2nd fill in 2 days...

 hmm...not sure what it will bring.  Did anyone feel any restriction after the 2nd fill??  I guess I'll have to really buckle down and not tempt the band.  Though I don't do it now, just wondering if my food portions will be even smaller.  I used to be able to eat a foot long sub before the surgery.  Now I can tolerate a 4" sub-without all the garbage on it-but have no issues with white or wheat bread.  So now will it be like a 2" sub??  hahaha.  Is this when people have issues with processed flour products and rice and spaghetti stuff??  I dunno...not sure.  i missed the group meeting as it occurs on the 3rd tues of the month.  I still have issues with stopping myself from drinking with my meal.  I just feel so thirsty during my meal that I find myself mindlessly drinking while eating, especially if we go out to eat.  If I'm at home I just don't pour anything.  But waiting 45 minutes kills me-like I've got cotton in my mouth.  I'm 3 weeks out from my last fill and my dr said it would be fine for the 2nd fill to occur-as I'm now living 3 hours away-and I was going to be in the area at this time.  3 weeks ok??? as I might have to go 5 weeks till the net fill.  Am I screwing this up?? Another question if I'm exercising and dying of water-am I just going to be sipping water for an hour??  or trying to sip during a workout??  such as mountain climbing or on a tread mill??  I've heard so many people having issues with sliming-and would really like to avoid that at all cost...Like I said I'm not willing to really "test" the band.  Any helpful hints for the 2nd fill?? anyone??  hahaa...

I have had my band a year or so and felt some restriction after each fill and really good restriction after about fill 5 or 6 ?  I cannot routinely do carbs like bread,pasta,pizza,rice and so on but occasionally if I am having a "loose" day hahaha I can do a little bit of like super thin crust pizza not a whole slice or some of a flatbread from Subway. It takes me a good while to eat it though and I do not eat a whole small one.However most days it is none of that for me.:) I do not mind though too much. I am hoping for a "loose" day soon because Subway has avacado now and I LOVE avacado! So I am wanting a turkey flatbread with some of that on it. :D  Just take it really slow and test the waters to see what you can and connot tolerate this fill .
It is hard for me not to drink 45 mins after my meals too! I hate that part but I do get hungry sooner if I do not wait. :(  Old habits are hard to break!

So are you finding that you are full after 1/2 a flat bread?  I am trying to find information from those who are "optimized" as just what "small meals" are.  My friend at work who also has had a band talked to me about the feeling you can only eat 5 bites and being done at the time when you are optimized.  Is this true? Just wanting to know what others are experiencing. My nutritionist says it is different for everyone.  I feel like my meals are small now, but I am still not losing again and not sure if I could stand to have the band much tighter.  I blocked it with medication and I don't want to go down that road again.

Honestly it just depends on the day and how tight I am lol but usually I can do "maybe" a half of a 6 inch flatbread it one sitting and it takes me awhile to do that. Then I go back in about 3 or so hours and eat a little more etc. I could probably get at least 2 meals out of it .I probably eat more than I should but I can do about  1/2 cp solid food at a sitting or if  I am having an off day  maybe a cup -ish of soups ,mashed potatoes(slider type things) etc.  So for meats like maybe 2 or 3 ozs of dense protein and then soft veggies about the same .Usually no startchs for me unless I am having an off day (around my period) then I may do mashed potatoes and/or soups)  .I feel like I am at a really good spot restriction wise and stay full a good while after my meals. I typically eat when I am hungry and stop when I feel satisfied but not stuffed. It is different for everybody and each fill can be different but it does help to know what others are doing.:)

I have had my band about a year now.  The second fill was like nothing for me.  I felt a lot of restriction post surgery and then as I healed from the surgery, I was able to eat more and more.  Water is something to sip on all the time, especially after surgery.  I was advised to wait 4 weeks after having the band to exercise following surgery.

I just dehydrated myself/ blocked the band/ so I am getting it slowly filled back up again to optimal level.   Keep a water bottle handy and sip on it all day long. A couple of ounces at a time is good.  My water bottle is clear and ounces are marked so I can see what amount I am drinking.  You will not be able to drink quickly after exercise so plan on it by drinking all the time before you exercise.  Wait until you are healed too.

If you drink with your meals you will throw up and that is damaging.  I was given the rule of no water 30 min before eating and 30 min after eating.  I would advise working on your water intake and the adding the exercise after you heal more.  I am one who tried to do to much to fast and blocked the band.  No fun at all.  I am good at following the no liquids for 30 min. rule after eating.  Some of the other rules are more of a challenge for me.

I had my first few fills 3 weeks apart ---- and with every fill, I visualized that the band was tighter than it was before -- so, I served myself less food, I ate it slowly and carefully and I went back to tiny bites.

I tried to make a game out of  'how little can I eat' instead of 'how much can I eat'

Honestly, I don't know if I could have eaten bread at that stage because I did not even try.
I took pea-sized bites, so I could not have taken a bite of a sub --- when i went to a Deli, I ordered 'tuna in a cup' with some crackers ---- I broke the crackers into tiny bits and scooped out pea-sized bites of tuna.

More often than not, i got bored with eating before my portion ran out.  It just did not take much to

As far as the drinking with eating -- STOP.  If you are having problems after eating, rinse your mouth --- and spit it out.

I drink plenty of water while I work out and afterwards --- I start with little sips and I move up the quantity as best I can -- sometimes it is easy to take a big swallow, sometimes not.

 Thanks all!!  Good pointers.  Sometimes I wonder why have I done this...and why I couldn't do it on my own, and I'm only 7 weeks into my new life.  The whole drinking thing I have to be way more diligent with.  I never was a drinker throughout the day or even liked water, so I would always drink with my meals.  Plus I loved pairing a glass of wine with my meal.  I will miss that, red wine with a great steak,  hahaha!!!  Old habits do die hard.  I am praying I have no issues like others I've heard, that would be awful.  One day at a time I guess and don't test the boundaries.  We will see on Wed, I'm staying overnight as I'm picking up my boys from the airport and Wed am I have my fill, with the 3 hour ride home.  I really need to find something closer...ack!!!!  Thanks for the tips!!!