I also have the vangard band and have lost 45 pounds since March 15th. Since being banded I have abandoned all breads, all rice all pasta and sodas. For me not being able to eat these things has caused me to loose more weight than limiting the amount of food I can eat. Some days I can eat way more that a cupful other days just a cupful. Currently I am filled to 6.5cc and I feel like I am perfectly restricted.