good restriction??

[gregken77]

Hello everyone. I just have some things on my mind this morning and thought I would ask those of you who have been banded for awhile these questions. I am just wondering a few things. Try to think back to when you first were banded and you were getting your fills trying to get to that spot where you had good restriction. My question is when you finally reached that spot to where you were eating the amount you should and everything -----how long did this fill last you? Also please explain what that fill felt like. What I mean by this is when you ate did you always feel some discomfort or did you feel nothing and just could eat less and feel full. Did you get that tight stomach feeling where you felt full for 4 hours or more or where you just not hungry and felt nothing for those 4 hours. \
Myself this is how I feel. I Know I am at good restriction---possibly even alittle tight---because when I first wake up I could eat but its sort of uncomfortable. Im talking about oatmeal sort of hurts. Anyway I just drink a shake and listen to the gurgles for kicks in the mornings. By lunch something happens and I open up alot more. I dont feel a thing when I eat. No tight stomach when full I just feel full on a very small amount. I have slowed way down on my eating so when I take a bite and sit there for awhile and realize I am not hungry ----I stop. I do this same thing at dinner. Anyway I have read on here where some have actually had that full belly feeling which lasted for 4 hours. I dont. Just am not hungry. Just sort of wondering these things. I know everyone might be alittle different but still I would like to hear what good restriction feels like for you and also when you got to that point how long did that fill last you? Did you lose the majority of your weight on that fill? Anyway sorry for all the questions. Just curious.


Thanks---Greg K

[newlifeat57]

Greg, I don't think I ever felt "full" like the "full" feeling I used to feel before being banded. Before banding my full feeling felt uncomfortable--loosen my belt sort of thing, but I was still able to nibble on food or drink. I felt like laying down and taking a nap. That was kind of what my full feeling felt like. Now my full feeling is NOTHING like that. I sort of 'sigh' when I know I need to stop putting food in my stomach. Sometimes I forget about that 'sigh' and go past it and am usually sorry. That is when I hurt and the food feels as if it is in my throat. Sometimes I just get tired of chewing. and sometimes I just stop when I've been eating for 20 minutes.

Right now, I feel as if I am in the 'green zone', 'sweet spot', 'restricted'...call it what you like, I just know that when I eat correctly, I can only eat about 2-3 oz of dense protein, about 1/4-1/2 c of veggies, and MAYBE a little something (less than 1/4c) sweet or some other type of carbs/starch. When I don't eat correctly, like spaghetti with meat sauce/casserole/soups, etc., I can eat a lot more. Really thin style Spaghetti noodles are probably the only pasta I can eat. All the other types cause me lots of discomfort. When I eat correctly, I will feel discomfort if I have gone a little past the 'sigh'. If I try to eat more, I am usually sorry. I am not at the place where I can just eat like most normal people do and eat their foods any way they'd like, only eat less. There are people here that can do that. I hope to be there someday, but I'm not there yet.

I've had this fill since Oct. If I spend a week or more eating the wrong kinds of foods, it seems as if I need a fill. If I go back to eating correctly for about a week, It seems as if my stomach shrinks (I really don't know what it is but....) and I can eat less and I begin to lose again.

I've been to that spot/point where my food and drink 'gurgled' its way down and I, IMHO, truly believe that your drink should not do that. To me that is too tight. I really believe that we have to exercise some self control and stop eating after your measured/monitored/portion control OR after 20 minutes--which ever comes first. If I am idle or doing something stressful, I want to eat even if I am not hungry. This is the head hunger that so many of us deal with on a daily basis. REAL hunger should come on slowly and not suddenly. If your hunger comes on suddenly its head hunger (I read that somewhere). so if you wait it out for about 20 min. the head hunger will go away, if it's real hunger it will return. BTW....Stomach growling does not mean you're hungry.

I don't know if any of this helps.... I was at 11.5cc in a 14cc once and ended up getting unfilled for almost 2 months because of being too tight. I just needed to learn how to eat correctly. When I was at 11.5cc I thought I needed more fill. Now I am somewhere in the 8cc and I feel almost normal. I can drink normally (However, I can't chug cold drinks) and I can eat a small but normal looking amounts of food. My weight loss has had it's ups and downs because unfills due to illness, surgeries (knee), irritation because of being too tight, and also because I chose to not eat right and because of lack of exercise. GREG, I wouldn't worry to much about your fill amounts. Just live and enjoy your new life. As long as you are losing weight, you are doing ok. I will keep you in prayer, so that your band works for you without having to have more fills. You can do it!!!!! Blessings to you and your wifey

OMG I couldn't believe I had rambled on so much....till I posted.... take care and sorry for the rambling. LOL

[Jachut]

I certainly dont walk around with the full belly feeling. I suspect that if you feel actually FULL like that, you've overeaten. All the band can really do is an absence of hunger and even then - your head can still tell you to eat.

[gregken77]

Thanks guys---I was just asking because I have never had that feeling like a tight belly full feeling. I have heard some on hear say they get that. I dont ever get that. I just eat for awhile and I am not full. Ive really been trying to listen to myself and stop when there is no hunger anymore. Im eating really small amounts and staying full for at least 4 hours or more. Thing is I felt the exact same way I do now even before I had this last fill. I am not losing weight any faster. Actually before this last fill I was losing weight just fine. About 3 to 4 pounds a week. Is this average? I think its about normal myself. Anyway I think maybe this last fill was a mistake. I had a small unfill but Im thinking I need a bigger unfill. I mean I was losing the same amount of weight at a lower fill and there was no discomfort in the morning back then. Right now when I first get up oat meal sort of hurts to eat. Anyway just trying to figure things out. Thanks guys very good advice and info. Tighter is not always better in my opinion.

[newlifeat57]

My Dr. told me the normal amount for losing weight was 1-2 lbs a week. You're above and beyond that. I just hope you're getting enough nutrients. Greg, don't mess with a tight band.... get some out... you'll feel a lot better and you won't have to worry about pain, PBs, and you'll enjoy the bandster ride a lot better.

[gregken77]

I worry about that same thing. I take a multi vit. every day and I have been eating real good meats and veggies and fruits. Just not a whole lot of it. Plus I have been exercising like a mad man. I am up to a full hour right now. 6 days a week. (elyptical machine---or how ever you spell that) Im about to start jogging though if it will ever quit raining. Its been wet and rainy here for two weeks solid. :( At least I have something I can work on indoors during those bad weather days. Well I dont feel bad--hair is not falling out and I have good energy I guess. Been sick a few times but nothing out of the normal. I think Im ok. I think its the exercise honestly thats jerking it off. I hope so anyway. I would hate for my teeth or hair to fall out or something. That would suck!

[Jachut]

I think if all you've got is a little discomfort in the morning, but not constant puking, then you can probably just ride out the tightness. At the rate you're losing, it will loosen up pretty quickly.

You really probably didnt even need the last fill at all. I think we all realise it sooner or later but there really IS no magic restriction level where suddenly this miracle occurs, you dont eat when you're not hungry, you're never hungry, you dont eat bad foods, you dont desire bad foods, you dont think about food. There is no restriction level that will take you there. The work will always come from you, and it sounds like you're really working hard on that.

[newlifeat57]

Jachut, you are so knowledgeable!!!!! Greg, you've heard it from the best. (psst *in a low whisper* ....she's my inspiration)

[kristina]

holy crap she hit me on the head. jachut u rock!!!! i may have to print and post that sucker on the fridge in a font size 22 like my pants.