what's your definition of being too tight, too loose, and just right?

eating a 1/4 to 1/3 cup of food per meal is very unhealthy

And that's one of the reasons I eat 6 times a day. I'm in the best health of my entire life (aside from some aging issues that seem to be unavoidable), and the last time I saw my PCP, he said, "Whatever you're doing, keep on doing it!"

 productive burp 

The below chart that most surgeons keep in their office let's patient Know if You Need a Fill or Not -

"I think I need a fill".  If you hang around banders for any length of time, you'll have heard that phrase.  

 

Here is a handy chart my surgeon gave me that shows the "Fill Zone".  It helps you determine if you should be talking with your doctor about getting a fill and what the signs are to tell you if your band is at the right level.

 

As  you can see this chart makes it easy to tell if things are right or not.  I think that knowing if your band is right or not is one of the hardest things for most to come to grips with.  At least it was for me until the doctor giving me a fill gave me the chart.

 

The goal is obviously to stay in the green zone.  This zone optimizes weight loss and comfort and minimizes side effects.

Also word of caution, if you stay in the RED ZONE too long this may cause complications and band slippage.

 

I have been feeling hungry, eating more than I should, making myself stop eating, etc and still gained a bit of weight. Went to my doctor and discussed this with him. He said I am at "7" and probably didn't need a fill. But he recommended a fluoroscopy, which I had last week. Well, lo and behold, he called me with the results saying that my band is too loose. Today I go in for a fill, which I hope will solve my eating too much and not feeling full problem! Thanks!

For me personally I will never keep my band to the point of restriction where I cant enjoy breakfast, eat bread, pasta, rice , steak chicken or whatever foods are out there .

Those foods are not what got me fat let me explain.

What got me fat on them foods was NOT eating them foods in moderation and right proportions that is what got me fat.  Instead of eating a small amount of rice I would eat cups and cups of rice .  Eating a large pizza instead of a normal helping of one or two slices that is what got me fat . Eating a 20 oz steak, and a huge baked potato instead of eating a normal size amount of 4 oz , a potato and a veggie that is what got me fat. 


I eat every single piece of food that I ate before BUT now I'm learning how to eat them foods in moderation , how often to eat them foods and I believe that is what the band is made to do not to restrict you from foods the rest of your life.  I just couldn't live life that way .  This is just me though .

But like I said this is just me and how I work my band.  There is quite a few people in support group that cant eat this , cant eat that, or scared to death to go out and eat with family or a restaurant because they dont know if they can eat that type of food for the day , I dont want to be that way I personally think that is no way to live life .

Everybody is different on fills what I do might not work for you . I have been lucky I havent had no fills yet, the foods I eat keep me full for a good 3-5 hrs at a time and some days especially when I'm camping its even longer.

The band is enough of a reminder for me that I could slip my band if I overeat , I could throw up if I over eat so why do them things.  I was self pay I dont have insurance to fall back on if I screw up and do things that I shouldn't be doing.  I'm not perfect by no means, but right now I eat three healthy meals, I exercise to Zumba four days a week and the weight  comes off something I knew all long it just took a 20,000 dollar  piece of plastic to finally hit  home with me *sigh*.and having major panic attacks that I was going to kill over at anytime from heart attacks .

Too  tight for me had nothing to do with pb'ing, slimming, food getting stuck, or being hungry between meals.  I had none of that . I just had a total unfill due to pressure in my chest. But I agree if you have those things you are to tight.
Too loose,  hungry between meals, not getting satisfied on 1/2 to 1 cup food depending on what you are eating(3-4oz protien)
Just right, I really am not sure if I have ever been to that point. So I really can't answer that one.