OneYearLater

At this time last year, I was dressed in my preop gown and socks waiting to be wheeled into the room to start my new adventures. It’s crazy that it was exactly a year ago. Boy. It’s been a joy, and rough, and wonderful, and frustrating and so many things. I have been a super super slow loser. I started at 268 and have lost a total of 63 pounds in a year and I have worked SOOOO hard for every single last one of those pounds. I’m only 5’3”, so I still have a LONG way to go. I won’t lie, I started into this thinking hey...this will easy peasy. How could it not? I have no stomach and won’t be hungry. It’s not. Sure at first, you may drop pounds pretty quickly, but Head hunger is no joke folks. NO JOKE. You start thinking you are hungry right after you JUST ate! How is that possible? Head hunger. Have I been perfect and only eaten protein with very few carbs? Most days yes...all days...no. I work out just about every day with the bike and weights and keep my calories at about 800 a day. Some days I’ll eat more or less and gain and lose regardless. Still haven’t solved the elusive puzzle on what works perfectly and sometimes have stalls for months! It’s been a rough journey but at the same time wonderful. I have discovered so much more about myself along the way. I have so much more self control than I thought I did, I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be...and I make mistakes. I’m also human and can get right back on the saddle when I fall off. As disappointed as I get with myself at my slow loss at times, i realize that I NEVER would have been able to do this on my own. For those of you doubting our decision...it works. You may not see the amazing and fast results some do, and that’s ok. Everyone is different. Keep plugging along. You can do this and it was a great decision. i’m on my way to my appointment with my surgeon for my last check. I’m kind of embarrassed that I didn’t get under 200 like my goal was at least by this point. I will get there...when my body is ready for it. I’m going to keep plugging along! I guess I wanted to write this for anyone that has recently been sleeved and is feeling discouraged about not having the kind of results you see others have. Assess if you can make any changes to what you are doing and keep going! You do YOU!! You got this!!

I was banded last September and since then my weight loss has been INCREDIBLY slow. Although I know that I am definitely eating less than I normally could before being banded, I still never felt what I have thought of as real restriction. Even though I obviously have tried to chew my food well, I hadn't had any repercussions if I didn't chew as well and I know I can eat way more than a 1/2 cup of food to a cup if given the opportunity. I haven't had any foods that I have had difficulty with like it seems most people here do. It's felt so much more like dieting like before the band and so frustrating that I went through a surgical procedure to feel the same way I did before. I know that it's just a tool and it's on me, but it really felt like my tool wasn't working at all since I had only felt short period of what felt like restriction right after a fill. Well, I haven't been to the dr for about 3-4 months now. It just kind of seemed pointless. No matter what it felt like the fills weren't helping. All of a sudden about a month ago, something happened. I got really sick (not band related) and was throwing up most of one day and unable to eat. For a couple of days, I couldn't keep anything down except liquids. Ever since then, I suddenly after about 3-6 bites of food, I'm a crazy belching fool and have to stop eating immediately and actually feel full to where I am not having to MAKE myself stop...I have to stop because I feel really full. I can no longer handle bread or rice and if I don't chew my food into oblivion, I'm GOING to feel some pain from it...so I do with everything now. I know this probably sounds kinda stupid, but is this the way it's SUPPOSED to be? It seems like it probably IS and I've really just not gotten to where I was supposed to be before and maybe am.....or is my band too tight or did it slip from all the throwing up? I'm thinking if it slipped, I wouldn't be able to keep liquids etc down, but I can just fine. I'm hoping that this is what the band is supposed to have been like all along and I'll finally get some good results and with a little less of the feeling like i'm doing everything on my own. To be honest, it's nice and I'm kind of scared of going back to the dr and having him remove some fill etc and going back to where I felt nothing again...

