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I'm not sure what you mean by "pass" as you don't want food passing through the band to the larger stomach; you want it to stay there. By pass do you mean swallow? I would not recommend eating so fast that you are chewing a new bite before completly swallowing the last one. I've only had pain after swallowing twice both from baby carrots that I did'nt chew enough and I was not anywhere near restriction at the time. I would normally say that if you are having this much trouble swallowing you are too tight. My only concern is that chicken salad in my opinion is a slider; because of what ever you mixed it with (laughing cow cheese is a good low fat option.). I think I may be at restriction I get the sensation of no longer being hungry vs actually feeling "full".

My Nut says to be at 1200 calories so I dont' think you should go lower. While I understand looking after children is tiring unless you are actually standing all the time and I would'nt really call it excercise. I think you may need to increase your days of excercise per week. In addition to increasing the days of exercise you may want to do different cardio machines, or try swimming, or go to classes. You may also want to take a frank look at your eating habits. Are you as viligent today regarding types of foods you are eating (calorie, fat counts, amounts of Protein, avoiding food that lead to mindless eating) today as you were the first months after surgery?

Congratulations! I went to my sisters this weekend and planned to stay over night. I needed to do laundry and could'nt find any pants to pack. While I had lost 80 pounds presurgery I had been 1) unemployeed for 9 months and then 2) working from home so had'nt bought any clothes. So the sizes I have are mostly 30-32 some 26-28 with the 22-24 (which are starting to be too big) in the laundry. I found two outfits that were Christmas presents which had'nt fit so got forgotten. SO EXCITED. Since surgery I've lost 31 pounds and I think it's just time now to do some shopping. Since so many of my clothes are SO BIG it's hard to tell really that I've lost weight.

In regards to being in the right house that's a tricky one. Unless you live in a really bad neighborhood and would be afraid of your safety carry a baby (which would encumber you if you were to be mugged or somthing); or on the 2-3 floor ( and had to carry strollers, misc stuff up the stairs)I don't see the problem having a baby before you were in your dream house. In fact one piece of financial advice I've heard is that you don't need to buy in the neighborhood with an excellent school district the minute you get pregnant. The reasoning being why pay property taxes for schools that you won't be using for 5 years?

Mine is about 2 inches above the belly button and below the left breast. Accourding to the nurse my surgeon places them very deep. I think that is prevent them sticking out once you've lost a lot of weight.

I see that you are allowed cottage cheese which is source of protein. Protein is going to help you stay full longer. When I was in the mushie stage I would have a tomato or sweet red pepper soup (with no salt Mrs Dash chicken flavor seasoning added before heating); and then an hour or so later have the protein. You dont want to eat the cottage cheese and then the soup because you will wash it out of the pouch. As long as you are not eating high cal/fat foods I would not worry about gaining. There are low/no fat cottage and ricotta cheeses, and low/non fat soups cream of mushroom or chicken or tomato.

First question, did you weigh yourself in the afternoon? I only weigh myself in the morning; and never after I've eaten. There is about 750 cal in a cup of Cashews so not a great choice.

I was never told not to eat steak or bread. Beef does have more fat than chicken and bread is high in carbs; but that's does'nt mean you can't eat them ever. I would say it's more of a case of eating small amounts or rarely. I personally very rarely eat bread; and I don't keep crackers or Cookies in the house becuase they are triggers for me. I do think you are over filled. Only being able to eat slidders is not good emotionally or physically.

I did'nt have the problems you're having. My doctor does require 7 days clear liquids and 7 days full liquids for everyone.

I think that I may be at restriction. After eating the 3 oz of Protein (I measure) as I'm eating veggies I get a no longer hungry feeling and stop. I don't stop because I feel full. After a couple minutes I get more of a full sensation. Does anyone else feel this way? Or do most people get an actual full feeling while still eating?

I did'nt have any pain after surgery other then the port area. I been very lucky that I have'nt really had stuck episodes or frothing knowck on wood.

I think I may be restriction. I believe I get the sensation of not being hungry anymore; and a few minutes later I get a full like sensation. I kind of wish I would get the full feeling so I would stop. So for me it's more stopping on my own. I have noticed over the last few days that I have been able to go longer without being hungry.

I would'nt be suprised that you can eat more than a cup. My doctor says 3 oz of protein PLUS veggies so that is most likely more than 1 cup. Some people have trouble with eggs so it does'nt shock me that you had a problem (though not every one does.). Regarding pretzels they could be considered a slider food. Bread products when chewed are breaking down even in your mouth. If you chew pretzels long enough they will dissolve. While I would'nt call myself a low carber; I don't keep crackers, cookies in my house becuase they are a trigger food. Personally I would keep grapes, grape tomatos, baby carrots for snacks. Sure fruit has suger but in my opinion is better than carbs from snack foods.

I am now at 10 CC's after possibly 8 fills. I think I may have restriction. My fill was a week ago so we'll see how it stays. Until you have restriction this is a will power diet. In regards to restriction. I think I may be one of those peeople who senses they are no longer hungry vs. feeling full. I don't really stop eating because I feel full like I did before surgery. After a couple minutes I get the sensation of being full. Presurgery I did'nt neccessarity have that happen. Though I had read in articles that it takes up to half an hour for your brain to get the message you really are full. A previous poster mentioned thinking they will be full after a couple of ounces. That should never be true even after restriction. My doctor says I should be getting 3 oz of Protein PLUS veggies. There are people on this site who say they get full on just a few bites. Three oz of meat is a more than 2-3 bites.

