So now that you've been banded, what do you think full feels like? What is the trigger that says stop eating?

I ask this because the other day when I had this discussion with the fill nurse, I said full to me is when I reach that point I feel some discomfort or pain. I was told that if I reach this point, I've eaten too much and that I needed to back off.

This is difficult to judge because in the morning I'm very tight and can only eat about 2-3 oz of oatmeal and I may get this feeling only after a couple spoons full. By evening, it's just about perfect eating my 4-5 oz. Either way, I stop when I feel that discomfort. Also a lot depends on what I eat.

I have found, when I don't have this, I feel I'm not tight enough and am hungry all the time and can usually over indulge.

So what does full feel like to you?

My full feels the same as yours. It's a feeling that says "whoa stop eating now or you will regret it!" It is a little discomfort. Without that feeling I would never stop. I think the fill nurse is saying the "lock step line". There is no other way I know of that feels full. Until I have that feeling, I am fine and dandy, then it comes all of a sudden.

When I'm full (the new full of being satisfied) I've discovered I sometimes hiccup, give a little burp, have a little gurgle in my throat, or sigh. Those are signs to me to stop. If I try to take a few extra bites I get the discomfort (pain radating to my left shoulder).

Are you drinking something hot first thing in the morning to loosen your band? That may help you eat a little larger Breakfast. I have to do that.

I also take the portion size that usually gives me the full sensation (about 3 oz of meat and a small side item) and have found if I stop with that, then I can forego the feeling of one bite too many - sometimes that perfect full sensation can be hard to detect until you're in the one bite too many stage. Sometimes it is easier to sense with the above signs my body gives. Talk about a learning experience!

Hope this helps!

I've noticed too that I get a little hiccup or two when I'm getting to the end of my portion size. I assumed that's when I should stop. Of course, I'm still on mushies, but I figure it's the same for mushies as real food.

I do drink hot coffee in the morning and it probably does help. It's more of a want than a need. I'd like to have eggs and bacon but I can't. Just doesn't agree with me. So I've found out to eat about 2 hours after getting up and having my coffee. I'm good with it all. Just trying to learn the new full feeling and what it is, other than the pain from eating wrong or over eating that last bite. I get no other signs that I am noticing just yet.

Danimal -

Give it some time and you'll figure out your body's signs. It just amazes me that at age 48 I feel I'm having to relearn my body's functions and signs all over. There's a whole new "normal" and it's making for an interesting journey!

For me, I have to measure or I could easily overeat. However, when I measure a 1/2 cup meal, full for me is the absence of hunger. If I went by the "full" signs, hiccup, sighing, runny nose, tightness in chest, I could easily eat 3/4 to 1 cup of food and then feel bloated. But, when I measure, I eat my 1/2 cup meal, feel just fine, but I lose the hunger sensation. I feel satisfied for four hours or more if I've eaten a good solid meal. Keeping well hydrated between meals also help to keep hunger (head hunger maybe) away.

I find it interesting that even after six months the "full" feeling isn't all that clear to you either. I know I'm really full when I feel "stuffed"...not in pain, but I feel full. Otherwise, I'm know I'm probably full, I just don't really feel it. My fill doctor told me that it was too full also. I need to stop before then.

I'm not great about measuring my food or sticking to a diet which is why I got banded but it's hard to really figure out when I'm truly full.

I don't get hungry like I used to...I still get hungry, but it's usually 3-4 or more hours after I eat, then it comes on with a vengeance. I had my 2nd fill 11 days ago and I do have decent restriction so I'm learning to slow down and eat small bites and chew well and what I found out yesterday (I was really hungry at lunch) is I ate 1/2 a boiled egg slowly and waited a bit, then ate the other 1/2 and it cut the hunger very well.

Guess it will be a learning experience from now on.