YngGram

Its much harder years out - your body has already given up its easy weight loss, your metabolism and system settles to having the band in place, your mental attitude adjusts, its no longer new and exciting so the easy motivation isnt there, your body is used to and efficient at the exercise you've been doing, I could go on and on.

If I gain a pound or two now, it takes an enormous amount of work to get it off. I just cant lose weight quickly and easily anymore - mainly because I've got so little on me anyway, but also probably because I'm 6 years older and am now menopausal. After chemo, I also cant handle quite the same amount of exercise either - knees and hips hurt, even my elbows hurt from Body Pump, lol.

Its hard slog at this stage, no doubt about it. I also find that my band works, but not in the same way it used to. I think because the foods I choose have changed so much, I've figured out what I can eat easily and my tastes tend towards those things - when I was continuously still trying to eat things like sandwiches, toast, steaks etc I ate much much less because the more solid foods filled me up. Now I'll always choose a yogurt and a granola bar for lunch instead and I actually ingest more calories that way - its kind of a natural process that you need to be aware of to stay on top of. I try to make a point to eat what I actually DONT feel like eating - because usually what I dont feel like eating is a more difficult food that will fill me up faster with less calories than the slider type foods I'd naturally choose. This is a constant battle for me - if I didnt work at it, I'd graze on slider foods all day long and never eat a proper meal.

I've also learned at this stage for me, it does no good really to get another fill, tighter isnt the answer for me, its mental.

WOW!!! Thank you. I have been kicking my own butt for over a month. I got a fill about 2 weeks ago and even that hasn't helped. I got down to 173 (-5) in the first 4 days following the fill. And then started to climb back up. I am NOT hungry, I really can't eat most mornings and try a yogurt or Protein drink. Then I can't eat any lunch and really have to push myself to get some dinner in. This is making me nuts. I have a wedding to attend in 3 weeks and I had wanted to get off about 5 solid pounds but it aint happening.

I tried on a size 14 in DEB last night. It fit and felt sooooooo good!

It is an UGLY mental thing. I have had my band over 2 years, just this past July did I start understanding some of what is going on. I got a fill on the 11th, I have never had consistent restriction. However, I am seldom hungry. I tried not eating unless I was hungry, that doesn't work; starvation mode and the body holds onto everything. I am trying to eat 3 proper meals but I can't do it. Today I didn't feel tight, I just didn't want to try much of anything. Greek yogurt for Breakfast, 2 strawberries for lunch. dinner was 2 potato skins and a cheese stick. At no point was I hungry and I felt like I had eaten a turkey all day. I am not stuck, I just feel full even without eating. Then I run into a slice of Cheesecake and I'm done for. I hate my circle even though I know what to do, I can't seem to do it. If I don't loose some weight soon I might do another fill just because I don't know what else to do.

Call the doc

You might be moved up to full liquids. Things like cream Soups and Protein drinks. I was on those when I left the hospital. Congrats and good luck.

Just thought I'd update that today I was able to drink a full glass of Water at a *relatively* normal pace I also actually felt hungry for the first time so ventured my Protein Shake - and got the whole thing down without watering it out!! When I felt a little bloaty and uncomfortable after, I did a few laps around my livingroom and felt way better. No PBs at all today! Huge success

Glad to hear it. Take it slow and it will come

Drink plenty of Water, it is important to keep you going. It will help with the hunger. The choice of food is just as important as how much. This isn't a diet, it is a change of life(food)style. I haven't had restriction at all, except when I was once to tight. You need to remember how much you should eat, you are in controll. I went with the band so I wouldn't have to give up to much. I can still taste the cake and not feel gulity. If I have my Protein in and my fluids, that is a really small taste and I am happy. Eat slowly, giving your mind time to know, and only eat till satisfied....not full. Also, Greece would have me so excited, food would have a very small place in my life. Remeber the rules and have a blast!

Moving around helps with the gas. Move around in the house, don't just sit in one spot. You need to get up every half hour or so. I don't know about the slime thing. I was on full liquids when I came home. Sip slowly, it takes a long time to drink a glass of Water when you first start out. If doc says you should be on Clear Liquids then you need to try some broth or maybe some warm tea. Your tummy wants something in there,

I used the one that dissolves on the tongue. I started right away because that gas was really, really, bad. It woke me during the night. I would get up walk around the house for 5 or 10 min. and go back to bed. 3 nights like that, no other pain or I wouldn't have made it.

