Hi, was banded on 8/26/09 -- 3 fills now @ 1.5 cc each time. I was just filled on 11/27/09. I'm still not feeling restriction. I get full but I still can eat everything just not hugh portions. I'm still losing weight down 43lbs. Feeling good just wondering when will I hit my "sweet spot?" Anyone else having this problem?

If you are down 43 lbs and had your surgery in august you are doing fantastic. Eating less is the goal, and you have to be doing that to have such good weight loss. Restriction is a funny thing and I believe it is different for different people. You must be getting close to the right spot, as long as you are losing 1-3 lbs a week you are doing well.

You may be looking for a sensation that doesn't exist. "Restriction" isn't something you feel. Restriction is supposed to provide satiety sooner than you would experience it if you weren't banded. Satiety is when you feel full. If you can go 4 hours without feeling hunger pangs, then you are probably very close to your sweet spot.

It was explained to me that once I had enough fill in my band that I didn't get hungry before 4 hours after a meal, then I was "there" or very close. And sure enough, when I found I could go 4 hours (or even more) between meals, I also realized by eating the prescribed meal quantity that I was indeed full on a relatively small amount of food. Yes, I could eat more, but that didn't mean I should.

So, now, if I eat 3 oz of lean Protein, steamed or raw vegetable and a single serving of whole grain carbs, I am full, don't get hungry for at least 4 hours...and if I eat more, it stalls my weight loss.

Dr. says samething not to get discouraged, which I'm not, trust me I'm happy with the 43lbs down. Just everyone talks about this "sweet spot" and how they feel, not that I want to get stuck, or throw up by all means, I just thought maybe I'm doing something wrong, but obviously not with the weight loss I've already had. I guess I was just feeling a little down and had to post my feelings. Thanks for helping.

What was the problem?

You get full, you are not eating huge portions, you can eat anything, you are still losing weight.

Sounds to me like you have perfect restriction.

Skinnyoompa: I was banded 8/31 and was kind of thinking the same as you. Just the past couple days I started analyzing it and I think I was feeling I didn't have proper restriction because it was not unpleasant. Like you I am eating most foods, a lesser quantity, not Bping unless I am careless and losing a nice amount of weight. Previously trying to lose weight was so very unpleasant I guess I didn't realize it doesn't have to be that way and with the band it isn't. I love my band!