Meliwriter

I hear boosting your Protein helps. Also make sure you are getting enough calories. Sometimes folks stall because they are getting too few calories and their metabolism gets out of wack. At least that is what I've been told. I am a slow looser. I was banded in the end of January. I've lost 35 lbs. most of that in the first four or five months. Since then I have stalled and was really starting to panic about it until I started talking to other folks on this board! It happens, even when we do everything right. You just have to be patient. Stick to it and believe in yourself. I got 5ccs on my first fill and my dr made me feel weird because I had so much and wasn't getting restriction. What can I say. My body apparently wants to do things the hard way. Melis

Thanks Marivan and Love2teech7! It's so helpful to know that I am not the first person to struggle with losing the pounds even with the surgery. I've always been active and made an effort to understand the types of food I was putting into my body and yet it's difficult for me to drop pounds. My father is the same way and he is a madman in the gym. I think I thought that given how much I work out, that the weight loss would happen quicker with the band, but as long as it comes off...I'm okay with that. The hardest thing at this point is dealing with other people's expectations. I didn't tell a ton of people about the surgery because I knew it would take a long time for me to get to goal, but it's difficult when family and friends question how much I've lost and make judgments about my progress. Since I've been stuck at 35lbs I feel like I'm still at that point where people are thinking, I told you this wouldn't work, or I knew you couldn't do this! I just can't wait to prove them wrong! On a side note, I have another appointment for a fill in September. So I'm just going to stick to my rules and watch my protein. I'm glad you all have found peace with where you are on your journey and wish you luck! Melis

Thank you for posting. I am seven months post op and have only lost 35 lbs. It has been a serious struggle to get to forty. I go back and forth every week and cannot figure out why my weight loss has stalled. I have had two fills and they were quite large but that hasn't helped me jump start my progress. Like you I have had success with WW in the past, so thus far, I have not lost more than I have with any other weight lose attempt. In fact the most I've ever been able to lose at once was about 35lbs so, breaking that 40lb mark is a big deal to me. I am glad that I found the forums because I was starting to blame myself, something I think is natural for folks with weight issues to do. I have failed so many other attempts that mentally my insecurities about my ability to be successful are starting to show. I read about other folks who have restriction, who have the weight come off quickly in the first year and I feel stupid for ever believing that that could be me. I feel like there must be something wrong with me, because I'm not seeing the same results. Its a very difficult thing to wrap my head around. Unfortunately I had my surgery done at a place that doesn't have good support for lapband patients, their focus is gastric bypass. So I never know if I'm getting advice that applies to me and the other post-op folks don't seem to face the same challenges that I do. That said, I will try to increase my protein intake. Right now I get 60-70 grams on a good day, but I also work out regularly at least 4 days a week for 50-60 minutes. I have been doing a combo of weights and cardio in an effort to speed up the weight loss but that hasn't helped either. I feel like my body is refusing to give up the goods! I wish I knew why it was so challenging for some folks. Is that just natural or should i be concerned that something else isn't right. I haven't experienced any of the symptoms my doctor mentioned, but my band is already half full and I don't have restriction. Is that odd? Melis

Hi Everyone, I'm new to the boards and in desperate need of a support group. I had my surgery done in January of 09 at OSU Medical Center. I'm glad I had it done, but I've been slow to loose and found it frustrating because the team at OSU focuses on gastric bypass and not lapband. I feel very alone because I can't talk to anyone about my specific concerns. Worse, I feel like I'm doing something wrong because I haven't been able to get good restriction. I'd love to be able to meet up with folks when they do a local support group/gathering. I am so excited to have found this forum, as I've been reading posts for the last two days during every bit of free-time I can find. It has been helpful. Melis