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I was banded on 12/30/2009 and have only lost 26lbs. I started excersizing, drink well over 64 oz. of water per day, and eat small amounts but can not loose weight. I have great restriction for 2 weeks after a fill, then I am able to eat like normal again. I am coming up on the 6 month mark and am really getting frustrated. I eat the same thing that I have eaten in the past when I lost weight, but i am actually gaining now. Is anyone else having these issues, and what can I do to start loosing weight again. I have the 10cc Aps band, and have 7.3cc currently.

Day 6 of my pre-op diet has been difficult. With weird noises coming from--well, everywhere, sugar lows, weakness, headaches, and even envy as I watch my family munch down on mint chocolate cookies and milk, it has not been a good day. I'm almost watching the clock until I can say 6 down, 8 to go. It has always been difficult for me to diet. My stomach rumbles telling me that it wants food, any food, all food, and quick. I've always been able to lose 20-30 pounds as I diet, but eventually I would quit and then gain back everything plus some. I will not repeat that cycle this time, because I am not going to stop until I make my goal, and then my new way of eating will be habit and I won't go back. I am more committed to this plan than I've ever been to any of the other myriad of diets I've done. So while doing all the reminiscing of diets through the years, I am reminded of one in particular. One of my doctors graphically explained weight loss in the following way: He said it comes down to the basic fact of less calories in than you burn, and that he has never seen a picture of a prisoner of war who wasn't skin and bones. He showed me a couple of pictures even, and gave me a chapter of text to read where some POWs were starving to death, yet they still had to drag themselves to the local coal mine for 12 hour shifts with nothing but a handful of rice for the entire day. Then they drug themselves, step by step, sometimes crawling, sometimes pulling or pushing one another, back to the prison camps where they were lucky to get a small amount of water and another handful of rice. If they searched for a morsel of something else, or complained that it wasn't enough, they were tortured even more. Often these POWs prayed that they would pass during the night, knowing that their frail bodies just could not continue on. Others prayed for help to sustain them just one more day. As we are struggling through with our limited shakes or various different diets, I am reminded of those POWs and how they survived on a handful of rice for days, months, even years, all the while working hard labor in their camps. Tonight when I am hearing my stomach rumble, I'm trying to be thankful for what I have. With that in mind, 700 calories doesn't seem so small when compared to the lives of our brave prisoners of war in history.

Really struggling today, this bronchitus of the airways is terrible, you dont coff, you splutter and gasp to breath and my throat is so soar too. Anyway, health report over, i will recover and i need to because today out of the blue i received a letter from my heamatologist with my blood test reults. Hubby has hotfooted it to the hospital to hand the letter in to my surgeon, who will be ringing me next week, well my nurse will, and as she doesn't work mondays it will be tuesday. The blood tests show that i have got the lupus coagulant in my blood, and rather than my blood not clotting quick enough, this messes with the test and my blood actually is more likely to clot too much. I can have my op but will need to be on anti clotting meds for 2-3 weeks after surgery. I need to now see a rhumatologist about the lupus but have to be referred by my gp, passing the book yet again. My 80 year old mom has decided to go into a nursing home after another infection where she ended up in hospital. This is going to keep me busy mentally over the next month or so and a lot of physical work by my husband, our two sons and hubbies brother to empty moms bungalow. It is very difficult when this has to be faced in life, it is something that she never wanted or me, but she needs 24 hour nursing care and i cant give it to her, so a nhs funded nursinf home is the only answer. I think i am too ill and emotionally drained to be excited or otherwise about my op at the moment. I had it in my head to have it in march, no later, but seeing as they only do 2 ops per week on one day a week am hoping they havnt scheduled march yet and i have time to get better and start my 2 week pre op diet before march begins, ready for the first date in march. I went to my support group last night and they are a brilliant bunch of people who are cheering me on, and i know i am very blessed to have them, and i have a group of christian friends who are praying for me and supporting me too. I think i will only believe it is happening when im actually wheeled into the operating room, lol. Did i say, i had my hair cut 2 weeks ago, really short with a short fringe and spiky and everyone says it makes me look younger, and i love how easy it is to do. I have had a pic taken of me with a white furry hat that looks like a dalmation head and everyone says i looked nice in it so for the first time in years i have my face on my facebook account. Not ready dor the body yet though. I always said when my face was thinner that i would have my hair cut and have surprised myself by having it cut now. I have even begun to wear make up when i go out and its made me realise how much i had given up on myself, so i feel younger as well as looking younger. I have told hubby to smarten himself up too and have bought him some younger looking clothes so we match more, dont want my man wearing bobbly flecees-jacket and jumper when he takes me out, he has spruced up well, i have a well dressed handsome silver fox on my arm now, just wait while i loose my weight, i think his little belly will have to go, lol. I am determined to do all i should to loose the weight healthly and to maintain it, i dont want to be putting any weight lost back on, i know it can happen and am aware that the sleeve is a tool that only works when you use it correctly, and i will need to deal with comfort eating and weak will and eating chocolate or puddings to comfort me. I have seen how the sucsessful people work at it, and i want to be one of those people, i want the new me and the new life it will bring. I was talking to a lady last night who has had the bypass and she told me that what she eats now is the same that a thin woman would have always eaten instead of the huge portions she used to eat that made her 27 stone = 27 x 14 lbs. That made sense, the smaller stomach helps us to eat what our bodies need instead of what our stomachs demand, cant wait to get rid of the greedy part of my stomach and work with my new smaller stomach. I will update next week and really hope it will all be good news now, bye for now, keep up the good work, because You are worth it, xxxx

