7 replies to this topic

[Munchkin]

Hey all

I was banded Dec 20 & have had 3 fills of 2ml in fairly quick intervals. So I now have 6ml in my band. I get things stuck & have had to throw up but I dont seem to actually have any restriction on the amount I eat or feel full any faster if I chew properly and dont get things stuck?? However after my last fill I do seem to have restriction when I drink??? I get the stuck feeling & have bubbles from my esophagus after almost every drink. I dont get it??? Am I just not in the green zone yet or whats going on? Im not losing any weight and im just confused? Im going to try to get into doc for next week but just wondered if anyone else has experienced the liquid restriction but not food restriction?? I dont understand how its possible??

Thanks guys...

[Gato]

I dont think you can necessarily expect to feel full. More like 'not hungry' after eating a specified amount of food (some say the equivalent of half a cup if the food was packed into the cup. So with a band, the idea is that you eat the half a cup and STOP. You don't wait to feel full. If the band is working properly, that amount of food will be sufficient to keep you going until the next meal. You won't feel full, you just wont feel hungry. Other surgeons/dieticians say a cup not half a cup, but the principle is the same.

Have you watched those 8 Golden rules videos? Its explained there.

[jan123]

Hi Munchkin

I went back for my second fill and Craig asks, when in the day do you start to feel hungry, it's late morning for me. His answer ..... no more fill. So what he told me is that the band makes you feel full, if it does that until late morning then it is working. By dinner time I have no restriciton and could eat anything, his answer is - that does not mean you have to!! You need to restrict portions as Gato said and STOP eating and enjoy the not feeling hungry feeling!!

So what I now know, restriction because your band is too tight, PBing etc is not really what you are trying to achieve with your band, you need to use portion control, portion control, portion control ...eeekkkkk. Apparently if you are too tight and are PBing all the time then it increases your chance of slippage and also erosion so better to have it adjusted correctly and then you have to use self control and portion control.

My weight loss is still really, painfully slow but going down and not going up so trying to stay positive. Craig also said, walk, walk, walk at which point I did have a slight urge to slap him as I am doing 8kms 5 times a week! But am staying focussed.

Keep up the good work.

[Sophee]

Gato and Jan123 are exactly right Munchkin.
As they say ... the band goes round your stomach, (not your brain and certainly) not your mouth.
To be really effective, the 'restriction' needs to be self imposed. The band's work is to help you get to the next meal time without being overly hungry.
Trust me with this ... banded for almost 15 years.

[Munchkin]

Ok so just stick to my plate size then..? (the banding plate)... I feel really silly as I really thought there would be permanent restriction so I HAD to lose weight. So im assuming my band would be accurate now? Wow now starts the hard work ive been doing all my life then.. I have to admit im quite saddened about spending so much money to not actually have any real help. I lost weight in pre op and nothing since. guess I just start another diet & hope to stick to it... Or face the fact im just fat!

[jan123]

Not don't start another diet but yes it will be hard work BUT .... for me I feel that once I lose weight it should be much easier to keep off with the band in place . Healthy small portions, story of our lives

The band will help, it stops us feeling hungry, what we have to do is learn to listen to that, when we are not hungry , don't eat. Then when we do sit down to a meal .... Slowly does it and stop eating after a much smaller amount, hopefully we will then feel satisfied, well hunger wise, psychologically I think I'm challenged!!!

Good luck and keep me posted. I start very day thinking tomorrow maybe I'll actually lose some weight !! Am looking forward to seeing the dietician in two weeks!

[Gato]

Maybe its worth watching those 8 Golden rules videos if you havent already. It explains what is your responsibility and what the band contributes.
I think there's a link to them pinned in the Frequently Asked Questions forum.

The info here http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html is also useful, despite the fact that the site looks as dodgy as.

[-kirsty-]

The band is defitinely hard work, and no magic cure. But it is much easier than trying to diet on your own without the band. Probably in the past (if you are like me) you would reduce your calorie intake, and eat say 200 calories for breakfast, than feel starving from 9am-12 when you greedily eat your 300cals for lunch. Then from 1pm till 3 you feel starving until you scoff down your arvos. Then again you starve till dinner, and if you are really good, you will eat your dinner, and starve till bedtime when you get up and do it all over again.

The band really helps, because you do the same thing I just mentioned, 3 small meals and maybe 2 small snacks. But instead of starving between meals, you feel satiated. You don't keep clock-watching for the next time you are allowed to eat food. You don't get so down because you just can't face doing it all over again tomorrow. It's just easier! The hard part, as mentioned, it stopping your brain from overtaking your hand and mouth! I still struggle with finishing after my small portion, and not eating all the junk food that I love. But when I set my mind to it, I can do it, and so can you! Good luck!