Here is info will come in handy when thinking about fills/adjustments. Great information. I have seen this information before and it is really good.

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach irritant

c. fruit juice is just sugar Water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of

foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what’s easy

c. cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly

processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a

healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you

feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need

much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the

appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet

margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove

hydrolyzed fats from the body

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry

C. You may need an activity adjustment

1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3

times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your

physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids

D. You may need an attitude adjustment

1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are

eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional

issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your

eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss

journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?

E. You may need a band adjustment

1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate

portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large

portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and

having a good mind set.

F. You may need your band loosened

1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine

(4) Alcohol

(5) Some fruits and vegetables

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) Carbonated drinks

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe

Are you getting fills in Texarkana Texas? I am using that clinic and they only offer fills every 6 weeks to me....:sad_smile:

I was banded 5/5 and had my first fill last Wednesday--the dr only put in .5cc, which he said is all he will give at a time. However, I can go back in in two weeks for another small fill if I do not feel enough restriction. The fill actually hurt more than I thought it would, and he had to press down hard on the port for a while to force the saline into the port. He said that this is not uncommon with first fills but that additional fills should be more comfortable for me (and easier for him). A co worker of mine with a band suggested that I ask the dr to use a smaller needle--that maybe that would make it a little more comfortable? Has anyone had to request this with their doctor? Also, I do notice restriction in the mornings but not so much in the evenings. This makes me wonder if I shouldn't go back in for that 2nd fill next week.

Help:

I had a fill and they had to take half back out because I was to tight now I am dying from acid that I am bringing uo, any suggestions on how to stop that

As far as a fill hurting... I try to look at it that pain is relative...it's more of discomfort than pain... if it's painful something isn't right.

I was just banded on June 27th, 2008. Is my band really not inflated? I didn't realize that they don't inflate it at surgery.

prilosec works for me

I was just banded on June 27th, 2008. Is my band really not inflated? I didn't realize that they don't inflate it at surgery.

:smile2:

I don't think it is because you are swollen after surgery and the fill would be too much and you need time to heal, I remember trying to stay on as much a soft diet as I could until I got my first fill and thought I was gonna

starve, even after my first fill I did not feel much restriction, only after my

second fill did I fill anything. I didn't think I was ever going to lose weight

but after the second fill it starting coming off, but keep in mind, everyone

is different.

Anniemay

I was banded last november 26th, 2007 an have only been filled three times. I feel that I eat almost a much as I did before the banding. My doctor says that he has filled mine more than any ones. I am really concerned. I can eat a whole hamburger and fries.

What happened to you when you ate too big a bite? I ak because sometimes I feel like I get food stuck...like eating a cardboard box stuck in my throat. It does go away eventually.

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I was banded last november 26th, 2007 an have only been filled three times. I feel that I eat almost a much as I did before the banding. My doctor says that he has filled mine more than any ones. I am really concerned. I can eat a whole hamburger and fries.

Just because you can eat a whole hamburger and fries, doesn't mean you should. You need to make good food choices. No fried foods, no bread, and watch your carbs. You really need to work on portion size and control, because when restriction comes, and it will, you will need to be familiar with the correct portion sizes and foods you need to eat.

Do you drink with meals? I can tell you this is a big no-no and you should not drink with meals. It takes practice and time to get use to no drinks with meals, but it is important. You should be waiting at least 30 minute prior and 30 minutes after a meal to drink. Drinking with a meal only washes the food thru your smaller stomach more quickly which means you can eat more at one sitting. The goal is to reduce your portions and intake to help you lose the weight. You must remember the band is a tool and you have to work with this tool to get the best benefits and weight loss.

i don't get why some doctors are so controlling about how much they put in your band...its not their body.... 0.5 cc is nothing..if you don't feel restriction get yourself back there and ask for more...this is'nt about them its all about you now...geeze....

Thanks Andy. You are right. I have gotten really lax about my food choices. I just started to feel like this thing is not working for me. At first I felt restriction, which I liked because I knew it was giving me a message to stay on track, but now I feel like it just isn't giving me the restriction that I need. I am going to see y doctor on Wednesday for a third fill. I don't know what size band that I have.

I got my band August 2007, and my First fill of 1cc a month and a half after surgery. I wanted to make sure I had my eating potions and not drinking water during meals under control. Now I'm heading into my one year mark and I have not lost the weight like others have. I'm hoping that the doctor will put in 2cc at this next fll. I'm afraid that I have waited to long and that the weight will not come off like it would if I had multiple fills prior. What do any of you think? I was never told of a fill schedule just the first month and then as needed. I never could understand the as needed part. Could any of you explain the perfect fil. When your at the fill you should be.

join the club ,haven't lost any weight amd walking one mile a day. I don't think I will ever loose weight. It has been 1 year and 1 month for me . I never thought it would be this way ,very disappointed . I followed the rules also

I have some of the same concerns, bgrand, as you regarding stagnant weight loss and time having gone by. I was not given a fill schedule either, but I recently heard my surgeon telling another patient that if the scale hasn't moved down 2-3 lbs. in 2 weeks and you're following all the rules, you need another fill. There is no set amount per fill and it all depends on how tight it will feel to your doctor when they insert the saline. Without drinking, I can still eat a dinner plate full of salad, so I know I've got to get another fill....and the fact that if I eat a smaller amount, three hours later I'm getting famished. Neither should happen if I'm set up correctly. When the band is at the proper tightness, small meals only should fit and weight should be continually and gradually dropping. It is very frustrating that it doesn't happen quicker, but of course weight loss that is slower is longer lasting and more permanent.