Thee-O

I personally think it is to soon to say the band is a failure. I do agree that you might want to increase your calorie intake a bit as your body may be in starvation mode and there for holding on to every pound. You really have only the band for 3 months now. I say circle back with your surgeon and see what they might do to help. Don't look at this a failure yet, look at this as fine tuning your diet, exercise and band in harmony so that you lose weight correctly.

I think it would be a good idea to try it out to get your head in the game. However most tend to be like the poster above, and treat the last few weeks before surgery as a one big last meal. But yeah preparing for you new life is always a good thing.

In my opinion this is where the good habits come in. The things we are told by our surgeons and RD's are not just for restriction, but also for proper weight loss and weight management. Just keep that in mind. I have lost over 50 with no fills and really just by following their rules regarding proper diet and exercise. You can do it, and this honestly is a good way of testing yourself and your overall habits. Man, if I can't eat fruit I don't ever want restriction! lol

Excellent results!! Way to go

I agree with checking in on the weight about once a week. Especially if you are lifting weights and building muscle than the improvement in the inches might be bigger than what you see on the scale since muscle is heavier than fat. Being obsessive with the scale isn't healthy in my opinion, but yes, you should always be accountable.

Great post and congrats on your success!

I went in for a follow up this morning with my Bariatric center. I weighed in and I have now lost over 50 lbs since my surgery on May 13th. I have had no fills (still no fill today), PA asked how I was doing it and explained my diet and exercise schedule. She was very proud of me and seemed to be happy with the way I am losing weight and suggested that I get fills when I am ready or when the weight loss is slowing, but she says to continue down the path that I am taking. She liked my behavior over restriction ideas and is in full support. So far so good. When I originally had the lap band I wanted to lose my first 50 lbs by my birthday (11/16), so I was able to beat it a couple of weeks early. Now the next goal is another 15 lbs by NYE. Wish me luck! Next scheduled appointment is in another 3 months. Feeling great!

The band didn't just do everything for you. You did a lot of the work. You changed your patterns and habits. You created life long lessons. The band is a tool, but you can continue the journey with out it. YOU can do this.

5 months in today. No Fills. I see my doctor the end of this month. I lost 40 lbs before surgery and another 42 after. The weight loss is gradual and I like that as I feel that is the best way to keep the weight off long term. For me, I wanted this to be a test of my will power rather than just forcefully limiting myself via lapband. I wanted this to be a lifestyle change and I wanted to change my behaviors forever. I do feel restriction. I have got stuck a few times which SUCKS! But I am also eating a lot less and a lot healthier than I used to. I stopped eating Rice, Potatoes and Bread. I cut out junk food and fast food. I work out at least 4 times a week. I am more active and have more muscle. I have lost a lot of inches. Went from a size 50 waist to a 42 and that is starting to feel a bit saggy. I went from a 4xl to a 2xl. Will I get fills in the future, probably. I am not "anti-fill" or anything like that, but to me the hardest part was getting my head right and the lap band seemed to help me with that. I think for me. I look at the surgery itself as my rock bottom in my food addiction. It really affected me that I let myself go to the point that surgery needed to be involved. That only encouraged me to really focus on my health and make long term changes. Everyone one is different and this is how I feel about things. thanks for reading.

What feeling don't you like? You are doing great!!! You are losing inches. You are healthier. You are a little less then half way to your goal in only 4 1/2 months? That is great!! I don't think you are looking at all the positives that have occurred in that time span. I had the surgery in May and I have chosen to have no fills so far. I figure we have this band in for life, so if I want some later, that is fine. I am focused on changing my lifestyle with better food and lots of exercise. That is the hard part. Fills are the easy part. To me you are doing great and I am sorry if you feel like your failing but getting ready to do your first 5k doesn't sound like failing to me.

Hi Melissa, I also suggest you take your husband with you to see your surgeon. That way he can ask any questions he may have regarding the surgery. Talking to the staff and the surgeon will hopefully put him at ease. I am a diabetic and this surgery has pretty much eliminated it. I don't have to take the meds I once did. I feel great. I have lost 40 lbs before the surgery and another 42 so far after the surgery on May 13th. It was the best thing I ever did for my health and honestly this procedure is one of least evasive weight loss surgeries around. You have nothing to worry about but to help you and your husband feel at ease I suggest you do your research and try to have your surgery done with a Center of Excellence. Good luck to you and I wish you the best.

My typical daily meal: Breakfast: Yogurt Parfait with Granola Lunch: Trader Joe's Packaged Salads. Today I had the Super Spinach salad that had Spinach, Quinoa, Carrots, Cranberries, Chickpeas, Edamame, pumpkin Seads and a Carrot Ginger Dressing (SOOO GOOD) Dinner: Grilled Cajun Salmon and Aspargus Snacks: Jamba juice smoothie. 16 oz berry Fulfilling with Energy, whey Protein and Extra banana. I also love the Think Thin Protein Bars. So good. I also take in about 100 ounces of Water a day.

