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

My wife's doctor gave her a fill in the Dr's office & charged for the office visit plus $900.00 for the fill. Does this seem normal to anyone?

My wife's doctor gave her a fill in the Dr's office & charged for the office visit plus $900.00 for the fill. Does this seem normal to anyone?

That seems outrageous to me! My doctor charges only the copay which is $30 for a fill. I would guess she does not have any insurance to cover the fill.....but still seems very high.

My wife's doctor gave her a fill in the Dr's office & charged for the office visit plus $900.00 for the fill. Does this seem normal to anyone?

this is ripoff even without insurance, not so many band center and Dr's taking advantage.Try to find band center in your area, it's very easy procedure and should not cost that much.

this is ripoff even without insurance, not so many band center and Dr's taking advantage.Try to find band center in your area, it's very easy procedure and should not cost that much.

We have insurance which covered most of the cost but I guess I assumed that an in office fill would be included in the Dr,s visit.

My wife's doctor gave her a fill in the Dr's office & charged for the office visit plus 900.00 for the fill. Does this seem normal to anyone?

They are takin advantage of you!!! This procedure is about as complicated as drawing blood and that is usually 300 max without insurance.

I am so confused?? I had my fist fill on June 7 with 5cc and I'm so nervous with this I really can't tell if this is enough and if I am fill? Help!

Vickie

I had my fill last Thursday slight restriction it's almost a week and no weight lost ? Should I go for more fill? Should I wait? Please respond if anyone had same experience.

I get fills from a different Dr. than the one who did my band because the new Dr. uses the flouroscope each time making it much more exact(they see the restriction immediately on x-ray) and he only charges $300 even though he didn't do the surgery--I originally went for 4 fills with the first Dr. who did it by experience--guessing--but never got good restriction--the $900 is very high going by San Antonio rates

I really need some help. I am getting the Lap Band Procedure done in Mexico on Sept 17th and really need to know who will do my fills in Alberta? Thank you so much in advance for your help.

Brenda

I really need some help. I am getting the Lap Band Procedure done in Mexico on Sept 17th and really need to know who will do my fills in Alberta? Thank you so much in advance for your help.

Brenda

Do you know the brand of the band he is going to use? If so the band company might give you names of their surgeons in Alberta. My wife had her band done in Mexico and after only 2 fills her surgeon said he couldn't do any more even though she traveled to him in Mexico. Ask your surgeon if he has names from Canada.

Hi,

I have a question that i hope someone can help me with.

I got my band 3 months ago and i had my first fill at 3cc's.

Last month my second fill was 1cc.

About two weeks after my last fill, my stomach area was hurting a lot!!!

I thought i needed to go to the ER because it was hurting so much to even stand straight. I called my dr and they asked me to go in.

After i went in, they told me that it was too tight and i thought that it couldnt be THAT simple of an answer but i let her take .5 cc's out. After that, i was fine. i have not been hurting since then. My question to you all is, do you think i will be ok for another fill later on? or am i stuck at 3.5cc's forever? Maybe i just need to get smaller fills at a time?

Please tell me your thoughts.

thank you!

I don't know if that is part of why some days I do a lot of pb'ing or what the problem is. I know that I do get so hungry and when I finally eat, it does not feel good for a while, so I certainly don't want to just keep eating. Many people on some of the message boards have told me it sounds as though I need an unfill......but that just aint gonna happen unless I can not get liquid down. My first fill did practically nothing for me at all. I use some natural products that have helped me with sleep and relaxing more. I think it has been a saving grace in me getting over anxious and not being able to satisfy my food cravings with food. I know I do not look forward to food as I once did. I almost dread it some times, but look at it as something I must do. Which if you had told me 6 months ago, that I would feel this way, I would have laughed at you, but then, nobody knows the future. I am losing slow. However, as long as it continues in the right direction, I am ok with it. As little as I eat now, I would think I would lose 2-3 pounds a week, but it seems I am doing good to lose .5 - 1 pound a week.

Wild.........about life.

I just found out what pbing is thank you for that. My fils have been or were giving me a problem as yours mine was too tight as I stated before and I could not sleep with the fulid just coming up or felling like I was choking at night as I tried to sleep. I now sleep with my head raised on my pillow, what products do you use? My weight has come off very slow as well so just take one day at a time as I am doing and we will get there....

Hi,

I have a question that i hope someone can help me with.

I got my band 3 months ago and i had my first fill at 3cc's.

Last month my second fill was 1cc.

About two weeks after my last fill, my stomach area was hurting a lot!!!

I thought i needed to go to the ER because it was hurting so much to even stand straight. I called my dr and they asked me to go in.

After i went in, they told me that it was too tight and i thought that it couldnt be THAT simple of an answer but i let her take .5 cc's out. After that, i was fine. i have not been hurting since then. My question to you all is, do you think i will be ok for another fill later on? or am i stuck at 3.5cc's forever? Maybe i just need to get smaller fills at a time?

Please tell me your thoughts.

thank you!

That did happen to me and I lost seven pounds due to the fact I could not eat or drink anything, I have since got another fill and it was not as bad as that one but I did have some problems I did work thru this one with less you may need less of a fill for awhile as I do, and maybe as time goes on you can get more. Now at this time I am dealing with less it seems to be working I am also losing so I will try this at the time I hope it works for you. Verna

Hi There, I too was suffering the same as you at one time. You stated " I could not sleep with the fluid just coming up or felling like I was choking at night as I tried to sleep. I now sleep with my head raised on my pillow, what products do you use? " My FP prescribed me Prilosec for heartburn. It did help alot at times some. When I had my regular checkin with my Lapband dr. I told him of my symtoms. He removed some fulid and told me to stop taking the Prilosec. For my being over filled was causing the same symtoms you are describing.

Yeah, I lost the weight, but at what cost. Not eating, PBing and the burning sensation in my chest was not worth it. So, you may want to reconsider getting some of the fluid removed. And yes, you will get there as we all will. Remember, this is only a tool we have to use it properly.