Hi!

So far I've lost 68 pounds since I was banded in February, which I am happy about. I'm PBing once a week or so, though. I'm debating getting a small unfill but want to give myself time to work some new "rules" before I do that. I'm going to try the following for a few weeks and see if I can go for a month without PBing:

1. Tiny bites (no more normal bites and then swallowing in segments)

2. More careful chewing (I'm pretty good about this one now but sometimes mess up and don't chew like I should)

3. Have a hot drink before eating breakfast or lunch

4. Have one to two glasses of wine before eating dinner (this helps the absolute most; I've only PB'd once when following this and that was on collard greens, which have caused me to PB several times)

5. WAIT 30 seconds in between bites (have never tried this one yet)

If I follow all of these rules, I think I can fend off alot of the PBing. My question is, when I reach goal, I'm thinking of having a small unfill so that I can take in more calories, enjoy bigger bites, and not PB. I think I will need a small unfill to maintain my weight and not lose more weight as this fill is pretty tight and I'm losing well.

Anyone else thinking of getting a small unfill at goal? Am I being too optimistic? I just wish there was a way to stop PBing as I hate it sooooo much and it makes me very miserable (as well as risking band slippage).

I have a friend that was banded a few years ago and when she got to goal, she had a little unfill and has maintained it now for 2 years.

That might be what you need.

That is what I am going to do. With the restriction I'll keep losing in order to maintain I would have a slight unfill.

4. Have one to two glasses of wine before eating dinner (this helps the absolute most; I've only PB'd once when following this and that was on collard greens, which have caused me to PB several times)

Mmm, I like that idea the best! There was recently a post by a forum leader on the Obesity Help exercise forum that said, "A study published in the journal of Obesity Sugery, looked at predictors of weight loss one year after Lap-Band and discovered that those who consumed moderate alcohol on a regular basis lost more weight than those who did not." I asked for clarification on what is considered "moderate", and was told a glass every day or every other day.

Unfortunately, once the wine bottle is uncorked, I have a hard time keeping it to a moderate level of consumption! :cocktail:

Tami

I can see how this would be a good idea (a small unfill to maintain weight lost already)...my only caution would be to minimize the number of fills/unfills in a general way...somehow I have the impression that they more you tinker with the band, the more difficulties are likely to arise. I was thinking about getting a small unfill before vacation this summer, but have decided that I should leave well enough alone; I just don't want to tempt fate.

Good luck in your decision, Cindy

I am going to attempt losing a bit below my goal and then I will have a very small unfill to maintain. Being a bit below goal will give me that comfort zone for fluctuating....this will a create a small zone for me stay within.

Carol

Hi Sunta,

I am against messing with the band at goal or any other time due to my own personal experience and what I have heard from others. I had an unfill when I had plastic surgery last year and all of my fill was taken out accidentally and my band has not been the same since. It took 3 fills, two unfills, five weeks with no fill and a refill to finally give me restriction the way it used to be.

However, if you cant get through a month without PBing, then I would consider a little unfill since you are likely to do damage to yourself with chronic PBing.

Babs in TX

334/190 ish

Not sure, I'll have to see. At the moment I'm 8kg from goal and really stalled, my weight is just not moving. It dropped a little after a fill last Friday but its not going to all fall off unfortunately, lol. I'm really planning on ramping it up and starting some serious weight training as well as my running, and starting to actually "diet" instead of just eating less than I used to.

But as it stands at the moment, I have not really ever achieved restriction in the way others talk about it, in that even at 3 ml in a 4ml band and with reasonably good food choices, I can still eat more than I can get away with to lose weight. Not heaps, but I can go out and enjoy a meal in a restaurant, I never PB, never have problems, so life forever at this level would be more than manageable for me.

I like when I say I'm stalled, my weight is coming off but its like 2lb a month now, not anything noticeable. I suspect I acually need to really attack the body fat and build muscle more than actually drop pounds.

But overall I suspect I'm going to have to find that within myself, not from any fill and that therefore I probably would not need to be unfilled to maintain.

It depends. I will see when I get there. I want to still be on my toes and have to look to myself to not over eat, I do not want to have to depend on the band to tell me to stop or pb. So, hopefully I will have it under control and be able to maintain on my own more than the band. So, yes I plan on it.

Sunta

When I first "met" you in June, you were struggling with a fill. Look at what you've accomplished! 68 pounds. Congrats!!!!!

Funny you should mention an unfill. I hope to begin a gradual unfill once I'm at goal and stable. Actually, I've been dreaming about it. Sounds reasonable to me, but I'm no professional.

I'm also going to check in on that daily "wine" thing. Never been a nightly drinker, but I wouldn't mind giving it a shot!