I am 4.5 weeks out, have lost 25 lbs and have transitioned to solid-ish foods. I am not having a problem with hunger and seem to be well within the calories I am supposed to be taking in... but was wondering...

I was told that you would only be able to eat (or should be eating) about 4 oz. of food per meal. Is this right? Maybe I am not banded tight enough... becuase I eat about 8-10 oz. per meal

typical meals are;

• 2 jumbo eggs with some turkey (an ounce or so) and some shredded cheese (maybe .5 oz) approx 300 cals
  
• Lean Cusine dinner (around 250 cals)
  
• chicken noodle soup (10 oz) (aroundd 160 cals)
  

I am not snacking... only taking in around 800 cals a day, and honestly, in the past 2 weeks, may have lost a pound, 2 at the most. Dramatically different from the first 3 weeks, when I shed 20 + immed.

I have had 1 fill at 3cc and was just wonddering... does this 4oz of food per meal seem right? Does that mean I am eating too much? Does 4oz of soup count the same as 4oz of solid food (since there is broth in soup), etc.

I guess I really need some help trying to figure this all out. Any advice or tips?

You're going to level out after that fast initial loss, no matter how much you are eating. most people find they slow down markedly and even regain some when they get onto solid foods. Over the next week or two it will probably settle. Then, long term, you can expect to average 1 or 2lb a week. The lapband isnt really designed for super fast weight loss, although plenty of people achieve that.

What will probably happen is that you have a fill, lose a bit faster for a week or two, level out then it sort of falls off and its time for another fill and you repeat the cycle.

Please dont feel bad because i am concern that after 13 days i am eating soft foods, roughly about 2-3 times a day and really didnt feel no restrictions.... and I am majorly concerned if this is NORMAL??

Is this reason for concern?? Please advise.... all you band experts!

It's not unusual to feel very little restriction a couple of weeks after banding. Being on a liquid diet probably gave you pretty rapid weight loss and you may have lost some of the fat around your stomach. This gives you even less restriction.

Once your stomach has healed from the surgery, you'll be able to get a fill and that may give you more restriction. It's a dynamic process. Lose-fill-lose-fill, and so on. Try not to push yourself by eating testing your limits.

Bryan

After the initial healing (little over a month) in which I was very diligent about portions and what I ate (fact is, with the swelling, it was hard to eat a lot anyway), it took me 3 fills to feel any restriction at all. The 5th was too tight and my 6th visit I had some taken out. It is a learning process that takes some time to find that "sweet spot". These days, I am on autopilot and really enjoying the success of the band.