Forgive me, for I'm sure it's been posted a million times, but I had the surgery almost 4 months ago (and two fills), and I've lost a grand total of 1.6 pounds. I am deeply frustrated. I am trying to count calories, but I always go over- I thought the surgery would help me (not do it FOR me, but at least help somewhat!) Has anybody started like this and actually lost later? Do you count calories forever? Am I still in Bandster Hell? In the illustrious words of Ebeneezer Scrooge, "Speak comfort to me, friends!"

Thanks for any help...

The first thing you should do is talk to your doctor. If you've been banded four months and have only lost a pound or so, then either you're doing something wrong, or you need more knowledge of the process. It's not just about counting calories. There is much more to it. Nobody here will be able to really help you until you have a clear idea of your current status.

Yes, the band does work right away, but you need to be directly involved in managing how it works. I've lost plenty of weight, and have only been banded a couple of months longer than you.

Talk to your doctor. The longer you do nothing, the longer you'll be frustrated.

Good luck!

Dave

Like Dave said there's a lot more to weight loss than calorie counting. While it is a pain in the beginning, after networking on my own, I've found that even the healthiest of bodybuilders count their calories. At some point you may be able to correctly eyeball and know what you're eating the the calorie content, otherwise you may want to try to get used to calorie counting as much as possible. I'm a year+ out and I love it, oddly enough.

If you've only lost 1.6lbs, you're definitely doing something wrong. You said yourself you're eating too much calorie wise, so maybe a fill is in need, or maybe you just need to limit certain things that you eat.

Exercise also helps, a lot.

My question is, what are you exactly expecting the band to 'help' you out with? A talk with your doctor/nutritionist may be helpful.

Are you feeling any restriction? You could probably use another fill. Sorry it's not working that well for you. Have you discussed it with your doctor?

I do track my calories on a daily basis (I use the myfitnesspal app on my phone) and I see myself doing it for the foreseeable future. I like being able to see at a glance how many calories I have left for the day. This info helps me make better decisions about what I eat...for example, my band would allow me to eat a piece or two of pizza but it's not worth the calories for me to eat it. It's all about choices...I choose to track my calories so I stay within the right range to lose weight, I choose to limit my carbs because I lose more efficiently that way, I choose to exercise (although I have room for improvement in this area). This works for me...and the work is worth it because I've lost more weight than I have ever been able to lose in my life.

get in see dr & get a fill!

You may want to schedule an appointment with the nutritionist too and have them go over what and how to eat. Take in a weeks worth of brutally honest food journals and get them to help you.

My question is, what are you exactly expecting the band to 'help' you out with? A talk with your doctor/nutritionist may be helpful.

That is a good question- I have been dieting since I was 8 years old, exercising 3 times a week since college, but slowly and steadily gaining. I thought the band would make it easier to stick to a diet or even not have to diet if I just ate healthy food 3 times a day. The only time I feel banded is if I eat potato- seems to stop immediately in my chest. I do have a fill and appointment scheduled Monday- just wondering if anybody else has rebounded from this. So frustrating when your "last resort" isn't working. What does the band do for you?

It is a diet.. well a "lifestyle" I think all we've heard about the band is very misleading... it doesn't do that much, just helps you control your hunger, so YOU can make better decisions. Like, if you aren't hungry and you walk by a vending machine.. you are less likely to get a snack. but could I still get the snack and eat it? You bet.

Once you know what you can eat, it becomes a little more second nature.. you aren't constantly thinking about it as much. Fact of the matter is, most food is just bad for you, and has tons of calories. You can't expect to be skinny and eat junk food. Skinny people don't. Or for skinny people i know, if they eat a meal of junk, that is all they eat ALL DAY. As a fat person, I eat 3 or more of those meals. This isn't a miracle cure.

You should start over, follow the rules, log your food. You will lose weight. I'd place more emphasis on what you can do to lose weight, not what the band is doing.

It is a diet.. well a "lifestyle" I think all we've heard about the band is very misleading... it doesn't do that much, just helps you control your hunger, so YOU can make better decisions. Like, if you aren't hungry and you walk by a vending machine.. you are less likely to get a snack. but could I still get the snack and eat it? You bet.

