If so, how long was it? I am about 5 weeks out and had my first fill this week but I can't really tell a difference. I can eat anything (I have eaten pizza and quesadillas). I am so discouraged. I was hoping the would help me not be able to eat these things. I know everyone says you have to use willpower and I do eat a lot less than I normally would have which was due to willpower more than actually being full....sometimes anyway. But, if I had enough willpower, I would not have needed the band.

It's weird. Yesterday I had 1/2 baked potato with a little ham and cheese on top for lunch and was stuffed but tonight I was able to eat 2 whole slices of stuffed crust pizza and now I am hungry again.....and it's not just head hunger, I really am hungry (about 5 hours later)

I'm trying to stick to the stop when you no longer feel hungry rule but it's hard when you don't feel the fullness/pressure, etc that I have heard about. I know it should get better as I get more fills but we are going on vacation tomorrow and I was hoping to be more restricted than this and lose or at least not gain..... I haven't lost anything in over 3 weeks and have actually gained a few pounds (this was before my fill).

How many fills did it take you before you felt restriction? I have the AP band and was told the first fill would be the biggest. I believe I already have 5 or 6 cc's in mine. I don't know what the max amount is for this band. Is the fullness/pressure, etc that the band causes a subtle thing or is it quite obvious when you have enough restriction?

I seem to be unusual in that I didnt, despite being a lower BMI patient. I lost steadily and fast for about 6 months after surgery - well not fast compared to some much heavier people but a good 2lb every single week. Then after that it slowed right down and I've lost about 35lb over the entire last 12 months.

I think that the answer from the more experianced bandsters will be that you havent found the 'sweet spot' yet. I know that it is different for everyone where they get that restriction.

Some people tighten up a week or so after a fill so it may still kick in a bit more. I would ring the docs though and tell them that you can still eat pizza and see what they say.

Dont let it spoil your holiday! Just try to be aware of the whole calories in and out thing,and enjoy youself!

Nina xx

yes it is VERY common to stall and feel hungry until you get proper restriction, which can take a few fills. It took me four fills to get good restriction. The first two months after sugery, I lost almost nothing. The last two fills REALLY helped and now I'm losing at 2.5-3lbs per week.

Hang in there, it takes patience to get to that sweet spot, but once you get there, it's bliss!

Oh and by the way, I can still have a slice of pizza or a triangle or two of a quesadilla...I don't get stuck on it, I get FULL. It's great!

Take time now to concentrate on eating slowly and chewing well. The restriction will come in time

I have had 5 fills and I am presently quite limited in what and how much I can eat. My surgeon said it can take 4 to 5 fills before you feel a difference. I had my surgery December 8 of 2006 and I have only lost about 45 pounds.

This is my own fault. I did not see my surgeon for several months. Now I am catchung up. I may have him remove some fluid when I see him this week as I am very limited in food choices and amounts. Good luck to you and keep at it.

Linda M.

I lost quite steadily from the time of surgery till now. I am pretty careful about what i eat though. It took me two fills before i got any restriction. good luck, Donna

Hi Mandi! You're doing just fine; just stick with it. You probably don't have real good restriction just yet, but you will soon. Just keep working on taking small bites and chewing forever. LOL

I've now had four fills and I do feel restricted. I felt pretty good restriction after the third one. What I've noticed is that I'll lose a bit, then hit a plateau. It kind of goes back and forth week to week. Sometimes my body shape catches up with what the scale says too. So while I'm not losing anything, my body still changes. It's weird, but I'm loving it.

Keep up the good work hon!

Don't fret...you are still in Bandster Hell. It doesn't stop with the first fill, because I daresay MANY people get no results from their first fill. I was being really GOOD (but it was HARD!!!!!) up until my 3rd fill when everything suddenly kicked into gear and WHOA NELLY I've been on a roll since then! Don't kick yourself, because to be honest your band is STILL not working to optimum yet. This will come. Patience is the name of the game.

Hang in there, it takes patience to get to that sweet spot, but once you get there, it's bliss!

AMEN Musical! I hit that sweet spot about the first of September and I've been on a roll ever since. When you get there you KNOW it pretty quick!