I was banded in July 10 and I've had 4 fills and am eating less than before but still not losing weight. I realize that I haven't been walking due to the weather but shouldn't I be losing weight just by not eating as much?

When I eat I get a terrible pain from the left side of my neck down my left collar bone. Is this from the band or from my deterriorated cervical spine? I know I have that problem but never experienced this type of pain when eating. It happens whenever I eat meat or Beans or anything thicker to swallow.

Whenever I talk to the diet people w/Lap band they tell me I should be eating from South Beach... heck if I am supposed to follow a diet, why did I get the Lap Band in the first place? I was under the impression that this would take the place of diets, which never work. Now, I don't eat junk food or overeat but just eat moderate portions or regular meals I make for my family.

Since July I've only lost 30 lbs.

Thought I'd seek advice from other bandsters.

Hi... I was also banded July 2010. I have had some problems with pain associated with eating in the last couple months. Both times, My dr. did a slight unfill to alleviate the pressure that had built up in my esophogous. I've learned sometimes you can eat something that irritates the esophogous or puts some pressure on it going down and maybe you didn't even notice it at the time but a tiny bit of swelling can then irritate the problem and create even more swelling making if painful to eat certain foods. Have you contacted your dr.? If it is something like this, it's pretty easily fixable but you don't want to wait b/c it can become a bigger problem if not addressed.

oh...I forgot to add... my weight loss has slowed down a whole lot... even with eating less and I do exercise pretty regularly too.

Pain from your cervical spine would generally be felt radiating down the back and through the shoulder blades. I would not think pain near the collar bone would be associated with your neck. I would consider that the band or other issues are at play here.....

Also about losing weight or not losing weight....I also don't seem to be losing by just eating less. I find I have to span my calories into about 6 little meals instead of 3 meals, to keep my metabolism working. It's more discipline, but it works if I stick to it. The idea is the band will make me full after this small amount at some point....but right now I'm not restricted enough so I have to work harder at making sure my little meals are just little!!!

The band will not take the place of a diet so you dont have too I dont know why you would think that. You still have to have portion control and not eat junk just like on a diet. If you are not excersising then your weight loss will stand still eventually. You have to move to lose after a certain point. If you thought the band was just magically going to do all the work and you would just lose weight with no effort then you were very misimformed by your doctor. Too little food causes your body to go into starvation mode which causes no weight loss. Come on people diet and excersise is the key to successful weight loss.

The band will not take the place of a diet so you dont have too I dont know why you would think that. You still have to have portion control and not eat junk just like on a diet. If you are not excersising then your weight loss will stand still eventually. You have to move to lose after a certain point. If you thought the band was just magically going to do all the work and you would just lose weight with no effort then you were very misimformed by your doctor. Too little food causes your body to go into starvation mode which causes no weight loss. Come on people diet and excersise is the key to successful weight loss.

Me, like many here have dieted for years and years with no results which is why we chose the band. I'm not splurging on candy or cake, believe me but I'm not measuring, or following a specific diet... I'm finished with those. They don't work.

I eat very little in the a.m. I scrabbled egg and 1 slice of WW bread. I only allow one slice of bread a day. For lunch I eat a banana only because the other fruits available are too expensive. If I can get a sale I'll buy some type of berries and put them on my Cereal so I don't need to put Splenda on it. If I don't have a banana for lunch I may have a cup of chicken salad, tuna or a piece of left over meat/fish from the night before's supper.

For supper I get whatever I make for the family (it's too hard to cook two different meals) but I skip any bread or Pasta they get. For instance if I make spanish rice, I set a bit aside that doesn't have the rice... Mostly I cook meats in the crock pot to make them more tender as I have trouble with the neck pain with meats.

Bedtime snack a bowl of unsweetened cereal, like grapenuts or cheerios or oatmeal. I have low blood sugar so if I go to bed on empty stomach I can't sleep.

As for my neck pain, I saw my orthopedic and he said it isn't my cervical spine... he suggested TMJ so I had that checked and it comes up negative. So the only thing I can think of is that I'm eating too fast. One thing I hate is cold food and so I think I'm eating too fast in order to eat it hot/warm. I'ma a type A person... I do everything in life fast.... I have no patience.

As for my slow weight loss, I"m just thankful I'm not gaining. Usually I put on 10# over the winter. I only gained about 2 or 3 lbs because I can't get out to walk. ONce I start walking I am pretty sure I can start losing again. Darn the winter!

Being a senior and live only with my husband and two cats, there is minimal housework to do so I don't get much exercise... I try to do exercises but everything hurts at my age... except walking and swimming. Looking forward to a great and thin summer.

Are you getting enough protien? I think you need to talk to your nutrisionist sounds like you are not eatting enough.

I would cut out a bedtime snack. But def talk to a nut.

To fluffy...I take offense to your words.."come on people diet and excersise is the key to successful weight loss" if you had that under control then why did you get banded? since you've got it figured out you should have been able to succeed without the band.

The band will not take the place of a diet so you dont have too I dont know why you would think that. You still have to have portion control and not eat junk just like on a diet. If you are not excersising then your weight loss will stand still eventually. You have to move to lose after a certain point. If you thought the band was just magically going to do all the work and you would just lose weight with no effort then you were very misimformed by your doctor. Too little food causes your body to go into starvation mode which causes no weight loss. Come on people diet and excersise is the key to successful weight loss.

You really do need to exercise to lose weight. Exercise is great for building muscle and does wonders for your cardiovascular system. You also need to eat heathier. Eating 1200 calories of junk food is completely different than eating 1200 calories of healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. The reason why I got the band is not because I could stop dieting, but to get the motivation I need to proceed with a healthy lifestyle. I didn't lose over a hundred pounds by "just eating less."

Rosie....I've got to agree with you about dieting. I got this band, so I could lead a normal life and that life doesn't include obsessing about my diet. I spent enough of my life counting calories, carbs and WW points. All it ever got me was heavier.

I eat pretty much the way that you do. I eat very little fruit. It just doesn't seem to fit in. I do eat whole grains and veggies, but I try to skip as many white carbs as possible. For dinner, I do exactly what you do. I'm not making 2 meals! The only difference is that I do exercise. I work out on an elliptical 50 minutes 3 times a week. I didn't start exercising until I had lost 80 lbs and it was much easier to do.

I think activity is going to be the key for you. I understand that it's hard. In the beginning, I just tried to add a little movement wherever I could. I'd take a few more trips upstairs in our house. I starting doing more gardening. I think you will do better when the weather warms up. The one thing about exercise is the more activity you get the easier it becomes.

Cindy