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

Has anyone NOT done the Adkins diet?

 

It usually works for me if I don't stay on it for too long. If I do try to lose a lot of weight with Adkins, after a month or so, I go berserk and eat carbohydrates non-stop for a month. Like a freak without nature.

One of my Dr's has the band and has lost 100 pounds. He eats the Atkins way and preaches it to his patients.

I think it really depends for each person on how your body reacts to carbs. You have to change your lifestyle a little at a time. I was totally addicted to carbs and started the Atkins diet several times in my life but was never able to stay on it either. The last time I went on was for my pre-surgery diet and my doctor told me one very important thing that has stuck with me.

You have to stay away from processed foods that have sugar in them because they work against you on that diet and in that lifestyle. Sugar is hidden in all processed meats and cheeses including milk, lunch meat, bacon, cheese, etc.

Once I stuck with whole foods like slices turkey breast and roast beef and cheese with no sugar, as well as, Atkins shakes and bars with vegetables I was able to stay on it without problem and lost close to 15 pounds in ten days. I think if you decide you will go that route, try to wean yourself off the carbs little by little. Start month one with cutting your carb portions in half, then the next month in half again, then you go for the 50 or less carbs per day until you are able to do it without even thinking.

Also, there are low carb versions of just about every bad thing out there so you should look for those items that are a trigger point to go carb beserk and replace those items with something better so you can have it but not throw yourself off if you have a craving.

Now, that I have the band I am not as hungry for carbs and when I do have it I tell myself that I can have it after the protein and vegs...then I really can't eat that much of it anyway.

Good Luck!

One of my Dr's has the band and has lost 100 pounds. He eats the Atkins way and preaches it to his patients.

Had my 3rd fill today. Now up to 1.5 cc in a 4cc band. I'm really hoping this will finally give me some restriction.

Went to Dr. Stephanie in Bryan, Texas. She was fantastic, and she explained everything so well. My first 2 fills were done at Fills Center USA in Austin. Each time there, I was in and out in 5 minutes. The doctor there told me the 1st time that she thought the band was around my esophogus; and the 2nd time, she told me that the band was around my pouch, but that I had a hiatal hernia. She did not allow me to visualize the fluoroscopy; and, she refused to look at the surgeon's sugery notes or the immediate post-op fluro.

This time, Dr. Stephanie showed me that the band is where it's supposed to be and I don't have a hernia. She took time with me; and, she costs less than Fills Center.

She tells you to have nothing but warm or room temperature fluids for 1st 24 hours after a fill, followed by one day of pureed foods, then back to 3 meals a day of 20 grams of protein/meal.

I do crave carbs especially at night. If I eat them, I just crave them more. It becomes a vicious cycle. I'll have to overcome this if I'm going to be successful at permanent weight loss.

 

Anne

I just had my 6th fill. Had my surgery 9/07. Had some problems after the surgery .My large incision opened up 5 weeks after surgery and took about 5 weeks to heal. So I did not have my first fill until 3 months out. I go to the doctor office about every 6 weeks. Every other time I get a fill. They have a very hard time doing so because of the scar tissue. So far I have lose 83 lbs. Has this ever happen to anyone else

hello everyone....i was first banded april 2008 i now weigh 183 plus or minus, my last fill i had was 2 cc seems at first i felt pretty good. my water i drank in the dr office seem to have gone down with some restriction felt in the dr. office before i left. well my day was pretty yuk for the rest of the day...i could not keep anything down all night long not even water. i immediately call the dr. office and went back so that he could remove some of the fluid well they did... I felt. that i have some restriction but not enough i dont have trouble swallowing big capsules or pills.....but yet i do feel some restriction but not like before when i first started. can anyone give me some advice

Hi, The amount of cc's to give that good restiction will take many tries. Depending on how much your dr put in at a time. My dr. does .2 - .3 cc at a time. Do you know how many cc's is done? Maybe you and the dr can come to some medium about how much and how often.

I was banded on May 6, 2008 and lost 20 lbs the first month and a total of 70 lbs in 7 months...I have 3 cc's in my 10 cc band but have hit a plateau and have not lost any in 3 months...I go again on April 21st for a fill...my question...has anyone else hit this plateau and what is the how did you get over it...I am following all the rules. Also, I am told to lose 70 lbs with only 3 cc's is great..but I am thinking maybe I need more cc's in my band.

 

Thanks,

Nursejess

I have had to get unfilled 3 times now and it is getting really old. I had 3 ccs taken out back in January 2009 I now only have 3ccs in me and well needless to say yes I a hungry I feel no restriction at all and now I am gaing some weight back. I was too restricted the last time. What do I ahve to do to get someone to understand at the Dr.s office that I need more to help sustain me. I am so upset and down and I am afraid to put a drop of food in my mouth. I eat under 1500 calories per day if not less and before I was unfilled this was the normal for me and I was dropping pounds right and left and now I am stuck. I have not lose any real weight I go back and forth it has been 11 months since I lost any real weight. I am told my band is fine, he does the swallows and nothing is wrong the band is perfect, it is the fils that are not.

