1st fill, no restriction, failure again. worried

June 4, 2005

had my fill last thrusday and dont feel any restricstion. I am 5 weeks post op. i initially lost about 15 pounds in the first 2 weeks. now it seems the scale is going up because i feel i am eating way too much and i am hungry. I am worried that i may fail at this. my fill was 1cc. if i fail at this i dont know what i will do.i am worried that i may be one of the people that will have all 4cc filled and still now be able to lose weight. i need some help.

La_madam · June 4, 2005

My first fill took about a week to kick in, give it some time, are you eating hard Proteins first? That does make a difference

What are you eating in a day, break it down for us, Breakfast, lunch, dinner and any Snacks

It will help to advise you better, do you drink with meal? Do you drink liquid calories? These things make a difference.

Writing down what you eat also helps , it keeps you accountable and you can see where you went wrong for the day

www.fitday.com is a great food tracker for caloric intake

wanttobe110 · June 4, 2005

Hey Debbie,

I was in same situation as you. Look at my fill history after my name and you'll see. I didn't get restriction until the third fill. So get another fill- and another one after that if you need it- and so on. Be on top of it (which it sounds like you are). Don't wait too long, but be safe.

I felt the same way- like I was going to fail at this. But once I got the right amount- it worked. You really won't be able to eat a lot. Really. I have lost 23 pounds, which is about 2 pounds a week since my first fill. I lost NOTHING the first month- talk about depressing!

Do what you are supposed to do (right fills, Water, protein/right foods, exercise) and it WILL work. I've been where you are and soon you will be where I am. My email is kcuillard@hotmail.com if you need some more personal encouragement.

bubblesstina · June 4, 2005

I am so glad that I read your reply Kirsten!!

I have been feeling really depressed about the fact that I am 1 month post op, lost weight initally but now feel like I am gaining it all back because I can eat anything I want. I have my first fill June 15, maybe I should call the surg and see if he can do it sooner???....

Thanks so much for the incourgament to Debbie, it helped me also!!

June 6, 2005

thanks so much for the words of wisdom. it really helped me not to dwell on failure. i know i am not alone in this. also not going to weigh on the scale daily, thats whats getting me down. i know i am eating less than before the band so i know the weight will come off one day. i will go for another fill in about 2 weeks and hope for more restriction.

thanks

Jonathan · June 6, 2005

thanks so much for the words of wisdom. it really helped me not to dwell on failure. i know i am not alone in this. also not going to weigh on the scale daily, thats whats getting me down. i know i am eating less than before the band so i know the weight will come off one day. i will go for another fill in about 2 weeks and hope for more restriction.
thanks

Most doctors won't let you get fills that often, but if you're honestly feeling NO restriction, and you can convince your doctor of that he/she might. Mine did =)

For what it's worth, it took 2 fills for me to feel ANY restriction, and a 3rd for the band to start working. I'm at 2cc's now, and trust me when I tell you that:

A) After my first fill, I had *NO* restriction whatsoever ... and

At 2ccs, if I had ANY more saline, I don't think I'd be able to drink liquids anymore. Thick Soups give me troubles if I don't really take my time with them now. =) I LOVE it.

I agree that weighing every day isn't probably the best thing to do (even though I do it, and I'm comfortable with the habit... I only weigh first thing in the morning). On the other hand, don't let it go too long. The band is a tool that will only work when it's adjusted correctly, and your weight loss rate will be a crucial key in knowing when it's adjusted correctly.

Best wishes,

Jonathan

June 7, 2005

had my fill last thrusday and dont feel any restricstion. I am 5 weeks post op. i initially lost about 15 pounds in the first 2 weeks. now it seems the scale is going up because i feel i am eating way too much and i am hungry. I am worried that i may fail at this. my fill was 1cc. if i fail at this i dont know what i will do.i am worried that i may be one of the people that will have all 4cc filled and still now be able to lose weight. i need some help.

Fills can take 1-2 weeks to kick in.

Beyond that, it usually takes 3-5 fills before a person has good restriction. YOU'RE NORMAL.

For most people, it takes 3-5 fills to get to a good restriction level. You need a fill if:

1) You can eat more than you should. For a meal, you should have 2-4 ounces of meat (chicken or whatever), 1/4-1/2 cup of veggies and MAYBE something starchy if you have room. If you can eat more than that, you need a fill.

2) You should eat a bandster portion (above) and be full (full means not hungry) for 3-4 hours. If you eat the right portions, but are hungry after an hour, you need a fill.

Are you following the bandster rules?

1) At least 64 ounces of Water a day. It counts as Water if it is calorie-free (or close) -- so Crystal Light and sugar-free Kool-Aid count. It also must be Decaf - regular coffee doesn't count as a liquid.

2) At least 60 grams of Protein a day.

3) No drinking with meals. I even have a no-drinking for 30 minutes after a meal...some docs say 1 hour after.

4) All liquids must be almost calorie-free, except milk. This means no sugary lemonades, but you can have Crystal Light, sugar-free Kool-Aid, water, sugar-free popsicles.

5) Eat breakfast. Not really a bandster rule, but one that I've found very important.

6) No grazing. If you want a snack, fine, plan for it. But don't keep eating those Hershey kisses by your co-workers desk. You'd be surprised at how fast they add up.

7) Exercise daily. No matter what the level -- if you can only walk 10 minutes, do 10 minutes. If you can do 1/2 hour, do that. But do something and every so often, increase your time and intensity.

Try tracking your calorie intake on fitday.com for just a few days. See how many calories you're taking in. If you're not losing, you're probably taking in more than you think. Course, it's possible to take in too few calories and then your body will shut down. The goal is for 1200-1500 calories/day.

wanttobe110 · June 7, 2005

Debbie and Christine,

Keep at it. The band WILL work when used properly. J Lynn's advice is right on. Keep us posted on your progress.

Bigcal · June 7, 2005

Stay positive, Stay motivated I had my surgery in Feb 2005 no Fill until May, no problem with food. I feel like I can eat anything and I do, and still continue to lose 5 to 10 pounds per month. I have always felt as thow there is no restriction UNTIL I start to revert back to my old ways and my band quickly reminds me I'm Still here

Persimmon · June 8, 2005

Don't worry! most folks don't get it just right on 1 fill...usually takes 3-5. You'll know when it's right because you'll be losing 1-2 lbs/week on average, be able to eat sensible portions of real, solid, healthy food and feel full (full = not hungry anymore, not stuff or uncomfortable or tightness) and not get hungry again for at least 3-4 hours. If that stuff isn't happening yet, just means you'll be needing another fill...rinse and repeat as necessary until those things are happening.

Nancy