Hey , it is an education issue. My 14 year old daughter asked me the night before surgery if I would loose all the weight before I lett the hospital. well, since I was only there like 6 hours, noooooo..lol.. enjoy the laughs.. later on in the journey we may cry.. The 0 is not a size we are uncapble of either so down set your standards to low...just cause it may take awhile.. just saying..

now it is more waiting time for this blood test to come back, but feel better that something is been done. I am really hoping i don't have lupus, the google facts were not encouraging, but am not worrying. I could be just one of those people who have slower clotting times than other people, and if so, it shouldn't have any bad side effects, i have lived 15 years after my gall bladder out, so just not worrying, it was too thin then and here i am now, still alive, lol. My goal now is to not go mad over christmas, and still try to eat healthy like i need to for my health and to loose excess weight and maintain weight loss, after the op, and am more positive that i will get my sleeve done in the new year, a new start. 4th of Jan this year i had a chateract removed and that was a good start to the year, my eyesight is so much better, so a new stomach for jan 2013 will be great, heres hoping,

Thanks everyone! I'm feeling much better now :-) Readytolosemomof5- that's awesome! My wedding ring is loose now too, but not too lose. If was super tight too before surgery... I could get it off but I had to work hard. I do hair for a living and it dries me nuts because it's always flying around or getting stuck in some poor lady's hair. Haha

My name is lindsey and I just recently turned 21. I got my lab band at 16 and so far since I've had it I havent lost any weight. I've lost maybe about ten pounds and that's it! I do everything right I've had four fills, I work out consitaly, I eat right, I've had everything tested my thyroid my metabolism I'm mean I'm doing everything I physically can to lose weight with this tool that is supposed to be helping me. As of now I'm beyond annoyed with it because it gives me more problems then it's helping. It's just more of an annoyance then it's helping me. I've been to my doctor many times asking him why its not working and the best answer he could give me was I was working out to much! So i stopped working out as much and I still can't loose the weight. I've been to other doctors that look puzzled at me when I tell them that I have had this thing for five years and I still haven't lost weight. Idk what to do anymore and I'm getting to the point where I just want it removed! It's not worth having for me. I look at some of your post that say youve lost 90 lbs in the first year and think that I'm doing something wrong but idk what it is? I'm going nuts. Suggestions would be much welcomed!

My port used to lay flat under my tummy skin. After I began increasing (slightly) my exercise duration and intensity I began to feel a small "tick" in my side or a slight burning near my port. Not continual--just a few times a day. Now my port is angled inward--slanting into my body. I called surgeon and the PA said it might be that one suture has slipped, but no need to worry as long as it can be probed for fill (which it can) Anyone else have a shift in their port location. I'm not one to put my entire faith in band info a PA gives. If there is some activity I need to avoid or should I go back to wearing my baggy jeans--sometimes my new jeans bind a bit--they aren't tight, but definitely bind if I sit too long.

