Question:
I am completly ready to give up.

I had lap band on Dec 11th 2007. I have lost 40 pounds since my surgery and i am so frustrated that i just wanna give up. I know that 40 pounds gone is good but i had to fight for every one of thos pounds that I lost. For the first three months after surgery I was bad and didn't follow all the rules. I ate the wrong foods and ate too much of the wrong foods. I had very little restriction untill the end of May. But since the end of may I have completly changed my eating habits and I walk two miles every single day. (never miss a day of walking.) I lost 12 pounds before surgery and 28 in the past months. I can't beleive i have not lost anymore weight then this. I barely get to eat anything and i'm exercising daily. I drink water water water all day long and nothing is working. Has anyone else had this same problem? Am i the only person losing this slow. I know the band is just a tool but I am using my tool the right way and I feel like I'm failing.    — willish (posted on August 22, 2008)


August 21, 2008
I hear you!! I had my surgery 1/9/08 I lost a total of 50 but 22 was before surgery. I too feel very discouraged. I have an appt on 9/15 but I realy can't get another fill because I can hardly keep food down now. I too have worked hard to lose every one of the 28 post surgery pounds. My husband had the surgery in January also he did not lose much before surgery but has lost 70 pounds in total. He works out every day but has also fallen back to old habits, like snacking at night. I wish I had better news for you but stick with it. Keep drinking water and exercising. I know I would not have lost the 50 without the surgery but was really hoping to lose at least another 50. I would still be overweight but at least more managable. I also made an appt with my nut to see if there is something else I should or could be eating that would help. I have also thought about going back on the 5 day ketosis diet to get a kick start to losing again. Good Luck and keep up the good work. Linda
   — changemyshape

August 21, 2008
I had surgery April 2nd 2008 it is now almost september and I've lost 27 lbs that's IT. I' too am frustrated beyond belief. I do what I'm told I exercise i eat right and am filled to the max. GRRRRR
   — Danielle T.

August 21, 2008
I was banded almost 2years ago....and the weight loss is very slow....one thing you can not forget is that it took a long time to put on and equally to take off. If I have a loss, I am thrilled! If you are at a stand still, try something new...to break the cycle. I go to curves to work out and when I need a jump start, I go back to the curves eating program, because it worked for me. Try going back to the basics. Remember ANY LOSS is still A LOSS......And NOT a GAIN! EVEN if you are just maintaining...is is not a GAIN! That is how I keep going! GOOD LUCK!
   — Marie B.

August 22, 2008
Are you getting at least 65 grams of solid protein in a day....are you eating more than four ounces at a time...are you drinking with your meals.( Very big nono )...are you drinking enough water....are you exercising.....are you following the rules set out for you....are you chewing your food to mush......these are all hugh factors to you losing weight....if you lose 1 to 2 pounds per week then you are doing good.....your body has to stop and compact about every eight weeks ...during that time you will not lose pounds but you will lose inches......go to Yahoo Groups and type in BandBuddies....that group is awesome and can help you work thru anything.....this is a good site but if you are banded also go and get info from a site that deals with that.....ya'll are good strong people and you can succeed....remember that the banmd is around your stomach....not your head....so whatveer food issues you had before surgery you will still have and you have to work thru that......the band is just a tool and is only as good as you let it be,,,,we have people that have lost way over a hundred pounds in a year so it is possible....but the band will not and can not do the work for you....it's a partnership.....check out Band Buddies at yahoo Groups. Pam / Ft Worth Bandster Bites Silverware [email protected]
   — pphillips4720aol.com

August 22, 2008
i had lap band nov 07 and have lost 42 pounds,i too wish it were more but my clothes are loose and i am starting to hang skin under my arms and i haven't weighed this low in over 20 years! People what is the rush! they say in 2 or 3 yrs it equals the other surgery. Typical americans got to have it now can't wait blah , blah blah. Just enjoy where we are at and you will get there.
   — milljh

August 22, 2008
I was banded on 4-16-08 and I am down 45 pounds and lots and lots of inches. I am at a stand still right now, but I think I have gained muscle, which weighs more than fat. I do water aerobics 3-4 days per week and eat right and the weight loss is good but I had to move up the seat in the car, I can cross my legs and I can get into clothes that I haven't been able to wear in years. I was told it is not just the SCALE weight but the NON victory accomplishments also and like it says, you didn't put the weight on overnight and it sure won't go away overnight. I haven't been this weight in 20 years and every bit I have struggled with to lose is a feather in my hat. Men lose their weight faster also. Good Luck....Diane
   — dyates2948

