I know it's been done, but it's still new to me.

I am at 5.5ccs and I'm finally feeling some restriction,but I'm hungry in the a.m. and am struggling there.

After reading many of you, you are eating way smaller amounts of food than I am and you must be feeling satiety.

Is it normal to eat ...

Protein shake

1/2 cup of cottage cheese/fruit for lunch

then 3 oz of meat

Cause I can eat a lot more, and I'm not losing weight fast, so I'm thinking I need a fill. I'm way hungrier at the end of the day too.

I guess I'm babbling, but I'm trying to gauge what it feels to hit a sweet spot. I don't want to eat more ,but I'm HUNGRY, so I eat more than many of you.

I just want to know what is a pretty decent normal bandsters menu if they want to lose weight.

But are you losing weight consistently? If you are losing an average of 1 to 2 pounds a week, then I would say your fill is working for you.

My doctor tells me that to eat protein shakes for a meal and not along with a meal. If you are drinking it with your meal than you are not using the band's tool. I was told not to drink with meals. I drink liquid about 45 minutes before or after a meal but not with a meal. If I drink I protein drink, I drink it with some fruit and milk and its my meal.

See I'm babbling, I knew it. I was looking at other people's menus and they resemble that on many of these threads.

I'm not losing weight fast at all. like 1lb every two weeks if I'm lucky. I've just had my 3rd fill and for the first time feel some restriction.

I guess, I'm thinking I should feel more.

Is that a single meal or a day's food? I'm confused. If it's a whole day, it's very little--about 500 calories depending on what the meat is and what kind of Protein shake.

If it's for one meal, it's pretty heavy on the calories. I usually tried to stick to about 250-350 calories per meal, and often had a snack or two between.

It sounds to me like you could use a fill. You're losing on average 1/2 lb per week, and you can easily eat much more than 1/2 measuring cup of food, and you're hungry. You and your doctor would make the final call, of course, but those are most of the signs for needing a fill.

Sounds to me also that you could use another fill. Try to eat your solid protein first, if you drink liquid and then stuff that is mushy it will just slide through and you'll be able to eat more. Also I heard if you drink too soon after eating the liquid sits on top of the food and couple possibly stretch your pouch, causing you to eventually eat more. I was at 6cc and I could eat about a cup of food sometimes slightly more and the weight loss starting slowing down and was frustrating, but I went in last Thursday and got another 1cc to bring me to 7cc and WOW! what a difference, I have already lost 4lbs in 4 days (been working out too). But now I know what restriction is and I finally am able to get full off off 1/2 cup of food, which is something I wasn't able to do before. Today I made my husbands favorite bday meal...lasagne...I love it too, but when I sat down to eat I at about 4-5 bits and was very full. It was hard for me mentally to look at my plate practically untouched, but I was happy that I was full so quick. You will get there, it takes time to get to that right spot..and a very small amount can make that difference to you. Good Luck to you!