So I got an unfill yesterday. Dr. took 2.5 ccs from my band, which had been 7.5ccs in a 12cc band. I am like a different person. With the band too tight, I'd started to adjust my behavior to accommodate the issues -- too tight, eat less, have soup instead of solids, rationalize that everyone with a lap band pukes!

Now that the band is looser, I can burp. I can eat without pain. I feel SO MUCH BETTER that I can't believe I went for 5 weeks with a too tight band.

My concern about lack of restriction is definitely legitimate. I will work on a healthy diet but when it comes time for my next visit, I will definitely get a fill if I feel there is no restriction. Last night, I ate well but couldn't finish my meal. Today, I had a similar experience but made a bad choice. Salad and soup tasted great but probably didn't actually fill me up as much as another choice could have. I have to stick to the plan, even when the band isn't working for me.

Sorry if this blog entry was a bit like a self cheer leading effort...guess I just needed to talk myself into doing it right. Will report how I do with limited restriction.

Im confused. Salad and soup. At our orientations we were given a one ounce cup. We had to verbally agree and later physically agree to eat out of a one ounce cup - forever - and eat 2 times a day ONLY.

it must be 100 percent protein and nothing else. Soup and Salad? I dont know if I have been duped all this time or?

I do know that this particular surgeon pulls the stomach around the band and sews the stomach to itself - to prevent band slippage - and I know for his patients he has a lenghty liquid diet afterwards - but it never turns to a meal that is more then one ounce. I do not think soup and salad are an unhealthy choice by anymeans. I wish you all the best. I have been so afraid of this surgery becuase I am not telling anyone and I fear I will be socially unacceptable only eating one ounce of anything at dinner, out with guests, at a luncheon with the boss, at thanksgiving - I am so scared about this - only one ounc meal.

Ok, I also had an un-fill on this past Wednesday this week. I feel so much better almost instantly. Mine band got tighter after 5 months and no one can explain why? No biggy just get a little removed and feel better.... Had an Upper GI all is well band has not shifted, no leaks.

Standard measurements are:

1 Cup = 8 ounces

1/2-Cup = 4 ounces

1 Tablespoon = 1 ounce

I have never heard of anyone eating a "1 ounce cup" before?

Do you think they may be referring to only putting 1 ounce which is 1 Tablespoon of food in your mouth at one time?

As I recall from my experience I needed to learn how to stop eating Too fast and slow down. I used to put food into a small hospital measuring cup for medicine to see how much I was eating. Is that the one ounce cup you are talking about?

I could not live on one ounce I eat about 1 cup = 8 ounces of food start with protein at any one time. I have lost 97 pounds in 8 months. This band works if you work with your band. Best wishes imaluckydog

@tsuran: Once ounce of food doesn't seem like enough to me either. Even with a too tight band, I was getting about 1/4 cup at a sitting. Oh, and soup and salad work just fine -- just not the best choice. The soup goes right through -- a bad choice, especially a creamy one! I had my salad first to try to stuff up the hole a bit. I had really been missing fresh crunchy greens so it was a real treat. Unfortunately though, salad doesn't keep your hunger suppressed very long -- that's why the emphasis on protein. Protein takes longer to digest in general, keeping you full longer and making you less likely to want to snack between meals. And, I have found that people don't notice what or how much you're eating as long as you don't mention it. Mostly they're concentrating on their own food. You eat really slowly, small bites, lots of chewing, putting your fork down between bites, chatting.....and even though you won't eat much, no one will really notice. When you have your leftovers wrapped, if anyone says anything, say you didn't realize what a huge portion it was and that you'll be glad to finish it later. Also, I know everyone feels differently about revealing their choice to get a band -- I don't hide mine. If someone asks me outright if I've had surgery, I will say yes and I find most people are very supportive. If someone I don't know very well mentions that I've lost a lot of weight, I just say "Thanks for noticiing. I'm trying."

Don't be afraid of people looking at you askew because you eat small portions. I bet they stare at you a lot more now because you're overweight.