Tonia Duty Keo Bailey

I got my 3rd fill this past Tuesday, as planned. They put in 1.5cc's and for the very first time, I felt a difference. My hunger and appetite actually felt under control. After about 3 days, I am now feeling hungrier again, and I have made some bad food choices, have over-eaten twice, and ate too fast once. I must have had some swelling causing more restriction and that is gone now.

The good news is, I do not feel hopeless any more. I am not at the "sweet spot" yet. I am making mistakes, doing wrong things, but the difference now is I know that I have changed and am going to change more. I know my hunger CAN be controlled now, and with the right fill, it WILL be controlled. I started counting calories, writing down what I'm eating and deliberately making good choices most of the time for the past 4 days.

I have hope that I will be able to lose weight now. I have hope that I am and will continue to change my eating habits to a healthy lifestyle of healthy foods. I have hope that as my body cleans out, weight decreases and energy increases, that I will be strong enough to start exercising and get stronger.

I have Hope. Thank God.

Hi, I am from Canada too although I did not go to Slimband. I had my surgery in September and have had 5 fills so far! Why have you only had one? The general rule is once every four weeks - no sooner (at least with my office). My band was completely emptied after surgery due to complications. So I started from zero.
Dont feel bad about the slow weightloss, it is not your fault! You need to get into the green zone and until then it will be hard to lose weight. Look at my stats below, nothing to brag about for sure!! I am eating about a third of what I used to eat and still not budging. I am still working on getting to that elusive green zone. I am getting discouraged, but this is for life so I hope it will work for me!!
There was another girl here who has been complaining about Slimband since the Dr.Yau issue and not returning her calls. Hope you are doing OK and get somewhere with them! They have to do something, they cant leave all of their clients hanging!!

I'm 6 months post op and have 5.7 cc in my 14 cc band and am just now started to feel restriction, but that's after 6 fills. My weight stood still for 3 months but I'm finally losing again. You have to look at this as a journey, it's not quick loss. Don't get me wrong, I was getting discouraged but I have lapbander friends who are still encouraging me. Remember, it's a journey and a tool, you still have to make good food choices AND exercise. My stall was a lot of my fault, my portions were much smaller but my food choices were not good and I sat on my butt and was lazy during the holidays.

Ditto!

The only way you can have an adverse effect is if you are super negative and put other people down by telling them they are wrong, stupid or what not. We're here to support you. We're your band-family. None of my friends or family are banded and while they try to be supportive they just don't get it. Depression and bad expectations are unfortunately normal around here. Just vent if you need to, you are not alone.

Tonia, you don't ever need to worry about having an adverse effect -- hopefully you will chime in whenever you want and know that you don't have to be a cheerleader or winning the races all the time. We all struggle and it's good to know that no one is alone. It is a difficult thing, the battle of weight issues and all that involves -- and you are in good company. Best wishes to you!

You can't fix what's broken if you don't have support. Even though we are not your family we still can help with any concerns you might have. The only way the band will work is if you are willing to change your eating habits. I know it sounds like any other diet but it really isn't. We have spent all of our life poisoning our bodies with food that it's hard to let go of those old habits. You will feel so much better mentally and physically when you change your eating habits. It certainly wouldn't hurt to see someone about your depression either. You have to take baby steps but you had surgery and you need to work on that so you can feel better about your self.

My surgeon doesn't share fill amounts because it can become obsessive and it doesn't really matter because each person is different. The goal is to find the "sweet spot" -- that place where the band is dimming your appetite. You will get there! I had to have six fills. When I was first banded, I had no appetite and thought maybe I was some one who wouldn't ever even need a fill. That was right before the appetite returned and prior to my first fill (I didn't have any Fluid in my band at placement). I had read so much about this on the forum that I wasn't worried -- I just tried to eat well and I focused on exercise. Plus all the behavior modification issues -- eating very slowly (I practiced with the oven timer), using tiny utensils and actually putting them down between bites -- very hard for me for some reason. Noticing, noticing, noticing all those times when I want to go for food just because I am anxious about something. Figuring out my triggers. Basically working the program prior to the real dimming of the appetite, which as I said did not happen for me until I got that sixth fill. But each consecutive one gave me the opportunity to learn more about what works well for me food-wise. How very well I have to chew my food, how slippery or rubbery foods are not good for me. I needed to learn that before I had too much restriction. You are getting there! Of course this is a terrible time of year, at least where I live. It is bleak and icy and muddy and we're expecting another storm. Easy to be down in the dumps for every reason but know that spring is coming. You have made this choice for your healthy new life. Celebrate!

I am not an expert or anything, but this is what I would do: 1. start a diary of your food intake (you can try my fitness pal); 2. are you exercising? 3. more Protein less carbs; 4. eat more strategically (what I mean with this is - when you are hungry, eat something more filling with low calories - like an egg white veggie omelet).
Please don't be discouraged. You are still brand new at this and it honestly takes time. Maybe the amount of ccs that they say you have aren't correct either. I have heard of some people mention on here before that they thought they had a certain amount of ccs in their band, to find out it was incorrect.

the band is a lot of work. I have a 14 cc band and now have 8.5 cc in it. I am also 9 mos. out. while I was waiting for the band to work I still ate smaller amounts and pretended I was restricted. this is a learning time for you. what foods work and ones that don't. if you don't learn to eat small, chew thoroughly, and eat slowly you are not going to like it when you are feeling restriction. take a deep breath. read how the band works. once you get to the green zone you will lose wt. but you can lose wt now if you work at it. I wish you luck. don't sabotage yourself now. you are only 2 mos. into this. it takes awhile.

