Okay, here is where I think I need some explaining as to the "whys" of the rules. I had my first fill on Saturday, I received 2 cc's in a 4 cc band. The fill was done under fluro and it looked like the barium was going through slower than would be normal. So, I thought I probably had good restriction. The doctor told me my "hole" was about the size of a nickel. Well, I can still eat a lot. Well, actually, I can eat a lot of Soup. I can't eat a lot of hard things like hotdogs or chicken. So my question is, I guess, should I stay away from Soups and softer foods? Like... mashed potatoes, creamy mac and cheese... yes, all carbs, but easy to eat. And, for that matter then, wouldn't soft foods be a way of sabotage? I don't know what I was expecting, but I guess I thought I wouldn't be able to eat much of anything. Now that I think about it, that isn't logical. Soft foods and liquids slip right through the band. But then, if you're chewing all of your foods to a pulpy mush, wouldn't it stand to reason that they would just slip right through as well? And if so, then how does anyone ever eat less?

And another question to add to the confusion: When I don't chew something well enough, it hurts when it is trying to get passed the band. I feel it in my throat, and I am uncomfortable until it passes. So... if I'm not feeling that discomfort, then isn't my food slipping through the band just fine? And if so, then it isn't staying in my pouch as I was led to believe, but it is actually just slipping through into the bottom part of my stomach. So really, maybe the band doesn't actually work by keeping food in the pouch and allowing it to pass slowly, maybe it really works because we have to chew a lot, and eat small bites, with the result being that we eat less.

I tend to agree. Sometimes when I get the golfball, its in my chest, above my stomach - that's the chewing too little, eating too fast feeling and feels like its only a spit away from a PB (which hasnt happened to me yet). But when I eat any of the foods that my band doesnt like - soft bread, donuts, or as I found out today, dried apricots, I get pain where the stoma must be as it goes through, very uncomfortable feeling - but it happens two minutes or so after the first bite of that food - so the food is DEFINITELY starts moving through the pouch very quickly. But it cant all get through in the space of 15 minutes so a small meal fills me up, but I am positive I am not walking around with a nice little stash of the next four hours nutrition sitting there in my pouch, it moves on through fairly quickly and if I cared to, I could eat more within 10 minutes of feeling "stuffed". I might do this if I'm out - I can still eat dessert as well as a small main course.

But overall, my head has had the satiety message so the desire to eat evaporates for me. The fact that I could isnt really relevant as I dont particularly want to.

Case in point, I ate a ham cheese and pineapple toasted sandwich for lunch today - quite a big one actually (gourmet bread, large slices). I was utterly satiated after that, stuffed in fact. And I"m not hungry now 3 hours later, I still feel pleasantly full. I'll easily get through till dinner time on that.

Which brings your other point to the fore - yes, if you eat more "difficult" solid foods you stay full longer. Soup etc does not fill you up as easily.

But I still eat a lot of soup - becuase I love making soup and I make good hearty soups full of veges and lentils etc. There's not much you could eat that could be healthier for you, so I still eat it. I cant eat bowls and bowls at a sitting, to slow it down I might add a piece of toast or some crackers and finish with a piece of fruit. But I still eat it because its a great food if its fresh and homemade - and thick and chunky.

But I wouldnt eat yogurt on its own for Breakfast because I'd be starving an hour later, I might have some on top of some muesli.

Dinner tends to be my most solid meal as its often meat and 3 veg and I can only eat a tiny dinner when I eat something like that. But I do have other things too becuase who wants to eat the same thing all the time?

I know when I want to get serious and drop a bit of weight I only have to stick to egg on toast for breakie, sandwhich and fruit for lunch and meat and 3 veg for dinner and I'll drop weight but generally I'm happy to lose slower and eat a wider variety of foods..

Here's how it was explained to me: the upper part of the stomach is where your pouch is, and also where the most sensors are for satiety.

When you eat solid food it stretches your pouch, which causes the stretch receptors to send satiety signals to the brain. Soft food and liquids slide through without really stretching your pouch enough to set the satiety signals off, unless you are chugging a large quantity. Even then, it runs right through and doesn't trigger long-term satiety. Staying full for 4 hrs requires the stomach wall tension to be held for a little while.

So getting more fill is not so much about restricting the amount you can eat at one time. It's about slowing the food exiting your pouch. The goal is to get to the point where it creates a few hours of satiety instead of you feeling hungry too soon - this is your "sweet spot". Our part is to eat the 2-3 oz of Protein and 1/2 C or so of produce at each meal and no more, regardless of whether the pouch "allows" us to eat more.

That's how it was explained to me anyway. I just wish I was better at always making the right food choices. I *know* what I should eat but am still battling the boredom or stress grazing.

MollyMolly, What an awesome explaination...I'm eating a small baked potato and tiny salad as I read your post and it all makes more sense now. Thank you. Tammy