Once you know what you can eat, it becomes a little more second nature.. you aren't constantly thinking about it as much. Fact of the matter is, most food is just bad for you, and has tons of calories. You can't expect to be skinny and eat junk food. Skinny people don't. Or for skinny people i know, if they eat a meal of junk, that is all they eat ALL DAY. As a fat person, I eat 3 or more of those meals. This isn't a miracle cure.

You should start over, follow the rules, log your food. You will lose weight. I'd place more emphasis on what you can do to lose weight, not what the band is doing.

You are such a gem- I see you reply to so many things, and always in an encouraging way, thanks! What started my rant is that i was about to go join Weight Watchers AGAIN out of frustration, but I was hoping I'd be done with that...

I would be very concerned about the fill process of your band. Discuss your concerns with your doctor and ask him why it doesn't seem to be acting as a too lto help you with your appetite. Something just doesn't sound right if that is all you lost. Be your own advocate and be proactive with your doctor and nutritionist. Plan your meals each day and keep a food journal for a couple of weeks. Bring that journal into to your doctor and nutritionist. With proper restriction I can't see why you aren't losing more. I wish you a successful journey!

My question is, what are you exactly expecting the band to 'help' you out with? A talk with your doctor/nutritionist may be helpful.

That is a good question- I have been dieting since I was 8 years old, exercising 3 times a week since college, but slowly and steadily gaining. I thought the band would make it easier to stick to a diet or even not have to diet if I just ate healthy food 3 times a day. The only time I feel banded is if I eat potato- seems to stop immediately in my chest. I do have a fill and appointment scheduled Monday- just wondering if anybody else has rebounded from this. So frustrating when your "last resort" isn't working. What does the band do for you?

My band keeps me full; nothing more. I put myself on a low carb diet early on because I wanted the weight off quickly, and off it fell. Nowadays I don't let the word diet come out of my mouth; I'm not on one and the word diet has taken on such a negative connotation when truly a diet consists of what we eat. I eat ice cream, bread, Cookies, kids Cereal, etc etc on a daily basis. But I also eat plenty of Protein, veggies, fruits, and so on. I've learned that it's truly not what you eat, but how much of it and how much you decide to move during the day. I got fat because I didn't move and I wasn't aware of what I was eating portion wise. My band has fixed the portion problem; I fixed the laziness.

Good luck to you! I think a fill will do you well but also a talk with your nutritionist may be beneficial

Like Dave said there's a lot more to weight loss than calorie counting. While it is a pain in the beginning, after networking on my own, I've found that even the healthiest of bodybuilders count their calories. At some point you may be able to correctly eyeball and know what you're eating the the calorie content, otherwise you may want to try to get used to calorie counting as much as possible. I'm a year+ out and I love it, oddly enough.

If you've only lost 1.6lbs, you're definitely doing something wrong. You said yourself you're eating too much calorie wise, so maybe a fill is in need, or maybe you just need to limit certain things that you eat.

Exercise also helps, a lot.

My question is, what are you exactly expecting the band to 'help' you out with? A talk with your doctor/nutritionist may be helpful.

SOrry this is off topic but does your signature say that you were banned in may of 2010 and was in onederland july of 2010 ? You lost 100 lbs from may to july ? Is this real ! ? If so i cant freaking WAIT TO GET THIS DONE !!!!

SOrry this is off topic but does your signature say that you were banned in may of 2010 and was in onederland july of 2010 ? You lost 100 lbs from may to july ? Is this real ! ? If so i cant freaking WAIT TO GET THIS DONE !!!!

No that is when I was under 200lbs; I lost 45lbs or so from my pre-op diet to July 2010.

SOrry this is off topic but does your signature say that you were banned in may of 2010 and was in onederland july of 2010 ? You lost 100 lbs from may to july ? Is this real ! ? If so i cant freaking WAIT TO GET THIS DONE !!!!

You already read your answer to the question, but I wanted to add that I'm a week shy of six months banded, and I've lost 90 pounds. It definitely IS possible to lose a lot with the band. It won't happen overnight, but if you do it right, you WILL lose.

Dave

Keep getting your fills. That's great you have an appointment. I disagree with Dave, that the band works right away. If you don't have restriction it's not going to be helpfull. I hope the next fill does it for you. In the meantime I would focus on eating the right foods (high protien, low carb, low fat) and get some excersise. Hope this helps!