Good point Cheryl, no one has mentioned the very critical visit to the nutritionist. First mistake I made was to break the 'no drinking when eating' rule. If you drink fluids when you eat you make the food slide down faster and then your "I'm full" feeling doesn't happen when it should. Also Protein protein protein! Always prioritize your protein to make sure you are getting enough. I am 5 weeks out and haven't lost a lb in 4 weeks, I even gained 2 during PMS. My support group meeting held by the nut reminded me of the basics I had already forgotten. I came home feeling better about this LONG TERM journey on the back of a SLOW TURTLE. Lots of love

Yeah as some of the others have posted - what exactly are you eating to make up your food intake (fully 100% honest about every little bite, nibble or sip). Measure/weigh your food to account for everything. Do you have myfitnesspal? A number of us log everything in there. My username is the same as here if you want to friend me. I still drink alcohol (and probably more than I should) so that adds empty calories and is slowing my progress.
I was banded Dec 16th. My doctor gave my first fill 6 weeks post op and my second fill isn't till 6 weeks later. I'm pretty hungry too but trying my best to control portion sizes. I'm eating more frequently but small little meals. I was given 4.8cc in my 10cc band and I'm hungry most of the time too. I never feel full, get the pain in the shoulder, hiccup, nose sniffles, or any other signal but just reach a point I feel I should stop eating. I feel like I'm just on a regular eat less diet.
Are you eating gluten and could you have a gluten intolerance? I've heard of many people who eat grains / gluten of any kind will just pack (keep) on the pounds, stay bloated and stay hungry. If I have bread, I notice that the scale will add a pound or two for a couple of days.
Also, are you working out? Even though the scale might not be moving, maybe you're gaining more muscle. Are your clothes fitting better?
Have you had blood work done recently? Could your thyroid or some other hormone be off this keeping the weight on you?
I wish you the best. It's definitely a struggle when you want to be in the green and no longer be hungry. I get that. I'm just trying to have the patience needed till I get my second fill next week.

Okay let's get a run down of what you are eating. Only then can someone help you. What do you eat for your three meals and are you snacking. This time is hard because it's up to you to do the work. Being stressed and depressed is not helping with your weight loss and will hinder it. I think you need to talk to your doctor. Sometimes fills do not ever get rid of hunger I know just ask me. It's just something I have learned to live with. Instead of being in total break down mode explain what you are doing and maybe we can help. Weight loss depends on high Protein, low carb, sleep, moving your bowels regularly, not being stressed, depressed and getting in 64 ounces of Water not liquids Water a day.

What 2muchfun said!

You may be in the group I'm in. I require a lot to feel restriction. I was depressed like you when I first got mine. My Dr wouldn't do a fill till I was six week post-op. I had to go every week the first two months of my fills. I also followed the advise of my nutritionist. I bought clear bins for the fridge and organized my food and keep it separate from everyone else's food. Sounds crazy since it's all in the same fridge, but it real helps.

Yes, you are expecting too much. Listen up!! Your band will not help you at all till it's adjusted properly!! This is a process that can take up to 6 months to accomplish.
If you're hungry, eat. Just try to make sure you're eating healthy foods and not slider foods or processed foods. No need to feel like you're starving.
Until you get the fill/adjustment that gives you some restriction, this is just another diet.

I feel this is where lap banders split and take a different fork in the meal...I mean, road. Some patiently wait for the green zone, meanwhile not losing or sometimes even gaining. The others basically diet during this time. Low carb or low cal, high Protein, watch portions, etc. Neither one is the right way. You have to do it your way.
You were just banded in January? Your progress is impressive. Plateaus happen. Maybe do something to jump start. Watch your calories for a few days or start exercising or increase exercise.

What does your doctor say?

Your story is a familiar one. Unfortunately many of us were led to believe the journey starts right after surgery but that's just not true. Your journey will not start till you get the adjustment that gives you the satiety you need to eat less food for longer periods of time.
I've seen it where some of the lucky ones begin immediately after surgery and some who have waited a year to find the green zone or even enough restriction/satiety to limit their food intake.
It took me 3 fills/adjustments and 4 months before my journey really took off. I was in "Bandster Hell" like you for nearly 4 months and it bites. But, like a painful kidney stone, the pain and anger is all in the past now. Good luck and be patient.

Wow. 6ccs already? I am over a year out and just now have 8cc's in a 14cc band. I am getting close to the green zone but not quite. First you are ONLY 7 weeks out. You are still healing from the surgery. This is not a magic bullet that has huge, instant results. It is a process. My advice is to talk to your doctor and nutritionist and reevaluate your expectations. You will get there; not over night, but then again you didn't put the weight on over night (or even in 7 weeks.)

I'm 5 months in 9.2cc with a 10cc band. I'm having same issues. Don't give up for some of us it just takes longer.

Hang in there. I'll be one year post op at the end of April. I'm at 9 cc on a 14 cc band and I'm now just starting to feel some restriction. At least I think it's restriction. Keep your chin up.