Things to work on before a good fill is reached

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Question from a new bandster posted on the Obesity Help band forum ;

Hi,

I was banded two weeks ago today. I am feeling great and am eating

soft foods, like yoghurt, chilli etc.

I am worried because when I eat, I don't feel full. Fortunately, I

think of the price tag of the lap band (I was self pay) and that

stops me from eating too much, but I am worried that I won't have any

restriction. Am I supposed to be feeling some now, or does it come

AFTER the first fill?

I'd really appreciate all of your wisdom!

Thanks,

Zena

My Answer, among others:

Hi, Zena - Lots of things to know..

first, the band is not working well - if at all - for most people

until they get to a good fill in several months. for most people,

fills can start at 6-8 weeks. then, we need several small monthly

fills to get to a good level where we will get some good help from

the band - as long as the other things below are in fairly good shape

and we continue to work on them.

the time before a good fill is NEVER lost time, though - there is a

lot to learn and start to change before then. the band and fill are

only a part of the weight loss formula.

then - liquids an soft foods never make us full. the band only works

with solid foods - fiber, solid protein, veggies. Junk food, sweets,

soft foods, liquid foods are never restricted. that's why we must

stick to good solid band foods most of the time. you're in the

healing phase, so need soft foods for awhile to allow the stomach and

sutures to heal. weight loss is not even expected yet.

for most, the first 1-2 fills makes little or no dofference. these

early fills are not even meant to give a good restricdtion - they are

meany only as a small gentle introduction to stomach pressure. the

stomach is very sensitive, so we have to sneak up on it with small

fills it barely notices. It takes most people 3-5 small fills to get

to the first good level - then more periodically as we lose.

" Full " with the band is a badterm imo. We will not feel " full " in the

sense we did before - stffed, unable to eat another bite,

uncomfortable. With the band it is much more subtle - more like " Ok,

i'm satisfied here. i could eat more, butn i won't, becuase i want to

lose. : Itis SATISFIED, as oppposed to FULL.

In these early months, there is lots to do and this is never wasted

time. these are important:

1. start to learn much more about good nutrition. When you are back

on regular foods, work with www.fitday.com or www.theDailyplate.com

to track your intake, honestly.

2. learn the nutritional needs for the band - 50-60 gm of protein, 25

gm fiber, 1200-1500 mg calcium (depending on age - over 50 is 1500,

all men need 1000 mg) and the foods that will meet them.

Also, 1000 mg of omega 3 oils a day - either supplements of

salmon/tuna/other cold water fish

3. Be sure to get onto a good daily multivit, calcium, possibly extra

B vits, probably omega 3 oil. i take and recommend the Bariatric

Advantage vits for bandsters - much better than the junk vits like

Centrums, flintstones, etc at costco, walgreens, etc. these things

do ot have even close to what we need, nor the quality or absorb-

ability tha all WLS require (more on this in the Vitamin doument in

the files here)

4. get serious about exercise. If you have been sedentary, start with

a 30-60 min daily walk. as able, add cardio and weight training. all

is needed asap to burn some calories and even more importantly to

start to build good muscle which burns fat much more efficiently, 24

hrs a day, even when sleeping. this really adds up over time. New

exercsie guidleines show everon needs an hour of exercsie at least 5x

a week - and we need more if we want to lose. No excuses !

5. consider (I urge) working with a good therapist on food and

eating and self-image issues that we all have. we need to learn more

about WHY we chose to overeat so badly that we put our health in

serious danger.

then, we can learn to choose better ways (other than overeating) to

meet these needs. This area is very critical , yet barely even

mentioned by docs. there is little hope of maintaining any lost

weight without overcoming this emotional type of eating. it's why

almost everyone regains the secnd their bands are unfilled for any

reason.

6. consider working also with the Bandster Success Guided Imagery

CD's that address Head hunger, motivation for exercise, good sleep

(critical for weight loss), improving self-image an self-love (also

critical) and much more. It was invaluable for me. you csan learn

more, if interested, on my wbsite at www.BandsterME.com (Bandster

M otivation and E ducation)

The fill itself is only a part of the weight loss formula. all these

other things are very impt too.

so keep the faith, get to work on all the other things, and your loss

will start soon. And every dy you are improving is a day of success,

even if the scale is not moving much yet. the scale is only a small

part of success!! Improved health is the real goal of banding.

Sandy r

Band educator

banded march 2003

at goal 4.8 yrs