Questions for the "regulars" on here....Mis73, chez or any others?

[PJ Geeser 108]

Can any of you tell me "what I should feel" with the band. I am at 7cc in my 14 which I know in of no relevance cause we are all different but wanted to share.

On my last trip to dr....the N. Pract. asked me all the usual questions etc and I said to her "yes I need a fill...I cant feel anything yet?

She then asked me..."just what do you expect to feel?" I replied that I expect to feel something, to feel full, to not be able to eat as much...just something as I feel absolutely nothing yet since having the band.

She replied to me...."this is what you are supposed to feel...nothing!

What???? I mean I get the just of it and all but I want to feel something somewhere along the line. I mean I didnt have a band put in me to just be struggling dieting for "nothing"? I could have done that without the band.

I mean...obviously Im not there yet but will I feel anything at all or is she right? I mean I eat what I am supposed to...the small portions etc, no drinking with meals, etc. I know that part. I will say...( dont strike me down)...If I want ...I can eat anything, dont have to chew chew chew and dont have to eat slow...there is nothing?

I guess I dont know what I am to expect at this rate. I mean its not "old" yet for me as I had surgery Oct 22...have lost 35 lbs only..which dont get me wrong am happy with that but was just hoping for more. This past month...0 lbs lost....just so frustrating because of eating a small fraction of what I used to eat.

I do need to track again but havent really changed my eating at all since surgery...pretty basic stuff and know the cals etc on it

So...can anyone explain to me what it is I will feel or should be feeling in regards to the band.....I just hope it gets better than this...it is just so hard to keep going but will try my best to keep plugging away.

Thanks in advance for any answers you have to share with me

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Hello

I can only speak for myself and what my own surgeon taught me, but you're actually not supposed to feel your band. I know I can't feel mine ever, even during fills. The only time I become physically aware of the band is when I get stuck (which is entirely my own fault).

What the band is supposed to do is allow you to go longer on less food without hunger. To be more specific, to be able to go at least 4 hours on a cup or less of food without being hungry. But here's the cool thing- when you're not hungry and feel satisfied food is no longer a preoccupation. Too often people think the band is supposed to physically stop them from eating and as a result keep getting fill after fill trying to achieve this. Inevitably they end up too tight and put themselves at risk for slips. When you tell them the band isn't supposed to physically stop you from eating, I hear a lot of "well then what good is it?!"

When you're satisfied and not hungry, you're freed from the obsession with food so many of us have lived with forever. I was a big time volume and binge eater. Because I have adequate Fluid in my band that desire is gone. I actually skip meals entirely because I'm not hungry. That is something I NEVER thought would be possible for me- yet it is and happens often.

And for the record, I can eat anything as well. Some people do have problem foods they just can't handle anymore but not everyone. If I take small bites and chew like crazy there isn't anything I can't eat. (and I wouldn't want it any other way, being honest)

The other big misconception is that you should feel full. With the band, it's simply not the case, in fact if you're trying to achieve that full feeling you had before your band you're likely eating too much. The band is about satisfaction not fullness.

Here's a really excellent article that I think explains all this very well, have a look because it explains all this a lot better than I ever could: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

As far as weight loss, I know a lot don't want to deal with tracking calories but it really is the easiest way to make sure you're not eating too much or too little. Yes, eating too little can slow your weight loss big time. When you track calories, you can easily see where changes need to be made. I can only speak for myself, but I know without a doubt I'd have never lost all the weight I have without religiously tracking every single calorie I've consumed since the day I got home from the hospital.

It does get better, by the way. The fact you're asking questions is good- it's how you learn and when you have realistic expectations of the band it's a heck of a lot easier to adjust to.

You're going to do great. Best wishes

[SageTracey 608]

I don't feel my band but I do feel my port.

In terms of how the band feels when eating, I definitely feel satisfied on smaller portions and know that if I were to push past those smaller portion sizes, then I would feel horribly stuffed and unwell. The band doesn't stop me eating more but it allows me to be satisfied on less, for longer. Listening to my band is one of the most difficult lessons I have had to learn.

It doesn't snap shut and say "No more!" when I have had my small portion. But it does give me a soft stop, like a hiccup, small sigh or burp, that tells me to listen up or pay the price.

Good luck.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

like sage and missy, i dont feel my band but i do feel my port (esp more now as i am losing more)..i just have to believe in it and let it do its thing and me do mine..

so what is my part? eating my allotted amount (focusing on Protein as that is my fuel and veggies and fruit and drink alot)..but the most important thing is to understand that just because the scale is not moving (as fast as one would like) does not mean its not working or you are not doing well...if you are losing inches, then you are losing and you are a success...just keep going...hang in there...

[blondegal_ 1,028]

I recently read that if a person does not accurately track calories they easily underestimate by 20%. So you might try a little experiment. Write down how many calories you think you consumed and then go look it up. I recently flipped when I realized the ranch dressing on my salad (served to me at business meeting) had at least 200 calories.