the term restriction

That's actually a really good question. To me it means knowing your capacity and stopping to fill up your stomach before you reach 'full' or the point where you really can't eat anymore. My personal definition of restriction is to find the spot where I can comfortably stop before any physical restriction or consequences such as vomiting or discomfort is felt.

Ahh... restriction.  I think this is one of the smartest questions I have seen in a while on the boards and I love it!  And that is a serious compliment because folks around here ask a lot of smart questions!

Restriction and what it means to me...

I view it simply as the capacity that you can comfortably eat.  Prior to surgery I could eat a massive amount and just feel full.  I have no concept what my capacity was, but for example I could polish off a full meal at Chile's including an appetizer and dessert no problem.  I don't even want to think about the calories I would consume at one sitting.

Now, restriction to me is a bit of an evolving process.  I have a large sleeve that is loosely sewn, so consequently my capacity is more than a typical poster on this board.  So please keep that in mind as you read, and if you are interested in bougie size (what determines the size of your sleeve) then I encourage you to use the search feature.  There is a current post where Carmelita commented on that does a wonderful job of explaining that.

Immediately post op:  First two weeks no problem getting fluids in.  I could eat a few ounces of greek yogurt with protein powder mixed in.

By six weeks... I think it was between 6-8 weeks I realized I could eat a 4 ounce turkey burger (no bun, veggies, or anything else with it).  This is very unusual that early out, and that was when I started asking questions to the surgeon about my sleeve size.  I was full from the burger, but no foamies, vomiting, etc.  That is what restriction means to me, full- not puking or foamies.

My capacity increased as the sleeve healed and mature- this is true for everybody.  Somewhere between 6-8 months I hit my final amount, of course assuming that I do not increase in the future.  Given I am over 18 months out I am pretty confident I am maxed out.

So now... I can eat 3-4 ounces of steak (by far the most satiating meat for me and the one I can eat the least of ounce for ounce), a little salad, and a little starch like sweet potato.  If you have a Logans in your area compare it to the 6 ounce steak dinner.  I order that with a salad and veggie skewer normally, sometimes salad and sweet potatoe.  I don't finish the steak, eat about half of the salad, and maybe a third of the skewer.  I skip the rolls, or on a weak day maybe half of one.  That is  a BIG meal for me.  

BUT RESTRICTION CAN BE ELUSIVE!  Sometimes I have a couple days in a row where I eat a lot of carbs.  Carbs in general slide for me unless it is raw veggie.  After just a few days of this it SHOCKS me how much I feel I can eat.  In other words, I feel the restriction significantly less.  I can, for example, sit down with a full sized package of Oreos and eat them all in under 2 hours.  No problem, and I would be hungry maybe an hour of so of doing something stupid like that.  (I don't do this, but I have polished off a row of oreos post sleeve once- not my proudest moment.)   This is very disconcerting to experience.  It truly highlights how the sleeve is only a tool.  Yes, it will help slow you down on binge eating, help to minimize the damage you cause yourself if you have a bad couple of days... but it is possible to fall off the wagon, stay of the wagon, and regain.  If you are not eating your protein first and overdoing the carbs, you can set yourself up for issues because the restriction is not allowed to kick in.  

The good news though.  After I have a crappy few days all is not lost.  I spend a few days being careful to eat my protein first, fresh veggies, and protein shakes.  Within just a couple days my restriction is back and with a vengeance.  That big meal I described above?  If I am coming off a few days of adjusting back, no way could I eat what I described at Logans.  A little salad (maybe a quarter), less than half the steak, and maybe 1 bite or so of sweet potato.

So, restriction is a moving target.  Read Frisco's post on the pyloric valve.  I cannot substantiate the science behind it, but it matches what my experience is.  His advice on "under eating" the sleeve is also IMHO probably the single best piece of advice that floats around on this board.  

Carbs and restriction.  There is a lot to learn in that area and it will take you working to understand how they affect you as an individual.  But there is a clear connection between carbs and restriction, so educate yourself on that. 

Great, great question!!!