Sweet Spot or Green Zone

Just curious what other bandsters have experienced... I have 5 and 1/2 cc's in a 10 cc band and not to green zone.  What was your magic number?

Amanda that varies greatly!  Some reach restriction with just a small amount. Others need it almost full. Then there are others (like me) that NEVER reach restriction!

Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones. Just give it a chance and keep getting those fills to give it a good shot.

Good luck!

Maria, your new picture is gorgeous.  You look years younger and pounds lighter.  Keep up the great (hard) work!

Thanks so much Judy! :-)

To be honest, I have no idea how much is in my band --- I just know that it is enough.

I don't dwell on the numbers --- I know that I had 4cc at my first fill (we tried 5cc and it was too much) and then several small fills, one or 2 small unfills --- and I leave it alone.

I can eat most anything -- but if I eat lean protein and veggies, I need about 3 ounces to be very satisfied and stay that way for several hours.

If I eat highly processed carbs, I can eat way too much -- but that is my choice and has nothing to do with my restriction level -- the band is not intended to prohibit those foods.

My levels had to be adjusted with about every 10 - 15 pounds of weight loss.

Amanda, aren't you the one who just posted that she got a fill today and is having issues?

You may be at the green zone and not realize it because your fill is so new.  My doctor says it can sometimes take up to 2 weeks for a fill to make itself known.  I know I have had one "kick in" at 10 days later.

As I lose weight, the effect my band has on my appetite changes.  My surgeon placed my band with 3cc's in it.  That lasted me almost until my first fill.  My first fill lasted me about 1 or 2 months.  I really don't recall exactly how often I got fills the first year, but it was at least every 2 months, and sometimes monthly.  As time goes on, I need or want fills less and less often.

I got .2cc's in either Nov. or Dec. of 2010, and my next one was in May of this year.  My next appt is in September and unless I lose a huge amount of weight between then & now (not gonna happen.. I'm too close to goal to lose fast [ in a healthy manner] ) I will refuse a fill.   I'm thinking if I get another tiny fill it won't be till Nov., Dec or Jan.

The point in going into all this detail is that the "green zone" moves as you lose weight and your body changes.  If your appetite is dimmed to where you can eat 3 to 4 oz of protein and 1/2 cup of a low carb veggie.. then walk away and be satisfied for anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.. you're in the green zone.   I'm not saying you will not WANT to eat more, or you CAN'T eat more.. but that you can be sated on smaller amounts.  :)

I hope this helps a little.

Yes, it's me.  I'm 3 months post op and am not losing.  Hopefully the fill I had todaay will help.  I also know that I need to exercise more and stop eating processed foods.  I guess I thought that portion control with the band would be enough to see major weight loss, but I was wrong.  More movement and better food choices are the key.

Yes, to see major weight loss, you will need to make major changes.  :)

I would like to suggest that you make one or two changes at a time, not everything all at once.  For example, I still ate bread for a while after banding.  I didn't eat a LOT of it, but I did some.  I moved from white to Whole Wheat and then to Ezekiel bread.  Now a loaf of Ezekiel bread can be in my freezer for nearly a year before I use it up.  Before banding a loaf of white bread might last a week, if I was lucky.

We went from having fried catfish every friday to me making "unfried catfish" and then to uncoated baked salmon.

As to exercise:  I started by walking.  At first just down my long driveway and back.  Every day I'd try to take a few more steps.  Eventually I was walking a mile.  Then 2 miles.  Then I started going to a gym for treadmill as the weather got nasty and stayed nasty.  As I kept going, one of the trainers noticed me and reached out to me..and I started working with her...eventually got in good enough condition to do some of the aerobics classes.. and now I'm in the gym 6 days a week.

If you think you're ready to make big changes right away.. go for it!!  Don't beat yourself up if you backslide.. just pick yourself up and try again.  We're here to help if you need it.

It don't matter how well I eat or how little I eat, if I don't exercise then I won't lose a single pound. That is how my body is. I have to do cardio at least three times a week for me to even lose. Very few people can lose weight without exercise. Walking don't even work for me .

I agree with the other posters in saying that there is NO magic number.  Everyone is different, each band has their own personalities.
Personally, my surgeon and I keep my band loose because I'm a exercise-a-holic.  There was a point where I was working out 7 times a week, twice a day... Yeah I was nuts.  Even though I've since calmed down, I still do a 6 mile jog 4 times a week and now that it's summer, I swim a lot.  I need to fill my small belly up with calories and protein, about 1300 calories a day so in order to hit that amount, I need to be able to eat a bit more... go figure!
As of now, I only have 2.8ccs in my band.