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

I have a 14CC band and have had 5 fills since April. I know have 9.5CC's of saline and don't think I am at full restriction. I am just feeling some tightness mostly at breakfast. Is this normal?

if you are losing weight i wouldn't worry about it. i had to have saline removed because i to was feeling too much restriction that i could not eat at all and puking everything i tried. it would take me 45 minutes just to eat yogurt and oatmeal wouldn't even go down. good luck to you and if you losing weight continue with that, you don't want to be too restricted...irish

Hi Irish just reading ur last post. Im the same at the min, cant eat anything solid, at first i couldnt even hold down yogurt. It has eased a bit now, the weight flew off at first but now i can hold down a bit more it has started to go up. Did that happen to you and if so did the weight start to come off again. im in ireland so my fill doc only comes over once a mth i have to wait till 5th nov to get unfill but im a bit in two minds about it cause im putting the weight back on, but im realy missing food, proper food that i can chew!!!

if the weight is going back on why would you want to be unfilled???? since he took uot 1cc i have not lost a pound in 2 weeks--first it was too retstricted, i couldn't eat and was throwing up eveything i tried, now no restriction and haven't lost a single pound. i guess we just have to find that happy medium!!! good luck to you. i am going to ask that he puts 1/2 cc back in so hopefully i can eat and get that full feeling. its been since 06/20 that i had my surgery and i just haven't found that right fill. i have lost 44 pounds so i am happy about that but i been eating more since he unfilled me......

Hi Everyone

Had the strangest thing happen. Two weeks ago, had a fill, bring me to 7ccs in my 14 APL. I´ve been fluctuating a lot, scale not really moving, but trying my best to keep a :tongue: good attitude.

Thursday (two weeks to the day) I fixed scrambled eggs for breakfast, took two bites and had that awful in your chest feeling. Thought that is strange. Went about my business, PBed

We had friends in from Colorado, went to lunch, two bites of chicken, and the same thing all over. At dinner I had about a cup of white chili. It´s like the fill just really kicked in!

Did some research and called my nurse, and she said you are not going crazy, this sometimes happens, and they aren´t really sure why. She had even called teh company in the past, and they aren´t certain either.

So, I´m now eating 1/2 C of food, and feeling VERY full afterwards. I cannot wait to get on the scale this week. Maybe I FINALLY have good restrction!:wink:

Hi Everyone

Had the strangest thing happen. Two weeks ago, had a fill, bring me to 7ccs in my 14 APL. I´ve been fluctuating a lot, scale not really moving, but trying my best to keep a good attitude.

Thursday (two weeks to the day) I fixed scrambled eggs for breakfast, took two bites and had that awful in your chest feeling. Thought that is strange. Went about my business, PBed :thumbup:

We had friends in from Colorado, went to lunch, two bites of chicken, and the same thing all over. At dinner I had about a cup of white chili. It´s like the fill just really kicked in!

Did some research and called my nurse, and she said you are not going crazy, this sometimes happens, and they aren´t really sure why. She had even called teh company in the past, and they aren´t certain either.

So, I´m now eating 1/2 C of food, and feeling VERY full afterwards. I cannot wait to get on the scale this week. Maybe I FINALLY have good restrction!:wink2:

That is so cool! I'm very happy for you - sounds like they found your sweet spot for weight loss!

Good luck.

I´m hoping!

Has anyone not lost weight after a fill? I lost 7 pounds in the first official month, then had my first fill and only lost 1 pound. What gives?

I am the wrong one to talk to about not losing weight ,have been on the same diet forever and have not lost one pound and there is no

doctor that I can see because of insurance , I hope that you try and get help soon as I feel that the whole thing was a lost cause.

