Hi, everyone. I haven't checked in for a very long time, mostly because I was becoming so discouraged by my lack of success since I was banded in August. After 2 fills, I was at 6 cc's and felt almost zero restriction. Still, I want to be honest and acknowledge that I haven't been a 100% compliant patient either. I haven't exercised very much, I've indulged in too much alcohol and I've had a very hard time not drinking during/after meals. I had my 3rd fill today and I'm hoping that it will make a difference. I'm now at 7 cc's in a Realize band.

DH and I are leaving for Hawaii in 10 days. I'd really hoped to be much thinner by the time we made the trip but that's not going to happen. Oh well, it's better to be fat in Hawaii than fat at home, right? I'm planning on doing a lot of walking while I'm there and I've already checked into the availability of a gym at our hotel (they have one). I feel like I'm starting over. Wish me luck!

I'm really impressed by how well the rest of you are doing! I hope I can achieve similar success.

Hi Sally, first let me say that I think the mentality of starting over will be good for you. Drinking with eating and indulging in alcohol on a consistent basis and other indulgences while trying to lose weight with the band are as I am sure you already know are very counterproductive to your weight loss efforts. Maybe if you make a promise to yourself to begin anew and use your trip as your starting point you can begin to comply with your quest in ernest. Good Luck to you and keep us posted.

I was also banded in August and have only lost around 25 pounds.. My problem is old habits are hard to break and I eat to many slider foods. So this week I have tried really hard to get back on tract. I also need to excerise, which I hate. hopefully I will do better in 2010.

Sally, don't give up as you are going in the right direction by seeing what you have been doing and wanting to change. The one thing I've had to remind myself a lot is that everyone loses at a different rate even with the band. We can't compare ourselves to anyone else. We just have to do what we know is right and enjoy whatever loss we have and move forward. Enjoy your trip and use the time you are away to get back on track while having a great time.

I'm discouraged myself. Old habits are hard to break. Each day is a new day. I keep telling myself that. I've been stuck on 210 for what seems like weeks......I am certainly glad that I have not gained but I just wish I could start losing again!

Hi everyone, I just want to say that you haven't given up and you are not a failure. 1st of all you all have noticed your problems and then you asked for help/advice. I failure is one who don't try and just quit. You all haven't given up. You are speaking out. That is a good thing. To Sally The trip to Hawaii with get you motivated. It is so beautiful there I didn't want to leave. I next we are going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and We haven't seen our classmates in 22yrs. We are planning to reunite. I'm not giving up. I feel great. I haven't lost what I wanted to loss at this time but I'm definately not giving up. Everybodys body respond differently. Everything happens for a reason. We all will be okay. We are winniners and we just have to make it to the finish line.

Hi sally,

My progress has been slow also. I too have been able to eat whatever I wanted. I just got my third fill Thursday and I'm feeling a lot more restriction. Can't even drink a glass of wine. LOL Don't give up. Go on your trip and have a good time, start over when you get back.

Hi everyone - I too have not lost as much as I hoped to so far. Only 25 lbs since August. However I do fit in clothes I couldn't before, which is great! I have 5.5 in my 10CC band. Had to have 1cc removed after an overfill (NOT a nice feeling!) Going back next week for another fill, hoping that gets me to a better place. I can eat way too much now. I'm still glad I did it and I know the weight will start coming off again eventually! Hang in there everyone, it will come. We knew the band was a slower process than the bypass surgery. In the long run, we'll be great!

I haven't lost what I wanted. My Dr. said I have lost a little over a lb a week which is still good. I just have to realize that this is a slow journey and the end result is worth it. Even if I am loosing slowly it is still better than not loosing at all. A pound is still a pound.

Sally, don't give up as you are going in the right direction by seeing what you have een doing and wanting to change. The one thing I've had to remhatever loss we have and move forward. Enjoy your trip and use the time you are away to get back on track while having a grat time.

hi everyone, i too was banded in august and have not lost but a total of 19pds. It seems like my weightloss has been going down so slow. I just got my 3 fill @ a 7.2 and went back 2 days later for an unfill now @ a 6.9 fill. Much better ...see how it goes . not exercising yet. I know i should be , i do every once in a while. The bottom line is dont give up !!! good luck to all.

It can be quite discouraging when things slow down. For me I lost 18lbs pre-op and 32lbs since my surgery on August 11th. I am at 5cc in a 10cc band and have good restriction. What I haven't done is manage to get into an exercise routine. But putting it in perspective, I have almost reached my 6 month mark of being post op, and the 32 lbs I have lost averages out to a loss of 5.33lbs per month. That's not dramatic or spectacular, but it is progress that I likely would not have made without the band.

It also helps to consider all those non-scale victories. For me -- I can cross my legs comfortably, tuck in my shirts, wear button down shirts, shop for close in the petite section, even my shoe size is a 1/2 size smaller!

Slow and steady wins the race....don't give up!

I can totally understand being discouraged. I was banded in April 2009 and I have a 9cc in a 14cc band. I haven't been on this site in a while because I feel like such a failure. Along with the medical conditions that lead me to the LB, I am also peri-menopausal. I crave carbs, I can go a couple of days without them then BAM, they come back. I really want to commend those of you who seem to have gotten a handle on this thing. Thank God I don't drink alcohol. I'm going to try and increase my protein, because I don't think that I'm getting enough. This is harder than I thought it would be. :thumbup: