I was banded March 6, 2012. Since the surgery I have lost 25 lbs. I get my first fill in 2 weeks. The reason for my post is that I can feel myself slowly slipping into old habits. For instance tonight I had chinese. Not a large portion, but I had it. At this point in time I feel no restriction in my tummy. So of course along with that came my guilty feeling and the thought that I hadn't changed. It was sad. I just wondered if anyone else could relate to this and maybe could give me some advice or words of encouragement. It has only been a month and I should be patient but my fear of always being the way I was overwhelms me.

I was banded March 6, 2012. Since the surgery I have lost 25 lbs. I get my first fill in 2 weeks. The reason for my post is that I can feel myself slowly slipping into old habits. For instance tonight I had chinese. Not a large portion, but I had it. At this point in time I feel no restriction in my tummy. So of course along with that came my guilty feeling and the thought that I hadn't changed. It was sad. I just wondered if anyone else could relate to this and maybe could give me some advice or words of encouragement. It has only been a month and I should be patient but my fear of always being the way I was overwhelms me.

I know it's hard to comprehend, but you are too early in your journey to worry about slipping and bad habits. All you're doing now is recovering from the surgery.

5-6 months from now is when you can really be concerned about your bad habits coming back.

Just do your best. Concern yourself with getting fully recovered from the surgery so the Dr. can get down to business.

The same thing has happened to both my S.O. and me. Not enough fill yet, not enough restriction, and we started overeating again. We all overeat because there's no signal from the brain that you're full. The nerves that signal fullness are at the top of the stomach above the band. When the band isn't tight enough, food goes through to the lower part of the stomach, and you just keep eating. The purpose of the band is to keep the food at the top of the stomach so the "full" signal is triggered. When there's not enough fluid in the band, we often just go right back to our old eating habits. IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT!! We had surgery the end of January and had one fill in February. I'd lost 25 pounds and he'd lost 35. He began overeating a few weeks ago. We went to the doctor 2 weeks ago, I didn't get a fill by my request, and he got a second fill. I started overeating not long after the appointment and went back yesterday for my second fill. He's going back next week for another fill, because what he got didn't help. I'm eating less now, but I know I still need more fills. I didn't get discouraged even tho I gained back 4 pounds because I knew it was very common. He did get depressed because he didn't expect it. So please don't get discouraged and don't blame yourself. The reason you had the surgery was because you overate. The surgical process simply isn't finished yet. After you get one fill you may feel a change, or you may need more fills until you get enough restriction to get that "full" signal after a very small meal.

It sound to me like you are doing good. It is ok to eat chinese food and the fact that you ate a smaller amount tells that you are doing what you are suppose to be doing. The more fills you get the less you will eat.

If you are going to wait until the band is perfect to start learning good habits, you may be sol. I went a year and a half. I could have just wasted the time, or i could work at making good habits even though it is hard.

So, you had a bit of chinese. You can still have chinese, but change what you order. I have egg drop Soup most weeks, sometimes a bit of beef and brocolli. The band isn't the end of all that is good.

I also have never had that happy full feeling. I feel sick and uncomfortable if i am not really careful not to overeat. Behavior mod at its best, lol.