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My last fill was late 11/11. It seems like my band has gotten tighter in the last month. Keep in mind I have 10.9 cc's in a 11cc band. I have never had situations where I get Hard stops when eating. I would say I got restriction after my last fill. My current restriction isn't really intense but definately more than before. I don't have any reflux, vomiting, PBing, and I don't have stuck episodes. Nothing like that. Previously I would have my 3 oz solid Protein 3/4 cup veggies and some fruit (4-5 grapes etc). Now it's more like 1/2 veggies and maybe some fruit but maybe not. I've always been a slow looser despite making realllly healthy food choices and doing a minium of 60 minutes of cardio daily. Since getting laid off in January I've upped my exercise to 1 1/2-2 hours daily. I've lost about 20 pounds. Like I said I'm a slow looser. My weight loss has been jumpstarted in the last month. Anyone else have the band get tighter once they've lost weight instead of looser? I don't really think it could be a slip or erosion becuase I don't have any pain and have no trouble eating. Just seems like my restriction is more like what other's describe.

Danielle, hi thanks for your response. I was exercising daily before surgery and returned to the gym on day 5. My band does get tighter at TOM.

Keep mind I a squemish person. Anytime a surgery is shown on House or Greys Anatomy I change the station. I watched multiple Lap Band surgeries on You Tube. There is NOOO blood. They do the cutting with a cauterizing tool. I was watching and they flipped this organ out of the way with this spatula type thing. Just flipped it right out of the way!!! I said "Self what was that?" It was the LIVER. Watching the surgery really made me feel so much better about having surgery. My doctor's release said if they found a tumor I gave them permission to have it tested and if it turned out to be malign to remove it!

Just move on and don't eat unapproved foods again. Post op however you absolutely MUST follow your doctors orders. You can and will do serious damage to your stomach if you eat solids too soon. The stomach will have stitches holding the band in place and if you eat solids to soon it forces the stomache to churn and that can break the stiches. Which would be very very bad.

Many people have Mirena with the band, I would just make sure to tell the doctor.

What is your doctors "diet" plan post op. I did not get mushies until week 3. For seven days I was on Clear liquids only (broth and protien shakes which i realise aren't clear), and then 7 days full liquid (tomato, squash soup and Protein shakes). Did your doctor put any fill in during surgery? You should be able to get more than 12 oz down in a day. I would call the office and ask. Everytime someone has a lot of trouble post op getting liquids down it turns out their doctor put in several CC's.

My doctor recommends Whey Isolate Protein powder. I would get the nutritional info from you doctor's brand bring it to Vitamin Shoppe/GNC and ask for a brand that has similar numbers. In general try to stay below 120 cals for about 24 g of protein and less than 4 g of carbs or fat. For ready to drink shakes I like Premier Brand available at costco or Sams. Slimfast has high carbs and not enough protein (even the high protein version).

FYI even though my insurance paid for surgery, all my tests, Psychologist appointments it did NOT cover my Nutritionist meetings. If I was meeting with the Nut. regarding diet plans because I was diabetic they would have paid for those appointments. Did not quite get the logic on that one.

MagicFan, Are you eating veggies in addition to your protein? If not that's why you are hungry. I am shocked they will give additional fill the next day. My doctor says a minimum of 2 weeks preferrably 3. It can take up to 2 weeks for a fill to take effect. Not to be a downer but it took me 6 months to get restriction.

Some use an xray to watch Water going through the band. Mine doc does not do that. They started ou with 3 cc's and then about 3 weeks later added 2 cc. Not to be a downer but took me 6 months to get restriction. Remember first 24 hrs post fill are full liquids and second 24 mushies.

If you have to put in your weight I would say it's pretty accurage. The more you weigh the more it takes to move your body. I've tried Water Zumba (I have a bad knee) and though it was just okay. I find my regular water aerobics give me a MUCH better cardio work out.

You learn something everyday! Now that I am healed I eat 3 oz of solid Protein for lunch and dinner. I also have either raw veggies (sweet pepper, snap peas, stemmed mixed veggies) and small serving of fruit. Personally I don't worry about the carbs in plain veggies and fruit.

