Describe the green zone

[Corridor72 518]

I know this sounds like a silly question but can someone describe the green zone for me? I'm thinking I may be there or at least close to being there but I'm not sure. I'm losing weight but I'm also watching every morsel of food that goes into my mouth because I'm terrified not to. My insurance required a 6 month supervised weight loss program and I went from that immediately into the liquid pre-op diet and then surgery and the post-op phase. During the post-op phase, I followed my physician's orders which advances the diet pretty quickly but I've also learned to watch what I eat rather than just eating whatever I want in smaller amounts. I had a fill last week and I've noticed a big difference this time. In fact, I overdid it a few times at first because I ate too much too fast and then ended up having some pain as a result until some of the food passed through. Ugh. I've learned my lesson now. Too bad I didn't take the advice given before when folks were saying in the beginning to slow down. I'm really good about chewing my food well but, as a nurse, I've spent many years eating as quickly as I could because, in nursing, if you don't eat it fast, you usually don't eat it at all because you don't have the time so this is a big adjustment for me. Anyway, I'm doing better with that. I do notice that I feel full on very little food most of the time now but I'm still getting hungry more frequently than I think I should be and I end up eating at least 4 times a day sometimes 5. So I'm wondering if I still need another fill or if I should keep doing what I'm doing and see what happens. My doctor is one of those who is pretty aggressive with fills so I will see him next week to possibly have another fill if I need it. Anyway, so what is your experience with the green zone? How did you know you were there?

[PrettyThick1 1,860]

You didn't mention how much you're eating during your meals. I'm in the green zone (5.5cc's in a 10cc band), but I could never eat more than twice a day. I have small Snacks every now and again, but for the most part I can eat 3/4 cup of food and not be hungry again for at least 4 hours, most often 5. When you find that you've overeaten, my remedy is to sip warm Water or tea slowly. It helps loosen me up and gets the food to pass through sooner. I'm good about not overeating, but there are times you have trouble pulling away frrom your meal. The pain alone is deterrrent enough for me.

[Corridor72 518]

I didn't mention how much I'm eating because it's been sort of inconsistent due to my schedule. Typically, I've been eating yogurt for Breakfast. I eat the Dannon Oikos and put 1/4 cup of Nature Valley Granola in it. I can eat the whole container. I'm usually hungry again in about 3 hrs after eating that. I did eat eggs and bacon for Breakfast one morning although, it's hard to say how much on the eggs because it was scrambled eggs from the hospital cafeteria. I had 3 pieces of bacon with it and that was one of the times I overdid it. Needless to say, I was back to my yogurt the next morning! I generally have a serving of Protein such as fish, chicken or occasionally beef for lunch with some veggies. I don't necessarily measure the Protein but I kind of eyeball it. The surgeon gave me the reference of "the size of a deck of cards" so I try to stay pretty close to that. As for the veggies, it's usually about 1/2 -1 cup. Yesterday I had a lettuce wrap with a few slices of ham, a slice of cheese, pickle, Tomato, and mayo. I had taken enough to make a couple of wraps because that was a first for me but I ended up only being able to eat a single wrap and I was done. I eat lunch around noon and I'm generally hungry again by about 4 so I eat a Quest bar for a snack. I LOVE those things. I don't get off work until 7 pm so I try to just have something light for dinner but make sure it has a lot of protein.

[Corridor72 518]

Oh, and I was going to say that yes, the pain is enough that, since doing that a couple of times, I no longer have any desire to continue eating once I feel I've had enough. I do NOT want to feel that again.

[Kitt3000 757]

We can't really tell you how you will feel in the green zone, :-)

As you know each doctor is different, each body reacts as an individual. My doc is also pretty aggressive with fills, but I know he is always there if I am overfilled also.

Usually our conversation goes like this, can you eat half or more of a hamburger? Can you eat a solid cup of turkey, chicken, etc? Or more? Do you feel hungry before four hours? Based on that, he decides if a fill is in order.

I feel like I am in the green zone. I can eat a few bites of omelet or 1/2 cup of yogurt in the morning. A cup total of Protein a little veggies. A 6 oz protein fruit smoothie. More or less five spoons of food. I have no physical hunger between meals. If I'm busy, I can easily forget to eat. I drink between meals, and will drink a greens plus drink to get concentrated fruit and veggies. It's difficult for me to eat in the early morning, but by ten, I can start my meals for the day. Hope this helps, everyone will have a different experience to share!