Has this happened to any of you? I'm hoping I'm not alone on this...although sometimes it feels like I am! I've been going MONTHS now and gaining and losing the same 2-3 pounds over and over. I was banded back in September last year. I have had periods of time with small losses once in a while when changing things up. The last thing I changed was going to the 3 meals a day with no snacks. I was losing small amounts for a while and it stopped again. It was SO hard considering that my work day starts at 3am sometimes. Stretching 3 meals out for that long was WAY too hard and I still try to do it, but sometimes add in a small snack if I can't stand the hunger pains anymore. I work out every single day for about 1 hour to 2 hours with things like the elliptical, the bike, turbo kickboxing and body pump trying to keep it changing so that my body doesn't get too used to things. My caloric intake is anywhere from 900-1500 depending on how hard I've worked out. I DO feel some differences in the way my clothes fit and even though I'm in a smaller size than I normally would be at this weight ( 5'3" size 14/16 at 215). Depending, sometimes I can go about 4 hours or so without being hungry...and other times I feel famished after 2. I eat proteins first, don't drink sodas, drink tons of water, sometimes I can eat only about a cup of food..other times, I know I'm eating more, but I'm still tracking the calories. The last time I went to the Dr., he opted against a fill saying that you just lose slow with the band and he didn't think a fill would help since I can go as long as I can. I've really only lost about 30 or so pounds since surgery weight since last September (more if you count the weight I lost pre-surgery on my own). I'm just kind of at a loss with what I'm doing wrong. I don't even like meeting with some of the people in my support group anymore I'm one of the only ones that did the band...everyone else did the sleeve or the bypass and are losing a ton of weight. I started out as one of the smallest people needing to lose the least amount...and now, I'm probably the one that has lost the least amount and am probably the one that has more to lose than everyone now! So frustrating.... Has this happened with anyone else???

I was concerned also about not getting enough calories in 3 meals since I work out so much. Also, really after looking back at my caloric intake for the past few months, I was taking a big amount of my calories for the day in the "snack" category which wasn't during my three sit down meals. The concern over not getting enough calories was why I have been hesitant to do the 3 meals a day like my dr has been telling me. After we discussed it, he told me not to worry so much about my calories. As long as I'm still making good decisions on what I'm eating and just doing it all in the 3 meals instead of eating through the day, the band will take care of how much I need to eat. Now that I'm doing the 3 meals a day instead of the grazing through the day in small amounts, I moved all the calories into the 3 meals. Because of this, I don't feel the need anymore to eat more meals through the day, because i'm actually FULL after a meal. It's the first time that I REALLY have been feeling my band working for me. Am I able to eat more than a 1/2 cup a day? absolutely... but it's about a cup to a cup and a half all together of food and i'm DONE. He always said the band would work for me if I would just let it. He was right... I never felt FULL because I was never eating enough to make me feel full in one sitting and was just stretching food out all day long. Other than a short period of tightness after my second fill, I've never really felt that the band was working for me. I believe it now. I just hope that it keeps up!!!

I've been stuck on a plateau for almost 3 months now. It's been VERY frustrating as many of you know that have plateaued as well. No matter what I was doing, I couldn't seem to lose any more for 3 months. I was working out anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours EVERY single day taking in anywhere from 1200-1500 calories. I tried changing around the workouts, adding weights, upping and lowering calories. I already do anywhere from 80-120 grams of Protein a day and wasn't doing a whole LOT of carbs...but was doing some in moderation. I think for the workouts I've been doing, you HAVE to do some. I've been pretty disciplined and just couldn't lose anymore. Sure, I was feeling my clothes loosen up and have gained a good amount of muscle, but come on..there HAS to be some point when you start seeing it on the scale right???! The number on the scale doesn't matter...ppppppffffffft! Let's be real....we want to see smaller numbers on the scale too. My doctor has been telling me to just eat 3 meals a day and that's it....no snacking in between each meal. Eat for about 30 minutes until you are full and satisfied...not bursting or stuffing yourself...but stopping when you are full. No Snacks in between, not even fruits or vegetables. I thought he was nuts. I mean, as long as I keep my calories down and am tracking everything I put in my mouth, who CARES WHEN I eat it right? and we've always heard nutritionists say 6 small meals a day etc...it just didn't sound right. I asked him....well, what if I get hungry in between? He said...deal with it.....you are GOING to get hungry sometimes. It doesn't mean every time you feel hunger, you put something in your mouth. Condition myself to just have the 3 meals. After the 3rd month of no loss, and him telling me to do it this way AGAIN I decided to finally try it his way. What could it hurt. It was tough the first day, I was used to eating small amounts through the day and writing everything down that I was eating. After a few days, it got easier and easier to not want to constantly be grazing and just have the 3 meals. I realized that the band really WAS working in that even though I could eat a good amount (more than half a cup that's for sure), it still really wasn't all THAT much in the grand scheme of things..and definitely not as much as I could eat before. After 5 days of this...I've lost 4 pounds. I'm sure it will slow down again eventually, but YAY!!! finally!! I was amazed that something like that actually made a difference. That is the only thing that I have changed. I'm not saying that it will work for everyone and I know that some people will not agree with this since everyone's doctors are different, but for those of you out there that have found yourself on a plateau, it's just throwing this out there in case it helps someone else. I do still make smart choices...I'm not scarfing down a plate of fettucine alfredo in 30 minutes, but it's been liberating for the first time NOT to be tracking every piece of food I put in my mouth and not obsessing over food. It's been working for me to get me off the plateau, so thought I would share in case it helped someone else.