It's been some time, but I don't think I felt any different; but I had committed to smaller meals after my seminar. I got out my bread plates, and just worked at eating less of better foods. I cut sugar and I was off and running. Then I had a 2 week liver shrink diet and it was almost more than I had been eating! 4oz of deli meat seemed huge. I am over 3 yrs out, had a fill last week taking me to 5.5 cc. NO RESTRICTION! I have never really felt any. I eat the wrong thing, or to fast or a forkful to much and it's a problem. I have only recently learned that the Water intake is really important. It flushes your system as well as keeps you feeling full longer. You really do need to eat the Protein first, or do 2 bites of protein to 1 of the other food. SLOW DOWN, it really helps you to know when you are satisfied. I refuse to be a "cal counter", that's why I went with the band. I have been slipping, found a chocolate cake that is to available to me; but I have set that aside and working at it again. I hope to be down another 15lbs, or a comfortable size 10 by the time my new grand baby gets here mid-Dec. Good Luck.

The chances are good that you won't have a problem with this. I had 2 meds that I had to have and the doc OKed them easily.

I don't have a problem with any of my pills. They are from tiny to huge. I can even do 3 or 4 at a time. I do blood pressure which is small, but my multi Vitamin is large. In the early stage I did a chewable but once that bottle was gone I went back to pills.

Name, real or screen~ Niterun

Age~ 53

Weight on August 1st~ 177

Goal Weight for August 29th~170

Exercise Goal for August~ None planned

Dietary Goal for August~ Get more Water, eating when and as I should

Personal Goal for August~ Get them size 12's to fit good

Date Banded~ 3/9/09

Total Weight Loss Since Banding~ 63 (plus the 19 I gained last year)

GasX and movement were the key for me. I see that you are using the treadmill, but that might not take care of it. What I did was make sure that I got up and walked through the house at least every 30min. This is different than 20 min on the tread as you are not giving the gas a chance to build up over a period of time. My first couple of nights home the gas woke me up. I would get out of bed and walk for about 5 or 10 mins to calm it down,. During the day I did my thing and was OK, so I think movement frequently reallly helped. Good luck

My doc says that *most* patients with a 10cc band are in the green zone between 5-7ccs. I wouldn't worry about the number, but what you body tells you. There's always someone that needs less and there will always be someone that needs more than the average.

Funny, I was told the same thing on Fri. I hope he is right because I am at 5,5,. He also said that when the band has been in place over a year it doesn't loosen. Early weight lost is what causes that and once the fat under the band is gone it stays put until filled more.

I have been stuck in the same area for sometime myself. I got a small fill Fri. now at 5.5 cc. I have thought about this a lot the past month and didn't like what I figured out. I have not been eating enough, funny we eat to gain and we must eat to loose. Hunger has never been a problem for me so I thought if I only eat when hungry I would be fine. I have never measured food because I didn't want to be a slave to it. I am out 3 nights a week so I felt I had to learn to do it by site and mind control. I also realized that I was getting to many liquid calories from coffee. My Water intake was also spotty.

I did liquids Fri. & Sat, so I know I can't do them more than a few days. Yesterday, egg, Soup and about 3oz of pork chop, tbs of green Beans and one of rice. Today a shake for Breakfast , 2 oz of deli meat , slice of cheese and 3 club crackers for lunch. Might should have been more meat, but it felt like the right amount. I was full, and comfortable. I am going to work hard to get this going again. In the beginning I made sure to have something for each meal and I got to far from that. Good luck with your plan.

Went in on Fri. for an appointment with PA and a Flora fill. In the office the scale showed 174...great news down 19lbs since Oct. I think hmmm my scale said 178 this morning. I had asked about this once before and was told that it was calibrated every morning. I think they take off 3-4 lbs for clothes. Get downstairs at the pain center and the scale says 178 lbs. hmmmmmm. At home I weighed the same NAKED, soooo how much do I weigh? Also, I don't usually weight the same at 9 am and 2 pm weather I have eaten or not.l Anybody else run into this?