:confused:Any help, assistance, or comments would be appreciated.... I am worried. I was banded in JUNE. I had one fill July to 2.5cc and then to 4.5cc - I only lost about 15 lbs. as of mid August ----- NO RESTRICTION. Today, after being gone for a month oversees I came back to get another fill - I'd lost NO weight since my last fill and in fact gained back 3 lbs. so I am at only 12 lbs or so LOST. So today he said he filled me to 9cc - I asked ... "my god, how much more can you put in there? and he said you have a big band - 20cc... this is after I got a huge lecture on that I wasn't supposed to be eating anything, I wasn't controlling portions, and that I had probably lost all the weight I was going to loose, etc., etc., - he basically scolded me the whole time. I told him I had no restriction and he commented that I wasn't supposed to, that first I needed to not eat more than a few bites at each meal. I am totally frustrated and confused. I have had no control over my portions, I admit it, but I have had no restriction at all to help me out. He is basically telling me that my band is working because I won't stop eating. HELP HELP HELP.... what can I do now? I now feel HUGE restriction and am sipping everything and I definatly feel a difference. Do you think he is just trying to get me motivated? Is it normal to NOT have restriction and NOT loose weight during the first few fills. I feel like a big failure - PLEASE HELP!!

I was banded in May & have only lost 18 lbs & mostly due to lots of exercise. I have had numerous fills (i don't keep count but maybe 6?) & have restriction but am not being satisfied on the amount they say I should eat so in return I'm not loosing much. I feel your frustration & confusion. I will be getting another fill in a week & hopefully that will give me the appetite control needed to get this thing going. At this time I have 7.6cc in a 10cc so even though you feel restriction with 9cc the ratio is still a low restriction level in my experience. They go slow to MAKE you eat a certain way. I get stuck almost every meal because I'm a slow learner & still take too big bites & eat too much because I'm obviously not restricted enough to keep me satisfied for any length of time. Everyone told me it would be slow & eventually work out. So hang in there & hopefully it will be faster for you.

I'm trying to check my ticker... please ignore me.

OK so i don't really understand. I was banded 10/10 and was filled with 2cc in my 10cc band. Right now i feel no restriction. So if i go get a fill, and if i feel restriction, is that supposed to last me forever, or do i stop feeling restriction after a while?? And if i stop feeling restriction after a while, do i have to go get another fill and do it again? what if i reach 10cc's??

Why do fills not last?

the restricion changes cause your stomack is getting smaller, so u have less restriction, i had too much restricion last month to where i could hold down a yogurt, but as the month has gone on it has lessened and now im able to eat a small meal - like its ment to work. i asked my doc about what would happen if i reach a full band and dont have enough restriction - she said it wont happen!!! - im going to hold her to that...

Well, sometimes you don't really get the full effect of a fill for several days, even weeks, I've heard. Usually, I can tell some subtle difference right away. Some people get severe swelling, then eventually settle down. Everyone is unique, but my doc tells me if I don't feel restriction by 2-4 weeks, I need to come back.

I got my fill on Tuesday. I did liquids/soft foods the rest of the day. Then tried it out with chicken breast the following day. It was apparent right away that I had more restriction than before. I can never tell much until I really test it with solid proteins. I really hope yours is different. That's a long way to have to go for a fill. Good luck!

Just had a fill a week ago only 1/4 cc I have a small 10 cc band and I have a total of 5 1/2 cc's. I was told I had plenty of room to go. Well for the first 3 days I had to revert back to liquids due to the new fill and so I don't develope problems and well I was fine and by Saturday of last week I ate a a few bites of chicken and a vegetable on the side a sppon full or two if that and well all was great I was able to eat it and swallow it and wow no problem, well that was Saturday for on Sunday I developed the problem of not being able to swallow or to eat and just plain vomiting, like from Sunday through last night. I get real slimmy and think mucus. I seen my Dr. yesterday and was told I developed a virus like flu and it caused me to swell up a bit, no unfill and today I feel a lot better and I had two cups of hot tea this morning and it all went down so I will see how the rest of the day goes for me.

I was banded in Waco, TX on September 2007 and I am down from a size 24-26 pants and a 3 x top to a size 12 on the way to a size 10 jeans and I size med-large top in misses sizes. I weighed in today at 174 pounds from 279 pounds and I would like to weigh in at 145 pounds. The Dr. said that he moved me to the catagory with his RNY patients for I have lost 65% body weight in a years time and banderes are generally losing about 40% witin a year. Good old dieting and exercising habits for me and I am so tiny for being 174 pounds because I am all muscle no flab and I look like I weigh about 150 pounds. No lying about that.