Banded friends, I need advice. I am still trying to figure out if I am in my sweet (green zone) spot. I am going in for a possible fill on Friday. 4 weeks ago the doc told me that if I am still losing at this rate he would not fill me which was about 8-10lbs a month. I still feel some restriction but 800 cals a day still leaves me a little hungry and often I will eat over the 800 calories, closer to 1200. Some weeks I will lose only 1lbs and other 5lbs. I have this week to listen to my band and scale to decide if I want to beg the doc for another small fill. Right now I am at 5cc in my 10cc band. I rarely feel pain while eating now thank goodness but should I be feeling hunger??? Also I feel like I am still working really hard tracking calories etc., to make my scale move. Does it sound like I need a fill? Advice please...

I've been in the green zone before, and I am not now (I had a leak that was repaired) and I can tell you that when I was in my green zone, I very rarely felt hungry. Losing weight and keeping it off was easy.

My dr has refused to fill me as well because I lost 3lbs in a week. I suspect that had more to do with having 2 days of liquids, and 3 days of lunch time work meetings than being properly restricted.

So from what you're describing, I'd say you're probably not in your green zone. But you may be close, so perhaps a small fill might be enough.

How long does a small meal keep you satisfied before you feel hungry? That is the critical question to determining whether you are in the green zone or not.

Some days I get hungry in 2 hours and others 3-4.

800 calories a day is very low, I would also be getting hungry if that was all I was eating.

I think if you can eat 1000 to 1200 AND lose weight AND not feel hungry youre in the green zone 800 is too low.

YES...You need a fill!! The fact you are even discussing it proves you do. You are doing it purely out of will power, discipline, and counting calories as with any other diet.

One of the characteristics of the Green Zone is "Patient Satisfaction" and you are not there yet. Patient satisfaction will happen when everything "clicks", and you stop "Struggling" Listen to what other people say, and you will see how happy and excited they get and they want to tell everyone.

I get PM's from some people telling me how excited they are reaching that point. That's how happy they are!

You are not quite there yet. GET Aggressive!

When it happens, you won't be asking if you are but telling everyone you are.

Also, your Dr. will not give you a fill if your weight loss is good. If you're going to beg him, tell him how HARD it is to continue the way you are. Convince him it is your dieting and not the band, and you don't know how much longer you can hold out.

For me, it took 7 cc's.

I have to disagree. Most people will feel some hunger when they are consuming too little. It is not realistic to expect that the band can assist us to be satisfied and not hungry on an extremely low no of calories.

The OP says she feels a liitle hunger - I would say that is normal.

She is losing between 1 and 5lb a week , that is excellent.

I think she should tell her Dr everything she has told us and let him decide. I certainly wouldn't be begging for a fill if he doesn't think it is necessary. There is always that risk of ending up too tight and that is totally counterproductive.

See, when I was in the green zone, I honestly did not feel hungry. I actually could go a whole day without eating and not feel hungry. I have had times when I have gotten busy at work, got home and then realised I hadn't eaten anything. While this is not necessarily healthy, that's what it actually gave me. I started setting calendar alerts at work to remind me that it was lunchtime and to go get food.

I didn't have to work to maintain at all. The band did it all for me.

Now I can't tell you how many calories I was consuming because I didn't count them, but I would say that not a lot of food kept me quite satisfied for a long time. And I despite the fact that I have restriction now, I feel hunger and that's how I know I'm not yet in that green zone.

And I lost most of my weight before I got into the green zone. Losing weight does not necessarily equate with being in the green zone. I was not and yet consistently lost 1 -2lbs a week with eating well and exercising. Once I hit the green zone, I lost weight without even trying, and kept the weight off without trying.

I know it's different for everyone but I think if someone is wondering if it could be easier, then it's possible that it could be with a small fill.

See ive always felt some hunger, just much less than I did unbanded - and when I was too tight once, i was starving ll the time, my body KNEW it wasnt getting food. 800 is just too low for me and I would be hungry no matter how much fill I had.

The bnd works more for me b reducing jow much it takes to satisfy hunger, not by eliminating hunger. But I was never ever plagued by constant or inappropriate hunger pre band, i just ate all day regardless.

I would def increase to a 1000 calories a day which is my average every week for the past yr and half. I do still get hungry but tend to snack on non fattening food or tea and coffee that sustains me till meal time. I just got back this morning from getting another fill as i could eat faster and chew less than what i was doing so i know my band had loosened up but then they normally do when u lose weight. I got .75 fill today taking me to 8.5 of a 14 band last fill i had was only 0.3 tho so a small fill may solve the issue for u, but let the doc decide tell all and see what he says ..

See, when I was in the green zone, I honestly did not feel hungry. I actually could go a whole day without eating and not feel hungry. I have had times when I have gotten busy at work, got home and then realised I hadn't eaten anything. While this is not necessarily healthy, that's what it actually gave me. I started setting calendar alerts at work to remind me that it was lunchtime and to go get food.

I didn't have to work to maintain at all. The band did it all for me.

Now I can't tell you how many calories I was consuming because I didn't count them, but I would say that not a lot of food kept me quite satisfied for a long time. And I despite the fact that I have restriction now, I feel hunger and that's how I know I'm not yet in that green zone.

And I lost most of my weight before I got into the green zone. Losing weight does not necessarily equate with being in the green zone. I was not and yet consistently lost 1 -2lbs a week with eating well and exercising. Once I hit the green zone, I lost weight without even trying, and kept the weight off without trying.

I know it's different for everyone but I think if someone is wondering if it could be easier, then it's possible that it could be with a small fill.

That's pretty much how it is for me also.

I don't count calories, I just eat when I'm hungry (which isn't often) and I eat till I'm satisfied (which isn't much)

All I need to do is make wise food choices, get my Water in, and take my Vitamins, etc. And exercise.

Ok so I know that I shouldn't but I did, just to test how much food I could eat. Last night I had 1/2 big mac minus 1 bun 1/2 small french fries and 1 sundae. I stayed under 1200 calories yesterday. I felt satisfied and full. I waited 20 minutes to eat the sundae. After that meal I think I realize that I may need another small fill. I don't think that I should be able to eat that much in one meal. Am I wrong? I feel like I am so close but right now I am thinking I need another fill.

This is what I am trying to achieve! I am working out but still tracking which sometimes is not so easy or successful.

That's pretty much how it is for me also.

I don't count calories, I just eat when I'm hungry (which isn't often) and I eat till I'm satisfied (which isn't much)

All I need to do is make wise food choices, get my Water in, and take my Vitamins, etc. And exercise.

This is what I am trying to achieve! I am working out but still tracking which sometimes is not so easy or successful.

I counted calories on my I-phone app, and it drove me crazy. I just eat a lot less that I used to, and the right foods when I do.

I don't count calories during the day but I do often look back in the evening and see approx. how many I've consumed. I stay in the 1000-1200 range. I do think 800 is too low.

Keep in mind the more solid your food the longer it will keep you full. Egg salad won't keep you as full as chicken breast. My doctor says you are in the green zone if you can go 4.5 hours before being hungry.

I am bit torn as to the advice to give you. If you can't consistantly go 4.5 hours before you are hungry; I'd say you need a fill. However if you are loosing some weeks 3-5 pounds I'd say you don't need a fill.

Also you mentioned rarely feeling pain. You should not feel pain at all! I am at restriction and don't get stuck episodes unless I do something stupid. Like eating raw carrots plain which I KNOW is a problem.

I would have a frank discussion with you health profession and ask their advice. That is afterall why you pay for their expertise.