1st fill

 Not sure how much was put in, but I don't "think" i feel anything.  One thing is I cut my proportions as I don't want to "test" the band, but I feel as if nothing has changed.  I've lost a total of 22lbs since my surgery on 5/13/11. Not sure if that's good or maybe I should be losing more??  not sure.  My dr is moving, and I'm not foliowing him to New Zealand-lol!!  So I'll be under the care of the other doctor in the practice.  I guess my issue is, I have no issues eating anything I want-I still can't get used to no drinking 5 min before or 45 min after.  So what to do about cereal with milk??  Or pho tai soup??  or any meal that really has a liquid base??  And as I'm not feeling any restriction now, when I get filled again, will I feel something?? My dr said sometimes I won't feel it until 3rd or 4th fill.  Is that when people have really noticed the weight coming off?  I've been exercising-but I hate it!!!  LOL!!  But I try to do something that moves me everyday, so I guess I need to kick it up a notch then.  Not sure where I'm going with any of this-hahaha, but the liquid based foods was my thing, and if my weight loss is on track...

As far as liquid based foods, I have 2 philosophies

1.  I will eat/drink the liquid first, and then eat the solids

or

2.  I enjoy what I want to have, but I don't expect that food to keep my hunger satisfied for several hours

I think that not drinking while eating is the NUMBER 1 factor of success in terms of band eating.
Fluid with our food washes the food away and allows us to overeat.

Sit at any fast food restaurant and just observe as your fellow patrons shovel the food in and guzzle the liquid with it -- it is no surprise that when they 'up size' the fries, they also push a bigger drink on to us ---- more sugar or sugar substitute and more fluid to wash down the calories.

Most of us could eat a 'number 1, super sized' and 30 minutes later, eat another one.

You should probably (at this phase of your journey) consider staying away from the 'liquidy' foods, if they have alot of calories. 

Your goal is to eat protein first, some produce and then stop eating ---- allow the food to sit in your little pouch and signal your brain that it has eaten.  Your are not aiming to feel full --- you are aiming to have a small amount of food satisfy your hunger.

As far as weight loss goes, I had consistent weight loss from about 6-weeks pre-op until I hit my goal at 18 months post op.

I can't say that I really 'felt' very different with each fill -- but I convinced my brain that each fill was a tightening of my band (like a belt) and I slowed my eating and made it a game to see 'how little' I had to eat, instead of 'how much I could eat'.

I can ALWAYS eat more than I need --- my job is to eat as little as I need.

 I like your idea of making a game of seeing how little you could eat instread of how much. I'm going to try that afyrt my fill today!

Kath....even though I am 19 months out and down 125# what you said in your reply hit me in the brain like a cast iron pan. LOL It really made me stop and think and realise that even though I have been successful I have been using my band all wrong. I really feel that you turned on the bulb in my brain and that by using your suggestions that it will make taking off the last 30#s much easier. Thank you so much.

 Thanks, makes sense about the liquid, but the vietnamese soup is so delicious-but like you said, I do feel hungry about an hour later, and I usually just have something to drink to curb it, or fruit.  Any weight coming off is a good thing regardless how long it takes at this point.  figure it took me 20 years to pack it on, it wont come off overnight.  So it seems like the foods I should be eating are similar to the atkins diet, or south beach.  Proteins first then a non starchy veggie, which is fine by me.  My dietician did recommend that any carbs i would have should be consumed before 4pm.  Has anyone else heard that??