I got banded March 10 2011, and I have only lost 20 pounds since. I am frustrated that I am not losing like I thought I would. I had imagined I would have lost at least 30 to 40 pounds! I barely eat food now. I made the decision out of desesparation to join the nutri system diet. Strangely enough I don't throw it out like regular food. The food is not extremely awesome, but is not horrible either. It's the lack of discipline that I don't have because everytime I now it's time to eat, it feels like an exciting adventure. I feel like ok so now what am I going to eat? etc, but with the nutri system at least I have the food already cooked. I am workinig on establishing the discipline of sticking to the food and the diet.

Why am I losing at such a slow pace? ??????

OMG Girl! We are on the same boat. I was banded March 3, 2011 and down 20 lbs. I think for me is that I don't exercise. I am always so tired and without any energy at all. I just had my 3rd fill yesterday, I'm now at a total of 8.5cc's in an 11cc band. I have my next appt. in 2 months, my doctor said that this fill should help me kickstart my weight loss. Cross your fingers!!

How much would you have lost if you had not been banded? I think 20 lbs is way better than none! Take it from someone that is patiently waiting for approval. I would love to be in your shoes right now. Keep things in perspective....just think if you keep at this pace you will have shed 60 lbs by Christmas!!

I got banded March 10 2011, and I have only lost 20 pounds since. I am frustrated that I am not losing like I thought I would. I had imagined I would have lost at least 30 to 40 pounds! I barely eat food now. I made the decision out of desesparation to join the nutri system diet. Strangely enough I don't throw it out like regular food. The food is not extremely awesome, but is not horrible either. It's the lack of discipline that I don't have because everytime I now it's time to eat, it feels like an exciting adventure. I feel like ok so now what am I going to eat? etc, but with the nutri system at least I have the food already cooked. I am workinig on establishing the discipline of sticking to the food and the diet.

Why am I losing at such a slow pace? ??????

Lots of people do Weight Watchers, low-carb (i.e. South Beach or Atkins), and Nutrisystem to help them lose weight and to give them structure in eating even after the band. The band helps, but it doesn't do everything-- sometimes that structure is exactly what people need.

I say go for it.

I see people say all of the time "if I wanted to diet to lose weight, I wouldn't have got the band!" While I can sympathize with that, the fact is, you HAVE to diet (i.e. cut calories) in order to lose weight. The difference between being banded and on Weight Watchers and not-being banded and being on Weight Watchers is twofold: 1) when you have the band, eating the fewer calories required by the diet is easier, because you get full on smaller portions and thus aren't dieting AND starving at the same time, and 2) once you lose the weight, the band will help you keep it off.

I was under the assumption that Nutri System put you on a 1200 a day calorie diet. That is not too much and you would get the structure of knowing the exact calorie counts. Everyone is different in how much they can eat after the band. I honestly would have starved on Nutri System before band and now I know I could stay within their calorie count. You have to do what is best for you not for anyone else. Just my opinion. Hang in there!

You can not eat all the food with the band that these programs require so it will not work. They are geared towards a certain amount of food eaten per day. I could never eat that much food that they require. What is the purpose of the band if you have to rely on prepackaged programs to make you lose weight. You have to learn to eat with the band. If you were going to depend on nurtisystem then why not do that instead of having invasive surgery done. That part I do not get. Just askin

Your band must work differently than my band, Mist. Maybe it wouldn't work for you but if it's a 1200 calorie diet, it would be fine-- that's what many of us aim for as-is. If it's more than that, nothing says you HAVE to finish the meal or eat the dessert, etc, and it could be easily adapted to the band. I wouldn't do Nutrisystem myself, but I understand why someone else would to help them get a feel for portion sizes and calories with a little more ease and a little less guess work.

And I think I already explained the difference between being on a weight loss program WHILE banded vs pre-banding. Without the band, you can't stay on those programs long term. With the band, you can do it without feeling deprived for as long as you want to. It's actually an enormous difference and completely understandable why someone might want to do after banding.I'm not advocating it for everyone, but I don't see any real reason to discourage it if someone thinks it could be helpful.

