I'm getting pretty frustrated. Today is my 4wk anniversary and even though I've lost 18lbs, I'm back up to 4, only making my total loss only 14lbs... 11 of which was from my two week liquid diet. :ohmy: I've been exercising and eating way less than normal, but I know I'm still able to eat more than I should. It's super frustrating and I'm beginning to feel like a failure for having the surgery and still not being able to lose it.

Has anyone NOT lost any weight before your first fill??? I would love to hear from you and any words of encouragement would be awesome.

TIA

What you are going through is perfectly normal. It is known as bandster hell. It's the time after surgery, before you get fills that bring you to restriction. Hang in there! It will get better. For now I would focus on eating the right things (low carb, low fat, high protien), even if they are larger portions than you will eat once a few fills kick in. Keep us posted on how your doing.

Read these boards- this is very, very, very common. This is a slow process and there is just no way around that.

I am 6 weeks post op, had my 1st fill on July 16th and have only lost 10lbs to date. All of that loss was the first few days after surgery. As expected, the 1st fill, although a big one, did not give me any restriction yet.

Met with my nutritionist yesterday and she assured me all is as it should be. She said I can expect restriction around the 3rd or 4th fill and in the meantime, just keep making good food decisions, watch my portions and stick with the workouts.

It will happen. This board is full of posts just like yours and pretty much everyone went on to great success once the fills started making a difference.

I won't say it happens....there does seem to be some on the board that do not gain weight during the bandster hell, I just wasn't one of them. I lost 14 pounds after surgery but gained back 4 pounds before I got my first fill.

Totally normal! Just read some older threads.... I have just now (after my 2nd fill) started losing.

Let your body heal and adjust- the weightloss will come.

Ahhhh.... bandster hell. Im with ya!!

My 4 week anniversary was yesterday and I also got my first fill yesterday.

I lost 17 lbs pre op and 3 lbs post op, then I gained back 1.5

lbs and it was starting to feel like everyother diet I have ever done:cursing:. Lose at first then start to gain back!!!

But I got my fill yesterday ad I feel much better.

RESTRICTION!!!! WOO HOO :scared2:

Today I am satisfied with my mostly liquid diet. No hunger!

I know this feeling wont last too long but at least now I know how I will feel once I reach my sweet spot.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. I dont know when you get your first fill, but just try to survive until then.

I spent the last 2 weeks regreting my decision to get banded and now I just feel silly and short sighted. Dont beat yourself up and waste time feeling down, it will all get better soon.

Best of luck:wub:

This is such a relief to read...thanks. Ive only been banded 9 days and in that time Ive only lost 4lbs. And Im still on full liquids for 5 more days and Im HUNGRY!! I have atleast 5 weeks Im guessing till my 1st fill, but atleast Ill be progressing up to some food before then.

I guess I should just stay off the scale :scared2:

Thanks everyone.

I always heard the term 'bandster hell', but for some reason I never associated it with the scale and its lack of moving. I equated it to not being able to eat and generally feeling crappy.

If bandster hell is staying the same or even gaining a little prior to a fill, then that's where I am and it's damn hot here!!!

I'll try to stay positive and keep looking at the big picture. Thanks again!

I will have my first fill on Aug 16. Just had my post-op visit today and my nut told/reminded me that until I get restriction, I will just be on a diet. If I stick to a losing plan (60-80 grams protein, less than 50 carbs, low fat) and try and only eat one cup of food at a time, I can lose weight, but it will be all on me...it will feel like a diet, I will be hungry, cranky, probably slip up and even gain a little until restriction kicks in! We'll get there :wub: Being on a diets pre-band sure sucked, but I was always able to hang tough for a little while and lose. I'm of course hoping restriction will kick in right as I am starting to want to quit dieting this time! Good luck and just look at ANY loss as a bonus before you have restriction. Don't beat yourself up! We all go through this (my hardest days are still ahead of me :cursing:

Day of surgery I was 230. One month later for my first fill I was 230.8 and vert discouraged. My surgeon said don't worry. I was on mushies and didn't reallt have a big meni to choose from. It gets better, believe me.

This is a great time to get a good exercise regimen started, or at least as soon as your surgeon clears you for exercise. That will start to rev up your metabolism so that when you get restriction you're off and running.

Good Luck!

Brad