It has been two weeks and five days since my surgery, and I am left in wonder and introspection. I have had my first post-op doctor's appointment and am scheduled to see him again in about two months. I am to lose 24 pounds by then. My scale and the scale at my doctor's are different by six pounds; I also weigh myself nude at home while I am fully clothed while at my doctor's (plus I think I had my car keys in my jeans pocket). I've realized I haven't been following the schedule that I am supposed to have set with my meals: 3 meals a day, 2oz each, and 2 protein shakes. I am still on a liquid diet; broths and protein shakes have been my meals. I've been nearly meeting my protein intake of 50g a day (I get around 46-50, depending on the kind of shake I drink). Along with my realization that I need to work on my food schedule, I also realized I need to be measuring my broth so I can get used to the 2 oz of food I am allowed, so when day 22 comes along, I will measure my soft foods out of habit. Instead of measuring my broth, I've been pouring them into my little toddler bowl and eating it slowly until I feel full. I believe that I was eating double of what I should, but then would not "eat" broth the rest of the day, but would focus on drinking my protein shakes. Even with the completion of my third week coming up and soft foods will soon be on my menu, I am still only allowed 500 calories. This is somewhat concerning to me in that a protein shake that I am loving automatically gives me 220 calories. I can reduce that by using just water to make my shake as opposed to a cup of soy milk and half a cup of water; though with the current way I make my shake, I get 33g of protein in. I'm considering having that shake as a "breakfast" and shake combo. I am also concerned about the 500 calories since I will be starting to exercise, besides the everyday walking that I do. I will start slow, but I also know that beforehand I could burn 400 calories with 30mins of cardio. I trust my doctor, so I just have to hold on to that while wrapping my head around the idea of small calorie intake and the addition of cardio and eventually strength training. With all these changes that I've been going through, I've realized that I've been focusing on the wrong numbers: instead of focusing on my number triad of 500/50/<40, I have been focusing on the number on the scale. and disappointed in that I see no difference in my body shape. Still, I know I am losing weight, and I tell/comfort myself with the idea that I may be losing slowly compared to others but that could be good for me skin wise and also, just adjustment wise. I've taken to keeping a food diary, and have set up a weight loss chart to remind myself that even if I cannot see a difference, I am losing weight and am on track. With all that being said, I am glad that I've taken this big step and am making progress on my journey. I've realized my mistakes and am seeking to correct them. I am working on my water intake, thought I do get my full amount of liquids in through the broth, shakes and bit of water I do drink. I know I need to get better at my water intake since I will be trying soft foods soon, so I will be including broth less and less in my liquid intake (and really, I am getting so freaking tired of chicken broth). I am making my way down this path and with each little step I'm realizing past mistakes in the way I ate and took care of myself, and I'm realizing the mistakes I was making now and am working on correcting those. Sometimes, things that are worthwhile must be worked for and earned so their enjoyment is that much sweeter. My life will be so much sweeter learning and meeting the new me. And for now, in the short term, the sweetness will come with my first scrambled egg!

So far so good. I got up at 5am and did 20 minutes on my treadmill at level 3 with a 2 incline. Goal is to work up to 45 minutes before surgery. I also made arrangements with my trainer to work with me after surgery to minimize the saggy skin. Bless her heart, she is only charging me $30 a week. My goal is to run a 5k, then a 10k, then a 1/2 marathon. Of course this will take lots of time, but I am determined. This morning is going well so far. Seems strange that I am not hungry. I had my first protein meal at 6am and will have my second at 9. It was orange cream flavored and I mixed it with Almond Milk. YUM. Been sucking down the water too. Since I can have Crystal Light with my water I mixes Sunrise Orange with it and it is delish. Brought some beef broth and jello with me to work so I will have some variety throughout the day with my five protein shakes. I am not stupid to not know that this is not going to be easy, but like anything else, once I get through the third day I will be on zoom. This means too much to me to screw up now. Follow up - it is not 420 pm and I am almost done with day 1. whoo whoo. My favorite part of the day was the jello. It gave me something to chew on. LOVED IT!! I think if I keep up my upbeat attitude it will go swimmingly to the end. I sure do hope so anyway. Downward here I come.

Can any one give me some advise, I had a 9cc Band fitted with the hospital group 7 years ago and lost 14 stone over 18 months i kept having fills to often to loose more weight, but this made me ill as i could,t keep anything down. i was living on soft foods & liquids, i couldn't learn myself how to eat solids. I ended up in hospital as the band was too tight so they removed 2cc. i was still the same but due to bringing everything back what i drank and got down caused damage to my esophagus so was advised to have my band deflated after 2 years of struggling and suffering. slowly my weight as gained and i feel like im back to were i started, as i have let my band rest for 18 month so has u can guess i have eaten everything i should't of eaten, like a child would in a sweet shop. I have finally had a refill last week of 4cc but now feel like im at the beginning and need to learn how to work with my band, as i felt last time round i didnt learn how to work it properly and more or less starved myself as the weight was falling off way to quickly. i now feel like im a failure to people who ask me about having a band fitted, as looking at me now im nearly back to the weight when i 1st had the band fitted.And my size now stops me seeing my family & friends has they all knew i had my band fitted,and now i feel like this is the only way to lose this weight, why have a band just to sit inside me and not working,that's what the N.H.S wanted me to do, I've done it there way. And now i'm doing it my way my last chance to work my band. So now iv just finished 3 days of liquid and onto soft food, i dont feel like iv any restriction but im thankfull im keeping what i do eat down. i need advise on what i can and can't eat and what kind of feelings should i be feeling when eating. is it right i cant have a drink till 1 hour after a meal?

