I'm so glad to have found this forum! I was banded 5/19/2007. I am going in for my fourth fill tomorrow. (First two fills essentially resulted in no saline in the band. With an initial fill of 2.0cc and a second fill of 4.0cc in a 9.75 Inamed band, I wound up with 0.6cc. My surgeon did a fluro, fill to 2.6cc and checked the following day. No leakage noted. I still feel restriction 7-8 weeks later.)

I'm a bit discouraged since I've lost approximately 37 lbs total including the pre-op diet that I followed for 4 weeks prior to surgery. Most of the weight loss was during the pre-op and liquid phases following surgery. Mostly I'm working to maintain the loss and fluctuate around a 4-6 lb range.

I have been tracking calories and trying to keep to around 1200 per day with 25% Protein, 25% fat (max), and 50% carbs. I haven't been exercising at all. (Beginning BMI was 52.)

I've noticed that even though I am noticing restriction early in the day or at the beginning of a meal, once I am able to get things down I can eat quite a lot. I'm not sure what 'packing the pouch' is, but is that what I'm doing when I eat a sizable amount? It is weird because sometimes I am PBing, though that usually only happens now when I'm not paying attention to how much or how fast I'm eating and don't chew thoroughly. If I do PB, I stop eating and then drink warm liquids a few hours afterwards to sooth my stoma.

From reading other posts, it looks like I need to (1) keep on top of fills to achieve good restriction, (2) track my food intake until I hit the 'sweet spot' and feel full, and (3) begin exercising.

Does anyone out there have anything else they can suggest or recommend?

yes! MOVE!!!!!!!!

my dr. told me when you can move, move!

today i walked for about an hour

then hubby and i went to an indoor pool and swam laps.

when you get results you feel like moving more

and the more you move, the more you lose.

I would definitly add some exercise. It really makes a big difference. I did not have to do the pre-op diet and have lost 39 pounds so far. Sometimes i know i eat too much, but with going to the gym five times a week i am still losing. Donna