Really bloated & liquids going down very slow - TOM? Slight unfill or wait it out?

I used to feel the same way about unfills.  I was in such a hurry to lose the weight that I wanted to be as tight as possible thinking that the less I could eat the faster I'd lose.  It took a couple times of being too tight and irritating my band, plus some long plateaus, to learn that restriction is ont the only way the band works!  We all get so caught up on fill levels that we put less emphasis on what we eat.  If you can't get the nutrients you need and your calories drop too low for too long, your weight loss slows.  If you're so tight that you're regurgitating daily, you're going to eventually damage your pouch and/or esophogus and then where will you be?  Unfilled completely, hoping that the damage you did will be reversed.  It's just not worth it!

Today I'm proud of myself when I get an unfill becuase I know I'm taking care of myself and not falling into abusive behavior once again to lose weight!

You did the right thing!  Be proud that you're taking care of yourself!

Lisa O.

P.S.  Yes, my band gets looser as the day goes on.  It's water retention that happens natually when we sleep becuase fulids settle in the major organs, that causes us to be tight in the a.m. As you get up and move around the retention disapates and the band will loosen.  That's why I challenge people who say they are too tight in the a.m. to eat breakfast.  I believe you can  train you band to loosen up in the morning if you drink a warm beverage and eat AT LEAST a soft protein.  If you only drink  protein shakes it will take longer to "warm up" your band, especially if they're cold.

I vote for a slight unfill too. Even something as small as .1cc can make a big difference. You don't want to get dehydrated or worse - start eating high calorie slider foods and gain weight. That can happen. Good luck to you.

Thanks so much JoJo!  That makes me feel better about my decision.