Hi, I posted on this before and guess I am looking for some encouragement. For those of you who did not see my original post. I was banded on May 1, 2009 at 300/lbs. Join a jym with a trainer and nutritionist in July of that year and have been working out ever since. I dropped 30/lbs quickly and the last 20 have been a struggle. I have been hovering around the 250 - 258 mark for almost a year. The Nutritionist at the gym had me eating around 1700 - 1800 calories. With this weight was fairly stable around the 258 mark. Went to the Bariatric Nutritionist who says I was eating far too much. And after I loose the weight I can work on increasing calories, she cut me back to around 1300, and under 100 carbs a day. The GYM Nutritionist says 1500 is ok and maybe a few more carbs. So Here I am. So I have been sticking to around 1300 calories, not much fun. And wondering if the rest of this weight will ever come off. Still working out 3 to 5 times a week. Need to go at least 5 times but all this working out has hurt my knees so I have been going to PT twice a week. I have been keeping carbs around 100 a day. Went a bit crazy on a month long vacation and when I returned in early Aug was up to 258 again. Today down to 247 in like 8 weeks. but it is slow. I do not need a fill as I cannot eat in the Morning and having some PB Issues 3 or 4 times a week. The Bariatric Nutritionist said not to worry yet about this and to get this final 22/lbs off. Any suggestions. I was thinking to move up to around 1500 calories and increase my work outs a bit. Also a friend is going to Metabolic Research center. which is also low carb and supplements for Metabolism and doing quite well. Just want to get this last 20 lbs off!!:smile:

I would listen to the Bariatric Nutritionist advice about lower calories. The only way to loss body fat is to eat fewer calories than are burned. Get rid of all starchy carbs, and don't overload on protein.

Sorry to jump in here since I am a girl but I think you need a fill. The fact that you have to have liquid in the morning doesn't mean you don't because I was like that but I could and did overeat at night! I also PB'd quite often and now that I have had a fill I realize PBing is more a factor of not chewing well than your fill tightness.

I was at 5cc in a 10cc band and my doc tells me I'm lucky I never gained weight all this time. NOw I got 1.7cc more and I am back to eating tiny portions which stuff me like Thanksgiving dinner used to and keep me full for hours!

Good luck, and again, sorry I dont have testicles...

This is about a lifestyle change - not how little we can eat. Don't you wish you had a nickel every time you read or heard, "the band is just a tool." The solid fact, however, is that the band is just a tool. It is not - no was ever - meant to completely replace all will power, exercise, or making good food choices.

The key to success relies on making a lifestyle change which includes sufficient exercise and learning your energy balance. Low calorie diets just don't work long term. They'll give you short term results (even excellent at the outset) but long term plateau's and a sluggish metabolism.

Periodically, just to keep myself honest, I measure all food intake and exercise export. Over the past 6 weeks, I'm averaging over 2,900 calories a day intake (yes, with a band) while at the same time burning on avg. 2200 calories a week in dedicated exercise.

Good luck!

Brad

I think really I did what Jack is suggesting - I found normal weight through a lot of cardio whilst eating normal amounts of carbs/protein and about 1500 a day.

it suited me, I didnt find it hard, I love my running and it wasnt insane, just an hour a day (8 to 10kms). I dont do as well on more strength trainign workouts, I mean I do it because its good for my body, but my main focus was and always will be cardio. It burns insane fat for me and makes weight control really easy. I dont put on a lot of muscle, I dont have that sort of body, relying on having muscle to burn calories just isnt a good strategy for me personally.

Then you could try the low carb route. I think the thing is, different things suit different bodies and you have to settle on what works for you.

Thanks I am just so frustrated, been keeping to 1300 to 1500 calories, under 100 carbs and work out min of 3 times a week with trainer and 1 to 2 more times on my own. Scale does not want to move! Not sure what it will take.

Thanks I am just so frustrated, been keeping to 1300 to 1500 calories, under 100 carbs and work out min of 3 times a week with trainer and 1 to 2 more times on my own. scale does not want to move! Not sure what it will take.

Ross, maybe you should try changing WHAT you're eating, not necessarily how much or when. I admit, I haven't yet been banded, but I'm an old hand at dieting.

The first time I did South Beach Diet I lost like crazy. I had dental surgery so went off the diet, and I gained it all back, plus a bunch more. (No surprise there.) The next time I tried South Beach, even though I ate exactly the same things I did the first time, I didn't lose more than a few pounds, and then the scale got stuck. I finally gave up in frustration.

So maybe look at the way you're eating, and what your meals are made from, then turn it on its head, and do things completely different. Or eat dinner for Breakfast, or something. Try shaking up how your body receives the calories you give it, and see if it makes a difference. Go on a liquid diet for a few days, or change the type of Protein you're eating. Look at every little thing you eat, and make sure you aren't defeating your own efforts through inclusion of something that is adding carbs or calories or whatever back in through invisible means. (I once found the salad dressing I really liked was LOADED with calories, and was mislabeled. Changed to a different dressing, and life moved forward.)

Weight loss tends to be a mathematics game: Calories Eaten - Enough Calories Burned = Weight loss. So maybe you should look into getting one of the Bodymedia armband monitors to help you track your calories, exercise rates, and sleep quality. I just got one and am excited to use it. Check out bodymedia.com, but buy it from costco.com. They have a better deal.

Good luck!

Dave