2 years post lap-band... Weight Plateau!! Need Advice

Hey guys! I haven't been on here in about a year... a recap: Received lap band in 10/09.. to this date have lost 63 lbs. I have maintained my weight loss, which is GREAT!! However, I haven't lost any in the last year. I stay at 165 lbs. I haven't had a fill in 1 year. I would like to lose more weight. Here is my dilemma.. If i eat too fast ( which is a bad habit), I will throw up my food, which explains why I haven't had a fill in a long time. However, if I take my time eating.. I can pretty much keep down whatever I want and in LARGER portion sizes than a lap-band patient is supposed to consume. Should I get my band tightened and try to be disciplined on following the rules?? OR should I keep my band filled where it is and do a weight loss program such as WW?? Any advice would be helpful!! Hope everyone has a great day.

Hi,
I am at seven months so I don't have too much advice except to pump up the excercise and reduce the portion sizes.  I really just wanted to comment on the picture of the Boxer- so cute!  I love Boxers!

As we ALL know and is regurgatated our WLS is just a tool to HELP us.  

Based on your statement about being ABLE to eat a LARGER portion of food when you eat "properly" then yes a small fill could do you justice.

Based on your statement about eating to FAST and throwing up, the NO to the fill.

My question to you is your bad habit of eating to fast mean MORE to you then reaching your goal and using your tool effectively?

It's a HARD question to answer and since my 25lb regain I ask that question to MYSELF (for my issue) on a daily basis.  We've all heard they operated on our stomachs and not our heads.

Much success to you and MAINTAINING your loss is definitely a SUCCESS!!

Ms Shell

This is a tricky one.

I would try and hold off on the fill since you are already having episodes of vomiting now. Being too tight is a misery you want to avoid if at all possible.

With the band, your pre-op stomach is still all in there. And unless you are stuck, food will eventually pass through the pouch to the stomach. So, even when the band is working properly, if you stretch a meal out long enough, you can always eat around the band. This is somewhat true for VSGers as well as we can eat around our surgery if we graze all day long.

Anyway, I think the answer for you right now is to go back to measuring. Measure out your portion, sit down and eat it, and then when you are satisfied, put it away and call the meal over. Make sure you aren't spreading your meals out over a significant time period allowing you to eat more.

Are you having any food intolerances? Can you tolerate dense protein? Make sure you are eating protein first as that may stay in your pouch longer giving you more satisfaction.

I would give those changes a try for a couple of weeks to see if it makes any difference. If not, then maybe a small fill is the answer.

Keep us updated!

Best,
Lindsey

 

Thanks to both of you for the advice!! I will definitely apply it for a few weeks and reevaluate... I like those questions Ms. Shell!! Makes my brain think.. which I think has been my problem most of my life.. I use food to make myself happy! Lindsey, I will use your advice.  I noticed that you had a revision from the lap-band to VSG. Did you have any weight loss/success with the band? What problems did it give you to revise? Congrats to both of you on your success!

I lost about 65 lbs with my band the first year I had it, but after that, I started having random tightening to the point where I often couldn't even keep water down.

I was constantly having unfills, but any time I tried to get the slightest fill, the random tightening would occur again. So I would go from being unable to eat anything to being wide open and able to eat just like pre-op. So, my next nearly 2 years with the band I spent gaining anything I had initially lost back and eventually just had to be completely unfilled.

I was lucky to have a smooth revision. So glad to hear that your band story is going better than mine did! lol


Lindsey

wow!! I'm sorry to hear you had all that trouble, but at least your in a much better place now. So, did they tell you what was causing that, did it slip?

I could have so written that same post...I don;t want another fill. I to have stopped losing..even after my fill in June.. I have 4.4cc's in a 10cc band.. First fill 4cc's and second fill .6cc's. I get stuck and I do slim.. I try to eat right..But there are times I too, can eat way more then I should.. I haven't lost any weight since my fill in June... I also thought of WW......Hugs....Lucky

Maybe just a slight fill will get you going again.  I had about a 9 month stall and finally got a .3 fill.  It did the trick and I started losing again.

I got a fill yesterday (just 1/4cc) ---- I could eat like you describe.

If I ate too big a bite, or too quickly, I would 'refund the food' --- but if i was careful and thoughtful, I could eat way too much -- and I was thinking about food alot.

The little fill I got has taken me back to 'careful eating' mode --- I fixed 1/3 cup of chili today --- and ate it, instead of the 1Cup or more that I ate last week -- and it was plenty.

With a little tweak of my band, I am eating more slowly and carefully -- and being reminded what it feels like to have to pay attention.  I am not hungry all day long.