It took 6 months before I lost weight

[BuffyC413 9]

I started a new topic here several months back titled "5 Months Post Op and No Weight Lost". I was banded August 16th, 2010. Each month after, my band was adjusted. By the new year, I was just as heavy as I was the day of my surgery (almost 220lbs) In February, 2011, I had lost 10lbs but, only because my band was too tight and I couldn't eat anything other than liquids without throwing up. They took Fluid out and I gained half of it back. At the end of March/beginning of April, I noticed that it felt "different" when I ate. I could eat most anything as long as I chewed it to mush and kept my bites miniscule. I don't know what changed but it was seemingly overnight. So, 7 months post op, I finally started losing weight! I am now going on 15 months post op and I weigh 180. The past 3 weeks, I have not lost anything. They said I should expect to lose 40-60lbs so, I don't know if my body is choosing to stay at the low end or what. I'd like to get at least 10 more lbs off but I think it's going to take another fill which I haven't had in several months. The only explanation I can offer for things changing is perhaps my brain finally gave up on my food addiction. Eating is no longer pleasurable. It takes a lot of time and patience and I don't get any of the joy I got from it before. I don't look forward to it and I don't think "I wonder what I'm going to eat today?"

I've managed to talk to a few people who have had little success and are at 4-6 months post op. Is there anyone out there who started losing weight after half a year of being banded, or longer?

[Corrigan 75]

You can do it, but you'll have to go back to the beginning and start over. There is a program called

"The 5 day pouch test" that takes you back to the start of your weight loss program and day by day,

walks you through the steps you began with. It's not difficult, it's free and it does seem to work, IF

you are willing to grit your teeth and follow, what you know is correct, your surgeons and nutritionist's

instructions. This is mostly a mental exercise, you have to work at it. You have to make sure you

really want to lose weight and then do it. I know there are all sorts of problems that interfere with

losing, but you just have to get over them. Start today, do it now if your health is important to you.

Good luck and I hope you make it.

[Kiskis 56]

It doesn't work like magic. You have to work it! It takes a lot of work. I get bored with my food but not my weight loss! My pleasure is cheese! I also have choclate as a treat too. I am primarly on a Protein diet and never go over 1200-1400 cals/day. Work it baby!