wondern whats wrong!!!

my date was december 22nd when i got my lap band, was doing really well and was losing weight. my starting weight was 305. and now im down to 269. cant seem to get out of the 269 range. any suggestions on what to eat at this point. my doctors tell me not to eat anything that gets stuck, but chicken seems to get stuck. so i went away from that and now i stick to fish, and veggies and yogurt, fruit too. so any help would be appreciated. want to get back to basics i think. protien shakes, water and some small foods. help, help, help!!

There comes a point for most of us a few months after surgery when we have a stall.  Mine lasted for almost two months.  I was at 200 lbs and just couldn't get under that to save my life.  So I just kept doing what I had been doing and eventually the weight started coming off again.   Your body is going through a lot of changes. Hang in there, it sounds like you are doing well.  *One more thing I want to add is most likely you will need more fills.  That makes a big difference.

Weight loss is rarely consistent. 36lbs in about 3 1/2 months is an excellent loss and even if you don't lose any more for a few weeks, you are still doing well. 1-2lbs a week is well within the normall range and you have lost right at the top end of that. 

IMO there is no point in going to protein shakes. They don't fill you up and there is no point in having a band if you don't use it! Bandsters generally only use them at times when the doc tells them (e.g. post-op), if they can't eat breakfast or if they find it difficult to eat enough protein.

Just keep on eating healthily and the weight will go again. Maybe not today or this week. But it will go. This is a long term business and a month or so is a tiny period of time out of the rest of your life.

Kate

There was a point last May (wow has it been almost  a year now?) that I felt like my weight loss had stalled.  It really had not, but the loss had slowed so much that it seemed like I was no longer loosing.

I started taking my measurements once a month.  So even if the scale didn't move much, I could see my body reshaping.

You don't mention exercise.  If you're not doing something to move your body, you may want to consider doing that.  Could be as easy as walking.  Or park at the back of the lot when grocery shopping.. carry your own bags out and return the cart all the way to the store.  Walk all the way around the store before allowing yourself to put anything in the cart.  There are lots of little ways you can fool yourself into getting E.. without it being an awful experience.

Like the others said could be your body adjusting. Not sure if you log your food, but maybe do that to make sure you're not eating too many calories. Is your, total amount, of food on track? Maybe try chicken in a different way so that it is moister. You may have to up or change your exercise pattern to help speed up your metabolism. I agree with Kate on the protein shakes, they won't keep you full and you may tend to over eat.   I hated plateaus, but would try and say to myself, that I was eating the allotted food my Dr recommends and exercising, so I'm doing everything right, the weight loss will have to continue and it did. Good luck and congrats on your success so far.

Hi Warren!
   If dense proteins are having a hard time going down and staying down, try mixing it up a little. You don't want to get stuck in a rut of only eating soft proteins. Try some of these and add them to your shopping list.

"Bun-less Chili Dog"- turkey frank with turkey chili & low fat cheese on top.

"Country Fried Chicken"-Morning Star Farms Original Chicken Patty w/packet country gravy on it.

"Tuna Melt"- Tuna salad on top of sliced tomato with low-fat cheese melted on top.

"Boneless Buffalo Wings"- Morning Star Farms Buffalo Wings w/light ranch dressing.

If you need a nighttime snack, SF puddings w/unflavored protein added; Cream-o'wheat cereal made w/milk; Whole grain oatmeal made w/milk + sweetener or a little brown sugar or honey.

Just some ideas so you can still be getting protein, but may go down easier as long as you cut them into "eraser size" bites and chew real well.

Remember: "Variety is the spice of life."

Good luck,
Jen-

hi Warren...we had same doctor! im at a stall.....i really need to get back on my eliptical....i notice as soon as i started eating carbs i stalled....i only get stuck on leftover chicken and i try to stay with the dark meat,,,,i also notice if i do not eat slow i get stuck.....try added some sauces in....i have a friend(also same doc) has issued with most meat ....are you getting enough liquids? or maybe drinking hot tea b 4 u eat .....i make my own shakes in morning cause im too tight then even without going for a fill in 6 months....

Warren,

Im in the same boat as  you right now. I have been stuck between 309 and 307 going back and forth now for about 2.5 weeks and its very frustrating.

I am following all the rules and execise 5 days a week .

I go back to the docs in two weeks and only have a 2 pound weight loss to show as of right now and I know they are going to push for a fill but I dont need one that is the problem .

I wi**** would be easy and I could say I need a fill Im eating to much but that just isnt the case for me.  I can still go a good 3-5 hrs without being hungry *sigh*

You are having the 3 month stall...you have lost 36 lbs in less than 3 months!  That's 3 lb per week!  On average, lap band patients lose 1-2 lbs per week, so you are in a transisiton week(s).  Hang in there, keep up the good work and the loss will start up again in a couple of weeks!
Shakes don't help you lose...eat protein and veggies!

1.  Patience.......your body need time to adjust to the new weight before it feel comfortable to contiunue giving up more fat.

2. Water, water and then when you tired of water, drink some more

3.  Protein shakes (IMO) is only good when you have had a fill to make sure all is well.  It should not be a meal.

4.  I not sure what you mean by small food??

5.  Looking at your post and dont see a mention of exercise???Are you running a marathron and just not telling? (smile)

6.  How are you eating the chicken?  Dark meat seem to work better (iMO) than white meat and I love to dip my chicken in a little fat free ranch dressing, it taste good and provide lub at the same time.

7.  Yogurt (imo) is a slider food, it will slide right down to the bottom and leave room on top to shove other food. If you are eating yogurt for breakfast...try oatmeal that is not made soup but firm.

8.  Get out the mind set of dinner food, and breakfast food.  Can you eat eggs?? To me that with some cheese was a good staple for dinner and it stayed with me for a while.    Eggs scramble with a bit of sausage loaded with protein and will stay with you a long time.

9.  I hope this help however it is a lot easier to provide help if you could be a little more specfic, for example.

Breakfast this is what I eat.....lunch.......dinner.......snack and I drink XXX ounces of water.

Congrats on your weightloss so far. You are doing great.