I would go ahead and wait until you get back from your trip. You obviously have been doing pretty good without feeling like you have enough restriction, so you should be fine. Another reason is that you have a lot of fill already in there. Just a little more could push you over the edge to where you feel you have too much restriction...which would not make for a good vacation since you would potentially have to wait until you get back to get it resolved or have to see a different doctor in the middle of your trip. Just my 2 cents

I've been doing ok! I don't have as much of the fullness, so I think some of it was swelling. I do realize though that some of it is also me just WANTING to keep eating even though I'm already feeling full. Old habits that you have had for so many years sure are hard to break! My calories were down because I just really couldn't eat a lot, but now that the swelling is down, I am feeling some of the hunger coming back..although it's still a matter of phys hunger vs. head hunger that I have to sort out. I'm still working out a ton and because of that raised my calories up some, but MAN..even with all the working out, I think I REALLY just might be one of those folks that NEED a really low amount of calories to actually see the weight loss. Bummer for me....but I guess the point of all this was to eat less anyway. I'll have to live with it... I lost some weight since that second fill, but am finding that it's at a stand still again. I'm thinking of going back to doing the liquids for a few days to jump start things again...

Wow did THAT suck! LOL I've got 6ccs in a 10cc band and am feeling pretty good restriction and pretty satisfied for a couple of hours. I haven't had any issues with getting stuck before and even though I try to be careful with my bites and chewing...sometimes one gets down without really really getting it chewed as well as I know it should. I've been able to eat veggies, chicken breast etc with no issues, so I must admit I had gotten a little cocky that it wouldn't ever happen to me. Yesterday, I was eating a piece of turkey lunch meat and it wasn't that big of a piece. While chewing, this actually WAS one that I chewed up well. Well, when I swallowed..oh boy. I could feel that sudden stuck feeling in my chest that wouldn't clear. I actually started to panic! I wasn't like I was choking..but BOY was it uncomfortable. I started trying to swallow to get it down and burping (I guess this is PB'ing and sliming???) Walking....squaking around like a chicken with my arms, Finally.......TMI...here it comes!! My body was having NONE OF THAT.... and I ended up spitting up. Cockiness...GONE. Lesson learned. I don't EVER want that to happen again if I can help it. What a HORRIBLE feeling! BLECH!

That's one of the same threads I think I read too and what scares me about overdoing it! I do think that I probably need to give it a little more time...but oh how wonderful it would be to finally not feeling like I went through surgery only to feel on my own anyway. I really hope this is it although I think that we all probably feel like well if THIS is good....maybe just a LITTLE more will work even better... Maybe I should stop being greedy ha!

