So here I am a week out from my 2nd fill and now I am curious if I have meet my true sweet spot. (Not that it matters, but I have a 4cc band and have 2.7 ccs now.)

Here is my experience and would like to know from those who have reached their sweet spot if this is what you experience:

- When I take a half of a normal bite of food, the food gets stuck and sometimes a PB occurs. It hurts and it churns for about 30 minutes. Nothing I do seems to hurry this process.

- I cannot take a whole Tylenol pill without major discomfort and churning for an hour.

- I chew my meats to the count of 20 or more, depending on whether my previous bite gave me a twinge of pain.

- I do not feel hungry. (Arrgh, but I still eat!! Not as much, however!)

With these "symptoms" I think I may have true restriction... any thoughts from those who have acheived the sweet spot?

Thanks in advance!

Hi Alicia,

Here's my experience after my fill: ( I have a 9cc band and was filled 5 cc)

- Major pain if I don't chew well and then PB

- Even Water if swallowed fast and often will come back

- Feel hungry about every 3-4 hours

What helps:

- Chew Chew Chew and then Chew some more (the 20x regimen is good)

- Drink warm water before you start your meal ( at the begining when I had just gotten the fill Sept 20- I would drink warm water with my food. I know they say not to drink with the meal but that was the only way the food would go down. Now that some time has passed, I can eat my food without any water. So you have to gage your body and see what works for you.

- The slower you eat the less pain - I found that I have more pain when I am hungry and eat in a hurry. So don't wait until you are starving to eat. I start to heat my food at the first feeling of hunger.

Sounds like you are at your sweet spot. I understand what you mean about eating eventhough you are not hungry. That's a habit that caused my weight gain and I struggle to kick it every day. You just have to be aware of it. I trick myself and say I will have it in 2 hours. This seems to work sometimes.

Good Luck. You should start to notice some good loss now.

Mary;)

Thanks, Mary, for your reply!! This is such an interesting journey isn't it? It's like I am in driving school and trying to avoid the potholes...

You're information was useful, thanks again!

It's crazy trying to figure it out, isn't it? My definition of restriction changes by day -- sometimes by the hour. For me, it's been more about discomfort with moderate pain. Most recently, after I eat certain things or if I eat too fast, I get this feeling in my upper abdominal area that feels like I've done 200 sit-ups. (Go figure.) I've never had the feeling of fullness that so many people seem to get...

I only have about 1.4 ccs...and sometimes can't imagine that more would be better.

I'm waiting to have insurance issues resolved before considering my second fill -- and I don't mind the extra time. This takes much more getting used to than I ever expected. Some days, I don't know it's there. Some days, I'll PB with Water.

I just try every day to be more mindful of the "rules" -- chewing, eating slowly, etc.

I know I didn't answer your sweet spot question, Alicia, but just wanted to share my experience.

Elizabeth

8/28/03

Elizabeth, thanks for the information. I definitely relate to this "discomfort with moderate pain" issue if I didn't eat slow enough. It's all a learning experieince. I learned that lunch meat gives me problems but beef or chicken doesn't... how odd...

Elizabeth, thanks for the information. I definitely relate to this "discomfort with moderate pain" issue if I didn't eat slow enough. It's all a learning experieince. I learned that lunch meat gives me problems but beef or chicken doesn't... how odd...

all this is very helpful

i too have pain if eat to fast or take to big a bite

i know what you mean about a learning experience

we just have to try our best

i am getting my 3rd fill tomorrow

let you know how that goes

all this is very helpful

i too have pain if eat to fast or take to big a bite

i know what you mean about a learning experience

we just have to try our best

i am getting my 3rd fill tomorrow

let you know how that goes

also i use a timer sometimes

every 30 seconds i will take a bite