I'm with stateofZen, whatever will work for you. We are all different and the band works differently for everyone. I can understand wanting the exact calorie counts. Good luck! Let us know how it works.

Thanks everyone! I had to get the band because I am a compulsive eater. I lack discipline along with the energy to cook. I took a deep look into my inner self one day and I decided that I wanted to live longer and achieve many other things that I have not been able to do so because of my weight problem. I have come to learn that the lap band is a tool that helps me control my portions, and also prevents me from over eating because it immediately makes me throw out the uneccesary amounts. I have found that the nutri system food is helping me eat the portions I need along with teaching me how to eat healthy. I am beginning to pass that on to my husband and son. As a matter a fact, I got my husband to join the program also, so now we are both doing the program and it seems to help because I get his support.

I do know what my problem is, but sometimes is easier for me to hide behind my lack of dieting and discipline problems.

I feel embarrased that I have not lost more pounds because I know I have not been giving it my best with the chance that I have been given. I was given the gift of life again and I am wasting it away. I will continue my journey, but this time, I am planning on adding excersice and stick to the nutri system diet, and eventually weanne myself out to supermarket food, once I loose the next 26 pounds, which will take me to 200 lbs.

Thank you again to everyone for your kind words.

Claudia, you should not be embarrassed. We all suffer from this "over-eating" disease. You are among friends.

Claudia, you should not be embarrassed. We all suffer from this "over-eating" disease. You are among friends.

Amen. If you claimed to be perfect, I'd be suspicious

THANK you

Claudia, do you read any blogs? I read one blog where the bandster is also doing NutriSystem. You should leave her a comment- I bet you two could be a big help to eachother!

http://justmedrazil.blogspot.com/2011/06/more-nutrisystem-infoand-little-shoetat.html

THANK you

It is about the "walk" not the pound, a meal or even the band. It is about a life change, a project , a goal and for some a purpose. We are similar yet different, joined but separate, understanding and struggling, but all with the same aspirations, to make this life more enjoyble. to crush our fears of the future of sickness or immobiity or lonliness. let us encourage and lift each other spirits- pick up our doubts and cast them out, for we are all on the same road. and I am so happy to be a part of of our journey!

It is about the "walk" not the pound, a meal or even the band. It is about a life change, a project , a goal and for some a purpose. We are similar yet different, joined but separate, understanding and struggling, but all with the same aspirations, to make this life more enjoyble. to crush our fears of the future of sickness or immobiity or lonliness. let us encourage and lift each other spirits- pick up our doubts and cast them out, for we are all on the same road. and I am so happy to be a part of of our journey!

VERY well said!

You can not eat all the food with the band that these programs require so it will not work. They are geared towards a certain amount of food eaten per day. I could never eat that much food that they require. What is the purpose of the band if you have to rely on prepackaged programs to make you lose weight. You have to learn to eat with the band. If you were going to depend on nurtisystem then why not do that instead of having invasive surgery done. That part I do not get. Just askin

I disagee. I did nutrisystems and could not stick to it because I was starving and adding food to it. Therefore I did not loose weight and wasted my money!

Claudia-

If this helps you stick to smaller portions then it may work for you!!!

Good luck!!!!!

I got banded March 10 2011, and I have only lost 20 pounds since. I am frustrated that I am not losing like I thought I would. I had imagined I would have lost at least 30 to 40 pounds! I barely eat food now. I made the decision out of desesparation to join the nutri system diet. Strangely enough I don't throw it out like regular food. The food is not extremely awesome, but is not horrible either. It's the lack of discipline that I don't have because everytime I now it's time to eat, it feels like an exciting adventure. I feel like ok so now what am I going to eat? etc, but with the nutri system at least I have the food already cooked. I am workinig on establishing the discipline of sticking to the food and the diet.

Why am I losing at such a slow pace? ??????

Hi Claudia,

I am having similar issues. I was banded at the end of January and haven't lost any weight since the surgery. I was eating between 1100-1200 calories a day and nothing. I go to the gym 3-5x a week and do cardio for an hour. I have been tracking my calories and took them to the pa for my third fill. I've reduced my calories to about 900-1000 a day. I haven't felt any restriction so far. I am not sure what else to do.