stretching of the pouch...q

[Lshelley21 0]

my question is how hard is it to stretch your pouch? I have no fill at all in my band, as well as feel no restriction or anything. But is it easy to stretch the pouch with no fill? or is it hard? I don't think i have stretched the pouch...i haven't eaten enough.. does it require many times of over eating? or just once or twice?

[Jodi_620 37]

This is a concern that I had at your stage and I have since seen it over and over on these boards. We worry that we will do something wrong and cause damage.

You stretch your pouch by consistently over eating and keeping your pouch too full. That is unlikely without a fill because the food is not going to stay in your pouch long enough.

You should still be careful and only eat until you are no longer hungry because you are still healing and do not want to get sick or cause slippage. But as long as you follow the bandster rules, you will be just fine.

[BobbieND 3]

Thank you for the answer - AND for asking the question ! I'm wondering the same thing.

Thanks :-)

[Lshelley21 0]

perfect! I do stop when i am not hungry...but i also seem not to be loosing any weight...although i think that the first 6 weeks (until the fill) are for healing...and weight loss is just a benefit if you do...right?

[Jodi_620 37]

That is correct. When you start getting fills, it will take less food to satisfy you and that little bit of food will keep you satified longer.

[Lshelley21 0]

perfect...i have been reading all the posts, but i never read anything on people not looseing weight. SO i weighed myself today, and i am still less then i was when i went in for surgury!!

My only main concern is i wish i was able to get a fill before thanksgiving... :smile2: and i can't. I don't want to over eat, i will bring my baby spoon and fork with me, and cut everything in tiny pieces. I naturally chew everything to mush before i swallow anyway, so i have no problem that way...actually i couldn't understand why people got food stuck until i noticed how my hubby eats....he chews 5 times and swallows...i chew naturally with out trying at least 20 then swallow...i make sure it is mush first. So we are doing good!!!!

[Jodi_620 37]

You know, early on I was frustrated because the scale wasn't moving but then I found out I was still getting smaller. People were commenting about my weight loss and my clothes were getting looser. I am not the only one that experienced this either. So watch how your clothes fit and look for comments from others. Maybe even measure yourself and you might find it to be the same for you.

I know what you mean about Thanksgiving, I scheduled a fill just before just in case I need one. But I was told that many people do not want a fill around the holidays because they want to eat more for the holidays(some even ask for slight unfills)...not me, I don't want the holidays to wreck my progress. Just be patient and your fill will come. Even without a fill, I am sure your band and your willpower will keep you from being too naughty...

[Lshelley21 0]

i definitly don't feel like a stuffed sausage in my cloths anymore...in fact i fit into shirts now that my stomach...well...when the stomach is bigger than the boobs...lol but now we are not like that!