I could have smooth soups like tomato, sweet red pepper, squash. I could not have yogurt until week 3. I did use a hand blender on the yogurt to mince up the fruit; and added milk since greek yogurt is really thick. Week 2 I was having yogurt so I had soup and protein shakes. When I moved to mushies I would have the soup wait an hour and have my protein.

My nurse wants me to eat fruit. It is a good source of Fiber. I have a small amount at lunch and dinner which helps my brain to know I am done eating. Without dessert I "think" I'm not done eating. I am however several years out. For now I would hold off on fruit. Fruit was not on my post op diet. I did not have fruit until week 5 when I returned to solids. I fully intend to have cherries when they come into session this summer. Been buying blackberries at costco for several weeks. Walk as much as you can. One idea is to go to the mall in the morning. There are benches placed every couple hundred feet so you can stop and have a rest if you need one.

I highly recommend shredded chicken/tuna from a can instead of deli meat. Deli is a solid and not soft/mushie. Other mushies to consider Low/No fat cottage cheese (available with pianapple or herb), and ricotta.

Please don't take this the wrong way. It only been 5 days. The first 10 pounds (maybe more) was water weight. You now need to either burn 3500 cals or cut 3500 cals from your food intake in order to loose 1 pound.! Also some people gain a few pounds from the surgery itself ( from the IVs's).

Yes you can be too full at 3.5 cc's. They used to make bands that only held 4!

Call today and tell them you need a small unfill asap.

Based on the questions the office asks me you would not need a fill. The bad is not meant to cause you to only eat once a day. You are loosing at over 2 pounds a week which is on the high side. I would hold off on a fill for now.

Wrote a long post and it did not take. Basically if you aren't weighing your Protein you should start. My doctor says 3 oz. Any food you would be embarrased to eat in front of your doctor. Don't eat. Now for the E word. I am a slow loser even though I do a MINIMUM of 60 minutes of moderate cardio a day. Usually closer to 90. And three days week it's 2 1/2 hours.

Can you give them instant oatmeal from a packet (not the healthiest but this is'nt for ever? Or Greek yogurt (if it's good for you it's good for them. I would try frozen things for them for now that you don't have to cook. Again this is short term so I would'nt worry about them being less than healthy foods. As I'm sure you know you can not eat solids at this point. It can and will damage your stomach.

My mother says "No wonder Americans don't eat vegetables look how they cook them!" I prefer to eat my veggies raw. You should follow your doctors orders regarding what veggies to eat. Clearly some are higher in Carbs than others. As long as I don't eat corn or potato I allow myself to eat whatever raw veggies I want. Some of my favorites baby carrots, mini sweet peppers (Come in a bag red, yellow, orange; just wash and eat no cutting!), Snap peas. Back to my mother. Greeks love to roast veggies in the oven with a small amount of Olive Oil and LOTS of garlic. Available at my grocery are containers of garlic cloves that are already cleaned (super convenient). As long as you don't use too much olive oil it is probably the best fat you can eat. The up side is you don't need to add butter at the table. This is great time for you to develop a new relationship with food. This is not a diet. This is a way of life. Due to medical condition that needed resolution; I had to wait almost 8 months for surgery. I lost 50 pounds. More important I reevaluated what and why I was eating. My doctor required 3 sessions with a pychologist who specialised in eating disorders. I highly recommend seeing a therapist. I was NOT happy about the prospect of going to this woman. They turned out to be really really helpful to me. She did not say "You're over weight you can never have dessert again!" Instead she talked about planning and making conscious decisions about food. She was a very thin woman. She admitted to having an issue with ice cream. Instead of eating low fat/cal ice cream everyday she only eats a child size cone of the full fat variety like once a month.

I actually could do with loosing some. I went from a 52 DD to 42 DD.

If you are going to a family or friends cook out bring your own Protein. Bring 4 oz of chicken breast and grill it. I find if I get my protein in I am more able to choose my side dishes judiciously. There is often a veggie platter at a cook out. So between the protein and veggies you should be fine. Exercise is important in controlling your weight if you are going to parties and eating more cals. than you should.