Here is my story briefly...I was banded on August 25, 2010 and thus far I have lost 40 lbs and I feel like a total failure. Now I do have restriction but I am able to eat whatever I want just not as much as I would have before lapband. I really really do not want to give up. I need some guidance....Please help!!

I am not yet banded but will be in a month or so. But so far I have lost 20lbs on my 3 mo pre-op diet. I had to drastically change my diet from my crazy binging ways to three reasonable meals per day with the protein and veggies and fruit and all that. So far it has not been too bad. I cleaned out all of the junk food from my house and always go to the store with a list and stick to the list. You say you can eat what you always ate but maybe you need to try staying away from the things that you used to eat for a while and find new recipes that are healthy. I don't know if you are exercising now or not but that really makes a huge, huge difference.

Jersey diva, don't give up! you are losing and that is what matters most! Questions for you: are you journaling your food intake? Are you exercising? What is your carb, fat, protein intake like? Do you have access to a nutritionist who might be able to help you along the food path?

I have found that by keeping a journal of my food intake, water, and exercise keeps me pretty on point. Mind you it is not a perfect process, but it sure does assist me in trying to figure out why I haven't lost.

Take care and keep us updated

I have found a challenge for me is to stop when I am no longer hungry. I am so used to clearing my plate....no guilt for the little bit left you just should not eat. I blame my mother

Don't give up! Do you have a health psychologist? For me, that has helped sort things out. I still see him about every six weeks as a touch base.

40 lb is a good weight loss and you can just build from there. One day at a time, one meal at a time.

Good luck!

I lose at a slow rate too. What finally helped kick my weigh loss into gear was exercising. I think just changing up the routine made a big difference. Hang in there, you're still losing!

Just remember that 40 lb. weight loss is really good! It may not be as much as you would like but the weight didn't come on within 6 months and it may take awhile to loose it. I think a lot of people do not have realistic expectations...they just want it to fall off! It takes lots of work! Hang in there.

Losing weight is better than gaining - think of where you might be without the band!!!

You said you have restriction, but can eat whatever you want? How does that work? I have restriction, but I cannot eat whatever I want...and definately not the quanitiies I was used to! You may not be at your "sweet spot" yet - b/c you shouldn't be able to eat whatever you want. I definately agree that a nutritionist mught be able to help guide you in the right direction - if you aren't getting a lot of Protein in and staying away from sugar and carbs then you won't see results as well. I have found I can't tolerate solid foods first thing in the morning - so I use Breakfast to drink a protein packed shake - starts my day out right and keeps me from getting hungry until lunchtime.

Hang in there - you are NOT a failure...the band is a lifestyle and a tool, we have to work it for it to work for us....you can start afresh now and focus and get it working for you again! We are here to cheer you along!

Kim

First of all, YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!!! You have lost 40 lbs...maybe not as much as you would have hoped at this point, but where would you be if you hadn't had surgery? Would you be 40 lbs down? Probably not...

Secondly, you say that you can eat anything you want...I guess my question is why are you still eating anything you want (even if you aren't eating as much as you used to)? I can eat anything I want too - I don't have issues with any foods - but I CHOOSE not to eat foods that are bad for me. I choose not to eat a high carb diet because I don't lose effectively that way. I choose to eat 1,000 calories a day, 80-100 g Protein, drink at least 10 glasses of Water and get my exercise in (for the most part - I'm still working on that). In the end, the band will only help reduce your portion sizes, it won't help you make good choices of the types of foods you eat...you have to find the will power to do that yourself. Once thing I can suggest is to keep a food journal (I like myfitnesspal.com) and start weighing and measuring your foods. This will help make you more aware of exactly what you are eating and hopefully help you to make good choices.

Don't give up on this...this journey is a process that is so much harder than I ever imagined. What works for me might not work for you but take some time to truely look at what you are currently doing and see what you can do to make some changes that you can live with (even if that means accepting that your weight loss may be slower than you would like)...

Best of luck to you...

40 lbs is 40 lbs!!! Be thrilled with that.

I know it's frustrating when others are losing faster, but slow and steady is the best way to do it.

I also know that until recently I told myself that since I could eat it it must be ok... but that's not the right way to think. The band is only a tool... if we don't make healthy food choices it's not going to work well...

But as soon as they invent the band that lets me lose weight on pizza and ice cream I'm IN!!! :-)

I feel your pain. I was banded on Sept. 22, 2010. I have lost 70 lbs. Since my last adjustment in Feb. My weight has been up and down. I feel as if I have good restriction. There are days I can't eat anything, everything seems to get stuck. Then there are days I can eat everything. I don't eat junk food. It doesn't sit well with me. The only thing I find myself eating now is low fat crackers. I used to eat almonds a lot but all of a sudden they seem to get stuck. I just feel I need to eat something crunchy. My worse time is at night - I need to chew on something while I watch tv. I know I really have to exercise, I think that is what is plateauing my weight. I don't see my dr. until May. I don't feel like I need another adjustment, I do get full fast. I know I just need to watch what I put in my mouth. So this week, since the weather is nice I am going to do some walking and eat better. Good luck to you, we will push through this struggle.

Here is my story briefly...I was banded on August 25, 2010 and thus far I have lost 40 lbs and I feel like a total failure. Now I do have restriction but I am able to eat whatever I want just not as much as I would have before lapband. I really really do not want to give up. I need some guidance....Please help!!

Plan and portion out your meals ahead of time. That way when your food is gone, it's gone. My eyes are still and will always remain bigger than my stomach, therefore I choose to portion out everything I eat before hand. Works wonders.

First and foremost I want to thank everyone for your replies. It has given me a lot to think about. I have taken a little bit from everyone. I have decided to start fresh as if I just got out of surgery and also embrace the fact that this is definitely a lifestyle change and not a quick fix. Again thank you!....I will keep you guys posted.

Way to go Jerseydiva!

I have found a challenge for me is to stop when I am no longer hungry. I am so used to clearing my plate....no guilt for the little bit left you just should not eat. I blame my mother

use a smaller plate

I will share what works for me.

First of all I give myself a window in calories between 800 - 1200 Daily. THATS IT !

I try to eat foods high in Protein, and not to high in calories.

Drink at least 1 good Protein shake, say for lunch. To get your protein in.

I mean just because your banded, doesn't mean you don't have to diet...

If you been doing it your way, and it's not working??? Guess What? It's time for a change.

That is what I am giving you, and telling you.

Start up a journal.. DATE,,,, TIME ,,,, food ,,,, AMOUNT,,, CALORIES ,,, PROTEIN,,, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Get a notebook and turn it sideways, so your titles are where the holes are. Then enter all the information under each catagory, by looking it up.

Book or Internet. Internet go to Calorie King, and enter your food. Book Dr. Phil has a excellent one out (AND I AM NOT A FAN !)

THE ULTIMATE WEIGHT SOLLUTION FOOD GUIDE.

Go to amazon.com you can pick it up fairly cheap.

Good Luck, let me know how it works for you. I do this every day !

Shirley.