Meant to say that I hope I haven't exchanged thousands of dollars for this worry

Glenda - it truly takes a WHILE sometimes to get restriction - I was banded 7/5 and i've had 4 fills - and this last fill at the beginning of November was the first time i felt ANYTHING in there - and i'm still not at restriction or the green zone. I am hopeful i'll hit it in December with my 5th fill. The first few months of a bander's life is labeled bander hell for a reason - you've been banded but there's no restriction yet - so you are flying without a net. Some lose, some gain, some maintain - but no doubt it's pure will power until you hit restriction. Speed of hitting restriction depends on lots of things including how aggressive your surgeon is with amounts of each fill. I do wish you restriction soon and best of luck on your journey!!!!

Glenda, I was banded about two weeks before you. To date I've lost about

50 lbs and haven't had any fills. This isn't bragging, I just don't have

any hunger. I was starving to begin with, but as I went along on 900

calories, my hunger began to wane, and now it's very manageable. I could

eat the back end off a cow if I wanted, but don't. There is a year between

surgery and the last fill. If I tried, I could gain 100 lbs in that time, but

I started this to lose weight (for health reasons) and I'm not going to

waste my last chance for anything.

Glenda, you have not wasted thousands of dollars. I know you read my blogs and have heard me preach about this being a tool. I also had wonderful ideals that I would never have to watch another calorie in my life and had hoped that my band would tell me when to stop. But I have come to realize that the band will do all of those things but only if I listen and stick to the plan. I hope and pray I never have to have another fill, I like being able to eat just about anything I want these days, know that I have to be accountable to my self. I have restriction and I am in the green zone. You can do this, and it does take a lot of will power in the beginning until you get to the sweet spot but once there it is easier but never forget it is still you managing your behavior not the band it is there as a friendly reminder when you do something really stupid. Like eat to fast, not chew or over eat. The one thing I have to be careful of now is not drinking while eating, in the beginning I did this very well but the longer your banded the easier it is to slip back into some bad behaviors. Good luck and keep blogging. Diane

This is still new to me so the best I can do is tell you to keep your head up....don't get dicouraged ( I know easier said than done ) And Diane is right. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I'm so thankful for this support site! Thank you my banded friends....it is unbelievable the help I get from your encouraging words. Allison, thanks for sharing. I have friends who have had success just after 2 fills so, I've just been aggravated. I'm happy to know that it may take more fills...I feel better knowing that it may not even be this coming scheduled appointment...so, maybe I won't be so disappointed. Corrigan, congrats on your will power and motivation...50lb loss in that short amount of time is awesome. Keep up the great work.

Diane, I guess somehow deep down in my mind I thought the horrible fight with will power would be behind me once I was banded. In the beginning, when the pounds were coming off, I thought for sure that I was right. I do have to correct some behaviors and be strict to the plan as you have advised me. I just need to get off pity parkway and get to it. You are absolutely right...I have to listen to the band. Once I have read your blog, I realize it has given me reminders of wrong behavior and choices. I didn't realize that's what's happening but, I have eaten too fast, not chewed well enough and over eaten. I guess I thought the band would be a magic wand or something. I feel so much better after this light bulb has gone off. From this blog on, I'm gonna re-read my rules and have determined in my heart to get back to it. I'm so encouraged right now that I can't wait for my next meal so I can practice (LOL). I'm glad that you have been so conscious of all things during your journey and that you are willing to help and share all with us. I appreciate you much. May God continue to bless you in your new me journey.

Thanks Arnetta. I've been following your blogs and I see that you are doing great. Keep it up...I'm glad for you!!! Thanks for the prayers. Blessings to you.

Frustration is abound. I had my surgery on Aug 2nd. Filled..unfilled...Filled...filled, now back for an unfill. Its hard to find that "sweetspot" with the lapband. There are so many variables and EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. I am going back in tomorrow after being filled last wed. Thank god my husband was out of town all week, it has been difficult weekend and I was try ing to make the best of a bad situation. Thinking I could handle eating 1 TBL at a time and spitting it up. TG is right around the corner and its just me and the spouse. I will cook the TG dinner as always, but probably wont get to eat a bit of it. I dont really care, I just want to continue to lose weight, but not spitting it up. Good Luck. Just know that everyone is different and all the food that you can or cant eat varies as well.