Anyone else try to stay as loose as possible?

[fauxnaif]

I haven't had a fill for almost 2 years. I thought I wanted a fill. I thought I needed a fill. I called for an appointment. But I realize I am losing about a pound per week (in a big chunk right at that time of the month). I'm fairly close to goal so I think this is a good weight loss rate!

I once had a fill so tight I had heartburn (easily treated, but still) for several months. Since then, I really don't want tight fills. I'd like to be able to eat as normally as possible. By that, I mean not feeling the urge to puke because I ate more than 3 bites (yep, many of us have been there) and not having to avoid many healthy foods (brown rice, fruit, etc.). I am not talking about sitting around eating bread all day. I know I have to eat healthy and am willing to. I want to be as close to normal as I can. I don't really want to think about my band 3-6 times a day. Plus, I'm in the closet to almost everyone.

I just wonder if there are others who have been less than aggressive with fills. Any research on how aggressive the fills in relation to maintaining weight loss? Am I weird? Do I just like to do things the hard way? Does anybody get this?

[kebsa]

I know that I am aiming for the amount of restrction that acts as a reminder to me that I have had enough without reaching the point of heartburn, PB'ing and sliming on a regualr basis, that will allow me to eat most foods but in the amounts I need rather than the amount I want. I know that seems like a vague answer but thats because the amount is going to varey at different times of this journey. Hence the term "sweet spot" not too tight, not too loose, just right!

[Kathy]

Me!!!! mememememememe!!!!!!!!! I waving my hands wildly over here in NC because, girl, you are speaking my language! YES! This is exactly what I do! I have always liked this "technique" because it's so much more sensible than starving unnaturally or PBing perfectly good foods. Adult humans are not meant to lose weight on less than 1200 calories a day. I just can't find anything that says it's okay to eat 800 calories a day for months so you can lose 1-2 pounds a week.

Anyhow, I'm a slow loser, too, and this is why.

The one thing that has got my panties all in a wad lately is dealing with a 15 pound weight gain from quitting smoking. I have got 5 of those pounds off. I'm really struggling, mostly emotionally, with getting back on track. I have been super wacko lately, and it's getting exhausting. I woke up today just kind of tired of myself being wacko and decided I was ready to be normal-headed again, and here you are. :love:

[LindaV]

I agree completely and that is how I have tried to live my life with the band. My biggest problem pre-banding was the amount of food I could eat at a meal. Even with less restriction, I can't even come close to eating the way I used to. My goal is to be able to eat like a normal person. I don't want to stand out at meals either way.

Unfortunately, my own head games got the best of me last week and I talked my doc into giving me a fill I probably didn't need so now I am fairly snug. I don't have reflux and can manage with this but I am definately not liking it very much. I figure I'll give it a week or so and if I don't loosten up a little I will go in for a slight un-fill.

But I definately agree with you, Kathy, and Kebsa, I prefer to have my band on the looser end of things.

[HeatherGurl]

I liked my very tight aggresive fill until I got closer to goal. I am not 5-10 lbs away from where I want to really be. BUT, I can't eat like a normal person now and not gain weight. If it takes a year to get 5 lbs off and stay that way now, then that is ok by me.
I wanted to/had to have that tight fill to know that I was doing what I had surgery to do. In the end, I waited about a month too long and was too tight, but no damage done.
My Dr. forbids us to eat bread, pasta or rice, and I don't see how people can even eat bread with the band. That is how different we all are. :)
It is great that you guys can be loose and happy with the rate of your weightloss, that just was not the path for me.

[Alicia521]

Good question. I think I have been on both sides. I am getting my fourth fill on 2/13. My first fill was 1.0 cc (4 cc band) and I had no restriction. My 2nd was 2.5 and super tight. I hated it and I was miserable because it took a while for me to eat somewhat normally. However I had a great weight loss with the 2nd fill. My 3rd fill was 2.75 and I specifically asked for a small fill because of my last experience and because I just need a small adjustment. I honestly did not think I wanted anymore fills because I was comfortable with my food intake and still losing. However since January I’ve only lost 1 lb and I can eat A LOT if I try - so it is time for another one. I think it is because I have lost quite a bit of belly fat since the last fill. From this point forward I am being less aggressive with my fills. I don’t want to have more than 3 added to this next one. I seldom PB or slime now and I am able to eat rice and some pasta but no bread so I think a little tweaking is all I need.

[Jachut]

I've tried to live banded life this way too. I'm afraid of what Heather says - that if my body gets used to something like 1000 calories a day, then I will never be able to eat like a normal person again without gaining weight.

So I prefer to run my butt off rather than starve it off.

Even so, I'm REALLY noticing now that throughout the past year I havent been getting all the nutrients I need. Its really hard to be banded and get what you need, you just cannot waste your stomach space on crap food, which I still tend to do at times.

I've lost quite well to now on up to 2000 calories some days, I eat a lot for a bandster. I can live this way forever so I dont want to mess with it. I want to lose another 7kg and to do that, I'm not prepared (just yet) to go any tighter, I am going to have to do it the traditional way. I'm losing still, but liek 1lb per month. To me that's better than being "tight".

[fauxnaif]

Me!!!! mememememememe!!!!!!!!! I waving my hands wildly over here in NC because, girl, you are speaking my language! YES! This is exactly what I do! I have always liked this "technique" because it's so much more sensible than starving unnaturally or PBing perfectly good foods. :love:

YEH! I could lose my 10 or so remaining pounds in like a month if I would go get a super-tight fill and it'll take me several months without but I do think it makes more sense and helps us to live in the "real world" by not forbidding entire food groups.

Edited to add: I didn't want that to sound critical or weird. It's just what LindaV said-I don't want to stand out at meals for eating too much or too little. I just want to normal.

[okielapgirl]

YES!!! MEEEE!!

I'm 5 months out with only 2 small fills. That is it. I don't want another one so that I'm so tight that I have heartburn and slime everything. I am content where I am at. Sometimes I get all nervous and think...wow I'm not tight and I can eat wayyy to much but other times I am not hungry at all and stay nice and tight and full all day. SO I just think like with anything in life or with our bodies...things are going to change. We have no idea why they do but I can't expect it to always be exactly the same. SO I just deal with it and adjust. I follow my rules and I love being loose enough to where I can enjoy my food...I really do NOT want to be super duper tight...ever.

[Stitchy]

I have been pretty loose since the beginning and I like it. It's nice to be able to eat. However, I hadn't lost much over a 3 month period (like 5 lbs) so I got it tightened up. It actually is a little too tight right now, but I'm losing and maybe it will loosen up a little. :ohwell: I'm leaving it as it is until mid-April and then I'll get it unfilled a bit. Reason: Going traveling in a motorhome. I want to be comfortable and hopefully at goal. If I wasn't leaving, I would just have stayed a little loose.

[Jachut]

I have to say though that I do now and then think about a tight fill just to get the rest of the weight off and then loosen up again. Like an enforced diet for a few months.

But I like food too much, I dont want to do without. So I might have to learn to live with my lumpy bum, lol.

[Dr.A]

I have not had a fill at all since surgery and was going to have one next week but I have ben feeling restricted lately...even a small PB so I think I will wait more...maybe I won't need a fill for a long time!!!!