I am new and need some advice

Hey everybody,
This is my first time ever posting a thread or asking for advice. So here it goes. I got banded after thanksgiving of 07. I have lost about 50 pounds since then. I am so happy with the results so far. I lost about 30 pounds before I got my first fill. Now I have questions. I lost another 20 but I feel that I can eat more than ever. Yesterday I finished a whole pizza by myself. I am scared that my band has slipped or is no longer there. Do I need another Fill? does the band get loose from rapid weight loss? How am I able to eat more? I have never Thrown up since I've been banded. I am terrified of that happening so I really chew small bites I think. Sometimes when I have a sandwhich I get food stuck. Oh and another thing, I get this squeezing sensation sometimes during the day on my stomach. Has anyone experienced that? It hurts. I think it's because I am hungry. Because I only feel it when it is close to my next feeding. I guess what I am trying to say is, what is the next step for me. i want to feel full after eating some food. I hear about people eating such small quantities and getting full. I still can eat like a champ! Is that okay? has my band slipped? I would appreciate some support or suggestions. So far from what I have read, the people here at this lap band forum are awesome. Keep it up!

Good news, you are perfectly normal! It is unlikely that there is any problem with your band if you are not vomiting or having acid reflux or anything or a regular basis. So relax.

What happens is this, just like every other part of your body, your stomach has a fat layer around it. As you lose weight, that fat dissolves just like it does in other regions of your body. Think of it like the waist band of your pants around your mid section, when you lose fat in the mid section, your pants get big and you have to buy a smaller size or take them in. The fills are the way we "take in" our bands as our stomach shrinks.

There will come a time when you hit your "sweet spot" which is where you have just enough fluid in your band to give you enough restriction to control your food intake, but not too much so that you can't eat or drink enough to sustain your healthy body. That said, you may find a sweet spot with one fill and then a couple of months later, you are back to eating larger portions (although they should get increasingly smaller than where you are now). That is your signal that you need another fill. Then, magically, one day, you will stop requiring fills as often (if at all) because the fat layer around your stomach is gone and your stomach doesn't really change size much anymore so the band stays snug!

I am 15 months post-op and I have had 5 or 6 fills and I have a total of 10cc in a 14cc band. Life is sweet! My restriction is jjjuuuusssstttt right (I feel like Goldilocks). I have lost 108 lbs and I have 24 left to go, but it is really slow going now (boo).

I caution you not to wait until you have"perfect" restriction to get moving though. Your best weight loss opportunity is in the first year, but it can take 8, 9, or more months to find that sweet spot. Also, the faster you get that fat off of your stomach, the faster you can get you band to just the right size.

It's tricky, but it all works out in the end as long as you do your part. Just because you CAN still eat a whole pizza, doesn't mean it's a good idea. I would sometimes do things like that just to see how much I could eat, but I would be very unhappy with my choices afterward. Eventually, I decided to do my portion experiments with healthier foods so at least when I overate, it was good for me food.

A really good book to help you figure out how to eat in your new lifestyle is Body for Life by Bill Phillips. It basically uses portion sizes versus weighing and measuring or counting calories, emphasizes a high protein diet to boost your metabolism and energy levels. It works! See if your local library has a copy to examine before you buy it. You can also get basically the same info from Eating for Life which is also a cookbook.

Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have more questions and I miss your post.

Laura

Yep, sounds like you need a fill. Eating a whole pizza is definitely not the recommended bandster eating model.

The idea is 3-4 oz of protein and 1/2 to 1 C of vegetables at a meal. That should keep you feeling satiated for 3-4 hrs. If not, you probably need a fill.

Congratulations on 50lbs gone, that's fantastic!

I got my first fill and i have lost weight. the only problem though is that i think it is too tight. I threw up for the first time and is it true that i have to wait another 12 hours to eat again. If so this is horrible. I just took some small bites of a salad and I was hurling. Sorry for being so gross. so do i have to really wait 12 hours. how can i do that without fainting. Also it seems that everything i eat no matter how small feels like it is stuck in between my chest and stomach all the time. Somedays i can eat and everything is okay. Any suggestions

I'd wait to eat solids just to make sure the irritation goes away. Otherwise you can get in a cycle of eating solid / vomiting / swelling from the irritation making you even tighter / eating solid / vomiting... etc.

Try sticking with liquids & mushies for several hours -- have some yogurt, soup, a meal replacement shake, or something like that for your nutrition in the meantime.

I would consult with your surgeon first and foremost. Sounds like you just need a fill.