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

Thanks for the link. That is some good info because I wondering how do you know if the band it too tight and it answered it.

Am new - am learning a lot - am having lapband in March - am stressing - but that's okay.

thanks for all the info.

gaynel

Hello everyone, I will be getting the Lap Band, but I have some questions about fills, any info ya'll can give me, I would really appreciate. What exactly is a fill, and how long after the surgery should I get one? And does it hurt???? Do they put you to sleep or stick a needle in something???

Hi angelajock! There is nothing to having a fill honestly. It only takes a couple of minutes, usually after having an x-ray. I had one last sept. and am having one again in the next 2 weeks. I am way overdue but I was banded abroad and surgeons who will do it are thin on the ground in England, if you've had your band abroad. In Hungary where I was banded, I took longer taking of my clothes than having it done! Don't give it a second thought, I had mine while standing up with my back to a wall and did not feel a thing. All the Best, Anne

Hello everyone, I will be getting the Lap Band, but I have some questions about fills, any info ya'll can give me, I would really appreciate. What exactly is a fill, and how long after the surgery should I get one? And does it hurt???? Do they put you to sleep or stick a needle in something???

I lay on a table, dont even get undressed. She puts a needle in my skin, maybe 2 or 10 times.. its stings alittle, but no big deal. Then I sit up and drink Water and then she takes the needle out.

Its super simple.

I had my first fill yesterday. I laid down on the table and lifted up my shirt, she poked me (little sting like a shot). When she pushed in the fluid I could definately feel my stomach and esophagus tighten. It didn't hurt, it was just wierd. I sipped the barium and watched it go through in to my stomach. They put on a bandaid and I sat up. Went to the waiting room and sipped water for 15-20 min. before they let me leave.

I don't feel hungry today. I can still burp. I think I'm good.

I have a 10cc band and I think she put in 1.2 cc's. Maybe 1.5 - I don't remember.

Hi All,

I had surgery on August 9th-

Om my 2nd visit postop, the doctor tried filling 4cc.

I felt like I could not breathe- So he reduced it to to 2cc & I have had that since October - THe weight is coming off- 60 1/2 in 6 months

Now my dilemma- When I saw the doctor this past thursday- I asked for a band fill (I am not getting full any more)- He increased me just 1 extra cc to 3cc-

I have had a weekend of HELL- I can;t eat more than 2 bites & I need to throw up.

I called the doctore & he wants me to wait until this Thursday (3more days ) to see if I get used to it

Has this happened to anyone else?

Pleae advise

hi all i had my band done march the 6 im going to get me first fill april 19 i want to now does it hurt and after the fill do u lose the weight faster ive notice i can eat as much as i once could but i haven't notice a big lose excited about the first fill maybe more wait will came off tired of caring it around (hahahaha)

My first fill was 2cc. The only difference I felt was I had to chew my food better or it felt a little weird going down. My second fill was last week (2 weeks after the first), another 2 cc. I am not as hungry now as I was, and I have to be careful chewing because if not, it really hurts. Sometimes this causes me to lose my appetite, but I guess that's not such a bad thing! LOL!

I didn't have any pain with the fills, just a pinch when the needle goes in. The hardest part is trying to stay in a "crunch" position, either with my shoulders off the table, or by raising my legs. That's hard to do!

Other than that I felt no pain. Good luck!!! :nervous

fill are no problems but I would stick with liquids for a day or two afterwards. I only have 1.2 in mine and going to get another fill soon. I do feel hungery much more and can eat more. I had my surgery Sept.29 and have lost 58 pounds to date. I would like to lose 40 more.

good luck on that 40 more u can do it im want to thank u all this support group helps a lot u all really keep my going and looking forward to the day i can post my before and after pic good luck to u all and thanks a million

Are getting the fills painful?

can anyone tell me about the actual surgery? Is it local anesthesia or are you completely knocked out. I understand that the actual procedure only takes about 30 minutes and that some people can go home the same day. How do you feel "post op"?

Laural: My procedure was in Dalton,GA in an outpatient surgical center. I was there by 8am I believe and home (hotel) by 3pm. THe surgery took about 30-45min I am told. I took a bit to wake up enough to not need oxygen...have always liked my sleep! :confused: I was hurting honestly....but I was up walking within an hour or so. I took 3 walks, drank a cup of juice then was released to go sleep it off! I was given hydrocodone syrup for the pain and this helped. Each day got easier and easier. I don't believe I was taking pain meds longer than 4 days....and after the 2nd day or so was slowing down on how much I was taking. I bought OTC liquid Tylenol and was able to take in place of the Hydrocodone quite soon. For gas I used Maalox Max which caused me to have diarrhea but moved the gas!! I walked further and further each day....sometimes you gotta push yourself more than others! Hope this helps!

God Bless,

Melody

Banded 3/20/06 -31lbs

My surgery also took about 40 min. It was done in the hospital, I was under general anesthesia, so yes, completely knocked out. As with the last post, you spend a few hours in recovery to wake up, drink something and walk, then usually are released. You just have to have your oxygen level above 90 (is what I was told)

The fills are not really painful. I use the word uncomfortable. The only part that hurt me a tiny bit was when the needle initially goes in, then just some pressure with them trying to find the port. The hardest part for me is if I need to be in a crunch position, or lift my legs. All in all, no big deal. Good luck! :confused:

today i had the fill he said he put 4 cc in my band now the questions r u suppose to be hungry because i couldn't eat before i had my tighing so im hungry but i fell like im full up to my throat i was 360 now im 340 so not a big change but its coming off slow but surly i figure this is 20 pounds that will never come back