help for the very discouraged and already banded

At 27 years old, I looked and felt great. I was smaller than I had ever been (even before having a child).  I weighed 113 lbs and stayed active and took pretty good care of myself.  I started to gain weight, and within 3 months, I was up to 130.  I had no idea what was going on with me.  By the time I turned 29, I was up to 165.  I still had no idea of what was wrong. I was seeing an endocrinologist in Houston (I still see her) and she had me on diet pills and many other things that just were not helping.  My blood pressure was rising, and I had developed diabetes.  Her last resort was Lap Band surgery.  So, in January of 2008, I had the surgery done.  It was supposed to help me lose weight and get my health better because of the diabetes. 
Well, 9 months later I am not happy with any of this.  I now excercise way more than I ever did before.  I walk for 30-40 minutes every morning before work, and then go the gym for 1 hour and 15 minutes every afternoon.  I do this 5-6 days a week.  And still barely any results.  I totally watch what I eat and think I am following all dr's orders correctly.  I am now down to 157.  so, not much weight loss in 9 months, and I am very irriated and discouraged.  Can anyone give me some encouragement, tips, what to do, what not to do.....when am I going to see some positive results?

Hi,
I wish I could offer you some great advice, or more helpful information.  It sounds like you are doing everything you can do for success, but why it is eluding you, I can't say.  I wanted to express that you are not alone in the struggling part however.  I was banded June 18th, and have been struggling to loose as well.  I have been discouraged that most of my weight loss was during the presurgery period.  As soon as I was healed, I began excersizing like crazy.  I have dropped clothing sizes since then, which I am glad about, but have felt most discouraged that the scales are not showing better results.  I am struggling terribly with hunger, cravings, and stress, all of which make that 4 oz a meal, and no snacks very difficult to maintain.  Some days feel like a cycle of frustration as I excersize so hard, try to be very strict with my eating, and then find no weight loss.  I know that I must accept that any variation from the surgery center's diet/eating plan is only sabotaging my efforts and results.  It is the most difficult struggle of my life to attempt to change these very strong patterns of behavior.  Some how we must move forward toward our goals though, but certainly all the advice and support we can get will help.  I hope that things will take a turn for the better for you soon.  Perhaps we are seeing fat reverted to muscle in some of our lack of lbs lost, with all this increased physical activities?  At least that is my hope and that soon, the scales will start giving me good news again.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Here's a tip....my dietician told me that whenever you feel like you need a snack, go ahead a eat a hand full of grapes, a banana, or some type of fruit because you certainly cannot starve yourself.  And eventually you will not have those crazy cravings anymore. I don't really get them any more, but if I do, I turn to a fruit!!  I know your discouragment all too well, and hope we both get past this point very soon.

Ok...I am really new ...only banded 2 weeks.

Can you tell us how many fills you have had?

It is my understanding that the real results come post fill...and post sweet spot which can take up to a year to find!

I know that the band will NOT do it for me....I still have to think...plan...exercise....I still have to choose the protein first....not always what we WANT to do.

Personally, I would keep trying....keep bugging your dr. Don't give up until you have a solution.

Keep posting!

Thanks for the advice.  You said to keep bugging my doctor, but what do I say to him?

Also, what are you eating for protein?

Currently, being recently post op I am not into my protein phase yet however, here is my plan.

I will choose a small piece of salmon and have some softer veggies on the side. I will eat ALL the salmon FIRST ... nothing else! No water, no veggies and no carbs. If I have room I will eat the veggies  Then I will go for a walk. That will be supper.

Secondly, for lunch....I will make a chicken salad or egg salad. I will use the light mayo made with Olive Oil.  I will eat 1/2-3/4 cup. NO water NO carbs.

Breakfast ... probably a smoothie or protein drink.

I plan on staying under 1000 cal/day. That will be 300 cal/meal.

Currently I am about 800 calories per day and I am losing an average of 1 lb/day

Have a great day!

Here is what the dr and dietician told me....stay away from liquid meals because it will not fill you like food.  It will go straight through you and you will still be hungry. 

Good luck with the chicken salad.  If your band is tight enough, you probably won't be able to eat much chicken any more.  If I take one bite of chicken I usually throw it up.  The dr told me to try dark meat, which I can tolerate a little more, but not much more.  Also, I can no longer eat eggs any more.  I was trying to have eggs as my protein in the morning, but they come right up.

Muscle weighs more than fat so you well may be losing alot of fat.  Give yourself a chance.
It will come.
Judy

Thanks for the encouraging words.  Working hard at it and not seeing results is really bringing me down.