still not losing after 4 fills

I sent you a personal message. Hope it helps .. Hope you're doing better now :) !!

I feel exactly like you do!!! OMG...finally. I just want the band to stop me from eating like a pig. When I go to have a meal, I only want to eat 1Cup, not 2 plates. I know what you mean. I lost almost 20lbs on the pre-op diet, and not an ounce more since ( i was banded July 30, 2009)I've actually gained 4, then lost 3, so I am still down 19lbs. But I am SOOO frustrated and also feel like it was a waste. If I could diet, I would have done it without having surgery- DUH!!! I am still hopefull though, that I just don't have enough of a fill yet. HOPEFULLY!!! Keep in touch with me. By the way, I exercise like a maniac, and still am not losing bc I eat too much, but that is WHY I got the band. I'm so glad you understand me.

Thanks for the support.  I saw my surgeon Wednesday and will be getting my fifth fill on the 28th.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will finally work. 

I have 8cc in my Realize Band.  It wasn't until now that I felt that I had good restriction, possibly a tad on the tight side.  I'm going back 10/03 and may have a slight unfill.  I am able to keep my portions down, however I can only eat mushies until late afternoon.  I watch what goes into my mouth.  It just makes sense that if I put ice cream, shakes, hi cal stuff in that I won't loose weight.  I get full whether I eat 'badly' or the good food that they have told you to eat.  So what is the difference?  Weight loss.  I do daily cheat a little, like a little more sugar than I am suppose to, but I balance that out.  I am not a strict adherer to the diet they gave us, but I do pay attention to what is going into my mouth.  The band teaches me, those things that it doesn't like, but if you eat around the band, then you lose.

Good luck,
Terri

Hi,  I have 7cc in my band.  I am just now feeling decent restriction, but I don't think I am at that sweet spot yet.  I made an app for 2 months from now because I want to give myself some time to work at this level.  That being said, I haven't lost any weight in 3 weeks. I hardly eat anything, but I think thats the problem, my metabolism has slowed because I am not eating very much.  I do work out regularly, but maybe it isn't enough either.  My point is that it takes time to figure it all out and like you I thought it would just fall off, but it doesn't. 

Thank you for responding.  I'm scheduled for a fill tomorrow morning.  I'm hopeful but starting to think that this just isn't going to work for me.  I really hope I'm wrong.  

Thanks and I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Take care,
Rachel 

I went through a lot of messages to find you. I too have had difficulty with the band.  I got my band 8/09 and have only lost and gained 30 lbs back and forth.  I choke on everything if I have a fill. Even without the fill I spontaneously vomit certain foods. I can and do eat other foods, resort to soft foods, have no sense of restriction or being full.  I have been in therapy all year. I have given away hundreds of dollars of carb foods and restarted my protein focus 8-10 times.  I am too heavy and have knee problems, work 12 hours shifts as a nurse and of course lose momentum in any excercise or food program. I couldn't do this before I got the band , and I see no help in the band at all.  I feel I didn't get enough insight into how difficult this would be for me, how much resistance I still had, etc, etc. I think I should have had the RNY and am thinking about it now.  Comments would be great!

I feel your pain!!  It took 9 fills before the band started working for me.  Along the way I learned that I had to do my part. I didn't want to hear that bit of advice from anyone.  I thought this band was going to do all the work.  I'm sorry to say.. It doesn't.   Meaning, I have to eat healthy foods.  Nothing processed.  I don't buy anything that comes in a box.  I eat whole foods..lean proteins, veggies, fruits and 100% whole grains.  I do have a piece of dark chocolate a couple times a week.  I like the mediterranean diet.  But I don't diet, I just live a healthy life.

I started at 238 lbs and this morning the scale said 165. 

Somewhere along my journey I just decided that I want to be healthy.  Not just thin, but truly healthy.  I believe that's when it became easier for me.  I stopped trying to lose weight and just focused on being healthy. 

I know how bad you want this to work..It will work..if it's tight enough and if you work it. 

I've found that planning is key.  I have to stick to a schedule. I eat every 2-3 hrs.  If I let myself get hungry I will overeat.  
Here is how my typical day will go:

6:15am         Coffee w/ honey and creamer
7:00am         water
7:45am        One egg and 2 bites of fruit or avocado
8:45am          low sodium V-8 (this has really helped me)
10:00am      2% String cheese & grapes
11:00am        water
12:00noon   Italian Tuna Salad on Red Bell Pepper  (tuna w/ diced onion, capers, lemon juice & olive oil)   my favorite
1:00pm        Coffee w/ honey and creamer
2:00pm        iced tea sweetened with real fruit juice (apple, grape, pomegranite, blueberry, etc.) I mix 2 parts tea with 1 part juice.
3:00pm        one sqaure of dark chocolate, apple with a little peanut butter
4:00pm         water
5:30pm        Sauted chicken breast or lean protein, veggie and brown rice or other 100% whole grain.
6:30pm       small glass of fruit juice
7:00pm        water
8:30pm         leftover Italian Tuna Salad on Red Pepper.  Yep, that's right I'm eating before bed.  It works for me. 
9:30pm        glass of skim/fat free milk

Wow, that's a long list...Keep in mind that my meals are fairly small.  I eat protein first, then vegie, then whole grain.  Some proteins fill me up better than others.  Again, If I wait until I'm hungry to eat then I eat too much.  
I don't drink 1/2 hr before, during or 1 hr after my meals.  I have found that if I take a drink of very cold water, it will tighten my band a little.  And warm liquids will loosen it.  I have to eat slowly, chew, chew, chew and chew some more.   There are some foods that I can't eat anymore.  That's ok because my body didn't need them anyway.  I don't use artificial sweeteners. I eat real, natural food.  I don't exercise.  I love to be outside...I have a vegetable garden and a flower garden.  And of course my kids and housework keep me busy.  But I don't exercise.  I do things that I enjoy doing. 

Please keep in touch.  I completely understand how you are feeling.  I'm here if you need me.

Sincerely,
Rachel

Rachel,

I need to declare this .. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU !!

Your original post was full of disgust and despair, and now look at you !! A beacon of Success !!

Keep up the great work, and thanks for sharing your success. You’ll probably don’t realize how many folks you have help sharing your story !!

Hi Rachel,

That's awesome you have come back to let us know you are doing well! I wondered how much you have in your band now? I just got my 5th fill on Monday and am at 5.25 cc, but still not sure what I should be feeling. I have heard people say they have a signal that they are full. I stick to my portion sizes, I have been losing weight, but slowly. But, am I supposed to get a signal that I am full OR is this done by just eating your portion sizes?

Thank you again for coming back and posting!

Paulette