Maybe this is a stupid question. But what exactly does restriction feel like? Like I have stick episodes and I can feel when it clears or when it slims and I have to burp it up, but I don't get what the restriction is supposed to feel like? Unless that is it?

if you really work on eating the exact amounts you should be eating the restriction will come into play by keeping food in your pouch long enough so the signal is sent to your brain that you are full. if you are eating until you feel stuck or slime or pb'ing than you have eaten to much and in time complications can set in. try measuring your food. it should be just about 1/2 cup of food per meal. with restriction as I talked about before that half of cup of food will be enough to make you not hungry. I hope this makes sense.

Maybe this is a stupid question. But what exactly does restriction feel like? Like I have stick episodes and I can feel when it clears or when it slims and I have to burp it up, but I don't get what the restriction is supposed to feel like? Unless that is it?

That is what happens if you do not eat properly, or the wrong types of foods....which will only come into play if you have any restriction.

When you have any restriction, you will know it....for me, the way my band is adjusted, I am FORCED to eat slowly, take small bites, avoid certain foods, not drink while eating, and do not overeat...stop when the band says stop.....

If I do not do any of the above, THEN I will get stuck , slime, pain, all the unpleasant things.

It FORCES you to change your behavior, it FORCES you to eat differently, not the way a fat person does, but the way we are supposed to eat....I eat like a bird.

And I have been doing it for so long now, it has become 2nd nature...it's who I am now...don't need to think about it....

Everything I mentioned are the so called "Rules".....they started hammering these rules into my head long before I had surgery.....I did question as to why...sounds like Diet Talk.....

It was explained to me, that the rules are not there to help you loose weight, the rules are there so that when my band gets adjusted to where there I start to have some restriction, then I will wish I knew these rules...it is then I will need them more than ever.....( and they wee right!)

I read posts here all the time where people feel following the rules is what will lead them to loose weight.....I was taught differently...I was taught the Band is what will lead me to loosing weight, (that's why I needed surgery) and the "Rules" will need to be learned and followed so I can get along with the band from day to day....

Hi there, in my signature below there are a couple of links that really helped me understand how the band works....the lapband is not about restriction is a great piece I must have read a hundred times to get it into my head......you are on your way, was a learning curve for all of us!

Please follow Bandista's link. It is the best explanation I know and I often quote it myself!

Maybe this is a stupid question. But what exactly does restriction feel like? Like I have stick episodes and I can feel when it clears or when it slims and I have to burp it up, but I don't get what the restriction is supposed to feel like? Unless that is it?

Hey kellyannrose,

No question is stupid. I wondered the same thing when I first started getting fills. I had to remember that losing weight was a mental challenge as well as a physical challenge for me. It is important to remember that the lapband is a tool. For me, knowing when I am full is still a challenge, even though I have not gotten a fill in a while. Sometimes I think mentally being restricted is harder than the actual physical restriction.

Hi there, in my signature below there are a couple of links that really helped me understand how the band works....the lapband is not about restriction is a great piece I must have read a hundred times to get it into my head......you are on your way, was a learning curve for all of us!

Thanks for posting the link. This is a great article.