One thing in your favor is that you doctor is recommending you eat every 3 hours; this way you are spreading out your food. The way I would take that is you are able to eat more than 3 meals a day. Am I correct? One poster said you should be ready to eat solids at 2 weeks and I disagree. My doctor had me on soft foods at week 3, mushies week 4, an solds at week 5. <br /><br />At week 3 I did add Greek Yoghurt mixed with a stick blender with a tablespoon of milk to thin it out. Greek yoghurt has twice the protein of regular yoghurt. My doctor has never said to avoid yoghurt. In fact my Nutrionist approved the following (though I am on solids keep in mind): Chobani fat free fruited yoghurt, half scoop vanilla Whey isolate protein powder, splendra, unflavored fiber powder, 10 g. Kashi Go Lean. I have this everyday for breakfast. <br /><br />Post op even during the mushie phase I would have a cup of creamy soup (Progresso Tomato Basil, Pacific Sweet Red Pepper/Tomato measure use a coffe cup and not a mug. Mugs will hold A LOT more). And then an hour or two later have my mushie protein. This way I was getting my veggies during the healing phase. You don't want to have you mushie and then the soup. This will wash the food out of the pouch and is a bad habit to get into.

I don't think you are having an allergic reaction to the band if you have had it for 3 years. I would consider environmental issues: have you moved to a new house; or do you sit in a different place at work; people can develop new food allergies as adults. My sister was haveing severe respiratory problems at work. She moved to a desk away from an air vent and her symptoms disappeared. These things can happen.

Have put laughing cow on egg whites and it is pretty good. Also I put laughing cow in canned chicken for post fill days. I especially like that you can eat it up in the microwave.

One way to help with hunger is the space out your soups (broth or tomato etc depending on doctors' orders_ and the protein shakes. So soup and an hour later shake. Personally this helped with both physical and head hunger.

Once I moved to mushies I did not get full from just a few bites! I had to carryfully measure everything. For week 3 I could have low/no fat cottage cheese and ricotta. I made a Italian bake cottage cheese, ricotta, grated Romano, some egg white with jarred spagetti sauce bake in the oven. The next week I was able to add egg whites. I would cook the egg whites and at the end add cottage cheese which would melt. Yummy. At that point I was also able to have canned tuna/chicken; which I mixed with low fat laughing cow cheese. I bought no sugar added apple sauce flavored with strawberry, raspberry to which I added splendra. Regarding weight gain if you are physically able start an exercise routine. I was back at the gym on day 4 and at day 14 I returned to swimming.

Several posters mention going 4 hours without eating my doctors office says 5 hours should be the goal. After my last fill I can usually go 4 hours, five is pushing it. Though the denser the protein the longer I can go. I do find that even if I'm no longer "full"; I don't have the urge to nibble on things. My breakfast Kashi Go Lean can look mighty tempting at times.

Thanks for all the responses. I had a .6cc fill on Monday and am back on solids. I think I am one of those people that has to measure food, eat, stop because I don't feel hungry, wait a few minutes then feel full. From reading postings it seems like some people get a "Full stop eating sensation" and I get a "I'm not really hungry stop".

Yes, my doctors office says it can take two weeks for a fill to settle. At 8.4 I had some restriction but it seemed to reduce over time. Four weeks later I went in and got another .6 and think I may be in restriction but so far it's only been 5 days. The office says that restriction can hit up to two weeks after the injection. They make you wait at least 3 weeks between fills.

Did your doctor put any fill in during surgery? If not once your swelling from surgery goes down there really is no difference in you stomach now than there was before surgery. My doctor said to have 3 oz of solid Protein and to have veggies and some starches. He did'nt specify how many though. Regarding the fill; it's really nothing. My doctor does'nt even give a numbing shot. 10 seconds and done. My first fill was 4 CCs which I was worried about because I did'nt want to be too tight. Yeah Right. Anyway. When I stood up from the table I felt this odd constriction in my stomach area. Clearly the fill moving in the band! Odd. Did'nt hurt just felt weird. I mentioned it to the nurse and she said occationally people make that observation.

I did not get any restriction until 8.4. Had a .6 fill this week and I think I have good restriction now and hoping it will last. Keep in mind immediatly after a fill you may feel some restriction and two weeks later it disappears. The reverse can also be true. I'm not trying to rain on your parade just giving my own experiences. Preband and immediatly after surgery having read posts I thought I would get restriction much earlier and was kind of depressed.

I am possibly at restriction (just had my 7th fill this week). One thing to consider is that while some get restriction after only a couple fills, there are others like myself who need many fills. Some people have trouble eating things like bread or particular meats. Knock on wood I don't have trouble with any particular foods. Beef -I can eat Red meat but I never had so don't see the point now. pizza - I've had inch size samples at costco no problem. I don't buy pizza though because it is high in calories and fat Cake- No problems but again high in calories/fat/carbs more of a only at birthday parties type of thing Nachos No problem but high in fat/calories/carbs Nuts- No problems. I do have salted peanuts in the shell. The shell slows me down. And are the only "snack" I occationally keep in the house. Beer- NEVER. Most doctors say no carbonation. EVER. It's bad for the pouch. You will see people on this board to whose doctors let them have soda or beer. Most do not. I think that some people keep there bands to tight which leads to them not being able to swallow certain foods. I'm sure many people will disagree with me about that.