I just went for my third fill and had a talk with my surgeon's nurse. I told her I was discouraged but understood that it took a while for everyone to get to their "sweet spot" or perfect place. I explained to her that I was a bit concerned because while I felt I had to be careful and slow with what I ate (not to get stuck), I did not yet feel restriction. I still felt able to overeat big portions without feeling full.

She replied, "Oh only a small number of banded people feel restricted about the amount they can eat. Those people are lucky and unfortunately you're not one of those. That's why I want you to be really careful about measuring your food."

I was absolutely speechless and today I am in tears. Having my portions restricted was the ENTIRE REASON I had my surgery. Really, why else would anyone? If we only wanted to feel stuck once and a while, we could try to swallow quarters. It would be a lot cheaper!

I feel duped and mislead.

I did not spend my savings and have this surgery just to experience stuck and slime.

Is what she told me true? Am I "one of those" so I am never going to feel fullness with just a few ounces of food?

My band is one of those lucky ones that I am restricted on how much I can eat one bit too many and I have to throw it up sometimes this happens before I can even get a half a cup in. Other times I can get a cup in. I feel like this is how the band was portrayed to work.

Yes, overall it's how I believed the band worked as well. I've read all the stuff on restriction v not restricted, etc., different labels assigned to "green zone" "sweet spot" etc.. The differing labels and terminology add to the lack of clarification. Yet overall I assumed that except for the obvious slider foods, the band would help to keep you from overeating.

My band is one of those lucky ones that I am restricted on how much I can eat one bit too many and I have to throw it up sometimes this happens before I can even get a half a cup in. Other times I can get a cup in. I feel like this is how the band was portrayed to work. I do throw up a lot though.. I can't eat fruit very well unless in a smoothie or something. Some say I prob am too tight but it's working for me and that's all that matters. Keep trying don't give up

starting weight 287.6 current weight 242.0

Actually, that isn't how the band is supposed to work.

The band isn't supposed to make you throw up. Ever. Throwing up is one of the leading causes of slips and should be avoided at all costs.

I would talk to your surgeon about this. I'd hate to see you end up with serious complications.

Bibliophile,

This morning a very successful bandster posted a very nice topic: "Somtimes I just have to say...."

Since I can't say it any better, I copied and pasted some of his post here:

Now I know I'm going to get flamed for this by the "Know it all's" But personally, I do not understand how that can happen...(Short of a medical problem)....

Either your band is adjusted to where you are in the Green Zone, or it's not!! To me, that is the only thing that is important...

Two characteristics of the Green Zone is HUNGER CONTROL, and PORTION CONTROL.....yet I read posts about how people say they were doing fine, then started to eat anything and everything in sight...out of control...Does Not sound like being in the Green to me....

Actually' date=' that isn't how the band is supposed to work.

The band isn't supposed to make you throw up. Ever. Throwing up is one of the leading causes of slips and should be avoided at all costs.

I would talk to your surgeon about this. I'd hate to see you end up with serious complications.[/quote']

I know the band isn't made to make you throw up I have told my Dr he said it's normal somethings winter go well with your Lapland. I don't want to say I'm throwing up its more like sliding back up

starting weight 287.6 current weight 242.0

Now I know I'm going to get flamed for this by the "Know it all's" But personally, I do not understand how that can happen...(Short of a medical problem)....

Either your band is adjusted to where you are in the Green Zone, or it's not!! To me, that is the only thing that is important...

Two characteristics of the Green Zone is HUNGER CONTROL, and PORTION CONTROL.....yet I read posts about how people say they were doing fine, then started to eat anything and everything in sight...out of control...Does Not sound like being in the Green to me....

Yes! This is exactly what I am talking about!

As I said, perhaps it's the differing terminology used but I expected more help with portion control than I am currently getting. I expected to feel fuller with less food. Perhaps the nurse was talking about something different when she said restriction. I don't know.

Sounds like you are not in the green zone yet. Stay strong! You know how much you want it!

That nurse just fed you a load of crap. The band sits on a nerve that send full feelings to your brain. It takes that nerve 20 minutes to tell you you're satisfied when you are unbanded. I dont know about you but i can destroy lots of food in 20 minutes which is why I was morbidly obese!!!

When you're banded and filled properly, the nerve is almost always being touched, so you DO NOT feel the same kind of hunger as before, and when filled right you CANNOT eat the same size portions as before or you will get food stuck and feel horrible. That horrible feeling is called restriction. If you don't feel a struggle or tightness when eating or drinking, you don't have the right fill period.

There are a few people who CAN eat anyway past those feelings. Those people are at serious risk for band complications.

The majority of filled bandsters feel an unbelievable freedom and joy at having hunger controlled and warnings from overeating . For most people, this is all we need to lose weight rapidly, to make better choices, and to leave food addiction behind.

I wish I could slap medical professionals who give misinformation. A lot of them tend to be nurses. They are not doctors!