I had my second fill a couple of days ago and i'm crossing my fingers and toes that this was it and not just initial swelling. I think I might have found my sweet spot! Before fills and even after my first fill, I could pretty much eat anything I wanted to and wasn't feeling any real fullness. I was stopping at what I felt was 'not hungry', but was hungry again not long after and white-knuckling it. After this second fill (all together 6ccs in a 10cc band), I definitely feel full faster (although I can still eat about a cup or a little more a sitting) and if I eat too fast or don't chew really well, I can feel it slowing down and getting a little stuck for a bit. and it takes about 2-2 1/2 hours to me to feel hungry again. Along with adding more Fiber to my diet, I'm seeing the scale moving down again...yay! Here is the problem (maybe self created), but is this REALLY it? if I get a LITTLE more, will it be even BETTER? Will I be able to go mabye 3- 3 1/2 hours before hungry instead of 2 -2 1/2... will I feel full after 1/2 a cup to a cup instead of a little MORE than a cup at a time? Am I ALMOST There...but should maybe get a little more to hit the real one..or should I just accept this as the right amount and be happy with what I have now? I'm thinking that I could have REALLY good success (even more than now) with a little more....but I also am scared of what if it pushes me over the edge and now I"m overfilled and having to unfill and start all over again trying to find it? I'm thinking that it's not necessarily as easy as just going back to the exact same amount I have now if I miss the mark next time? What do you guys think?

As some of you might know from previous posts I've done, i've been at a standstill for about a month now or losing the same couple of pounds and at a loss for what was causing it. I haven't been eating a whole lot, varying calories and working out every single day.... lots and lots of Protein...lots and lots of Water. Everyone gave lots of great advice (along with some that implied that I wasn't being honest with myself and what I was doing to try to lose weight...blah blah blah... I won't even go there) but I wanted to say that SunnySandy said that I might want to check my Fiber intake. It's not something that I really thought about and it just didn't think it made that much difference. After thinking about it, I realized that I was concentrating so much on protein that I wasn't eating as much fruit and grains etc (very low carb). I get more than enough protein (usually over 100grams) so I decided to add more fiber (benefiber to my protein shakes) and add some fruits in. Lo and behold..after a couple of days, the scale has started moving again! WOO HOO!!! I'm not saying that it is the catalyst that will jump start everyone again..but it sure worked for me! Thanks SunnySandy!

Were you overweight when you and your husband first started dating and got married? Has he ever said anything before about a 'preference' for heavier women earlier on? Did he say anything about it at all while you were in the losing process or has it been just suddenly? Sounds like he may be feeling insecure about your changes and thinking that you might either try to change him if he is overweight or it may be a self protection mechanism. He might feel that eventually you will try to push him away so he is trying to do it first. Sometimes that is how someone protects their feelings... Either way....it's something that you guys definitely need to see a therapist to work through... Good luck!!!

Just curious, since you seem to be a "weight loss expert", how much have you lost so far following "the program"? When were you banded? Sounds like after being banded, you have been pretty lucky and haven't experienced the plateauing problem that so many of us have until getting a few fills. Good for you! Maybe you can share some of your banding story with us and how you were able to not experience the same things that so many of us have right after that liquids phase is done! :rolleyes2:

You know what? You just might be right! Now that I think about it...I used to eat WAY more fruits and vegetables and got a ton of fiber through wheat and high fiber breads etc. Since I cut out breads and don't get nearly as much of the fruits and veggies....I KNOW I don't get enough fiber. I wonder if that could make a difference. Thanks so much for that! I think I've tried so many other things...I think it would be good for me to up my fiber and see if that helps

Well hell! If it were as easy as that, then EVERYONE would be able to track EXACTLY how much weight they should lose and have it EXACT every single time...not that simple. How then is it possible for people to be on liquid diets for the first couple of weeks then suddenly stall out and not lose another pound even though they still are only on liquids? It happens and I can guarantee you that many people on this forum can tell you that this happened to them without shoving chocolate cake down their throats when no one was looking. I'm one of them... Losing weight is more than just the numbers game or an exact science or you wouldn't have plateaus. I can tell you right now I track ALL of my calories including GUM and chewable Vitamins (ranging anywhere from 900-1600) and work out EVERY SINGLE DAY usually twice a day (once in the morning with a WII advanced step for 30 minutes- then in the afternoon after work at the gym for 45 minutes to an hour on the elliptical trainer or bike plus weight lifting for another 15 minutes or so.) The result? I have lost and gained the same 2-3 pounds since my last fill. Is it possible that I'm sabotaging myself by not eating ENOUGH calories to cover my workouts? Sure it's possible....but by what you are saying with taking in less calories than I am exerting, I should be dropping a ton of weight..and I'm just not. By the way....yes, I'm frustrated with it... but all I can do is keep trying to figure out what will work for MY own individual body..whatever it may be and that is ok... I'll find it one day! My point of this rant was that it really makes me angry when people post with the attitude like everyone MUST be cheating if you aren't seeing the numbers...or with the "it's not rocket science" theory...like if you aren't losing the weight you are stupid or something.... some of us just aren't seeing the pounds come off no matter what we do. Ok..sorry...rant mode off... carry on everyone... :thumbup:

