How the Lap-Band actually works, fills and refills

[khayles 0]

Wendell, I have had 7 fills and now have about 5.5 ccs in a 10 cc band, I don't feel any restriction. I can still eat anything I want, of course I try to limit my portions but I thought the fills were supposed to help me lose weight. I have not lost anything in the past month, although I walk 2-4 miles per day (jogging one mile of that). I did get a fill yesterday but don't feel restriction yet. Any words of wisdom?

[Angelsma 1]

Thank you!!!! This is the best explanation I've seen/heard yet.

[StrangeDz 1]

Thank you so much for posting!

[Corliss 0]

Please help w/this ? I am about in tears trying to figure all this out. If you chew chew chew so the food does not get stuck then it must go through to the bigger part of your stomache, in this case u can still eat alot. I have had 5 fills I can eat tons still as long as I really chew and I do eat alot. I have only lost 20 pounds in 8 months I thought I understood how this works but I am know cofused.

Barney, Chewing is neccessary to keep from getting stuck. Yes, it will allow it to go through the band, but when your fill is just right, it will slow it down enough that you get the satiated feeling after eating a small amount.

I have not lost any since getting re-banded (long story found on other threads) except the initial 5 lbs. I just got my second fill, but the key to loosing for those of us who haven't quiet arrived at the sweet spot with our fills is to measure our food. :angry:Eat no more than a cup of food starting with Protein 3-4 times a day. Keep your carbs low, avoid sugar, bread and Pasta. Also potatoes and other soft foods should be last on the list. I am at 215 now and need to keep my calories less than 1200 and carbs less than 60 to loose. When I was 350 I lost like crazy on 1800 to 2000 cals per day. The band doesnt do it all for us, it just helps. I am so looking forward to getting to my sweet spot, but I am having to work harder at it right now to just maintain and I have not been willing enough to actually loose. :smile2: I started solid foods yesterday and realize that my restriction is not adequate as I am able to eat far too much, so I will have to measure and work harder to follow the rules of band eating another month, while I give my body a chance to see whether or not it will tighten up and not actually need more fill or if I have to go back for another.

There is a really wise bandster on Yahoo groups who says frequently, "Just because you can, don't mean you should!" :smile2: I have to remind myself of that often.

Good luck to you,

Corliss

[Corliss 0]

It is very confusing because there is a fine line between being too tight and not tight enough - I was getting fills about once a month because I could eat too much - my last one was back in June - only .25 and that did it - I can barely drink my Protein Shake in the morning - can only eat a small amount of food and food still gets stuck if I don't chew it enough- the thing that still confuses me is that even with all this restriction and not eating much food at all compared to what I was eating before I am losing weight so slow - only 22 lbs in a year. I had 50 to lose so I guess I shouldn't complain but I thought I would be at my goal weight by now - I must not have any metabolism and yes I do exercise a lot.

The less you have to lose the slower you are going to lose, and you said yourself that you just got your fill right in June, okay, so now you will pick up a bit. Just think at this rate, you will be at goal in another year, or at least within 3 lbs of it! I have to remind myself of this too, lol! I need to loose 45 and it sure is major hard compared to loosing when I had over 200 to lose.

Good luck to you,

Corliss

[StrangeDz 1]

There is a really wise bandster on Yahoo groups who says frequently, "Just because you can, don't mean you should!" :smile2: I have to remind myself of that often.

I've been telling myself this same thing for the last few days!

"Just because there are chocolate bars in the candy dish at work doesnt mean I have to eat them."

"Just because I made WAY too much dinner, doesnt mean I have to have seconds."

"Just because all there is in the fridge to drink is koolaid, beer and Water doesnt mean I skip the Water and go for the other two."

"Just because the kids want ice cream doesnt mean I have to have some."

I hope this philosophy helps, because sometimes I feel I'm drowning in things I shouldnt have... if that makes sense.

