:help: I've lost 40 pounds in about 4-1/2 months after being banded, but 30 pounds were lost the first 2 months and not much after that, I've had 2 fills since surgery and I have now 2ccs in my 4cc band. I feel satisfied with about 1-1/2 to 2 cups of food but I don't stay full for more than an hour and then I snack and I know I'm eating about 1600-1800 calories a day, when maybe I should be eating 1200, but it's really hard because I'm hungry most of the times, so I'd like to know if you all have been lost weight consistenly with the band or you just lost some weight and then nothing? I'm just worried that I may not lose any more or that I may never find that "sweet spot" that makes people feel full longer, I already scheduled a fill for a week from now, but how about if that doesn't do it either? Have you all found that sweet spot? or has the band not work for some of you? Thank you for listening guys and I'd really appreciate your responses,

Elena

Elena, I lost 37 pounds in the first 5 months after surgery. Then I stalled for 3 1/2 months. I am now losing again. This week is the first time I have seen my signature weight this year - and I'm even below it. I think my body (and mind) needed an adjustment time. Now I am as motivated and enthusiastic as I was when banded. And my band is ready again to work for me.

Hi, Elena

I was banded on Aug 22, 2005. I lost 30 pounds pre-op due to the liquid diet that I was on for two weeks before the surgery. I have lost 50 pounds simce the banding with a total of 80 pounds. However, I have quit losing it seems. I have not lost anly weight in the last month. So I increased my exercise routine and actually gained 3 pounds. I know it could be from turing fat into muscle but I felt like WOW this is it, this is what I have been waiting for all of my life and then BAM, it was pulled right frin underneath me. I have yet to find my sweet spot. If I do not loose any weight in the next few weeks I am going to get another fill. I also feel that I can eat way more than I should be able to.:noidea:

I hope this is the right way to respond, I'm a newbie to this forum and I'm just experimenting,

Elena

Doing the same thing.....I am recently trying to exercise (God Forbid) and hoping that will help jump start me into losing again without a fill (I have only had one so far).

Banding date: 1/23/03

Starting weight: 303

2/10-3/13 - stuck at 281 (31 days)

3/31-4/14 - stuck at 278 (14 days)

4/15-5/6 - stuck at 267 (21 days)

5/12-6/30 - stuck at 262 (49 days)

7-14-8/4 - stuck at 257 (21 days)

9/2-10/13 stuck at 247 (41 days)

12/1-12/29 - stuck at 233 (28 days)

Fills dates and resulting fill level:

3/8/03 1.1cc

6/6/03 1.3cc

7/12/03 2.0cc

10/4/03 2.6cc

My weight may have fluctuated up/down a couple pounds throughout the time of the plateau, but on the Monday when I weighed "officially" each week, it was the same as the week before.

So throughout the first year I was banded, with 205 days of plateau, I lost 81 pounds.

I think the plateaus are the hardest thing. Maybe we can think of them as what it will be like when we reach our goal weight? Hopefully at some point we will no longer be looking to see that our weight is going down, but just staying the same, day after day, year after year, for the rest of our lives.

A plateau is not the time to automatically run for a fill. A plateau is a time to reflect, to regroup and to regather. The body needs it (apparently, since they seem to happen to just about everyone), and the MIND needs it. Really.

However, if we are not at goal, there comes a time when the plateau no longer seems to serve a purpose in our minds. At this point, it is time to evaluate.

1. Start tracking on www.fitday.com everything you consume everyday. Be HONEST! Yes, 3 cups of fat free/sugar free ice cream counts, and MUST be logged (lol - that's a note to self :tired )

2. Update your stats - your current weight and activity level. Then go to the "activities" section and check out the number of calories you're supposed to be burning at your basal metabolism. Aim to consume that number of calories (and up to 200 additional) everyday.

3. There is a lot of speculation about the amount of Protein required each day. Unless you're really short and tiny, it seems the bare minimum should be 60 grams.

4. Make sure you are drinking .5 oz of Water for every pound of body weight.

5. Seriously try to take a 60 minute walk at least every other day. Every day if at all possible. This does not have to be a kill yourself speed. Just walk (winter is a great excuse to walk the mall - just as hot summers are a great excuse to walk the mall - lol). If you are already exercising like the dickens, change your routine. shake it up - do something different.

6. Of the foods you are recording in fitday, be sure that you are eating SOLIDS.

7. Are you eating when you're hungry, stopping when you're full?

8. Are you eating regularly?

Do this for TWO weeks. Are you still plateaued? Are you meeting your caloric/water/exercise requirements? Are you hungry/overly full?

If you are unable to meet your basal calorie requirements with solid food, your fill may already be too tight.

If you are PBing, you are either too tight, not chewing well enough, are eating too fast, or eating foods that don't work for your band (usually bread, rice, pasta). Fix the chewing/speed/type of food. If you are still PBing you are TOO tight.

If you are exceeding your basal calorie requirements with solid food by more than 200 calories, it's time for a fill.

Chances are, as soon as you start tracking on fitday and make a commitment to walking, your plateau will "magically" be busted.. <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id=_x0000_i1026 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 12pt" alt="" type="#_x0000_t75"><v:imagedata o:href="http://lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/grin.gif" src="file:///C:DOCUME~1DPeterLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101clip_image002.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>

Final words of advice - don't panic, evaluate yourself honestly for two weeks as outlined above, and I bet either your plateau breaks itself, or you find you need a fill/unfill.

Oh - I forgot to mention. Averaging your weightloss may be a better way to measure how you're doing. The expected weightloss is 1-2 pounds a week, which is 4-8 pounds a month. 40 pounds in 4.5 months is well above the expected average - you're doing great! Really!

Elena, you are doing fantastic! I've found my weight loss can be inconsistent or not as I expected. I'll go weeks, like Donali, and not show a loss, then almost overnight 2 pounds go away. Then one week I am hot on the weight loss. Another, I am keeping the same weight.

Also, many folks might lose a good bit at the beginning and slow. I know I did. 1-2 pounds, on average, per week works for me!!!

Fitday.com is a good tool. Shawn

Thank you so much for your response, I will reevaluate, I think I need a fill because I'm going over my recommended calorie intake and I appreciate very much all your advises,

Elena