my surgery will be at the end of the month and i'm nervous about the fills. my biggest fear is that it will take many (discouraging) months before i feel any restriction.

i know everyone is different, but i'm wondering how long it took some of you to find your "sweet spot"? does band size matter? pre-surgery bmi/weight make a difference? are there any tips to help get in that green zone easier/quicker?

I don't think I am quite at my sweet spot but I have had restriction all along. First the swelling from the surgery made me suspect that I might never be hungry again. That went away about a month after the surgery and I have had 3 fills and one slight unfill. I am losing slowly but pretty consistantly with only one extended plataue.

But what I have found different about this from a diet is that I have more patience than I used to. I don't try to eat a lot of the foods that they told me I should not eat like bread and Pasta. I eat nearly everything else but in small portions so I don't feel like I am on a "diet" because I am not restricting myself to those bland diet food. I eat a lot of Protein and that helps to keep me full.

For me the weight loss may be slower than I had expected but heck, I am not even 6 months out and I am down 55 pounds. I could have never done that before.

It would be a good thing for you to get in the mindset right now that this will be a process. It does take time. There is a great variation in how fast and how much an individual will lose in the first year or even months. Being overweight is a result of a lifetime of bad habits and overeating. Once you are banded...as long as the scale is showing some weight lose...don't sweat it! Prepare for a long journey...and remember...if you didn't have this done you probably wouldn't be losing anything. Expecting too much too fast is the worst thing to do. I have been banded 6 months and I am down 25 pounds. Slow...but it is coming off. I had my 3rd fill this week and I think each time I have one...I find myself eating less. I do eat what I want however.

Thank you both for the replies. My expectations may need to be lowered. I keep telling myself that slower is better and I didn't end up this way over night. The weight coming off slow would probably be more beneficial for my skin anyway.

I know right now I eat mega-huge portions, so I'm assuming that with the band and restricted food intake that I should lose and I guess that is all I can hope for. *fingers crossed* Of course, if I don't, I always have this place for venting and support :thumbup:

I heard most people are at their sweet spot at the 4-5 fill. I'm on my 4th and feel full most of the time but that has gone away before. I have an appt on jan 20,2010- we'lll see then if i need more of a fill. its trial and error.

I go 1/18 for my 5th fill, I am still unsure if i will keep this app. I feel I am at or super close to my sweet spot. So only time will tell. i am now at 6.25 cc in a 10 cc band. Some days feel i need a fill and the next day I don't , i am so unsure right now.

I go 1/18 for my 5th fill, I am still unsure if i will keep this app. I feel I am at or super close to my sweet spot. So only time will tell. i am now at 6.25 cc in a 10 cc band. Some days feel i need a fill and the next day I don't , I am so unsure right now.

I feel the same way right now Erica! I had my second fill on 12/21 & for the first time felt some restriction and had a couple of stuck episodes. I'm pretty sure getting stuck was from 'operator error'. For the first time since banding I need to pay attention to the size of my bites & chewing. I am going back on Wednesday & I think I am going to opt for a fill. (if I don't change my mind by then! )

Good luck!

My daughter is at the year mark and has just reached her spot. She has lost slowly and has started loosing laster without needing a lot of willpower.

I am at 5 months since surgery and have had several fills (small-.3 or so). I have lost 30 lbs. I've gotten discouraged - but my dr is cautious. Trying to be patient.

I am losing soooo slowly too. I had my 3 rd

fill...I have restriction, but even with that...things just don't seem to "budge" at times. Right when I get a fill, because I am on liquids for a day or so, I lose...then it seems to stop. It does get frustrating because I do have restriction and I am eating way less. One thing I need to work on, I tend to eat a little bit when I am hungry instead of eating a meal. Therefore I graze a little over the course of the day. Maybe that doesn't hurt some people and maybe that is not what is keeping the scale from going down...but it is where I am going to try to make a change to see if it works. I believe it is a trial and error situation to see what your body responds to. Also I want to start doing some calorie burning exercises. I must admit, I have not been getting much exercise at all. I am not giving up yet...I know this will be a long road before I get to where I want to be.

I am 9 months post-op and am NOT at my sweet spot yet.

My surgeon is cautious and reserved.....my weight is dropping VERY SLOWLY......but I am working out 5 days a week - and losing pant sizes....so i gues that is a GOOD thing. But I would like to see the scale move MORE often!

I am losing soooo slowly too. I had my 3 rd fill...I have restriction, but even with that...things just don't seem to "budge" at times. Right when I get a fill, because I am on liquids for a day or so, I lose...then it seems to stop. It does get frustrating because I do have restriction and I am eating way less. One thing I need to work on, I tend to eat a little bit when I am hungry instead of eating a meal. Therefore I graze a little over the course of the day. Maybe that doesn't hurt some people and maybe that is not what is keeping the scale from going down...but it is where I am going to try to make a change to see if it works. I believe it is a trial and error situation to see what your body responds to. Also I want to start doing some calorie burning exercises. I must admit, I have not been getting much exercise at all. I am not giving up yet...I know this will be a long road before I get to where I want to be.

I can relate. I am a very slow loser also. I have 6.5 ccs in a 10 cc band and can still eat more than I know I should. I just had a fill last week so I'm hoping it will help. I also graze and havent been hitting the gym as much as I use to. I dont blame the band, I blame myself for not utilizing the tool I have been given. That said, I also know that I have lost more weight than I would have if I didnt have the band. Hard habits are hard to break but I'm in a much better place than I was a year and a half ago!

FINALLY After 6 months since surgery I think I am there. I have the AP Large Lap Band and currently am at 9.4cc's out of the 14. Can finally only have a few bites of food and actually feel full :thumbup: Whoooo Hooooo

I wish to thank all the replys to the "how many fills to your sweet spot". Your responses have renewed my hope. I had surgery on 10/22/09 with a start weight of 208. It's now 1/15/2010 and I am at 193 with two fills. I still find I'm hungry ...alot! I have been working out 4-5 times per week so I have been very discouraged with my progress.

My next appointment is February 11 and I will definitely opt for fill #3.

What is amazing to me, is that some people appear to reach it after only two fills, while others take numerous fills. It really seems like a YMMV type thing. I am hoping and praying that it takes no more than two or three fills *or* if it does, I have the strength to keep the weight loss going by making good choices and staying active - only time will tell.

What is amazing to me, is that some people appear to reach it after only two fills, while others take numerous fills. It really seems like a YMMV type thing. I am hoping and praying that it takes no more than two or three fills *or* if it does, I have the strength to keep the weight loss going by making good choices and staying active - only time will tell.

True! I have had numerous fills. I dont even know how many, but then my doc will only give me .5 cc at a time. The first two fills, he gave me a whole cc but the third time I couldnt tolerate it. I guess it just depends on the patient and the doc.

8 fills over 6 years and i think im there now...