10/2009 Take a good look. This is what Morbid Obesity looks like. Let me preface this by saying that at first I was going to keep it all a hush-hush big super secret squirrel secret. But I figured blogging would not only help me chronicle my journey, but serve as a sounding board. Of course I run the risk of opening myself up to criticism and negativity. But I figured…they talked about Jesus they’ll talk about me too. And what’s more is – I really don’t give a rat’s sweaty nads. *shrug* With that said… I’ve never had a problem with being full-figured. In fact, I’ve embraced it. It’s a part of the me that I’ve been proud to be. Even flaunted my curves. And its not like I’ve been starved for attention. Most…well, a lot (only basing on what I’ve been told) of men (women too) think that I’m (are you ready for this?) SEXY. I’m not bragging at all…but can you imagine? Me, at 298lbs…on a 5′3″ frame. What doctors frown at in disapproval. What some people in public look at in disgust…but yet others…desire. To this day. As recently as an hour ago. 8/2008 *smh kinda confused* Admittedly, I’ve thought the same thing for a long time. My self esteem has remained in its proper sometimes over-elevated place. The men folk (husband included) never seemed to have had a problem with it, so I never had a problem with it… Until now. I’m at my biggest ever. Almost 30lbs more than I weighed when I was 9 months pregnant (2 years ago). I’m uncomfortable. I don’t like what I see in the mirror any more. My feet hurt. My knees ache. (ironically enough, the VERY reason why working out has been such a chore – that aside from time: 9-5 job, jewelry biz, almost 2 year old daughter, and a hubby that works nights/weekends). And now, my once high (sometimes too high) self esteem has taken a nosedive. So what to do?? 9/2002 I’ve done the diets, the shakes, the cleanses, the “lifestyle change”, the pills, the work-out regimen, etc… Something has to be done. NOW. So after about 6 months of mulling it over, I’ve opted to have the LAP-BAND®®® surgery. In fact, that’s the entire reason for this blog. My goal is 75-100lbs. Realistically, at 200lbs, I’ll still be +size…but ALOT better off than I am now. I’m making a decision to better my life, and thereby, my family’s life. I will learn healthier habits to pass on to my daughter and share with my husband, as well as actually be around a lot longer to see her grow up, and grow into the olden golden years with her daddy. This vixen, is about to change her game up, for good. I have my physical exam and initial info session at the Bariatric Surgeon’s office on Monday. Then comes the consult to chart the path forward, counseling, etc. I will join the Million Pound Challlenge to help get me started on the right track. But that’s Monday – and it’s going to be a life-changing day. So this weekend, I’m gettin it in. *lol* I’m gonna eat what I want…probably for the last time (at least for a long time); Celebrate my 35th bday (late, bc of all the snow) and celebrate in anticipation of a new life and a new, even sexier, healthier me… I’m excited. I can only pray that by sharing this journey, it will garner some support & encouragement from friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. But even if it doesn’t, it’s no skin off my teeth. I’m CERTAIN that my words will touch or encourage SOMEONE out there. 1/2010 Beauty can be found at ANY size. From a size 6 to 26. However, HEALTH cannot. And that’s all its about for me. Taking off some pounds to add some years to my life. Phine, re-defined… *sexy grin*

a stall is no loss of weight or inches in over 30 days. It irks me when people use this term so loosely. You are fine, Let your body do its thing. Congrats.

Thanks for the Advice. This is definitely a journey and there are a lot of changes... I have been losing, but a LOT slower than at the beginning. I think I am ok with that as I need to stop at some point and I would like my skin to get a little tighter.

