I need help. I had the lap band since July 25 2005 and have only lost 5 lbs. I workout 3-5 days a week. I still have not seen a difference.:cry

Hi Bigmama, have you tried to up your calories? Some people find that when they are working out that much, they need more calories.

Are you tight enough?

Also, have you checked your body fat percentages? Do you know what you started out at, and do you know where you are now? This is very important to find out. You might be building muscles and those weigh more than fat.

Just a thought

I kind of had the same problem starting out. I really didn't lose any big amount of weight until I finally got good restriction. Hang in there! There's lots of people here to help you figure this out!

JEssie Bear, how long did it take you to finally get good restriction? I am about 6 months out and have only lost 20 pounds.

It has been a little over 3 months, 5 or 6 fills, and I just now (few days ago) finally got some restriction. I really feel like I am finally beginning to lose consistently now!

Sorry it tooks so long for me to reply.. I am just trying to figure out how to use this forum. I do need to get my BMI checked. Some people say they can see a difference.

Maybe you need to get another fill. Like they said above, if your working out alot, maybe you should take in some more calories. Also, try journaling what you are eating, if you are eating small amounts but just junk, it isn't going to do you any good.

I think it has something to do with metabolism. Also, maybe you need fills. I'm losing slower than alot of people and I'm on my 4th fill now! Some people just need more fills. Also, my fill nurse today said sometimes people who need to break out of a routine get unfilled completely for 10 days and then start fills all over again - interesting theory - I have no idea if it works, but I'd try anything once.

I was banded on January 12th of this year. I have not gotten a fill yet and will have to pay each time I have one. I'm concerned when I read that people have 4 or 5 fills before they feel restriction. Doing the math that equates to about $1500. I'm self paying and had not counted on having to spend that much right out of the shoot. I have lost about 20 pounds but it's because I'v 'white knuckled' through it. I can loose a little that way but without restriction I'm not sure how long I can hang in there. Is it common for people to need several fills before feeling restriction?

. I'm self paying and had not counted on having to spend that much right out of the shoot. I have lost about 20 pounds but it's because I'v 'white knuckled' through it. I can loose a little that way but without restriction I'm not sure how long I can hang in there. Is it common for people to need several fills before feeling restriction?

Yes, it is, and I'm in the same boat as you...self-pay. Mighty pricey! Plus I just found out my fill doc only does them under flouro at the hospital now. Even more $$$! I'm white-knuckling it, too. I don't mind, because I DO have restriction, and I can't stand to be super tight. So I work with it. But the cost is definately a factor. Hang in there. Try eating hard protiens first (chicken, etc.) and it helps you fill up faster. Even needing a small fill, I find it's possible to eat well, properly, and not go overbaord. It's just slow.

Thanks for the encouragement. I feel really good about what I've acomplished and have plans for my first fill the first of March which isn't too far away. Even a little restriction will help I'm sure. I've stuck with chicken, eggs, non-fat cottage cheese, no hard cheese or bread. I drink a lot of water between meals to keep me full. So far it seems to be working. I've saved up enough to have my first fill. I guess I'll need to start saving for the future now... Thanks!

Bigmama, can I make an observation? I notice that your name 'Bigmama' and your signature 'smiley eating popcorn' all identify you as someone big - someone who loves food. But I wonder if this image is helping you. If this is how you see yourself, how you identify yourself, then losing weight could be considered (subconsciously perhaps) threatening to the core of your self image. It is wonderful to accept yourself but if that 'self' you are accepting is big and eats alot this could be hurting your weightloss efforts (as the self in your mind and your behaviour are at odds). Could you start thinking about yourself as 'incredible shrinking mama' or 'hotmama' and show a smiley wiggling her booty or laughing and throwing popcorn (does this exist? can someone make one please!). This way you can get to feel comfortable with a 'you' that is not 'big and eating' but perhaps 'fun and shrinking' instead. Perhaps when your mind and you body are working together the weight might start coming off. Just a thought.

Bigmamma, this name change was suggested to me when I first started too. Mt first name on here was biggun. I thought it was funny, but then I was told if I changed my name to what I want to become it would help me. I think it has made a difference.

Have you had a fill. I had no restriction until my 4th fill and had even gained back some of my initial weight before that. WHat kind of workouts do you do? Are you counting your calories? Have you logged onto FitDay.com and noted every calorie you put in your mouth. The band will help us when we want to binge but it won't help us if we are eating around it. Go here: http://www.room42.com/nutrition/basal.shtml

to find out how many calories you should be getting in and how many you should be burning off with your exercising.

I wish I could get on the ball and exercise everyday. I skip so many days the effects wear off sometimes. Time to get proavtive with your eating and with what you are already doing with exercise should help those pounds fall off quicker.

Good luck!

i just wanted to comment on the "not eating enough calories" theory. to me that just doesn't make logical sense. the whole idea with the band is to take in less calories--burning more than we take in is how we lose. we want to be dipping into our "reserves" if you will. we all have plenty of fat in storage--our bodies have the nutrients in storage that it needs--we could all probably go months without eating as long as we had water (which of course i am not recommending).

just something to think about--would welcome anyone's comments on this. i am not picking on anyone who has mentioned this--as i had been told this for years as well, just lately doesn't seem to make sense to me....sorry to hijack the thread!

for me, it is all about the restriction. i just got my second fill and am feeling some real restriction now. it is helping out big time and i am not always hungry like before.....just my 2 cents : )

for me, it is all about the restriction. i just got my second fill and am feeling some real restriction now. it is helping out big time and i am not always hungry like before.....just my 2 cents : )