[jordie22nc 0]

i my fill back on 9-15-09 and i could not tell the differents. my start weight was 222 down to 207, back to 208, 209 back to 207. im really wondering is this going to work for me. i dont ever fill full, but i limit myself to what i eat. even though i feel like i can eat a whole hamburger but, i dont do it, i can control myslef. i have lose like 9 inch, but i want to lose weight. i also work out 4 days a week, about 1 hr. please e-mail back @enmu20@aol.com...thanks again

[autumnbreeze 0]

I feel stupid asking this question, but here goes. My PA that does my fills says my pouch should 4 oz's of food. My confusion is there is a big difference between 4 oz's on a scale and 4 oz's as in 1/4 of a cup. Can anyone tell me which one it is. In due for another fill Nov 10.

[StrangeDz 1]

i my fill back on 9-15-09 and i could not tell the differents. my start weight was 222 down to 207, back to 208, 209 back to 207. im really wondering is this going to work for me. i dont ever fill full, but i limit myself to what i eat. even though i feel like i can eat a whole hamburger but, i dont do it, i can control myslef. i have lose like 9 inch, but i want to lose weight. i also work out 4 days a week, about 1 hr. please e-mail back @enmu20@aol.com...thanks again

Sounds like you are building muscle. Muscle weighs just as much as fat does but takes up WAY less room. My dietician told me that a person can weigh 150 lbs and wear a size 10 or weigh 150 lbs and wear a size 3. Which would you rather wear??? Ha! At this point, i'd be MORE than satisfied in a size 10! The size 3 sounds like a pipe dream! haha :confused:

Anyway, I went a whole month and didnt lose anything; in spite of the vigorous workouts, and was so disappointed. I decided to get measured and I had lost inches... so its all good. Keep up the good work and keep losing those inches!

[worker 0]

Eventually, you should get to a spot where if you get any more fills, it will be hard to eat and you will be limited as to what you can eat.

Some people like a very tight band. I had some taken out, because I couldn't stand being so limited as to what I could eat.

Everyone says as long as you are losing, don't get another fill.

i think i have been over filled 1 spoon is enough and sometimes that comes up

[kiz 1]

I feel stupid asking this question, but here goes. My PA that does my fills says my pouch should 4 oz's of food. My confusion is there is a big difference between 4 oz's on a scale and 4 oz's as in 1/4 of a cup. Can anyone tell me which one it is. In due for another fill Nov 10.

It's measured in volume, not weight.

4 oz = 1/2 measuring cup.

[kiz 1]

i think i have been over filled 1 spoon is enough and sometimes that comes up

Absolutely, you're over filled. You're in danger of a band slip if you don't get some saline removed.

[janicebillingslea 0]

Yes, this was great, i had my first fill on 10/2/09 and really could not tell a difference; I feel something sometimes and sometimes, I dont, I just dont eat over a cup of food and I have stopped losing since banded on 8/17/09; I have requested another fill; but wont be able to get it until 11/4/09; hoping that I can maintain the discipline until then, so far, I have lost 27 pounds; but no more; any suggestions; intially, I got 2.5cc's. Help

[janicebillingslea 0]

Sounds like you are building muscle. Muscle weighs just as much as fat does but takes up WAY less room. My dietician told me that a person can weigh 150 lbs and wear a size 10 or weigh 150 lbs and wear a size 3. Which would you rather wear??? Ha! At this point, i'd be MORE than satisfied in a size 10! The size 3 sounds like a pipe dream! haha :thumbup::yikes:

Anyway, I went a whole month and didnt lose anything; in spite of the vigorous workouts, and was so disappointed. I decided to get measured and I had lost inches... so its all good. Keep up the good work and keep losing those inches!

Hi,

I am having the same problem right now; working out; not eating over; and have not lost any weight in two weeks and was becoming disappointed; I decied to try and exercise with weights this week. Stay enocuraged you're doing good. :biggrin:

[autumnbreeze 0]

It's measured in volume, not weight.

4 oz = 1/2 measuring cup.

Thanks Kiz, ive lost 42 lbs since getting my band in Nov of 08, but seem to be at a standstill. Guess ill be getting another fill, i can eat more then a half cup of food.