Hi everyone, sharon2u, is your doctor putting in full cc's at a time? i.e. 1cc, 2cc etc. When I get my fills my doctor put .25cc, or .50cc at a time. He wouldn't put a full cc. Yes, it can be frustating most of us are still trying to get to that right spot.

As for your eating, continue to measure your food intake and get enough protein. In trying different eating styles I sometimes was not getting in enough protein. This caused me to have great junk food cravings and my eating was out of control. Even if you go back for seconds, measure it out. Don't forget to log everything you eat. Even to that 1 potatoe chip or one piece of candy or bite of anything.

It's going to take some time but you'll get to that sweet spot.

Hello, bandsters! Man, am I frustrated. Just went for my 4th fill. Now I have 1.9 cc in 4 cc band. I followed my doctor's instructions - liquids for 24 hours, followed by "mushy" foods for 24 hrs, then back to regular diet. Well, I feel less restriction than I did before the fill. I do not understand why. The doctor put more fluid in (an additional .4 cc). Why in the world would I feel less restricted? Plus, in 4 months, I've only lost 22 pounds total. This past month, despite doing vigorous aerobic exercise at least 1 hour per day, I only lost 4 pounds. I am hungry!!!! Why can't I get back to the way I felt the first 4 weeks post op?

Hi Grandmax,

A few things...1) if your BMI was below 40 to start with you are not going to lose the weight as fast as those with a BMI of 48. 2) Certain solid foods DO slip easily though the band like white bread with butter or jelly, some slider pizzas do too, as does oatmeal and other cereals. Make sure the foods you do eat are not going to slip easily though the band. Try a Lean Cusine meatloaf and mash pototoes. If you can eat the entire meal without feeling the restriction your band is not tight enough. A handfull of Alamond nuts can give you restriction too. Try sliced beef or turkey rolled up in your favorite cheeze, no mayo as mayo makes everything slide though the band. 3) Always, Always have all your fluid intake just before you eat or at least 2 hours after you eat. Remember D comes before E (drinking before eating), never the other way around.

I hope this helps

Joyce

Joyce,

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

My BMI at start was actually around 35, so I guess I should remember that my weight loss will be slower. Is it ever fast enough?? I'm a part of this microwave generation, too.

I did eat some nuts at a party the other day, and they went down easily. Today, I ate a small hamburger patty and potatoes for lunch, and I was able to eat it normally. I was invited to dinner at a friend's house tonight. She served salad, bread, tortilla soup (with rice in it, a different recipe from most). It was all delicious and went down easily. Before, I had not been able to eat rice, or bread for that matter. So, why now, after an additional .4cc was just added to my band, am I able to eat more. It just doesn't make sense to me.

The doctor did have trouble acccessing my port. Usually, she has me stand in front of the fluroscopy machine while she injects my band. this time she had to place me on an exam tale on my back. And she said my port is in an unual posiion.

I wonder if some of the fluid might have leaked out. She had to stick me several times.

I'm scheduled to see her again in 2 weeks, so I guess I'll find out then.

Anne

Ann,

You may want to call your Doc today and tell him of your suspision of a leak. They are not uncommon. All it would take would be for him to put on a new port if it is indeed a leak.

Hi Dietfree, I got banded 9/08 and have 4cc in my band. I am small so losing is slow, I too agree that D before E is right. I started working out and found my hunger went up the roof??... strange, that was 2 mos ago, so I am going for another fill to help with the hunger pains. I still D/E but now I am still not filling up after my measured portions... I use will power, but it is getting harder so I am going for a fill. Wish me luck Thanks funnyface.

Ok fellow banders, it has been a while since I've been on but I have a concern. Please let me know if this has happened to anybody else out there. I was banded 10/15 starting weight was 284 I have had 3 fills the first two fills I really felt no restriction and my weight was stuck at 255lbs. On 4/9/09 I had the fill under the fluroscopy and it took my doctor the longest time to find my port(this has never happened with his office visit). But this time i had the best restriction I have ever felt since surgery. I was a little discouraged because i went to two visits and didn't lose neither did I gain but I thought it was because I incorporated weights into my workout regiment. Now I did lose clothes sizes (inches). So now since 4/9/09 I have lost 8lbs now I am 247 and I feel good...and I have so much restriction I am actually satisfied with my smaller portions. Do you guys think it is possible that my doctor MISSED PUTTING THE SALINE IN THE PORT WHEN I WAS AT MY TWO OTHER DOCTOR VISITS?