Just got my 4th fill yesterday which took me to 6.5cc in a 10cc LAP-BAND. And, it was about three hours after 'lunch' (broth and a protein shot), that I realized something had definitely changed w/this fill... I was NOT HUNGRY! And, I have remained NOT HUNGRY ever since. Even though I'm only allowed liquids for 72 hours after a fill, I was NOT HUNGRY when I went to bed and NOT HUNGRY when I woke up. This is frickin amazing!!!

Yeah, yeah, I know this is one of the main reasons I got the band. My mom has the band and said that she is just not thinking of food or looking for food much anymore. And, the people who are at goal in my support group say the same thing. One lady has to set an alarm to remember to eat. And, I've been longing for this NOT HUNGRY feeling ever since I got the band on 12/17/09. Until now, I had not felt this yet... not even right after surgery or after any of my other fills so I was worried it would never happen for me.

But, now that I've experienced it, I'm happy to say it has exceeded my expectations because its not just that I'm not hungry, but I don't even feel empty (even though I haven't eaten). I feel like you feel an hour after you ate a good meal, but all the time. Well, at least for the last day. I'm hoping this restriction sticks w/me. I'm the type who actually gets tighter a couple weeks AFTER a fill so I'm also hoping I don't end up too tight. And, I haven't eaten yet, so I have absolutely no idea how this level of restriction is gonna work w/food. I can drink about 4 oz of water at once, though, and it does go down fairly quickly, so I'm really really hoping, this is it! (or close to it) :wub:

Anyway, no matter how it works out, I now know that this NOT HUNGRY thing is possible w/me. And, I am thrilled!!!

YAY for you!!! I go back next week and am going to ask for a 1/2 CC...which would put me at 6.5cc's. I haven't had that "full" feeling yet either and am hoping after reading your blog that 6.5 cc's will be my "sweet spot" as well. Good luck to you on your journey. God Bless!

Update... It is now 10:30am. I just got done working out (one hour of Jazzercise). All I had was tea before working out. Usually I am always starving after Jazzercise, but I am still NOT HUNGRY. I just had a protein shot (25g of protein, 100 calories), though, because I want to make sure to replenish my muscles.

Wow, I may just make it the whole 72 hours on just liquids this time. Even though that has always been my doctor's rule after a fill, I've never been able to make it that long. I'm usually so hungry I progress to mushy foods by the second day and solid food on the third day.

Sara, I hope your next fill does it for you. I still don't know if this is really my 'sweet spot'. I have to eat and see what happens over time. But, its just cool to know that it is possible to get this adjusted so that it really does turn off your hunger. I was beginning to worry that maybe my hunger was just too strong or maybe I had too much 'head hunger' to ever really turn it off. I think the band causes a lot of self doubt because it is such a lengthy process to get it adjusted properly.

I hope that my post will give others more confidence and hope that they will get there, though. I know that whenever I was struggling, it was good to hear that patience has paid off for so many others on this journey. :->

I fully agree with everything you had to say and I thank you for posting it. I am 12 into post op and I thought I was going crazy I am starving all the time. Finally a girlfriend of mine who has her band for 5yrs told me to try Yogart since my Dr only wanted Liquids. It really help get through these last couple of days. I see my Dr for the first time tomorrow and Pray for Mushy food.

Thanks again for posting your experinces.