I was told by my nurse today, that I need to be on a strict diet, (recording all meals) for 90 days without loosing any weight. (Insurance requires this, not the Doctor) The only way I see to do this is to follow the diet, but eat on the side also. lol And who is this going to fool? The insurance Company? Maybe they think people will loose the weight and not get the much needed surgery. Thank God, my Nurse was kind enough to tell me not to loose, because I would have tried to loose as much as possible, and probably not been able to get the surgery. Has anyone else had this problem? My bmi is 40, and I use the sleep apena machine. :smile:

lol Rhonda..this happened to me too! my scale was saying i was 20lbs down..when i went for my first fill on oct 27th their scale said only 13!! I was so bummed.. lol but hey 13lbs is 13 lbs... now i no longer step on my scale! i will just wait til i go to doc on dec 1. I do feel my pants fitting a lil loose soooo i will go with that! good luck

I have to admit, I have been terrible about working out I am very good at doing like 50 crunches everyday and I take walks every once in awhile, but I have no real good workout routine. I have done well losing and don't really have excess skin, but I agree that this is probably not the norm. I know that I would be doing even better if I exercised. good luck on your journey!

Mokee, with Kaiser they want to make sure you have self control so they ask that you loose a certain amount before surgery with the help of a nutritionist. they will still do the surgery they will just push it back until my nutritionist is comfortable. Really its all up to her to submit my paperwork to the board.

I've read it takes up to a year for excess skin to shrink, so I plan to wait a year after getting to goal to see how things look. I rub my skin to bring extra blood flow to the area after showering and then use any kind of body oil or lotion to keep it soft. Not sure if makes a difference, but at least it feels nice. Lynda

there are no magic creams, just like there are no magic pills. Consume lots of good proteins and drink lots of water and pray your genetics favor tight skin

great job ! im down 25lbs in 3 months and just hit Onederland 2 days ago ! Wow ! its been 6 yrs since ive been there ! im not doing the couch to 5k program , but i found a extreme water fitness class that i attend 3-4 times a week. Not for sissies ! finding an exercise that i could stick with was key, and now im finding everything is easier from tying my shoes to walking to getting dressed. its nice when my formally too tight clothes are now too loose,and im getting compliments . when i could shimmy my pants off without unzipping them i knew i was on my way. congrats !!

Great to hear that you had a good report at the doctor's office. As far as the Plavix, listen to the cardiologist! He is the expert on this! And as to the Lexapro, I would say that is up to you! You are the only one who knows how you feel and how you are doing mentally/depression wise (I assume the Lexapro is for depression or some similar condition.). I was on Lexapro, and wanted to come off it, and my doc wanted me to stay on it. I insisted that he couldn't "jump inside my skin" and know how I was feeling, so when I said I didn't feel that I needed it anymore, I felt I was the best judge. He finally agreed to help me taper off of it. Congratulations on your 48 lb loss! That is FANTASTIC!!! Big changes ahead! Best wishes!!! Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Well, first of all, I can't believe it's been 4 months already. I'm really loving my sleeve. I'm down -41 lbs. since pre-op diet. Went from size 16 to very loose size 12 pants. Have already cleaned out my closet once, but soon I'll have to get rid of the 12's too. So happy about that. Also, went from XL shirts to M. Lessons learned ... I don't have a great metabolism. I have to exercise (and do so about 3 times a week) and watch my carbs to lose weight, and even then it's pretty slow progress. As soon as I just watch calories, I don't lose. I don't gain either, which I'll keep in mind for maintenance phase. I can eat just about anything, so I really have to chose to eat the right things. Only things that give me a little trouble if I eat too fast and don't chew enough are: salmon, thick cuts of beef, dense bread. I don't eat bread anymore, but I did try it once or twice. I also have to space out my supplements. If I take too many at a time, I get the slimees. I have about 29 lbs. to go for my initial goal of 140. I will reevaluate how I feel/look at that time, and may lower my weight goal... who knows. I would highly recommend that all new sleeves look at this surgery as an opportunity to start over and live a healthy lifestyle. If we were to keep our old ways, the results might not be as permanent as you think. Sure, you will lose a whole bunch at first because you just can't consume as much as before... but, even amount of food you can consume will change. It's those permanent (and healthy) changes that will help us get to goal and stay there. I don't know.. just my thoughts. Not lecturing or anything... really just self-reflecting. I really don't want to ever be in the morbidly obese or obese range again. I already feel so much better physically and mentally, and still have a ways to go.

Charity, Congrats on your progress. You need to increase your protein intake to at least 80 grams/day. You will be fuller longer and faster. Also will prevent you from loosing your hair and lean muscle. Carbs should be the last thing you eat on your plate. Protein 1st, vegetables 2nd and carbs 3er. Just a word of advise Good luck