I am 4 and a half months out. No fills and 42 lbs lighter. I am not dieting per se but I am watching what goes into my body more. I thought of getting the band as more of a lifestyle change more than anything. It changed the way I look at food. I still enjoy food but no longer look for it as a source of comfort for me like I used to. I am also a lot more active then I used to be. I didn't get the surgery thinking I wouldnt have fills. I just thought I would do what my surgeon requested. The two times I saw him for fills he was fine with the amount I am losing. The last time I saw him he said he would let me on my own for a while (my next appointment is at the end of the month). I think as long as I am losing I will choose to not get fills. Hard work, determination and will power. The lap band helps but the rest is up to you.

Why yes they are! I took it last week while I was on Vacation in Mazatlan. thank you for noticing and I am glad you like my random thoughts

Dibley that is the exact way I am treating this. I am so glad that there are those of us that the band has word for in a mental way. Keep doing what you are doing and I am very happy for you.

Thank you Carymom, I appreciate it. Keep doing what you are doing. Sounds like you are doing things right. Just get your protein in. Have you started exercising yet? Good luck and keep at it

That is great Thisisme. I think that is the best way to use your band. The fact that you have been so successful without fills is a testament to your willpower and devotion to a change in lifestyle.

Right on Steeler Fan. Glad to see there are others working the band in a similar way. You are inspiring. Keep it up.

So sorry to hear that but at least you are learned some valuable lessons from the short time you had it. Good luck on your continued journey.

My father asked me recently since I am pretty much doing this the old fashioned way of diet and exercise if I felt I needed the surgery. I do feel I needed it. It was my wake up call. It got so bad for me and my weight that I needed to have surgery. That to me woke my ass up. The surgery was totally needed for me....but really to get my head right. I love food. Still love food. But I am loving healthier foods now. I gave up bread, potatoes and rice. I work out 4 times a week. I want this to be a life change for me. Not a diet. I need to be able to say that If the band was removed that I could still do this. Do I feel restriction? Yes. I have had a few stuck episodes if I eat to fast. I don't eat nearly what I used to eat in the past and it helps me stay satisfied for hours which is really what I needed it for. So yes I do feel some restriction. I know I could be losing faster if I got fills but I am not in a race to lose the weight. I want to do it steady. I have averaged 10 lbs a month. To me that is fine. 5 lbs a month is fine. I just love that the scale keeps moving downward no matter how slowly. I am gaining a lot of muscle from working out so I am sure that is why I plateau a bit. I am not worried. I see the inches falling off and I feel great. So I will have the band in me for the rest of my life. I have plenty of time for fills....but I needed to get my head right first... at least that is the way I see it.

So I have a question. How are you working the band? After being on the boards for a few months now, I see a lot of differing opinions at how to work with the band. Some of you seem to be all about the restriction. To be able to not eat that much and that is how you are going to lose the weight. My concern with this method is that what happens if the band needs to be removed for a medical reason? What if the restriction just dissipated over time. What would happen then? Because really, the behavior hasn't changed. The habits are still the same. For some (myself included) the band really helped with habit modification. The lap band was my rock bottom in my food addiction and getting surgery flipped a switch in my head that I need to make better choices in life. Restriction cannot change the way you behave and look at food. Only a good long look in the mirror can do that. Restriction cannot force you into the gym. Only you can do that. I haven't had fills for this reason. I want to do this on my own. I want to build better habits and if needed I have a adjustable band in me that can help me along the way, but I don't ever want to rely solely on that. So my question is.... what works for you and why do you think it does?

I hear you loud and clear and I agree. I think some people think this surgery is a magic bullet. The commercials on TV from some of the surgery centers make you feel like it is a magic bullet but it is hard work. Very hard. But sooooo worth it. Remember people, you didn't get fat overnight....and you aren't going to get thin overnight. Slow and steady wins the race. Just keep pushing and keep obtaining those small goals to get to that larger one.

That is kind of how the band worked for me. I know how to lose weight. I know the things I need to change, but really it was the surgery that shored everything up for me. It helps keeps me accountable. It reminds me when I screw up and helps set me on the right path. I personally haven't had any fills in the band because I really want it to be because of my hard work and effort that I am losing the weight. Some have asked then why have the surgery. The surgery was my rock bottom in my addiction to food. To me it was my wake up call and that is exactly what I needed it to be. Remember the band is a tool. You determine how you want to use it.You can do things as fast or as slow as you need them to be for you. I don't know you but from how you describe yourself, this would work for you. Whatever you decide, good luck on your journey and yeah I would hesitate of doing the RNY.

It sounds like you know what you are doing wrong. It may be time to talk to a therapist because it still seems like that addiction to food is creeping up on you. You shouldn't be eating chips and ice cream on any weight loss program. Even though we had surgery, it doesn't mean we don't make changes. I suggest you get back on the wagon. You can do it. Also...slow down on the meals. I know it is hard but take your time, you will feel satisfied longer.

I am also diabetic. Since the surgery my blood sugars have stabilized. Before surgery I was around 270-340. Now I range from 90-120. I tend to stay away from the foods that the body converts to sugar and anything with HFCS. I stay away from bread, potatoes and rice. Exercise as much as you can and get your Protein in from drinks for right now although I would get back on solid protein as soon as you can.