So - I wanted to post this to get some feeback form other bandsters. I am 9 months post op and am doing great. I haven't lost as much as others, (down 45 since surgery time) but my weight loss has been steady and good enough for me. I'm and haven't regretted anything. :blushing:

I would say I pam retty close to (if not already at) my sweet spot. I have good restriction and had my last fill I think about 6 weeks ago. The only downside that I experience is when I have to go out and socially eat like for work or with friends/family. I have to be extra cautious on what items I choose from the menu. I need to make sure they are items I can tolerate and eat at a bit faster pace than I am used to to keep up with everyone else at the table without getting a lodger (what I call stuck/painful episodes). Usually I pick items that are softer and easier to get down, like soup, beans, etc. And so far this has worked out just fine for me.

However, my parents are coming into town next month for a weekend and we are planning on trying to have a good time. That includes over indulging in food and drinks - probably eating lots of starchy food that doesn't work too well with my current restriction.

So, I was wondering what others may think about me getting a slight un-fill before they get here so I can indulge with them! I want to be able to take my parents out to breakfast, and not just have to sit there and sip on

coffee because my band is too tight in the morning to try to get anything except for oatmeal down. Of course, my plan would include going back to the doctor after my visitors leave to try to get back to my sweet spot.

Is this a selfish thing for me to be thinking of doing? Or should I just be happy that I have the flexibility with the band to do it and go for it? What do you all think?

Nope - I didn't do it. No unfill for me!! I just have to deal with it. My parents will be here next weekend. I am excited to see them - not eat - so I decided to not go for the unfill. I will enjoy myself no matter what! Thanks for all the advice and support. :thumbup:

I am taking a vacation to a foreign country this summer. Right now, my band is so tight that I can't enjoy anything for breakfast, protein shake for lunch and minimal soft foods for dinner. I often PB with such small amount of food and feel like I'm constantly running to the bathroom to slime. It is a miserable feeling. I certainly don't want to be in a foreign country if I should get something stuck and can't get myself unstuck. I have made the decision to get a slight unfill before my vacation. I'm not planning to gorge myself on food, but just want an enjoyable experience without being miserable the whole time I'm on vacation. This is not something I ever plan to do for birthdays, office parties, etc. Just my two cents.

Mr, if you are so tight you can only eat soft foods, then I believe you are too tight.

I am going on a 2 weeks vacation to Cancun on June 13th. I will not be getting an unfill, BUT I did not get my fill last week like I was scheduled to. I still PB every so often and I really DONT want to have any problems in Cancun. I already have my fill scheduled for the day after we come home.

i just posted a similar question about my honeymoon. we are having Breakfast delivered to our room, and i wanted to be able to eat breakfast. however, i am not at my sweet spot. i am getting back on track after a failed pregnancy. i was really tight before though and had to be unfilled for the pregnancy. i could not eat breafast-ever..i threw up on fluids..A LOT...and that is not a fun way to be eating. i was losing a lot of weight though and i do not think i would have gotten unfilled just for a weekend. but i know that it is miserable and that is precisely why i did not want to get a fill the week before the honeymoon.

but if you've been at this place for a bit, and you think it is where you need to be, and you know what you can/cannot eat, i think i wouldn't mess with it.

for me...i would have been learning to eat again on my honeymoon..that would have been no good. but i was going to go ahead for my fill because i can eat too much, but i got a terrible chest cold, so they won't fill me today anyways.

I recently went on a 2 week road trip to the south (the land of deep fried everything) A week before I left, I had a 3rd fill (7cc in 14 cc band) I had some restriction at that point and was still able to eat a few bites of bread. We had ribs at Neely's BBQ in Memphis, which I loved, but could only eat 3 small ones. I took the rest to the hotel and enjoyed a couple more a few hours later. My dinner last longer than anyone elses

I've been overweight all of my life. I can honestly say that I had a much better time on this vacation since food wasn't a focus of my journey.

I lost 5 lbs on vacation :scared2: and had a great time.

I got a fill last week and up to 8cc in 14 cc and have perfect restriction right now and I love it. I wouldn't give it up for anything. that is my experience today.

I suppose if I've had the band for a few years and had lost most/all of my excess weight, I might think differently.

Either way, we'll support you in your journey :thumbup:

Cherlita

I would always opt for restriction over no restriction. It is so hard to find a spot where you are losing consistantly. I actually got a fill this year 2 days before my birthday knowing I would not be able to eat sushi (my favorite) since I would still be on liquids! Also I didn't have cake.

I know the choice is personal but since you asked ....I would say that you worked so hard to get to this level of restriction - surgery, special diets etc. that you should not thihnk about taking out saline so that you can eat until you get reach your goals. You would be so bummed if it took you months to start losing again!