feeling like a loser...in the bad sense...

ok so i had my surgery on mar.27th, 2007. i was 233 the day of surgery, and right now i'm 194...i feel like i should have lost more by now, but my body refuses to lose on a regular basis...it seems like i have NO restriction yet even after 4 fills...i'm at like 2.5cc, in a 4cc band...my doc is VERY stingy with the fills...the problem is that i'll lose a few pounds, then nothing for weeks...then maybe 1-2 more...then NOTHING for weeks...is this normal? my surgeon is just pleased to pieces with me, which is good in a way but also very frustrating...any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated...i'm hoping for some restriction soon, but who knows...i can eat ANYTHING, i have never PB'ed, or had any bad experiences (which is good) but i feel like i'm sliding back into bad habits because i know nothing bad will happen...HELP!!!! jamie

Hi Jamie, I don't know much about the lap bands I had RNY. But I do know that you have lost 39 lbs so far and that is not anything to complain about! Laps lose weight more slowly then RNY according to what I have read, but they equal out in amount of weight lost over the long run. So please hang in there. Is there a local support group in your area? One that meets monthly? It sounds like you could use some encouragement as we all do, this is not a journey to be taken alone. As for any type of weight loss either with or without surgery you can have stalls or plataues (sp is bad tonite) Our bodies want to take a breather and catch up to themselves. A lot of times when there is a stall or slowdown you are losing inches not pounds. I don't know what kind of protocol Banders are on with their food but with us we have to either up our calories a bit or go back to basics (beginning) for a couple of days to jump start our loss again. Have you posted this on the lapband Forum? They may have better answers for you then I have. Hang in there Jamie....it will happen. Carolyn

Don't be too frustrated! I always try to focus on cementing in a better lifestyle when the weight loss seems to slow down. Before I know it, I'm losing again, and closer to a lifestyle that will keep me at a healthy weight in the long run. There is so much of life to enjoy... Don't let focusing on the loss keep you from soaking up every minute! --Dave 350/210/205

Jamie, You are certainly not alone. I feel the same way as you. I had the lap band placed in March as well and I've lost 19 lbs. I've had 2 fills with 2cc in a 4cc band. My sister also had the band placed and lost about 25 lbs since March. I come to this board to see how others who have had their band placed in March are doing but very little lap band folks reply here. They are on the lap band forum. So I usually go to the there. However there still seem to be more folks having much better results than me. I try to remain positive by telling myself that I will not loose weight until the band is filled to the 'appropriate' amount. That may take a while. Until then my appetite is like it used to be and it does make me want eat all the 'wrong' things. I will go back to the doctor next week for a 3rd fill but from what some of the other lap banders say- restriction may not occur until the band is fully inflated, which I guess is 4 cc. I am praying that when I reach my 1 year anniversary I will have made much better progress, otherwise I will be sorely disappointed!