I am finally getting filled Monday..for the last few weeks I have been able to get down whatever I want even though I haven't tried often.I am kinda frustrated because I can get whatever down..even though I know that will change. I have lost probably 20-30 lbs so far but I've been unrestricted for several weeks I've just been trying to keep my calorie intake to 1500 calories or less( I'm 6'2 and over 300) so that's not alot of calories.Please tell me I'm not a Lone Ranger here..I have felt guilty just from the sheer fact that I can get things down If I want to...And what is this green zone people are talking about? Haven't heard of that...any comments and suggestions are more than welcome

I am right with you! My first fill is next Thursday so one more week to go. I hope I can stay strong and not eat to much but it's very hard because like you I know I could eat it all. As others have said that's why what we are in is called bander hell! Good luck to us both lol

If you can, please update your profile with surgery date, etc. Here's a comment I posted in another question similar to yours:

Being hungry post op, prior to restriction, isnt really uncommon at all. Unless your surgeon put in a fill during surgery, some do, some don't, you're in whats referred to as bandster hell. That time when you don't have restriction and its nothing more than a diet. I COULD have eaten just as I did prior to surgery.

Do your best to follow your instructions from your surgeon. This is the time when YOU do the work. Keep up your exercise as much as you can.

Hopefully, you have a doctor that will progress your fills and get you to that level of restriction that will provide you some portion control help. Don't get discouraged by the first few weeks if you're not seeing weight loss, it'll happen.

The green zone for me, came when I finally got to what I consider proper restriction. I can sometimes not be "hungry" ALL DAY now. I can eat a small amount, and stop. Then I feel satisfied for hours. I have ZERO problems with heartburn, reflux, etc. Everyone can be different with their level restriction. What really matters is, is it working for YOU.

You'll be in "bandster hell" until you get the fill that gives you enough restriction for the band to work it's magic. That may be 1 fill or 6. No one knows. Till then, like our esteemed forum member B-52 says,

"Until there's restriction...It's just another diet"

And yes, nearly all of us have gone through what you're going through. It sucks and I don't recall any nutritionist or doctor or seminar warning me that it would take me 4 months before I got a fill that took the edge off.

tmf

I'm not sure the band is suppose to make sure you can't eat certain things! My perception of what the band is suppose to do is keep you satisfied on less food. If I was waiting for the band to stop me from eating certain foods I still would be waiting! I've had the band over 6 years and can eat anything I choose. Be careful when using the philosophy of not being tight enough if you can still eat certain foods. This can lead to a lot of problems including the band slipping, acid reflux, and throwing up.

I am working with willpower also and something someone said on this site really resonated with me: "I can eat anything I want, I chose not to" Something like that and I remind myself that everyday. I went thru all this for a reason and my part of this is to get used to lapband portions, learning how to chew, logging foods, drinking enough fluids, how to cook for my protein needs, how not to eat mostly processed foods, Pacing myself and The hardest one for me NOT DRINKING while eating< uggh. I needed this time in "bandster hell" to get used to these things so when I do get to the "zone" im not miserable getting stuck, PB, Vomit those thing freak me out.