I had my surgery in April of 2008. I lost like mad until the beginning of this year. Then, I was able to maintain my weight for a number of months, but in May - I started gaining. Yikes.

Some of the weight gain is due to eating the wrong foods - and I'm fixing that. I've been right on plan this week and I'm down an incredible 6 pounds.

Part of the problem has also been finding that "sweet spot". It's been frustrating. I'll have .25 cc put in...and I'm too tight. Back to the doctor the next week to have .25 taken out...and then I'm hungry. I was back and forth like this for months (not every week, but definitely every 2-3 weeks for a few months). And..I just got tired of it.

This week, I went in for a fill....the nurse said it was even less than .25 cc ("just a couple of drops") and it feels like this might be right. But I know....I know that right after ovulation, I will get too tight again. Then, the cycle begins. Go in to have some of it taken out, get too hungry, go back..blah blah blah.

So. I don't know. It's frustrating...and I'm not the easily frustratable type of girl.

I am thinking that in the couple of weeks before my period, I might switch to mostly shakes / soft foods. Think that would help?

The hunger is real hunger. I'm sure of that. Obviously, I'm in control of what kinds of foods I put into my mouth and I've been making some bad decisions.

I guess my question is - does anyone else who has had the band for awhile now experience this same thing? I've asked a couple of times at the doctor and they say that it sometimes takes a long time to get to that perfect level.

And...has anyone else here gained some weight and then successfully lost it?

I feel fortunate that I've "only" gained 20+ pounds in the past five months. In the bad old days, I would have regained every ounce much more quickly. But still.

So...looking for some support and input. Thank you in advance for being kind.

xo

Personally, I was too tight for awhile, and tolerated it just because I was so thrilled with the weightloss!! But lately I have been going crazy because I just can't eat that much and have been leaning toward slider foods, so I went in today and got .1 cc taken out. He said if it's too much to come in and he will put .05cc back in.....so i will just have to wait and see I guess...I am in an exploration phase right now. Good luck to you...

I get tight around ovulation also and I just have to drink hot tea before I eat and I also eat soup (i drink the fluid first then eat what I can of the solids) and sometimes have to put chili or soup in the blender and drink it or have a protein shake. I just have to baby it for a few days and then it gets better. I also had to baby my band when I finally got restriction I had to do the same as it felt too tight and then after 5 days I was able to eat okay and it was fine.

re: "the weight gain is due to eating the wrong foods"; <br />disagree.....consider it's due to OVER eating the wrong AMOUNT of food....

re: 'ovulation'.....can't speak to this as my ovaries have been inactive for quite some time... The 'sweet spot' does exist IMHO, and requires awareness of the nuances to manage satisfactorily.

I found if I make sure most of my weeks total meals fall below a certain calorie count, I have no weight gain concern. And if I do eat over that point for a few days, I begin to feel like the old habit of eating more than my body needs begins to stir again.

I do have some kind of long and subtle cycle of slightly more and then slightly less restricted. Sometimes my Band seems even a bit fickle.

Life with my Symbiant, my 'Little Angel of the Silicon Fist' is far better regardless of the occasional frustrations. Finding a way to coexist requires adaptability.

cheers on your journey