I get a good amount of protein- anywhere between 95-120 grams a day. I fill up 2 32oz jugs to drink with Water or diluted crystal light every day and even on days when I'm having to force myself to do it..I do it. I'm tracking what i'm eating at sparkpeople.com as well as my workouts. I do about 30-45 minutes of cardio (ranging either from the elliptical with the arms as well, stairclimber or 45 minutes if I'm doing the bike) plus weights. On the days I'm working, I'm also adding in the 30 minutes of Wii advanced step with the extra risers every morning at 4am and go to the gym in the afternoon when I'm finished with work- EVERY DAY. I get 7 hours of sleep every night and seriously have been doing VERY little carbs. I will maybe every couple of days have a couple of spoonfuls of rice. I've had a tiny piece of bread maybe twice since I was banded in September...and that's IT. My day usually consists of a Protein shake in the morning, a salad with a fat free/low fat dressing, turkey and a little fat free feta cheese for lunch. dinner is usually chicken breast with Beans or some kind of veggie. I have more Protein shakes in between when I'm hungry, a little fruit with some Peanut Butter or cheese and that is about it. See what I mean? Like I said, my problem has never been LOSING the weight when I'm in the zone. My problem is keeping it off. I REALLY REALLY am trying hard which is why i'm SOOOO frustrated with not seeing the movement on the scale. It would be one thing If I were cheating on eating or not working out..but I am. I'm so frustrated with not seeing the weight loss and am REALLY hoping that as everyone says....it will start to come off after I find my sweet spot, although I just don't see HOW. I don't understand what the difference would be? I just don't see how getting the right amount of fill is going to make me work harder somehow than I already am...although I'm really really hoping that somehow it will so that I can finally see some scale movement!!!

Ok, this is probably going to sound like a strange question... I was losing great at first and now it's come to pretty much a stand still. I keep gaining and losing the same 2 pounds over and over for the past month. I'm playing with my calories- up and down to try and find where I lose and upping my exercise. I'm working out anywhere from 45-60 minutes every day plus doing weights alternating arms, legs etc. I've also been changing up my workouts to try to get my body moving instead of getting in a rut and I have been ranging my calories everywhere from 900-1500....and still nothing...granted, i'm seeing some looseness with my clothes...but come on! It's got to come off SOMETIME, doesn't it? I know that I just need to be patient and I know that many people say not to worry...I'll start losing once I get more fills and hit that "sweet spot", so here is my question.... What is the difference with the fills and finding the "sweet spot" if I'm ALREADY watching what I'm eating and working out? Did that make any sense? I'm kind of confused with what would make a difference and why I should see the weight start to drop if all the band is really supposed to do is control the amount that I eat when I'm already doing that and working out? What is it about reaching that "sweet spot" that should make the weight supposedly start coming off that makes the difference with why it's not happening now? I'm so concerned that I'll reach the right amount of fill in my band...yet still be fighting these same 2 pounds... ugh... It's SO frustrating because sometimes I feel like I was already losing this and more when I was on Weight Watchers. I know in a month I would have seen SOME loss (my problem was with KEEPING it off). Sharon

Agreed..anytime you feel the motivation to do it.....do it! That's the right time. I personally work out every morning before work. It gives me energy for the day and sets the pace of my eating for the rest of the day. If I worked out and feel good, i am less included to want to eat a lot and mess it up through the day...but that is just me :eek:

YAY! Congrats! I couldn't see how losing a Snooki would ever be a bad thing...although I only wish that we could lose her from magazines and tv as well haha You look spectacular!