August 22, 2008
I got my band 12/28/07 and have lost 72#. I hit a plateau for a while and have recently gotten back to the losing side of things. I talked with my Dr. about it and because of my increased activity, I had to also increase my calorie intake by 300 cal. per day. I also had to increase my protein intake. Once I did that I started losing again about 4# per week. Talk it over with your doctor, I keep a food journal to help me keep track of exactly how many calories and grams of protein I get every day. Good luck, don't give up!!!!
   — HBSantis

August 23, 2008
You say you "barely get to eat anything" that tells me that you are maybe too tight and not able to get in your 1200 calories a day. I don't lose if i'm not getting 1200 cals a day. I was banded on 4-1 and am down 43lbs and about 43inches over all. I had a stall that lasted 27 days, so i went back to loggin my food intake on Fitday.com and found i was only eating about 900 cals per day. So i started planning my food each morning and stuck to that plan each day so that i was getting in the whole 1200. That broke the stall and i lost 3lbs that wk. Also, you are building some muscle and it weighs more then fat. Have you taken your measurements? I don't exercise regularly, but i am moving more and stay busier then preband. My inches are changing faster then the lbs. Are you posting this on the Lapband board? Sandy R has a bandster guide that she has written and is used by Dr's that she would be very happy to send to you. Really is helpful. If you arn't on the Lapband forum, pls come there and you will get tons of support to help break you stall. Good luck and God bless. kristi
   — Kristi H.

August 23, 2008
I was banded 4/19/07. I have lost 95#. There are times it is slow, but it works. Pam has very good advise, suggestions and questions you need to answer. Remember that the band is SLOW HEALTHY weight loss, an average of 1-2 lbs a week. At 6 months out I had lost only 35 lbs & 12 of that from pre-op. Yes, I was frustrated, but remembered why I chose lapband & settled in. If you are feeling deprived in your food then perhaps you are eating too fast. I find that is true for me. If I take my time & eat over the full 1/2 hour regardless of how little I've eaten, I find I savored the taste, enjoyed the meal & do not feel deprived. It's when I TRY (not easy w/restriction) to eat in a limited time (15 minutes or less) I not only get bad results, but feel deprived for the small amount of food I can manage to eat. Also if you have ben doing the same exercise program for a few months your body may need a change, (about every 8-12 wks) as it learns the routine & adapts so it decreases the metabolism. Have to keep changig your routine so your body has to keep working.
   — Donna O.

August 23, 2008
If you can barely eat anything, perhaps you are too tight and are in starvation mode to where your body will hold on to everything. Great job with the exercise. Are you logging your daily intake? I recommend Sparkpeople.com. Sometimes the answer is clear in the numbers you will see after you track for a week or so. Too many carbs, not enough protein, etc. I will review the LapBand rules as I know them below and in using them, I have been very successfull in losing 135#: 1) Eat 3 meals a day, no snacks. 2) No more than 30 gms per day of non-green veggie carbs 2) Drink at least 64 oz of water or non carbonated, sugar free liquids per day... most should be water. 3) Do not drink 30 minutes before or after a meal. I try to go up to one hour after to stay fuller longer. 4) Eat all of your protein first, then move on to veggies. 5) 70% of your meal should be protein, 30% should be veggies. Green veggies have fewer carbs. 6) Avoid carbs, ie; potatoes, sugar, rice, starches, flours, etc. 7) Exercise at least 10 minutes/day, anything extra is a benefit. 8) Get all inappropriate food out of the house. 9) Write everything you eat down for a week and track the numbers. Take this to doc/nutritionist with you. 10) See your surgeon at least once per month. 11) Attend support group meetings. Ask for help. 12) Don't put it into your mouth if you don't know the carb content. I am a self pay so I pay my surgeon a fee which covers unlimited visits and I take advantage of that. I will see him every 2 weeks in times of struggle to tweak my fill amount so that restriction is just right and to face the scales and the doc. If I am doing well on my own, I will see him once per month. I also recommend not weighing every day. Avoid slippery foods that won't keep you full because they quickly pass through your stoma like yogurt, oatmeal, certain drinks, etc. Please, e-mail me if you'd like and perhaps I can help. I've been at this for a while and would love to help you. Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC [email protected]
   — DawnVic

August 24, 2008
I did not do the lap band but had RYN...so i really donr know what you have been told about what to eat...but I know my nut said to get at least 90g of protein a day ...the more the better....The more protein the quicker the weight comes off... Good luck Elisa
   — british88




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