total of 50 lbs (and I have 60 more to go). With my first three fills I felt no restriction at all, but about 3 weeks ago I got another fill and definately know what restriction means now. For the first few days I couldn't eat anything but was told to wait it out. Now I can easily drink my Protein shake for breakfast. I have been eating soup or cheese and deli meat or really soft casserole type leftovers for lunch and dinner but can only eat maybe 1/4-1/2 a cup. Last night I had the toppings (cheese and pepperoni) from 1/2 a slice of pizza and it was fine. Today I tried a 1/2 size BLT salad from Wendy's and only took a small bite or two of chicken before I got stuck. Liquids go down just fine. Unfortunately so do chocolate and pirate's booty, but I'm doing alright with that. I'm just worried I'm hurting my pouch by it being too tight. What do you think? I'm scared of going back to no restriction.

I don't think you are too tight. You mention drinking Protein shakes (I have one of those just about every morning), cheese, deli meat, casseroles - the only meat you mentioned was from Wendy's that didn't work so well. I can't eat any dried out meat or over cooked meat....it's just to hard to digest. What you didn't mention was meat you cooked yourself or what type of meat was in your casseroles.

If you aren't slimming, throwing up, or having acid reflux (all of which are signs of being too tight) then you are fine and welcome to the world of restriction with the band. But, in the end, you will need to do as you doctor says; call the office and see what they say.

By the way, I recently found out that surgeons suggest two ways of getting your daily amount of food: 3 meals a day, no Snacks or 3 meals a day and 3 small snacks a day (fruit, cheese). My doctor (who was a teaching doctor) told me to have 3 meals a day, no snacks, and only give myself 1/2 an hour to eat. It seems to be working for my maintance.

Thanks so much for the help everyone.

For me personally, I am happiest when I am just tight enough not to be able to eat a sandwich or a piece of pizza. Anything over that is asking for trouble. Also, I generally only drink coffee in the morning and lunch is generally my first meal of the day. Don't worry if you are able to 'eat too much' one day because you never know and the very next day you may hardly be able to get down a protein shake. If I'm going to err on one side or the other it's going to be on the too loose side. I can live when I'm loose but when I'm too tight I am completely miserable. Remember, the band is a tool and should do maybe 80-90% of the work. Trying to make it do 100% of the work is like revving and engine into the red and keeping it there. Unfortunately, doing that usually makes something go KABOOM! and you don't want it to be your band.