I had the same issues over a month ago, low and behold I get a message last week to reset. I did and it's been ok, but just left there and some parts of the site are down.

I had my lap band surgery 3 months ago. I've had 2 fills since surgery. I still feel like I can eat almost anything. I've only lost 10 lbs (I know that's better than nothing), but I was hoping by now I could have lost 20 lbs. I have no energy & no ambition to do anything. Also how do you eat healthy on a very limited income?? As bad as I want to be thin why is it so hard to get motivated to do that?? Any suggestions please send them my way

This can be very simple for you. The key is in getting your Water, it flushes. Next eat the food you family does, when you can, but smaller portions. Stay away from the sweet stuff, even tea and coffee, I lived on chicken, tuna, deli meat and cheese, Veggie of choice was broccoli quick simple and preped in small amounts, Mornings I'm tight and have a slimfast shake or Protein. With thees I can add some fruit or yogurt. If you can eat the guideline amounts the food bill goes down just like the scale. I am lucky because I can eat most everything, so I have to get back to watching my portions. I am limited with income as well, but there are things we will usually have for the family eggs,,good source of Protein. My pride in joy is my George Forman Grill, Tomato sauce, garlic and onions, shrimp, chicken and stir fry meat are the weekly fair at my house.

Eat the Protein you need everyday and take the Biotein. They do help, don't wash daily and when you do use some condictioner instead of Shampoo. Keep the style simple so that you aren't putting extra stress on it. It needs some adjutment time for the diet change.

It might be your port. Mine shows when I lie down. Saw the doc on Fri and told him it was flipped. He says no here it is just a little tilted. But check it out

The very first time those jeans that were just a little tight slide on without a problem. When someone says "Wow, you look good, have you lost weight. There will be lots of NSV in your future just wait for it. The excitement will soar

:)It will get better. Move around as much as you can in the house, it helps to keep the gas from building. Sip slowly, take whatever meds the doc ordered and keep the faith. If you are on liquids, clear or full, only do that. The tummy needs to rest and heal. Before you know it you'll feel human again

Thank you so much for sharing that. Reading your post actually brought tears to my eyes. I guess I feel ashamed for not being able to do it on my own-- and that there is nothing left for me to do to get my weight under control and get my life back. It is great to hear that you both have been successful on this journey. Thank you both for posting.

Jan, I have had my band over 2 years, I put a lot of thought into it and made a decision. I am very happy I did, When I made up my mind I started makng changes. I dropped sweet tea and soda, started using smaller plates and trying hard to not refill, I went from 240 in Nov, at the seminar to 233 1st of Jan. and at 221 on day of surgery(3/9), that was from the 2 week liver shrink diet. 6lbs. came off the first 6 days. First fill on the 23rd, some was in from surgery, don't know what went in, but I have never felt restriction. 4/13 a fill and I was 207, 5/3 202, 5/18 200 June was fun 199 on 6/18. 7/23 186. 10/16 178 and got adjustment. I hung right there until summer. As the weather in Jun and & Jul got hotter I had trouble keeping food down. I kept trying to eat and caused myself problems. I had to get an unfill because I had iterated my throat and pouch. I should had done liquids for a few days to let things heal. Then I was extra dumb and didn't go back for a refill until Oct, I had gained 20lbs, Yesterday I got a .3cc fill and I am right back where I was last year this time. Liquids today and I will try some soft tomorrow, hope I can eat without problems, I have always been able to eat anything I wanted, I just have to eat the right foods. Hunger has never been a problem. I want to get off another 10 or 15 lbs. and I'll be good.with that, I had back and foot pain, didn't sleep well and really didn't like me much before my band. Now I am much more comfortable around others and I smile much more,. I don't run from the camera either Good luck

You already know the sign, you said so. Now what you need is to redirect the old habit. Say yes to the sign, and GET UP! Don't pass go, just stop. This helps in so many ways. First, less chance to eat 1 forkful to much,. Next, the band works on feeling satisfied, not full; also enough that we aren't hungry in a couple of hours. Another is that we can easily learn to eat around our band by nibbling slowly until we have eaten more than we needed. The first time you get stuck, or just overfull it is NOT pretty. We aren't on a diet, but a life(eating)style change.