I know the pre and post op liquid diets have a medical purpose but I also think they help because no food in 14 days will shrink your stomach and when yoi start to eat again you will have to re-learn how it eat.

That nurse just fed you a load of crap. The band sits on a nerve that send full feelings to your brain. It takes that nerve 20 minutes to tell you you're satisfied when you are unbanded. I dont know about you but i can destroy lots of food in 20 minutes which is why I was morbidly obese!!!

When you're banded and filled properly' date=' the nerve is almost always being touched, so you DO NOT feel the same kind of hunger as before, and when filled right you CANNOT eat the same size portions as before or you will get food stuck and feel horrible. That horrible feeling is called restriction. If you don't feel a struggle or tightness when eating or drinking, you don't have the right fill period.

There are a few people who CAN eat anyway past those feelings. Those people are at serious risk for band complications.

The majority of filled bandsters feel an unbelievable freedom and joy at having hunger controlled and warnings from overeating . For most people, this is all we need to lose weight rapidly, to make better choices, and to leave food addiction behind.

I wish I could slap medical professionals who give misinformation. A lot of them tend to be nurses. They are not doctors![/quote']

Omg I think I found my Lapland off! Thank you! You said it perfectly!

starting weight 287.6 current weight 242.0

Omg I think I found my Lapland off! Thank you! You said it perfectly!

starting weight 287.6 current weight 242.0

Oops Lapland bff!* stupid phone lol

starting weight 287.6 current weight 242.0

I can not eat breads, pastas, and j s hard for me to eat fruits and chicken. So Idk how anybody can eat what they want lol. One day I could eat chicken perfect the next day I couldn't if my life depended on it

starting weight 287.6 current weight 242.0

Please don't feel duped, the band is a daily (I think) learning experience. It's a good chance this woman has not experienced this and is simply "quoting" from her training manual. In March it will be 4 years for me, I have 5.5 cc in my band as of Dec 5th. I went in expecting to get an unfill because of discomfort. Since I got it I thought try and see how this works, I don't think I ever had restriction, there really wasn't much I couldn't eat or an amount. As long as I chewed and went slow I could eat steak & dinner rolls. After the fill I for the first time faithfully did liquids for two days then soft for two and WOW I was in the green, I didn't get fat from always being hungry, I got fat because I always ate more than needed and mindlessly, I grazed and nibbled, drank super sweet tea all day and cleaned my plates. With the band it was hard for me because I am eating bar food 4 nights a week, and I was not as committed as I was saying I was. Since this fill I eat much more slowly, much smaller bites, and I am loosing again. I was down 7 lbs. in a week and I had lost 10 at a month. I have started doing a low impact Zumba/Soca work out with lots of stretching. I am also using resistance bands for my flabby arms. Inches are coming off now and I am kicking myself for not taking control earlier. We must follow the rules all of them, not just what or how much we eat but how we eat it. By going slowly, the brain has time to get the message that we are eating. Drinking water throughout the day also helps because...it keeps us hydrated and we don't retain fluids, it helps with digestion and the reduction of acid build up and finally it helps it with the feelings of hunger. I reread my instruction book again to help me better understand what I was trying to do, and what the band's role would be. Don't give up, just see your doctor as you should and follow the rules; it will come together.

The pouch only holds 4-6 oz of food so I do not know what she means. You are bound to get satisfied if you eat that amount. If I were you I would call your dr and get a reclarification.

For me... I feel like I hit the green zone at 4 months after 4 fills but until then I did not eat larger portions for fear of stretching my pouch... and plenty of times I felt like i could have but thats where the willpower kicks in.

Can you tell me, at the 4 month period after your 4th fill, how far filled up was your band and how many ccs does your band hold? I'm trying to figure out what the average sweet spot is for a 10cc band. I know it varies, but there has to be an average...at least mathematically speaking.

Thanks!

-Hilary

well i know how you feel but i had a much different nurse i didnt feel restricted till my 6th fill i was worried cause i wanted to feel that feeling of restriction bc i was eating small but still eating well like if i could over eat i never over ate but i knew that i could like if my mind doesnt quite yet know when to stop eating with out that restriction and thats harder to learn then jenny grieg ill tell u that this isnt a diet this is a life style im changing every effort every struggle i carry with me but it makes me try that much harder ive lost 85 pounds i was banded march 30 2012 and im proud to say im trying every day

That horrible feeling is called restriction.

OMG, girl. I seriously laughed out loud when I read that sentence. "That horrible feeling is called restriction."

Anyway, I had restriction at one point. And, it did feel bad. And I thought it wasn't supposed to be like that, so I had my nurse give me quite a bit unfill. I've had two baby fills since then. And, I've come to realize that being able to eat all foods in whatever quantity I want just isn't right. I've also come to realize that preemptively eating a larger meal than I'm supposed to so I won't get hungry 2.5 hours later is definitely not right.