Fills and finding the right restriction still somewhat allude me - at my recent consult an unfill was suggested so that I could eat three bandster meals per day and I'm loving it - I'm not weighing for one month unless I feel my pants get tighter so I'm not sure if this will work but i'm curious from others:

1. Do you consider eating liquids or mushys for breakfast/lunch too tight, or just right? I know MANY bandsters that regularly only eat dinner and some continue to get fills.

My surgeon thought I wasn't losing because my eating was erratic - i never knew from day to day/meal to meal what would work - every bite wondering if it would go down. Pbing several times a week....

2. Do you consider eating 'carbs' bad etc.? Again, my nutritionist has said carbs are ok (even crackers, bread, rice - of course she is talking about a usda portion of a few crackers, 1 slice of bread, 1/4-1/2 cup of rice, etc - eaten last.

3. What constitutes an ideal fill for you -

Any thoughts, etc. are appreciated.

Yes, I consider having liquids for Breakfast too tight - but then again we cant always control what our stomachs do and for some people it has to be the payoff over getting enough help from their bands at other times. But I wouldnt personally tolerate it. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

I consider the right level of fill is one where you can eat 3 decent meals a day and get in 1200 calories or so. If that also means you can eat a Big Mac or half a pizza, well that's where a little self control comes in. Having your band so tight that you dont need any self control becuase all restrictions are physically imposed upon you is not teaching you anything and i really believe you're at risk of complications over the longer term.

After initial fast weight loss, losing 3 or 5 lb a month is healthy, realistic and normal. Live with it. You'll keep your hair, you'll keep your muscle, you'll stay healthy and keep the weight off.

If you dont lose weight on a reasonable calorie level, like 1000 or 1200, get thee off the couch and go out and move your mass. The answer is more exercise (even if you're already exercising), not less food.

Carbs arent evil. A diet full of processed white crap is evil. So is a diet full of processed Proteins - deli meats and Protein shakes and the like. Our bodies need fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein, food that's in its natural state. If you have to take fibre because of the protein first rule then you're not eating well.

That said, of course, we all have to do it our own way, there are exceptions to every rule, some people have special circumstances, yada yada yada.

I consider eating a protein shake for breakfast perfect. I can only eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food and it seems perfect for me. I'm at 3ccs in a 10cc band (which holds 4.2) and I'm still losing. I would say I've hit my sweet spot.

jachut, I wish I could say that it was easy to have this self control that you speak of. People wouldnt be here if they had this self control you speak of.

I understand that self control is the goal for the long run, but I dont expect many bandsters to be able to have self control for the first year or two that they have the band. If staying away from pizzas and bigmacs were that easy, none of us would have the band in the first place.

weight watchers and adkins told me to stay away from pizza.. shit, that didnt work :-P

its not possible. I lose 2-5 pounds a month with the band because I am trying, and the band is helping but I have not come anywhere close to revolutionizing my diet. I have not been able to stay away from pizza and big macs. To be truthful I cave in about a few times a week. Im not as tight as I need to be, but I know in my heart that this is a long fight, I was born with the compulsive eating disorder, and I will die with it.

The fight is just to not let it kill me

i would be skinny by now if i ate salads and grilled chicken with no Compusive impulses plauging me

Yeah, I know how hard it can be and my comment obviously got your back up, but truly for the band to work, you have to develop it to some degree. Its how the band works, you have to work with it. You know that. I'm here and I have that self control *now*, but its taken me 14 months of hard work to get to that point. 14 months of saying no to Big Mac's *most* of the time and I dont really want one anymore.

You dont have to be perfect you know.Truly, I think when you're trying to beat compulsive overeating, moderation is easier than an all or nothing approach. You dont have to never ever eat pizza again, you just have to learn how to fit it into a healthy diet.

For sure, you might need another fill - I only think too tight to have anything but Protein shakes in the am. is too tight for ME, not necessarily for you. I said I wouldnt tolerate it, but if you have to to get a level of restriction that personally you can work with, then that's the way it is.

I like to run, I need to fuel my body for that, so I keep my band looser to allow me to eat enough. I only lose 2 to 5lb a month, but for sure it was faster than that at the beginning, I've never been a fast loser though.

Do you exercise? It will take up the slack between getting the right restriction and having too many calories to lose as much as you want.