[dmh102 51]

I was wondering the same thing so thank you for the explanations on the green zone. My conclusion is I am not quite there yet but hopefully getting close. Sure wish my doctor was more aggressive with the fills. 5 months since I was banded and I just got my 3 fill. I now have 4cc's in my 10 cc band. Oh well I will be patient. Thank you for the question and the replays.

[B-52 7,113]

I've noticed many people's interpretation of what the Green Zone is for them differs quite a bit on this forum....but whatever they do to make themselves 100% successful and happy is their business, and is very good....

My Dr. has this chart hanging on in all his exam rooms, and has referred to it every visit and used it to determine whether or not I needed a fill or not....he made it very clear that the next phase after surgery was to get me into that Green Zone...and that is where I have been for over 2-1/2 years now....last fill was 27 months ago...

So, speaking only for myself..........

1) NO Hunger..period! But it is more than that, with never being hungry I have no interest in foods, eating, and cravings.....have to remind myself to eat...and often times forget and not notice it...

2) Portion Sizes...the band will let me eat just so much, and then that's it...I do not measure portions, just stop when the band says to stop....it is also impossible for me to overeat...and that includes slider foods....so as long as I eat the best foods, I do not worry about calories either....

For this, I have problems understanding how people fall off the wagon and need to get back on track....as long as the band does not change....hope I never do come to understand it...

3) Steady weight loss...that's a given...hit a plateau here and there, but all in all it was very consistent...right up to the point where there is nothing left to loose (fat)....I am finished! Completed....

4) Patient Satisfaction....DUH....if you have the above, how can you not bee satisfied? Where is the hard work??? Easiest thing that I could have ever done to loose weight....I cannot be more thrilled, and make no excuses for my success...if people don't like it, that's their problem....

Actually, it is a truth that regardless of how much you have lost, hunger, etc, and no matter if you find this easy or hard......as long as you are happy with where you are at, the results, and what the band does for YOU, then that is all that really matters....right?

Like I said, I have noticed many people here have different approaches and philosophies as to how they work with the band...and what works for them....

and as long as they are Happy...Patient Satisfaction....then that is all that matters.....That's what it is all about.....

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But there are also many people here that are not happy, always struggling, and very frustrated...even after 5 years!!!

Edited February 26, 2014 by B-52

[Countryheart2000 18]

I was wondering the same thing so thank you for the explanations on the green zone. My conclusion is I am not quite there yet but hopefully getting close. Sure wish my doctor was more aggressive with the fills. 5 months since I was banded and I just got my 3 fill. I now have 4cc's in my 10 cc band. Oh well I will be patient. Thank you for the question and the replays.

i am almost 7 months out from surgery. I have had 2 fills of half cc each. I have the total of 1cc in my band. I can eat anything, and I am not losing. I go next Wednesday for another fill........hope it helps...

[ABLOND 92]

I was wondering the same thing so thank you for the explanations on the green zone. My conclusion is I am not quite there yet but hopefully getting close. Sure wish my doctor was more aggressive with the fills. 5 months since I was banded and I just got my 3 fill. I now have 4cc's in my 10 cc band. Oh well I will be patient. Thank you for the question and the replays.

i am almost 7 months out from surgery. I have had 2 fills of half cc each. I have the total of 1cc in my band. I can eat anything, and I am not losing. I go next Wednesday for another fill........hope it helps...

hmmmm my very first fill was a total of 4.5 cc and so far all I notice is that sometimes things seem to get stuck when I don't chew them well enough. I'm trying to pay more attention to make sure I'm not eating past "satisfied" but I've only been cleared of liquids since last night so it's actually too early for me to tell...

[dragonflylvr21 161]

Green Zone is the ability to eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food and feel satisfied for 4 hours! The band is NOT about feeling full! As that small amount of food passes through your band it sends signals to the brain that you have had enough! Being satisfied for 4 hours is the GREEN! Sadly I am not there yet... But almost! I have 6.5 cc's in a 10 cc band! Good luck!