It seems to me there is a lot of misunderstanding out there when it comes to restriction. Over and over, I read post after post of the following statements:

"I have had fills but can still eat whatever I want"

While some people do have issues eating certain foods, there is absolutely no truth that you shouldn't be able to eat foods like breads, Pasta, and rice. If you are following a low carb diet that's one thing, but being banded doesn't mean you shouldn't be physically able to eat them anymore. Many of us can still eat absolutely everything we ate before surgery.

"I have had fills but I can still eat more than 1 cup of food"

This may be true, however, just because you can eat more than a cup of food doesn't mean you should. More often than not, if you eat slowly and stop after eating no more than 1 cup of food, you will find that you are satisfied and no longer hungry despite the fact you could still physically eat more. Quit trying to test your band to see how much you can eat, because the only one that will fail the test is you, not the band.

"I have had fills but I don't feel full"

Big misconception- the band will make you feel full. Wrong. It's true some people do feel full but it's a different full sensation than we had before banded. In fact, it's almost uncomfortable. The band is not supposed to make you feel stuffed full, it's supposed to make you feel satisfied with less food for longer periods of time. If you keep getting fill after fill because you don't feel stuffed full, you are going to end up one of the many people who have bands too tight and slips as a result. Being satisfied means you are no longer hungry, not that you feel as though you just ate a seven course Thanksgiving dinner. Quit trying to feel full and start listening to your body because it will tell you when it's satisfied.

I encourage everyone to educate themselves on the Lap-Band, what it does, and what it doesn't do. Too many people are walking around banded completely ignorant to the facts and I fear many will have complications and slips because of it. It's your body, take responsibility for educating yourself on it.

Be well all

Ugh yes, it always make me cringe too! I literally sit here thinking "well, there's the next candidate for a slip"

read something yesterday about someone being banded and recently filled. but could eat all they wanted. How about staying with the guidelines? 1/2-3/4 I eat only. I am guessing I could eat more (if I wanted or if I tried) but I am making the mental decision NOT too. Sure the band will help us eat less, but we need to eat less (and better choices) . Just baffled by some posts.