I have 10 cc's in my 11 cc band so it's pretty tight. I was having trouble getting protein down as well... chicken especially. I like to eat lunch meat in very thin slices and lots of cheese. If you do eat the drier stuff such and chicken and steak and it gets stuck my doctor told me to take a sip of seven-up and the bubbles will actually help move it. He also said to take a meat tenderizer tablet. Not sure how that works but the pop actually helps a lot. Best of luck!