So I had the surgery on 12/27/11 and my first fill is 2/6/12. I was down 12 lbs . . but once I started on real food I gained a couple and am now only down 8 lbs. Just wondering if I am the only one. Anyone?? Hello?? : ) I have no restriction and feel like I am always hungry. I know I need to have more discipline!! Ugh!! Feels like I'm back on WW and failing. Hoping the fill will help with that. Thanks. Don't mean to be a Debbie Downer . . Just had to vent and need a little support.

So I had the surgery on 12/27/11 and my first fill is 2/6/12. I was down 12 lbs . . but once I started on real food I gained a couple and am now only down 8 lbs. Just wondering if I am the only one. Anyone?? Hello?? : ) I have no restriction and feel like I am always hungry. I know I need to have more discipline!! Ugh!! Feels like I'm back on WW and failing. Hoping the fill will help with that. Thanks. Don't mean to be a Debbie Downer . . Just had to vent and need a little support.

Totally normal! I've had 2 fills and I'm still having to count calories and have discipline. It will come in time everyone's different. From what I've read on here some people have restriction right alway, and for some it takes time. My surgeon told me that some people do gain weight between surgery and their fill. Good luck stay positive =)

Sorry to tell you this - but as been posted hundreds of times, it takes several fills normally to give you good restriction. I had my surgery over 2 yrs ago and it took until my 3rd fill - 4 mths later, before I felt like I had any restriciton. I didn't lose anything the first 4 mths - but then over the past 2 yrs have maintained over 100 lbs off. It'll happen. You have have some patience. I wish someone had told me this when I first got banded - I didn't do much research on it until aftwerwards. I'm very happy with my band now - the first few months tho I thought I had failed yet another weight loss attempt.

Good luck!

Marci

Totally normal Bandster Hell...your band is sleeping on the job until you get enough fills to get real restriction...this is the worst time of all of it!

Yes, I've read many who experience this. My surgeon actually doesn't expect weight loss between surgery and the first fill, because he says during that time period you should be focusing on healing.

I haven't had a fill yet (and hungry every 2 hours because of it) but from what I've read, it seems most don't feel that "full" restriction until the 2nd or 3rd fill.

Hang in there!

Hello, same here. From what I've read it's pretty normal. My surgeon expects me to maintain and perhaps lose some. But no gaining. I still have very little appetite yet I find I can eat more than 1/2 cup. I'm focus on healing, eating selections and habits, chewing habits and waiting to drink that 30 mins before and 45 mins to an hour after the meals. Basically, I'm trying to get the basics down.

I'm with you. I was banded 1/16 and was doing great for the first 2 weeks but once i started on mushy foods I hit a wall. My weight loss has seemed to completely stall.I'll go up 2lbs then down 2lbs. I know it's only been a few weeks but I just didn't expect the weight loss to slow that much that fast. And i'm finding that i can take in more food than I'm supposed to. I don't feel full at all after I eat. I'm just concentrating on still drinking my protein shakes consistently throughout the day so i don't get too hungry and overeat. Good luck! Try to say focused and know that you are not alone!

I was banded in February and did not start losing until the end of June after my second or third fill. It takes time to get proper restriction and have the band working for you.

I'm so glad you posted this because I'm feeling the same way!

Thank god I am not alone.....I thought I was the only one that was not losing weight this first month after surgery.!

I was banded almost 6 months ago and I just had my 5th fill before I felt restriction. Talk about feeling like a failure. I was losing and gaining the same 8 pounds for 4 months, it sucked! I felt like such a failure because I went back to eating anything since I truly had no restriction. My 4th fill was my biggest, 2cc's which brought me up to 6cc's total. With that, It was hard for me to digest chicken breast that was it. When I went back to the doctor I figured I would need another 2cc's to get this thing working and he only gave me .5cc (thats all) I was sure I would fail since I didnt see a difference between 6cc's and 6.5cc's. But wouldnt you know GREENZONE! It finally worked. Please be patient that my only advice to you. Everyone is different on here so you may not always find the answer that will work for you, but one thing that will work in the long run is patience.

Good for you Genesis! Hoping I reach my green zone next week, because I am gnawing at the bit now, I have been patient long enough!

I know its hard and I didn't believe it would come, but that half a fill made a big difference.

Thanks everyone!!! I know . . patience, patience, PATIENCE!! lol Glad to know I'm not the only one struggling out there. I was starting to feel like I was the only person who didn't drop 30 lbs the first month.

I didn't start losing weight (ok, I did lose 6 pounds) until December and I was banded in July. I've had 5 fills and have enjoyed the green zone for about 2 months. I'm starting to plateau again and getting hungry again. Time for a fill.

Bandster hell is a good description. I was quite disappointed and embarassed by my lack of weight loss until mid December. Then it all came together. So, I'm hoping for a quick trip to the green zone for everyone out there in bandland.