Wow, thanks Mick!

I really appreciate the advice and timely response.

I am sorely, sorely lacking in attitude right now, which has crept into my eating behaviors. Believe it or not, I exercise a lot*-- that 30% is nailed down.

(* I run with two Galloway groups for a total of three runs a week, walk my dog 30 minutes a day, and work in other fun activities-- right now I'm doing Wii Fit 30 - 60 minutes a day also, on the weekends my husband I am take our dog hiking, etc.)

Here's the discouraging post about the Emory Bariatrics support group I mentioned: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f31/support-groups-11573/

I called them-- oh, back in February?-- and got the bit about folding the lap banders into the gastric group because of low participation. It was a receptionist or something, not a doc, that I talked to.

It looks like the Emory group meets the second Monday of the month, meaning that June 9th is a meeting? I, unfortunately, have a Galloway group that I am currently run with that meets on Mondays at 6:00 p.m., so I guess the timing is an issue, but I'm going to seriously consider it anyway, given your encouraging response.

I guess I had hopes that this process would be easier than it was. I have had 3 fills and am now at 4 ccs in a 4 cc band, and I do not have enough restriction! I can easily eat 2/3 - 3/4 of what I normally would at a normal meal, and even without drinking anything, my pouch is empty 1 - 2 hours after eating and I'm hungry again. I'm so frustrated at myself (and my husband is frustrated at the surgeon and thinks we should go back to Tijuana for a follow-up) that I think my attitude is getting in the way more than anything else.

I've done all kinds of portion-control and calorie-restriction diets before the band, and the reason they failed most of the time was that I was constantly hungry. I thought for sure the band would at least help with that.

Thanks again for your help and I think I might take you up on the emailing.