Hi all, I was banded on June 3, 2009 and have been doing really well up until this weekend. Today mostly. Let me explain. I've lost almost 30 pounds since the 2 week pre-op liquid diet. I'm very pleased with the loss but I'm do for my first fill this coming friday 7/10 and I guess I'm afraid he won't give me a fill. I had mentioned to the dr just this past week that I have limitations when I eat. He mentioned that I must have restriction with the band in place even though I have no fluid in it. He also said we'll have to go slow with the fills. Now, I've been so good with my diet and exercising more than I would like and I think that's why the weight is coming off. Yes, I fill fast, but I do get hungry between meals. So, with this in mind, I set out to test the full limits of my band. I found out that what people say about chips, ice cream and sweet is true. They are definately slider foods. I also went and had a little mac salad and potato salad. I had veggie burger and turkey sausage for my meats. I ate no where need the amount of food I use too, but even when I did get full, I went a litle further. I experienced for the first time what I see people call PBing. Not much though, but I did. Here's what I don't understand........why do I do this? Is it normal? Before the band, I never felt full and would eat until I would almost vomit. NO CONTROLL. What is wrong with me? Can anyone relate to this absurd behavior? I'm so mad at myself. Here comes a five pound weight gain!!!

Wow first of all congrats on your 30 lb weight loss so far that is really awesome.

We are human and we are going to put our bands to the test. It is going to take several fills from your doctor before you begin to feel restriction.

I'm 5 months in and i'm still not to my "sweet spot". I do however have good restriction. For the most part I follow the rules but there are times where I don't and I haven't gained 5 lbs so I doubt you will. Unless of course you do it daily then maybe you would but once in a while won't hurt you!!!

I was banded the day before you. I have had one small fill so far and it has not made a huge difference. I stop eating sooner than i would have previously but not because I am full but because i think that what i have eaten should be sufficient. I do get hungry between meals particularly between lunch and dineer but try my best to eat something healthy.

I have never felt the urge to test my band. I am well aware of its limitations and want to use the tool in the way which it was intended to be used - the same as any other tool. For instance had I just bought an expensive sewing machine I would not decide to test to see if it could knit as well. It has to be used in the way that it is intended.

I think that you need to remember why you got the band and what you want to achieve. To work with it not against it. To have a small quantity of a slider food e.g icecream occaissonally would not be a problem but obviously seeing how many sliders you can fit in is.

Maybe if you cannot address this issue on your own you might want to consider getting some kind of counselling. Something that addresses why you are eating and ways to conquer it.We all know that the band cannot address the head hunger.

Hope I'm not sounding too preachy as that is not my intention. I'm not perfect either.

Good luck

Don't be too hard on yourself, but not too easy either. I have done the same on a couple of occations, and sometimes I continue the habit and stop loosing, and even gain 1 or 2 lbs. Then guilt kicks in, and I punish myself by drinking shakes and not eating hardly anything. WHICH IS BAD and messes with my band! So I try not to do that anymore.

Also, do NOT get comfortable with what you can eat now, because once you get the fills, things change. Things I could eat in the beginning I can't eat now without pain. Some slider foods actually hurt more than solids.

I went through the overeating phase, and I think I am past it now. I stopped eating to be full, and started eating a certain amount and stopping. Because I never really have that full feeling, just heartburn, hiccups, and ickyness.

Good luck with this phase, and whenever you feel like "cheating," do something (physically).

P.S. 100 cal snack packs are the enemy. I went through a phase where I thought if I bought low cal Snacks, it would satisfy. I ate through them so fast, it was ugly.

Now I just stick to normal foods that are healthy, in a smaller portion size.