I was banded 6/25/09, I had one fill - 3 cc's last week ( Dr put in 4 cc's but kept bubbling up in my throat so he removed 1 cc). Most of the time I measure out my 1/2 cup portion so I know I am eating the correct amount, unless I am in a resturant, but I never get that full feeling. My Nut said to listen to "my body" when I am full stop eating even if my portion isn't finished. I have yet to get that feeling where I have had enough. I am usually satisfied and can go 3 to 4 hrs in between meals, but some days I am hungry.

Before my surgery I could eat incredibile amounts of food before I got that stuff to the point of not breathing feeling! Then 1/2 hour later I was in the fridge looking for something again. This worries me now because I don't want to start overeating again.

I would never have been satisfied on 1/2 cup either and can't imagine eating so little food and having enough calories to sustain me. Always listen to your doctor but mine never told me to measure out 1/2 cup, only to eat until I am satisfied which takes more like 1 cup. You shouldn't feel hungry with the band, that is the whole point of having it.

So are you eating 1/2 cup 3 times a day? How many calories, Protein etc. are you getting on that amount of food and what kind of exercise are you doing?

Hi Jodi,

Right now I am eating (3) 1/2 cup meals a day. Plus a 2 oz. afternoon snack if I need one. I usually stick to alternating tuna, egg salad, chichen, ground beef, and any white flaky fish as my Protein. I will add a few whole wheat crackers with the tuna, egg or chicken salad. Or a veggie or cottage cheese with the grilled chicken or ground beef. String cheese, SF Jello, or a few triscuit crackers with a dab of Peanut Butter is my snack when I need it.

At some point I wll go to 6 oz per meal and then to 1 cup, the 1 cup portion will be for life. I am not sure when the increase of food will happen, but I am down 27 lbs in 6 weeks so at least I am losing !

I was banded the same day as you. I am feeling everything you are describing. It would probably take least a cup of food to get that sensation, but I stick to the 3-4 oz. my doctor recommended. I am hungry again in an hour. I have an 8cc band with a 2cc fill two weeks ago. The doctor had intended to put in 4cc, but I got stuck at 3cc. I will go back in another week to try another fill. I was beginning to think my band had slipped or I had stretched my pouch. I have suddenly gained 2 pounds. However, I just had my first PB and believe me, it is an experience I do not wish to repeat, so I guess this band is working. Maybe additonal fills will help us.

Grandma -

You won't get that old type of full ate-too-much-on Thanksgiving Day feeling you had before. What you are looking for now is satisfied, content, couldn't care if I took another bite or not feeling. Until you have some restriction you won't get some of the other stop indicators (at least I didn't.) For me if I get a pain in my mid chest that radiates to my left shoulder it means I didn't stop soon enough, but I'll be okay I just need to put the fork down now!!! A golfball feeling in the middle of my chest means I didn't chew well enough, take small enough bites, or both. And if I get stuck.. the golfball that won't go away....uffdah. Let's just say I pace and try to walk it off. You really have to relearn your body's signals with this surgery.

I know you are following your doctor's orders, but like the others 1/2 cup of food wouldn't do it for me, even with the good restriction I have right now.

Maybe talk with your doctor's office, let them know how many calories you are getting in, how much Protein, how long your meals are lasting, let them know you need a snack once in a while. Maybe they will want you to eat just a little more? It seems to be working for you, but I always worry about people eating too few calories. I did that early on and the scale came to a screeching halt, but all of our bodies are different.

1/2 cup of food? Zounds. That's almost nonsense, IMHO.

I'm getting in 1 to 1 1/2 cups and my doc does little happy dances; no Snacks for me though. We're all different but 1/2 cup just seems too austere, to me.

I agree that 1/2 cup isn't enough. I will email my Nut, but I think I am going to keep my protein at 1/2 cup but add 1 or 2 ozs of something else along with it. I don't want to get so hunrgy that I fail at this. I've worked to hard to get past the liquid and mushie stage!