Stupid band, or stupid me?

[b9409 1]

Today is my 6mth bandiversary, and I am feeling like the band hasn't really helped me. I have only lost 20 lbs!!! IN 6 MONTHS! I don't think I'm getting much of anything from the band.

I DO have restriction...I am at 7.1ccs in a 10cc band, but I can still eat a lot of food (several cups, and can keep eating if I really want to). I know I need to be better about exercise and making good choices, but I don't know how the band is supposed to be helping me.

Ugh, only 20 lbs. I am really discouraged. Any thoughts??

[pxburne 0]

Hi don't get discouraged. Start exercising and you will might see better results. But if you are like me the purpose of getting banded was to do the job for you huh! You can do it!

[Teacher07 3]

Today is my 6mth bandiversary, and I am feeling like the band hasn't really helped me. I have only lost 20 lbs!!! IN 6 MONTHS! I don't think I'm getting much of anything from the band.

I DO have restriction...I am at 7.1ccs in a 10cc band, but I can still eat a lot of food (several cups, and can keep eating if I really want to). I know I need to be better about exercise and making good choices, but I don't know how the band is supposed to be helping me.

Ugh, only 20 lbs. I am really discouraged. Any thoughts??

YOU DO NOT HAVE RESTRICTION if yoan eat several cups of food. I have restriction and a 4th of a cup is max for me. You need a fill or you need to be checked because your little pouch should NOT be holding several cups of food.

[Mangofish 1]

I just a got a fill yesterday (3rd) and was so tight I could barely drink Water but then it disappeared the next day. It is so frustrating and expensive at $200 a pop. I completely understand your situation but you got keep pushing yourself for another fill. My doctor said every 2 months - yeah right. I went 4 weeks later and will now go again next month.

[illuminationlady 7]

I agree with Teacher07. You need a fill and do not have true restriction. I could never eat several cups of food. I have not had restriction long but now I know the difference. Call your doctor and get that fill!!!

[elcee 3,340]

Being able to eat 4 cups of food doesn't mean you don't have restriction. It all depends on what the food is and over what period.

E.g most people could probably manage 4 cups of icecream or yogurt or Soup or similar if they tried. Especially if it is eaten slowly.these foods are all sliders , go down easily etc.

Most people would struggle to eat 4 cups of a proper solid Protein e.g beef/chicken/fish along with some vegetables and a small portion of carbs.

ideally you should eat a meal over 20 - 30 min. If you take longer than that you will be able to eat more as the food will have started to pass through the band.

So before you blame the band you need to look at a couple of things:-

What are you eating?

How long is it taking you to eat?

Are you cheating the band by drinking fluids to help the food go down easier?

It has been said many times that the band is only a tool. It cannot do everything for you. You are the one that still decides ultimately what you are going to put in your mouth.

But if you are doing the right thing and the band is not helping then you need to go back to your Dr and discuss your problems and hopefully sort them out.

Maybe you need more fill.You didn't say what kind of band you have. if it is a Realize band then typically more fill is required to reach restriction than with a lap band. You may have a leak - has this been checked.

Good luck - hope you sort this out and get back on the road to losing really soon.

[bella71 0]

Today is my 6mth bandiversary, and I am feeling like the band hasn't really helped me. I have only lost 20 lbs!!! IN 6 MONTHS! I don't think I'm getting much of anything from the band.

I DO have restriction...I am at 7.1ccs in a 10cc band, but I can still eat a lot of food (several cups, and can keep eating if I really want to). I know I need to be better about exercise and making good choices, but I don't know how the band is supposed to be helping me.

Ugh, only 20 lbs. I am really discouraged. Any thoughts??

Instead of eating the 4 cups of food, try eating one cup of food and then see if you are satisfied. If you test your band by seeing how much food you can consume, you will stretch the pouch and then be able to eat more, and also risk band slippage. Each meal should not feel like Thanksgiving dinner, but a pleasant feeling of being just satisfied. That's what my nutritionist told me, and I find that it works.

Let's face it. The band is not going to stop you from eating more if you really want more. We're very clever folks, and can figure a way around the band if we want to. But that would defeat the purpose in the surgery int he first place.

Good luck. {{{hugs}}}

[atgoalgal 0]

I really agree with elcee and others on this thread. Hang in there. Tjis really is a journey, and for me much of the journey was learning to use my tool. I've posted this before elsewhere, but thought I'd share here.

I'm in my 4th year and have been maintaining 100% EWL. It is important to look at what you are eating and how long you are eating for. That being said, it took me a long time to get to my sweet spot It was frustrating, but I really learned to use my band along the way, and I did get there - and I will still get a small fill when I think I need it. I am one of those people who is sensitive to a small amount of Fluid, so adding a few drops was the difference between a good fill and being hungry for me. (it was a good thing that the cost of all my fills was included in my surgeon's one-time fee; I was cash pay) I think its and art and a science. I also found that it's super important to be able to describe what u feel to your doctor. Here are some things to talk about - how much dense Protein (and I don't mean yogurt or cottage cheese) can you comfortably eat in one 20 minute sitting (no food lube) and 2) how long since your last meal do you go until you start feeling really hungry - and that doesn't mean you passed a Taco Bell sign. Anyone who wants more on this, I actually put together a powerpoint slide to talk about it with my surgeon. I'm happy to email it to you if you PM me with an email address. Don't know how to post a powerpoint here. Yes, for those who are asking, I'll eventually, lpost it on my blog, but I haven't gotten there yet...

[BetsyB 9]

I wouldn't go so far as to say stupid you, but I would say that anyone eating several cups of food post-banding is not making choices compatible with weight loss.

I would also suggest that, unless the bulk of your intake is really slider food, your level of restriction is NOT what you think it is.

What are you eating in a typical day? How do you feel when you eat it? How soon after eating are you hungry again?

WHY are you eating cupsful of food? Because you're hungry, or because you can?

[Boykie 4]

Having read all this, I agree with most things said here. At the end of the day, it is a tool to assist you on the journey. Personally, i would want to know that the LabBand was not leaking because i could not get beyond one cup of food without exploding - unless it was Soup or runny oatmeal or whatever...

Good luck - keep on trying.

k