Hi.

I want to know what sweet spot means for you. Does sweet spot mean you are at such a restriction you don't feel hungry? Does it mean that you are so tight that you can't get anything down even if you wanted to? I know some banders purposely keep their band tighter. I was just curious what defines a sweet spot to you. Tightness, not hungry, prone to a lot of PB'n so you are afraid to eat anything, feel no hungry but can eat most foods, etc....

Just wanna know. I am going for my first fill in a couple weeks.

Also, once you hit your sweet spot...did you start losing again? I have stopped losing since surgery. I ask myself if I am doing something wrong! I think maybe I should go on a diet.

Last year I had that problem I was pbing everyday at least 2 or 3 times a day. I even started to develop acid reflux. I was considering having it taken out because I wasn't losing weight either, but when I went to the doctor he took a little out and I have found my sweet spot. I pb every once in a while if I do eat to much or don't chew my food good but I have started to lose weight a lot faster and I eat and have the energy to exercise for 2 hours up to 3 to 4 days a week.

Great info guys! Thanks for replying to my post.

:help: I was banded 3 weeks ago and have not had my first fill yet. in reading everyone's email I am a little worried. that after you get a lot of fills then a few weeks go by and you stretch your stomach? and have to go get another fill? Please someone explain.

Also when I called my Dr. office and I have lost 15 lbs (only the first week) she said I did not need to get a fill b/c of the weight loss. Why in the world did I get this thing and pay for it myself if I can not get a fill. I can eat anything and I am starving myself with little to no results since the first week. Very frustrated and depressed. Do you think I should call the Dr. and schedule one anyway?

I was at the Dr. office today and he explained to me I would not be eligible until I was "hungry" and my weight loss plateau'd, and I did not feel restriction.

That golf ball is probably stage 1 of PBing. Stage 3 is actually regurgitating. Imagine that golf ball felling 10x.

Wow, I can't tell you how much this helps me to hear a bandster put it that way. I DO get the golfball but have never PB'd so I somehow assume I simply won't because I haven't -- if that makes sense. But now I see, DUH, it's just the beginning...go no further!

I think this is one of the most important threads in a long time on LBT.

Lap Band surgeons constantly struggle with trying to convince people that if you aren't losing weight, that doesn't automatically mean you need a fill.

Too full is bad!

Wow, I can't tell you how much this helps me to hear a bandster put it that way. I DO get the golfball but have never PB'd so I somehow assume I simply won't because I haven't -- if that makes sense. But now I see, DUH, it's just the beginning...go no further!

When you get that golf ball feeling you need to say to yourself that you either did not chew as well as you should have or you ate too much.

Not only go no further!~IMHO I think you need to back it up just a touch.

I agree Doc, but on the flip side, just cos you are losing some weight doesn't mean that you DON'T need a fill. Luckily my Dr understands that most of my weight loss since my surgery last November has been due to my commitment to exercise, not because I have been at the right restriction.

I think the hard part is when you DO feel the golfball sensation the question is "Is this restriction from being full, or restriction from a bite that was too big?" For me, the golfball often comes in the 3rd or 4th bite of food. I know this isn't the stopping point and that I've barely consumed a few spoonfulls of food. So I wait it out, it passes, and I eat again. From there I can eat and eat and eat...sometimes much more than a cup. So, I think I need a fill, right? This would NOT be the sweet spot. If it were I would feel another golfballish feeling (hopefully I catch it more subtle that that) and I'd be stopping at less than a cup of food, correct?

My band can be so confusing!

(Pam, I just read you wrote almost exactly what I wrote...you're in my head!)

I think the hard part is when you DO feel the golfball sensation the question is "Is this restriction from being full, or restriction from a bite that was too big?" For me, the golfball often comes in the 3rd or 4th bite of food. I know this isn't the stopping point and that I've barely consumed a few spoonfulls of food. So I wait it out, it passes, and I eat again. From there I can eat and eat and eat...sometimes much more than a cup. So, I think I need a fill, right? This would NOT be the sweet spot. If it were I would feel another golfballish feeling (hopefully I catch it more subtle that that) and I'd be stopping at less than a cup of food, correct?

My band can be so confusing!

(Pam, I just read you wrote almost exactly what I wrote...you're in my head!)

Hmmmmm I don't know ANYTHING about fills....

I would email your Dr. and ask him if he has any insight (and then share it with us)

Pam from your insight I thought you were a seasoned bandster! See, we all have something to teach each other. I love it.

I think I have hit my sweet spot personally. I have had 4 fills, my last one 2 months ago and am still losing 2 pounds a week and have pretty good restriction. There are days when I am not very hungry, like today and I have learned that if I'm not hungry, I just don't eat. I was wondering how the sweet spot felt before I hit and I am liking it very much!

Belle

I agree Doc, but on the flip side, just cos you are losing some weight doesn't mean that you DON'T need a fill. Luckily my Dr understands that most of my weight loss since my surgery last November has been due to my commitment to exercise, not because I have been at the right restriction.

BINGO!

But can I add please without disrespect to anyone;

I have the band which is a tool, no matter if it is the reason I NOW go to the gym 3 days per week, or the reason that I eat smaller meals or don't eat the entire pizza by myself.

This is why my Dr. looks at the whole picture and asks us to use fitday.com for his review of our progress.