I was banded on September 3rd and I have to tell you...i'm so happy to see this thread! I've been feeling so bad that I'm just STUCK and have been at a standstill now for the past 3 weeks no matter WHAT I do! I've lowered and raised calories...added and varied workouts..I'm even working out every single day...and can't get the scale to change. I see all of the success that people are having and get so frustrated thinking that I've GOT to be doing something wrong. It makes me feel a little better and more hopeful to see that I'm not alone and that others have been going through it as well. I KNOW that i'll have success at this.....but you sure do feel alone when you think that you are the only one not seeing any big losses or consistent losses this early in the game.

I was really surprised that they weren't losing more as well. I thought for sure they would! They both have about the same amount of weight to lose as i do and are about 215...so maybe it's because they don't have as much? 1 of them probably isn't following the instructions as stringently...but 1 is VERY strict and was telling me how sometimes she can barely eat. I did lose a pretty good amount pre-op....so i'm thinking that maybe I'm not seeing a lot of loss because of that? I just saw someone today that I haven't seen in a long time and she seemed shocked at how much weight I have lost. I kinda thought i looked the same, but maybe not! lol

I stay in touch with a few folks from the Kaiser classes that I had to take as a prerequisite for being approved for the lapband surgery. There are a couple of people that had the bypass close to the same time that I had my banding that I was just communicating with. I've been feeling so frustrated lately with my weight being at a complete stand still over the past 2-3 weeks....but was actually pretty surprised that they both have been experiencing the exact same thing with the bypass! I know that with the bypass, you are supposed to lose much quicker and much more extreme. I have lost about 20 pounds since the band surgery..and both of them..same thing..as soon as they hit about 20 pounds after the bypass, they have been at a stand still as well. I've been changing my calories up and down to try and find the right amount as well as upping my exercising..but still nothing. I definitely see the difference in my clothes..but SHEESH...you would think the scale HAS to start moving SOMETIME! Anyway, the reason I brought that up, is that it sounds like this ugly early plateau might not just be something that people see with the banding.... One of my bypass friends said that she heard that most of the weight loss that people see is somewhere between 3-9 months out from the procedure... I'm sure HOPING I'll start seeing some movement SOMETIME soon! Anyone else hear this? That it starts to kick in more after about 3 months?

LOVE muscle milk light. I've tried so many different kinds of protein powders, and this for me by far tasted the best. I went into a Vitamin Shoppe and a GNC to ask them if there was anything that tasted as good out there to try something different, and everyone there pretty much agreed that Muscle Milk tasted the best. I would have it for all my meals except I know that you also need to actually EAT :thumbup:. My favorite flavor is Chocolate Milk, which I sometimes mix a little fat free sugar free pudding in with the powder to get a variation of flavor and thickness. It can get kinda pricey though, but I found it on a site called Mass Nutrition for about $17 each 1.65 tub. I ordered the Peanut Butter/Chocolate, Cake Batter and another one that I have forgotten haha!

I have PCOS and am a super heavy clotting bleeder as well. My period starts at a regular time 28 days, but can be really heavy and last a long time. I had my surgery on September 3rd and just finally got my period the other day. It was pretty late and not anywhere NEAR as heavy as it normally is. It's been kinda nice having a "normal" period without going through a tampon or pad every 15 minutes! LOL My regular doctor told me when you are doing low carb like I've been doing since getting the surgery and losing weight...you may start to regulate. He said that many women after losing some weight find that they were never able to get pregnant before...but suddenly find themselves pregnant....so he actually suggested that I think about going back on the pill or some form of birth control although I haven't for a long time since I was not able to get pregnant. Your period will come....your body is probably still in shock from the trauma of having surgery

It's all so new and hard to read..and confusing. I know everyone is so different. I feel like I DEFINITELY can't eat the normal amounts that I used to....but I look at the amounts that some people say that they eat and are full and WOW....I'm no where NEAR that small of an amount. Nothing gets stuck..I haven't had anything come back up or felt like I had to slime anything down. I look at the sites that say how many calories I should have to lose 2 pounds a week..and it sounds like so much! I know that some people need a much smaller amount of calories to lose (600-800), but I KNOW that the sites that say the calories you need are NEVER going to say that low of an amount. I'm working on trying to get to that "not hungry" stage to stop..I'm getting more used to it. Part of me wonders how much of that is because I have cut down the carbs so much and from just getting used to the smaller amount of food instead of it being from the band itself actually giving me any restriction at all.