I had the band thr first of November and I have had 3 fill since then. I have only lost 3 pounds. Before I got the band I was doing no carbs nd had lost 20 pounds. Once I go the band I did the liquids and soups. Even the protein drinks, and I'm not lossing. My last fill was last week, so I'm still on liquids. Why is everyone lossing weight and not me. I feel like I'm barely eating anything. I got soup for lunch today, and didn't even eat all of it. Can someone help.

By reducing stomach capacity, the LAPBAND

® System can help achieve long-term weight loss by creating an earlier feeling of satiety.

No...the band works because it puts pressure on the vagus nerves which tell the stomach to quit producing ghrelin, the hunger hormone. So when we eat, and have reached that sweet spot, what we're getting is appetite suppression that should last about 4 hours or so.

You need to change your definition of full from "can't take another bite" to "content and no longer hungry". You may still be *able* to eat the same quantity you could pre-band, but without the driving hunger, you have a greater chance of putting that fork down...and that's what our job is.

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Yes I went to a band mill and they lied straight to my face about post-op band complications!

I am wondering who was less than honest with you - your doctors office?

Because I have been observing this for over a year now. The facts speak! It hasn't workded for me. It hasn't worked for most ppl I know. It hasn't worked for most ppl that I have observed online. IT DOESN'T FREAKING WORK MOST OF THE TIME.

*IF* it works for u..............then great. However it is NOT the case for most bandsters!

interesting. my screenname says 26 because thats when i started researching this. Im 30 now. honestly, i havent observed what you have observed. i have seen far more success stories than failures over the past four years, and you know what i STILL wouldnt say? that the band works for most people. because i dont know that.

Say what u will. I stand behind my statement.

interesting. my screenname says 26 because thats when i started researching this. Im 30 now. honestly, i havent observed what you have observed. i have seen far more success stories than failures over the past four years, and you know what i STILL wouldnt say? that the band works for most people. because i dont know that.

Might be sodium intake is too high too.. Soup has alot of sodium and you will hold Water

Actually Mattie; according to my doctor what you're experiencing is very normal according to my doctor's office. I was in fact told that after the first week my weight loss might be very little until after my second or third fill. He also told me that it would be very normal to go up and down a little at that point. Your in the healing period and it takes some time. Also, it wasn't until my third fill that I started truly experiencing what some of you are referring to as restriction. Now I truly can't eat much with out becoming sick, but before it was just that I got satisfied earlier and didn't eat as much. Luckily because of the stage I was at; just that was enough for me to lose consistently. That is not the case for everyone. I should also mention that in the first month I lost 8 pounds in the week after surgery, then 5 pounds, then 1 and then NOTHING in the week before my first fill. My doctor said that was very normal.

Fluffy,

You've obviously made up your mind that the band does not work for you. You are the only one who really knows whether that is true. Nobody, certainly not me, is making a judgment about you and or band...or anyone and their band.

What we're trying to do here is help others who are having difficulty with their band, perhaps bringing something to their attention that they didn't know before. I'm hoping they won't just throw their hands up in the air and call it quits because of your opinionated belief that the band doesn't work for 'most' people. The only thing that is true is that it didn't work for *you*.

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Thanks! Now I know this is normal, else I would have been very concerned. I'm trying hard not to gain any weight in the meantime.....

Actually Mattie; according to my doctor what you're experiencing is very normal according to my doctor's office. I was in fact told that after the first week my weight loss might be very little until after my second or third fill. He also told me that it would be very normal to go up and down a little at that point. Your in the healing period and it takes some time. Also, it wasn't until my third fill that I started truly experiencing what some of you are referring to as restriction. Now I truly can't eat much with out becoming sick, but before it was just that I got satisfied earlier and didn't eat as much. Luckily because of the stage I was at; just that was enough for me to lose consistently. That is not the case for everyone. I should also mention that in the first month I lost 8 pounds in the week after surgery, then 5 pounds, then 1 and then NOTHING in the week before my first fill. My doctor said that was very normal.

Thanks! Now I know this is normal, else I would have been very concerned. I'm trying hard not to gain any weight in the meantime.....

I'm glad my rambling made some sense. And just so you know, up until now that's kind of what I had to do toward the end between appointments. I have trouble getting in more than once a month and I seem to need a fill before that.

Successful weight loss, in all arenas, is done by getting your body to burn more than you consume. The best calories to consume are Protein and fat. Carbs are not ideal. Ultimately aim for six days between 1,200-1,400 calories, then one day a week increase your calories by about 400-600 calories. You'll get your body out of starvation mode and will get your metabolism back up and you will lose weight.

Talk to any pro weight lifter or body builder or pick up a copy of The Four Hour Body for confirmation. It pisses doctors off but it is what works. Try it if you're at a plateau, you'll lose after a day or two.

I can't see myself only eating 6 bites of food...but we'll see I guess!

I have no fill so far, but one thing I've noticed is I'm eating a lot of smaller meals throughout the day. Up to 6 at times which technically is proper if you figure 3 meals and 3 Snacks. Before I used to eat a big lunch and dinner, and snacks later in the day. I'm not really losing weight, but not gaining either. So that's a start I guess!

Mattie, it sounds like your band is beginning to work, even with no fill. As you get fills, you will likely find that while you will still get hungry, the hunger will be under more control and will happen further apart and you will be able to make better choices of what kinds of food to put in your body. This is not an absolute.. there will be days that you are hungrier than others, and days when choices aren't as good as others.

Just try to string more good days together than bad.

And it may take more than 1 fill to get good appetite dimming. Some people get it on one, others take 2 or 3 or 4. The time before your first fill is supposed to be about healing, not weight loss.

The appetite control is why I got banded rather than doing weight watchers or some other plan. I don't want the band to be a strangulation device (restriction). I want to run a little bit loose. YMMV

Congrats on the smaller meals and making the first steps. I believe you are on your way!